Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coarsening mechanisms in a metal film: From cluster diffusion to vacancy ripening.

Coarsening of Ag films on Ag(100) at room temperature occurs primarily via diffusion-mediated coalescence of two-dimensional adatom clusters, rather than by Ostwald ripening, up to a coverage of 0.65 monolayer. Above 0.8 monolayer, vacancy clusters coarsen primarily via Ostwald ripening, due to their much lower diffusivity. An asymmetric transition region separates these two regimes, characterized by a near-percolating structure which undergoes self-similar coarsening. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society. }
Distribution of low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein subclasses in patients with sarcoidosis.

CONTEXT Systemic inflammatory diseases are associated with proatherogenic lipoprotein profile, but there is a lack of information regarding overall distributions of lipoprotein subclasses in sarcoidosis. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether patients with sarcoidosis have altered distributions of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. DESIGN Seventy-seven patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis (29 with acute and 48 with chronic sarcoidosis) treated with corticosteroids and 77 age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. Low-density lipoprotein and HDL subclasses were determined by gradient gel electrophoresis, while inflammatory markers and lipid parameters were measured by standard laboratory methods. RESULTS Compared to controls, patients had fewer LDL I subclasses (P < .001), but more LDL II and III (P < .001) subclasses. This pattern was evident in both acute and chronic disease groups. Patients also had smaller HDL size (P < .001) and higher proportions of HDL 2a (P = .006) and 3a particles (P = .004). Patients with chronic sarcoidosis had smaller LDL size than those with acute disease (P = .02) and higher proportions of HDL 3a subclasses (P = .04) than controls. In acute sarcoidosis, relative proportions of LDL and HDL particles were associated with levels of inflammatory markers, whereas in chronic disease an association with concentrations of serum lipid parameters was found. CONCLUSIONS The obtained results demonstrate adverse lipoprotein subfraction profile in sarcoidosis with sustained alterations during disease course. Evaluation of LDL and HDL particles may be helpful in identifying patients with higher cardiovascular risk, at least for prolonged corticosteroid therapy due to chronic disease course.
Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a South African Community with High HIV Prevalence

Keren Middelkoop, Linda-Gail Bekker, Barun Mathema, Elena Shashkina, Natalia Kurepina, Andrew Whitelaw, Dorothy Fallows, Carl Morrow, Barry Kreiswirth, Gilla Kaplan, and Robin Wood Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunity and Pathogenesis and Tuberculosis Center, Public Health Research Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
Paraproteinaemic Neuropathies

In this article, we review the main clinical and pathological features of paraproteinaemic neuropathies and discuss recent experimental findings. Further knowledge of the disease process at the molecular level has allowed a better characterization of clinical syndromes and has given new insights into their pathogenesis. The most convincing evidence for a causal relationship can be drawn from IgM monoclonal gammopathies with specificities directed against carbohydrate determinants of the myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG). There remain however, many unresolved questions, such as how monoclonal anti‐MAG IgM antibodies cross the blood‐nerve barrier and trigger a chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy while the central nervous system is essentially spared. IgM paraproteins with specificity for other molecules, such as neurofilaments, sulphatide, gangliosides, chondroitin sulphate and tubulin, have also been identified, but their pathogenetic importance remains to be elucidated.
A Mesenchymal‐Like ZEB1+ Niche Harbors Dorsal Radial Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein‐Positive Stem Cells in the Spinal Cord

In humans and rodents the adult spinal cord harbors neural stem cells located around the central canal. Their identity, precise location, and specific signaling are still ill‐defined and controversial. We report here on a detailed analysis of this niche. Using microdissection and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice, we demonstrate that neural stem cells are mostly dorsally located GFAP+ cells lying ependymally and subependymally that extend radial processes toward the pial surface. The niche also harbors doublecortin protein (Dcx)+ Nkx6.1+ neurons sending processes into the lumen. Cervical and lumbar spinal cord neural stem cells maintain expression of specific rostro‐caudal Hox gene combinations and the niche shows high levels of signaling proteins (CD15, Jagged1, Hes1, differential screening‐selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma [DAN]). More surprisingly, the niche displays mesenchymal traits such as expression of epithelial‐mesenchymal‐transition zinc finger E‐box‐binding protein 1 (ZEB1) transcription factor and smooth muscle actin. We found ZEB1 to be essential for neural stem cell survival in vitro. Proliferation within the niche progressively ceases around 13 weeks when the spinal cord reaches its final size, suggesting an active role in postnatal development. In addition to hippocampus and subventricular zone niches, adult spinal cord constitutes a third central nervous system stem cell niche with specific signaling, cellular, and structural characteristics that could possibly be manipulated to alleviate spinal cord traumatic and degenerative diseases. STEM CELLS 2009;27:2722–2733
Possible Synergistic Effect and Antioxidant Properties of Chitosan Nanoparticles and Quercetin against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induce Hepatotoxicity in Rats

This study was conducted to prepare chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs), to determine their properties and to evaluate the synergistic protective role of CNPs alone or in combination with quercetin (Q) against oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 12 groups (7 rats/group) and were maintained on their respective diet for 3 weeks as follow: control group, the group treated with CCl4 (100 mg/kg b.w twice a week); the groups received CNPs at low and high doses (140 and 280 mg/kg b.w); the group received Q (50 mg/kg b.w); the groups received CNPs at the low or high doses plus Q and the groups treated with CCl4 plus Q and/or CNPs at the two tested doses. Blood and liver samples were collected at the end of experiment period for biochemical and histological studies. The results indicated that chitosan showed deacetylation degree of 17.5% and 19.2% and the molar mass average of monomer was 168.35 g/mol and 169.1 g/mol by UV and IR methods respectively. The particle size of CNPs was around 100 nm with a rough surface. The in vivo results revealed that CCl4 induced biochemical and histological changes typical to those reported in the literature. Animals treated with CNPs at the two tested doses alone or in combination with Q were comparable to the control. CNPs alone or plus Q succeeded to induce significant improvements in the biochemical parameters and histological picture of the liver in rats treated with CCl4. This improvement was in dose-dependent manner for CNPs and was more pronounced in the group treated with the high dose plus Q. It could be concluded that both CNPs and Q could induce protection against hepatotoxicity. Consequently, CNPs was a promise candidate as drug delivery in liver diseases treatments.
A comparison of the properties of mitochondria isolated from liver and heart.

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High-risk oncogenic HPV genotype infection associates with increased immune activation and T cell exhaustion in ART-suppressed HIV-1-infected women

ABSTRACT Persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical disease in the context of HIV co-infection can be influenced by introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and sustained immune activation despite ART. We conducted a cross-sectional study in order to evaluate immune activation/exhaustion in ART-suppressed HIV+ women with or without high-risk (HR) HPV-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). 55 South African women were recruited in three groups: HR (-) (n = 16) and HR (+) (n = 15) HPV with negative cervical histopathology, and HR (+) HPV with CIN grade 1/2/3 (n = 24). Sampling included endocervical brushing (HPV DNA genotyping), Pap smear (cytology), colposcopic punch biopsy (histopathology, histochemical evaluation of immune cells), and peripheral blood (clinical assessment, flow cytometry-based immune subset characterization). Statistics were done using R2.5. 1. Irrespective of the presence of CIN, HR (+) HPV women had higher circulating levels of T cells expressing markers of activation/exhaustion (CD38, PD1, CTLA-4, BTLA, CD160), Tregs, and myeloid subsets expressing corresponding ligands (PDL1, PDL2, CD86, CD40, HVEM) than HR (-) HPV women. A decrease in circulating NK cells was associated with CIN grade. CD4+ T cell count associated negatively with T cell exhaustion and expression of negative regulators on myeloid cells. Women with CIN when compared to HR (-) HPV women, had higher cervical cell density in stroma and epithelium for CD4+, CD68+, and CD11c+ cells, and only in stroma for CD8+ cells. We conclude that in ART-suppressed HIV-infected women with HPV co-infection the levels of T and myeloid cell activation/exhaustion are associated with the presence of HR HPV genotypes.
Embodying Cultured Networks with a Robotic Drawing Arm

The advanced and robust computational power of the brain is shown by the complex behaviors it produces. By embodying living cultured neuronal networks with a robotic or simulated animal (animat) and situating them within an environment, we study how the basic principles of neuronal network communication can culminate into adaptive goal-directed behavior. We engineered a closed-loop biological-robotic drawing machine and explored sensory-motor mappings and training. Preliminary results suggest that real-time performance-based feedback allowed an animat to draw in desired directions. This approach may help instruct the future design of artificial neural systems and of the algorithms to interface sensory and motor prostheses with the brain.
Drug intake during Ramadan

During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, adult Muslims are required to refrain from taking any food, beverages, or oral drugs, as well as from sexual intercourse, between dawn and sunset. Ramadan can occur in any of the four seasons, and the hours spent fasting vary accordingly from 11 hours to 18 hours a day. Rhythms of life and habits during this fasting period differ from one country to another. In Morocco, two to three meals daily are eaten within a short overnight span during this month. The first meal might be taken immediately after sunset (Iftar) and the second one around three hours later (dinner); the last meal might be taken shortly before dawn (Sohour). Intake of drug doses is therefore not easy, and its adjustment to the life rhythm of Ramadan is often not rational. Aslam et al surveyed 81 patients to determine the alterations they made to their drug regimens during the fasting period of Ramadan.1 They found that 42% of the patients adhered to their usual treatment, and 58% changed their intake pattern. Among the second group, 35 patients stopped their treatments, eight changed the administration schedule, and four took all the daily doses in one intake. Another survey of 325 outpatients in a Kuwaiti hospital found that most of them changed their drug regimens during Ramadan.2 Sixty four per cent of the patients changed their therapeutic scheme during the month; 18% took their daily medicines in a single intake, either before the first meal (sunset) or straight after the last one (before dawn). The authors warned about the high risk of drug interactions in such cases. In fact, a 57 year old woman with heart failure experienced side effects of digitalis after being treated with both a thiazide diuretic and …
Neural Mechanisms of Sevoflurane-induced Respiratory Depression in Newborn Rats

Background:Sevoflurane-induced respiratory depression has been reported to be due to the action on medullary respiratory and phrenic motor neurons. These results were obtained from extracellular recordings of the neurons. Here, the authors made intracellular recordings of respiratory neurons and analyzed their membrane properties during sevoflurane application. Furthermore, they clarified the role of &ggr;-aminobutyric acid type A receptors in sevoflurane-induced respiratory depression. Methods:In the isolated brainstem–spinal cord of newborn rat, the authors recorded the C4 nerve burst as an index of inspiratory activity. The preparation was superfused with a solution containing sevoflurane alone or sevoflurane plus the &ggr;-aminobutyric acid type A receptor antagonist picrotoxin or bicuculline. Neuronal activities were also recorded using patch clamp techniques. Results:Sevoflurane decreased C4 burst rate and amplitude. Separate perfusion of sevoflurane to the medulla and to the spinal cord decreased C4 burst rate and amplitude, respectively. Both picrotoxin and bicuculline attenuated the reduction of C4 burst rate. Sevoflurane reduced both intraburst firing frequency and membrane resistance of respiratory neurons except for inspiratory neurons. Conclusion:Under the influence of sevoflurane, the region containing inspiratory neurons, i.e., the pre-Bötzinger complex, may determine the inspiratory rhythm, because reduced C4 bursts were still synchronized with the bursts of inspiratory neurons within the pre-Bötzinger complex. In contrast, the sevoflurane-induced decrease in C4 burst amplitude is mediated through the inhibition of phrenic motor neurons. &ggr;-Aminobutyric acid type A receptors may be involved in the sevoflurane-induced respiratory depression within the medulla, but not within the spinal cord.
Hybrid Nonisolated DC–DC Converters Derived From a Passive Switched-Capacitor Cell

This paper presents a hybrid nonisolated dc–dc commutation cell, which is generated by the integration between conventional commutation cell and ladder-type passive switched capacitor (SC) cell. From the resulted hybrid cell are derived three different dc–dc converters: a buck-type, a boost-type, and a buck–boost-type. The three structures are analyzed in this paper and are presented the topological stages, static gain characteristics in continuous conduction mode and discontinuous conduction mode, steady-state analysis. The analyses are generalized in relation to the number of switched-capacitor cells employed, which allows the increase of the rated gain of the converters by adding more SC cells. In addition, the proposed hybrid nonisolated dc–dc commutation divides naturally the voltage stress among the semiconductors and capacitors of the power stage. A 1-kW prototype was developed to verify the operation of the three proposed converters and their theoretical analysis. For the buck-type topology, designed with an input voltage of 600 V and output voltage of 450 V, a peak efficiency of 99.2% and efficiency at rated power of 99% were obtained.
Fragmentos remanescentes da bacia do ribeirão das Anhumas (Campinas, SP) : evolução e contexto

O ambiente e um complexo espaco-temporal resultante de fatores abioticos e bioticos, tambem definido pela historia e anseios humanos. A fragmentacao de habitats esta dentre as principais ameacas a biodiversidade global e e desencadeada por disturbios como expansoes urbana e da agropecuaria, bem como a exploracao de recursos naturais. Para compreender os efeitos da fragmentacao de habitats e indispensavel aliar bases ecologicas a valores e praticas humanos. Este trabalho buscou compreender a fragmentacao na bacia do ribeirao das Anhumas (Campinas, SP) aliando a analise da evolucao dos fragmentos a informacoes historicas de cada um deles. Alem disso, buscou compreender os diferentes contextos nos quais os fragmentos estao inseridos e de que forma essas informacoes obtidas poderiam contribuir para promover praticas de conservacao efetivas. Foram utilizados SIG para analise de fotos aereas multitemporais (1962, 1972 e 2002), realizadas visitas aos fragmentos, entrevistas com proprietarios ou responsaveis, e analisados documentos da Prefeitura Municipal de Campinas e de hemerotecas. A area total dos fragmentos decaiu de 615,34ha (1962) para 451,62ha (1972) e entao para 422,72ha (2002), correspondendo hoje a 2,82% da area total da bacia. Atualmente existem 34 fragmentos na bacia, dos quais 11 sao areas publicas e 23 estao localizados em propriedades privadas. Sete dos fragmentos estao tombados e 27 em estudo de tombamento. Os fragmentos estao sujeitos a diferentes pressoes, como incendio, corte de arvores, especies invasoras e exoticas, poluicao e especulacao imobiliaria. A condicao geral dos fragmentos da bacia e desentusiasmante, mas a articulacao e o esclarecimento do poder publico, da sociedade civil organizada e dos proprietarios dos fragmentos podem ser capazes de alterar essa situacao Abstract
Heterogeneity in the Evaluation of Quality Assurance Systems: The International Food Standard (IFS) in European Agribusiness

Due to the growing demands of customers and several food crises, quality assurance schemes have become increasingly popular in agribusiness. With this trend in mind, it seems worthwhile to take a closer look at the satisfaction of participating European companies. The study focuses on the IFS, which has gained much relevance in the food industry. A questionnaire concerned with perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of the IFS was answered by 389 companies. The results indicate that the overall evaluation of the IFS is primarily affected by the perceived usefulness of the catalogue of requirements and its evaluation. Furthermore, a cluster analysis was conducted and three clusters were identified, representing heterogeneous evaluations of the IFS.
Medical School Policies Regarding Struggling Medical Students During the Internal Medicine Clerkships: Results of a National Survey

Purpose To characterize policies of medical schools regarding struggling medical students: those at risk of receiving a grade of less than pass because of problems with knowledge, clinical skills, professionalism, or a combination of these items. Method The annual 2006 Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine (CDIM) survey included a section about how clerkship directors handle struggling third- and fourth-year medical students. The section contained 14 structured questions and five items requiring free-text responses. The items explored both core and fourth-year clerkship perspectives. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Eighty-three of the 110 (76%) institutional members responded. Respondents identified 0% to 15% of students as struggling each year during the required core internal medicine clerkship and 0% to 11% of fourth-year students. Two thirds of respondents present struggling students to a medical school promotion committee. More than half (64%) of respondents feel they should share information about struggling students with other clerkship directors, and 51% of respondents do share information. Clerkship directors are divided about whether it is in students’ best interests to disclose information about them with current teachers or other clerkship directors. Only 14% of institutions have written policies about sharing information, and 57% of clerkship directors design remediation plans for struggling students. Conclusions Internal medicine clerkship directors handle struggling students in widely varying ways. Many clerkship directors share information about struggling students; opinions are divided about whether this is appropriate. Future research is needed to determine the effectiveness of identifying and remediating struggling students and to determine effective remediation plans.
Decreased numbers and impaired function of circulating dendritic cell subsets in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (R2)

Background and Aim: To investigate the frequencies, numbers and function of circulating dendritic cell (DC) subsets in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, we assayed the circulating precursor DC subsets (including pDC1 and pDC2) and their ability in patients at various stages of HBV infection in vitro.