Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient Interactions and Toxicity— Research Communication Nephrocalcinosis Caused by Dietary Calcium:Phosphorus Imbalance in Female Rats Develops Rapidly and Is Irreversible

Female rats fed the standardized AIN-76A diet develop kidney calcium deposits (nephrocalcinosis, NC). A low dietary Ca:P molar ratio is a primary factor in this disorder. The AIN-93G diet has a lower P content and higher Ca:P molar ratio and lowers the incidence of NC. To examine the early stages of NC induced by dietary Ca:P imbalance and the potential reversibility of this disorder, weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a modified AIN-93G test diet containing Ca:P at AIN-76A levels (NCinducing diet) for 0.5–16 wk before necropsy, or were switched to AIN-93G control diet after 0.5–4 wk until necropsy at 16 wk. A dramatic increase in incidence and severity of NC was noted after 2 wk of feeding the test diet. NC was not reversible by switching to the control diet. As little as 0.5 wk of exposure to the test diet followed by 15.5 wk of consuming the control diet resulted in increased incidence and severity of NC compared with 16 wk of consuming the control diet. Short-term (as little as several days) feeding of an NC-inducing diet to female rats can lead to NC even if they are switched to an optimal diet. J. Nutr. 134: 637–640, 2004.
Comparison of Dalmatian Water Evaluation Indices

Water quality in the Dalmatian waters of Southern Croatia was assessed using four different indices: an arithmetic index, arithmetic modified index, geometric modified index, and Solway‐modified index. The waters were sampled 12 times during 1 year (from July 1998 to July 1999) at 50 sampling sites in Dalmatia. Nine water quality parameters were evaluated: temperature, mineralization, corrosion coefficient, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total coliform. A comparison of the indices showed that the arithmetic modified index and Solway modified index are relatively similar for high‐quality water (i.e., they enable better discrimination between high‐ and low‐quality water). Both indices, however, tend to yield a lower index number for low‐quality waters.
Bronchoscopic staging of lung cancer

Advances in bronchoscopy have contributed valuable tools to the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Detection of lesions at the premalignant microscopic stage has become possible with autofluorescence bronchoscopy and narrow band imaging. Bronchoscopy also allows for sampling of visible intra-bronchial lesions and for transbronchial needle aspiration of lesions in pulmonary parenchyma. With endobronchial ultrasound guidance, real-time evaluation and biopsy of mediastinal and pulmonary lesions can be achieved, enabling accurate clinical and pathological T-staging and N-staging without the need for surgery. In combination with advanced imaging techniques, Navigational bronchoscopy allows for the targeting and biopsy of the most peripheral lesions that are located in the smallest airways. For patients in whom tumor genetics are important, bronchoscopic-guided transbronchial biopsy can provide sufficient material for molecular analysis. As minimally invasive technology continues to evolve and improve, bronchoscopic techniques are poised to continue to be essential for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.
First detection of triply-deuterated methanol

We report the first detection of triply-deuterated methanol, with 12 observed transitions, towards the low-mass protostar IRAS 16293−2422, as well as multifrequency observations of 13 CH3OH, used to derive the column density of the main isotopomer CH3OH. The derived fractionation ratio (CD3OH)/(CH3OH) averaged on a 10 �� beam is 1.4%. Together with previous CH2DOH and CHD2OH observations, the present CD3OH observations are consistent with a formation of methanol on grain surfaces, if the atomic D/H ratio is 0.1 to 0.3 in the accreting gas. Such a high atomic ratio can be reached in the framework of gas-phase chemical models including all deuterated isotopomers of H + .
FOUR YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF FIRST EPISODE MANIC PATIENTS

51 patients who were admitted for their first manic episode were followed up for 4 years after discharge from the hospital. 32 (62.7%) patients came for regular follow-ups whereas 19 (37.3%) patients did not come for any follow up. 19 (59.4%) patients out of the 32 patients had subsequent recurrences. 8 (25.0%) patients had a single recurrence only, whereas 11 (34.4%) patients had multiple recurrences. In total, 31 (74.19%) recurrences occurred in 4 years, out of which 23 (25.81%) recurrences were for mania and only 8 for depression. 46.88% patients had relapsed at the end of the first year and by the third year all 19 (59.4%) patients had relapsed. The chances of having a depressive episode was highest in the first six months after recovery from manic episode. Patients with a family history of bipolar illness had a more deleterious course. Poor drug compliance was a factor associated with greater relapse rates. Amongst the patients receiving regular medication, the patients who were on lithium had the best outcome. 48.8% patients had subsequent admissions in the four year follow up. Patients with late age of onset and substance abuse had required greater number of admissions.
N‐acetylcysteine versus N‐acetylcysteine + theophylline for the prevention of contrast nephropathy

Background The use of N‐acetylcysteine or theophylline in specific subgroups of patients has been suggested to reduce the incidence of contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing angiographic procedures. Our purpose was to compare the use of N‐acetylcysteine versus N‐acetylcysteine + theophylline for the prevention of CIN.
Cascaded processing in written naming: Evidence from the picture–picture interference paradigm

The issue of how information flows within the lexical system in written naming was investigated in five experiments. In Experiment 1, participants named target pictures that were accompanied by context pictures having phonologically and orthographically related or unrelated names (e.g., a picture of a “ball” superimposed on a picture of a “bed”). In Experiment 2, the related condition consisted of target and context pictures that shared the initial letter but not the initial sound. In both experiments, a facilitatory effect of relatedness was observed on the latencies. Experiment 3 tested whether phonology contributes to the facilitation effect found in the written latencies in Experiment 2 by using target and context pictures that shared the initial phoneme but not the initial grapheme. This experiment did not reveal any reliable difference between the related and unrelated conditions. In Experiments 4 and 5, control tasks were used to rule out a perceptual and conceptual account of the orthographic facilitation effect found in Experiment 2. The findings suggest that the recognition of an object leads to the activation of its name, and thus, that the activation within the lexical system in written-naming flows in a cascaded manner.
Prognostic Factors for Functional Independence in Older Adults With Mild Dementia: Results From the Canadian Study of Health and Aging

We investigated the prevalence of and prognostic factors for functional independence in personal activities of daily living in a population-based sample of 90 seniors with mild dementia from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Personal activities of daily living were assessed from the report of proxy respondents at baseline and at the 5-year follow-up (or retrospectively if death had occurred). Sixteen (17.8% of the total group of 90) subjects maintained their personal activities of daily living independence over the full 5-year period or up to 3 months before death (15.1% if the four subjects reclassified as not demented at the second wave are excluded). An age of 75–84 years (vs. those 65–74 years of age and 85+ years of age; odds ratio 12.9, 95% confidence interval 2.7, 112.7), the absence of gait-balance-movement problems (odds ratio 5.2, 95% confidence interval 1.3, 25.8), the presence of extrapyramidal signs (odds ratio 9.5), and fewer years of formal education (odds ratio 3.6) were favorable prognostic factors in our multivariate modeling. An absence of sensory problems was a statistically significant favorable prognostic factor in bivariate analysis. Prior studies on the time required for patients with dementia to progress to functional milestones used clinic-based samples. Our findings, which have potential public health implications, need to be confirmed and expanded upon.
Trajectory Tracking in a Mobile Robot without Using Velocity Measurements for Control of Wheels

In this paper we present a solution for the trajectory tracking problem in a newt mobile robot. We exploit the differential flatness property of the robot kinematic model to propose an input-output linearization controller which allows both the position and the orientation to track a desired trajectory. An important assumption is that robot has to be initially placed at a point on such a desired trajectory. This controller provides the velocity profiles that the robot wheels have to track and a second controller has to be designed in order to ensure the latter. This is accomplished by means of another differential flatness based control scheme which does not require measurements of any mechanical variables, i.e. velocities, to control the DC motors used as actuators at the wheels. We verify our findings through numerical simulations.
Tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) expression in colorectal cancers highlights anoikis resistance as a survival mechanism of tumour budding cells

Tumour buds in colorectal cancer represent an aggressive subgroup of non‐proliferating and non‐apoptotic tumour cells. We hypothesize that the survival of tumour buds is dependent upon anoikis resistance. The role of tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), a promoter of epithelial–mesenchymal transition and anoikis resistance, in facilitating budding was investigated.
Vitamin B 6 Nutritional Status of a Psychiatric Outpatient Population

The B6 status of 232 psychiatric outpatients was evaluated using a modification of the erythrocyte oxaloacetic glutamic transaminase (E-GOT) assay of Kishi and Folkers. On a control group this assay procedure was compared with plasma B6 levels and dietary intake. A good correlation was found between dietary intake, plasma B6 levels and the degree of deficiency measured on the basis of pyridoxal phosphate stimulation of the E-GOT assay. The patient population fell into three groups on the basis of their B6 intake. One group was not taking any supplemental B6, a second group was taking supplements up to 10 mgs per day while the third group was taking mega dose amounts of B6. Basal E-GOT levels for the three groups were 58.3, 73.9, and 110.0;uM/ hr/ml RBC respectively. The mean percent deficiency of the group not taking any B6 was 17.7 percent while the group taking supplemental levels of B6 had deficiencies of 7.2 percent. B6 deficiency was more prominent in young adults and in the aged. The E-GOT assay involving stimulation by pyridoxal phosphate appears to be a useful procedure for the evaluation of the B6 status of individuals and for following a therapeutic regime involving vitamin B6 Introduction Deficiencies of water soluble vitamins in psychiatric patients have been reported by . Brain Bio Center Princeton. New Jersey 08540 numerous investigators. B12 and folic acid deficiencies in such patients were noted by Carney (1979a), pyridoxine by Nubbs (1974), and thiamine in regard to mental aberrations in alcoholics by Riding (1975). Mental depression was noted in subjects on a synthetic diet deficient in B6 (Hawkins and Barsky, 1948). This was the earliest reported study of human B6 deficiency induced by having individuals on a synthetic B6 deficient diet for a 25 day period. No definitive symptoms of B6 deficiency appeared except for the mental depression. Sauberlich et al. (1970) have reported that subjects on a B6 deficient diet develop personality changes characterized by depression, irritability and a loss of sense of responsibility. Carney et al. (1979b) reported that pyridoxine malnutrition may play a role in endogenous depression. Some investigators have proposed a significant role for water soluble vitamins in the treatment of mental illness (Hoffer et al., 1957; Pfeiffer, 1974). For over a decade vitamins have been employed as part of the treatment regimen of the Brain Bio Center in the treatment of various psychiatric and metabolic disorders with little evidence of any undesirable side effects.
Fibrinogen and platelet contributions to clot formation: Implications for trauma resuscitation and thromboprophylaxis

BACKGROUND Thromboelastography (TEG) is used to diagnose perturbations in clot formation and lysis that are characteristic of acute traumatic coagulopathy. With novel functional fibrinogen (FF) TEG, fibrin- and platelet-based contributions to clot formation can be elucidated to tailor resuscitation and thromboprophylaxis. We sought to describe the longitudinal contributions of fibrinogen and platelets to clot strength after injury, hypothesizing that low levels of FF and a low contribution of fibrinogen to clot strength on admission would be associated with coagulopathy, increased transfusion requirements, and worse outcomes. METHODS A total of 603 longitudinal plasma samples were prospectively collected from 251 critically injured patients at a single Level 1 trauma center from 0 hour to 120 hours. TEG maximal amplitude (MA), FF MA, FF levels, von Clauss fibrinogen, and standard coagulation measures were performed in parallel. Percentage contributions of FF (%MAFF) and platelets (%MAplatelets) were calculated as each MA divided by overall kaolin TEG MA. RESULTS Coagulopathic patients (international normalized ratio ≥ 1.3) had significantly lower admission %MAFF than noncoagulopathic patients (24.7% vs. 31.2%, p < 0.05). Patients requiring plasma transfusion had a significantly lower admission %MAFF (26.6% vs. 30.6%, p < 0.05). Higher admission %MAFF was predictive of reduced mortality (hazard ratio, 0.815, p < 0.001). %MAplatelets was higher than %MAFF at all time points, decreased over time, and stabilized at 72 hours (69.4% at 0 hour, 56.2% at 72 hours). In contrast, %MAFF increased over time and stabilized at 72 hours (30.6% at 0 hour, 43.8% at 72 hours). CONCLUSION FF TEG affords differentiation of fibrin- versus platelet-based clot dynamics. Coagulopathy and plasma transfusion were associated with a lower %MAFF. Despite this importance of fibrinogen, platelets had a greater contribution to clot strength at all time points after injury. This suggests that attention to these relative contributions should guide resuscitation and thromboprophylaxis and that antiplatelet therapy may be of underrecognized importance to thromboprophylaxis after trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.
Morphological and Morphometric Analysis of Hypoglossal Canal in North Indian Dry Skulls and It's Significance in Cranial Base Surgeries.

INTRODUCTION Hypoglossal Canal (HC) is a paired bony passage which is situated above the Occipital Condyle (OC) and transmits hypoglossal nerve and blood vessels. Studies on the osteotic variations of HC has been a field of considerable interest to research workers especially because of its clinical, radiological and surgical significance. AIM The aim of the present study was to analyze the morphological and morphometric features of HC and its topographical relationship with OC. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was done on 50 human dry skulls. The HC was looked for presence of spur and septa along with its location in the canal and were classified into different types accordingly. The distance of extracranial and intracranial openings of HC from the posterior end of OC was measured by Sliding Vernier caliper. Angle of inclination of HC with the midsagittal plane was measured with the help of goniometer. RESULTS In the present study, we observed osteotic variations in the HC in 52% skulls. The spur (Type 2) was seen in 28% and incomplete septa (Type 3) was noted in 26% skulls. In some cases, spur and septa were seen in different locations of same HC. However, complete septa (Type 4) were not observed in our study. Spur and septa, both were present more frequently on the left side. The external and internal distance of HC from posterior end of OC was more on the left side in comparison to the right side. The anterior angle of HC to the midsagittal plane is less in comparison to posterior angle in case of double internal opening of HC. CONCLUSION The present study regarding morphologic and morphometric analysis of HC and its relation to the OC will provide important information in North Indian population. It will enable effective and reliable surgical intervention in the area of HC and craniovertebral junction leading to better postoperative outcome.
Organ donation after cardiac death in children: acceptance of a protocol by multidisciplinary staff.

BACKGROUND Organ donation after cardiac death is increasingly implemented, with outcomes similar to those of organ donation after brain death. Many hospitals hesitate to implement a protocol for donation after cardiac death because of the potential negative reactions among health care providers. OBJECTIVES To determine the acceptance of a protocol for donation after cardiac death among multidisciplinary staff in a pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS An anonymous, 15-question, Likert-scale questionnaire (scores 1-5) was used to determine the opinions of staff about donation after brain death and after cardiac death in a pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary-care university hospital. RESULTS Survey response rate was 67% (n = 60). All physicians, 89% of nurses, and 82% of the remaining staff members stated that they understood the difference between donation after brain death and donation after cardiac death; staff supported both types of donation, at rates of 90% and 85%, respectively. Staff perception was the same for each type of donation (ρ = 0.82; r = 0.92; P < .001). The 20 staff members who provided care directly to patients who were donors after cardiac death considered such donation worthwhile. However, 60% of those providers offered suggestions to improve the established protocol for donation. CONCLUSIONS The multidisciplinary staff has accepted organ donation after cardiac death and has fully integrated this kind of donation without reported differences from their acceptance of donation after brain death.
Analysis of Culture-Dependent versus Culture-Independent Techniques for Identification of Bacteria in Clinically Obtained Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

ABSTRACT The diagnosis and management of pneumonia are limited by the use of culture-based techniques of microbial identification, which may fail to identify unculturable, fastidious, and metabolically active viable but unculturable bacteria. Novel high-throughput culture-independent techniques hold promise but have not been systematically compared to conventional culture. We analyzed 46 clinically obtained bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic lung transplant recipients both by culture (using a clinical microbiology laboratory protocol) and by bacterial 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. Bacteria were identified in 44 of 46 (95.7%) BAL fluid specimens by culture-independent sequencing, significantly more than the number of specimens in which bacteria were detected (37 of 46, 80.4%, P ≤ 0.05) or “pathogen” species reported (18 of 46, 39.1%, P ≤ 0.0001) via culture. Identification of bacteria by culture was positively associated with culture-independent indices of infection (total bacterial DNA burden and low bacterial community diversity) (P ≤ 0.01). In BAL fluid specimens with no culture growth, the amount of bacterial DNA was greater than that in reagent and rinse controls, and communities were markedly dominated by select Gammaproteobacteria, notably Escherichia species and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Culture growth above the threshold of 104 CFU/ml was correlated with increased bacterial DNA burden (P < 0.01), decreased community diversity (P < 0.05), and increased relative abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P < 0.001). We present two case studies in which culture-independent techniques identified a respiratory pathogen missed by culture and clarified whether a cultured “oral flora” species represented a state of acute infection. In summary, we found that bacterial culture of BAL fluid is largely effective in discriminating acute infection from its absence and identified some specific limitations of BAL fluid culture in the diagnosis of pneumonia. We report the first correlation of quantitative BAL fluid culture results with culture-independent evidence of infection.
Nonlinear theory of resonant slow MHD waves in twisted magnetic flux tubes

The nonlinear dynamics of resonant slow MHD waves in weakly dissipative plasmas is investigated in cylindrical geometry with a twisted equilibrium magnetic field. Linear theory has shown that the wave motion is governed by conservation laws and jump conditions across the resonant surface considered as a singularity - first derived in linear ideal MHD theory by Sakurai, Goossens and Hollweg [Solar Phys. 133, 227 (1991)]. By means of the simplified method of matched asymptotic expansions, we obtain the generalized connection formulae for the variables across the dissipative layer, and we derive a non-homogeneous nonlinear partial differential equation for the wave dynamics in the dissipative layer.
Microbial fructosyltransferases and the role of fructans

Microbial fructosyltransferases are polymerases that are involved in microbial fructan (levan, inulin and fructo‐oligosaccharide) biosynthesis. Structurally, microbial fructosyltransferase proteins share the catalytic domain of glycoside hydrolases 68 family and are grouped in seven phylogenetically related clusters. Fructosyltransferase‐encoding genes are organized in operons or in clusters associated with other genes related to carbohydrate metabolism or fructosyltransferase secretion. Fructosyltransferase gene expression is mainly regulated by two‐component systems or phosphorelay mechanisms that respond to sucrose availability or other environmental signals. Microbial fructans are involved in conferring resistance to environmental stress such as water deprivation, nutrient assimilation, biofilm formation, and as virulence factors in colonization. As a result of the biological and industrial importance of fructans, fructosyltransferases have been the subject of extensive research, conducted to improve their enzymatic activity or to elucidate their biological role in nature.
Branched chorda tympani neurons and interactions among taste receptors

The preterminal branching pattern of nerve fibers from the chorda tympani nerve was examined in the tongues of rats using a normal silver stain. The lingual branch of the trigeminal nerve was sectioned unilaterally proximal to where it is joined by the chorda tympani and these fibers were allowed to degenerate from eight to ten days prior to sacrifice of the animals. Termination of the chorda tympani fibers in the anterior tongue was found to be limited to the taste bud region of the fungiform papillae. The control side of the tongue showed ubiquitous fiber terminations in the basal layers of the common epithelium of the filiform papillae as well as in the lateral walls of the fungiform papillae. These fibers were assumed to be of trigeminal origin. Seventy‐nine percent of the fungiform papillae on the experimental side of the tongue received fibers from a branched nerve bundle. Branch points within the nerve bundles were located deep within the tongue 300–500 μ below the taste bud in 43% of the papillae, at the base of 36% of the fungiform papillae about 125 μ below the taste bud, and within the papilla.