Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-Inflammatory Properties of a Novel N-Phenyl Pyridinone Inhibitor of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase: Preclinical-to-Clinical Translation

Signal transduction through the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway is central to the transcriptional and translational control of cytokine and inflammatory mediator production. p38 MAP kinase inhibition hence constitutes a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, based upon its potential to inhibit key pathways driving the inflammatory and destructive processes in these debilitating diseases. The present study describes the pharmacological properties of the N-phenyl pyridinone p38 MAP kinase inhibitor benzamide [3- [3-bromo-4-[(2,4-difluorophenyl)methoxy]-6-methyl-2- oxo-1(2H)-pyridinyl]-N,4-dimethyl-, (−)-(9CI); PH-797804]. PH-797804 is an ATP-competitive, readily reversible inhibitor of the α isoform of human p38 MAP kinase, exhibiting a Ki = 5.8 nM. In human monocyte and synovial fibroblast cell systems, PH-797804 blocks inflammation-induced production of cytokines and proinflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin E2, at concentrations that parallel inhibition of cell-associated p38 MAP kinase. After oral dosing, PH-797804 effectively inhibits acute inflammatory responses induced by systemically administered endotoxin in both rat and cynomolgus monkeys. Furthermore, PH-797804 demonstrates robust anti-inflammatory activity in chronic disease models, significantly reducing both joint inflammation and associated bone loss in streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis in rats and mouse collagen-induced arthritis. Finally, PH-797804 reduced tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 production in clinical studies after endotoxin administration in a dose-dependent manner, paralleling inhibition of the target enzyme. Low-nanomolar biochemical enzyme inhibition potency correlated with p38 MAP kinase inhibition in human cells and in vivo studies. In addition, a direct correspondence between p38 MAP kinase inhibition and anti-inflammatory activity was observed with PH-797804, thus providing confidence in dose projections for further human studies in chronic inflammatory disease.
Comparison of Emergency Nurses Association Emergency Severity Triage and Australian Emergency Mental Health Triage Systems for the Evaluation of Psychiatric Patients

The use of a triage system in the emergency department allows for the ability to reliably assign patients for treatment within a short amount of time in order to prioritize and treat on the basis of patients injury and illness. A 5 point triage system has been shown to have the highest correlation with effective resource utilizations, lower time to be seen and treatment times, and admission or release outcomes for patients. The problem is, however, that these triage scales were developed on the basis of physical illness and not on the ever-increasing number of patients who present with mental illness. This article compares one physical and one specific mental illness–based triage system to measure the differences in times to be seen by a physician. It found that the specialized psychiatric triage system decreased wait times and allowed symptoms to be addressed sooner for patients presenting with psychiatric complaints.
Humoral Serotonin and Dopamine Modulate the Feeding in The Snail, Helix pomatia

We investigated the effect of elevated levels of humoral 5HT and DA on the feeding latency of Helix pomatia , 1 day, 3 days and 10 days following satiation, by injecting monoamines into the haemocoel. HPLC assay of monoamines showed that both 5HT and DA are present in pmol/ml concentrations in the haemolymph of both starved and non-starved animals. Elevated levels of 5HT and DA were most effective at decreasing the feeding latency 10 days following satiation when DA decreased the feeding latency in a concentration dependent manner between 10^−7 and 10^−5 M whereas 5HT levels decreased the feeding latency only at 10^−6 M but increased it at 10^−5 M. Immunocytochemistry revealed that both 5HT3 and D1 receptor-like immuno-reactivity are present in cell bodies located in the same areas of the buccal ganglia. Our observations suggest that both humoral DA and 5HT mutually modulate the activity of the feeding CPG through neurons which have these receptors.
Toxic Effects of Lead on Biochemical and Histological Alterations in Green Mussel (Perna viridis) Induced by Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

Acute and chronic toxicity tests were conducted on green mussel (Perna viridis) to determine the adverse effects of lead (Pb). Exposure of organisms to acute toxicity test for 96 h and lethal concentration (LC50) was the endpoint of the test. Acute toxicity for 96-h LC50 and 95% confidence intervals of P. viridis was 2.62 ± 0.12 (2.62–3.24) mg/L Pb. Chronic toxicity tests revealed that survival of exposed organisms decreased with elevated exposure concentrations. No-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) and lowest-observed-effect concentration (LOEC) were calculated based on survival of test organisms. Results of this study demonstrated an increase in toxicity in test organisms with rise in exposure time and concentration. In this study, histology and biochemical enzymes, namely, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and lipid peroxides, were correlated with chronic value and survival endpoints of P. viridis after chronic exposure to Pb. Biochemical and histological responses to different concentrations of Pb were assessed and significant differences were observed between control and increasing exposure concentrations. Biomarker studies in internal organs confirmed that the observed changes are due to adverse effects of Pb. This assessment of toxicity was the first step to determining the seawater quality criteria for marine organisms.
The utility of computed tomography scans in predicting suboptimal cytoreductive surgery in women with advanced ovarian carcinoma

Computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and pelvis may predict which patients with ovarian carcinoma can undergo optimal cytoreduction at primary surgery. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with ovarian carcinoma had optimal cytoreduction rates ranging from 50–60%. The authors sought to determine whether these findings applied to a surgical practice with a higher rate of optimal debulking. A predictive model using CT scanning and CA 125 values would allow the authors to determine which patients would be more appropriately treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Prevalence and associated factors of traumatic dental injuries in Brazilian schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the prevalence of traumatic dental injury (TDI) and associated factors in the permanent incisors of Brazilian schoolchildren. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 1,612 male and female children aged 11 to 14 attending public and private elementary schools in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select the children. Oral examinations were performed by calibrated examiners for the diagnosis of TDI (criteria proposed by Andreasen) and dental caries [Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth Index (DMFT)]. The Social Vulnerability Index was used for socioeconomic classification. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and the Poisson regression model. RESULTS The prevalence of TDI was 17.1%. Falls (43.6%) were the most common cause of TDI, mainly at home (41.8%). Boys were more affected than girls. There was no statistically significant association between TDI and socioeconomic status. The adjusted results revealed that TDI was significantly associated with DMFT [1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06 to 1.16] and overjet (1.15, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.31). CONCLUSIONS TDI was associated with dental caries and overjet and was not influenced by socioeconomic status.
The association between the body mass index and 4-year all-cause mortality in older hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND Association between body mass index (BMI) and long-term mortality is poorly studied in older hospitalized populations. METHODS The researchers prospectively studied the impact of the BMI, comorbidities, and malnutrition on long-term mortality in 444 patients (mean age 85.3±6.7 years; 74.0% women) receiving geriatric inpatient care. All-cause mortality was determined using simple and multiple Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS Higher BMI was associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure, but with a lower prevalence of malignancies. Four-year all-cause mortality was inversely associated with a BMI greater than or equal to 30kg/m(2) (hazard ratio = 0.59, p = .037) and positively associated with age, male gender, several individual comorbidities, and the global disease load determined by the Cumulative Illness Rating scale. The inverse association between a BMI greater than or equal to 30 and mortality remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, smoking, individual comorbidities (including heart failure and malignancies), Cumulative Illness Rating scale scores, and malnutrition parameters (hazard ratio = 0.52, p = .015). One-year mortality was associated with the Cumulative Illness Rating scale score but not with BMI categories. There were no survival differences between patients in low (<20.0) and intermediate (20.0-24.9 and 25.0-29.9) BMI categories. CONCLUSIONS A BMI greater than or equal to 30 is associated with better long-term survival in hospitalized older patients, even after extensive adjustment for comorbidities, malnutrition, and smoking. Conversely, a low BMI (<20-25) is not associated with excess mortality, likely due to the overriding impact of multiple comorbidities. The researchers' observations have important implications for the mortality risk stratification in older high-risk patients.
Teaching methods in science subjects promoting sustainability

Sustainability is internationally often emphasized as an essential aim of higher education, but more as a principle than on the practical level. This is also obvious in the academic education of primary teachers in Finland. Therefore, it is a great challenge for Finnish teachers to include sustainability in their teaching and everyday life in schools. The aim of this article is to critically analyze why the implementation of sustainability in teacher education is so intricate and to discuss possible solutions with Finland—a country highly valued for its education—as an example. The article reports outcomes from educational policy documents and research on educational, philosophical, scientific and social aspects of sustainability, including evaluation of how sustainability has been implemented in schools and at universities, especially among teacher educators. In addition, the article builds on analyses of comprehensive university strategies and primary school teacher education programs. We found these reasons for the ignoring of sustainability in the Finnish teacher education: sustainability is in conflict with overall trends in society and politics, teacher education takes place at universities and is based on separate academic disciplines. Sustainability is also intricate because it is strongly connected to ecological literacy and it is value dependent. Universities need to overcome these obstacles and become forerunners in the sustainability process.
Contributions of the Transplant Registry: The 2006 Annual Report of the North American Pediatric Renal Trials and Collaborative Studies (NAPRTCS) *

Abstract: This summary of the NAPRTCS 2006 Annual Report of the Transplant Registry highlights the significant impact the registry has had in advancing knowledge in pediatric renal transplantation worldwide. This cooperative group has collected clinical information on children undergoing a renal transplantation since 1987 and now includes over 150 participating medical centers in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Currently, the NAPRTCS transplant registry includes information on 9837 renal transplants in 8990 patients (NAPRTCS 2006 Annual Report). Since the first data analysis in 1989, NAPRTCS reports have documented marked improvements in outcome after renal transplantation in addition to identifying factors associated with both favorable and poor outcomes. The registry has served to document and influence practice patterns, clinical outcomes, and changing trends in renal transplantation.
Ncf1 polymorphism reveals oxidative regulation of autoimmune chronic inflammation

The current review on the function of neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (NCF1) and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) is based on a genetic search for the major genes controlling autoimmune inflammatory disorders. Surprisingly, the disease‐promoting allele determined a lower ROS response and was therefore in complete contrast to the prevailing dogma. Once cloned, it opened the possibility to dissect this complex field from a new angle and with the possibilities to study the role of ROS in vivo. We found that NCF1 and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) complex‐derived ROS is an important regulator of several chronic inflammatory disorders by using models for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis, gout, and lupus. ROS could therefore affect many different types of diseases and the common denominator seems to be that ROS regulate macrophages, which prevents inflammation from going chronic. The role of ROS is currently changing from being seen as toxic agents that will promote inflammation toward a more complex view with ROS as crucial regulators of immune and inflammatory pathways.
Prevalence of the Association of Subacromial Impingement with Subcoracoid Impingement and Their Clinical Effects

OBJECTIVES: A prospective study to determine how commonly chronic subacromial impingement is associated with subcoracoid impingement and to evaluate clinical outcome after arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD). METHODS: Subacromial and coracohumeral distances were evaluated in patients with chronic shoulder pain before and after ASD, using magnetic resonance imaging and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scale and Constant—Murley shoulder assessment. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were included in the study; patients were followed up for a mean of 27.3 months. Before ASD, 14 (35%) patients with chronic subacromial impingement also had subcoracoid impingement. In these patients, the mean coracohumeral distance was 7.18 mm (range 5.00 – 11.00 mm). After ASD, no patient had subcoracoid impingement, and the mean coracohumeral distance was significantly longer than pre-ASD, 12.85 mm (range 11.00 – 15.00 mm). The Constant—Murley shoulder assessment and UCLA shoulder scale both showed improvement after ASD. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic subacromial impingement occurred together with subcoracoid impingement in 35% of patients presenting with chronic shoulder pain. Following ASD, the coracohumeral distance increased with remission from pain.
Partial purification, properties, and subcellulsr distribution of rat liver phosphatidate phosphatase.

Phosphatidate phosphatase (EC 3.1. 3.4Y was purified 15- to 20-fold from the soluble fraction of rat liver. The purification procedure involved calcium phosphate gel adsorption and elution, ammonium sulfact precipitation, and molecular-sieve chromatography. For the enzyme assay, and aqueous dispersion of phosphatidate, rather than "membrane-bound" phosphatidate, was used as substrate. The partially purified enzyme depends almost entirely on the presence of Mg2+ for its activity. Morover, the activity of the enzyme is stimulated by phosphatidylcholine. The enzyme exhibits a high substrate specificity for phosphatidate. The apparent Km for phosphatidate is approximately 0.05 mM. The optimum pH is between 7.4 and 7.6. The enzyme is inhibited by fluoride and by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The subcellular distribution of phosphatidate phosphatase in rat liver was studied by assaying the activity of the enzyme in the presence of Mg2+ and phosphatidylcholine. In contrast ot the results of previous studies, most of the enzyme activity was found in the soluble fraction.
THE GENETICS OF REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION AND THE POTENTIAL FOR GENE EXCHANGE BETWEEN DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA AND D. PERSIMILIS VIA BACKCROSS HYBRID MALES

Abstract Hybrid male sterility, hybrid inviability, sexual isolation, and a hybrid male courtship dysfunction reproductively isolate Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis. Previous studies of the genetic bases of these isolating mechanisms have yielded only limited information about how much and what areas of the genome are susceptible to interspecies introgression. We have examined the genetic basis of these barriers to gene exchange in several thousand backcross hybrid male progeny of these species using 14 codominant molecular genetic markers spanning the five chromosomes of these species, focusing particularly on the autosomes. Hybrid male sterility, hybrid inviability, and the hybrid male courtship dysfunction were all associated with X-autosome interactions involving primarily the inverted regions on the left arm of the X-chromosome and the center of the second chromosome. Sexual isolation from D. pseudoobscura females was primarily associated with the left arm of the X-chromosome, although both the right arm and the center of the second chromosome also contributed to it. Sexual isolation from D. persimilis females was primarily associated with the second chromosome. The absence of isolating mechanisms being associated with many autosomal regions, including some large inverted regions that separate the strains, suggests that these phenotypes may not be caused by genes spread throughout the genome. We suggest that gene flow between these species via hybrid males may be possible at loci spread across much of the autosomes.
Using dVRK teleoperation to facilitate deep learning of automation tasks for an industrial robot

Deep Learning from Demonstrations (Deep LfD) is a promising approach for robots to perform precise bilateral automation tasks involving contact and deformation, where dynamics are difficult to model explicitly. Deep LfD methods typically use datasets of 1) human videos, which do not match robot kinematics and capabilities or 2) waypoints collected with tedious move-and-record interfaces, such as teaching pendants or kinesthetic teaching. We explore an alternative using the Intuitive Surgical da Vinci, which combines a pair of gravity-balanced, high-precision, passive, and 6-DOF master arms with stereo vision, allowing humans to teleoperate precise surgical automation tasks. We present DY-Teleop, an interface between the da Vinci master manipulators and an ABB YuMi industrial robot to facilitate the collection of time-synchronized images and robot states for deep learning of automation tasks involving deformation and dynamic contact. The system has an average latency of 194ms and executes commands at 6Hz. We present YuMiPy, an open source library and ROS package for controlling an ABB YuMi over Ethernet. Data collection experiments with scooping a ball into a cup, untying a knot in a rope, and pipetting liquid between two containers suggest that demonstrations obtained by DY-Teleop are comparable with those by kinesthetic teaching in demonstration time. We performed Deep LfD for the scooping task and found that the policy trained with DY-Teleop achieved a 1.8× higher success rate than a policy trained with kinesthetic teaching. Code, videos, and data are available at berkeleyautomation.github. io/teleop.
High Consumption of Farmed Salmon Does Not Disrupt the Steady State of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) in Human Plasma and Adipose Tissue

The aims of this study were to (1) determine any changes in the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POP) and mercury (Hg) in human plasma and adipose tissue and (2) examine associations between plasma levels of pollutants and dietary fat intake. Outpatients with different metabolic disorders (n = 42) consumed 380 g of farmed Atlantic salmon fillets or 60 g of salmon oil per week in two study periods of 15 wk each, and were compared with a control group (n = 14). Concentrations of POP and Hg were measured in salmon fillets, salmon oil capsules, plasma and abdominal fat biopsies from patients before and after intervention. Mean concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p′-DDE, sum of indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) (id-PCB), and sum polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in abdominal fat at intervention start were 21, 191, 267, and 4.2 ng/g lipid weight. After 15 or 30 wk of salmon consumption no significant changes in concentrations of POP and Hg in samples of human plasma and abdominal fat were observed, indicating that steady-state levels of these pollutants were not markedly affected. The lack of significant changes may partly be attributed to a limited number of samples, large interindividual variation in POP levels, and a large age span (20–70 yr). After adjusting for age, significant associations were found between different plasma long-chain fatty acid concentrations, including n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and oleic acid, and some of the POP. The results indicate that the latter have different food products as their main sources of human exposure.
Adaptation of Haplobothrium globuliforme (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) to the Intestinal Architecture of the Bowfin (Amia calva L)

Abstract Haplobothrium globuliforme maintains its position in the proximal mid-gut epithelium of Amia calva with the aid of tentacles, i.e., proboscides, everted from scolices of a primary strobila and craspedote proglottids of a secondary strobila. Weakly developed scolices of the secondary strobila appear to have little holdfast action, but the distinctly craspedote proglottids of these individuals project into the intestinal mucosa, altering the configuration of gut epithelial cells and pushing the tapeworm deeper into mucosal crypts. The basement membrane underlying the epithelium appears to act as a barrier that prevents tapeworms from penetrating into the deeper tissue layers of the lamina propria, muscularis mucosa, or submucosa. Scolex tegument modification occurs at the point of contact with host basement membrane. A mild background infiltrate of lymphocytes and granulocytes was evident adjacent to the scolex and proglottid tegument. There was no evidence of blood vessel proliferation, edema, mast cell degranulation, eosinophilia, or subsequent collagen formation associated with tapeworm activity.
Induction of Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) CD8+ and CD4+ T-Cell Reactivity by Dendritic Cells Loaded with HIV-1 X4-Infected Apoptotic Cells

ABSTRACT T-cell responses to X4 strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are considered important in controlling progression of HIV-1 infection. We investigated the ability of dendritic cells (DC) and various forms of HIV-1 X4 antigen to induce anti-HIV-1 T-cell responses in autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-1-infected persons. Immature DC loaded with HIV-1 IIIB-infected, autologous, apoptotic CD8− cells and matured with CD40 ligand induced gamma interferon production in autologous CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. In contrast, mature DC loaded with HIV-1 IIIB-infected, necrotic cells or directly infected with cell-free HIV-1 IIIB were poorly immunogenic. Thus, HIV-1-infected cells undergoing apoptosis serve as a rich source of X4 antigen for CD8+ and CD4+ T cells by DC. This may be an important mechanism of HIV-1 immunogenicity and provides a strategy for immunotherapy of HIV-1-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy.