Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Picroside II decreases the development of fibrosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract In kidney transplantation, renal ischemia and reperfusion injury was one of the leading factors to the development of renal fibrosis, which was the main cause of graft loss. The fibrogenic changes were associated with the long term inflammation elicited by ischemia and reperfusion injury. In the present study, we investigated the role of the Picroside II, the main active constituents of the extract of picrorrhiza scrophulariiflora roots, in attenuating renal fibrosis in a renal ischemia and reperfusion injury model. We induced ischemia and reperfusion injury in kidneys treated with or without Picroside II. We observed that inflammation and tissue fibrosis were increased in ischemia and reperfusion injury group compared to Picroside II group, however, these changes were significantly decreased by the treatment with Picroside II. We concluded that Picroside II can protect the ischemic kidney against renal fibrosis and its mechanism may be through the inhibition of the long term inflammation.
Applying Computerized-Scoring Models of Written Biological Explanations across Courses and Colleges: Prospects and Limitations

Our study explored the prospects and limitations of using machine-learning software to score introductory biology students’ written explanations of evolutionary change. We investigated three research questions: 1) Do scoring models built using student responses at one university function effectively at another university? 2) How many human-scored student responses are needed to build scoring models suitable for cross-institutional application? 3) What factors limit computer-scoring efficacy, and how can these factors be mitigated? To answer these questions, two biology experts scored a corpus of 2556 short-answer explanations (from biology majors and nonmajors) at two universities for the presence or absence of five key concepts of evolution. Human- and computer-generated scores were compared using kappa agreement statistics. We found that machine-learning software was capable in most cases of accurately evaluating the degree of scientific sophistication in undergraduate majors’ and nonmajors’ written explanations of evolutionary change. In cases in which the software did not perform at the benchmark of “near-perfect” agreement (kappa > 0.80), we located the causes of poor performance and identified a series of strategies for their mitigation. Machine-learning software holds promise as an assessment tool for use in undergraduate biology education, but like most assessment tools, it is also characterized by limitations.
Closed pleural needle biopsy: predicting diagnostic yield by examining pleural fluid parameters.

OBJECTIVE Pleural fluid parameters that predict a diagnostic closed pleural needle biopsy were investigated. DESIGN A retrospective analysis. SETTING The Institute of Pulmonology, Hadassah University Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-four patients who underwent closed pleural needle biopsies were included in this study. Pleural fluid values of protein, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), pH, and white blood cell count with differential cell counts, from patients with diagnostic and non-diagnostic pleural biopsies were compared. RESULTS Thirteen patients (29%) had diagnostic biopsies. Malignancy was identified in 10 patients (23%), of whom 70% had adenocarcinoma. Three other patients had non-malignant specific diagnosis. LDH levels in pleural fluid from patients with diagnostic pleural biopsy were higher than in patients with non-diagnostic pleural biopsies (1436 +/- 333 U l(-1) vs. 775 +/- 109 U l(-1); P < 0.05). LDH levels less than 510 U l(-1) were highly predictive of a negative biopsy (negative predictive value of 86.6%). Follow up revealed malignancy including mesothelioma and lymphoma, in 10 of 30 (33%) patients with non-diagnostic biopsies, and one patient died of unrelated cause, while the pleural effusion either resolved, remained stable or an alternative benign process was identified in 19 patients (63%). CONCLUSIONS Low levels of LDH (< 510 U l(-1)) were highly predictive of a negative pleural needle biopsy. Thus, LDH may serve as a useful guide in deciding whether to perform closed pleural biopsy or to proceed to thoracoscopically guided biopsy.
Analgesic Effects of Rofecoxib in Ear-Nose-Throat Surgery

In this study we evaluated the analgesic efficacy and the opioid-sparing effect of rofecoxib in ear-nose-throat surgery patients. Patients undergoing nasal septal or sinus surgery were randomized to receive either oral placebo or rofecoxib 50 mg 1 h before surgery. All patients received propofol 0.8 mg/kg, fentanyl 1 &mgr;g/kg, and local anesthesia at the operative site. Sedation was maintained by a continuous infusion of propofol adjusted to maintain sedation at a 2–3 level on the Ramsey scale. Additional fentanyl 0.5–1 &mgr;g/kg was administered at the patient’s request or if the verbal rating scale score was >4. Patient sedation and pain scores were obtained at 5, 15, 30 45, and 60 min during surgery and 30 min and 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after completion of the procedure. During the postoperative period, diclofenac 75 mg IM was administered for analgesia at the patient’s request or if the visual analog scale (VAS) rating for pain was more than 4. VAS pain scores, intraoperative fentanyl, and postoperative diclofenac requirements were significantly smaller in the rofecoxib group compared with the placebo group (P < 0.001). The times to first analgesic request were also significantly less in the rofecoxib group. We conclude that the preoperative administration of oral rofecoxib provided a significant analgesic benefit and decreased the need for opioids in patients undergoing nasal septal and nasal sinus surgery.
Lymphatic Dissemination and Comparative Pathology of Recombinant Measles Viruses in Genetically Modified Mice

ABSTRACT The dissemination of the Edmonston measles virus (Ed-MV) vaccine strain was studied with genetically modified mice defective for the alpha/beta interferon receptor and expressing human CD46 with human-like tissue specificity and efficiency. A few days after intranasal infection, macrophages expressing Ed-MV RNA were detected in the lungs, in draining lymph nodes, and in the thymus. In lymph nodes, large syncytia which stained positive for viral RNA and for macrophage surface marker proteins were found and apoptotic cell death was monitored. In the thymus, smaller syncytia which stained positive for macrophage and dendritic cell markers were detected. Thus, macrophages appear to be the main vectors for dissemination of MV infection in these mice; human macrophages may have a similar function in the natural host. We then compared the pathogenicities of two recombinant viruses lacking the C or V nonstructural proteins to that of the parental strain, Ed-MV. These viruses were less effective in spreading through the lymphatic system and, unlike Ed-MV, were not detected in the liver. After intracerebral inoculation the recombinant viruses caused lethal disease less often than Ed-MV and induced distinctive patterns of gliosis and inflammation. Ed-MV was reisolated from brain tissue, but its derivatives were not. C- and V-defective viruses should be considered as more-attenuated MV vaccine candidates.
Mechanical assessment of polyurethane impregnated fibreglass bandages for splinting

The introduction of polyurethane (PU) resin impregnated fibreglass bandages is likely to have a significant effect on modern orthopaedic practice. The manufacturers of these products claim many improved properties compared to plaster of Paris bandages, such as, high strength to weight ratio, rapid setting time and high radiolucency. This paper reports on a series of mechanical tests designed to assess the strength, flexibility, working time and wear properties of the current range of fibreglass bandages and to compare them with plaster of Paris bandages. The results have clearly demonstrated that the fibreglass bandages are mechanically superior and offer numerous advantages over plaster of Paris for use as the definitive casting material for both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing casts.
A Bifocal Ellipsoidal Gregorian Reflector System for THz Imaging Applications

Current terahertz imagers rely on reflector systems for the beam quality and imaging speed because the cross-range span that the system can cover is limited by the beam aberrations when the antenna scans. We present the design of a Bifocal reflector system that can rapidly scan a terahertz beam for standoff imaging applications while increasing the field of view of previous designs up to 50%. The design is based in a confocal Gregorian system where the nominal reflector surfaces are substituted by shaped surfaces to reduce the beam aberrations, while not increasing the manufacture cost of the reflector antenna. We also provide a set of useful design formulas for the design of this kind of reflector systems. The beam patterns obtained by the proposed designs are numerically calculated with the commercial software GRASP and compared with those obtained with previous approaches to the same problem, showing the better performance of the proposed solution.
Impact of cytochrome P450 2C19*2 polymorphism on the clinical cardiovascular events after stent implantation in patients receiving clopidogrel of a southern Tunisian region

Introduction: The concept of clopidogrel resistance, first described in biology is being strengthened by recent data from clinical epidemiology. The cardiologists have been sensitized to this concept because of its possible involvement in the occurrence of coronary stent thrombosis. Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic variant of the gene CYP 2C19 inour population and to assess the involvement of this genetic profile in the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (MACE) during the follow-up period. Methods: Our prospective study was conducted between May 2009 and September 2010 including 100 patients admitted to the cardiology department for percutaneous coronary stenting. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with at least one CYP2C19*2 allele (*2 carriers) and non-carriers. Results: The mean age of our patients was 56.7 years ± 10, 5. No remarkable differences in the baseline characteristics were noted between the two groups. The prevalence of CYP2C19*2 allele in our population was 11.5%. Hospital mortality was estimated at 3%. No statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups regarding the occurrence of intra hospital MACE. The mean follow up was 7.5 ± 4.87 months for the entire study population. The rate of MACE during the follow-up of patients receiving clopidogrel was 8.2% throughout the study population: 5.3% in the *2 non-carriers versus 18.2% in the *2 carriers with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.075) at the risk of error of 10%. Concerning the occurrence of stent thrombosis, there was no significant statistical difference between the two study groups. Conclusion: From these results it is suggested that CYP2C19*2 polymorphism is associated with increase in the occurrence of MACE among Tunisian patients receiving clopidogrel. A larger study is needed to assess the role of genotyping in the evaluation of the phenomenon of clopidogrel resistance.
MICROBIAL AND COD REMOVAL IN A MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT USING COAGULATION FLOCCULATION PROCESS

ABSTRACT This study was designed to improve the removal efficiency of COD, SS, and microorganism at the S. Giovanni a Teduccio municipal wastewater treatment plant, Naples, Italy. The plant consists of screen, sand grinder, oil removal, coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation units, hypochlorite disinfection, mechanical dewatering, and thermal sludge conditioning. A series of Jar-test was conducted on twelve samples taken after screen using FeSO4 alone or together with Ca(OH)2 at 100 rpm rapid mixing for 1 min, 30 rpm for slow mixing for 20 min and 30 min for settling. 150 mg L−1 and 450 mg/L doses of FeSO4 were used at a pH interval in between 6 and 9. The removals of COD, TSS, Escherichia coli and total coliforms were measured ranging from 40 to 70%, 70 to 90%, 96 to 99% and 97 to 99%, respectively when FeSO4 was used alone at 150 mg L−1 and 450 mg L−1 doses and at pH 6, 7 and 8. Wastewater discharge standards could be safely obtained at 150 mg L−1 dose of FeSO4 with the use of 220 mg L−1 Ca(OH)2 at pH 8 in terms of COD and E. coli removals resulted in 65% and 98%, respectively, with less sludge production to be disposed. Additionally, none of influent and supernatant samples tested in this study was found to be acute toxic on 24 h-born Daphnia magna at 50% dilution.
The role of pannexin 1 hemichannels in ATP release and cell–cell communication in mouse taste buds

ATP has been shown to be a taste bud afferent transmitter, but the cells responsible for, and the mechanism of, its release have not been identified. Using CHO cells expressing high-affinity neurotransmitter receptors as biosensors, we show that gustatory stimuli cause receptor cells to secrete ATP through pannexin 1 hemichannels in mouse taste buds. ATP further stimulates other taste cells to release a second transmitter, serotonin. These results provide a mechanism to link intracellular Ca2+ release during taste transduction to secretion of afferent transmitter, ATP, from receptor cells. They also indicate a route for cell–cell communication and signal processing within the taste bud.
Distribution of airborne radon-222 concentrations in U.S. homes.

Apparently large exposures of the general public to the radioactive decay products of radon-222 present in indoor air have led to systematical appraisal of monitoring data from U.S. single-family homes; several ways of aggregating data were used that take into account differences in sample selection and season of measurements. The resulting distribution of annual-average radon-222 concentrations can be characterized by an arithmetic mean of 1.5 picocurie per liter (55 becquerels per cubic meter) and a long tail with 1 to 3% of homes exceeding 8 picocuries per liter, or by a geometric mean of 0.9 picocurie per liter and a geometric standard deviation of about 2.8. The standard deviation in the means is 15%, estimated from the number and variability of the available data sets, but the total uncertainty is larger because these data may not be representative. Available dose-response data suggest that an average of 1.5 picocuries per liter contributes about 0.3% lifetime risk of lung cancer and that, in the million homes with the highest concentrations, where annual exposures approximate or exceed those received by underground uranium miners, long-term occupants suffer an added lifetime risk of at least 2%, reaching extraordinary values at the highest concentrations observed.
An urban, water-borne outbreak of diarrhoea and shigellosis in a district town in eastern India.

BACKGROUND In September 2007, the Gayeshpur municipality reported a cluster of cases with diarrhoea. We aimed to identify the causative agent and the source of the disease. METHODS We defined a case as the occurrence of diarrhoea (> 3 loose stools/day) with fever or bloody stools in a resident of Gayeshpur in September-October 2007. We asked healthcare facilities to report cases, collected stool specimens from patients, constructed an epidemic curve, drew a map and calculated the incidence by age and sex. We also conducted a matched case-control study (58 in each group), calculated matched odds ratio (MOR) and population attributable fraction (PAF), as well as assessed the environment. RESULTS We identified 461 cases (attack rate: 46/1000 population) and isolated Shigella flexneri (serotype 2a and 3a) from 3 of 4 stool specimens. The attack rate was higher among females (52/1000) and those in the age group of 45-59 years (71/1000). The outbreak started on 22 September, peaked multiple times and subsided on 12 October 2007. Cases were clustered distal to a leaking pipeline that crossed an open drain to intermittently supply non-chlorinated water to taps. The 58 cases and 58 controls were matched for age and sex. Drinking tap water (MOR: 10; 95% CI: 3-32; PAF: 89%), washing utensils in tap water (MOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.2-11.3) and bathing in tap water (MOR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.1-11) were associated with the illness. CONCLUSION This outbreak of diarrhoea and Shigella flexneri dysentery was caused by contamination of tap water and subsided following repair of the pipeline. We recommended regular chlorination of the water and maintenance of pipelines.
INFLUENCING MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF MILK

The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of selected factors in relation to total bacterial counts (TBC) in bulk milk samples. Milk samples were tested in nine cowsheds of seven farms for a period of one year. The TBC values were determined by the automated estimation of bacterial counts in cow’s raw milk by directly counting the bacterial cells on a BactoScan 8000 apparatus. The highest average values of TBC were determined in loose bedding-free slatted-floor housing (42.122·10·ml) while the difference in lnTBC compared to loose bedded cubicle housing (TBC average 7.354·10·ml) and stanchion bedded housing (TBC average 10.735·10·ml) was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). We also proved a statistically highly significant difference in lnTBC (p < 0.001) between farms using predipping (TBC average 8.443·10·ml) and farms without predipping (TBC average 14.518·10·ml); the difference in lnTBC between farms with summer grazing (TBC average 10.04·10·ml) and farms without grazing (TBC average 13.959·10·ml) was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Manipulation of Guaiacyl and Syringyl Monomer Biosynthesis in an Arabidopsis Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase Mutant Results in Atypical Lignin Biosynthesis and Modified Cell Wall Structure

The phenotypes of Arabidopsis plants with altered aldehyde contents and guaiacyl-to-syringyl ratios provide insights into the effects of lignin composition on plant growth and cell wall degradability. Modifying lignin composition and structure is a key strategy to increase plant cell wall digestibility for biofuel production. Disruption of the genes encoding both cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases (CADs), including CADC and CADD, in Arabidopsis thaliana results in the atypical incorporation of hydroxycinnamaldehydes into lignin. Another strategy to change lignin composition is downregulation or overexpression of ferulate 5-hydroxylase (F5H), which results in lignins enriched in guaiacyl or syringyl units, respectively. Here, we combined these approaches to generate plants enriched in coniferaldehyde-derived lignin units or lignins derived primarily from sinapaldehyde. The cadc cadd and ferulic acid hydroxylase1 (fah1) cadc cadd plants are similar in growth to wild-type plants even though their lignin compositions are drastically altered. In contrast, disruption of CAD in the F5H-overexpressing background results in dwarfism. The dwarfed phenotype observed in these plants does not appear to be related to collapsed xylem, a hallmark of many other lignin-deficient dwarf mutants. cadc cadd, fah1 cadc cadd, and cadd F5H-overexpressing plants have increased enzyme-catalyzed cell wall digestibility. Given that these CAD-deficient plants have similar total lignin contents and only differ in the amounts of hydroxycinnamaldehyde monomer incorporation, these results suggest that hydroxycinnamaldehyde content is a more important determinant of digestibility than lignin content.
Protective Effect of Long-Term CPAP Therapy on Cognitive Performance in Elderly Patients with Severe OSA: The PROOF Study.

OBJECTIVE Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) leads to a deterioration in cognitive functions, with regard to memory and executive functions. However, few studies have investigated the impact of treatment on these cognitive functions in elderly subjects. METHODS The study was conducted in a large cohort of subjects aged 65 years or older (the PROOF cohort). Subjects were not diagnosed or treated for OSA. Subjects underwent a polygraphic recording. Cognitive performance was assessed in all OSA subjects at baseline and 10 years later, whether or not they were receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. RESULTS A group of 126 patients were analyzed. Only 26% of them were treated, with therapy initiated at the discretion of the primary care physician. Among treated subjects, self-reported compliance with therapy was good (> 6 h/night on average), and 66% of them reported an improvement in their quality of life. Patients receiving CPAP treatment had a higher apneahypopnea index (p = 0.006), a higher oxygen desaturation index (p < 0.001), and experienced more pronounced daytime repercussions (p = 0.004). These patients showed a statistically significant improvement in mental agility (similarities test; p < 0.0001) and memory performance (Grober and Buschke delayed free recall; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION CPAP treatment is associated with the maintenance of memory performance over time.
Vanadian garnets in calcareous metapelites and skarns at Coat-an-Noz , Belle-Isle-en-Terre ( C 0 tes du Nord ) , France

V-rich garnets belonging to the grossular-goldmanite (CarVrSirO'r) series are found within metamorphosed calcareous metapelites. These metapelites are derived from euxinic sediments, and their composition is similar to that of unmetamorphosed Silurian black shales. All garnet compositions in the range Golo to Golu, are represented, and the solidsolution series is a continuous one. Complex sector zoning is observed. Associated clinopyroxenes and actinolites show significant V contents. In skarns developed from similar metapelites, goldmanite-rich garnets form the cores of crystals surrounded by grossular overgrowths. The crystallization of goldmanite seems to be controlled by the bulk chemical composition of the original sediments.
BRCA 1 is a negative modulator of the PRC 2 complex

Lan Wang, Xianzhuo Zeng, Shuai Chen, Liya Ding, Jian Zhong, Jonathan C Zhao, Liguo Wang, Aaron Sarver, Antonius Koller, Jizu Zhi, Yupo Ma, Jindan Yu, Junjie Chen and Haojie Huang* Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA, Divison of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA, Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA, Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, USA and Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA