Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study on the cytogenetic changes induced by benzene and hydroquinone in human lymphocytes

Benzene (BN) is a prototypical hematotoxicant, genotoxic carcinogen, and ubiquitous environmental pollutant. Although the molecular mechanisms of BN-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxic damage are poorly understood in humans, previous studies suggested that bioactivated BN metabolites are capable of oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA damage. The objective of the current study was to investigate the BN-induced cytogenetic changes and underlying mechanisms based on these hypotheses. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) might be the targets for BN-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, and therefore DNA damage responses of PBLs after exposure to different concentrations of BN (0.25, 3.5, 50 μmol/L) or BN metabolite, hydroquinone (HQ; 50, 150, 450 μmol/L) were studied in vitro. Microculture tetrazolium assay, flow cytometry, 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein-diacetate assay, comet assay, micronuclei assay, and attenuated total reflectance microspectroscope were chosen for this study. Based on the results, we reached the conclusion that different concentrations of BN or HQ significantly inhibited cell growth, induced the arrest of S phase and G2/M phase, and increased late apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, evidence was also provided to support the conclusion that BN and HQ induced DNA strand breaks and chromosomal mutations in PBL, which indicated the genotoxicity of BN and HQ. Current evidence has indicated that multiple mechanisms including dysfunction of cell cycle, programmed cell death, oxidative stress, and DNA lesions are likely to contribute to BN-induced cytogenetic changes.
Entering the field in qualitative field research: a rite of passage into a complex practice world

The concept of ‘the field’ is significant in ethnographic research as well as qualitative research methods more generally. However, how a field researcher enters the field is usually taken for granted after gaining access to the field. We suggest that entrance is a distinct phase of fieldwork that differs from negotiating access. Entrance is not a trivial event; rather, it is a rite of passage into a complex practice world and marks a critical field moment. Drawing on our ethnography and insights from hermeneutics and anthropology, we show that a practical understanding of the field represents a fusion of horizons where a fieldworker is thrown. The concept of thrownness highlights the fact that the fieldworkers' own historicity and prejudices affect their entrance into the field; hence, entrance into the field orientates an ethnographer in the field and influences the entire period of fieldwork that follows. Our theorizing is intended as a contribution towards advancing the discussion of qualitative research methods.
Phonetic realization of prosodic focus in Persian

It has been repeatedly observed that focus substantially changes the sentence prosody in many languages not only by increasing F0, duration, and intensity on the focused components but also by compressing the pitch range and intensity of post-focus elements. However, it is not yet fully clear in Persian what the main effect of focus is on pre-focus, on-focus and post-focus elements. To achieve this goal, we have embarked on a full-scale investigation of the phonetic realization of prosodic focus in Persian. The findings of this study reveal that focus dramatically changes the three regions. F0 and duration has significantly increased in on-focus words without any significant change in intensity. Compared to their counterparts, pre-focus elements show weaker intensity but no change in duration and mean F0. Finally post-focus words show significant lowering of F0 and decrease of intensity. The duration of post-focus words remains intact. Thus, according to the present data, it can be concluded that Persian, like English and Mandarin, falls into the category of PFC (postfocus compression) languages.
A SIMPLE CALCULATION IN SERVICE OF CONSTRAINING THE RATE OF FU ORIONIS OUTBURST EVENTS FROM PHOTOMETRIC MONITORING SURVEYS

The FU Orionis class of young stellar objects is enigmatic and rare. The members are interpreted to be “outbursting,” that is, they are currently in a state of enhanced accretion by several orders of magnitude relative to the more modest disk-to-star accretion rates measured in typical T Tauri stars. They are key to our understanding of the history of stellar mass assembly and pre-main-sequence evolution, and are also critical when considering the chemical and physical evolution of the circumstellar environment—where planets form. A common supposition is that all T Tauri stars repeatedly undergo such outbursts, more frequently in their earlier evolutionary stages when the disks are more massive, so as to build up the requisite amount of stellar mass on the required timescale. However, the actual data supporting this traditional picture of episodically enhanced disk accretion are limited, and the observational properties of the known sample of FU Ori objects are quite diverse. To improve our understanding of these rare objects, we outline the logic used to meaningfully constrain the rate of FU Ori outbursts and present numbers to guide parameter choices in the analysis of time domain surveys.
On-Chip Integrated Solid-State Micro-Supercapacitor

Following the trend of electronic device miniaturization, on-chip integrated solid-state micro-supercapcaitors (MS) were fabricated based on vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) as electrode materials and polymeric gel electrolyte as the solid electrolyte. The VACNFs were grown at 390 °C and 550 °C temperature on interdigitated micro-patterns, where the dimensions of the digits were kept the same but the gap between the digits varied from 10-100 µm. A maximum capacitance of 1 mF/cm2 and 0.53mF/cm2 (combined footprint area of digits and gaps) were measured for devices with CNFs grown at 390 °C and 20 µm gap, for 550 °C and 10 µm gap, respectively. These capacitances are an order of magnitude higher than the one for solid dielectric based silicon trenches capacitors. The low temperature MS show an inverse capacitance relation with the gap size whereas high temperature shows random behavior. High characteristic frequencies at 45° phase angle are 114 Hz for 100 µm gap and 142 Hz 30 µm gap for 390 °C and 550 °C temperatures. A model for the interdigitated capacitors was developed and the results showed that by eliminating the current collector resistances the characteristic frequencies can be increased to 965 Hz and 866 Hz from 67 Hz and 127 Hz for 10 µm gap patterns for 390 °C and 550 °C temperatures. The entire fabrication was done using CMOS compatible processes thus enabling integration directly on active CMOS chip.
[Income, food prices, and participation of fruit and vegetables in the diet].

OBJECTIVE To analyze the influence of income and food prices on household consumption of fruit and vegetables. METHODS Data from the 1998/99 Household Budget Survey were analyzed, which was conducted by the Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas (Institute for Economic Research Foundation) in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The influence of income and food price on the relative participation of fruit and vegetables in the total household calorie intake was studied using regression analysis to estimate elasticity coefficients. RESULTS There was an increase in participation of fruit and vegetables in total household calorie purchases along with the recorded decrease in prices, increase in family income, and increase in prices of other foods. A one percent decrease in the price of fruit and vegetables would lead to a 0.2% increase in the participation of these items in the total calorie content; a 1% increase in the price of other foods would increase fruit and vegetable participation by 0.07%; and a 1% increase in family income would increase participation by 0.04%. The effect of the prices of other foods was less intense in higher income groups, and in the other two scenarios we were unable to identify consistent income-associated patterns. CONCLUSIONS A reduction in the price of fruit and vegetables, which can be achieved by means of public policies, could lead to an increase in fruit and vegetable intake in households in São Paulo and in other cities with similar scenarios.
Contribution to Flower Colors of Flavonoids Including Anthocyanins: A Review

Flavonoids are one of the major pigments in higher plants, together with chlorophylls and carotenoids. Though ca. 8,000 kinds of flavonoids have been reported in nature, anthocyanins, chalcones, aurones and some flavonols act as major flower pigments. Flavonoids are present as major components in many flowers. On the other hand, flavones and flavonols, which are colorless or extremely pale yellow, function as copigment substances. Moreover, expression of the flower colors is diversified by inter-molecular and intra-molecular copigmentation, metal chelation, pH change and so on. In this review, I describe the distribution of the flavonoids which act as the pigments, and contribution to flower colors, e.g., yellow, scarlet, red, red-purple, violet, purple, blue and so on, of flavonoids, especially anthocyanins, chalcones, aurones and flavonols.
Celecoxib and Curcumin Additively Inhibit the Growth of Colorectal Cancer in a Rat Model

Background: Multiple studies have indicated that specific COX-2 inhibitors may prevent CRC. However, the long-term use of COX-2 inhibitors is not toxicity-free and may be limited due to its cardiovascular side effects. The present study was carried out to examine the chemopreventive effects of celecoxib and curcumin alone and in combination using the 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) rat model. Methods: Male rats were injected with DMH and randomly divided into four groups that consumed one of the following diets: (a) AIN-076 control diet; (b) AIN-076/curcumin (0.6%); (c) AIN-076/celecoxib (0.16%), or (d) AIN-076/celecoxib (0.16%) and curcumin (0.6%). Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were identified by intensive staining with methylene blue in comparison to the surrounding normal crypts. Results: The average number of ACF per rat colon was 64.2 ± 3 in the control group, 39 ± 5 and 47 ± 10 for the curcumin- and celecoxib-treated group, respectively, and 24.5 ± 6 in the group that had received both agents. Conclusions: In vivo, curcumin augments the growth inhibitory effect of celecoxib. This may be clinically important as this dose of celecoxib can be achieved in human serum following standard anti-inflammatory dosing of 100 mg.
Depression Mediates the Relationship Between Distress Tolerance and Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury Among Adolescents: One‐Year Follow‐Up

Through a one-year follow-up design, this study examined whether distress tolerance would increase the risk for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), mediated through depression in a representative sample of adolescents. Participants (N = 2,170) were recruited from senior high schools throughout Taiwan using both stratified and cluster sampling in time 1 (T1), and 1,832 students were followed-up one year later (T2). Structure equation modeling results revealed that after controlling NSSI measured at T1, NSSI (T2) was significantly predicted by distress tolerance (T1) and fully mediated through depression (T2). The mediating role of depression in the relationship between distress tolerance and NSSI are discussed.
Effects of Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone Outside the Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Reproductive Axis

Gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) is a hypothalamic decapeptide with an undisputed role as a primary regulator of gonadal function. It exerts this regulation by controlling the release of gonadotrophins. However, it is becoming apparent that GnRH may have a variety of other vital roles in normal physiology. A reconsideration of the potential widespread action that this traditional reproductive hormone exerts may lead to the generation of novel therapies and provide insight into seemingly incongruent outcomes from current treatments using GnRH analogues to combat diseases such as prostate cancer.
Rate process model for arterial tissue thermal damage: Implications on vessel photocoagulation

A numerical model for thermal damage to human arterial tissue is presented, based on protein denaturation kinetics. The model involves determination of coefficients of rate processes A & δE, which are tissue type‐dependent (arterial tissue in this study), and definition of threshold damage. A feedback‐controlled constant surface temperature device was used to induce 80 coagulative lesions of arterial human tissue ranging in temperature from 66°C to 76°C and in duration from 15 to 1,500 seconds. The measured coefficients were determined to be A = 5.6 × 1063 s−1 and δE = 430 KJ mole−1. These numerical values closely approximate the coefficients of the rate process for denaturation of collagen molecules. These and other histological observations strongly suggest collagen to be the primary coagulating component of arterial tissue at the onset of thermal coagulative damage. The ability of this model to predict onset of tissue coagulation during laser coagulation was studied using 10 postmortem human arterial samples exposed to argon laser irradiation. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Congenital pulmonary venous stenosis presenting as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Congenital pulmonary venous stenosis (CPVS) has been previously described in older infants and children, typically manifesting as failure to thrive with congestive heart failure and subsequent respiratory deterioration. We report on 2 cases of CPVS which presented during the immediate newborn period as severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1999; 28:301–306. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
El alisamiento de beneficios en el sector eléctrico: un estudio empírico

En clave el entorno en la toma economico de decisiones occidental, de empresas la informacion e individuos. es un elemento La conclave en la toma de decisiones de empresas e individuos. La conducta de las organizaciones y de los sujetos se explica de acuerdo con unas determinadas expectativas de futuro. Si bien esto es aplicable a todo tipo de entidades que desarrollan su actividad en un determinado sistema, en el caso que nos ocupa la relacion entre sistema economico y sistema de informacion, es ciertamente mas compleja. El marco en el que se desenvuelve el sistema de informacion objeto de este estudio la contabilidad de la empresa lo podemos delimitar, basicamente, a partir de dos caracteristicas:
Locally advanced rectal cancer: what is the evidence for induction chemoradiation?

UNLABELLED The concept of spatial cooperation in neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer is attractive. Chemotherapy may, as a component of CRT, not only act as a radiosensitizing agent but also potentially eradicate distant micrometastases. Recent trials have demonstrated that the addition of concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy to radiation increases the pathological complete response rate, and reduces local recurrence, but as yet, a survival advantage has not been observed. AIMS This review aims to examine the evidence for induction CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer. The endpoints of pathological complete response, a negative circumferential margin, sphincter-sparing surgery, local control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) are examined, as are acute and late morbidity, surgical complications, and late functional results. METHODS The information to produce this review was compiled by searching PubMed and MEDLINE for English language articles published until April 2007. The search term included "induction, neoadjuvant, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chemoradiation, combined modality" in association with rectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS CRT in the European randomized trials of rectal cancer improves tumor downstaging, pathological complete response, and local control over radiotherapy alone, but does not translate into a benefit in terms of longer DFS or OS, or a higher chance of sphincter preservation. Metastatic disease remains a significant problem, which provides a strong rationale for the integration of a second cytotoxic drug, or biologically targeted agents.
Quantal analysis of the size of excitatory post‐synaptic potentials at synapses between hair cells and afferent nerve fibres in goldfish.

1. A statistical analysis has been made of the transmitter release at the hair cell afferent fibre synapse in the sacculus of the goldfish, using the amplitude of the excitatory post‐synaptic potentials (e.p.s.p.s) in response to stimulus tone as a measure of the transmitter release under application of tetrodotoxin. 2. Application of binomial statistics allowed a direct calculation of the mean probability of release (p) and the readily available store (n), and the X2‐test showed that the binomial predictions fitted fairly well with the observed distribution of the responses. 3. Adaptive rundown of e.p.s.p.s during sound stimulation, i.e. the successive rundown in the size of the mean quantal content (m), was found to be associated with a reduction in the size of parameter n, but not of p. 4. A marked negative correlation was demonstrated between the amplitude of two consecutive e.p.s.p.s, supporting the depletion hypothesis of the adaptive rundown of e.p.s.p.s. 5. The increase in the e.p.s.p. amplitude and the increase in the mean quantal content, m, brought about by an increase in the tone intensity were found mostly explicable in terms of an increase in the statistical parameter n. The probability parameter p was found largely in invariable, although in certain instances the increase in m was also accompanied by a slight increase in the parameter p.
Prognostic Impact of Immunohistochemical Expression of Ezrin in Highly Malignant Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Purpose: Ezrin is a cytoskeleton linker protein that is actively involved in regulating the growth and metastatic capacity of cancer cells. It has recently been reported to be involved in dissemination of pediatric soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Experimental Design: To further evaluate the prognostic value of ezrin in STS progression, we screened 50 primary STSs of high malignancy grade using immunohistochemistry. At the initial surgery, all patients were without local or distant metastasis. The expression was then compared with the outcome during follow-up for at least 4 years or until the patients' death. Results: Twenty-five of the 50 STSs analyzed (50%) showed ezrin immunoreactivity in the membrane and cytoplasm of the tumor cells. A significant association was shown between positive expressions of ezrin and death in disease as well as overall survival (P = 0.014 and 0.007, respectively). Similarly, ezrin expression was significantly associated with development of distant metastasis during follow-up (P = 0.031), also excluding locally recurrent disease (P = 0.049). The relative abundance of metastasis in ezrin-positive cases was observed both over time and irrespective of time. In comparison with clinical, histopathologic, and genetic characteristics of the STSs, ezrin expression was found to correlate significantly with an infiltrative growth pattern outside the tumor capsule as well as with copy number gain of chromosomal region 9cen-q22. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ezrin immunoreactivity could be valuable as an additional prognostic marker in highly malignant STSs and support a causative role of ezrin in STS tumor dissemination.
Laser treatment of solar elastosis with epithelial preservation

Background and Objective: Laser resurfacing has gained wide acceptance for the treatment of actinic facial skin. However, postoperative care of the face is reasonably complicated and prolonged erythema is common. To simplify the postoperative care and to possibly reduce the duration of the erythema, we investigated a laser treatment that spares the epithelium.
Differential degradation rates in vivo and in vitro of biocompatible poly(lactic acid) and poly(glycolic acid) homo- and co-polymers for a polymeric drug-delivery microchip

The biocompatibility and biodegradation rate of component materials are critical when designing a drug-delivery device. The degradation products and rate of degradation may play important roles in determining the local cellular response to the implanted material. In this study, we investigated the biocompatibility and relative biodegradation rates of PLA, PGA and two poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymers of 50 : 50 mol ratio, thin-film component materials of a drug-delivery microchip developed in our laboratory. The in vivo biocompatibility and both in vivo and in vitro degradation of these materials were characterized using several techniques. Total leukocyte concentration measurements showed normal acute and chronic inflammatory responses to the PGA and low-molecular-weight PLGA that resolved by 21 days, while the normal inflammatory responses to the PLA and high-molecular-weight PLGA were resolved but at slower rates up to 21 days. These results were paralleled by thickness measurements of fibrous capsules surrounding the implants, which showed greater maturation of the capsules for the more rapidly degrading materials after 21 days, but less mature capsules of sustained thicknesses for the PLA and high-molecular-weight PLGA up to 49 days. Gel-permeation chromatography of residual polymer samples confirmed classification of the materials as rapidly or slowly degrading. These materials showed thinner fibrous capsules than have been reported for other materials by our laboratory and have suitable biocompatibility and biodegradation rates for an implantable drug-delivery device.
β-Chemokine Receptor CCR5 Signals through SHP1, SHP2, and Syk*

The β-chemokine receptor CCR5 has been shown to modulate cell migration, proliferation, and immune functions and to serve as a co-receptor for the human immunodeficiency virus. We and others have shown that CCR5 activates related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase (RAFTK)/Pyk2/CAK-β. In this study, we further characterize the signaling molecules activated by CCR5 upon binding to its cognate ligand, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP1β). We observed enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of the phosphatases SHP1 and SHP2 upon MIP1β stimulation of CCR5 L1.2 transfectants and T-cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, we observed that SHP1 associated with RAFTK. However, using a dominant-negative phosphatase-binding mutant of RAFTK (RAFTKm906), we found that RAFTK does not mediate SHP1 or SHP2 phosphorylation. SHP1 and SHP2 also associated with the adaptor protein Grb2 and the Src-related kinase Syk. Pretreatment of CCR5 L1.2 transfectants or T-cells with the phosphatase inhibitor orthovanadate markedly abolished MIP1β-induced chemotaxis. Syk was also activated upon MIP1β stimulation of CCR5 L1.2 transfectants or T-cells and associated with RAFTK. Overexpression of a dominant-negative Src-binding mutant of RAFTK (RAFTKm402) significantly attenuated Syk activation, whereas overexpression of wild-type RAFTK enhanced Syk activity, indicating that RAFTK acts upstream of CCR5-mediated Syk activation. Taken together, these results suggest that MIP1β stimulation mediated by CCR5 induces the formation of a signaling complex consisting of RAFTK, Syk, SHP1, and Grb2.