Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Essential oil composition of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa: chemotypic and seasonal variations.

BACKGROUND Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa is a sacred medicinal and nutraceutical tree of India. The present study planned to explore the chemotypic and seasonal variability of the leaf essential oil of A. marmelos from north India for proper industrial utilization. RESULTS The essential oil yield varied from 0.37% to 0.80% in leaves of A. marmelos populations. Analysis of the essential oils by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the subsequent classification by statistical analysis showed three types of chemical compositions for A. marmelos with significant variations in their terpenoid compositions. Major components of the essential oils were limonene (31.0-90.3%), α-phellandrene (<0.05-43.5%), (E)-β-ocimene (0.7-7.9%), α-pinene (<0.05-7.5%), (E)-caryophyllene (0.5-5.3%), β-elemene (<0.05-4.2%) and germacrene B (0.0-3.3%). In addition to this, essential oil of a locally growing A. marmelos population was also investigated for seasonal variations. The essential oil yield in this population varied from 0.37% to 0.82% during different seasons. Major constituents, namely α-phellandrene (35.8-49.8%), limonene (24.7-34.3%), (E)-β-ocimene (4.2-10.0%) and α-pinene (6.0-8.0%), showed considerable variations due to season of collection. CONCLUSIONS The growing location and harvesting season had a close relation to yield and quality of A. marmelos leaf essential oil. The results obtained are of significance for determining a suitable time for harvesting A. marmelos leaves.
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION INCIDENCE: METHODS, VALIDITY AND PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE OF A CORONARY REGISTER*

The Perth community Coronary Register was planned to study the incidence and prognosis of myocardial infarction over a one‐year period in an urban region with a population of 600,000 people. The methods of notification, data collection and diagnosis are described. The completeness of case ascertainment during the feasibility study is assessed, and the function of Registers and possible applications discussed.
Hydroxyapatite‐Reinforced Polyethylene as an Analogous Material for Bone Replacement a

In recent years, various engineering materials have been used in orthopedic surgery as replacements for bone in a variety of procedures ranging from bone grafting to total hip replacement. A prerequisite for any synthetic material implanted in the body is that it should be biocompatible in the sense of not producing an inflammatory reaction. In addition, the implanted material is expected to withstand any anticipated physiological loading without substantial dimensional change, catastrophic brittle fracture, or fracture in the longer term due to creep, fatigue, or stress corrosion. These have been the major factors underlying the selection of the materials currently used for orthopedic prostheses. Another, which for long-term stability is of prime importance, is the effect of introducing the synthetic implant on the functional remodeling of the natural tissue. As none of the synthetic materials utilized currently parallels the elastic behavior of cortical bone, it is not surprising that there is an intrinsic problem in ensuring stress transfer across a tissue-prosthesis interface. Hence, the dynamic remodeling of cortical bone is significantly affected. Whether an elastic mismatch of this type becomes a problem in clinical practice depends on the magnitude of the applied load, the nature of the interfacial bond, and the elastic constants of the interfacing materials. It is certainly the prime cause of loosening when stress shielding of cortical bone is produced by an appreciably stiffer implant. From this standpoint, it seems desirable to complete the spectrum of available implants by developing new materials that, in addition to having adequate biocompatibility and strength, are also mechanically compatible with cortical bone. The development of novel ceramic particle reinforced polymer implant materials, with mechanical properties analogous to those of cortical bone, is discussed with particular reference to the composite system of polyethylene reinforced with hydroxyapatite. This composite was developed at Queen Mary College in collaboration with Brunel University, and is the first material of its type under consideration for clinical use. The particular advantage of dispersing hydroxyapatite in a polymer matrix is that, for certain volume fractions, the fracture toughness is substantially increased in comparison with a 100% ceramic, while the favorable bioactivity in developing bone apposition associated with hydroxyapatite is retained. Hence this ceramic-reinforced composite system is suitable for major load-bearing clinical applications, either in bulk or as a coating, for which bioactive
A MULTISPECIES APPROACH TO THE ANALYSIS OF GENE FLOW IN MARINE SHORE FISHES

Ten species of marine shore fishes with a wide range of life‐history strategies were collected from four areas in southern California, U.S.A. , and Baja California, Mexico, and examined for patterns of genetic differentiation. Multilocus D and FST values (based on 32–42 presumptive gene loci in each species) were both negatively correlated with estimated dispersal capability. These results were robust to variations in the number and type of loci used in the analysis and are compatible with the hypothesis that levels of genetic differentiation in these shore fishes are determined primarily by gene flow and genetic drift. There is no a priori reason to expect the observed correlation to result from natural selection or historical factors. The findings thus suggest that populations of these shore fishes are in at least a quasi‐equilibrium with respect to migration, mutation, and genetic drift.
Demographic characteristics, drinking patterns and drink-driving behavior of injured male drivers and motorcycle riders.

OBJECTIVE The demographic characteristics, usual drinking and drink-driving patterns, incidence of problem drinking, precrash drinking behavior and attitudes towards drink-driving of crash-involved male drivers and riders are described and related to blood alcohol concentration (BAC) on admission to hospital. A better understanding of these issues will enable drink-driving countermeasures to target more specifically those individuals who are most at risk of being killed or injured in alcohol-related road crashes. METHOD Between June 1985 and April 1987 interviews were conducted with a sample of 302 male drivers and motorcycle riders admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia. RESULTS With one exception, the likelihood of having a high BAC (i.e., 80 mg/dl or above) did not differ with demographic profile. As BAC increased, there was a significant increase in: various indices of quantity and frequency of drinking; beer being the preferred beverage; percentages drinking alone, in a hotel, in a vehicle and for various less socially acceptable reasons; frequency of drink-driving; likelihood of previous drink-driving suspension; and, more liberal attitudes towards drink-driving. About 25% of those with a BAC of at least 150 mg/dl were probably experiencing alcohol-related problems prior to the crash, compared with only a very small proportion of those with lower BACs. Precrash drinking most commonly involved drinking in a hotel, drinking with friends and drinking beer, with no significant differences between BAC groups. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that usual drinking and drink-driving patterns, as well as attitudes to drink-driving, become more extreme as the BAC of male crash-involved drivers and riders increases.
Functional morphology of the cranio‐mandibular complex of the Guira cuckoo (Aves)

The cranio‐mandibular complex is an important structure involved in food capture and processing. Its morphology is related to the nature of the food item. Jaw muscles enable the motion of this complex and their study is essential for functional and evolutionary analysis. The present study compares available behavioral and dietary data obtained from the literature with novel results from functional morphological analyses of the cranio‐mandibular complex of the Guira cuckoo (Guira guira) to understand its relationship with the zoophagous trophic habit of this species. The bite force was estimated based on muscle dissections, measurements of the physiological cross‐sectional area, and biomechanical modeling of the skull. The results were compared with the available functional morphological data for other birds. The standardized bite force of G. guira is higher than predicted for exclusively zoophagous birds, but lower than for granivorous and/or omnivorous birds. Guira guira possesses the generalized jaw muscular system of neognathous birds, but some features can be related to its trophic habit. The external adductor muscles act mainly during food item processing and multiple aspects of this muscle group are interpreted to increase bite force, that is, their high values of muscle mass, their mechanical advantage (MA), and their perpendicular orientation when the beak is closed. The m. depressor mandibulae and the m. pterygoideus dorsalis et ventralis are interpreted to prioritize speed of action (low MA values), being most important during prey capture. The supposed ecological significance of these traits is the potential to widen the range of prey size that can be processed and the possibility of rapidly capturing agile prey through changes in the leverage of the muscles involved in opening and closing of the bill. This contributes to the trophic versatility of the species and its ability to thrive in different habitats, including urban areas.
Shortcut Analysis of Optimal Operation of Petlyuk Distillation

Analytical methods are used to compute important operational parameters for an infinite-staged Petlyuk column as a function of the feed composition, feed enthalpy, and relative volatilities. The computational effort is very low, and the methods can be used to quickly evaluate the applicability of a Petlyuk column for a specific separation task. It is found that the largest energy savings of about 40% are obtained when the prefractionator is operated at its preferred split and the feed composition is such that both the upper and lower parts of the main column operate at their respective minimum reflux condition. The position of this boundary region relative to the actual feed is very important when we consider important operational aspects of the column.
Control of metabolic adaptation to fasting by dILP6-induced insulin signaling in Drosophila oenocytes

Significance This study characterizes the transcriptional response to fasting in adult flies in a tissue-specific manner, highlighting a central role for adult oenocytes in the regulation of lipid mobilization and supporting the proposed analogy between oenocytes and mammalian hepatocytes. A surprising and critical role for insulin signaling activity in the oenocyte fasting response is identified, and it is shown that the Drosophila insulin-like peptide 6 (dILP6), which is induced in the fat body in response to starvation, mediates this response. A new paracrine role for insulin signaling in regulating the interaction between adipose tissue and hepatocyte-like cells in the metabolic adaptation to fasting is thus identified. Metabolic adaptation to changing dietary conditions is critical to maintain homeostasis of the internal milieu. In metazoans, this adaptation is achieved by a combination of tissue-autonomous metabolic adjustments and endocrine signals that coordinate the mobilization, turnover, and storage of nutrients across tissues. To understand metabolic adaptation comprehensively, detailed insight into these tissue interactions is necessary. Here we characterize the tissue-specific response to fasting in adult flies and identify an endocrine interaction between the fat body and liver-like oenocytes that regulates the mobilization of lipid stores. Using tissue-specific expression profiling, we confirm that oenocytes in adult flies play a central role in the metabolic adaptation to fasting. Furthermore, we find that fat body-derived Drosophila insulin-like peptide 6 (dILP6) induces lipid uptake in oenocytes, promoting lipid turnover during fasting and increasing starvation tolerance of the animal. Selective activation of insulin/IGF signaling in oenocytes by a fat body-derived peptide represents a previously unidentified regulatory principle in the control of metabolic adaptation and starvation tolerance.
Enzymatic analysis of a rhomboid intramembrane protease implicates transmembrane helix 5 as the lateral substrate gate

Intramembrane proteolysis is a core regulatory mechanism of cells that raises a biochemical paradox of how hydrolysis of peptide bonds is accomplished within the normally hydrophobic environment of the membrane. Recent high-resolution crystal structures have revealed that rhomboid proteases contain a catalytic serine recessed into the plane of the membrane, within a hydrophilic cavity that opens to the extracellular face, but protected laterally from membrane lipids by a ring of transmembrane segments. This architecture poses questions about how substrates enter the internal active site laterally from membrane lipid. Because structures are static glimpses of a dynamic enzyme, we have taken a structure–function approach analyzing >40 engineered variants to identify the gating mechanism used by rhomboid proteases. Importantly, our analyses were conducted with a substrate that we show is cleaved at two intramembrane sites within the previously defined Spitz substrate motif. Engineered mutants in the L1 loop and active-site region of the GlpG rhomboid protease suggest an important structural, rather than dynamic, gating function for the L1 loop that was first proposed to be the substrate gate. Conversely, three classes of mutations that promote transmembrane helix 5 displacement away from the protease core dramatically enhanced enzyme activity 4- to 10-fold. Our functional analyses have identified transmembrane helix 5 movement to gate lateral substrate entry as a rate-limiting step in intramembrane proteolysis. Moreover, our mutagenesis also underscores the importance of other residue interactions within the enzyme that warrant further scrutiny.
C5 Palsy after Decompression Surgery for Cervical Myelopathy: Review of the Literature

Study Design. A literature review was conducted to integrate and compile available reports on postoperative C5 palsy. Objectives. To review the clinical features, possible pathogenesis, and procedures for treatment and prevention of postoperative C5 palsy as a complication of surgery for cervical compression myelopathy. Summary of Background Data. Although postoperative C5 palsy develops in approximately 5% of patients after decompression surgery of the cervical spine, its pathogenesis and the options for prevention and treatment remain unidentified and many controversies exist. Method. We reviewed and analyzed papers published from 1986 to 2002 regarding C5 palsy as a postoperative complication. Statistical comparisons were made when appropriate. Results. Postoperative C5 palsy is reported to occur in an average of 4.6% of patients after surgery for cervical compression myelopathy. No significant differences were noted between patients undergoing anterior decompression and fusion and laminoplasty, nor were distinctions apparent between unilateral hinge laminoplasty and French-door laminoplasty, or between cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Two theories were put forth to account for the pathogenesis of C5 palsy: nerve root injury and segmental spinal cord disorder. Neither of these hypotheses has been consistently supported and evidence to refute each hypothesis can be found in the literature. Recently, surgeons have advocated foraminotomy combined with laminoplasty to prevent or treat C5 palsy, but further studies into the efficacy of this procedure are needed. Although patients with C5 palsy generally have a good prognosis for neurologic and functional recovery, those with severe paralysis require significantly longer recovery times when compared to more mild cases. Conclusion. The incidence of postoperative C5 palsy has been reported at 4.6% after surgery for cervical compression myelopathy and this value has not varied with different surgical procedures or disease etiologies. The pathogenesis of postoperative C5 palsy remains unclear at the present time. Patients with postoperative C5 palsy generally have a good prognosis for functional recovery, but the severely paralyzed cases required significantly longer recovery times than the mild cases.
New Constraints On Electron-Beam Induced Halogen Migration In Apatite

Abstract Fluorine and chlorine X‑ray count rates are known to vary significantly during electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of apatite. Since the rate, timing, and magnitude of this variation are a function of apatite orientation and composition, as well as EPMA operating conditions, this represents a significant problem for volatile element analysis in apatite. Although the effect is thought to be an intrinsic crystallographic response to electron-beam exposure, the mechanisms and causes of the count rate variability remain unclear. We tackle this by examining directly the effects of electron-beam exposure on apatite, by performing secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profiles of points previously subject to electron-beam irradiation. During irradiation of fluorapatite, oriented with the c-axis parallel to the electron beam, halogens become progressively concentrated at the sample surface, even under a relatively low power (15 nA, 10-15 kV) beam. This surface enrichment corresponds to an observed increase in EPMA FKa X‑ray count rates. After prolonged irradiation, the surface region starts to lose halogens and becomes progressively depleted, corresponding with a drop in EPMA count rates. Under normal EPMA operating conditions there is no halogen redistribution in fluorapatite oriented with the c-axis perpendicular to the electron beam, or in chlorapatite. We infer that anionic enrichment results from the migration of halogens away from a center of charge build-up caused by the implantation of electrons from the EPMA beam, assisted by the thermal gradient induced by electron-matter interactions. The process of surface enrichment is best explained by halogen migration through interstitial crystallographic sites in the c-axis channel. This suggests that once the thermal and electric fields are removed, halogens may relax back to their original positions on very long timescales or with sample heating.
Comparing two dry cow treatments on the new infection and elimination rates of coagulase-negative staphylococci.

I ntramammary treatment of all cows at drying off with an effective antibiotic is a recommended procedure for all dairy herds (1). A prevalence study in Prince Edward Island indicated a relatively high prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) infections in some herds (2). The elimination of existing and the prevention of new CNS infections over the dry period may be of benefit in a mastitis control program. The two intramammary antibiotic treatments most commonly used in Prince Edward Island are a) novobiocin and penicillin (Novodry Plus, Upjohn Company, Animal Health Division, Orangeville, Ontario) and b) cloxacillin (Orbenin, Ayerst Laboratories, Montreal, Quebec). The objective of this study was to determine if there were different results between the use of novobiocin and penicillin and cloxacillin in rates of new and the elimination of existing CNS infections over the dry period. Herds were selected for participation in this study based on an apparently elevated prevalence of mastitis due to CNS and their current participation in a somatic cell count recording program. Eighty-four cows in 7 herds were involved. The cows in each herd were systematically allocated to 2 study groups. One group was treated with novobiocin and penicillin and the other was treated with cloxacillin. The first cow to be dried off in each herd was randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 treatment groups. Thereafter, as each cow was dried off, she was placed alternately into each treatment group. Each cow was scheduled to be quarter sampled 4 times during the year-long study as follows: a predry sample (SI), taken 1 wk prior to drying off; a dry sample (S2), taken at the time of drying off; a fresh sample (S3), taken within 1 wk after freshening; and a post-freshening sample (S4), taken within 1 wk after S3. The cows were milked
A Bifunctional Enzyme Catalyzes the First Two Steps in N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Biosynthesis of Rat Liver

N-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is the precursor of sialic acids, a group of important molecules in biological recognition systems. Biosynthesis of Neu5Ac is initiated and regulated by its key enzyme, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase (UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase, EC5.1.3.14)/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (ManNAc kinase, EC2.7.1.60) in rat liver (Hinderlich, S., Stäsche, R., Zeitler, R., and Reutter, W. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 24313–24318). In the present paper we report the isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding this bifunctional enzyme. An open reading frame of 2166 base pairs encodes 722 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 79 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence contains exact matches of the sequences of five peptides derived from tryptic cleavage of the enzyme. The recombinant bifunctional enzyme was expressed in COS7 cells, where it displayed both epimerase and kinase activity. Distribution of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase in the cytosol of several rat tissues was investigated by determining both specific enzyme activities. Secreting organs (liver, salivary glands, and intestinal mucosa) showed high specific activities of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase, whereas significant levels of these activities were absent from other organs (lung, kidney, spleen, brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and testis). Northern blot analysis revealed no UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase mRNA in the non-secreting tissues.
Gastroesophageal reflux in diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE:Although abnormal gastroesophageal (GE) reflux is the most frequent alteration of the gastrointestinal tract, its prevalence in diabetes mellitus (DM) is not widely known. The objective of this study was to analyze both the presence of abnormal GE reflux in diabetic patients with no esophageal symptoms and the influence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CVAN) in the development of abnormal GE reflux.METHODS:Fifty insulin-dependent diabetic patients, averaging 29.2 ± 9.0 yr of age, who had had diabetes for > 5 yr and showed no symptoms or history of gastroesophageal disease, were compared with a control group composed of 36 healthy volunteers (18 men, 18 women) whose average age was 35.9 ± 10.1 yr. The cardiovascular autonomic nervous system was examined in the diabetics and control subjects who complied with inclusion criteria. Long-term (24-h) ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring was performed, as well as a manometric study of the lower esophageal sphincter.RESULTS:The parameters obtained from the monitoring showed significant differences (p < 0.01) between DM and control subjects. Abnormal GE reflux, defined as any percentage of time with esophageal pH < 4 exceeding 3.5% of total time (8.7 ± 5.6%; range, 4.1–24.4%), was detected in 14 patients. Diabetic subjects were classified according to cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy tests (without CVAN [n = 19, 38%] and with abnormal CVAN tests [n = 31, 62%]). The pH monitoring parameters showed significant differences between these two groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:A higher prevalence (28%) of abnormal GE reflux appeared among asymptomatic diabetic patients than among the general population. The presence of abnormal GE reflux in diabetic patients was associated with the existence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (abnormal GE reflux = 38.7% in diabetic patients with abnormal CVAN tests vs 10.5% in diabetic patients without CVAN).