Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the Microsporidian Genus Brachiola, with Comparisons of Human and Insect Isolates of Brachiola algerae

Abstract The genus Brachiola is the newest microsporidian genus established for a human infection with the type species being B. vesicularum in skeletal muscle. Subsequently, the microsporidium, Nosema algerae, identified from mosquitoes, was added to this genus because of morphological and physiological similarities. The present report illustrates a confirmed case of Brachiola algerae infecting skeletal muscle in a 56-year-old woman who was being treated for rheumatoid arthritis with immunosuppressive drugs. In the following study, these two human-infecting microsporidian species are ultrastructurally compared from human biopsy tissue. Additionally, Brachiola algerae from mosquitoes as reference B. algerae, was grown in athymic mice and compared to the human isolate in vivo, and in culture. B. algerae is morphologically identical in the host situations presented and different from B. vesicularum in human skeletal muscle. B. algerae has a consistently, slightly longer spore that typically contains one row of polar filament coils, while B. vesicularum typically contains two rows of polar filament coils and occasionally, one or three rows. In proliferative development, B. vesicularum forms protoplasmic extensions which do not occur on B. algerae, nor have they been reported on any other microsporidium. This report demonstrates that B. vesicularum and B. algerae are two different species of Brachiola that infect human skeletal muscle.
Effect of short and long term STN stimulation periods on parkinsonian signs

Currently, no study of subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation has compared continuous stimulation with a period of short‐term stimulation, which is frequently employed in the clinic and in research studies. Therefore, this study examined the effects of STN stimulation over 90 min (short) and greater than 3 months (long) on the cardinal signs of Parkinson's disease. The 90 min time period immediately followed a 12 hour withdrawal from both STN stimulation and medication. Ten PD patients who received STN stimulation were studied. Bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor were evaluated using the UPDRS and motor control measures which included peak velocity (bradykinesia), work (rigidity), and amplitude (tremor). Results showed no difference between 90 min and greater than 3 months of STN stimulation for the UPDRS or motor control measures. This finding confirms that the treatment efficacy that is derived from a relatively short time course of stimulation generalizes to longer time periods of high frequency STN stimulation that patients experience in their daily lives. As such, it is reasonable to evaluate the effect of DBS after 90 min of stimulation in clinical trials and research studies. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Macitentan for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Objective: To review the pharmacology, safety, and efficacy of macitentan. Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the terms macitentan and ACT-064992. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Phase II and III trials were reviewed in our primary analysis; data from phase I trials and other studies were reported as applicable. Data Synthesis: Macitentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Current treatment options for PAH include 2 other ERAs, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, prostanoids, and calcium channel blockers. Recently published guidelines do not assert a preference for individual agents. Two trials evaluated the safety and efficacy of macitentan. The phase II study was a 12-month placebo-controlled trial involving patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; the primary end point was change in forced vital capacity. No significant treatment effect was observed. The phase III study was a placebo-controlled trial involving patients with PAH. The primary end point was time to first occurrence of a composite of outcomes, including all-cause death and PAH worsening. Over a median period of 115 weeks, macitentan 10 mg and 3 mg daily significantly reduced morbidity and mortality. Commonly reported adverse effects included worsening of PAH, peripheral edema, upper-respiratory-tract infection, and anemia. Conclusions: Macitentan represents the latest addition to the PAH armamentarium. Compared with other ERAs, clinical advantages may include fewer contraindications, use in hepatic impairment, and once-daily administration. However, further comparative studies are necessary to ascertain its place in therapy.
Is Chinese Monetary Policy Forward-Looking?

This paper investigates the empirical validity of the claim that China employed a forward-looking monetary policy rule from 2001 to 2016. Survey expectations are used in conjunction with competing money supply and interest rate rules. The paper contributes to the literature by addressing the problems of serial correlation and structural breaks in the underlying policy reaction function. Un-like earlier studies indicating a strong role for expectations in Chinese monetary policy, we find expectations only began to play a significant role after 2008. This finding is robust for expectations series based on surveys of both households and forecasting experts. We also find that the People’s Bank of China promotes economic growth in procyclical fashion, but applies countercyclical policy in managing inflation.
Influence of frequent sugar intakes on experimental gingivitis.

Few studies have investigated directly the possible role of dietary sugar in the etiology of periodontal disease, although an association between the amount of plaque formed and the frequency of sugar intake has been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of frequent sugar intakes on experimental gingivitis in young adults. Twenty male dental students took part in a single blind crossover study which involved two 3-week experimental periods with random allocation to high or low sugar diets. The experimental site was the lower anterior area. The labial aspects of the lower anterior teeth were examined at baseline and Weeks 1, 2 and 3. Inflammation was assessed by recording bleeding on probing at 12 sites at 2 levels of severity--"pin prick" and "excess. " In addition gingival crevicular fluid flow was recorded and plaque amount was assessed. At 3 weeks significantly higher bleeding scores at the two designated levels were found with the high sugar diet but no significant differences were observed with crevicular fluid flow and plaque amount. It was concluded that frequent sugar intakes result in increased gingival inflammation in experimental gingivitis, as measured by gingival bleeding on probing.
Scholarship@Western Scholarship@Western

Cognitive control is easy to identify in its effects, but difﬁcult to grasp conceptually. This creates somewhat of a puzzle: Is cognitive control a bona ﬁde process or an epiphenomenon that merely exists in the mind of the observer? The topiCS special edition on cognitive control presents a broad set of perspectives on this issue and helps to clarify central conceptual and empirical challenges confronting the ﬁeld. Our commentary provides a summary of and critical response to each of the papers
Plasma thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin concentrations in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Circulating prostaglandins, including thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, have been implicated as possible facilitative agents in the growth and dissemination of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of plasma concentrations of these compounds to tumor stage and the effect of surgical resection on plasma prostaglandin levels. Blood samples were obtained from 40 patients with head and neck cancer. Ten treated patients were clinically disease‐free (NED), and 30 patients with active disease were previously untreated at the time of this study. Plasma concentrations of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin were measured by radioimmunoassay of their stable metabolites thromboxane B2 (TxB) and prostaglandin 6‐keto‐F1 (PGI). Platelet aggregation was performed with normal donor platelets (PRP) and normal control or patient plasma (PPP). TxB and TxB/PGI ratios were increased in T1N0M0 patients, compared with NED and with T4N0M0 primary lesions versus all other groups. With lymphatic and hematogenous metastases, TxB and TxB/PGI ratios fell to NED levels. ADP‐induced platelet aggregation was significantly increased in head and neck cancer patients, compared with normal controls, and with T4N0M0 lesions, compared with NED. There were no significant differences in PGI levels. TxB, PGI, TxB/PGI, and platelet aggregometry did not change significantly with curative surgery. TxB and TxB/PGI interactions are involved in head and neck cancer. Changes in TxB and TxB/PGI may be related to increased platelet aggregation.
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS CROP COMMERCILIZATION IN THE HIGHLANDS OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA

This paper sorts out the most important factors influencing crop market participation of smallholder farmers in the highlands of Eastern Ethiopia. The study used primary data collected from 385 smallholder farmers during the year 2015. Heckman two-stage and Tobit models were employed for the analyses. Heckman model of first-stage results indicated that households’ decision to participate in crop output markets were influenced by factors such as sex of household head, farming experience, livestock holding, cultivated land size, off/non-farm income, fertilizer used, on-farm income, market distance, and crop diversification. Moreover, the second-stage results revealed that farm households’ intensity of crop output market participation was influenced by different factors such as dependency ratio, cultivated land size, education status, chemical fertilizer, and distance to market. The Tobit model result also indicated that the extent of farm household’s participation in annual crop fertilizer market as buyer is influenced by the amount of cultivated land, land allocated to khat crop, off/ non-farm income (log), amount of manure used and distance to the main road. From policy perspective, we recommend that strategies aimed at improving commercial behaviour of smallholder farmers in the study area should be directed in addressing the determining factors of both crop input and output market participation.
Maximal perfusion of skeletal muscle in man.

Five subjects exercised with the knee extensor of one limb at work loads ranging from 10 to 60 W. Measurements of pulmonary oxygen uptake, heart rate, leg blood flow, blood pressure and femoral arterial‐venous differences for oxygen and lactate were made between 5 and 10 min of the exercise. Flow in the femoral vein was measured using constant infusion of saline near 0 degrees C. Since a cuff was inflated just below the knee during the measurements and because the hamstrings were inactive, the measured flow represented primarily the perfusion of the knee extensors. Blood flow increased linearly with work load right up to an average value of 5.7 l min‐1. Mean arterial pressure was unchanged up to a work load of 30 W, but increased thereafter from 100 to 130 mmHg. The femoral arterial‐venous oxygen difference at maximum work averaged 14.6% (v/v), resulting in an oxygen uptake of 0.80 l min‐1. With a mean estimated weight of the knee extensors of 2.30 kg the perfusion of maximally exercising skeletal muscle of man is thus in the order of 2.5 l kg‐1 min‐1, and the oxygen uptake 0.35 l kg‐1 min‐1. Limitations in the methods used previously to determine flow and/or the characteristics of the exercise model used may explain why earlier studies in man have failed to demonstrate the high perfusion of muscle reported here. It is concluded that muscle blood flow is closely related to the oxygen demand of the exercising muscles. The hyperaemia at low work intensities is due to vasodilatation, and an elevated mean arterial blood pressure only contributes to the linear increase in flow at high work rates. The magnitude of perfusion observed during intense exercise indicates that the vascular bed of skeletal muscle is not a limiting factor for oxygen transport.
Dynamic Antarctic ice sheet during the early to mid-Miocene

Significance Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide are projected to exceed 500 ppm in the coming decades. It is likely that the last time such levels of atmospheric CO2 were reached was during the Miocene, for which there is geologic data for large-scale advance and retreat of the Antarctic ice sheet. Simulating Antarctic ice sheet retreat is something that ice sheet models have struggled to achieve because of a strong hysteresis effect. Here, a number of developments in our modeling approach mean that we are able to simulate large-scale variability of the Antarctic ice sheet for the first time. Our results are also consistent with a recently recovered sedimentological record from the Ross Sea presented in a companion article. Geological data indicate that there were major variations in Antarctic ice sheet volume and extent during the early to mid-Miocene. Simulating such large-scale changes is problematic because of a strong hysteresis effect, which results in stability once the ice sheets have reached continental size. A relatively narrow range of atmospheric CO2 concentrations indicated by proxy records exacerbates this problem. Here, we are able to simulate large-scale variability of the early to mid-Miocene Antarctic ice sheet because of three developments in our modeling approach. (i) We use a climate–ice sheet coupling method utilizing a high-resolution atmospheric component to account for ice sheet–climate feedbacks. (ii) The ice sheet model includes recently proposed mechanisms for retreat into deep subglacial basins caused by ice-cliff failure and ice-shelf hydrofracture. (iii) We account for changes in the oxygen isotopic composition of the ice sheet by using isotope-enabled climate and ice sheet models. We compare our modeling results with ice-proximal records emerging from a sedimentological drill core from the Ross Sea (Andrill-2A) that is presented in a companion article. The variability in Antarctic ice volume that we simulate is equivalent to a seawater oxygen isotope signal of 0.52–0.66‰, or a sea level equivalent change of 30–36 m, for a range of atmospheric CO2 between 280 and 500 ppm and a changing astronomical configuration. This result represents a substantial advance in resolving the long-standing model data conflict of Miocene Antarctic ice sheet and sea level variability.
Levetiracetam ameliorates ovarian function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract Diabetes mellitus can adversely affect gonadal function. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanism of action of levetiracetam (LEV) on the ovaries in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model in rats. Twenty-one adult female rats were assigned to three groups as control, diabetes group treated with 1 mL/kg/d saline (STZ + SP) and diabetes group treated with 600 mg/kg/d LEV (STZ + LEV). Following 4 weeks treatment, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and ovariectomy was performed for histopathological examination. Plasma anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), glutathione and total anti-oxidant capacity values were significantly lower whereas lipid peroxides and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) values were significantly higher in STZ + SP group compared to control. LEV treatment successfully decreased lipid peroxidation and TGF-β levels, and also increased anti-oxidant parameters and AMH levels in diabetic rats. Saline-treated rats significantly displayed ovarian degeneration and decreased counts of follicles. However, treatment of diabetic rats with LEV effectively prevented the degenerative changes and follicle loss. Also, LEV suppressed ovarian nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) immunoexpression in diabetic rats. Taken together, we propose that LEV can ameliorate the adverse effects of diabetes on ovarian function via decreasing NF-kB expression and oxidative stress and increasing anti-oxidant status in rats. Chinese abstract 糖尿病可对性腺功能产生不利影响。 本研究中，我们旨在探讨左乙拉西坦（LEV）对链脲霉素（STZ）诱导的糖尿病大鼠卵巢的保护情况及其作用机制。 我们将21只雌性成年大鼠随机分为控制组、1mL/kg/天生理盐水糖尿病治疗组（STZ+SP）和600mg/kg/天左乙拉西坦糖尿病治疗组（STZ+LEV）。 四周后收集血液样本进行生化分析，切除卵巢进行病理组织学检查。 与对照组相比，血浆抗苗勒管激素（AMH）、谷胱甘肽、总抗氧化活性值明显降低，而STZ+SP组脂质过氧化物、转化生长因子β（TGF-β）则明显升高。 在糖尿病大鼠模型中，LEV治疗组显著降低了过氧化脂质和TGF-β水平，同时升高了抗氧化参数及AMH水平。 生理盐水灌胃组大鼠模型中卵巢功能明显减退、卵泡计数明显减少。 然而，接受LEV治疗的糖尿病大鼠模型有效地预防了大鼠卵巢功能的减退及卵泡数的损耗。 同时，LEV也抑制了糖尿病大鼠卵巢核因子kB（NF-kB）的免疫性表达。 综上，我们提出LEV可通过降低NF-kB表达和氧化应激反应，同时通过增加抗氧化状态来改善糖尿病大鼠的卵巢功能。
Environmental features are important in determining protein secondary structure

We have investigated amino acid features that determine secondary structure: (1) the solvent accessibility of each side chain, and (2) the interaction of each side chain with others one to four residues apart. Solvent accessibility is a simple model that distinguishes residue environment. The pairwise interactions represent a simple model of local side chain to side chain interactions. To test the importance of these features we developed an algorithm to separate α‐helices, β‐strands, and “other” structure. Single residue and pairwise probabilities were determined for 25,141 samples from proteins with <30% homology. Combining the features of solvent accessibility with pairwise probabilities allows us to distinguish the three structures after cross validation at the 82.0% level. We gain 1.4% to 2.0% accuracy by optimizing the propensities, demonstrating that probabilities do not necessarily reflect propensities. Optimization of residue exposures, weights of all probabilities, and propensities increased accuracy to 84.0%.
In vitro activity of retapamulin against linezolid and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

OBJECTIVES To determine the in vitro activity of retapamulin and other topical antibiotics (mupirocin, bacitracin, and fusidic acid) usually employed for nasal decolonization, against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and linezolid and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. METHODS The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined on Mueller-Hinton agar according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and of the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. Presence of the cfr gene in linezolid and methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates was detected using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Retapamulin inhibited all the isolates of MSSA and MRSA at 0.125 mg/L, but the 18 linezolid-resistant-MRSA strains proved resistant, with MICs over 32 mg/L. Most MSSA isolates (9/10) were susceptible to mupirocin with MICs under 0.19 mg/L, although this value decreased to half against MRSA, and almost all linezolid-resistant MRSA (17/18) strains were resistant to mupirocin with an MIC range of between 8 mg/L and 28 mg/L. The MIC of fusidic acid increased substantially against linezolid-resistant MRSA, whereas that of bacitracin showed no differences. CONCLUSIONS Retapamulin demonstrated excellent in vitro activity against MSSA and MRSA strains, but not against MRSA isolates harbouring the cfr gene. The results of this in vitro study support cut-off values for retapamulin of ≤ 0.5, 1, and ≥ 2 mg/L for susceptible, intermediate, and resistant strains, respectively.
Role of glucose and insulin loads to the exercising limb in increasing glucose uptake and metabolism.

To assess the contributions of glucose load to the working hindlimb and local contraction-related events (changes related to the microvasculature and/or intrinsic muscle metabolic properties) to the exercise-induced increases in muscle glucose uptake and metabolism in vivo, dogs were studied with somatostatin infused to suppress insulin release, and glucose and insulin were replaced 1) during rest and treadmill exercise at rates that recreate limb glucose and insulin loads evident during exercise (n = 5), 2) at rest to selectively normalize the limb glucose load to rates present during exercise while retaining basal limb insulin loads (GL, n = 5), or 3) at rest to normalize both the limb glucose and insulin loads to those present during exercise (IGL, n = 5). Limb arteriovenous difference and isotopic ([U-14C]glucose) techniques were used to quantify muscle glucose uptake and metabolism. Limb glucose load rose from 819 +/- 141 mumol/min in the basal state to 1,568 +/- 190 mumol/min with exercise. Limb glucose loads were 1,423 +/- 88 and 1,502 +/- 165 mumol/min in GL and IGL. The limb insulin load rose from basal rates of 12.9 +/- 2.3 to 22.9 +/- 5.9 nmol/min during exercise. Limb insulin loads were similar to basal loads in GL (8.8 +/- 1.9 nmol/min) and exercise in IGL (28.2 +/- 5.5 nmol/min). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Clinical performance of a diode laser fluorescence device for the detection of occlusal caries in primary teeth.

OBJECTIVES To correlate the DIAGNOdent readings (LF) with those of direct visual (DV) examination, indirect visual (IDV) examination, bitewing radiography (BWR), and pit and fissure opening (PFO) for the detection of occlusal caries in primary teeth; to determine the validity of this device using PFO as reference; and to evaluate its reliability. METHODS Two calibrated operators examined 130 teeth with 405 examination sites using DV, IDV and radiographic examinations, and LF. Of the 405 sites, 155 were visually scored for caries after pit and fissure opening. RESULTS Pit and fissure opening was found to significantly correlate with all methods (rhoLF = 0.48, rhoBWX = 0.48, rhoDV = 0.44, rhoIDV = 0.41). For enamel lesions, higher sensitivity (0.76) was found with DV, while higher specificity (0.88) with the LF. For lesions into dentin, however, higher sensitivity (0.78) was found with the LF, while higher specificity (0.98) with the BWR. The device's accuracy was found to be 0.61 for enamel lesions, while for lesions into dentin 0.70, and its reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.97). CONCLUSION The LF device presented high reliability in the detection of occlusal caries in primary teeth and its performance was similar to DV and radiographic examinations.
Indentation Modulus of the Alveolar Process in Dogs

One mechanism of bone adaptation is alteration in tissue level material properties. We hypothesized that alteration in the indentation modulus of the alveolar process is an adaptive response to the localized mechanical environment. Forty-eight specimens representing anterior and posterior regions of the maxilla and mandible were obtained from 6 mature male beagle dogs. The indentation properties of the alveolar bone proper and more distant osteonal cortical bone were estimated. The bone types were further divided into 3 regions (coronal, middle, and apical), with 27 indents being made in each region of tooth-supporting bone. There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in the indentation moduli of the jaws (maxilla/mandible), location (anterior/posterior), and bone type (alveolar bone proper vs. cortical bone). However, statistical interactions exist which preclude the simple interpretation of results. The distribution of relative stiffness provides a better understanding of bone adaptations in the alveolar process.