Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reversibility of experimental acute renal failure in rats: Assessment with USPIO‐enhanced MR imaging

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential reversibility of kidney lesions in an experimental model of acute renal failure using ultra‐small particles of iron oxide (USPIO)‐enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. This study was conducted in 21 uninephrectomized rats using a model of iodinated contrast media‐induced renal failure. Thirteen rats received selective intraarterial renal administration of diatrizoate (370 mg/ml) and were compared with two control groups, including six animals injected with saline and two noninjected animals.
TRAINING TO IMPROVE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE & PERFORMANCE : WHAT INTERVENTIONS WORK ?

WHAT INTERVENTIONS WORK? ABSTRACT In recent years significant amounts of research have been conducted exploring the implications of emotional intelligence to individuals, groups and organisations themselves. The research presented in this paper adds to this growing body of knowledge by exploring whether emotional intelligence can be trained, what type of interventions increase emotional intelligence, and what performance benefits result. Utilising an experimental methodology, an interpersonal skills program and a specific emotional intelligence intervention were constructed and facilitated in a large public sector organisation over a two year period. Results demonstrate that while performance improved for both training interventions, only the emotions focussed training program increased emotional intelligence. A full presentation of the results and implications of this research will be discussed within this paper.
Spinal cord atrophy and disability in MS

Objective: To assess whether it is possible to measure changes in cord-sectional area during a 1-year period in patients with MS reliably. Background: Involvement of the spinal cord in MS is extremely common and an important element in the development of disability. Although little relation shown between the cord lesion load and disability, a strong correlation between spinal cord atrophy and the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) has been demonstrated in cross-sectional studies. Method: A highly reproducible semiautomated technique that measures the cross-sectional area of the cord at the C2 level was applied to 13 healthy control subjects and 28 patients serially. Results: This study confirms that patients have significantly smaller cords than control subjects at baseline (control subjects: mean 80.95 mm2, patients: mean 71.25 mm2, p = 0.01) and demonstrates that patients have a significant loss in cord cross-sectional area during 12 months, which was not seen in control subjects (p < 0.001). This reduction in cord size was most marked in the primary progressive patients who had a mean cord cross-sectional area loss of 3.52 mm2(5.2%) and least in the secondary progressive (-0.26 mm2, 0.7%) and benign patients (-0.41 mm2, 0.8%). The baseline cord cross-sectional area correlated strongly with the EDSS (r = -0.52, p = 0.005) and with disease duration (r = -0.75, p < 0.001); however, there was no significant difference in cord area(p = 0.69) or change in cord area (p = 0.51) between those patients with a definite increase in EDSS and those without. Conclusion: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that it is possible to measure changes in cord cross-sectional area over time. The serial measurement of spinal cord atrophy may thus make an important contribution to the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, especially in primary progressive disease.
Speeding up behavioral test pattern generation using an algorithmic improvement

In this paper, we focus on an improvement of test pattern generation for circuit descriptions written in hardware description languages according to their behavior. The improvement method stems from the "headlines" defined at the gate level by structural test approaches. The improvement method is implemented and inserted in a behavioral test pattern generator in order to be validated. Experimental results have been obtained which show the efficiency of our approach. <<ETX>>
Development and Clinical Application of a Panfungal PCR Assay To Detect and Identify Fungal DNA in Tissue Specimens

ABSTRACT Given the rise in the incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and the expanding spectrum of fungal pathogens, early and accurate identification of the causative pathogen is essential. We developed a panfungal PCR assay that targets the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of the ribosomal DNA gene cluster to detect fungal DNA in fresh and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (PE) tissue specimens from patients with culture-proven (n = 38) or solely histologically proven (n = 24) IFIs. PCR products were sequenced and compared with sequences in the GenBank database to identify the causal pathogen. The molecular identification was correlated with results from histological examination and culture. The assay successfully detected and identified the fungal pathogen in 93.6% and 64.3% of culture-proven and solely histologically proven cases of IFI, respectively. A diverse range of fungal genera were identified, including species of Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Scedosporium, Exophiala, Exserohilum, Apophysomyces, Actinomucor, and Rhizopus. For five specimens, molecular analysis identified a pathogen closely related to that identified by culture. All PCR-negative specimens (n = 10) were PE tissues in which fungal hyphae were visualized. The results support the use of the panfungal PCR assay in combination with conventional laboratory tests for accurate identification of fungi in tissue specimens.
Genotypes at the APOE and SCA2 loci do not predict the course of multiple sclerosis in patients of Portuguese origin

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease that affects about one in 500 young Europeans. In order to test the previously proposed influence of the A PO E and SC A 2 loci on susceptibility to MS, we studied these loci in 243 Portuguese patients and 192 healthy controls and both parents of 92 patients. We did not detect any significant difference when A PO E and SC A 2 allele frequencies of cases and controls were compared, or when we compared cases with different forms of the disease. Disequilibrium of transmission was tested for both loci in the 92 trios, and we did not observe segregation distortion. To test the influence of the A PO E o4 and SC A 2 22 C AGs alleles on severity of disease, we compared age at onset and progression rate between groups with and without those alleles. We did not observe an association of the o4 or the 22 C AG s alleles with rate of progression in our total patient population; allele o4 was associated with increased rate of progression of MS in a subset of patients with less than 10 years of the disease. However, globally in the Portuguese population, the A PO E and SC A2 genes do not seem to be useful in the clinical context as prognostic markers of this disorder.
Association between psychosocial job characteristics and sickness absence due to low back symptoms using combined DCS and ERI models.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the combined demand-control-support (DCS) and effort-reward-overcommitment (ERI-OC) stress models in association with sickness absence due to low back symptoms (SA-LBS). METHODS A total of 2,737 blue-collar workers recruited from 13 companies in the most populous province (Henan) of China were included in the study. Personal and physical job characteristics, psychosocial scales of the stress models, and SA-LBS data in the preceding year were collected by a self-reported questionnaire and analyzed by a multivariable logistic regression model. Tertile exposure levels (low, medium and high) were constructed to discriminate a risk level. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as the association with SA-LBS. RESULTS A large percentage (84.5%) of the Chinese workers did not take sick leave after reporting low back symptoms during the preceding year. High job demand or medium-high reward was associated with SA-LBS. The association of the combined stress models and SA-LBS was not evident. CONCLUSIONS The ERI-OC model appeared to be more predictive of SA-LBS than the DCS model in the study population. The advantage of using combined stress models for predicting SA-LBS is not evident.
Multiple metastases from cutaneous malignant melanoma patients may display heterogeneous genomic and epigenomic patterns

Disseminated melanoma is an aggressive disease with fatal outcome. Better understanding of the underlying biology is needed to find effective treatment. We applied microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization, gene expression and CpG island methylation analysis of primary tumors and multiple metastases from five melanoma patients with the aim of analyzing the molecular patterns of melanoma progression. Epigenetic profiling showed that the multiple metastases after a single primary melanoma share similar methylation patterns for many genes, although differences in methylation between the lesions were evident for several genes, example, PTEN, TFAP2C, and RARB. In addition, DNA copy number and global gene expression profiles of tumors from individual patients were highly similar, confirming common origin of metastases. Some of the identified genomic aberrations, for example, gain of chromosome 6p and loss of chromosomes 6q and 10, persisted during progression, indicating early changes highly important for melanoma development. Homozygous deletions at 3p26.1 and 6q23.2–q23.3 appeared in two consecutive metastases originating from the same primary tumor, respectively, in a mutually exclusive manner that provides evidence for two genetically different subclones. However, in another case, the similarity of the copy number aberrations in subsequent metastatic lesions suggests sequential metastatic development through the clonal evolution. These data are further corroborated by a switch in CDH1 and CDH2 expression between metastases from the same patient. In conclusion, our results provide evidence for different models of metastatic progression in melanoma.
[Dealing with asthma for teachers--needs and possibilities].

UNLABELLED Teachers and schools are confronted with an increasing number of children with asthma. Teachers have to care for 2 to 4 children or adolescents with asthma in an average class; but they feel that they are not adequately informed to cope with such problems. METHODS In 1999 and 2000, we conducted an inquiry in schools in the region of Osnabrueck. This investigation used approximately the same tools as a previous inquiry in Vienna. Results were similar and demonstrated deficits in the knowledge about asthma and in the ability to manage children with asthma exacerbations. At the same time, we offered a three-hour-programme in 40 schools and nurseries, to be given in the rooms of the schools. We always tried to reach all teachers of one school. Topics were: What is asthma? Self grading of severity; asthma and sports; emergency management; avoidance of triggers. RESULTS There were 648 participants. There was much interest in the seminars, and we could not always admit all applicans. Theoretical and practical contents taught were, as judged by the participants, helpful in the average school settings. The participants felt that they were now better prepared and more competent in dealing with bronchial asthma in their pupils. CONCLUSION We conclude that such seminars are helpful for teachers. The program can be conducted with moderate financial and man power resources. One may aim at including such educational units into the regular curriculum of teachers, at least as far as the most common chronic childhood and adolescent diseases are concerned.
Association of Parent and Peer Support with Adolescent Physical Activity

Th e Council on Physical Education for Children (1998) and an international consensus group recommend thatyoung people accumulate 60 min ofmoderate or greater intensity activityon most daysofthe week (Cavill, Biddle, & Sallis, 2001). A substantial proportion of adolescents, in particular girls and ethnic minorities, are not meeting physical activity recommendations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000). Research is needed to determine the factors that influence physical activity participation in this age group. The current study focuses on the relationship of social support to youth physical activity. Social support for physical activity can take many forms. It may be instrumental and direct (transportation, payment offees), emotional and motivational (encouragement, praise), or observational (modeling). In early childhood, parents and siblings serve as the most important behavioral role models. While parents continue to influence adolescents' health behaviors, the role of peer influence is believed to increase with age (Eccles, 1999). Peers exert their influence on adolescent behavior through imitation and social reinforcement (Wold & Hendry, 1998). In the literature, the association between social support and youth physical activityis inconsistent. Previously we reviewed the determinants of physical activity for children and adolescents (Sallis, Prochaska, & Taylor,
The human bitter taste receptor hTAS2R39 is the primary receptor for the bitterness of theaflavins

We purified several hundred mgs of four major theaflavins (theaflavin, theaflavin-3-O-gallate, theaflavin-3′-O-gallate, and theaflavin-3,3′-O-digallate). Among the 25 hTAS2Rs expressed in HEK293T cells, hTAS2R39 and hTAS2R14 were activated by theaflavins. Both hTAS2R39 and hTAS2R14 responded to theaflavin-3′-O-gallate. In addition, hTAS2R39 was activated by theaflavin and theaflavin-3,3′-O-gallate, but not by theaflavin-3-O-gallate. In contrast, hTAS2R14 responded to theaflavin-3-O-gallate.
The effects of phosphate on arsenic uptake and toxicity alleviation in tobacco genotypes with differing arsenic tolerances

Phosphate (PO43–) has been reported to suppress arsenate (Asv) uptake in plants. However, its effects on controlling the availability of Asv in tobacco genotypes with different arsenic (As) tolerances has not been fully explored. In the present study, the effects of PO43– on Asv uptake were investigated in a hydroponic culture using 2 tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) genotypes (ZY90 and FSMY) that differed in Asv tolerance. A total of 9 treatment combinations comprising Asv treatments of 0 µM, 10 µM, and 100 µM and PO43– treatments of 0 µM, 50 µM, and 500 µM were used. The results showed that ZY90 had greater reductions in leaf photosynthetic parameters, root and shoot dry weight, length, and nutrient content than did FSMY when exposed to Asv stress. The addition of 500 µM external PO43– significantly suppressed Asv (100 µM) uptake in both FSMY and ZY90, with the effect being more pronounced in FSMY. Greater PO43– uptake in plants significantly reduced the influx of Asv, causing an increase in photosynthesis and nutrient uptake. Phosphate supply increased superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, and malondialdehyde content. The present study showed that PO43– is an effective competitive inhibitor of Asv, and it can be effectively used to control Asv accumulation in tobacco plants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:45–52. © 2014 SETAC
Parkin is associated with cellular vesicles

We recently identified a novel gene, parkin, as a pathogenic gene for autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism. Parkin encodes a 52‐kDa protein with a ubiquitin‐like domain and two RING‐finger motifs. To provide a insight into the function of parkin, we have examined its intracellular distribution in cultured cells. We found that parkin was localized in the trans‐Golgi network and the secretory vesicles in U‐373MG or SH‐SY5Y cells by immunocytochemical analyses. In the subsequent subcellular fractionation studies of rat brain, we showed that parkin was copurified with the synaptic vesicles (SVs) when we used low ionic conditions throughout the procedure. An immunoelectromicroscopic analysis indicated that parkin was present on the SV membrane. Parkin was readily released from SVs into the soluble phase by increasing ionic strength at neutral pH, but not by a non‐ionic detergent. To elucidate its responsible region for membrane association, we transfected with green fluorescent protein‐tagged deletion mutants of parkin into COS‐1 cells followed by subcellular fractionation. We demonstrated the ability of parkin to bind to the membranes through a broad region except for the ubiquitin‐like domain. The significance of SV localization of parkin is discussed.
Bioeffects of mobile telephony radiation in relation to its intensity or distance from the antenna

Purpose: To examine the bioactivity of GSM 900 and 1800 (Global System for Mobile Telecommunications) radiations, in relation to the distance from the antenna or to the radiation-field intensities. Materials and methods: Drosophila melanogaster adult insects were exposed to the radiation of a GSM 900/1800 mobile phone antenna at different distances ranging from 0 to 100 cm, and the effect on their reproductive capacity and cell death induction in the gonads by the use of TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) assay, was studied. Results: These radiations/fields decreased the reproductive capacity by cell death induction, at all the different distances tested. The effect diminished with the distance/decreasing intensities. An increased bioactivity ‘window’ was revealed at distances of 20–30 cm from the mobile phone antenna, (radiation intensity around 10 μW/cm2) where the effect became highest, in relation to smaller or longer distances. The effect diminished considerably for distances longer than 40–50 cm and became not evident for distances longer than 1 m or radiation intensities smaller than 1 μW/cm2. Conclusions: GSM bioactivity is highest for intensities down to less than 10 μW/cm2 and still evident until 1 μW/cm2 exhibiting ‘window’ effects.
Numerical study of gas-liquid flow maldistribution in a T-junction having very small diameter ratio

Industries have been using T-junctions for either combining or dividing incoming fluids for decades. A flow phenomena termed as phase maldistribution have caused oil and gas industries to use T-junctions as partial multiphase separators. This is because, a T-junction can reduce the load on main separators by partly separating the gas from the multiphase flow coming from an oil well. From the previously published research, it was found that liquid phase superficial velocity have an inverse relationship with liquid carryover. However, to the best of author's knowledge, all of these investigations were focused on T- junctions with diameter ratios between 1 and 0.2. Likewise, most of these studies were performed on fully horizontal T-junctions. Previous literature also states that decreasing the diameter ratio increases the phase separation performance of a T-junction. However, a couple of sources reported that in very small diameter ratio T-junctions, liquid carryover becomes very sensitive to side arm extraction rates. This ultimately cause liquid carryover to suddenly increase at high extraction rates. Therefore, a numerical study is carried out in order to understand the effect of liquid superficial velocity on liquid carryover in a 0.167 diameter ratio T-junction having a vertically upward side. For this study, simulations were performed on 1 and 0.167 diameter ratio T- junctions under air-water stratified flow conditions. Results from 1 diameter ratio T-junctions were used to validate present model by comparing it with previously reported experimental data. The results obtained from 0.167 diameter ratio T-junction depicts that higher the liquid phase velocity, less will be the liquid carryover. However, liquid carryover is relatively quite large in 0.167 diameter ratio T-junction as compare to 1 diameter ratio T- junction under stratified flow conditions.
Mimicry between the hepatitis C virus polyprotein and antigenic targets of nuclear and smooth muscle antibodies in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Autoantibodies to smooth muscle (SMA) and nuclear components (ANA) arise in the natural course of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus. In view of the growing evidence for ‘molecular mimicry’ as a mechanism of autoimmunity we investigated whether cross‐reactive immune reactions between host smooth muscle/nuclear components and HCV antigens may contribute to the formation of SMA and ANA in chronic HCV infection. Computer‐assisted protein database search methods were used to identify three smooth muscle (smoothelin698−717, myosin1035−1054, vimentin69−88) and three nuclear (matrin722−741, histone H2A11‐30, replication protein A133‐152) host antigens with the highest local sequence similarity to the HCV polyprotein and 20‐mer peptides corresponding to these regions were constructed. Sera from 51 children with chronic HCV infection [median age: 8 (2–16); 27 boys], 26 SMA positive and five ANA positive, were tested for reactivity to the synthesized HCV peptides and their human homologues by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera from patients with HBV infection and chronic liver disease of different aetiologies were used as controls. ‘Double reactivity’ to HCV peptides and smooth muscle/nuclear homologues was associated strongly with HCV infection (P < 0·001 for both). Humoral cross‐reactivity was established as the basis for double recognition by competition ELISA. Double‐reactivity to smooth muscle and HCV peptide antigens correlated with SMA positivity by indirect immunofluouresence (P = 0·05). Of 15 patients double‐reactive to myosin1035−1054 and its HCV homologue, 13 recognized whole myosin by immunoblot. These results suggest that ANA and SMA in chronic HCV infection may arise, at least in part, as a consequence of cross‐reactive immune responses to HCV and host smooth muscle/nuclear antigens.
Effect of drought stress on oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme activity in melon seedlings

Drought stress is one of the most serious environmental limitations affecting the growth and productivity of plants. In the current study, oxidative damage and antioxidant responses under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress were compared in 2 melon cultivars, Kirkagac and Galia. Melon seedlings were subjected to PEG-6000 solutions of 2 different osmotic potentials, -0.2 MPa and -0.4 MPa. Various physiological parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline content, and antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured. A reduction in fresh and dry weights of shoot and root tissues was observed. Significant proline accumulation was detected with increasing osmotic potential for both cultivars. A significant rise in MDA was detected in Kirkagac at -0.4 MPa osmotic potential. In Galia hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content increased significantly as PEG concentration increased. CAT showed significantly increased activity only at -0.4 MPa osmotic potential in both cultivars. PEG-induced osmotic stress altered GR activity in both cultivars. These results suggest that (i) Galia is more tolerant than Kirkagac, and (ii) drought tolerance in both cultivars might be closely related to an increase in capacity for antioxidant enzyme activity and the osmoprotective function of proline. Comparing these responses will help to identify drought tolerance mechanisms in melon cultivars.