Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Lactobacillus fermentum BGHI14 with Rat Colonic Mucosa: Implications for Colitis Induction

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to test the colonic mucosal response of rats to oral supplementation with Lactobacillus fermentum BGHI14 and to correlate the tissue reaction to trinitrobenzenesulfonate (TNBS)-induced colitis with mucosal barrier alterations caused by bacterial ingestion. An immune cell-mediated reaction of healthy colonic tissue was noticed after bacterial feeding. After prolonged bacterial treatment, the observed reaction had retreated to normality, but the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) remained elevated. These data point to the chronic low-grade inflammation that could be caused by long-term probiotic consumption. Although no detrimental effects of bacterial pretreatment were noticed in colitic rats, at least in the acute state of disease, the results obtained in our study point to the necessity of reassessment of existing data on the safety of probiotic preparations. Additionally, probiotic effects in experimental colitis models might depend on time coordination of disease induction with treatment duration.
Fine‐scale belowground species associations in temperate grassland

Evaluating how belowground processes contribute to plant community dynamics is hampered by limited information on the spatial structure of root communities at the scale that plants interact belowground. In this study, roots were mapped to the nearest one mm and molecularly identified by species on vertical (0–15 cm deep) surfaces of soil blocks excavated from dry and mesic grasslands in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) to examine the spatial relationships among species at the scale that roots interact. Our results indicated that average interspecific root – root distances for the majority of species were within a distance (3 mm) that roots have been shown to compete for resources. Most species placed their roots at random, although low root numbers for many species probably led to overestimating the occurrence of random patterns. According to theory, we expected that most of the remaining species would segregate their root systems to avoid competition. Instead we found that more species aggregated than segregated from others. Based on previous investigations, we hypothesize that species aggregate to increase uptake of water, nitrogen and/or phosphorus made available by neighbouring roots, or as a consequence of a reduction in the pathogenicity of soil biota growing in multispecies mixtures. Our results indicate that YNP grassland root communities are organized as closely interdigitating networks of species that potentially can support strong interactions among many species combinations. Future root research should address the prevalence and functional consequences of species aggregation across plant communities.
Framing and Salience Effects in Tax Evasion Decisions – An Experiment on Underreporting and Overdeducting

Although there is already a variety of papers analyzing tax evasion decisions, only little focus is put on tax evasion of gains and losses. As taxpayers can evade taxes by either underreporting their income or by overdeducting expenses, we study whether there is a significant difference if subject are confronted with a gain or a loss scenario. We find that individuals evade more in the first than in the latter case. As a consequence, subjects are more willing to evade taxes by underreporting income than by overdeducting expenses. We show that this finding can be explained by mental accounting and an asymmetric evaluation of tax payments and tax refunds. Our result is robust to treatment variation. However, if individuals have to complete only one tax declaration (but still decide on gains and losses) and we therefore expect subjects to use only one mental account, the effect vanishes. This provides strong evidence that mental accounting plays an important role in tax evasion decisions. Further results are presented and discussed.
The evaluation of the effectiveness of an intrauterine-administered progestogen (levonorgestrel) in the symptomatic treatment of endometriosis and in the staging of the disease.

BACKGROUND Medical treatment of endometriosis, a condition which significantly affects the quality of life in approximately 10-15% of women in the reproductive years, remains problematic. Although oral progestogens are effective and cheap, their efficacy is significantly influenced by poor compliance and systemic side effects. A progestogen (levonorgestrel) administered via an intrauterine system (Lng-IUS) has been demonstrated to improve symptoms of endometriosis; however, its effect on the staging of the disease has not been evaluated. The aims of this study were therefore to investigate the effectiveness of Lng-IUS in the symptomatic relief of minimal to moderate endometriosis and in the staging of the disease. METHODS This was a prospective non-comparative observational study in which 34 women with clinically suspected and laparoscopically confirmed symptomatic minimal to moderate endometriosis had Lng-IUS inserted for 6 months. The symptom profile and stage of the disease before, during and after 6 months of treatment and patients' satisfaction with treatment and willingness to retain the device at the end of the study period were used to assess response to treatment. RESULTS Of the 34 women recruited, 29 (85%) completed the study; five discontinued, for personal reasons (one), side effects of worsening of acne (one) and lower abdominal/ pelvic pain (three). Significant (P<0.05) improvements in severity and frequency of pain and menstrual symptoms as well as staging were achieved, with 68% (23) of cases electing to continue with the device after 6 months of therapy. CONCLUSION The levonorgestrel intrauterine system is an effective hormonal option for treating symptomatic endometriosis (minimal to moderate). It also alters the American Fertility Society staging of disease. With a continuation rate of 68% after 6 months, it has the potential for providing long-term therapy in a substantial number of sufferers, although this would require further study and verification.
Ventricular Expression of a MLC-2v-ras Fusion Gene Induces Cardiac Hypertrophy and Selective Diastolic Dysfunction in Transgenic Mice (*)

p21 has been implicated in the hypertrophic response of cultured cardiac myocytes to defined growth stimuli. To determine if activation of ras-dependent intracellular signaling pathways is sufficient to induce in vivo hypertrophy, transgenic mice were created that express oncogenic ras in the cardiac ventricular chamber. Mice homozygous for the transgene displayed morphological, physiological, and genetic markers of marked cardiac muscle hypertrophy. Miniaturized catheterization technology documented a selective prolongation of cardiac relaxation, similar to that seen in early human hypertrophic heart disease. An increase in left atrial mass, in the absence of transgene expression in that chamber, further supported physiologically abnormal left ventricular diastolic function. Histological analysis revealed myofibrillar disarray, indistinguishable from that in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in man. These studies establish a ras-dependent pathway for hypertrophic heart disease and document the feasibility of mapping in vivo signaling pathways for cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction by applying in vivo microphysiological assays to genetically manipulated mice. ras-dependent pathways may also be a rational target for developing new approaches to inhibit the genesis of hypertrophy in certain pathological settings.
Numerical evaluation of volume pulsations in man. I. The basic formula.

A formula is commonly found in the literature, relating the specific compliance of a blood vessel to its geometrical dimensions and to the elastic properties of its wall material. By a close recapitulation of all assumptions made in the derivation it is shown this formula is incorrect. A correct way for the derivation in the general case is mentioned and the resulting correct formula is given. The condition in which a blood vessel in situ is surrounded by soft tissue with elastic properties is discussed.
GC Fractionation Allows Comparative Total Microbial Community Analysis, Enhances Diversity Assessment, and Facilitates Detection of Minority Populations of Bacteria

A major challenge in modern microbial ecology is to effectively and accurately determine total microbial community diversity, particularly with regard to the detection of (a) unculturable and fastidious bacterial species and (b) those present only in low abundance (i.e., minority populations). A common theme in published studies and textbooks regarding microbial community diversity in most environments is that typically only 0.1–1.0% of bacteria observed by direct microscopic enumeration can be recovered on using general laboratory media (e.g., see Ferguson, et al. [1984], Fliermans and Balkwill [1989], Hazen et al. [1991], RappeI and Giovannoni [2003], Janssen [2006], Jones et al. [2009], and Spain et al. [2009]). As a result, many microbial ecologists are of the opinion that the vast majority of microbial diversity remains uncharacterized, highlighting both potentially huge gaps in our understanding of how microbial communities function in an ecosystem and the large reservoir of possibly useful organisms and genes. This concern has spurred the development of a large number of molecular approaches for microbial community analysis, many of which are based on analysis of nucleic acids extracted directly from environmental samples to enhance our
Study of Parental Perceptions on Health & Social Needs of Children with Neuro-Developmental Disability and It's Impact on the Family.

INTRODUCTION The term Neuro Developmental Disorder (NDD) is used for conditions caused by a dysfunction in any part of the brain or nervous system, resulting in physical and/or psychological symptoms as a child develops. Family of children with NDD face many problems. It is very important to find them and create awareness so that gaps in essential services and supports can be decreased. AIM To explore parental perceptions on health & social needs of children with NDD, to understand the impact of disability on the families having children with disability, and to find out the parental perceptions on availability of services for children with NDD and its utilization by families. MATERIALS AND METHODS The parents of 30 children with NDD were interviewed using a questionnaire and data elicited in these interviews were analysed. The questionnaire had preliminary information about parents and child with NDDs, socio-demographic profile of the family and the parental perceptions on health and social needs of their child having NDDs. RESULTS There were total 30 patients 17 were males and 13 were females. Most of the patients suffered from Cerebral Palsy (13 cases) and were diagnosed by General Practitioner (22 cases) while Developmental Neurologist/paediatrician had diagnosed remaining cases of NDD (8 cases). Most common disability for which parents were worried was inability to walk (17 cases). Common difficulties countered in daily care by parents were feeding and bathing (10 cases). Only 2 children were given assistance with tuition & psychologist (cases of ADHD). Most of the parents knew about special schools but didn't know which place such facilities were available and none of the children were attending special schools. Twenty two parents said they have no plans for the future studies but wish that at least child learns to read & write. With help of spiritual power (doing prayers and pooja) 25 parents got courage to face the difficulties and discrimination. Two parents required antidepressants. Six Mothers had to quit their jobs so as to concentrate and give more time to their children. Experience with services provided was satisfactory in 17 cases, while 13 parents reported problem of arranging money, adjusting time for long travelling and regular follow-up. CONCLUSION The findings can be utilized in developing supportive activities for families with disabled children. It addresses the need for new prospective of stigma reduction in our society. The study has found that the care givers of child with NDDs suffer from significant physical and mental stress, and their health should be taken into consideration. The study has found need of "care givers' support group". The professionals can help parents in establishing positive thinking towards care giving. There is need of provision of comprehensive and latest rehabilitation/ support resources & information.
The concentration of human follicular fluid stromal cell-derived factor-1 is correlated with luteinization in follicles

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are angiogenic factors that have possible roles in ovarian function. The objectives of this study were to investigate the association between the individual concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF and sex steroid hormones in human preovulatory follicles and to verify the SDF-1 expression in ovarian follicles. Follicular fluid (FF) and luteinizing granulosa cells (LGCs) were collected from follicles at the time of oocyte retrieval. The concentrations of SDF-1, VEGF, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) were determined by biochemical assay. The expression levels of SDF-1 mRNA and protein were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis, respectively. A total of 177 follicles were analyzed. The FF concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF positively correlated with P4 concentrations (r = 0.457 and p < 0.01, r = 0.698 and p < 0.01, respectively), but did not correlate with E2 concentrations in FF. Furthermore, we confirmed that SDF-1 mRNA was expressed in LGCs and SDF-1 protein is present in the granulosa cells of the human ovary. Our findings suggest that SDF-1, as well as VEGF, may play important modulatory roles in early luteinization of human preovulatory follicles.
Novel Factor Highly Conserved among Eukaryotes Controls Sexual Development in Fission Yeast

ABSTRACT In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the onset of sexual development is controlled mainly by two external signals, nutrient starvation and mating pheromone availability. We have isolated a novel gene named rcd1+ as a key factor required for nitrogen starvation-induced sexual development.rcd1 + encodes a 283-amino-acid protein with no particular motifs. However, genes highly homologous torcd1 + (encoding amino acids with >70% identity) are present at least in budding yeasts, plants, nematodes, and humans. Cells with rcd1 + deleted are sterile if sexual development is induced by nitrogen starvation but fertile if it is induced by glucose starvation. This results largely from a defect in nitrogen starvation-invoked induction ofste11 +, a key transcriptional factor gene required for the onset of sexual development. The striking conservation of the gene throughout eukaryotes may suggest the presence of an evolutionarily conserved differentiation controlling system.
Validation of the revised 2008 WHO diagnostic criteria in 75 suspected cases of myeloproliferative neoplasm

The objective of this study was to validate the recently revised 2008 WHO diagnostic criteria of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) together with the analysis of correlation of JAK2 (Janus kinase 2)-V617F mutant allele burden with clinical/laboratory findings on each patient. We made a diagnosis of 75 suspected MPN patients based on both diagnostic criteria of the 2001 WHO classification and the revised 2008 WHO classification, and found that both criteria show a quite similar diagnostic power except for two patients (idiopathic erythrocytosis (IE) and thrombocytosis) who were diagnosed as essential thrombocythemia by the 2008 WHO criteria. From JAK2-V617F analysis, hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly higher and platelet count was lower in JAK2-V617F high allele burden group than JAK2-V617F middle allele burden group. Mutant allele burden of polycythemia vera (PV) group was higher than that of essential thrombocythemia group. Therefore, the amount of mutant allele seemed to define the disease phenotypes. We further found a PV case presenting a rare type of JAK2-exon12 mutation. In contrast, IE presented a good prognosis unlike MPN. Hereafter, the 2008 WHO criteria with JAK2 gene analysis are useful for precise diagnosis of MPN and the patients with erythrocytosis.
Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

Abstract: Forty‐six consecutive patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), having a median age of 23 years (range 14 to 64), underwent induction and consolidation chemotherapy with weekly parenteral vincristine, adriamycin, 1‐asparaginase and daily oral prednisone (VAAP), followed by standard central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis. Maintenance therapy was given for 3 years and consisted of daily 6‐mercaptopurine, weekly methotrexate, and monthly intrathecal chemotherapy, with drug intensification comprising either vincristine, adriamycin and 1‐asparaginase (VAA) or cyclophosphamide, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside and prednisone (COAP). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 36 patients (78%) and only the FAB L1 morphology was a significant predictive factor (Chi‐squared = 3.91: p < 0.05). Eight of the 10 non‐responders had significant drug resistance and 3 deaths were associated with marrow hypoplasia. Median follow‐up is 52 months. Median duration of CR is 28 months, median survival of all patients is 16 months, and for those who achieved CR is 44 months. There was no difference between the two maintenance arms. Significant prognostic factors for survival are French‐American‐British (FAB) subtype, in which the L1 is better than L2 (p = 0.05), and age (p = 0.035). Nineteen patients have experienced medullary relapse and 7 (37%) achieved subsequent CR; this is durable in a single patient who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Eight patients (17%) had CNS disease at diagnosis; 5 achieved CR and 1 is alive and disease‐free at 65 + months. There has been 1 CNS relapse. These results demonstrate that prolonged remissions and survival can be achieved with this protocol and many patients possibly cured. The level of toxicity is acceptable and the pattern of induction failure indicates that a margin exists for intensifying chemotherapy and thereby possibly further improving results.
Depressive symptom dimensions and cardiac prognosis following myocardial infarction: results from the ENRICHD clinical trial

Background Depression following myocardial infarction (MI) independently increases risk for early cardiac morbidity and mortality. Studies suggest that somatic, but not cognitive, depressive symptoms are responsible for the increased risk. However, the effects of somatic depressive symptoms at follow-up, after sufficient time has elapsed to allow for physical recovery from the initial infarction, are not known. Our aim was to examine the relationship between cognitive and somatic depressive symptom dimensions at baseline and 12 months post-MI and subsequent mortality and cardiovascular morbidity. Method Patients were 2442 depressed and/or socially isolated men and women with acute MI included in the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) clinical trial. We used principal components analysis (PCA) of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) items to derive subscales measuring cognitive and somatic depressive symptom dimensions, and Cox regression with Bonferroni correction for multiple testing to examine the contribution of these dimensions to all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and first recurrent non-fatal MI. Results After adjusting for medical co-morbidity and Bonferroni correction, the somatic depressive symptom dimension assessed proximately following MI did not significantly predict any endpoints. At 12 months post-MI, however, this dimension independently predicted subsequent all-cause [hazard ratio (HR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–1.81] and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.17–2.18). No significant associations were found between the cognitive depressive symptom dimension and any endpoints after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions Somatic symptoms of depression at 12 months post-MI in patients at increased psychosocial risk predicted subsequent mortality. Psychosocial interventions aimed at improving cardiac prognosis may be enhanced by targeting somatic depressive symptoms, with particular attention to somatic symptom severity at 12 months post-MI.
Student Primary Teachers' Perceptions of Mathematics: A Phenomenographic Study.

This study is situated at a time of political and educational change, whereby a need for improvement in the provision of mathematics education in British primary schools is identified. Undertaken from a phenomenographic perspective, it focuses on mathematical perceptions of student primary teachers (SPTs) as they embark upon Initial Teacher Training (ITT), and considers the potential influence of mathematical perceptions upon their ITT learning and future teaching. Research suggests negative perceptions of mathematics amongst adults, Higher Education students, teachers and student teachers, but the range of variation of mathematical perceptions of SPTs at the outset of ITT has not been previously examined. A phenomenographic study, conducted with thirty-seven SPTs due to begin ITT, led to the development of four qualitatively different ways in which SPTs perceive mathematics. The hierarchical variation is examined in relation to pedagogical associations via a conceptual framework based on a non-dualist perspective of mathematics being constituted of a learner's relational understanding through experience. Potential implications for SPTs' development within ITT are explored and recommendations made regarding how these might be addressed. Whilst ITT provision is an obvious factor in students' development, this research is based on a premise of learners taking responsibility for their own development, especially with regard to intangible and often unconsciously held perceptions. The study offers insight into the range of perceptions SPTs may hold and its association with pedagogy, in order to both raise awareness and to provide a framework for reflection in SPTs' formation of personal philosophy of mathematics upon which to plan learning goals for ITT and associated aspirations for their practice as primary mathematics teachers.
Benefits of a virtual play rehabilitation environment for children with cerebral palsy on perceptions of self-efficacy: a pilot study

This paper presents the results of a clinical trial of a virtual reality play-based intervention. The results of three single case studies are presented. The virtual reality intervention used the Mandala ® Gesture Xtreme technology. It was applied to three school-aged children with cerebral palsy. A pre-test-post-test design was used. The relevant outcome of interest was self-efficacy as measured with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Group scores on the COPM indicated clinically significant changes in self-efficacy for all children. Two of the participants demonstrated the greatest changes in both perceived performance abilities and satisfaction with performance with respect to task specific domain areas. Qualitative comments from the participants revealed a high degree of motivation, interest, pleasure, and opportunity for engagement in play, activities not previously engaged in. Overall, this pilot study suggests the viability of a virtual reality play-based intervention as part of the rehabilitation process for children with cerebral palsy. These results form the basis of a larger scale randomized clinical trial.