Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Screening of selected food and medicinal plant extracts for pancreatic lipase inhibition

Lipids are important components in human nutrition; however, their increased intake contributes to the development of obesity and can lead to multiple long‐term complications. Pancreatic lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) is a key enzyme for the absorption of dietary triglycerides. Interference with fat hydrolysis results in the reduced utilization of ingested lipids, therefore inhibition of lipases decreases fat absorption. Extracts from 106 species of medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits were screened for potential lipase inhibitory activity. p‐Nitrophenylpalmitate and 5‐bromo‐4‐chloro‐3‐indoxylpalmitate were used as substrates in an in vitro test with crude porcine pancreatic lipase. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva‐ursi), garden pea (Pisum sativum), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and large‐leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) extracts were the most active. Additionally, the activity of selected extracts with removed polyphenols was measured. Extracts of bearberry, garden pea and large‐leaved lime are a promising source for developing functional foods or isolating active compounds. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School management innovation and principal support systems: toward the agenda for Croatian school reform

Abstract In this paper, we discuss if the current educational management practices in Croatian schools are in line with the constructivist prescriptions and what is their relationship with the available principal support tools. Our research is based on previous empirical results, related to the perceived needs of school principals for training and support. Namely, in 2011, the surveyed school principals required additional competencies to be developed in the fields of school marketing and management. At that time, the primary school principals are being surveyed, related to their managerial practices and the obtained results are interpreted in the context of the already announced, comprehensive school reform in Croatia, designed according to the constructivist educational theories. The empirical results demonstrate that the managerial practices of Croatian primary schools are not compatible with the constructivist theory of education. One group of principals (27.6%) have adequate delegation skills and focus on the specific fields of project management and school marketing, while the majority demonstrate one (or several) forms of ineffective practices. There is limited empirical evidence of the statistically significant differences in the usage of principal support tools/approaches, although the specific usage patterns have been identified.
A Combined Fluorescence and Microcomputed Tomography System for Small Animal Imaging

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) plays an important role in studying physiological and pathological processes of small animals in vivo at molecular level. However, this technique suffers from relatively low spatial resolution. To complement the problem, there has been a strong demand for providing functional and morphological analysis at the same time. In this paper, we proposed a hybrid full-angle free-space FMT and X-ray micro-cone-beam computed tomography (CT) (micro-CBCT) prototype system, providing both functional and anatomical images. During the whole acquisition, the two subsystems acquire projection images (fluorescence and CT) synchronously to keep consistent body position without moving the animals. The acquired datasets are intrinsically coregistered in the corresponding coordinate and identified geometry. Tomographic fluorescence and CT images are reconstructed using normalized Born-based spatial regularization and Feldkamp-Davis-Kress methods, respectively. The experimental results of both phantom and in vivo mouse preliminarily validate the accuracy and performance of the integrated system.
Negotiation Strategy Video Modeling Training for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Usability Study

In this article the results of a usability study of CONTACT, an application that supports negotiation strategy training via video modeling for enhancing the conflict resolution of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are presented. This application was modified from the NoProblem! prototype based on feedback from two focus groups of typically developing adolescents and therapists and teachers of adolescents with ASD. It has been designed to address social competencies through video modeling and complies with the principles of constructivist learning theory. Twenty-one adolescents with ASD, 12 to 18 years of age, and 27 age- and gender-matched typically developing adolescents participated in this study. The outcome measure used was the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory. Both adolescents with ASD and typically developing adolescents perceived the application to be interesting and enjoyable; they claimed that it did not generate feelings of pressure or tension and that they had independent choices. The results also showed that adolescents with ASD felt significantly more competent than typically developing adolescents when using this application. The findings of this study emphasize the important role that the usability process has when designing and developing new technologies for educational purposes for adolescents with and without ASD.
Uptake of a superparamagnetic contrast agent imaged by MR with high spectral and spatial resolution

Conventional MRI implicitly treats the proton signal as a single, narrow Lorentzian. However, water signals in vivo are often inhomogeneously broadened and have multiple resolvable components. These components represent discrete populations of water molecules within each pixel which are affected differently by physiology and contrast agents. Accurate measurement of each component of the water resonance can improve anatomic and functional MR images and provide insight into the structure and dynamics of subpixelar microenvironments. This report describes high spectral and spatial resolution (HiSS) MR imaging of rodent prostate tumors before and after injection of a superparamagnetic contrast agent. HiSS datasets were used to synthesize images in which intensity is proportional to peak height, peak frequency, and linewidth. These images showed anatomic features which were not clearly delineated in conventional T2 and gradient echo images. HiSS images obtained after injection of the contrast agent showed T *2 and T1 changes which were not seen in conventional images. These changes are associated with microvessel density and permeability. The results suggest HiSS with superparamagnetic contrast agents has the potential to improve characterization of tumors. Magn Reson Med 43:633–639, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel cytokine‐inducible gene CIS encodes an SH2‐containing protein that binds to tyrosine‐phosphorylated interleukin 3 and erythropoietin receptors.

Cytokines manifest their function through alteration of gene expression. However, target genes for signals from cytokine receptors are largely unknown. We therefore searched for immediate‐early cytokine‐responsive genes and isolated a novel gene, CIS (cytokine inducible SH2‐containing protein) which is induced in hematopoietic cells by a subset of cytokines including interleukin 2 (IL2), IL3, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and erythropoietin (EPO), but not by stem cell factor, granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor and IL6. The CIS message encodes a polypeptide of 257 amino acids that contains an SH2 domain of 96 amino acids in the middle. To clarify the function of CIS in cytokine signal transduction, we expressed CIS in IL3‐dependent hematopoietic cell lines under the control of a steroid‐inducible promoter. The CIS product stably associated with the tyrosine‐phosphorylated beta chain of the IL3 receptor as well as the tyrosine‐phosphorylated EPO receptor. Forced expression of CIS by steroid reduced the growth rate of these transformants, suggesting a negative role of CIS in signal transduction. CIS induction requires the membrane‐proximal region of the cytoplasmic domain of the EPO receptor as well as that of the common beta chain of the IL3, IL5 and GM‐CSF receptor, whereas CIS binds to the receptor that is tyrosine phosphorylated by cytokine stimulation. Thus CIS appears to be a unique regulatory molecule for cytokine signal transduction.
Differential outcome of TRIF-mediated signaling in TLR4 and TLR3 induced DC maturation

Significance Successful induction of protective immunity is critically dependent on our ability to design vaccines that can induce dendritic cell (DC) maturation. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR3 induce DC maturation. We discovered that TLR4 that recognizes LPS from Gram-negative bacteria uses the signaling adaptor Toll–IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β to induce robust activation of NF-κB and MAP kinases that can directly lead to transcription of genes necessary for DC maturation. However, TLR3 that recognizes viral RNA depends on interferon α/β receptor signaling to induce DC maturation. Discovery of these molecular distinctions by which TLRs that recognize bacteria and viruses induce DC maturation will be beneficial to gaining critical insights into induction of adaptive immunity and for successful design of vaccines. Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on dendritic cells (DCs) leads to DC maturation, a process involving up-regulation of MHC and costimulatory molecules and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. All TLRs except TLR3 achieve these outcomes by using the signaling adaptor myeloid differentiation factor 88. TLR4 and TLR3 can both use the Toll–IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-dependent signaling pathway leading to IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) activation and induction of IFN-β and -α4. The TRIF signaling pathway, downstream of both of these TLRs, also leads to DC maturation, and it has been proposed that the type I IFNs act in cis to induce DC maturation and subsequent effects on adaptive immunity. The present study was designed to understand the molecular mechanisms of TRIF-mediated DC maturation. We have discovered that TLR4–TRIF-induced DC maturation was independent of both IRF3 and type I IFNs. In contrast, TLR3-mediated DC maturation was completely dependent on type I IFN feedback. We found that differential activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by the TLR4– and TLR3–TRIF axes determined the type I IFN dependency for DC maturation. In addition, we found that the adjuvanticity of LPS to induce T-cell activation is completely independent of type I IFNs. The important distinction between the TRIF-mediated signaling pathways of TLR4 and TLR3 discovered here could have a major impact in the design of future adjuvants that target this pathway.
Purification and characterization of a soluble form of lysosome‐associated membrane glycoprotein‐2 (lamp‐2) from rat liver lysosomal contents

Lysosomal membrane of rat liver contains a highly glycosylated protein referred to as lamp‐2. Lamp‐2 occurs to a significant extent in a soluble fraction of rat liver lysosomes. The soluble form of lamp‐2 (SF‐lamp‐2) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. An apparent molecular weight (Mr) of SF‐lamp‐2 on sodium dodecy sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was determined to be 91,000 which is 5,000 less than that of the membranous form of lamp‐2 (MF‐lamp‐2). SF‐ and MF‐lamp‐2 were very similar to each other in terms of sialic acid content, NH2‐terminal amino acid sequence and isoelectric point. Gel filtration data indicated that native SF‐lamp‐2 has an Mr=360,000. Taken together, SF‐lamp‐2 forms a tetrameric structure consisiting of a homogenous polypeptide lacking a membrane‐spanning domain and a cytoplasmic tail near the COOH‐terminus.
Early Childhood Education and Care Systems in the OECD Countries: the Issue of Tradition and Governance a

Introduction The series of policy analyses carried out by the OECD Education Directorate from 19982006 show that the organisation of early childhood systems is extremely varied across the rich countries. Yet, distinctive patterns of governance emerge from this diversity. The following text will briefly describe two traditional approaches to system governance, namely, through integrated (one ministry or agency in charge) or split management. The adoption of one or other approach says much about how early childhood is understood in a country, and the relative value given by governments to policy-making, funding and regulation in this field.
Age and size at maturity: A quantitative review of diet‐induced reaction norms in insects

Optimality models predict that diet‐induced bivariate reaction norms for age and size at maturity can have diverse shapes, with the slope varying from negative to positive. To evaluate these predictions, we perform a quantitative review of relevant data, using a literature‐derived database of body sizes and development times for over 200 insect species. We show that bivariate reaction norms with a negative slope prevail in nearly all taxonomic and ecological categories of insects as well as in some other ectotherm taxa with comparable life histories (arachnids and amphibians). In insects, positive slopes are largely limited to species, which feed on discrete resource items, parasitoids in particular. By contrast, with virtually no meaningful exceptions, herbivorous and predatory insects display reaction norms with a negative slope. This is consistent with the idea that predictable resource depletion, a scenario selecting for positively sloped reaction norms, is not frequent for these insects. Another source of such selection—a positive correlation between resource levels and juvenile mortality rates—should similarly be rare among insects. Positive slopes can also be predicted by models which integrate life‐history evolution and population dynamics. As bottom‐up regulation is not common in most insect groups, such models may not be most appropriate for insects.
A semi-lumped balun fabricated by low temperature co-fired ceramic

A new chip-type multi-layer ceramic balun is presented in this paper. This balun is designed in the ISM band and fabricated using low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology. It involves the semi-lumped concept and the multi-layer structure to realize the LTCC-MLC balun. The symmetric structure provides the excellent characteristics of phase balance and amplitude balancing. Measured results of the LTCC-MLC balun match well with the computer simulation.
Atoms-in-molecules study of intra- and intermolecular bonding in the pentaerythritol tetranitrate crystal.

Chemical bonding in the pentaerythritol tetranitrate crystal based on the experimental electron density obtained from X-ray diffraction data at 100 K and theoretical calculations at the experimental molecular geometry have been analyzed in terms of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. Features of the intra- and intermolecular bond critical points and the oxygen atom lone-pair locations are discussed. Numerous intermolecular bonding interactions, including O.H and O.O, have been found and characterized. Atomic charges and atomic energies were integrated and compared with those for similar compounds. The N-O topological bond orders have been calculated for the first time, and the PETN atomic valences have been estimated.
Trends of chronic liver disease in a tertiary care referral hospital in Eastern India.

BACKGROUND There is scarce Indian data on time trends of hepatitis, an impediment to formulate an effective public health policy on the matter. OBJECTIVE The aim was to study secular trends and burden of hepatitis in a railway population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Outdoor, indoor, endoscopy unit and mortality records of patients attending this hospital from January 2003 to December 2011 were searched manually and relevant parameters of hepatitis patients were noted, especially etiology, clinical features, treatment, and mortality. Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to test significance of any trend in these parameters. Binary logistic regression analysis of various factors was carried out to study their effect on the liver related mortality of hepatitis B and C cases and Kaplan-Meyer survival curves were generated for significant factors. Two-sided P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULT Chronic liver disease (CLD) due to alcohol showed a significant rising trend with early age (mean 48.4 years) and high percentage of decompensated disease (75%) at presentation and high early mortality (63%). No trend was observed for hepatitis B and C, but significant reduction in mortality was observed when definitive therapy was given. Cryptogenic CLD showed a decreasing trend though overall it still remained the most important etiology and survival was better compared with alcohol even with conservative therapy. Only 4% patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION A menace of alcohol related liver disease affecting young productive work force in this part of India is foreseen, which might impact the country's economy and mandates immediate containment policy.
Grape juice concentrate prevents oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood cells of rats subjected to a high-cholesterol diet

The goal of the present study was to investigate whether subchronic treatment with grape juice concentrate is able to protect liver and peripheral blood cells against cholesterol-induced injury in rats. The effects of the grape juice concentrate treatment on histopathological changes, immunohistochemistry for cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), and basal and oxidative DNA damage induced by H2O2 using a single-cell gel (comet) assay were evaluated. Male Wistar rats (n 18) were divided into three groups: group 1 – negative control; group 2 – cholesterol at 1 % (w/w) in their diet, treated for 5 weeks; group 3 – cholesterol at 1 % in their chow, treated for 5 weeks, and grape juice concentrate at 222 mg/d in their drinking-water in the final week only. The results indicated that the treatment with grape juice concentrate did not show remarkable differences regarding liver tissue in group 3 compared with group 2. However, grape juice concentrate was able to decrease oxidative DNA damage induced by H2O2 in peripheral blood cells, as depicted by the tail moment results. COX-2 expression in the liver did not show statistically significant differences (P>0·05) between groups. Taken together, the present results suggest that the administration of subchronic grape juice concentrate prevents oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood cells.
Treatment of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis type 2: a randomized clinical trial.

CONTEXT Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) type 2 is self-limiting in nature, but most physicians are reluctant to continue amiodarone. When prednisone fails to restore euthyroidism, possibly due to mixed cases of AIT type 1 and 2, perchlorate (ClO(4)) might be useful because ClO(4) reduces the cytotoxic effect of amiodarone on thyrocytes. OBJECTIVES Our objectives were to demonstrate the feasibility of continuation of amiodarone in AIT type 2 and to evaluate the usefulness of ClO(4) (given alone or in combination with prednisone) in AIT type 2. DESIGN AND SETTING A randomized multicenter study was conducted in 10 Dutch hospitals. METHODS Patients with AIT type 2 were randomized to receive prednisone 30 mg/d (group A, n = 12), sodium perchlorate 500 mg twice daily (group B, n = 14), or prednisone plus perchlorate (group C, n = 10); all patients continued amiodarone and were also treated with methimazole 30 mg/d. Follow-up was 2 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Treatment efficacy (defined as TSH values ≥ 0.4 mU/liter under continuation of amiodarone) and recurrent thyrotoxicosis were evaluated. RESULTS Initial therapy was efficacious in 100, 71, and 100% of groups A, B, and C, respectively (P = 0.03). The 29% failures in group B became euthyroid after addition of prednisone. Neither the time to reach TSH of 0.4 mU/liter or higher [8 wk (4-20), 14 wk (4-32), and 12 wk (4-28) in groups A, B, and C respectively] nor the time to reach free T(4) of 25 pmol/liter or below [4 wk (4-20), 12 wk (4-20), and 8 wk (4-20) in groups A, B, and C) were significantly different between groups (values as median with range). Recurrent thyrotoxicosis occurred in 8.3%. CONCLUSION Euthyroidism was reached despite continuation of amiodarone in all patients. Prednisone remains the preferred treatment modality of AIT type 2, because perchlorate given alone or in combination with prednisone had no better outcomes.
Polymorphisms in complement component 3 (C3F) and complement factor H (Y402H) increase the risk of postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction following carotid endarterectomy

Background Up to 28% of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are estimated to experience neurocognitive dysfunction following surgery. The complement cascade plays a central role in ischaemia-reperfusion injury. The authors investigated the effect of common polymorphisms in the complement component 3 (C3F) and complement factor H (CFH Y402H) genes on incidence of neurocognitive dysfunction post-CEA. Methods This study examined a nested cohort of prospectively recruited patients receiving elective CEA, who were genotyped for the C3F or Y402H polymorphisms. Each patient underwent a standard battery of eight neuropsychometric tests before, and 1 day and 30 days after, surgery. Results 57 of 142 (40%) CEA patients had at least one copy of the C3F allele (C3F+), and 17 of 137 (12%) patients had two copies of the CFH Y402H allele (Y402H++). At postoperative day 1, patients were three times (OR 3.05, p=0.045) or six times (OR 6.41, p=0.006) more likely to experience moderate-to-severe neurocognitive dysfunction if they carried the C3F+ or Y402H++ genotype, respectively. Patients with both risk genotypes had an almost eightfold risk of dysfunction (OR 7.67, p=0.046). Right-hand-dominant C3F+ subjects undergoing right-side CEA performed significantly worse on tests of visuospatial function than C3F– subjects. At day 30, C3F+ and Y402H++ genotypes trended towards significance as predictors of dysfunction (p=0.07 and p=0.22, respectively). Conclusion The C3F and Y402H polymorphisms are strong independent predictors of moderate-to-severe neurocognitive dysfunction at 1 day following CEA. Furthermore, patients undergoing right-sided CEA are predisposed to deficits associated with cortex ipsilateral to the operative carotid artery.