Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forelimb postischaemic reactive hyperaemia is impaired by hypotensive low body negative pressure in healthy subjects

Local metabolic conditions adapt blood supply to metabolic requirement by a direct effect on vascular smooth muscles and indirectly by modulating sympathetic vasoconstrictor effectiveness. During exercise, sympathetic nervous activity could in turn interfere on local metabolic control of vascular tone and restrain blood flow to active muscles. In order to investigate that interaction non‐invasively, we measured postischaemic reactive hyperaemia (RH) in the forelimb of eight healthy young men (22·7 ± 2·1 years) at rest and during two levels of sympathetic stimulation using low body negative pressure (LBNP −15 and −30 mmHg). During every stages, RH was measured after 40, 60, 90 and 180 s of arterial occlusion, respectively. In control conditions, RH rose with duration of ischaemia (18·9, 24·2, 30·4, 33·1 ml min−1 per 100 ml−1 for 40, 60, 90 and 180 s of ischaemia, respectively). During non‐hypotensive LBNP (−15 mmHg) sympathetic activation was associated with decreased forelimb blood flow (6·4 ± 0·9 versus 3·9 ± 0·6 ml min−1 per 100 ml−1, P<0·01), but RH were not significantly different from control conditions. During hypotensive tachycardia LBNP (−30 mmHg), RH were significantly lower than under the previous LBNP stage. This fall in RH was greater after the shortest gap of ischaemia and tapered off as arterial occlusion gap increased (−22·3, −13·1, −10·5 and −8·7% for 40, 60, 90 and 180 s of ischaemia, respectively). These results suggested that vascular tone adaptation to local metabolic conditions was modified by sympathetic nervous activation. This was particularly marked when an hypotensive‐mediated sympathetic stimulation was opposed to short gaps of ischaemia.
Soft Rot of Eggplant (Solanum melongena) Caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum in Korea

In April 2002 and 2003, soft rot on fruit of eggplant (Solanum melongena) caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum was observed in the experimental fields at Gyeongnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services in Korea. The disease began with water-soaking and dark-green lesions, and then the infected tissues were rapidly rotten. Sporangium was subglobose in shape and sized 40~130 /μm. Monosporous sporangiola were elliptic, fusiform or ovoid, brown in color, and measured as 12~20 × 6~14 /μm. Sporangiospores having three or more appendages were elliptic, fusiform or ovoid in shape, dark brown or brown in color, and sized 14~20 × 7~16 /μm. The fungus grew well on potato dextrose agar between 15 and 40°C and its optimum growth temperature was 30°C. Based on morphological characteristics, the causal fungus of the fruit soft rot of eggplant was identified as C. cucurbitarum. This is the first report on the soft rot of S. melongena caused by C. cucurbitarum in Korea.
Influence of the supra-oesophageal ganglion on posterior regeneration in Nereis diversicolor.

Hubl (1956) demonstrated that if the supra-oesophageal ganglion of lumbricid oligochaetes is removed at the time of amputation of a number of posterior segments, caudal regeneration is totally inhibited, but if the ganglion is not removed until 24–48 hours after amputation of the posterior segments, regeneration proceeds at the normal rate. A comparable phenomenon may occur in nereid polychaetes. Removal of the prostomium (Casanova, 1955) or, more precisely, of the supra-oesophageal ganglion (Durchon, 1956), retards regeneration but does not prevent it, but as these experiments were performed. On the day following amputation of the posterior segments it is still not certain whether the brain of Nereis is, at any stage, essential for posterior regeneration as it clearly is in lumbricids. In his investigation of Lumbricus and Allolobophora , Hubl (1956) found that neurosecretory cells in the supra-oesophageal ganglion, the b -cells, showed intense secretory activity as soon as the worm was injured and the ventral nerve-cord damaged.
Quality of Life for Patients Living With Ostomies: Influence of Contact With an Ostomy Nurse

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine whether or not contact with a WOC nurse improves quality of life for ostomy patients. METHODOLOGY: Home health care agencies, hospitals, and a durable medical equipment company in northern Florida were contacted to participate in the study. The role of the participating facilities was to address the provided envelopes and mail the patient survey packet (introductory letter, Ostomy Quality of Life Questionnaire [OQLQ], and demographic survey) directly to the patient. RESULTS: The mean age or respondents was 62 years, and the mean time of living with an ostomy was 10 years. Ninety-six percent of the sample participants did not attend support groups, yet nearly 50% reported receiving education following discharge home. Analysis of OQLQ scores revealed statistically significant differences based on who the respondent lived with, the number of comorbidities, how the respondent received supplies, and the type of appliance worn. There was no significant difference between respondents who saw an ostomy nurse and those who did not among the various sections of the OQLQ, even though 83% indicated seeing an ostomy nurse. Body image was a concern to respondents. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrated that most participants maintained satisfactory quality of life despite the presence of an ostomy. Individuals who were working part-time had a better health-related quality of life than those who worked full-time. More than 50% of our study sample participants reported satisfaction with the healthcare services they received, regardless of whether services were provided by a WOC or a nonspecialist nurse.
Enhanced adrenergic mechanisms in glucose output from the kidney of diabetic rats.

To elucidate the possible role of the kidney in glucose regulation in diabetes, the renal effect of glycerol plus glutamine, hydrocortisone, glucagon, or epinephrine was investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This in vivo study bolus infused glutamine (100 microg/kg) plus glycerol (100 microg/kg), hydrocortisone (100 microg/kg), glucagon (250 microg/kg), or epinephrine (40 microg/kg) into nephrectomized rats, and measured plasma glucose level. In perfused rat kidney, the effect of glutamine (2 mmol) plus glycerol (2 mmol), hydrocortisone (1 mmol), glucagon (215 pmol), or epinephrine (2 nmol) infusion on glucose output was evaluated. The increase in blood glucose after infusion of glutamine plus glycerol, hydrocortisone, or glucagon was not altered by nephrectomy. However, the increase in blood glucose after epinephrine infusion was significantly blunted in nephrectomized rats. In perfused kidney, although the increase in glucose output after addition of glutamine plus glycerol, hydrocortisone, or glucagon was similar in control and diabetic rats, glucose output after epinephrine infusion was significantly higher in diabetic rats than in control rats. These results suggest that the adrenergic stimulation on renal glucose output may be enhanced in diabetes.
X-ray lasers for structural and dynamic biology

Research opportunities and techniques are reviewed for the application of hard x-ray pulsed free-electron lasers (XFEL) to structural biology. These include the imaging of protein nanocrystals, single particles such as viruses, pump–probe experiments for time-resolved nanocrystallography, and snapshot wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) from molecules in solution. The use of femtosecond exposure times, rather than freezing of samples, as a means of minimizing radiation damage is shown to open up new opportunities for the molecular imaging of biochemical reactions at room temperature in solution. This is possible using a ‘diffract-and-destroy’ mode in which the incident pulse terminates before radiation damage begins. Methods for delivering hundreds of hydrated bioparticles per second (in random orientations) to a pulsed x-ray beam are described. New data analysis approaches are outlined for the correlated fluctuations in fast WAXS, for protein nanocrystals just a few molecules on a side, and for the continuous x-ray scattering from a single virus. Methods for determining the orientation of a molecule from its diffraction pattern are reviewed. Methods for the preparation of protein nanocrystals are also reviewed. New opportunities for solving the phase problem for XFEL data are outlined. A summary of the latest results is given, which now extend to atomic resolution for nanocrystals. Possibilities for time-resolved chemistry using fast WAXS (solution scattering) from mixtures is reviewed, toward the general goal of making molecular movies of biochemical processes.
Large-Scale Image Phylogeny: Tracing Image Ancestral Relationships

Similar to organisms that evolve in biology, a document can change slightly overtime, and each new version may, in turn, generate other versions. Multimedia phylogeny investigates the history and evolutionary process of digital objects and includes finding the causal and ancestral document relationships, source of modifications, and the order and transformations that originally created the set of near duplicates. Multimedia phylogeny has direct applications in security, forensics, and information retrieval. This article explores the phylogeny problem for near-duplicate images in large-scale scenarios and present solutions that have straightforward extension to other media such as videos. Experiments with approximately 2 million test cases (with synthetic and real data) show that the proposed methods automatically build image phylogeny trees from partial information about the near duplicates, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole process, and represent a step forward in determining causal relationships between digital images overtime.
Assessment of Zooplankton Community Composition along a Depth Profile in the Central Red Sea

The composition of zooplankton in the water column has received limited attention in the main body of the Red Sea and this study investigates the change in the community both spatially and temporally across 11 stations in the central Red Sea. Using molecular methods to target the v9 region of the 18S rRNA gene a total of approximately 11.5 million reads were sequenced resulting in 2528 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% similarity. The phylum Arthropoda dominated in terms of reads accounting for on average 86.2% and 65.3% for neuston nets and vertical multinets respectively. A reduction in the number of OTUs was noticed with depth for both total metazoa and Maxillopoda whilst there was also a significant change in the composition of the Maxillopoda community. The genus Corycaeus had a higher proportion of reads in the epipelagic zone with Pleuromamma becoming increasingly dominant with depth. No significant difference was observed in the community between night and day sampling however there was a significant difference in the zooplankton community between two sampling periods separated by 10 days.
Antimicrobial treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis is characterized by chronic wet or productive cough, recurrent exacerbations and irreversible bronchial dilatation. After antibiotics and vaccines became available and living standards in affluent countries improved, its resulting reduced prevalence meant bronchiectasis was considered an ‘orphan disease’. This perception has changed recently with increasing use of CT scans to diagnose bronchiectasis, including in those with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or ‘difficult to control’ asthma, and adds to its already known importance in non-affluent countries and disadvantaged Indigenous communities. Following years of neglect, there is renewed interest in identifying the pathogenetic mechanisms of bronchiectasis, including the role of infection, and conducting clinical trials. This is providing much needed evidence to guide antimicrobial therapy, which has relied previously upon extrapolating treatments used in cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While many knowledge gaps and management challenges remain, the future is improving for patients with bronchiectasis.
Epidural Cooling Minimizes Spinal Cord Injury after Aortic Cross-clamping through Induction of Nitric Oxide Synthase

Background:By using a U-shaped lumen catheter, the authors examined the effects of epidural cooling on spinal cord injury after aortic cross-clamping (ACC), with a focus on changes of spinal cord blood flow and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Methods:Sixteen pigs were randomized into two groups: Control group (n = 8) or Cooling group (n = 8). In the latter, epidural cooling started at 30 min (baseline) before 45 min of ACC and persisted for the next 30 min of reperfusion period. Spinal cord blood flow and somatosensory-evoked potentials were assessed during peri-ACC period. At 48 h, we evaluated hind limb function by using Tarlov score and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase on spinal cord using immunohistochemistry. Results:After ACC, spinal cord blood flow dropped to a similar extent in both groups. During the reperfusion period, spinal cord blood flow increased up to 113% (103–124%), median (interquartile range), level transiently and decreased to 32% (22–47%) level versus baseline in the Control group, whereas it increased and remained at 92% (86–97%) level in the Cooling group. Simultaneously, somatosensory-evoked potentials showed that onset of loss time was delayed and recovery time was shortened in the Cooling group. Tarlov scores in the Cooling group were significantly higher and accompanied by normal-appearing motor neurons and significantly greater expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase on spinal cord versus the Control group. Conclusions:This study shows that epidural cooling during ACC minimized the risk of spinal cord injury, possibly by preventing delayed hypoperfusion and upregulating inducible nitric oxide synthase expression.
Planting Date and Residue Rate Effects on Growth, Partitioning, and Yield of Corn

Corn (Zea mays L.) growth has been shown to be affected by planting date and amount of residue on the soil surface. The objective of this study was to determine if the adverse effects of cool soil temperatures on early seedling growth often associated with surface residues can be overcome by planting at later dates. Corn was planted at several planting dates (late April through early June) into soil that had residue applied at rates of 0, 33, 66, and 100% of that produced by the previous crop. In general, spring-applied residue rates had little effect on measured plant responses. Planting corn before or after the optimum date resulted in reduced leaf area index, leaf area duration, total dry matter production, and grain yield. Maximum yield was achieved by planting corn about 10 May (near Lincoln, NE), regardless of the amount of residue applied in the spring. Yield declined with earlier or later planting dates : yield declined more rapidly when planting was delayed than when planting was advanced. Results indicate that, with spring residue application, planting date recommendations can be made independent of residue conditions.
Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults

Body esteem (BE) refers to self-evaluations of one's body or appearance. This article outlines a BE questionnaire for adolescents and adults that has 3 subscales: BE-Appearance (general feelings about appearance), BE-Weight (weight satisfaction), and BE-Attribution (evaluations attributed to others about one's body and appearance). The subscales have high internal consistency and 3-month test-retest reliability. Females scored lower than males on BE-Weight and BE-Appearance. BE-Weight was the only subscale uniquely related to weight, especially in females, with heavy individuals tending to be dissatisfied with their weight. BE-Appearance was the only subscale that consistently predicted self-esteem. BE-Appearance and BE-Weight covaried more with Neeman and Harter's (1986) Appearance subscale than with other self-esteem subscales; BE-Attribution covaried more with social self-esteem subscales than did BE-Appearance and BE-Weight.
Absence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in sera of diabetic children and adolescents following hepatitis B vaccination

Background The prevalence of occult hepatitis B (HB) infection (OBI) in HB-vaccinated diabetic children has not yet been tested. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence of OBI among HB-vaccinated children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Results Eighty-seven (51.2%) children had a titer for antibodies to HB surface antigen (anti-HBs) of <10 IU/L. These included 44 (70%) IDDM children and 43 (40.2%) healthy children. Eighty-three (48.8%) children had an anti-HBs titer of ≥10 IU/L; they included 19 (30%) with IDDM and 64 (59.8%) healthy children. None of the enrolled children (n = 170) were reactive for total antibody to HB core antigen (anti-HBc) as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HB virus DNA was not detected in HB-vaccinated IDDM or healthy children and adolescents. Method An amount of 170 HBsAg-negative sera samples from HB-vaccinated children and adolescents was included. They were classified into the IDDM group (n = 63) and the healthy control group (n = 107). HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and HB virus DNA was tested by nested polymerase chain reaction using 3 pairs of surface, core, and X genes. In Conclusion Primary HB vaccination confers long-term protection against OBI in Egyptian diabetic children and adolescents. However, the number of cases tested in this study was relatively low, and further studies and long-term follow-up of large populations are needed to draw solid and convincing conclusions.
Developing a van Veen and Bergervoet antenna

This paper describes the main aspects related to the development of a van Veen and Bergervoet antenna prototype as a student project. A brief description of this educational experience are presented, in which the details of the design and construction of the antenna, and the results concerning the antenna calibration and evaluation of the radiated emission of some lighting system samples, in the 9 kHz - 30 MHz frequency range, are emphasized. Some results concerning the electromagnetic environment sensibility analysis are also presented.
Evaluation of total quinolizidine alkaloids content in lupin flours, lupin-based ingredients, and foods.

Lupin proteins are gaining attention to replace animal proteins and other plants ingredients in several foods such as bakery products, imitation dairy and meat products, and beverages. One of the major safety issues of lupin-based foods is the presence of quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs), bitter compounds produced by lupin plants as a defense mechanism against predators. In mammals, QA intoxication is characterized by trembling, shaking, excitation, and convulsion. Lupanine and sparteine, the most common QAs, show acute oral toxicity due to neurological effects leading to the loss of motor co-ordination and muscular control. In this paper, 27 samples of lupin-based products, i. e. , flours, protein isolates, and food (either model or commercially available ones), were analyzed for evaluating the QA content using a method based on GC/MS. All the analyzed samples were safe since they respect the maximum limit of 200 mg/kg fixed by the Health Authorities of Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and France, that have regulated this topic. The QA contents were particularly low in protein isolates and in foods containing these ingredients, indicating that their use is a very effective tool for keeping low the daily intake of QAs.
Analysis of estimation methods for resting metabolic rate in critically ill adults.

BACKGROUND Prediction of metabolic rate is an important part of the nutrition assessment of critically ill patients, yet there are limited data regarding the best equation to use to make this prediction. METHODS Standardized indirect calorimetry measurements were made in 202 ventilated, adult critical care patients, and resting metabolic rate was calculated using the following equations: Penn State equation, Faisy, Brandi, Swinamer, Ireton-Jones, Mifflin, Mifflinx1.25, Harris Benedict, Harris Benedictx1.25, Harris Benedict using adjusted weight for obesity, and each of the adjusted weight versions of Harris Benedictx1.25. The subjects were subgrouped by age and obesity status (young nonobese, young obese, elderly nonobese, elderly obese). Performance of each equation was assessed using bias, precision, and accuracy rate statistics. RESULTS Accuracy rates in the study population ranged from 67% for the Penn State equation to 18% for the weight-adjusted Harris Benedict equation (without multiplication). Within subgroups, the highest accuracy rate was 77% in the elderly nonobese using the Penn State equation and the lowest was 0% for the weight-adjusted Harris Benedict equation. The Penn State equation was the only equation that was unbiased and precise across all subgroups. The obese elderly group was the most difficult to predict. Therefore, a separate regression was computed for this group: Mifflin(0.71)+Tmax(85)+Ve(64)-3085. CONCLUSIONS The Penn State equation provides the most accurate assessment of metabolic rate in critically ill patients if indirect calorimetry is unavailable. An alternate form of this equation for elderly obese patients is presented, but has yet to be validated.
The ultrastructure of plasma lipoproteins in lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency.

The major plasma lipoprotein classes from patients with familial LCAT deficiency showed morphological abnormalities. Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) contained particles with surface irregularities as well as sheet-like trilaminar structures which resembled phospholipid bilayers. Three types of particles were seen in the low density (LDL) region, large flattened structures approximately 1, 000A in size, intermediate particles 400–600A in diameter, and normal 200–250A particles. The high density lipoproteins (HDL) were characterized by discoidal particles 40A thick and 150–200A in diameter; these particles formed rouleaux. Abnormal HDL particles could be normalized by incubation of whole LCAT-deficient plasma (or HDL fraction) with LCAT; resulting structures resembled normal HDL (90–110A spheres). In severe liver disease with apparent biliary obstruction the structure of plasma lipoproteins often resembled those of familial LCAT deficiency. Rouleaux, consisting of disc-shaped particles, were in the HDL.
Expression of Microtubule‐Associated Proteins During the Early Stages of Neurite Extension by Brain Neurons Cultured in a Defined Medium

Abstract Immunoblotting analysis was used to identify the microtubule‐associated proteins (MAPs) present in cultures of mouse brain neurons. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against the two main adult brain MAPs, i.e., MAP2 (300 kDa) and τ (60–70 kDa). Whatever the stage of the culture, which was performed in a defined medium (3 or 6 days), the anti‐MAP2 serum detected several high‐molecular‐weight components (including MAP2) and an entity with 62–65 kDa. Anti‐τ revealed essentially a major peak of 48 kDa (young τ) but also slightly cross‐reacted with the 62–65 kDa entity. During the culture period (0–6 days) the cells developed progressively a dense neuritic network; the concentration of the different MAPs increased in parallel but at different rates depending on the different species. The in crease in concentration of the high‐molecular‐weight components occurred before that of 48‐kDa τ. This suggests that high‐molecular‐weight MAPs and 48‐kDa τ might be involved respectively in the initiation and elongation of neu‐rites. In contrast, and since the main developmental changes in τ composition seen in vivo did not occur during the time course of the culture, this transition might be related to later events of neuronal differentiation.