Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of cAMP-related substances on selected rabbit reproductive parameters.

The aim of our study was to examine the effect of 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP), stimulators of cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent intracellular signaling pathway, on reproductive function of gonadotropin-stimulated rabbit females. Ovarian cycle and ovulation in the control group were stimulated by PMSG (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin) 80IU/doe and after 72 hours with hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) at 150 IU/doe. In the experimental group the females were stimulated with PMSG and hCG with the addition of either IBMX or dbcAMP at the dose of 50 μg/doe. In the first series of experiments, 18-19 hours after artificial insemination and ovulation the animals were killed, the pronuclear-stage eggs were flushed from the oviducts and cultured up to the blastocyst cell stage. Numbers of ovarian corpora lutea, ovulated oocytes, and oocyte-derived embryos reaching blastocyst stage were determined. In the second series of the experiments, all the animals were kept until parturition, when the conception rate and parturition rate, number of liveborn pups, stillborn pups and weaned pups were recorded. In vitro results show that both tested substances significantly increased female fertility parameters (number of corpora lutea, number of ovulated oocytes, number of oocyte-derived zygotes, embryos at morula stage and number of embryos at hatching blastocyst stage). The present result of in vivo studies show that both tested substances decreased female fertility parameters conception rate, parturition rate and weaning rate compared to control, but they did not affect the stillborn pup rate. These observations confirm the involvement of cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent intracellular signaling pathway in control of rabbit reproduction
Liver fibrosis: noninvasive assessment with MR elastography versus aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index.

PURPOSE To prospectively compare the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance (MR) elastography with those of the routinely available aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) test for staging hepatic fibrosis in patients who have undergone liver biopsy for suspicion of chronic liver disease, with histopathologic examination as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was approved by the ethics committee. All patients gave written informed consent. Eighty-eight patients (37 men, 51 women; mean age, 54.0 years +/- 13.1 [standard deviation]) who underwent liver biopsy for suspicion of chronic liver disease underwent MR elastography and APRI testing within 2 days after liver biopsy. At histopathologic examination, the fibrosis stage was assessed according to METAVIR scores (fibrosis scores F0 [no fibrosis] to F4 [cirrhosis]). MR elastography was performed by transmitting mechanical waves within the liver and measuring the small cyclic displacement of the liver spins with a phase-contrast spin-echo sequence. The performances of MR elastography and APRI testing were assessed, and the optimal cutoff values for fibrosis stage were determined with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS At MR elastography, areas under the ROC curves (A(z)) for elasticity and viscosity, respectively, were 0.999 and 0.863 at fibrosis scores greater than or equal to F2, 0.997 and 0.962 at scores greater than or equal to F3, and 1.000 and 0.986 at score F4. A(z) values for elasticity at MR were significantly larger than those for the APRI (0.854 at scores > or = F2, P < .001; 0.886 at scores > or = F3, P = .003; and 0.851 at score F4, P = .004). Optimal cutoff values of elasticity were 2.5 kPa for fibrosis scores greater than or equal to F2, 3.1 kPa for scores greater than or equal to F3, and 4.3 kPa for score F4. CONCLUSION Large A(z) values for elasticity (>0.990 for scores > or = F2, > or = F3, and F4) show that MR elastography was accurate in liver fibrosis staging and superior to biochemical testing with APRIs.
Calcification during bone healing in a standardised rat calvarial defect assessed by micro-CT and SEM-EDX.

OBJECTIVE The study was designed to investigate the process of calcification during bone healing in a standardized rat calvarial bone defect model, measured by bone mineral density and the concentrations and distributions of calcium, phosphorus and carbon in the bone matrix. MATERIALS AND METHODS A standard defect was made on the parietal bone of 12-week-old rats under anaesthesia. The rats were fixed in weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8,and the calvaria were resected and examined with microcomputed tomography, then frozen and sectioned for histology and analysed with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Parietal bone of 12-week-old control rats was processed similarly. RESULTS The mineral density of healing bone increased with time. The healing bone became thicker and denser with time in histology. The distributions of Ca and P expanded over the bone matrix, whereas that of C became localised and complemented that of C and P. The Ca/P concentration ratio increased, whereas the C/Ca and C/P ratios decreased in the healing bone matrix. CONCLUSION Healing bone is immaturely calcified initially and proceeds calcification gradually, that is, as the bone volume increases, mineral increases in density and matures in quality, while organic components decrease.
Phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of pomaces from four grape varieties (Vitis vinifera L.).

BACKGROUND Phenolic compounds are widely distributed secondary metabolites in plants usually conferring them with unique taste, flavour and health-promoting properties. In fruits of Vitis vinifera L. , phenolic composition is highly dependent on grape variety. Differential extraction of these compounds from grapes during winemaking is critically associated with wine quality. By-products of winemaking, such as grape pomace, can contain significant amounts of polyphenols. However, information concerning the varietal effect on wine grape pomace is scarce. In this study, pomaces from Sauvignon Blanc (SB), Chardonnay (CH), Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) and Carménère (CA) grape varieties were characterized spectroscopically and by HPLC-DAD analysis. RESULTS White grape pomaces (SB and CH) presented higher antioxidant capacities and higher contents of total phenols and total proanthocyanidins compared with red grape pomaces (CS and CA), whereas the latter showed much higher anthocyanin levels and colour intensities. Concentrations of monomeric proanthocyanidins and low-molecular-weight phenols in the four grape pomace varieties were significantly different. CONCLUSION Grape pomaces from four varieties showed high but diverse contents of polyphenols and antioxidant capacities. Thus grape pomaces represent an important potential source of polyphenols, which could be useful for nutritional and/or pharmacological purposes.
A Hybrid Peer-to-Peer and Grid Job Scheduling System for Teaming Up Desktop Resources with Computer Clusters to Perform Turbulence Simulations

Simulating turbulence in fluids is a fascinating part of physics which requires a high amount of computational power. Since for transitional Reynolds numbers each simulation run can be performed on a single contemporary CPU, turbulence studies are ideally suited for distributed computing where each node performs a simulation for a single initial condition. The approach presented in this paper makes use of unused computational power by integrating a dynamically changing set of possibly unreliable desktop PCs into a grid infrastructure of attentively administered dedicated cluster resources. The basic idea is to use peer-to-peer (P2P) technology for managing the set of computers and develop a "bridge" to interface the P2P network with a grid meta-scheduler which in turn interfaces with the grid middleware. This eliminates the need for central administration and continuous resource availability. It provides distributed scheduling, replicated storage and system monitoring capabilities. Experimental results obtained from an evaluation of our implementation show that our approach is both scalable and resilient in the presence of node failures and network churn.
Efficacité des extraits de plantes dans la lutte contre les moisissures toxinogènes isolées de l’arachide en post-récolte au Bénin

Objectifs : Le present travail vise a etudier l’efficacite des extraits de plantes notamment les huiles essentielles et les extraits non volatils de dix plantes alimentaires et medicinales sur la croissance des moisissures toxinogenes responsables de l’alteration des graines d’arachide en post recolte au Benin. Methodologie et Resultats : L’echantillonnage de l’arachide a ete effectue dans quatre (04) zones agroecologiques au Benin, suivi de l’evaluation de la mycoflore d’alteration et de leur pouvoir toxinogene. Des tests antifongiques ont ete realises avec differents extraits vegetaux afin d’evaluer leurs potentiels antimicrobiens contre les souches fongiques isolees de l’arachide en post-recolte. Les resultats de l’evaluation de la pression parasitaire fongique indiquent que la charge mycologique est tres elevee dans les echantillons d’arachide collectes au Sud et au Centre du Benin. La mycoflore isolee appartient essentiellement aux genres Aspergillus et Fusarium . Les especes de moisissures identifiees sont principalement Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium graminearum et Mucor spp. Les tests antifongiques in vitro ont montre que les huiles essentielles possedent des activites antifongiques prononcees a faible concentration contrairement aux extraits non volatils. Cependant, seuls les huiles essentielles et les extraits aqueux de Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum canum, Hyptis suaveolens, Ageratum conyzoide s et de Lantana camar a ont une activite antifongique tres prononcee sur les souches toxinogenes Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Asperillus ochraceus, Fusarium oxysporum testees. Conclusion : Le potentiel antifongique de ces plantes offre donc une approche novatrice de la gestion integree des stocks d’arachide en post-recolte. Mots cles : arachide, moisissures, vegetaux, activite antifongique.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 Regulates Signaling via the Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Pathway

We hypothesize that in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and human immunodeficiency virus encephalitis the neuroprotective activity of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) against several neurotoxic agents might involve regulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), a pathway important in determining cell fate. In primary rat neuronal and HT22 cells, FGF1 promoted a time-dependent inactivation of GSK3β by phosphorylation at serine 9. Blocking FGF1 receptors with heparinase reduced this effect. The effects of FGF1 on GSK3β were dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) because inhibitors of this pathway or infection with dominant negative Akt adenovirus blocked inactivation. Furthermore, treatment of neuronal cells with FGF1 resulted in ERK-independent Akt phosphorylation and β-catenin translocation into the nucleus. On the other hand, infection with wild-type GSK3β recombinant adenovirus-associated virus increased activity of GSK3β and cell death, both of which were reduced by FGF1 treatment. Moreover, FGF1 protection against glutamate toxicity was dependent on GSK3β inactivation by the PI3K-Akt but was independent of ERK. Taken together these results suggest that neuroprotective effects of FGF1 might involve inactivation of GSK3β by a pathway involving activation of the PI3K-Akt cascades.
Quantitative Modeling Effects of Nucleosome on Transcription Factor-DNA Interactions

Transcription factor-DNA interactions play a central role in transcriptional control. These bindings are stochastic processes and regulated by the nucleosomes in vivo. However, current models tend to neglect the nucleosomes and regard the binding as a set of binary cases. A computational model is presented here to address the issues. It integrates TF bindings to nucleosomal and naked DNA in a quantitative manner and results in continuous binding probabilities along the genome. The predictive ability of the model was applied to rationalize the binding data for the TFs considered, which made improvements over those models disregarding the nucleosomes.
[Quality control of outpatient imaging examinations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Part II].

PURPOSE In the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, a survey was conducted on radiologic examinations ordered by general practitioners (GPs). Part II of this study aims to determine the quality of the process and outcome. The reference standard is the assessment of both radiologists and physicians without board certification in radiology working at a university hospital and in outpatient facilities. MATERIALS AND METHODS AllGPs in NRW were asked to cooperate. Participating GPs filled out a questionnaire for each patient. The patients recorded the symptoms prompting the imaging examinations. The radiologists or other physicians performing the examinations were asked to provide the images and written reports and to complete a questionnaire. A file was created for each of the 394 patients with image documentation of at least one examination. Each file, which included medical history, physical findings, imaging documentation and written report, was sequentially forwarded to a board-certified radiologist and to a physician without board certification in radiology working in a university hospital and in an outpatient facility. All physicians were requested to complete a structured questionnaire for each file. RESULTS The referral diagnoses were rated as medically plausible in 81%, the indications for imaging found correct in 76%, the examination techniques considered appropriate in 69%, the clinical question answered in 63%, the interpretation judged medically correct in 50% and all incidental findings documented in 49%. In retrospect, 32 % of the examinations were judged superfluous. The sequence of multiple examinations performed on a particular patient was rated as appropriate in 51%. The interpretation revealed specialty-related differences. The plausibility of the referral diagnoses had a significant impact on the appropriateness of subsequent diagnostic investigations. Marked deficits showed sonography, performance by non-radiologists, self-referrals by GPs, gastroenterologic radiology and the ICD-10 coding (suspicion of cardiovascular disease). CONCLUSION In the "best-case" scenario, the process quality proved to have moderate deficiencies and the outcome quality severe deficiencies. In consequence, GPs and radiologists should be more communicative by sharing information and exchanging opinions. GP self-referrals should be restricted. Sonography and examinations performed by physicians without board certification in radiology should undergo stricter quality controls. A more intensive interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to determine the optimum implementation of diagnostic imaging of gastroenterologic and cardiovascular diseases.
Assessment of atrial electromechanical interval and P wave dispersion in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, including ischemic stroke. Prolonged atrial electromechanical interval (EMI) is related to increased atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. The aim of the study is to evaluate atrial EMI and electrocardiographic P-wave indices related to increased AF risk in patients with PCOS. Methods: Forty PCOS patients diagnosed on the basis of the Rotterdam criteria and 20 age-matched controls were prospectively included. patients with atrioventricular or intraventricular conduction abnormalities, dysrhythmia or taking antiarrhythmic drugs, atherosclerotic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, valvular lesions, pericardial disease, a history of pulmonary emboli or pulmonary hypertension, and abnormal thyroid function were excluded. Intra and interatrial EMI were measured by tissue Doppler imaging and P-wave dispersion (Pd) was calculated on 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG). The Isovolumetric relaxation time was the interval between the aortic valve closure artifact at the end of the LV outflow envelope and the mitral valve opening artifact at the beginning of the mitral E wave. Results: Patients with PCOS had significantly higher interatrial [38 (24-65) ms vs. 16 (9-19) ms p<0.001], left-sided intra-atrial (14.8±6.1 vs. 7±1.7 ms, p<0.001), and right-sided intra-atrial (22.3±8.1 vs. 8.6±3.6 ms, p<0.001) EMI compared with the control group. Pd was significantly greater in the PCOS group compared with control group [45 (27-60) ms vs. 30 (26–38) ms, p<0.001]. Echocardiographic parameters of atrial EMI were significantly correlated with body mass index, Pd, and isovolumetric relaxation time in patients with PCOS. Conclusion: PCOS is associated with prolonged inter- and intra-atrial conduction times, which are related to increased AF risk.
Worst Cases Reported to the NAFKAM International Registry of Exceptional Courses of Disease

The National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM) International Registry of Exceptional Courses of Disease (the Registry) related to the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has to date received 5 reports of exceptionally “worst” courses of disease from patients who have attributed their negative health experience to the use of CAM. The monitoring of unfavorable outcomes related to CAM treatment is seen by NAFKAM as important to ensure that treatments offered are associated with low risk of harm. This is particularly important when the conditions patients suffer from are not life threatening. If the Registry receives 3 negative reports of patients using the same treatment for the same condition, a “warning” is submitted to the health authorities. The same is done after only one report if the condition is life threatening. Three of the 5 patients had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), and all of them have related their unfavorable outcomes to the treatment method called Lightning Process (LP), a 3-day training program designed by British osteopath Phil Parker.1 They had all followed the recommendation given by the LP instructors during the treatment to ignore what they sensed as their bodies' symptoms of being pushed too hard. The patients had been diagnosed with CFS/ME 10, 2, and 7 years, respectively, before attending the LP treatment. Six to 12 months after the treatment, all 3 experienced a strong relapse of their CFS/ME symptoms. One patient expressed that “to follow the advice from the LP instructor eventually became a direct risk to my health. ” The other 2 patients had both been treated with homeopathy. The first patient had sought homeopathic treatment for sinusitis problems and a desire to reduce her conventional medication. After using homeopathic treatment for 1 year, she was diagnosed with a necrotizing vasculitis, and she believes that she might have been diagnosed and treated earlier had she sought conventional treatment. The other patient had sought homeopathic treatment for prostatitis symptoms and used homeopathic remedies for this condition in combination with chemotherapy for hemato-logic cancer. He reports a number of symptoms (vision coordination problems, tinnitus, memory loss, and hiatal hernia) that he ascribes to an interaction between the homeopathic remedy and the chemotherapy. The 3 “worst” cases reported with regard to LP are consistent, and there is reason to suspect a causal relationship. The 2 other reports are less specific and will need to be supported by additional cases before any conclusions can be drawn.
Leptin levels do not change acutely with food administration in normal or obese subjects, but are negatively correlated with pituitary‐adrenal activity

Leptin is a peptide secreted by white adipose tissue which has been shown to have a major influence on body weight regulation, while animal studies have revealed widespread interconnections between leptin and other endocrine systems, especially with insulin. However, its acute regulation has been little studied in the human. We have therefore investigated the effect of a 1000 kcal meal and fasting on the levels of leptin, insulin and cortisol, in both normal and obese subjects.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy: Initial Experience at Bahawalpur

Place of Study: American Kidney Stone Centre (AKSC), Bahawalpur, a private setup. Duration of Study: January 2005 to June 2007. Design of Study: Prospective, Observational. Material & Methods: A total of 250 patients were evaluated for ESWL results. The one session comprised of 1500-2500 shocks with intermittent fluoroscopy with X-Ray focusing. A period of 7 – 10 days was given between two sessions. The procedure was repeated till the clearance of stone no matter what was the number of sessions. The complications like pain, colic, hematuria were addressed adequately and immediately. The development of steinstrasse was initially observed and few required manipulation. The stone size is the only matter of concern in few patients especially lower pole stones. Results: The stone clearance was achieved in 89% of patients. Auxillary procedures were required in 10.8% before ESWL and 9.6% of patients after ESWL. Which include Endoscopic stenting and manipulation with uretero-renoscopy and intracorporeal lithotripsy. Prophylactic insertion of DJ stenting reduced complication rate and incidence of steinstrasse. Conclusion: ESWL can be safely recommended for patients of urolithiasis irrespective of age and stone size with promising results of stone clearance and patient acceptance. Key Words: ESWL-Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, URS-Ureterorenoscopy. ICL-Intracorporeal lithotripsy.
An MILP Model for Distributed Energy System Optimization

Investigations regarding means to achieve savings in primary energy use and to decrease anthropogenic CO2 emissions have shown that improved energy efficiency has potential to offer a significant contribution to this cause. Considering energy networks and systems, improvements can be achieved by optimizing the structure of the energy chains and distribution networks. For instance, in the case of district heating, it is possible to find an optimal choice of energy supply and design of piping networks to provide the energy required by the customers. Additionally, heat storages and local small-scale energy contributions from e.g. heat pumps could provide benefits and should be taken into consideration. The complexity of the optimization problem increases when the choices of technologies and capacities as well as the network topologies need to be considered. Furthermore, a level of intricacy is added by the large differences in energy demand and temperature conditions between day and night and different seasons. A mixed-integer linear programming model for optimizing distributed energy systems, which takes into account the above mentioned aspects, is being developed and is presented herein. The model is tested with a case study concerning district heating in a locality in southern Finland.