Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional anatomy of the limbs of erethizontidae (Rodentia, Caviomorpha): Indicators of locomotor behavior in Miocene porcupines

Functional analysis of the limb bones of the erethizontid Steiromys duplicatus, one of the most abundant Miocene porcupines from Patagonia, provides evidence to infer their locomotor behavior. Remains of the giant Neosteiromys pattoni (Late Miocene of Northeast Argentina) are also analyzed. Osteological and myological features of extant porcupines were evaluated and used as a model to interpret the functional significance of Miocene species' limbs. Several features in erethizontids are compatible with the ability to climb: the low humeral tuberosities indicate a mobile gleno‐humeral joint; the prominent and distally extended deltopectoral crest indicates a powerful pectoral muscle, which is particularly active when climbing; the humero‐ulnar and humero‐radial joints are indicative of pronation‐supination movements; the well‐developed lateral epicondylar ridge and the medially protruding entepicondyle are in agreement with an important development of the brachioradialis, supinator, flexor digitorum profundus, and pronator teres muscles, acting in climbing and grasping functions; the mechanical advantage of the biceps brachii would be emphasized because of its distal attachment on the bicipital tuberosity. As with extant porcupines, in Miocene species, the large femoral head would have permitted a broad range of abduction of the femur, and the medially protruding lesser trochanter would have emphasized the abduction and outward rotation of the femur by the action of the ilio‐psoas complex. In S. duplicatus, the shape of the hip, knee, and cruro‐astragalar, calcaneo‐astragalar, and astragalo‐navicular joints would have allowed lateral and rotational movements, although probably to a lesser degree than in extant porcupines. Foot features of S. duplicatus (e.g., great medial sesamoid bone, medial astragalar head, complete hallux) indicate that this species would have had grasping ability, but would not have achieved the high degree of specialization of Coendou. Steiromys duplicatus would have been a semiarboreal dweller, resembling Erethizon dorsatum. J. Morphol. , 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Jordan

Enhancing breast cancer screening in developing countries is pivotal in improving women's health. We aimed at describing knowledge of and perceived reasons for performing breast cancer screening. We interviewed 1,549 population-based randomly selected women. We found that women share limited knowledge about breast cancer screening. Few women performed screening for early detection purposes. The influence of physicians was the main reason for performing mammography. Prevalence of breast cancer screening might be enhanced by integrating screening into other medical services. Health agencies need to invite women for screening and educate them regarding the importance of screening in the absence of symptoms.
Mitochondrial complex I dysfunction and altered NAD(P)H kinetics in rat myocardium in cardiac right ventricular hypertrophy and failure.

AIMS In cardiac hypertrophy (CH) and heart failure (HF), alterations occur in mitochondrial enzyme content and activities but the origin and implications of these changes for mitochondrial function need to be resolved. METHODS AND RESULTS Right ventricular CH or HF was induced by monocrotaline injection, which causes pulmonary artery hypertension, in rats. Results were compared with saline injection (CON). NAD(P)H and FAD autofluorescence were recorded in thin intact cardiac trabeculae during transitions in stimulation frequency, to assess mitochondrial complex I and complex II function, respectively. Oxygen consumption, mitochondrial morphology, protein content, and enzymatic activity were assessed. NAD(P)H autofluorescence upon an increase in stimulation frequency showed a rapid decline followed by a slow recovery. FAD autofluorescence followed a similar time course, but in opposite direction. The amplitude of the early rapid change in NAD(P)H autofluorescence was severely depressed in CH and HF compared with CON. The rapid changes in FAD autofluorescence in CH and HF were reduced to a lesser extent. Complex I-coupled respiration showed an ∼3.5-fold reduction in CH and HF; complex II-coupled respiration was depressed two-fold in HF. Western blot analyses revealed modest reductions in complex I protein content in CH and HF and in complex I activity in supercomplexes in HF. Mitochondrial volume density was similar, but mitochondrial remodelling was evident from changes in ultrastructure and fusion/fission indices in CH and HF. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the alterations in mitochondrial function observed in right ventricular CH and HF can be mainly attributed to complex I dysfunction.
Cloning and expression of β-glucosidase gene from Bacillus licheniformis into E. coli BL 21 (DE3)

A 1.4 Kb fragment of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580 encoding β-glucosidase was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. β-Glucosidase expressed by E. coli harboring cloned gene was located entirely in the intracellular fraction. Recombinant β-glucosidase protein was purified to homogeneity level and the molecular weight was found to be 53 kDa using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. It gave maximum activity at 50°C and pH 6. Km and Vmax were 0.206 mM and 1.26 U/mg, respectively, with p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, while activation energy Ea, enthalpy of activation ? H and entropy of activation ΔS were found to be 66.31 kJ/mol, 64.04 kJ/mol and 48.28 J/mol/K, respectively. The pKa1 and pKa2 of the ionizable groups of active site residues involved in Vmax were found to be 5.5 and 7.0, respectively. When the recombinant β-glucosidase protein was used as a member of consortium with endoglucanase and exoglucanase for the saccharification of wheat straw, 123% increase in saccharification was observed.
Large offspring syndrome

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a human loss-of-imprinting syndrome primarily characterized by macrosomia, macroglossia, and abdominal wall defects. BWS has been associated with misregulation of two clusters of imprinted genes. Children conceived with the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) appear to have an increased incidence of BWS. As in humans, ART can also induce a similar overgrowth syndrome in ruminants which is referred to as large offspring syndrome (LOS). The main goal of our study is to determine if LOS shows similar loss-of-imprinting at loci known to be misregulated in BWS. To test this, Bos taurus indicus × Bos taurus taurus F1 hybrids were generated by artificial insemination (AI; control) or by ART. Seven of the 27 conceptuses in the ART group were in the > 97th percentile body weight when compared with controls. Further, other characteristics reported in BWS were observed in the ART group, such as large tongue, umbilical hernia, and ear malformations. KCNQ1OT1 (the most-often misregulated imprinted gene in BWS) was biallelically-expressed in various organs in two out of seven overgrown conceptuses from the ART group, but shows monoallelic expression in all tissues of the AI conceptuses. Furthermore, biallelic expression of KCNQ1OT1 is associated with loss of methylation at the KvDMR1 on the maternal allele and with downregulation of the maternally-expressed gene CDKN1C. In conclusion, our results show phenotypic and epigenetic similarities between LOS and BWS, and we propose the use of LOS as an animal model to investigate the etiology of BWS.
Assessment of the Spiritual Needs of Primary Caregivers of Children with Life-Limiting Illnesses Is Valuable Yet Inconsistently Performed in the Hospital.

BACKGROUND Religion and spirituality influence how many patients and families experience illness, but knowledge of the level of spiritual care provided to caregivers of pediatric patients within the hospital is limited. OBJECTIVE We evaluated patient caregivers' perceptions of the extent to which their religious and spiritual (R/S) needs were assessed and addressed in the hospital. METHODS We surveyed primary caregivers of children referred to palliative care <1 year prior at an urban, pediatric academic medical center. Participants completed a structured questionnaire with quantitative and qualitative measures of the provision of spiritual care in the hospital. Nonparametric tests were used to compare various measures of perceived and desired R/S support. RESULTS The majority (16/24) of caregivers desired inquiry about R/S needs by the medical team. Fewer than half (12/25) had these needs assessed. No subjects were uncomfortable with questions regarding R/S needs. Only 35% (8/23) specifically wanted a physician to inquire about R/S needs. Subjects whose R/S needs were assessed perceived higher levels of support from the medical team (4.40 versus 3.08, p = 0.02). A significant correlation existed between number of hospital-based R/S resources used and reported R/S-related comfort (rs = 0.438, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS Assessment of R/S needs of caregivers of pediatric palliative care patients is performed less often than desired, even though it can improve perceptions of support from medical teams. Use of hospital-based R/S resources can increase spiritual comfort. Standardizing assessment of caregivers' R/S needs and referral to appropriate resources is a target for quality improvement in pediatric palliative medicine.
Immunogenic and tolerogenic signatures in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected controllers compared with progressors and a conversion strategy of virus control

Epidemiological studies have identified a small cohort of controllers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1 infection, who without treatment have no detectable virus, and others who progress at a variable rate. The objective of this study was to distinguish immune signatures in HIV controllers and progressors, by evaluating tolerogenic and immunogenic factors in untreated HIV‐1 infected individuals. The recruited population was divided into putative elite controllers (PEC), long‐term non‐progressors (LTNP), normal progressors (NP) and fast progressors (FP). The proportion of regulatory T cells [Tregs, CD4+CD25+forkhead box P3 (FoxP3+)], programmed death (PD)‐1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)‐inhibitory molecules and CD40L, CD69 and Ki67 activation markers were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by flow cytometry. Significant differences were found between HIV controllers and HIV progressors, with up‐regulation of Tregs, PD‐1 and CTLA‐4 and decrease of CD40L expression in progressors compared with controllers. Expression of CD40L and concentrations of interleukin (IL)‐6, CCL‐3, and CCL‐4 were significantly higher in PEC and LTNP than in NP and FP. In an attempt to convert immune signatures of progressors to those of controllers, seven agents were used to stimulate PBMC from the four cohorts. Treatment with CD40L and IL‐4 or PD‐1 antibodies in vitro were most effective in converting the immune signatures of progressors to those observed in controllers by down‐regulating Tregs and up‐regulating CD40L expression in CD4+ T cells. The conversion concept merits translation to in vivo immune control of HIV infection.
Clinical aspects of intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma including hilar carcinoma. A study of 57 autopsy‐proven cases

The clinical features of 57 autopsied cases of intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma including 28 cases of the peripheral type (cholangiocarcinoma in the narrow sense) and 29 cases of the hilar type are described in comparison with those of hepatocellular carcinoma, with a review of the literature on the clinicopathological aspects of intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. As compared with hepatocellular carcinoma, the average age of the patients was older; the male predominance was not obvious, chronic parenchymal liver disease was infrequent in the past history, association of primary cirrhosis was seldom, cholestatic features were frequently the early signs and more pronounced during the course, the liver was enlarged to a lesser extent, ascites was less common, signs of portal hypertension were absent or minimal, and extrahepatic metastases were less frequent. In many respects, the hilar type resembled extra‐hepatic bile duct carcinoma, and the peripheral type was somewhat between it and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the overall survival was not much different from that for hepatocellular carcinoma, early diagnosis is emphasized; this would make surgical management possible. Differential diagnosis from hepatocellular carcinoma may be possible in the majority with direct cholangiography, liver scan, celiac angiography, determination of α‐fetoprotein and hepatitis B antigen, and blood chemistry such as SGOT, SLDH, serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. Illustrative cases are given including one patient with a hilar carcinoma who survived for more than 2 years after transhepatic biliary drainage.
Doublecortin expression in the adult rat telencephalon

Doublecortin (DCX) is a protein required for normal neuronal migration in the developing cerebral cortex, where it is widely expressed in both radially and tangentially migrating neuroblasts. Moreover, it has been observed in the adult rostral migratory stream, which contains the neuronal precursors traveling to the olfactory bulb. We have performed DCX immunocytochemistry in the adult rat brain to identify precisely the neuronal populations expressing this protein. Our observations confirm the presence of DCX immunoreactive cells with the characteristic morphology of migrating neuroblasts in the subventricular zone, rostral migratory stream and the main and accessory olfactory bulbs. We have also found putative migratory cells expressing DCX in regions were no adult neuronal migration has been described, as the corpus callosum, the piriform cortex layer III/endopiriform nucleus and the striatum. Surprisingly, many cells with the phenotype of differentiated neurons were DCX immunoreactive; e.g. certain granule neurons in the hilar border of the granular layer of the dentate gyrus, some neuronal types in the piriform cortex layer II, granule and periglomerular neurons in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs, and isolated cells in the striatum. Almost all DCX immunoreactive cells also express the polysialylated form of neural cell adhesion molecule and have a similar distribution to rat collapsin receptor‐mediated protein‐4, two molecules involved in neuronal structural plasticity. Given these results, we hypothesize that DCX expression in differentiated neurons could be related to its capacity for microtubule reorganization and that this fact could be linked to axonal outgrowth or synaptogenesis.
Immunological Senescence and Thymic Function in Transplantation

In the field of organ transplantation, the state of thymic function has not been a major concern but data from bone marrow transplantation studies have unravel the persistence of some thymopoiesis in the adult and, more importantly, the possibility of reinducing it. Given the central role of the thymus in tolerance, these facts have stimulated the interest in the biology of the thymus in humans. Contemporarily, basic research has provided new tools, if imperfect, to monitor thymic function, that is, T-cell receptor excision circles, markers for lymphocytes recently emigrated from the thymus and new imaging techniques. The deployment of these new tools is already changing some paradigms and has now established that re-enactment of thymic activity in the course of bone marrow transplantation or in patients with human immunodeficiency virus on highly active anti-retroviral therapy is beneficial and that can be achieved in the adult. Clinical trials using thymopoiesis-stimulating factors are underway. On the other hand, the discovery that the thymus contains a broad representation of self-antigens and that this depends on the expression of the product of the gene AIRE by the medullary thymic epithelial cells opens the possibility of manipulating central tolerance. Current protocols inducing microchimerism to generate tolerance to solid organ grafts suggest that this could be a feasible therapeutic goal. Therefore, there are many signs indicating that a period of translational research applying the principles of thymic biology and central tolerance to transplantation has already started.
Urocortin 1 exhibits potent inhibition of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in conscious sheep

Objectives Urocortin 1 (Ucn1) and the sympathetic nervous system both participate in cardiac and circulatory regulation, but little is known about their possible interactions. Methods We report the effects of Ucn1 on the cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA), haemodynamics and plasma catecholamines in normal sheep. Results Bolus intravenous administration of Ucn1 at 2.5 and 10 μg in seven sheep had no significant effect on haemodynamic parameters, including heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardiac output. At these doses, however, Ucn1 administration reduced CSNA, with burst frequency (P = 0.011), burst incidence (P = 0.015) and burst area (P = 0.012) all significantly reduced in a dose-related manner compared with a time-matched control. At higher doses (25 and 100 μg; n = 5 sheep), Ucn1 induced significant rises in heart rate (P < 0.001) and cardiac output (P = 0.03) and reduced peripheral resistance (P = 0.03), but had no effect on MAP. Ucn1 administration at the higher doses reduced CSNA, with burst incidence (P < 0.001), burst area/min (P = 0.001) and burst area/100 beats (P < 0.001) all significantly reduced in a dose-related manner compared with a time-matched control. There was no change in plasma catecholamines at any dose. Conclusion The present study shows that Ucn1 induces potent inhibition of sympathetic traffic to the heart at doses both above and below the threshold for direct actions of Ucn1 on the myocardium. These findings suggest an important role for Ucn1 in cardiovascular homeostasis and warrant further investigation for potential therapeutic applications in acute myocardial injury and heart disease.
Minimal residual disease detection in autologous stem cell grafts from patients with high risk neuroblastoma

The clinical significance of minimal residual disease (MRD) detected by real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in autologous stem cell grafts in high risk neuroblastoma is still controversial. In this retrospective multicenter study, autologous stem cell grafts of a large cohort were studied using a panel of RNA markers.
The relationship between social deprivation and the quality of primary care: a national survey using indicators from the UK Quality and Outcomes Framework.

BACKGROUND The existence of health inequalities between least and most socially deprived areas is now well established. AIM To use Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators to explore the characteristics of primary care in deprived communities. DESIGN OF STUDY Two-year study. SETTING Primary care in England. METHOD QOF data were obtained for each practice in England in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 and linked with census derived social deprivation data (Index of Multiple Deprivation scores 2004), national urbanicity scores and a database of practice characteristics. Data were available for 8480 practices in 2004-2005 and 8264 practices in 2005-2006. Comparisons were made between practices in the least and most deprived quintiles. RESULTS The difference in mean total QOF score between practices in least and most deprived quintiles was 64.5 points in 2004-2005 (mean score, all practices, 959.9) and 30.4 in 2005-2006 (mean, 1012.6). In 2005-2006, the QOF indicators displaying the largest differences between least and most deprived quintiles were: recall of patients not attending appointments for injectable neuroleptics (79 versus 58%, respectively), practices opening > or =45 hours/week (90 versus 74%), practices conducting > or = 12 significant event audits in previous 3 years (93 versus 81%), proportion of epileptics who were seizure free > or = 12 months (77 versus 65%) and proportion of patients taking lithium with serum lithium within therapeutic range (90 versus 78%). Geographical differences were less in group and training practices. CONCLUSIONS Overall differences between primary care quality indicators in deprived and prosperous communities were small. However, shortfalls in specific indicators, both clinical and non-clinical, suggest that focused interventions could be applied to improve the quality of primary care in deprived areas.
A new 5-grading score in the diagnosis of prostate cancer with real-time elastography.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical significance of transrectal real-time elastography (TRTE) in diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCA). METHODS 195 patients with an elevated PSA level were enrolled in the study. A novel 5-grading score of prostate outer gland was applied by TRTE imaging. Receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of TRTE score. RESULTS TRTE scores in patients with PCA and benign condition were 3.20 ± 1.11 (range: 1-5) and 2.24 ± 1.01 (range: 1-4), respectively (P < 0.001). The best cutoff value of TRTE score was 3, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy in the diagnosis were 68.6% (35/51), 69.4% (100/144) and 69.2% (135/195), respectively. The accuracy of TRTE in volume ≤ 30 ml group was significantly higher than that in the volume ≥ 50 ml group and the 30-50 ml group (76.9% vs. 65.0% and 76.9% vs. 71.4%, both P < 0.001). Accuracy of TRTE score was higher for those with PSA ranged 4-10 ng/ml than those with PSA > 10 ng/ml (85.3% vs. 66.7%, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION TRTE score, a novel semi-quantitative assessment of patients' prostate stiffness, can be served as a useful screening method for patients suspicious of PCA, especially those only having an elevated PSA level.
Frequency-Dependent Stability for Two-Species Interactions

Evolutionary game theory is extended to models of two-species interactions where fitnesses are based on individual characteristics (strategies) rather than on a population dynamic that assumes homogeneous species. It is shown that the coevolutionary theories in the literature that combine ecology with genetic viability selection are part of this extended theory and that the dynamic stability resulting from a separation of ecological and evolutionary processes actually follows from game-theoretic solution concepts. The main focus of the paper is to investigate the application of the ESS (evolutionarily stable strategy) solution concept to dynamic stability when fitnesses are given by random interactions between individuals as opposed to viability selection. For two-species frequency-dependent interactions, the ESS criterion that implies stability asserts that, in any system near the ESS, at least one of the species is better off (i.e., more fit) if it evolves towards the ESS. The global stability of a polymorphic two-species ESS that is shown for two-species matrix games gives a powerful tool to predict the course of evolution through static fitness comparisons.
PUBLIC TRUST AND GOVERNANCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN THAILAND

Public trust is an important topic in "New Democratic Governance? approach of modernising states. Trust in government is deteriorating in many OECD countries. Public administration scholars generally agree that public trust is a keystone of good governance. This article explored public trust that 2,587 Thai citizens perceived on governance in public administration in Thailand. The findings are: (a) public trust and governance in public administration in Thailand are perceived at medium level, (b) relationship between two factors are positively correlated in two ways direction and varied in the same direction at high level (r = .864), (c) seven indicators to cultivate governance in public administration in Thailand are ethics of honesty, merit system, leaders who build trust culture, maintenance of democratic value, law enforcement efficiency, officials professionalism of, and public service ideologies.