Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expanding the geography of evapotranspiration: An improved method to quantify land-to-air water fluxes in tropical and subtropical regions

The development of new reference evapotranspiration (ETo) methods hold significant promise for improving our quantitative understanding of climatic impacts on water loss from the land to the atmosphere. To address the challenge of estimating ETo in tropical and subtropical regions where direct measurements are scarce we tested a new method based on geographical patterns of extraterrestrial radiation (Ra) and atmospheric water potential (Ψair). Our approach consisted of generating daily estimates of ETo across several climate zones in Brazil–as a model system–which we compared with standard EToPM (Penman-Monteith) estimates. In contrast with EToPM, the simplified method (EToMJS) relies solely on Ψair calculated from widely available air temperature (oC) and relative humidity (%) data, which combined with Ra data resulted in reliable estimates of equivalent evaporation (Ee) and ETo. We used regression analyses of Ψair vs EToPM and Ee vs EToPM to calibrate the EToMJS(Ψair) and EToMJS estimates from 2004 to 2014 and between seasons and climatic zone. Finally, we evaluated the performance of the new method based on the coefficient of determination (R2) and correlation (R), index of agreement “d”, mean absolute error (MAE) and mean reason (MR). This evaluation confirmed the suitability of the EToMJS method for application in tropical and subtropical regions, where the climatic information needed for the standard EToPM calculation is absent.
In Vitro Activities of BMS-207147 against Over 600 Contemporary Clinical Bloodstream Isolates of Candida Species from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program in North America and Latin America

ABSTRACT We compared the in vitro activity of BMS-207147, an investigational triazole, with those of itraconazole and fluconazole against 613 clinical bloodstream isolates of Candida spp. collected from SENTRY participating hospitals during 1997 and 1998. Overall, BMS-207147 was the most active azole against all Candidaspp. While both BMS-207147 and itraconazole displayed a stepwise decrease in activity against isolates for which the fluconazole MICs were elevated, BMS-207147 had two- to fourfold greater activity than itraconazole both against Candida spp. that were dose-dependently fluconazole susceptible and against those that were fluconazole resistant.
Prenatal Exposure to Low Doses of Bisphenol A Increases Pituitary Proliferation and Gonadotroph Number in Female Mice Offspring at Birth1

ABSTRACT The pituitary gland is composed of hormone-producing cells essential for homeostasis and reproduction. Pituitary cells are sensitive to endocrine feedback in the adult and can have altered hormonal secretion from exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a prevalent plasticizer used in food and beverage containers, leading to widespread human exposure. Although prenatal exposure to BPA can impact reproductive function in the adult, the effects of BPA on the developing pituitary are unknown. We hypothesized that prenatal exposure to low doses of BPA impacts gonadotroph cell number or parameters of hormone synthesis. To test this, pregnant mice were administered 0.5 μg/kg/day of BPA, 50 μg/kg/day of BPA, or vehicle beginning on Embryonic Day 10.5. At parturition, pituitaries from female offspring exposed in utero to either dose of BPA had increased proliferation, as assessed by mKi67 mRNA levels and immunohistochemistry. Coincidently, gonadotroph number also increased in treated females. However, we observed a dichotomy between mRNA levels of Lhb and Fshb. Female mice exposed to 0.5 μg/kg/day BPA had increased mRNA levels of gonadotropins and the gonadotropin-receptor hormone (GNRH) receptor (Gnrhr), which mediates GNRH regulation of gonadotropin production and release. In contrast, mice treated with 50 μg/kg/day of BPA had decreased gonadotropin mRNA levels, Gnrhr and Nr5a1, a transcription factor required for gonadotroph differentiation. No other pituitary hormones were altered on the day of birth in response to in utero BPA exposure, and male pituitaries showed no change in the parameters tested. Collectively, these results show that prenatal exposure to BPA affects pituitary gonadotroph development in females.
Healthy Steps for Young Children Program in Pediatric Residency Training: Impact on Primary Care Outcomes

OBJECTIVE. Incorporating Healthy Steps for Young Children into pediatric practice has been shown to have positive effects for children and families. Although this model of care has also been integrated into several pediatric and family medicine training programs, published reports to date have focused only on residents’ perceptions of their interactions with the model of care. In this study, we report the impact on primary care outcomes after integrating Healthy Steps for Young Children into residency training. METHODS. Continuity of care, longitudinal care in the practice, quality of primary care services, and rates of behavioral, developmental, and psychosocial diagnoses were measured for 3 cohorts: (1) Healthy Steps–enrolled children, (2) non–Healthy Steps–enrolled children who were followed at the same site of care, and (3) non–Healthy Steps–enrolled children who were receiving primary care at a similar residency training site within the same training program. All data were extracted from patient charts at the 2 practice sites. RESULTS. Continuity of care was significantly better for Healthy Steps–enrolled children compared with non–Healthy Steps–enrolled children at the Healthy Steps site for both total visits and health maintenance visits. Longitudinal care and quality of primary care services did not differ within or between sites. The rates of documentation of behavioral, developmental, or psychosocial diagnoses did not differ between Healthy Steps–enrolled and non–Healthy Steps–enrolled children at the Healthy Steps for Young Children site but were significantly different between the Healthy Steps and the non–Healthy Steps for Young Children sites; the effect was driven wholly by differences in psychosocial diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS. Multiple indices that measure health service outcomes suggest benefits of incorporating Healthy Steps for Young Children into pediatric residency training. Most important, continuity of care in residents’ practices significantly improved, as did the residents’ documentation of psychosocial issues in children.
Possible Roles of Diet in the Etiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review

Chi Zhang, Ka-Miu Chan and Ai-Ping Lu* School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical study Center, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Nanxiaojie, Beijing 100700, China *Correspondence: Ai-Ping Lu, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, E-mail: aipinglu@hkbu.edu. hk
New raw material for activated carbon: I. Methylene blue adsorption on activated carbon prepared from Khaya senegalensis fruits

C. E. Gimba, O. Ocholi, P. A. Egwaikhide, T. Muyiwa, and E.E. Akporhonor. 2009. New raw material for activated carbon. I. Methylene blue adsorption on activated carbon prepared from Khaya senegalensis fruits. Cien. Inv. Agr. 36(1):107-114. Activated carbons were prepared from Khaya senegalensis fruits. Carbonization and activation temperatures were 500 o C and 800 o C, respectively, at residence time of 5 min for each process. Activating agents were 1M each of NaCl, KCl, CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 . 6H 2 O, Na 2 CO 3, K 2 CO 3, H 2 SO 4 , and ZnCI 2 . Particle size was 125 μm and adsorption studies were carried out using methylene blue in aqueous solution as adsorbate through fi xed beds in micro columns. Equilibrium data were analyzed using adsorption intensity and capacity parameters from the Freundlich isotherms as well as breakthrough curves. Results were compared with performances of commercial animal charcoal and granular activated carbon. The results suggest that K. senegalensis fruits are suitable raw materials for producing activated carbons. The NaCI activated carbon has the best adsorption characteristics which are better than the commercial products.
What influences Latino grocery shopping behavior? Perspectives on the small food store environment from managers and employees in San Diego, California

ABSTRACT To inform the design of a multilevel in-store intervention, this qualitative study utilized in-depth semistructured interviews with 28 managers and 10 employees of small-to-medium-sized Latino food stores (tiendas) in San Diego, California, to identify factors within the tienda that may influence Latino customers’ grocery-shopping experiences and behaviors. Qualitative data analysis, guided by grounded theory, was performed using open coding. Results suggest that future interventions should focus on the physical (i.e., built structures) and social (i.e., economic and sociocultural) dimensions of store environments, including areas where the two dimensions interact, to promote the purchase of healthy food among customers.
Systematic analysis of time resolved high-throughput data using stochastic network inference methods

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women and is characterised by various deregulations in signalling processes, leading to abnormal proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis. Several treatments for breast cancer exist, including the human monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab and the small molecule erlotinib, which both target and inhibit receptors of the ERBB receptor network. However, signalling processes in cancers, especially under drug treatment are not yet completely understood, and methods that learn treatment specific regulation and signalling patterns on a system-wide view from experimental data are needed. One approach is the reconstruction of interaction networks for genes or proteins under external perturbation, and many different algorithms have been proposed in the past. These include Boolean networks, Bayesian Networks, Dynamic Bayesian networks and differential equation systems, all describing the system on a different level of accuracy and complexity. However, if external perturbation is applied, the targets of the perturbations either have to be known, or only the targets of a single perturbation can be learned directly from data in current algorithms. And in general, dependencies of signalling events at different time points should be included into the modelling frameworks, too. This work proposes a novel approach to learn networks from longitudinal and externally perturbed data, called ‘Dynamic Deterministic Effects Propagation Networks (DDEPN )’. Nodes in the network correspond to genes or proteins, selected from a particular biological system, while edges describe the interactions between the nodes. DDEPN models the activity of a node as boolean variable (either active or passive) and creates an activity profile of all nodes for the given time frame, depending on a given network structure. The activity profile is assessed by a likelihood score that describes the probability of the measured data given the activity profile. A network structure that fits best the measured data is identified by modifying the network such that the likelihood score is optimised. DDEPN is applied to a phosphoproteomic dataset from the ERBB signalling cascade, as well as to gene expression data measuring cell cycle related genes. Known signalling cascades from the ERBB and cell cycle networks could be successfully reconstructed and DDEPN also outperformed related network inference approaches. Further, in the ERBB data set, the combined application of the drugs erlotinib and Trastuzumab to the breast cancer cell line HCC1954 resulted in potent inhibition of growth promoting signalling effects, reflected in the down-regulation of the MAPK and AKT signalling pathways. This suggests that this combination therapy could be also a promising option for treatment of breast cancer patients.
An anatomical comparison of two minimally invasive pelvic reconstructive surgeries using fresh female cadavers

Background During the past decade, graft materials have been widespread used in the vagina in order to correct pelvic organ prolapse. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the exact anatomical position of the puncture devices and their relations to the relevant anatomical structures in the Prolift™ and a modified pelvic reconstructive surgery with mesh. Methods Twelve fresh cadavers were allocated randomly to either the Prolift™ or the modified pelvic reconstructive surgery group. Each group had six fresh cadavers. Relevant distances between the puncture devices and anatomical structures were recorded in both minimally invasive puncture surgeries. Results The mean distances from the posterior puncture points of the obturator membrane to the posterior branch of obturator arteries were shorter ((0.60±0.36) cm and (0.78±0.10) cm) when compared with the distances to the anterior branch of obturator arteries ((1.53±0.46) cm and (1.86±0.51) cm) for the reconstruction of the anterior compartment in both surgeries (all P <0.05). The distance from the puncture points of the pelvic floor through the ischiorectal fossa to the coccygeal and inferior gluteal arteries in the Prolift™ technique ((0.88±0.10) cm) and ((1.59±0.36) cm)) were much shorter than that in the modified pelvic reconstructive surgery ((2.95±0.09) cm) and ((3.40±0.36) cm)) for the reconstruction of the middle and posterior compartments (all P <0.05). Conclusions Compared with the Prolift™ technique, the modified pelvic reconstructive surgery with mesh would be safer not to cause great damage to the inferior gluteal arteries and the coccygeal arteries. The posterior branch of obturator arteries would be easier to be injured than the anterior branch of obturator arteries during anterior compartment reconstruction in both surgeries.
Improving upon the in vitro biological activity of antithrombotic disulfides

Several sulfur-containing compounds, isolated from garlic, have been implicated as highly active antithrombotic agents. We have prepared 10 new aromatic disulfides and an aromatic thiosulfonate in order to determine the in vitro response of human platelets to dosages of these compounds. The poor biological activity of PhSSCH3 was enhanced by the introduction of, inter alia, a nitro group onto the aromatic ring. The nitro group increased potency by activating the disulfide linkage. Anti-platelet aggregation activity was also enhanced by increasing the lipophilicity of one test compound. The ability of an aromatic disulfide to inhibit platelet aggregation can be enhanced by appending an electron-withdrawing group to the aromatic ring. The results presented establish that the aromatic thiosulfonate is a very effective inhibitor of platelet aggregation.
DLC 1 Interaction with-Catenin Stabilizes Adherens Junctions and Enhances DLC 1 Antioncogenic Activity

The DLC1 (for deleted in liver cancer 1) tumor suppressor gene encodes a RhoGAP protein that inactivates Rho GTPases, which are implicated in regulation of the cytoskeleton and adherens junctions (AJs), a cell-cell adhesion protein complex associated with the actin cytoskeleton. Malignant transformation and tumor progression to metastasis are often associated with changes in cytoskeletal organization and cell-cell adhesion. Here we have established in human cells that the AJ-associated protein -catenin is a new binding partner of DLC1. Their binding was mediated by the N-terminal amino acids 340 to 435 of DLC1 and the N-terminal amino acids 117 to 161 of -catenin. These proteins colocalized in the cytosol and in the plasma membrane, where together they associated with E-cadherin and -catenin, constitutive AJ proteins. Binding of DLC1 to -catenin led to their accumulation at the plasma membrane and required DLC1 GAP activity. Knocking down -catenin in DLC1-positive cells diminished DLC1 localization at the membrane. The DLC1– -catenin complex reduced the Rho GTP level at the plasma membrane, increased E-cadherin’s mobility, affected actin organization, and stabilized AJs. This process eventually contributed to a robust oncosuppressive effect of DLC1 in metastatic prostate carcinoma cells. Together, these results unravel a new mechanism through which DLC1 exerts its strong oncosuppressive function by positively influencing AJ stability.
Platelet aggregation but not activation and degranulation during the acute post-ischemic reperfusion phase in livers with no underlying disease

Background: Platelets and P-selectin (CD62P) play an unequivocal role in the pathology of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Inhibition or knock-out of P-selectin or immunodepletion of platelets results in amelioration of post-ischemic inflammation, reduced hepatocellular damage, and improved survival. However, P-selectin expression on platelets and endothelial cells, which concurs with platelet activation, has never been clearly demonstrated in I/R-subjected livers. Aims: To determine whether platelets become activated and degranulate in the acute phase of liver I/R and whether the platelets interact with neutrophils. Methods: Hepatic I/R was induced in male C57BL/6J mice (N = 12) using 37.5-min ischemia time. Platelets, endothelial cells, and neutrophils were fluorescently labeled by systemic administration of non-blocking antibodies. Cell kinetics were monitored by intravital spinning disk confocal microscopy during 90 min of reperfusion. Image analysis and quantification was performed with dedicated software. Results: Platelets adhered to sinusoids more extensively in post-ischemic livers compared to livers not subjected to I/R and formed aggregates, which occurred directly after ischemia. Platelets and endothelial cells did not express P-selectin in post-ischemic livers. There was no interaction between platelets and neutrophils. Conclusions: Platelets aggregate but do not become activated and do not degranulate in post-ischemic livers. There is no platelet-neutrophil interplay during the early reperfusion phase in a moderate model of hepatic I/R injury. The mechanisms underlying the biological effects of platelets and P-selectin in this setting warrant further investigation. Relevance for patients: I/R in surgical liver patients may compromise outcome due to post-ischemic oxidative stress and sterile inflammation. Both processes are mediated in part by platelets. Understanding platelet function during I/R is key to developing effective interventions for I/R injury and improving clinical outcomes.
Stillbirth/perinatal weak calf syndrome: preliminary pathological, microbiological and biochemical findings

Microbiological, biochemical and pathological data collected from 293 calves which were either stillborn, or born alive and either failed to breathe or failed to breathe for more than about 10 minutes are presented. No bacteria were recovered from 96 of the calves (32.7 per cent), and bacteria which were considered significant were isolated from only four (1.4 per cent). Evidence of leptospiral infection was found in 75 calves (25.5 per cent). Of 64 calves examined for bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) antigens, two were positive for BVD virus and none for IBR virus. The mean (+/- sd) liver vitamin E and kidney selenium concentrations, determined in 148 of the calves, were 2.0 +/- 0.76 micrograms/g wet matter and 0.47 +/- 0.17 micrograms/g wet matter, respectively. The thyroid iodine concentration in 15 of 71 calves (21 per cent) was less than 300 micrograms/g wet matter and the mean (+/- sd) thyroid weight of 266 of the calves was 18.5 +/- 11.6 g. Evidence of severe trauma was found in 19 of the calves (6.5 per cent). Histological findings included thyroid epithelial hyperplasia, hepatic haemosiderosis, erythrophagocytosis in the spleen, perivascular haemorrhage in brain and adrenal glands, and accumulation of leucocytes in blood vessels.
Neuronal body size correlates with the number of nucleoli and Cajal bodies, and with the organization of the splicing machinery in rat trigeminal ganglion neurons

Trigeminal ganglion neurons comprise three main cell body‐size types. This cell size heterogeneity provides an excellent neuronal model to study the cell size‐dependent organization and dynamics of the nucleoli, Cajal (coiled) bodies (CBs), and nuclear speckles of pre‐mRNA splicing factors, nuclear structures that play a key role in the normal neuronal physiology. We have analyzed the number of nucleoli and CBs and the structural and molecular organization of CBs and nuclear speckles in the three neuronal types by using immunofluorescence with antibodies that recognize nucleoli (fibrillarin), CBs (coilin), and nuclear speckles (snRNPs), confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy. Whereas the mean number of nucleoli per neuron decreases as a function of cell size, the number of CBs per cell significantly increases in large neurons in comparison with the small ones. In addition, large neurons have a higher proportion of CBs associated with the nucleolus. In all neuronal types, CBs concentrate coilin, fibrillarin, snRNPs, and the survival motor neuron protein (SMN). Immunostaining for snRNPs shows small speckle domains and extensive areas of diffuse nucleoplasmic signal in large neurons, in contrast with the large nuclear speckles found in small neurons. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis shows that all neurons are in the range of diploid cells. These findings indicate that the fusion behavior of nucleoli, the formation of CBs and their relationships with the nucleolus, as well as the compartmentalization of the pre‐mRNA splicing machinery, is related to cell body size in the trigeminal ganglion neurons. Because transcriptional activity is a basic determinant mechanism of cell size in diploid cells, we suggest that our findings reflect a distinct transcription‐dependent organization of the nucleolus and splicing machinery in the three cell types of trigeminal ganglion neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 430:250–263, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rural Obstetrics in NSW

Summary: Rural general practitioners are responsible for providing obstetric services to the majority of women living in rural communities. This paper reports a comparison of 5,950 deliveries conducted by rural GPs in NSW during 1990–1991 with all 88,275 deliveries during the same period in NSW. No evidence that obstetric care in accredited rural GP obstetric units is of less than acceptable standards could be found. There is scope to increase the use of rural obstetric units for the training of future rural GP obstetricians.
The heritability of inducible defenses in tadpoles

The evolution of plastic traits requires phenotypic trade‐offs and heritable traits, yet the latter requirement has received little attention, especially for predator‐induced traits. Using a half‐sib design, I examined the narrow‐sense heritability of predator‐induced behaviour, morphology, and life history in larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). Many of the traits had significant additive genetic variation in predator (caged Anax longipes) and no‐predator environments. Whereas most traits had moderate to high heritability across environments, tail depth exhibited high heritability with predators but low heritability without predators. In addition, several traits had significant heritability for plasticity, suggesting a potential for selection to act on plasticity per se. Genetic correlations confirmed known phenotypic relationships across environments and identified novel relationships within each environment. This appears to be the first investigation of narrow‐sense heritabilities for predator‐induced traits and confirms that inducible traits previously shown to be under selection also have a genetic basis and should be capable of exhibiting evolutionary responses.