Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilization of parboiled rice polish based diet with supplementation of phytase and carbohydrase in growing ducklings

A total of 60 day old straight run pekin ducklings were fed ad libitum on 6 diets viz, D1- 15% parboiled rice polish (PRP) based diet, D2- D1 + Mixed enzyme (Carbohydrase 120 ppm/kg + phytase 1000FYT/kg), D3- 25% parboiled rice polish (PRP) based diet, D4 - D3 + Mixed enzyme ( Carbohydrase 120 ppm/kg + phytase 1000FYT/kg), D5-35% parboiled rice polish (PRP) based diet, D6 - D5+ Mixed enzyme ( Carbohydrase 120 ppm/kg + phytase 1000FYT/kg) for 84 days. Diets were supplied two stages containing 22.5, 22.5, 22.8% CP for starter and 16.4, 16.9, 17% CP for finisher. Increasing PRP levels without enzyme decreased live weight, feed intake and feed conversion but increase profitability without affecting livability. Addition of mixed enzyme promoted growth, feed conversion significantly (P<0.01), but did not alter livability. The rate of improvement in performance for enzyme supplementation increased with increasing level of dietary PRP. Therefore, it was concluded that it is possible to reduce costly grain by using PRP in duck ration and supplementation of phytase and carbohydrase in PRP diet may be beneficial to improve performance of ducks.
Regulation of azole drug susceptibility by Candida albicans protein kinase CK2

Fluconazole resistance of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans can arise through several mechanisms, but the responsible genes and pathways are poorly understood. We report here that mutations in CKA2, identified through an insertional mutagenesis screen, confer fluconazole resistance. CKA2 and its homologue CKA1 specify catalytic subunits of protein kinase CK2. Although cka1 mutations have little effect on fluconazole resistance, CKA1 overexpression suppresses the fluconazole resistance of a cka2 mutant. This observation, along with synthetic cka1–cka2 interactions, argues that Cka1p and Cka2p carry out similar functions. cka2 mutants overexpress CDR1 and CDR2, two fluconazole efflux transporter genes, and a cdr1 mutation decreases resistance of a cka2 mutant, as expected if CDR1 and CDR2 overexpression is responsible for fluconazole resistance of the cka2 mutant. The protein phosphatase calcineurin is required for azole tolerance, and we find that the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin reverses fluconazole resistance of cka2 mutants. In addition, a mutation in CRZ1, which specifies a homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor that is a major target of calcineurin, suppresses fluconazole resistance of cka2 mutants. Expression analysis of Cka2p‐responsive genes argues that Cka2p and Crz1p act through distinct mechanisms. Several clinical fluconazole‐resistant isolates overexpress some Cka2p‐responsive genes. We suggest that a Cka2p‐dependent regulatory pathway is altered by clinically derived azole resistance mutations.
Race and clinical outcome in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated with radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine factors underlying differences in outcome between African-American (AA) and Caucasian (C) patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT). METHODS Patient, tumor, treatment characteristics, and the outcome of 316 AA and 94 C cervical cancer patients who underwent RT were compared. Median follow-up was 72.4 months. RESULTS AA patients had a trend to a poorer 8-year cause-specific survival (47.9 vs 60.6%) (P = 0.10) compared to C patients with a significant difference seen in stage IIB-IVA disease (34.3 vs 59.5%) (P = 0.04). Several factors correlated with poor outcome were present in the AA group including lower mean hemoglobin levels during RT (P = 0.001), lower median income (P = 0.001), and less frequent intracavitary RT (P = 0.09). In addition, while uncommon in C patients, health problems were major reasons for treatment protraction and inability to undergo intracavitary RT in the AA patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that race was not an independent prognostic factor after controlling for difference in patient, tumor, and treatment factors. CONCLUSIONS AA cervical cancer patients possess multiple factors that adversely impact upon the efficacy of RT. These findings may add further insight into the observed differences in outcome of cervical cancer patients based on race.
The procoagulant effects of factor V Leiden may be balanced against decreased levels of factor V and do not reflect in vivo thrombin formation in newborns

Summary Thrombin regulation in newborns remains incompletely understood.We studied tissue factor-initiated thrombin formation in cord plasma in vitro, and the effects of Factor VLeiden (FVL) heterozygosity on thrombin regulation both in vitro and in vivo in newborns. Pregnant women with known thrombophilia (n=27) were enrolled in the study. Cord blood and venous blood at the age of 14 days were collected from 11 FVL heterozygous newborns (FVL-positive) and from 16 FVL-negative newborns. Prothrombin fragment F1+2 and coagulation factors were measured. Tissue factor-initiated thrombin formation was studied in cord platelet-poor plasma (PPP) of FVL-negative and -positive newborns, and in both PPP and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) of healthy controls. The endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) in cord PPP or PRP was ∼60% of that in adult plasma, while thrombin formation started ∼55% and ∼40% earlier in cord PPP and PRP, respectively. Further, in FVL-positive newborns thrombin formation started significantly earlier than in FVL-negative newborns. Exogenous activated protein C (APC) decreased ETP significantly more in cord than in adult PRP. In FVL-negative cord plasma 5nM APC decreased ETP by 17.4±3.5% (mean±SEM) compared with only 3.5±3.8% in FVL-positive cord plasma (p=0.01). FVL-positive newborns showed similar levels of F1+2 but significantly decreased levels of factor V compared with FVL negative newborns both in cord plasma (FV 0.82±0.07 U/ml vs. 0.98±0.05 U/ml, p=0.03) and at the age of two weeks (FV 1.15±0.04 U/ml vs. 1.32±0.05 U/ml, p=0.03). In conclusion, newborn plasma showed more rapid thrombin formation and enhanced sensitivity to APC compared with adult plasma. FVL conveyed APC resistance and a procoagulant effect in newborn plasma. Lack of elevated F1+2 levels in FVL-positive infants, however, suggested the existence of balancing mechanisms; one could be the observed lower level of factor V in FVL heterozygous newborns.
P2Y2 receptor activation decreases blood pressure via intermediate conductance potassium channels and connexin 37

Nucleotides are important paracrine regulators of vascular tone. We previously demonstrated that activation of P2Y2 receptors causes an acute, NO‐independent decrease in blood pressure, indicating this signalling pathway requires an endothelial‐derived hyperpolarization (EDH) response. To define the mechanisms by which activation of P2Y2 receptors initiates EDH and vasodilation, we studied intermediate‐conductance (KCa3.1, expressed in endothelial cells) and big‐conductance potassium channels (KCa1.1, expressed in smooth muscle cells) as well as components of the myoendothelial gap junction, connexins 37 and 40 (Cx37, Cx40), all hypothesized to be part of the EDH response.
BUBBLES, CRASHES, AND THE FINANCIAL CYCLE: THE IMPACT OF BANKING REGULATION ON DEEP RECESSIONS

This paper explores how different credit market and banking regulations affect business fluctuations. Capital adequacy- and reserve requirements are analyzed for their effect on the risk of severe downturns. We develop an agent-based macroeconomic model in which financial contagion is transmitted through balance sheets in an endogenous firm-bank network, which incorporates firm bankruptcy and heterogeneity among banks to capture the fact that contagion effects are bank specific. Using concepts from the empirical literature to identify amplitude and duration of recessions and expansions, we show that more stringent liquidity regulations are best to dampen output fluctuations and prevent severe downturns. Under such regulations, both leverage along expansions and amplitude of recessions become smaller. More stringent capital requirements induce larger output fluctuations and lead to deeper, more fragile recessions. This indicates that the capital adequacy requirement is procyclical and therefore not advisable as a measure to prevent financial contagion.
The purification of CD34+ cells from human cord blood: comparison of separation techniques and cytokine requirements for optimal growth of clonogenic progenitors

This study was performed to assess the methods which gave maximal recovery of purified CD34/45+ cells from a cord blood specimen and optimal growth of progenitors cultured from the purified cells. Cord blood samples were separated using Percoll gradients (either one (1.080) or two successive (1.080 and 1.068) gradient(s)) and commercially available devices for CD34+ cell isolation (affinity columns as manufactured by CellPro Inc. or immunomagnetic separation procedure as devised by Baxter Inc.). ‘CellPro’ or ‘Baxter’ techniques gave similar results in terms of nucleated, CD34/45+ and progenitor cell concentration; however, the yield of CD34/45+ cells in the CD34+ enriched fraction was significantly higher when using the ‘CellPro’ technique. We also found significantly higher numbers of CD34/45+ cells in the CD34+ enriched final fraction when using only one, 1.080, Percoll density gradient in the first separation step. Using one density separation step followed by the ‘CellPro’ technique, we obtained an average of 3×106 purified CD34/45+ cells from samples containing 8.5×108 nucleated cells. Granulomonocytic progenitors (CFU‐GM) and mixed progenitors (CFU‐GEMM) cells from light‐density and purified CD34/45+ cell fractions were evaluated. We found that 20–30% of the light‐density cells and the purified CD34/45+ cells, yielded a granulomonocytic colony in serum free medium in the presence of interleukins 3 and 6, erythropoietin, granulomonocytic and granulocytic colony‐stimulating factors and stem cell factor. The addition of tumour‐necrosis factor α to the cocktail significantly improved the growth of CFU‐GEMM allowing 10% of the purified CD34/45+ cells to yield a mixed colony, which confirms the role of this cytokine on CD34+ cells from cord blood. This study provides an improved method for the recovery of CD34/45+ purified cells and their colony formation. These methods may serve as a basis for studies on CD34/45+ cell amplification and gene transfer.
Sympathetic activity and the systemic circulation in the spinal cat.

In the spinal animal, some sympathetic preganglionic neurones show background discharge and some can be reflexly excited or inhibited. Recent work has pointed out that while only a fraction of the total sympathetic outflow is involved, elements responsive to reflexes are present in each of many segments (Beacham & Perl, 1964a, b). The fact that only a limited number of the cells in each segment participate in a reflex could reflect differences either in the excitability of various preganglionic neurones or some other feature of organization. As a step toward further understanding of the role of the spinal cord in sympathetic mechanisms, the present study aims to establish effector organs controlled by preganglionic neurones active in the spinal preparation. Our attention was directed to the circulatory system because several investigators have described cardiovascular responses in spinal animals (Sherrington, 1906; Langley, 1924; Brooks, 1933; Alexander, 1945; Mukherjee, 1957). Difficulty in recording from sympathetic preganglionic and post-ganglionic cells simultaneously forced the use of an indirect approach. In most experiments the effects of nerve volleys or adequate stimuli known to initiate spinal preganglionic reflexes were tested on postganglionic neuronal activity, arterial pressure, blood flow or heart rate. Alternatively, preganglionic discharge and cardiovascular events were recorded in parallel. The results indicate that not all effector organs are influenced by sympathetic reflexes or autogenous activity in the spinal cat. In addition, cyclic or periodic changes in preganglionic discharge and in the systemic arterial pressure were noted which could be modified so as to suggest some form of sympathetic control of the circulation at the spinal level.
Nesiritide and worsening of renal function: the emperor's new clothes?

Concern about the safety of commonly used and heavily promoted medications has grown in recent years, culminating with the recent events surrounding the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. Patients, physicians, politicians, and government bodies are asking how newly approved medicines can be belatedly found unsafe and at the same time be prescribed widely on the basis of what is perceived as misinformation about their efficacy relative to older agents with which there is far greater experience. Is the approval process flawed, are medical practitioners so uninformed or unconcerned, or is essential information systematically withheld or misrepresented?
Analysis of risk factors predicting thrombotic and/or haemorrhagic complications in 306 patients with Essential Thrombocythemia

Thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications are the main causes of morbidity in Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). We investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics associated with the occurrence of these events with the aim of identifying subgroups of patients who might benefit from anti‐aggregant and/or cytoreductive therapy. The study involved 306 consecutive ET patients (median age 58 years and median follow‐up 96 months); the investigated variables were age, gender, platelet count, previous history of thrombotic or haemorrhagic events, disease duration and cardiovascular risk factors. Forty‐six patients (15%) experienced thrombotic complications during the follow‐up: 26/64 patients with a previous history of thrombosis (40.6%) and 20/242 patients without (8.3%; p < 0.0001). Thirty‐one patients (10%) experienced major haemorrhagic complications, mainly gastrointestinal tract bleeding: 3 with and 28 without a history of haemorrhagic events (p = 0.052). When the patients with a negative history of thrombosis were stratified on the basis of the number of cardiovascular risk factors (none vs. one vs. more than one), there was a significant correlation with the occurrence of thrombotic events (p < 0.05). ET patients with a positive history of thrombosis are at high risk of thrombotic complications, and should receive cytoreductive and anti‐aggregant treatment. Asymptomatic patients with a negative thrombotic history and no cardiovascular risk factors are at low risk, and should not be treated. Patients with a negative thrombotic history and one or more cardiovascular risk factors are at intermediate risk, and should be treated with anti‐aggregant and/or cytoreductive therapy. The need for treatment should be periodically re‐evaluated. Age and platelet count, generally accepted as very important risk factors for thrombosis, did not seem in our series associated with an increased risk for thrombosis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute Childhood Leukemia in Johannesburg: Ethnic Differences in Incidence, Cell Type, and Survival

Acute childhood leukemia was found to be less common in black children than in white children in the Johannesburg area of South Africa. Of 195 consecutive patients, 78 were black and 117 white. The annual incidence was 0.8/100,000 black children and 3.3/100,000 white. The low incidence in black children was due to the very low incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which was 0.41/100,000 black children compared with 2.73/100,000 white children. The incidence of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) was approximately the same for both ethnic groups; 0.38/100,000 black children and 0.57/100,000 white children. Remission rates for black children with ALL were lower than for white children and the cumulative proportion of black patients surviving at 60 months was only 32% compared with 72% of white patients (p = 0.0001). The most significant poor prognostic factors in ALL were ethnic group and age (p = 0.0006), CNS disease at onset (p = 0.006), FAB L2 and L3 morphology (p = 0.05), and irregular clinic attendance during maintenance therapy (p = 0.05). In ANLL, remission and survival rates were less favorable than in ALL but there were no significant differences between black and white patients. Black patients exhibited certain clinical features rarely seen in white patients, including chloromata, oropharyngeal lesions, and CNS involvement at onset. Karyotypic abnormalities were common. The most significant poor prognostic factors in ANLL were CNS disease at onset (p = 0.03), generalized lymphadenopathy (p = 0.0001), and FAB morphology classification M3-M6 (p = 0.05). Certain patients with FAB M1 and M2 morphology appeared to have the potential for long-term survival. The possible significance of these findings in relationship to ethnic and environmental factors is discussed.
Multiple Unilateral Fibroadenomas

Abstract: Fibroadenomas account for the majority of breast biopsies performed today. The natural history of fibroadenomas varies. They are usually found as a solitary, 1–2 cm lesion that is described as being firm, rubbery, nontender, well‐circumscribed, and found in women less than 30 years of age. We present an uncommon case of an adolescent female who had a cluster of fibroadenomas in one of her breasts, her treatment, and a review of the literature.
Superoxide dismutase mimetic with catalase activity, EUK-134, attenuates the multiple organ injury and dysfunction caused by endotoxin in the rat.

BACKGROUND Reactive oxygen species contribute to the multiple organ failure endotoxic shock. Here we investigate the effects of a salen-manganese complex, which exhibits both superoxide dismutase and catalase activity (EUK-134), on the circulatory failure and the renal and liver injury and dysfunction caused by endotoxin in the anaesthetised (thiopentone, 120 mg/kg) rat. MATERIAL/METHODS Male Wistar rats were anaesthetised with thiopentone sodium (120 mg/kg i.p.) and instrumented for the measurements of systemic haemodynamics. Animals received lipopolysaccharide (LPS, E. coli, 6 mg/kg i.v.) or saline and were treated with either EUK-134 (0.3 or 1 mg/kg bolus injection followed by an infusion of 0.3 or 1 mg/kg/h) or its vehicle (saline). After 6 h of endotoxaemia, blood was taken to evaluate biochemical parameters of organ injury and dysfunction. All data are mean I s.e. mean of n observations. Statistical comparisons were made with a ANOVA followed by Dunnet's test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Endotoxaemia for 6 h caused hypotension, renal dysfunction, liver injury, skeletal-muscle injury and pancreatic injury. Treatment of rats with EUK-134 attenuated the renal dysfunction as well as the liver and skeletal muscle injury (but not the pancreatic injury) caused by endotoxin. CONCLUSIONS Thus, an enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species importantly contribute to the organ injury and dysfunction associated with endotoxic shock. We propose that small molecules, which have the catalytic activity of both superoxide dismutase and catalase, may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the therapy of endotoxic shock.
Link Adaptation for Energy-Efficient Transmission with Receiver CSI

This paper derives link adaptation solutions for different wireless communications channels, maximizing the energy efficiency. These solutions account for the transmission as well as processing power consumption. The minimum energy consumption is achieved by solving an optimization problem, which we prove to be quasi-convex. We show that a convex function characterizes the average number of retransmissions when errors are due to channel noise or fading. We also derive closed-form approximations of the optimal link parameters for Rayleigh and Nakagami channels. These indicate that the target outage probability is only a function of the packet length.
The regulation of carotenoid formation in tomato fruit

Carotenoid biosynthesis in plants includes a complex series of desaturation/isomerisation reactions, catalyzed by four independent enzymes. In bacteria and fungi one desaturase/isomerase enzyme completes the same series of reactions. In the present study, a bacterial desaturase (crtI) from Pantoea ananatis has been overexpressed in the tangerine mutant of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) which accumulates cis-carotene isomers in the fruit due to a defective isomerase (CRTISO) and the old gold crimson (ogc ) tomato mutant, which is defective in the fruit-enhanced lycopene β-cyclase (CYCB). Comprehensive molecular and biochemical characterization of the resulting lines expressing crtI has revealed negative feedback mechanisms, acting predominantly at the level of phytoene synthase-1 (PSY1), and feed-forward mechanisms inducing cyclisation. In both cases, altered transcription appears to be the progenitor, with subsequent post-transcriptional modulation highlighting the complexity of the processes involved in modulating carotenoid homeostasis in plant tissues.
Radiographic features of pelvis and hip joint development of English Bulldogs

Summary Objectives: To evaluate distinctive features of pelvis and hip joint development of English Bulldogs throughout the first year of life. Methods: The pelves of 20 English Bulldogs were radiographed at three different ages (<4, 6–8, and 12–14 months). At each time point, the dogs were clinically evaluated and the abnormal hip joints were classified as mild, moderate, or severely deformed. The pelves were compared to a phantom study in which external rotation of a normal hemipelvis around its long axis was artificially created at different degrees, with different pelvic inclinations, and classified as either normal and without deformity, or as mild, moderate, or severely deformed. Hip joints and pelvic scores were statistically compared. Results: Although none of the dogs were considered lame at the end of the study, none of the hips showed normal development; 77.5% were moderately to severely deformed at 12–14 months of age. At this age, 75% of the hemipelves had moderate to severe torsional deformity (>5.2° of external rotation), with retroversion of the acetabulum confirmed by the presence of the crossover sign. An external rotation of the hemipelvis on its long axis >5° was likely associated with a moderate to severely altered hip joint conformation. Clinical Significance: Abnormal hip conformation was common in this series of English Bulldogs. Torsional deformity of the pelves with acetabular retroversion was a common and distinctive feature, which has not yet been thoroughly studied in dogs. These findings need further evaluation in English Bulldogs as well as in other breeds.