Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on gut microbiota and endotoxin levels in portal vein of rats fed with high-fat diet].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) on gut microbiota and endotoxin levels in portal vein of rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and fed with normal control diet (CD), HFD, CD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, and HFD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, respectively. Fresh fecal samples were collected to analyze the gut microbiota 10 weeks after feeding. DNA was exacted from the fresh fecal samples. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the composition of the gut microbiota. The endotoxin levels were detected through modified azo chromogenic substrate limulus amebocyte lysate assay. RESULTS The differences in body weight before breeding in each group were not statistically significant among these four groups (P=0.613). The increase in the body weight was significantly larger in the HFD group than in the CD group (P=0.0002), CD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.0001), and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.022). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.002) and enterobacteriales (P=0.022) and significantly less bacteroidetes (P=0.026) and bifidobactera (P=0.034) in the gut of rats from HFD group than those from the CD group. There were significantly more bacteroidetes in the fecal samples of the rats from the CD+n-3PUFAs group compared to those from the CD group (P=0.043). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.044)and enterobacteriales (P=0.012) and less bacteroidetes (P=0.042) in the fecal samples of the rats from HFD group compared to those from the HFD+n-3PUFAs group. The endotoxin in plasma form portal vein of rats in HFD group were significantly higher than in CD group (P=0.007) and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.042) but showed no significant difference between CD+n-3PUFAs and CD group (P=0.210). CONCLUSIONS HFD can increase body weight and change gut microbiota. Supplementation of n-3PUFAs can partially counteract such gut dysbiosis, lower endotoxin level in portal vein blood, and improve the body weight.
Re-embodying Eating : Patients ’ Experiences 5 Years After Bariatric Surgery

Health experts advise and expect patients to eat healthily after bariatric surgery. For patients, difficulties with eating might have been a long-standing, problematic part of life—a part that is not necessarily healed by surgery. Empirical research on patients’ experiences of eating practices after bariatric surgery is lacking. Aiming to contribute to the development of clinical practice, we explored meanings attached to eating in the long term and sought descriptions of change and bodily sensations. We interviewed 14 patients at least 5 years after bariatric surgery. The surgical restriction forced changes in the way patients sensed their own body in eating, but the uncertainty related to maintaining weight loss in the long term remained. Meanings attached to eating transcended food as choices situated in a nourishment and health perspective, and were not necessarily changed. Eating was an existential and embodied practice, which remained an ambiguous and sensitive matter after surgery.
Unified description of ground and excited states of finite systems: The self-consistent GW approach

GW calculations with a fully self-consistent Green’s function G and screened interaction W —based on the iterative solution of the Dyson equation—provide a consistent framework for the description of groundand excited-state properties of interacting many-body systems. We show that for closed-shell systems selfconsistent GW reaches the same final Green’s function regardless of the initial reference state. Self-consistency systematically improves ionization energies and total energies of closed-shell systems compared to G0W0 based on Hartree-Fock and (semi)local density-functional theory. These improvements also translate to the electron density, as exemplified by an improved description of dipole moments, and permit us to assess the quality of ground-state properties such as bond lengths and vibrational frequencies.
The 'Privacy Paradox' in the Social Web: The Impact of Privacy Concerns, Individual Characteristics, and the Perceived Social Relevance on Different Forms of Self-Disclosure1

Given the diffusion of the Social Web and increased disclosure of personal information online, the 'privacy paradox' suggests that while Internet users are concerned about privacy, their behaviors do not mirror those concerns. This study investigates the potential influence of privacy concerns, psychological traits, attitudes to the Social Web and age on self-disclosure. Using an online survey of a representative sample of German Internet users n=2, 739, the variety and quality of self-disclosure as well as access were measured. The findings indicate that privacy concerns hardly impact self-disclosure, but different variables moderate this relation. Perceived social relevance and the number of applications used proved important. Users' general willingness to disclose is most important when providing sensitive information.
The treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma. Results from a 10-year experience (1990-1999) at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

OBJECTIVE Uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are rare tumors with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to review the presentation, therapy and outcome of patients with leiomyosarcoma originating from the uterus treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1990 to 1999. METHODS A retrospective chart review was done to patients treated for uterine leiomyosarcoma during the study period. One author reviewed all available histologic specimens. Statistical analysis was done to determine whether there is an association between histologic criteria or therapy used and overall survival. RESULTS Forty-seven charts were reviewed to identify 27 patients with leiomyosarcoma arising from the uterus treated in the decade from 1990 to 1999. Most patients received multimodality therapy with surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Patients who had no visible disease at the conclusion of primary surgery had a better overall survival than patients who did not achieve surgical remission (P < 0.0003). There is a trend toward improved survival in patients with lower number of mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields (P = 0. 062). Current chemotherapy drugs were minimally effective with 80% of treated patients having progression of disease. Adjuvant therapy after optimal cytoreduction does not decrease the rate of recurrence. CONCLUSION Uterine leiomyosarcoma continues to be a deadly disease. Aggressive surgical cytoreduction at the time of initial diagnosis offers the possibility of prolonged survival or cure.
Predicting Undergraduate Students' Acceptance of Second Life for Teaching Chemistry

This study used the technology acceptance model to explore undergraduate students’ perceptions of the virtual world of Second Life (SL) and their intention to use it to learn a chemistry concept. A total of 136 undergraduate students participated in the study by completing a learning task in SL and a self-report measure consisting of 6 variables: perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, facilitating conditions, attitude, and intention to use. Structural equation modeling was used to test the technology acceptance model. Results supported 6 of the 7 hypothesized relationships. Most notably, perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness, and attitude towards use predicted students’ intention to use. Moreover, perceived ease of use did not influence students’ attitude to use the technology. These findings suggest that even if students find SL difficult to use, its educational value and usefulness can overcome its difficulty in motivating them to use it.
MP2RAGE for deep gray matter measurement of the brain: A comparative study with MPRAGE

To compare magnetization‐prepared two rapid acquisition gradient echoes (MP2RAGE) imaging with conventional MPRAGE imaging for deep gray matter (GM) segmentation, reproducibility, contrast ratio (CR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), and to evaluate reproducibility of T1 maps derived from MP2RAGE.
Spatial Distribution of Helicobacter spp. in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Dogs

Background: In dogs, the gastric Helicobacter spp. have been well studied, but there is little information regarding the other parts of the alimentary system. We sought to determine the spatial distribution of Helicobacter spp. in the gastrointestinal tract and the hepatobiliary system of dogs using culture‐independent methods.
Role of Psychosocial Variables on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting and Health-Related Quality of Life among Cancer Patients: A European Study

Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) continue to be a distressing problem still reported by cancer patients, with negative consequences on quality of life (QoL). Aims: To prospectively explore the association of psychosocial variables, including emotional distress, maladaptive coping styles and the doctor-patient relationship, with CINV and QoL among cancer outpatients. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 302 consecutive cancer patients (response rate 80.9%) in Austria, Italy and Spain. The Distress Thermometer (DT), the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC), and the Patient Satisfaction with Doctor Questionnaire (PSQ) were used to assess psychosocial variables before chemotherapy. In the 5 days after chemotherapy, CINV was examined by using a daily diary, and the Functional Living Index for Emesis (FLIE) was used to assess QoL. Results: More than half of the patients reported nausea (54%), and a small percentage reported vomiting (14%). CINV had a negative impact on QoL (FLIE caseness, p < 0.01). Maladaptive coping (i.e. hopelessness-helplessness and anxious preoccupation) and emotional distress were associated with CINV (p < 0.05) and poorer QoL (p < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, nausea was predicted by Mini-MAC/H (OR = 1.1, p = 0.03) and younger age (OR = 0.97, p = 0.04); negative impact on QoL was predicted by grade of chemotherapy emetogenesis (OR = 1.7, p < 0.01) and Mini-MAC/H (OR = 1.2, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Screening and assessment of psychological variables, especially coping, could help in identifying cancer patients at risk for chemotherapy-induced nausea, in spite of the use of antiemetic treatment.
High-level triclosan resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is solely a result of efflux.

BACKGROUND Pseudomonas aeruginosa is intrinsically resistant to high levels of triclosan. METHODS Using the agar incorporation method and defined mutant strains, the contribution of multidrug efflux pumps to high-level (>1,000 microg/mL) triclosan resistance in P aeruginosa was assessed. RESULTS The results showed that the ability of P aeruginosa to survive in the presence of triclosan concentrations in excess of 1,000 microg/mL is solely attributable to the expression of efflux pumps.
Nonoutbreak Surveillance of Group A Streptococci Causing Invasive Disease in Portugal Identified Internationally Disseminated Clones among Members of a Genetically Heterogeneous Population

ABSTRACT The typing of 160 invasive Streptococcus pyogenes isolates confirmed the importance of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing for defining clones. The results identified an extremely diverse population and highlighted the importance of both internationally disseminated and local clones not previously associated with invasive disease.
Motion of large bubbles in curved channels

We study the motion of large bubbles in curved channels both semi-analytically using the lubrication approximation and computationally using a finite-volume/front-tracking method. The steady film thickness is governed by the classical Landau–Levich–Derjaguin–Bretherton (LLDB) equation in the low-capillary-number limit but with the boundary conditions modified to account for the channel curvature. The lubrication results show that the film is thinner on the inside of a bend than on the outside of a bend. They also indicate that the bubble velocity relative to the average liquid velocity is always larger in a curved channel than that in a corresponding straight channel and increases monotonically with increasing channel curvature. Numerical computations are performed for two-dimensional cases and the computational results are found to be in a good agreement with the lubrication theory for small capillary numbers and small or moderate channel curvatures. For moderate capillary numbers the numerical results for the film thickness, when rescaled to account for channel curvature as suggested in the lubrication calculation, essentially collapse onto the corresponding results for a bubble in a straight tube. The lubrication theory is also extended to the motion of large bubbles in a curved channel of circular cross-section.
Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil

Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil. Defense behavior of the endemic tropidurid lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae was studied in an area of rocky outcrops at Serra do Cipo, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Tail loss aspects of this species were also studied in lizards from three populations (Diamantina, Serra do Cipo, and Serro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Lizards relied primarily on crypsis to avoid detection by predators. Secondary defense strategies involved a complex set of behaviors. Mean maximum distance of flight was 1.68 ± 1.70 m. When captured, individuals attempted to flee, lifted the tail, produced distress calls, discharged the cloacal contents, waived their tails, and bit. Frequency of tail autotomy was 13.2% (n = 53) in Diamantina, 11.9% (n = 42) in Serra do Cipo, and 4.1% (n = 49) in Serro. Tail autotomy frequency did not differ among the three populations (X 2 = 3.3, DF = 2, p = 0.19). Tail autotomy did not vary between the years of the study (X 2 = 1.32, p= 0.35) and did not differ between males and females among the studied populations.
Gene Transfer to Intact Mesenteric Arteries by Electroporation

The purpose of the present study was to develop a rapid, reproducible method of nonviral gene transfer to the intact vasculature. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, a midline abdominal incision was made and segmental branches of the superior mesenteric artery were dissected free of surrounding mesentery. A specially designed electroporation probe was placed around the neurovascular bundle and the electroporation chamber filled with a solution containing the firefly luciferase expressing plasmid (pCMV-Lux-DTS) or the green fluorescent protein expressing plasmid (pEGFP-N1). Vessels were electroporated with eight 10-ms pulses of 200 V/cm. Sixty seconds after electroporation, the DNA solution was removed, the intestine returned to the abdomen and the abdominal wall closed with suture and metal wound clips. Six hours to 5 days later, rats were sacrificed and electroporated vessels were recovered. Luciferase activity of the blood vessels was monitored. Gene expression was detected as early as 6 h postelectroporation, peaked at 1–3 days with levels up to 1 ng of reporter gene product per vessel segment and returned towards baseline by day 5. Histological analysis of blood vessel segments revealed green fluorescent protein-positive cells throughout the thickness of the vessel wall (endothelial cells to adventitia). Responses of electroporated vessels to vasoconstricting stimuli were indistinguishable from those of control vessels at either 2 or 40 days posttreatment. The results of this study provide evidence that electroporation is an effective means for introducing naked DNA into the blood vessel wall and form the basis for future studies on targeted gene therapy to the intact vasculature.
Maintenance of cell integrity in the gas1 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the Chs3p‐targeting and activation pathway and involves an unusual Chs3p localization

Chitin synthase III is essential for the increase in chitin level and for cell integrity in cells lacking Gas1p, a β(1,3)‐glucanosyltransferase. In order to discover whether the upregulation of chitin synthesis proceeds through the canonical transport and activation pathway of Chs3p or through an alternative one, here we studied the effects of the inactivation of the GAS1 and CHS4‐5‐6‐7 genes. All the double‐null mutants showed a temperature‐sensitive cell lysis phenotype that could be suppressed by the presence of an osmotic stabilizer. In liquid YEPD at 30 °C, chs4Δ gas1Δ, chs5Δ gas1Δ, chs6Δgas1Δ and chs7Δgas1Δ mutants were unable to grow, whereas they grew very slowly in minimal medium and showed low viability. High osmolarity suppressed the defective phenotype and restored growth. In chs4 gas1, chs5 gas1 and chs7 gas1, chitin levels did not increase and were reduced to only 10%, while in chs6 gas1 the value of gas1 was reduced to 20–40%. To investigate at which level the upregulation of chitin synthesis could occur, mRNA levels were monitored. The expression of CHS4‐5‐6‐7 did not change significantly in gas1Δ. In strains expressing HA‐tagged forms, the localization of Chs3p and Chs5p was examined. In the gas1 mutant the fluorescence pattern was affected and the proteins appeared abnormally present in the bud. The results indicate that: (a) the function of the CHS4–7 genes is required for chitin hyperaccumulation in gas1 mutant and for cell integrity; (b) homologous genes do not replace their function; (c) the regulation of CHS4–7 genes does not occur at transcriptional level. Control of the position of chitin synthesis could be important in protecting the bud from lysis. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An inverse problem solution for measuring the elastic modulus of intact ex vivo breast tissue tumours

Soft tissue elasticity has been a subject of interest in biomedical applications as an aid to medical diagnosis since the dawn of medicine. More recently, this has led to the concept of elastography with the aim of imaging the spatial distribution of tissue elasticity. Interpreting elastography images requires reliable information pertaining to elastic properties of normal and pathological tissues. Such information is either very limited or not available in the literature. Elastic modulus measurement techniques developed for soft tissues generally require tissue excision to prepare samples for testing. While this may be done with normal tissues, tumour tissue excision is generally not permissible because tumour pathological assessment requires that the tumour be kept intact. To address this limitation, we developed a system to measure the Young's modulus of tumour specimens. The technique consists of indenting the tumour specimen while measuring indentation force and displacements. To obtain the Young's modulus from the measured force–displacement slope, we developed an iterative inversion technique that uses a finite element model of the piecewise homogeneous tissue slice in each iteration. Preliminary elasticity measurement results of various breast tumours are presented and discussed. These results indicate that the proposed method is robust and highly accurate. Furthermore, they indicate that a benign lesion and malignant tumours are roughly five times and ten times stiffer than normal breast tissues respectively. For more information on this article, see medicalphysicsweb.org
Effects of monensin fed to replacement dairy heifers during the growing and gestation period upon growth, reproduction, and subsequent lactation.

Sixty Holstein heifers initially weighing 196 kg were assigned by weight to treatments of 0, 200, and 600 mg of monensin. These treatments were fed daily until calving to determine effects of monensin on growth rate, feed consumption, feed efficiency, reproductive performance, and subsequent lactation. Throughout the feeding period the control (0 mg) heifers received sufficient feed to allow a calculated growth rate of . 68 kg/day. Monensin treatment groups were fed the same amount of the identical ration over the 448-day experiment. Daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency for the 0, 200, and 600 mg treatments were . 60, . 69, . 69 kg, 7.47, 7.46, 7.43 kg, and 12.41, 10.81, 10.81. Although days on trial to first estrus were not different among treatment groups, heifers fed monensin at 200 and 600 mg/day conceived 38 and 34 days sooner than 0 mg heifers. Percent conception, number of calves born, calf birth weight, and calving difficulty were not affected by treatment. Milk production was measured for 120 days subsequent to the experimental feeding of monensin. During this period heifers were fed a common ration ad libitum. Milk production of 17.1, 16.9, and 17.0 kg/day for 0, 200, and 600 mg was not affected by prior treatment.
Apolipoprotein E and Dementia in Parkinson Disease

Data Synthesis:Data analyses suggest publication bias and heterogeneity of source data for the e4 allele (homogeneity P=.2; Begg and Mazumdar, P=.06; and Egger et al, P=.1). The estimated odds ratios for development of dementia in PD are 1.6 for e4 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.5); 1.3 for e2 (95% confidence interval, 0.73-2.4);and0.54for e3(95%confidenceinterval,0.181.6). Theoddsratioestimatesfor e4werehigherforstudies published in 1996 or later (2.3 vs 1.0) and for studies conducted outside North American sites (2.4 vs 1.2). Conclusions: The APOE e4 allele appears to be associated with a higher prevalence of dementia in PD. Publication bias and heterogeneous source data may, however,confoundthisconclusion.Confirmatorystudiesthat use standardized and validated diagnostic criteria for dementia in PD are needed.
A Therapeutic Approach to Treating the Eating Disorder/Borderline Personality Disorder Patient

The treatment of eating disorder patients is renowned for its challenges, complexities, and inherent risks. When eating disorder patients also exhibit concomitant personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, treatment may become extraordinarily difficult. Though the exact prevalence of this subgroup of patients is not explicitly known, current data suggests that patients with eating disorders and borderline personality disorder represent a significant subgroup of the general eating disorder population. Clearly, given the relative prevalence of this group of patients, and the somewhat limited available information to address the particular needs of this subgroup, further clinical exploration needs to be encouraged. This paper outlines the relevant characteristics of these patients that may be targets for initial treatment and suggests a multi-phase conceptual format for working with them.
Takayasu's Arteritis: A Hospital-Region Based Study on Occurrence, Treatment and Prognosis

Occurrence of Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is described in this work in a defined area of Sweden, namely the Uppsala Hospital region (1.3 million inhabitants). During the eight year period 1969-1976 there were 15 cases of TA discharged from the hospitals in this region. The estimated yearly prevalence was 0.64 per 100,000 inhabitants. All subjects underwent angiography of the aorta and the main vessels. The authors point to the necessity of performing a total aortography. The most common lesions in this study were confined to the subclavian arteries in contrast to the commonly reported lesions of the aortic arch. Six of the fifteen subjects died during the study period. Those who died more often had hyper tension hypercholesterolemia and were smokers to a greater extent than those who survived. Treatment with corticosteroids and azathioprin seemed to im prove the prognosis. At present a total aortography and/or biopsy of the vessel at autopsy or operation is the most accurate way of establishing the diagnosis.