Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological alterations in mouse testis by a single dose of malathion.

Malathion((R)) is a widely used organophosphorate agropesticide. In spite of its low toxicity for mammalian cells, it provokes cytogenetic and genotoxic damage both in vivo and in vitro. The effect of Malathion was analyzed in CF-1 young adult male mice. Commercial Malathion (96.6% purity) was injected intraperitoneally in a single dose (250 mg/kg body weight corresponding to 1/12 LD50). Four, 14, 18, and 26 days after injection animals were sacrificed to study epididymal sperm (count and morphology), testicular histology (percentage of depleted seminiferous tubules), and ultrastructural alterations in the germinal epithelium. The effect of Malathion on different germinal cell populations was studied. Teratozoospermia was induced by Malathion at all times studied. Spermatozoa midpiece and flagella were the most affected and at day 18 we observed less alterations of the head. The sperm count at different time intervals was significatively increased compared to controls and there was a parallel increase in depletion of the seminiferous tubules. In conclusion, all germinal cell populations studied were affected by Malathion. Malathion has a teratogenic effect on mice spermatid differentiation, which compromises mostly the flagella, perhaps due to an alkylating effect that disturbs the normal assembling of tail structural protein components. Apparently, the pachytene spermatocyte stage may be relatively more resistant to the pesticide. The Sertoli cells were affected by the insecticide and their damage at an ultrastructural level is highly significant. Cytoplasmatic vacuolization probably revealed metabolic alteration of these cells.
Risk of new vertebral fractures in patients with adrenal incidentaloma with and without subclinical hypercortisolism: A multicenter longitudinal study

In patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AIs), cross‐sectional studies suggested the presence of an association between subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) and an increased prevalence of vertebral fractures (VFx) and spinal deformity index (SDI), which is a clinical index of bone quality. No longitudinal studies investigated the incidence of VFx and SDI changes over time in SH. The aim of this study was to evaluate VFx risk and SDI changes in SH over time. One‐hundred‐three consecutive AI patients were studied at baseline and after 12 and 24 months. Patients were divided into SH+ (n = 27) and SH– (n = 76) groups on the basis of the presence of two or more among urinary free cortisol greater than 70 µg/24 hours, serum cortisol after 1‐mg dexamethasone suppression test greater than 3.0 µg/dL, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) less than 10 pg/mL in 2 or more of the 3 evaluations. At baseline and after 24 months, bone mineral density (BMD) by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and the presence of VFx and SDI by summing the grade of deformity for each vertebra were evaluated. At the end of follow‐up, the SH+ group showed a higher prevalence of VFx (81.5%) as compared with baseline (55.6%, p = .04) and a worsening of SDI (2.11 ± 1.85 versus 1.11 ± 1.47, p = .032) associated with SH regardless of age, gender, body mass index , BMD, baseline SDI, menopause duration [odds ratio (OR) = 12.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.1–36.5, p = . 001]. The incidence of new vertebral fractures was higher in the SH+ group (48%) than in the SH– group (13%; p = .001). It is concluded that subclinical hypercortisolism is associated with an increased risk of VFx and a possible deterioration of bone quality. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
P-[N-(Diphenylphosphorothioyl)isopropylamino]-N-isopropyl-P-phenylthiophosphinic amide

The title compound, C24H30N2P2S2, was obtained by the reaction of Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)H with elemental sulfur in tetrahydrofuran. In the solid state, intramolecular N—H⋯S hydrogen bonding influences the molecular conformation; a P—N—P—N torsion angle of 2.28 (9)° is observed. The two phenyl rings attached to one P atom form a dihedral angle of 74.02 (4)°.
Cognitive Impairment in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Very Mild Clinical Disability

Cognitive dysfunction affects 40–65% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and can occur in the early stages of the disease. This study aimed to explore cognitive functions by means of the Italian version of the minimal assessment of cognitive function in MS (MACFIMS) in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients with very mild clinical disability to identify the primarily involved cognitive functions. Ninety-two consecutive RRMS patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores ≤ 2.5 and forty-two healthy controls (HC) were investigated. Our results show that 51.1% of MS patients have cognitive dysfunction compared to HC. An impairment of verbal and visual memory, working memory, and executive functions was found in the RRMS group. After subgrouping RRMS by EDSS, group 1 (EDSS ≤ 1.5) showed involvement of verbal memory and executive functions; moreover, group 2 (2 ≤ EDSS ≤ 2.5) patients were also impaired in information processing speed and visual memory. Our results show that utilizing a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, approximately half of MS patients with very mild physical disability exhibit cognitive impairment with a primary involvement of prefrontal cognitive functions. Detecting impairment of executive functions at an early clinical stage of disease could be useful to promptly enroll MS patients in targeted rehabilitation.
Chronic methylphenidate treatment enhances striatal dopamine neurotransmission after experimental traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in functional deficits that often are effectively treated clinically with the neurostimulant, methylphenidate (MPH). We hypothesized that daily MPH administration would reverse striatal neurotransmission deficits observed in the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI. CCI or naïve rats received daily injections of MPH (5 mg/kg) or saline for 14 days and were assessed on day 15 using fast scan cyclic voltammetry. Dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) localization, DA‐related proteins, and transcription factor (c‐fos) expression were also assessed. CCI resulted in reduced electrically evoked overflow of DA and maximal velocity of DA clearance (Vmax). In contrast, CCI was associated with a decrease in the apparent KM of DAT. Daily dose of MPH after CCI resulted in robust increases in evoked DA overflow and Vmax as well as increased apparent KM. Reductions in total striatal DAT expression occurred after CCI and were not further affected by MPH. In contrast, membrane‐bound striatal DAT levels were increased in both CCI groups. MPH post‐CCI significantly increased striatal c‐fos levels compared with saline. These results support the hypothesis that daily MPH improves striatal DA neurotransmission after CCI. DAT expression and transcriptional changes affecting DA protein function may underlie the injury and MPH‐induced alterations in neurotransmission observed.
Human papillomavirus type‐specific persistence and recurrence after treatment for cervical dysplasia

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary factor in the cervical cancer development. Also after treatment for cervical dysplasia, HPV can be present and promote the recurrence of cervical disease. In the present study, the aim was to perform a long‐term follow‐up on the ability of HPV testing with genotyping, as compared with cytology, to predict recurrence of high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) conization. Cervical samples for HPV DNA testing and cytological analysis were obtained from 178 women with abnormal smears referred for treatment with LEEP conization. These women were scheduled for HPV DNA testing and Pap smears before and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after treatment. Three years after treatment 3.1% (N = 4) of women were still persistently HPV‐positive with the same type as had been detected at treatment. Recurrent or residual cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II+ in histopathology was found among 9 (5.1%) women during follow‐up. All of these women had type‐specific HPV‐persistence (sensitivity 100% [95% CI 63–100%] and specificity 94.7% [89.8–97.4%]), but only 7/9 had abnormal cytology (sensitivity 77.8% [40.2–96.1%] and specificity 94.7% [89.8–97.4%]). No recurrent or residual disease was found among women with any other patterns of HPV positivity (e.g., type change or fluctuating positivity) (sensitivity 0% [95% CI 0–37.1%] and specificity 80.5% [73.5–86.0%]). In conclusion, only type‐specific HPV persistence predicted recurrent or residual disease, and HPV genotyping appears useful to improve the specificity when using HPV testing in post‐treatment follow‐up. J. Med. Virol. 86:634–641, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Re-visioning the evolutionary tree: A map-based visualization for communicating evolution

This paper describes a study that mobilizes digital media to address some of the limitations of the traditional “tree of life” as a visual metaphor for evolution. Visual metaphors play a powerful role in science communication, particularly when scientific concepts are conceptually challenging. By “translating” formal scientific models into metaphoric language and imagery, technical communicators can facilitate the diffusion of scientific ideas into broader society. In this study, cognitive learning theory provided a framework to examine the conceptual affordances of tree-based visualizations, identify areas of metaphoric limitation, and organize a new map-based visual metaphor to address these limitations. Next, the map metaphor was used to guide the construction of an interactive Web-based visualization called a “dynamic evolutionary map. ” Nineteen biology novices then used the visualization to answer questions about evolution. The study results suggest that this visualization communicates some conceptual affordances differently than tree visualizations, thus providing preliminary empirical support to theoretical predictions. Finally, results are used to support suggestions for future development of similar visualizations.
Understanding the impact of conflict on health services in Iraq: information from 401 Iraqi refugee doctors in Jordan.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess how conflict has affected the function of Iraqi health services and its doctors. METHODS Interviews were conducted in person or by mobile phone with 401 Iraqi doctors entering Jordan since 2003, using respondent-driven sampling methods. RESULTS Of the Iraqi doctors interviewed in 2008, 94% came from Baghdad, although 25% had moved within Iraq in the past year. They reported a steady year-by-year decline in Iraqi health services from 2003 through 2006, with perhaps some improvement in 2007. By 2006, 67% of doctors said essential drugs were present less than half of the time (95% confidence interval [CI] 54-81), and 69% (95% CI 56-84) said essential equipment was available or working half the time or less. By 2006, 95% said their facilities lacked skilled health workers, and 90% noted reduced quality of care. Violent death rates among doctors in Baghdad reached 47.6/1000/yr (95% CI 42.0-53.7) in 2006. In the same year, migration rates for Baghdad doctors moving elsewhere in Iraq were 143.8/1000/yr (95% CI 134.0-154.1), and departure from Iraq was 299.5/1000/yr (95% CI 285.3-314.3). CONCLUSIONS Deterioration of health services quality, staffing levels and violence against doctors continued from 2003 through 2006, although these may have improved slightly in 2007. In 2009 and 2010, reports suggest that assassinations of doctors and out-migration have continued. Few have returned.
Prospective Memory in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Study

Prospective memory (PM) performance was investigated in a preliminary study of children and adolescents ages 10-19 in 3 groups: individuals with orthopedic injuries (not involving the head) requiring hospitalization (Ortho, N = 15), mild traumatic brain injury (TBI, N = 17), and severe TBI (N = 15). All participants with TBI were at least 5 years postinjury and participants in the Ortho group were at least 3 years postinjury. The PM task involved reporting words presented in blue during a category decision task in which words were presented in several different colors and participants were to determine which of two categories the word belonged. Participants were asked to make their choices as quickly as possible. After a 10- to 15-min intervening computer task in which all words were presented in black letters, a large proportion of participants with mild or severe TBI failed to indicate any blue words when they appeared. After a reminder to perform the PM task was given to all at the same point in the task, PM performance increased in the Ortho and Mild TBI groups, but remained comparably impaired in the Severe TBI group. Reaction time (RT) data indicated that mean RT was slower with increasing TBI severity. Further, there was a significant cost in RT for performing the PM task during the ongoing category decision task for all groups. The cost in terms of slowed RT increased with greater TBI severity.
Influence of selected carbohydrate drinks on cycling performance and glycogen use.

Eight well-trained male cyclists were used to determine the influence of carbohydrate feedings on exercise performance and muscle glycogen use. Two days prior to each trial, the subjects performed a 60-min "depletion ride" at 70% VO2max, which was followed by the ingestion of a high carbohydrate diet (approximately 500 g X -1). During the experimental trials, the men performed 2 h of cycling exercise and consumed 150 ml of 1 of 4 solutions at 24-min intervals. The drinks were: H2O (artificially flavored and sweetened); maltodextrin (5 g X 100 ml-1) and fructose (5 g X 100 ml-1); maltodextrin (7.7 g X 100 ml-1) and high fructose corn syrup (2.3 g X 100 ml-1); maltodextrin (3 g X 100 ml-1 and glucose (2 g X 100 ml-1). The amount of work completed during the four trials was not significantly different. Initial glycogen levels were high, and glycogen values were not significantly different at the beginning of exercise or at 90 min (185.35 +/- 3.26 and 91.93 +/- 3.39, respectively). Blood glucose was greater at 60 min in trial maltodextrin and glucose (5.70 +/- 0.36 mmoles X l-1), maltodextrin and high fructose corn syrup (6.05 +/- 0.54), and maltodextrin and fructose (6.03 +/- 0.42) compared to H2O (4.97 +/- 0.35) (P less than 0.05). Blood glucose remained elevated at 90 min during the maltodextrin and fructose and maltodextrin and high fructose corn syrup trials and at 120 min in the maltodextrin and fructose trial. No differences were observed between trials in blood lactate, serum glycerol, respiratory exchange ratio, or the subjects' perception of effort. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Molecular genetic aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster.

The molecular analyses of three of the regulatory genes (transformer (tra), doublesex (dsx), and transformer-2 (tra-2)) controlling sexual differentiation in Drosophila have demonstrated that the control of RNA processing has a major role in regulating somatic sexual differentiation. The activities of both the tra and dsx genes are controlled at the level of RNA processing. In the case of tra the use of different splice acceptor sites results in a functional transcript being produced only in females, whereas at dsx the use of different splice acceptor sites in the two sexes results in the production of transcripts that encode different proteins in males and females. The tra-2 gene has been shown to be necessary for the processing of the dsx pre-mRNA in females and the conceptual translation of a tra-2 cDNA shows that it encodes a protein with similarity to a family of RNA-binding proteins which includes known splicesome components. We previously suggested that the pattern of sexual differentiation and dosage compensation characteristic of a male was a default regulatory state. The findings reviewed here provide a molecular basis for this default expression in males as well as an insight into how females differ from males in control of the expression of these genes. For both the tra and dsx genes the molecular basis of their male (default) state of expression appears to be the processing of their transcripts by the housekeeping RNA splicing machinery. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Differences in seasonal expression of flowering genes between deciduous trifoliate orange and evergreen Satsuma mandarin.

To determine differences in seasonal flowering between evergreen and deciduous woody perennials, endogenous expression of flowering-related genes was investigated in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) and its close relative, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. ), which are evergreen and deciduous, respectively, and show different seasonal flowering characteristics. In Satsuma mandarin, in which floral induction is triggered by low temperatures during fall and winter, mRNA levels of the citrus FLOWERING LOCUS T homologue CiFT increased during fall and winter, corresponding to the floral induction period, and mRNA levels of citrus LEAFY and SEPALLATA homologues (CsLFY and CuSEP) increased during early spring just before blooming. Citrus APETALA1 and FRUITFULL homologues (CsAP1 and CuFUL) did not show a significant association with seasonal flowering. In trifoliate orange, in which floral induction and flower bud development occur during early summer as in many deciduous trees, expression of CiFT, CsLFY, CsAP1, CuSEPs and CuFUL increased during early summer, corresponding to the period of floral induction and flower bud development. The CuSEPs expression peaked again during early spring just before blooming. In both species, the citrus TERMINAL FLOWER1 homologue (CsTFL), which acts as a floral repressor, showed low transcript levels during the period of floral induction and flower bud development. Thus, despite the difference in flowering season, in both species transcriptional changes in CiFT, CsLFY, CsTFL and CuSEPs were correlated with seasonal flowering. In contrast, the correspondence between CsAP1 and CuFUL expression and seasonal flowering differed between the species.
Eosinophilic Globules in 3 Cases of Glomeruloid Hemangioma of the Head and Neck: A Characteristic Offering More Evidence for Thanatosomes With or Without POEMS

Glomeruloid hemangiomas (GHs) are glomeruli-like capillary tufts lined by endothelial cells that contain periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive eosinophilic globules (EGs). These hemangiomas are characteristic cutaneous manifestation of POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M-protein, and Skin changes). Hemangiomas histologically identical to GHs but not associated with POEMS have recently been designated as papillary hemangiomas. In this report, we present solitary head and neck GHs in 3 patients, 2 without POEMS, with particular attention to the characteristic EGs. We performed immunostains for hemoglobin A, kappa and lambda light chains, factor VIII-related antigen, CD31 and CD34, PAS stain after diastase digestion (PASD), and electron microscopic examinations on routinely fixed tissues containing EGs. Eosinophilic globules stained uniformly positive for PASD but only peripherally positive for hemoglobin and light chains on surfaces, with interiors negative for antigens. Factor VIII-related antigen and CD31 and CD34 confirmed cells containing EGs to be endothelial. Electron microscopic examination suggested that EGs are enlarged secondary lysosomes (thanatosomes). These features fail to support red blood cells or immunoglobulins as EG constituents. Glomeruloid hemangiomas may be vascular proliferations stimulated by endothelial cells' protein phagocytosis but not by phagocytosis of either hemoglobin-containing red blood cells or immunoglobulins. The vascular lesions in POEMS syndrome appear identical to papillary hemangioma in cases without the other syndromic manifestations.
Proteomic analysis of Escherichia coli biofilms reveals the overexpression of the outer membrane protein OmpA

Bacterial colonisation and biofilm formation on the surface of urinary catheters is a common cause of nosocomial infection, and as such is a major impediment to their long‐term use. Understanding the mechanisms of biofilm formation on urinary catheters is critical to their control and will aid the future development of materials used in their manufacture. In this report we have used proteomic analysis coupled with immunoassays to show that the major outer membrane protein (OmpA) of Escherichia coli is overexpressed during biofilm formation. A series of synthetic hydrogels being developed for potential use as catheter coatings were used as the substrata and OmpA expression was increased in biofilms on all these surfaces, as well as being a feature of both a laboratory and a clinical strain of E. coli. Up‐regulation of OmpA may, therefore, be a common feature of E. coli biofilms. These findings present OmpA as a potential target for biofilm inhibition and may contribute to the rational design of biofilm inhibiting hydrogel coatings for urinary catheters.
The effects of silver content and solidification profile on the Anand constitutive model for SAC lead free solders

In the electronic packaging industry, it is important to be able to make accurate predictions of board level solder joint reliability during thermal cycling exposures. The Anand viscoelastic constitutive model is often used to represent the material behavior of the solder in finite element simulations. This model is defined using nine material parameters, and the reliability prediction results are often highly sensitive to the Anand parameters. In this work, an investigation on the Anand constitutive model and its application to SAC solders of various Ag contents (i.e. SACN05, with N = 1, 2, 3, 4) has been performed. For each alloy, both water quenched (WQ) and reflowed (RF) solidification profiles were utilized to establish two unique specimen microstructures, and the same reflow profile was used for all four of the SAC alloys so that the results could be compared and the effects of Ag content could be studied systematically. The nine Anand parameters were determined for each unique solder alloy and microstructure from a set of stress-strain tests performed at several strain rates and temperatures. Testing conditions included strain rates of 0.001, 0.0001, and 0.00001 (sec-1), and temperatures of 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 C. The Anand parameters were calculated from each set of stress-strain data using an established procedure that is described in detail in the paper. Using the calculated results for the various SAC alloys and microstructures, a set of empirical models have been established to describe the effects of SAC alloy Ag content on the Anand model parameters. As expected, the mechanical properties (modulus and strength) increase with the percentage of Ag content, and these changes strongly affect the Anand parameters. The sensitivity of the mechanical properties and Anand parameters to silver content is higher at lower silver percentages (1-2%). Also, the observed mechanical properties of water quenched samples were better (higher in magnitude) than the corresponding mechanical properties of the reflowed samples. Although the differences in elastic modulus between the water quenched and reflowed samples are small, significant differences are present for the yield and ultimate tensile stresses of all four SAC alloys. After deriving the Anand parameters for each alloy, the stress-strain curves have been calculated for various conditions, and excellent agreement was found between the predicted results and experimental stress-strain curves.