Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of cleaning, milling, and baking on deoxynivalenol in wheat

Samples of wheat naturally infected by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe were obtained from mills in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Minnesota and fields in Nebraska and Kansas in 1982; they were analyzed for deoxynivalenol (DON). The wheat was milled, and DON was found throughout all the milling fractions (bran, shorts, reduction flour, and break flour). The DON recoveries for each mill run ranged from 90 to 98%. These samples, regardless of DON concentration, also gave similar fractional distributions of DON. The greatest (21 ppm [21 micrograms/g]) concentration of DON was found in the bran, and the smallest (1 ppm) was found in the break flour. Cleaning and milling were not effective in removing DON; DON was not destroyed in the bread baked from the naturally contaminated whole wheat flour, but the effect on its concentration in the samples analyzed varied, the reduction ranging from 19 to 69%. The percent reduction found in the cleaned wheat ranged from 6 to 19%. DON concentrations in the following commercially made breads, caraway rye, seedless rye, and pumpernickel, were 45 ppb (ng/g), 39 ppb, and 0 ppb, respectively. The limits of detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-pressure liquid chromatography for DON were 0.5 and 10 ng, respectively.
The Response of Secondary Genes to Lipopolysaccharides in Macrophages Depends on Histone Deacetylase and Phosphorylation of C/EBPβ

LPS induces the expression of NO synthase 2 (nos2) in macrophages. The expression of this molecule is one of the hallmarks of classical activation. In this paper, we describe that trichostatin A (TSA), which inhibits deacetylase activity, blocks LPS-dependent nos2 expression. TSA specifically inhibits LPS-dependent genes of secondary response, which require new protein synthesis for their induction but not those belonging to the primary response, which do not depend on this process. Deacetylase activity acts at the transcriptional level because RNA polymerase II was not bound after LPS stimulus when we added TSA. A link between the global acetylation caused by HDAC inhibitor and gene promoter recruitment of CDK8 was found. This Mediator complex subunit associates with Med 12, Med13, and cyclin C to form a submodule that is a transcriptional negative regulator. We also found that TSA reduces C/EBPβ phosphorylation without affecting its binding to DNA. Taken together, these results shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved in the transcriptional regulation of LPS-treated macrophages and on how TSA targets critical LPS-induced genes, such as nos2 and tnf-α, in inflammatory macrophage response.
Designs for bifrequency and bidirectional AMC surfaces

The AMC behavior of a reflecting surface is mainly related to the frequency where the 0deg crossing in the phase of its reflection coefficient takes place. This frequency gives the resonant frequency that characterizes the AMC surface. Two different designs of AMC surfaces showing quite different properties are presented in this communication. A first design proves the AMC behavior using metallic tubes with slotted square profile instead of the typical periodic arrangement of strips printed on a dielectric substrate; and the latter, shows the AMC performance of an artificial material when the electromagnetic waves impinge on its opposite faces.
Influence of the type and source of inoculum on the start-up of anammox sequencing batch reactors (SBRs)

Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) is an attractive option for the treatment of wastewaters with a low carbon/nitrogen ratio. This is due to its low operating costs when compared to the classical nitrification-denitrification processes. However, one of the main disadvantages of the Anammox process is slow biomass growth, meaning a relatively slow reactor start-up. This becomes even more complicated when Anammox microorganisms are not present in the inoculum. Four inocula were studied for the start-up of Anammox sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) 2 L in volume agitated at 100 rpm, one of them using zeolite as a microbial support. Two inocula were taken from UASB reactors and two from aerobic reactors (activated sludge and SBR). The Anammox SBRs studied were operated at 36 ± 0.5°C. The results showed that the only inoculum that enabled the enrichment of the Anammox biomass came from an activated sludge plant treating wastewaters from a poultry slaughterhouse. This plant was designed for organic matter degradation and nitrogen removal (nitrification). This could explain the presence of Anammox microorganisms. This SBR operated without zeolite and achieved nitrite and ammonium removals of 96.3% and 68.4% respectively, at a nitrogen loading rate (NLR) of 0.1 kg N/m3/d in both cases. The lower ammonium removal was due to the fact that a sub-stoichiometric amount of nitrite (1 molar ratio) was fed. The specific Anammox activity (SAA) achieved was 0.18 g N/g VSS/d.
The interphotoreceptor matrix mediates primate retinal adhesion.

OBJECTIVE To assess the participation of cone matrix sheaths, which are domains of the cone photoreceptor-associated interphotoreceptor matrix that extend from the neural retina to the surface of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), in retinal adhesion. METHODS Monkey and human retinas were partially peeled from the RPE, and the tissues were examined by lectin histochemistry to determine the effects of physical separation on the cone matrix sheath. RESULTS A firm attachment of cone matrix sheaths to both the RPE and the neural retina that was strong enough to cause detachment of sheets of RPE cells from Bruch's membrane or tearing of the sheaths as a result of retinal peeling was observed. Cone matrix sheaths can stretch considerably and contract following tearing. Their integrity was compromised rapidly after the first postmortem minute. CONCLUSION Cone matrix sheath glycoconjugates are likely to play a major role in mediating retinal adhesion by forming a molecular bridge between the neural retina and the RPE.
Solitary thyroid nodules in 93 children and adolescents. a 35-years experience.

Over a period of 35 years from 1963 to 1998, 93 patients under the age of 18 years, 74 girls and 19 boys, were seen for evaluation of a solitary nodule of the thyroid gland. All patients had preoperative scintiscans of the thyroid gland and had their solitary nodule excised. Seventy-seven of the patients had a cold nodule on scintiscanning. The most common cause of solitary thyroid nodules was follicuar adenoma (68.9%). Fifteen of the 77 cold nodules were malignant (19.9%). The frequency of carcinoma in males was 26.3%, while in females it was 13.5%. Our experience suggests that the incidence of thyroid carcinoma may be decreasing in pediatric patients not exposed to known risk factors. Available diagnostic methods for attempting differentiation of benign from malignant solitary nodules are reviewed and recommendations to the clinical management are presented.
Intravitreal Ranibizumab for the Treatment of Choroidal Neovascularizations Associated with Pathologic Myopia: A Prospective Study

Purpose: It was the aim of this study to determine the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab as treatment of choroidal neovascularizations associated with pathologic myopia. Materials and Methods: In an uncontrolled, prospective time series cohort study, 65 eyes of 64 consecutive patients with choroidal neovascularization associated with pathologic myopia were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab and observed over 12 months. The change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6 and 12 months served as primary end point. Safety, central retinal thickness, neovascularization activity on fluorescein angiography and the number of ranibizumab injections were secondary end points. Results: BCVA improved significantly throughout the follow-up (p = 0.001). The mean BCVA was 0.2 at baseline (SD 0.13) and 0.4 at 12 months (SD 0.21). Improvement was strongest within the first 3 months (p = 0.0001). The mean central retinal thickness showed a reduction from 313 μm (SD 82) to 243.5 μm (SD 31; p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Intravitreal ranibizumab offers a safe and effective treatment for choroidal neovascularizations in pathologic myopia.
Programmed death-1 immune checkpoint blockade in the treatment of hematological malignancies

Abstract The use of tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) has revolutionize the field of cancer immunotherapy. Although treatment of malignant diseases with MAbs is promising, many patients fail to respond or relapse after an initial response. Both solid tumors and hematological malignancies develop mechanisms that enable them to evade the host immune system by usurping immune checkpoint pathways such as PD-1, PD-2, PDL-1, or PDL-2 (programmed cell death protein-1 or 2 and PD-Ligand 1 or 2), which are expressed on activated T cells and on T-regulatory, B cells, natural killers, monocytes, and dendritic cells. One of the most exciting anticancer development in recent years has been the immune checkpoint blockade therapy by using MAbs against immune checkpoint receptor and/or ligands. Anti-PD1 antibodies have been tested in clinical studies that included patients with hematological malignancies and showed remarkable efficacy in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In our review, we will focus on the effect of PD-1 activation on hematological malignancies and its role as a therapeutic target. Key messages The programmed death 1 (PD1) immune checkpoint is an important homeostatic mechanism of the immune system that helps in preventing autoimmunity and uncontrolled inflammation in cases of chronic infections. However, PD1 pathway is also operated by a wide variety of malignancies and represents one of the most important mechanisms by which tumor cells escape from the surveillance of the immune system. Blocking of immune checkpoints by the use of monoclonal antibodies opened a new era in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Results from clinical trials are promising, and currently, this approach has been proven effective and safe in patients with solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
Single muscle fiber size and contractility after spinal cord injury in rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in muscle weakness but the degree of impairment at the level of single fibers is not known. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of T9–level SCI on single muscle fibers from the tibialis anterior of rats. Significant decreases in cross‐sectional area (CSA), maximal force (Po), and specific force (SF = Po/CSA) were noted at 2 weeks. Atrophy and force‐generating capacity were reversed at 4 weeks, but SF remained impaired. Maximum shortening velocity (Vo) did not change after injury. SCI thus appears to affect various contractile properties of single muscle fibers differently. Normal cage activity may partially restore function but new interventions are needed to restore muscle fiber quality. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Analysis of Individual Human Trigeminal Ganglia for Latent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Varicella-Zoster Virus Nucleic Acids Using Real-Time PCR

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) establish latent infections in the peripheral nervous system following primary infection. During latency both virus genomes exhibit limited transcription, with the HSV-1 LATs and at least four VZV transcripts consistently detected in latently infected human ganglia. In this study we used real-time PCR quantitation to determine the viral DNA copy number in individual trigeminal ganglia (TG) from 17 subjects. The number of HSV-1 genomes was not significantly different between the left and right TG from the same individual and varied per subject from 42.9 to 677.9 copies per 100 ng of DNA. The number of VZV genomes was also not significantly different between left and right TG from the same individual and varied per subject from 37.0 to 3,560.5 copies per 100 ng of DNA. HSV-1 LAT transcripts were consistently detected in ganglia containing latent HSV-1 and varied in relative expression by >500-fold. Of the three VZV transcripts analyzed, only transcripts mapping to gene 63 were consistently detected in latently infected ganglia and varied in relative expression by >2,000-fold. Thus, it appears that, similar to LAT transcription in HSV-1 latently infected ganglia, VZV gene 63 transcription is a hallmark of VZV latency.
Ontogenesis of the Renin‐Angiotensin System in Spontaneously Hypertensive and Normal Wistar Rats

Kidney renin activity was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive control Wistar rats. Kidneys were obtained from fetal rats after 18 and 21 days of gestation and from neonatal rats 1, 7, 14, and 21 days old. Kidney renin activity was determined by a modification of the radioimmunoassay for angiotensin I developed in this laboratory, and tissue from each age group was stained for juxtaglomerular granules. Kidney renin activity progressively increased in both strains from day 18 of fetal life until day 1 of neonatal life when a plateau level developed. In 1-day-old neonatal rats, significant differences in the kidney renin activity of the spontaneously hypertensive and the normotensive strains were initially noted. Kidney renin activity was maintained at significantly higher levels in the spontaneously hypertensive strain under 21 days of age when, because of a rise in the kidney renin activity of the normotensive control strain and a fall in the kidney renin activity of the spontaneously hypertensive strain, the difference between the two strains became statistically insignificant. In both strains, juxtaglomerular granules were first noted in 1-day-old neonatal rats and in each age group thereafter.
A Comparative Study of Green Purchase Intention between Korean and Chinese Consumers: The Moderating Role of Collectivism

This study aims to examine the impacts of the new ecological paradigm, environmental collective efficacy, environmental knowledge, and collectivism on the green purchase intention of Korean and Chinese consumers. Although some studies have researched the relationship between cultural influences and green purchase behaviour, a study on the moderating effect of collectivism on the formation of green purchase intention is rarely found. Therefore, based on 357 consumers in Korea and 398 consumers in China, this study proposes a new model of green purchase intention and empirically tests a model using moderated regression analysis (MRA). The results show that the new ecological paradigm, environmental collective efficacy, environmental knowledge, and collectivism are direct antecedents of green purchase intention in China. In particular, collectivism positively moderates the relationship between environmental collective efficacy and green purchase intention in China. However, the results from Korean consumers show that collectivism has neither a direct impact nor moderating impact on green purchase intention. However, it was found that environmental collective efficacy and environmental knowledge have direct impacts on green purchase intention in Korea. Finally, this study discusses the theoretical and managerial implications of these findings.
[Cardiopulmonary capacity of patients with congenital heart defects in childhood, adolescence and adulthood].

Cardiopulmonary exercise capacity is a significant criterion of life quality. The evaluation of the exercise capacity is important to answer patient-questions concerning every day activity, choice of profession, sports-activity etc. We performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing in 38 patients (age 33.6 +/- 12.0 years, 18 women, 20 men) with different congenital heart disease (5 after surgical repair of tetralogy of fallot, 2 after Mustard-operation in transposition of the great arteries (TGA), 1 single ventricle, 14 atrial septal defect (ASD), 8 ventricular septal defect (VSD), 8 pulmonary valve stenosis (PS)) during outpatient routine control. All tests were performed on upright bicycle with continuous ramp program of 20 Watt increase/minute. Ventilatory values as O2-uptake, CO2-production, minute ventilation (VE) were measured breath-by-breath. Max. VO2 was reduced as average value for every patient group (tetralogy of fallot 60.2 +/- 20.3% pred., TGA 53.0 +/- 0.0% pred., single ventricle 35% pred., closed ASD 71.9 +/- 23.8% pred., ASD 62.7 +/- 30.0% pred., VSD 64.1 +/- 11.7% pred., PS 73.2 +/- 16.0% pred.). Anaerobic threshold was reduced in tetralogy of fallot (35.9 +/- 12.2% pred. max. VO2) and in single ventricle (28.3% pred. max. VO2). In comparison with clinical classification of exercise capacity we found for max. VO2 differences in 23/38 patients. 22/23 patients reported no exercise limitation but had reduced max. VO2. One patient had a normal max. VO 2 but complaints of exercise dyspnoea. For anaerobic threshold 18/38 patients had discrepancies in objective and subjective estimation of their exercise capacity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Assessment of thymic output in common variable immunodeficiency patients by evaluation of T cell receptor excision circles

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by repeated infections and hypogammaglobulinaemia. Additionally, T‐cell abnormalities including lymphopenia, decreased proliferation to mitogens and antigens, and the reduced production and expression of cytokines, have also been observed. In this study we have investigated the expression of naive, memory and activation markers in T‐cell subpopulations in 17 CVID patients in comparison to age‐matched normal controls. The numbers of CD4+ T cells, including CD45RA+CD62L+ and, to a lesser extent, CD45RA–CD62L+/RA+CD62L– were significantly reduced in patients, whereas CD8+ T cells were within normal range. In contrast, HLA‐DR+ cells were increased both in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. To assess the thymic output, we analysed the presence of T‐cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by quantitative PCR. TRECs were decreased significantly in patients and the rate of TREC loss was higher with increasing age. TRECs correlated with naive CD4+ T cells, whereas there was an inverse relationship between TRECs and CD8+HLA–DR+ and CD8+CD45RA–CD62L+/RA+CD62L– T cells. Our results suggest the presence of a defect in the naive T cell compartment with origin at the thymic level in CVID, and indicate that TREC may be a useful marker to monitor thymic function in this primary immunodeficiency.
GYNECOLOGICAL MORBIDITIES IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE GROUP IN URBAN SLUMS OF BHAVNAGAR CITY

Author’s Affiliation: 1 Assistant Prof, Dept. of Community Med, Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar, 2 Prof & Head, Dept. of Community Med, PDU Medical college, Rajkot ,3Assistant Prof, Dept. of Community Med, Medical college, Baroda, 4Prof & Head, Dept. of Community Med, Govt. Medical college, Bhavnagar, 5Tutor, Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar, 6Assistant prof, Dept of Obst. & Gynecology, Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar.
Development of a simulation tool for optimal design of a mobile photoplethysmography sensor

A simulation tool for optimizing a mobile photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor is developed and introduced. At its core there is the Monte Carlo technique simulating photons propagation through turbid tissues. In the simulation workbench various simulation procedures that include different boundary conditions, wavelengths, incident angles, power and type of the sources as well as its optical beam characteristics (collimated Gaussian beam, focused Gaussian beam and collimated launch) are realized. We expect that employment of the simulated layout of the PPG sensor and it's optical structure may help increase number of detected photons that convey tissue optical properties.
Evidence for dual effects of nitric oxide in the forced swimming test and in the tail suspension test in mice

L-Arginine (L-Arg), a substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) at a dose of 250–500 mg/kg, i.p., significantly reduced the duration of immobility both in the forced swimming test (FST) and in the tail suspension test (TST), two models of depression in mice, without changing locomotion in an open field. Paradoxically, a similar effect was observed with the administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) (0.3–10 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of NOS. However, higher doses of L-Arg (750–1000 mg/kg) and L-NNA (30 mg/kg) did not produce any antiimmobility effect in FST and TST. The inactive isomers D-Arg (100–1000 mg/kg, i.p.) and D-NNA (0.3–30 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect immobility duration in either the FST and TST. Preadministration of L-NNA (30 mg/kg, i.p.), but not of D-NNA completely blocked the anti-immobility effect of L-Arg (500 mg/kg, i.p.) in the FST. Similarly, L-Arg (750 mg/kg, i.p.), but not D-Arg blocked the anti-immobility effect of L-NNA (3 mg/kg, i.p.) in the FST. The results indicate that either the synthesis of NO or the inhibition of its synthesis may produce antidepressantlike effects when assessed in the FST and TST. The physiological meaning of this finding is still obscure, but it could indicate that NO has a dual role in the modulation of depression.
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase does not prevent ocular dominance plasticity in kitten visual cortex.

1. The neural messenger molecule nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be involved in several forms of plasticity including hippocampal long‐term potentiation. We examined the effects of chronic intracortical infusion of inhibitors of NO synthase (NOS) activity on the plasticity of visual cortical responses following monocular lid suture during the critical period. 2. Single unit recordings (618 cells) made in both the NOS inhibitor‐treated (30 mM NG‐methyl‐L‐arginine (L‐NMMA), or 22 or 2 mM nitro‐L‐arginine (L‐NOArg)) and saline‐treated control hemispheres of barbiturate‐anaesthetized, critical‐period kittens (n = 8) revealed a profound shift in favour of the non‐deprived eye. Shifts were of similar magnitude in hemispheres in which NOS was inhibited and in saline control hemispheres. 3. Subsequent analysis of NOS activity in the same cortical tissue in which recordings had been made showed a pronounced decrease in NOS activity in inhibitor‐treated hemispheres. In the region in which all the single unit recordings were made (< 3 mm from the infusion cannula), 22 mM L‐NOArg resulted in a reduction of NOS activity to 5.55 +/‐ 5.33% of control hemisphere NOS activity levels. L‐NOArg (2 mM) and L‐NMMA (30 mM) also produced clear, but smaller, inhibition of NOS activity. 4. These findings demonstrate that NOS activity is not essential for ocular dominance plasticity in visual cortex.
Subendocardial Distribution of Coronary Blood Flow and the Effect of Antianginal Drugs

• Histological evidence indicates that the subendocardial layers of the left ventricle are vulnerable to ischemia: areas of necrosis in the subendocardium are greater than they are in the epicardium in transmural infarction (1) and in coronary insufficiency (2), suggesting that antegrade coronary blood flow in the subendocardial layers is less than that in the epicardium because of the proximity of the former to intracavitary left ventricular pressure (3). Initial studies showed a gradient in tissue pressure with systolic pressure in the subendocardium exceeding that in the left ventricular cavity and suggested that systolic extravascular compression could be a significant feature in the transmural distribution of coronary blood flow (3). These findings obtained by indirect methods have been generally confirmed (4-7) by studies using other indirect methods, although the intramyocardial tissue pressure in the inner layers of the left ventricle has not always been found to exceed cavitary pressure (8). Recently, a more direct measurement of myocardial tissue pressure by subminiature pressure transducers (9) has confirmed the presence of a transmural gradient with systolic pressure in the subendocardium of