Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surgical anatomy of the innervation of pylorus in human and Suncus murinus, in relation to surgical technique for pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy.

AIM To clarify the innervation of the antro-pyloric region in humans from a clinico-anatomical perspective. METHODS The stomach, duodenum and surrounding structures were dissected in 10 cadavers, and immersed in a 10mg/L solution of alizarin red S in ethanol to stain the peripheral nerves. The distribution details were studied to confirm innervations in the above areas using a binocular microscope. Similarly, innervations in 10 Suncus murinus were examined using the method of whole-mount immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The innervation of the pyloric region in humans involved three routes: One arose from the anterior hepatic plexus via the route of the suprapyloric/supraduodenal branch of the right gastric artery; the second arose from the anterior and posterior gastric divisions, and the third originated from the posterior-lower region of the pyloric region, which passed via the infrapyloric artery or retroduodenal branches and was related to the gastroduodenal artery and right gastroepiploic artery. For Suncus murinus, results similar to those in humans were observed. CONCLUSION There are three routes of innervation of the pyloric region in humans, wherein the route of the right gastric artery is most important for preserving pyloric region innervation. Function will be preserved by more than 80% by preserving the artery in pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD). However, the route of the infrapyloric artery should not be disregarded. This route is related to several arteries (the right gastroepiploic and gastroduodenal arteries), and the preserving of these arteries is advantageous for preserving pyloric innervation in PPPD. Concurrently, the nerves of Latarjet also play an important role in maintaining innervation of the antro-pyloric region in PPPD. This is why pyloric function is not damaged in some patients when the right gastric artery is dissected or damaged in PPPD.
Characterization of major sperm protein genes and their expression in Oesophagostomum dentatum (Nematoda: Strongylida)

Major sperm protein (msp) genes were isolated from complementary (cDNA) and genomic DNA libraries prepared from the parasitic nematode, Oesophagostomum dentatum, characterized at the nucleotide and amino acid (aa) levels, and their expression was investigated. Three different msp cDNA and 2 genomic sequences were determinedThe nucleotide sequences reported in this article have been deposited in the EMBL, GenBank and DDJB databases under the Accession numbers AJ627869–AJ627873. , each with an open reading frame (ORF) of 381 nucleotides. Nucleotide variation was detected at 30 positions in the ORF among all 5 sequences. Conceptual translation of the full-length msp sequences inferred 4 different MSPs each of 126 aa. These predicted MSPs differed at aa positions 15 (serine<->threonine), 101 (alanine<->glycine), 103 (glutamine<->leucine) and 126 (proline<->leucine). Southern blot analysis of O. dentatum genomic DNA, digested separately with various restriction endonucleases, displayed multiple (n=7–13) bands for each enzyme, providing support for a multigene family. Also, at the genomic level, sequence tracts consistent with a ‘substitute’ TATA box sequence motif were identified within a region (−1 to −123 nt) preceding the 2 msp genes. In contrast to other species of nematode investigated to date, no GATA transcription factor binding motif was detected immediately upstream of the msp coding region. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that msp mRNA was expressed exclusively in the males of both fourth-stage larvae (L4s) and adults of O. dentatum (raised in pigs after intragastric inoculation). The magnitude of expression in male O. dentatum raised in pigs in the presence of female worms was the same as in males in the absence of females. Comparative analyses showed aa sequence conservation among MSPs from various nematodes, suggesting similar functional roles for these proteins.
Considerations of force plate transitions on centre of pressure calculation for maximal velocity sprint running

The aims of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of centre of pressure (COP) data obtained during transition of load across the boundary between two force plates, and secondly to examine the effect of such COP data on joint kinetics during sprint running performances. COP data were collected from two piezoelectric force plates as a trolley wheel was rolled across the boundary between the plates. Position data for the trolley were collected using an opto-electronic motion analysis system for comparison with COP data. Mean COP errors during transition across the plate boundary were 0.003 ± 0.002 m relative to a control point. Kinematic and kinetic data were also collected from eight athletes during sprint running trials to demonstrate the sensitivity of the inverse dynamics analysis to COP error for the ground contact phase of the dynamic movement trials. Kinetic sensitivity to the COP error was assessed during the entire stance phase for the ankle, knee, and hip joints and was less than 5% and 3% for joint moment and power data, respectively. Based on the small COP error during transition across plate boundaries, it is recommended that foot contacts overlapping two force plates may be included in inverse dynamics analyses.
Brevundimonas vesicularis MF276770, a new strain for gelatinase production by utilizing chicken feet gelatin

Abstract The utilization of waste has gained momentum in the field of waste management and industrial bioprocess. In this study, waste chicken feet were used as the source for extraction of a natural inducer, i.e. gelatin for the synthesis of proteolytic enzyme gelatinase. Microorganisms with gelatinolytic activity were screened from mixed culture isolates obtained from a local poultry waste dumping site. The strain which had shown maximum activity was identified as Brevundimonas vesicularis MF276770 using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The composition of chicken feet gelatin was analysed and further characterized by Fourier transform infrared analysis and SDS-PAGE. The maximum gelatinase activity of 18.8 U/mL was achieved for the isolated Brevundimonas vesicularis MF276770 at 12 h under optimized conditions of pH 7, substrate concentration (2%), inoculums age (12 h), inoculum volume (2%, v/v), temperature (50 °C) and RPM (140). The enzyme kinetics parameters Vmax and Km were observed as 7.4 U/mL and 0.422 µmol, respectively. The molecular weight of the produced gelatinase was determined as 67 kDa. The produced gelatinase was employed to strip the gelatin silver layer from X-ray polyester film with 1.93 U/mL of gelatinase activity.
Enhanced 1524-nm Emission From Ge Quantum Dots in a Modified Photonic Crystal L3 Cavity

Light emitters based on Ge quantum dots embedded in modified photonic crystal three defect-long (L3) cavities are fabricated and characterized. Several sharp resonant luminescence peaks dominate the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum at room temperature. The strongest resonant luminescence peak is obtained at 1524 nm. The enhancement factor is 110, and the corresponding Purcell factor is estimated to be 6.7. The large enhancement is due to high Purcell factor and high collection efficiency of modified L3 cavity verified by far-field patterns. The intrinsic Q factor measured from crossed-polarized resonant scattering is much higher than the Q factor measured from PL, indicating that the Q factors measured from PL are inaccurate due to free-carrier absorption of the photogenerated carriers.
Partisan Differences On Environmental Issues: a Congressional Roll-Call Analysis

HE ISSUE of environmental quality has often been viewed as a consensus issue which transcends the partisan differences characteristic of most political issues. This consensus and nonpartisan view of environmental politics is challenged in a recent study by Dunlap and Gale.l In contrast to many observers, Dunlap and Gale argue that there are important reasons for expecting significant partisan differences to emerge on environmental issues. On the one hand, "proenvironmental" measures generally are opposed by business and industry, entail an extension of governmental regulation and intervention, and imply the need for "radical" rather than "incremental" policies. On the other hand, traditionally the Republican party, relative to the Democratic, has maintained a more pro-business orientation, a greater opposition to the extension of governmental power, and a less innovative posture toward the use of governmental action to solve societal problems. For these reasons, Dunlap and Gale hypothesized that Republicans would give significantly less support to measures designed to protect the quality of the environment than would Democrats. They tested the hypothesis in the 1970 session of the Oregon legislature, where it received considerable support. Republican legislators were found to rank significantly lower than their Democratic counterparts in terms of "pro-environment" voting on relevant roll calls. Although the hypothesis presented by Dunlap and Gale is supported by their study of Oregon legislators, as well as recent studies of California2 and Utah legislators,3 it is by no means clear that similar partisan differences on the issue of environmental quality exist at the national level. It seems possible, for example, that partisan differences may not emerge at the congressional level because labor unions. which are extremely influential among the Democratic members of Congress, often oppose environmental measures which purportedly threaten to eliminate jobs for their members.4 Given the critical role of the U.S. Congress in providing federal funds and establishing national standards for preserving the quality of the environ-
PD-1 Controls Tonic Signaling and Lymphopenia-Induced Proliferation of T Lymphocytes

Recovery of the T lymphocyte compartment within a lymphopenic host by lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP) is regulated by inter- and intraclonal competition for limited resources, including homeostatic cytokines and peptide:MHC (pMHC) complexes with which the TCR can interact at least weakly to yield a tonic signal. Importantly, the process of LIP can synergize with other factors that promote T cell activation to drive inflammatory disease. While reconstitution of the lymphoid compartment of immune deficient Rag−/− mice by transfer of wild-type hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) does not generally result in an overt disease phenotype, transfer of HSC deficient in expression of the co-inhibitory molecule PD-1 results in severe systemic autoimmunity driven by newly generated T cells that emerge from the thymus into the periphery and undergo LIP. Importantly, autoimmunity does not appear to depend on a response to exogenous (i.e., gut flora-derived) antigens. PD-1 is well known to be upregulated during T cell activation in response to cognate antigens, but it is unclear whether PD-1 has a role in controlling LIP of T cells in the absence of cognate antigen, i.e., in response to tonic pMHC. We examined whether PD-1 controls LIP of newly generated T cells by controlling the response to tonic pMHC or the homeostatic cytokine IL-7. We found that PD-1-deficient T cells have a proliferative advantage over WT T cells during LIP and this effect is MHC-II dependent and independent of IL-7Rα signaling. Furthermore, our data suggest that signals through IL-7Rα can be dispensable for LIP and may instead be of increased importance for T cell survival in conditions of high competition for limited pMHC (e.g., post-LIP, in a lymphoreplete host). We hypothesize that autoimmunity post-PD-1−/− HSC transplant is the result of an overzealous T cell response to normally tonic self-pMHC precipitated by the synergy of LIP and PD-1 deficiency. Furthermore, potentiation of TCR signals in response to normally tonic self-pMHC may contribute to the success of PD-1 blockade in cancer immunotherapy.
Executive functioning deficits in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are independent of oppositional defiant or reading disorder.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate deficits of executive functions in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) classified by type (combined [CT] or predominantly inattentive [IT]) and comorbidity with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and reading disorder (RD). METHOD The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Tower of Hanoi (TOH) were administered to 28 community volunteers and 359 children (7.5-13.5 years old) divided into ADHD types, RD, and ODD. RESULTS ADHD/CT children solved fewer puzzles and violated more rules on the TOH than ADHD/IT or non-ADHD subjects. On the WCST there were no differences between diagnostic samples in perseverativeness, but ADHD/CT patients made more nonperseverative errors than ADHD/IT children. ODD was associated with moderately better TOH performance and RD with excessive rule breaks. CONCLUSIONS Executive functioning deficits were found for only ADHD/CT children and were independent of comorbidity with RD or ODD.
Forget the Areal@ thingbtake the Copy! an Explanatory Model For the Volitional Purchase of Counterfeit Products

As the supply with fake products has been growing dramatically across the globe, manufacturers of the original products and governments find themselves in a constant battle against counterfeiters. While the supply side has attracted considerable attention of researchers, the knowledge on what drives customers to buy the fake rather than the original remains still far from consolidated. Based on a sample of 1040 respondents, this study uses the Theory of Planned Behavior to systematize past findings in the field and comes up with a model explaining key drivers of the demand for counterfeits.
Combination therapy in the prevention of PONV after strabismus surgery in children: granisetron, ondansetron, midazolam with dexamethasone.

BACKGROUND Pediatric strabismus surgery is commonly associated with higher incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Mixtures of different classes of antiemetics have been used successfully to decrease the incidence of PONV but there was no agreement on the optimal combination. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of granisetron, ondansetron, midazolam combination with dexamethasone in the prevention of PONV following strabismus repair in pediatric population. METHOD Healthy 100 children ASA class I and II aged 4-12 years, scheduled for elective strabismus surgery, were enrolled in this study. No premedications were given anesthesia was induced by inhalational technique using sevoflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture. After induction, fentanyl and atracurium were given and an endotracheal tube was inserted. Patients were randomly divided into four groups which received intravenously either: Placebo, or a combination of granisetron 10 microg/kg(-1), ondansetron 50 microg/kg(-1), midazolam 50 microg/kg(-1), plus dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg(-1) after induction of anesthesia and before start of surgery. All episodes of PONV during the first 24 hours after anesthesia were recorded. RESULTS The incidence ofpostoperative nausea was 48%, 8%, 12% and 0% while the incidence of vomiting was 52%, 12%, 4% and 0% in placebo, granisetron, ondansetron, midazolam and dexamethasone combination groups respectively. No difference was detected between combination groups (P value > 0.05). CONCLUSION Prophylactic administration of either of either granisetron, ondansetron, midazolam combined with dexamethasone markedly decreases the incidence of PONV following strabismus surgery in pediatrics. All combinations are equally effective.
Experiencing External Workplace Violence: Differences in Indicators Between Three Types of Emergency Responders

Police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical workers are at a relatively high risk of experiencing external workplace violence (EWPV), that is, violence initiated by people outside the organization. Based on criminal opportunities theories, the aim of this research was to study to what extent socio-demographic and work characteristics are related to experiencing EWPV. In addition, the aim was to explore how these relations differ between the three types of emergency responders. Data from a workplace violence survey of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands was used, from which emergency medical workers (n = 264), firefighters (n = 255), and police officers (n = 296) were selected. Results indicated that police officers experienced most and firefighters experienced least EWPV. Younger professionals and professionals who have more frequent and risky contact experienced more EWPV. The expectations that males and those with less skills or experience to avoid EWPV experience more EWPV were not convincingly supported. The relationships between characteristics and EWPV, and the explanatory power of the models, differed between types of emergency responders. The studied characteristics best explained variations in EWPV of police officers, and therefore prevention of EWPV by addressing these characteristics will be most successful for police officers. The prediction of EWPV should be improved, for example, by studying the relationship with “attractiveness” or “vulnerability” of the possible victim, such as psychological characteristics of professionals. The study showed that research about indicators and prevention of EWPV should be aimed at separate professions.
Functional Homotopic Changes in Multiple Sclerosis with Resting-State Functional MR Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CC is extensively involved in MS with interhemispheric dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether interhemispheric correlation is altered in MS by use of a recently developed RS-fMRI homotopy technique and whether these homotopic changes correlate with CC pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 24 age-matched healthy volunteers were studied with RS-fMRI and DTI acquired at 3T. The Pearson correlation of each pair of symmetric interhemispheric voxels of RS-fMRI time-series data was performed to compute VMHC, and z-transformed for subsequent group-level analysis. In addition, 5 CC segments in the midsagittal area and DTI-derived FA were measured to quantify interhemispheric microstructural changes and correlate with global and regional VMHC in MS. RESULTS: Relative to control participants, patients with MS exhibited an abnormal homotopic pattern with decreased VMHC in the primary visual, somatosensory, and motor cortices and increased VMHC in several regions associated with sensory processing and motor control including the insula, thalamus, pallidum, and cerebellum. The global VMHC correlates moderately with the average FA of the entire CC for all participants in both groups (r = 0.3; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide preliminary evidence of the potential usefulness of VMHC analyses for the detection of abnormalities of interhemispheric coordination in MS. We demonstrated that the whole-brain homotopic RS-fMRI pattern was altered in patients with MS, which was partially associated with the underlying structural degenerative changes of CC measured with FA.
Inhibition of the lymphotoxin pathway as a therapy for autoimmune disease

Summary: The lymphotoxin (LT) system is part of the tumor necrosis factor family and is required for lymph node development. It has provided a wonderful tool for the dissection of processes critical not only for lymphoid organ development but also the maintenance of the adult immune architecture and the formation of ectopic organized lymphoid tissues in chronically inflamed sites. A soluble lymphotoxin‐β receptor‐immunoglobulin (LTβR‐Ig) fusion protein can block this pathway and is currently being tested in the treatment of autoimmune disease. This review focuses on the immunological consequences of combined LT and LIGHT inhibition with LTβR‐Ig administration as distinct from the developmental biology.
Evaluation of Extension Agents’ Job Characteristics: A Case Study of Enugu State Agricultural Development Project, Nigeria

The paper evaluated job characteristics of Extension Agents (EAs) of Enugu State Agricultural Development Project (ADP). Data for the study were collected from 60 EAs, using a structured questionnaire schedule. Data were analyzed through the use of frequency distribution, percentages and mean scores. The findings indicated that a greater proportion (58.3%) of the EAS were relatively young. About 68% of them were males and almost all (63.3%) of them were married. Not less than 67% of them attained B.Sc and /or M.Sc. certificates. Those that were on secondment (sent from the ministry of Agriculture to work with ADP for a period of time) from the Ministry of Agriculture accounted for only 18.3%. About 88% of the EAs had more than 6 years working experience. Their role within the organization was fairly clear ( = 4.1) to them, while majority of them perceived many of their professional routine duties as being fairly important ( = 3.9). Their working-time was spent on both agricultural and non-agricultural development activities. Much more time was spent on crop production. Majority of them perceived many of the 12 months in the year as being busy. The implications of the findings for necessary administrative actions by the agency (Enugu State ADP) were drawn.
The combined serum levels of miR‐375 and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor are suggested as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in prostate cancer

This study aimed to assess the applicability of miR‐375 in combination with the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) protein as a diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer (PCa) patients. miR‐375 levels by qRT‐PCR and suPAR levels by ELISA were evaluated in serum samples from 146 PCa patients, 35 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 18 healthy controls. Antigen levels of suPAR differed between healthy controls and PCa or BPH patients, whereas miR‐375 levels differed between PCa and BPH patients or healthy controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, suPAR levels differed between the Gleason sum groups GS = 7 versus GS > 7, with higher levels in the latter group (p = 0.011), and miR‐375 levels were higher in the tumor stage group T3‐T4 compared with the T1‐T2 group (p = 0.039). A high concentration of suPAR was associated with a poor disease‐specific survival (DSS; p = 0.039). The combination of suPAR and miR‐375 levels identified a patient group possessing high levels for both parameters. This was associated with a poorer 10‐year overall survival (OS) and DSS, with a 6.38‐fold increased risk of death and a 7.68‐fold increased risk of tumor‐related death (p = 0.00026 and p = 0.014; univariate Cox's regression analysis). In a multivariate Cox's regression analysis PCa patients with high levels of suPAR and miR‐375 showed a 5.72‐fold increased risk of death in OS (p = 0.006). In summary, the differences between the PCa/BPH/healthy control cohorts for either suPAR and miR‐375 levels in conjunction with the association of combined high suPAR/miR‐375 levels with a poor prognosis suggest a diagnostic and prognostic impact for PCa patients.