Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Melatonin Protects Cultured Tobacco Cells against Lead-Induced Cell Death via Inhibition of Cytochrome c Translocation

Melatonin was discovered in plants more than two decades ago and, especially in the last decade, it has captured the interests of plant biologists. Beyond its possible participation in photoperiod processes and its role as a direct free radical scavenger as well as an indirect antioxidant, melatonin is also involved in plant defense strategies/reactions. However, the mechanisms that this indoleamine activates to improve plant stress tolerance still require identification and clarification. In the present report, the ability of exogenous melatonin to protect Nicotiana tabacum L. line Bright Yellow 2 (BY-2) suspension cells against the toxic exposure to lead was examined. Studies related to cell proliferation and viability, DNA fragmentation, possible translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol, cell morphology after fluorescence staining and also the in situ accumulation of superoxide radicals measured via the nitro blue tetrazolium reducing test, were conducted. This work establishes a novel finding by correcting the inhibition of release of mitochondrial ctytocrome c in to the cytoplasm with the high accumulation of superoxide radicals. The results show that pretreatment with 200 nm of melatonin protected tobacco cells from DNA damage caused by lead. Melatonin, as an efficacious antioxidant, limited superoxide radical accumulation as well as cytochrome c release thereby, it likely prevents the activation of the cascade of processes leading to cell death. Fluorescence staining with acridine orange and ethidium bromide documented that lead-stressed cells additionally treated with melatonin displayed intact nuclei. The results revealed that melatonin at proper dosage could significantly increase BY-2 cell proliferation and protected them against death. It was proved that melatonin could function as an effective priming agent to promote survival of tobacco cells under harmful lead-induced stress conditions.
Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat Analysis of Ancient DNA by Coupled Use of Mini‐ and Conventional STR Kits *

Abstract: Multiplex autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping enables researchers to obtain genetic information from ancient human samples. In this study, we tested newly developed AmpFℓSTR® MiniFiler™ kit for autosomal STR analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA), using human femurs (n = 8) collected from medieval Korean tombs. After extracting aDNA from the bones, autosomal STR analyses were repeated for each sample using the AmpFℓSTR® MiniFiler™ and Identifiler™ kits. Whereas only 21.87% of larger‐sized loci profiles could be obtained with the Identifiler™ kit, 75% of the same loci profiles were determined by MiniFiler™ kit analysis. This very successful amplification of large‐sized STR markers from highly degraded aDNA suggests that the MiniFiler™ kit could be a useful complement to conventional STR kit analysis of ancient samples.
Abdominal lymphadenopathy in an adolescent with Kawasaki disease: a major sign?

Abstract In adolescence, Kawasaki disease (KD) may present with varied clinical pictures, and the classic clinical criteria are often insufficient to establish the diagnosis. This report presents a clinical case of KD in an adolescent and a brief review of the relevant literature, based on a PubMed search using the terms “adolescence” and “KD”. A 13-year-old girl presented with fever, rash, hepatomegaly, and ultrasonographic evidence of abdominal lymphadenopathy. On week 2 after onset of symptoms, the patient developed desquamation of the extremities and thrombocytosis. Echocardiography was normal during the acute illness and remained unchanged at 2-year follow-up. Clinicians should be aware that, in adolescents, KD poses a diagnostic challenge and rarely corresponds to the classic presentation. On retrospective analysis, we believe that abdominal lymphadenopathy should have been recognized as a substitute manifestation of the classic symptom of cervical lymphadenopathy to establish the diagnosis of this fearsome systemic vasculitis syndrome.
Transmembrane pore size and role of cell swelling in cytotoxicity caused by Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin

Pasteurella haemolytica A1 leukotoxin causes rapid (5 to 15 min) leakage of intracellular K+ and cell swelling and slower (15 to 60 min), Ca2+-dependent formation of large plasma membrane defects (congruent to 100 nm) and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase from bovine lymphoma cells (BL3 cells) (K. D. Clinkenbeard, D. A. Mosier, A. L. Timko, and A. W. Confer, Am. J. Vet. Res., in press). Incubation of BL3 cells in medium made hypertonic by inclusion of 75 mM sucrose blocked leukotoxin-induced cell swelling, formation of large plasma membrane defects, and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase but did not block leukotoxin-induced leakage of intracellular K+. Carbohydrates with molecular weights less than that of sucrose, e.g., mannitol, did not block leukotoxin-induced cell swelling of BL3 cells. Increasing the concentration of mannitol to twice that of sucrose still resulted in no protective effect. Assuming that leukotoxin acts as a transmembrane molecular sieve, then the functional transmembrane pore size formed by leukotoxin in BL3 cells is slightly less than the size of sucrose, i.e., 0.9 nm. Exposure of BL3 cells to leukotoxin for 15 or 45 min followed by the addition of hypertonic sucrose to the incubation medium reversed leukotoxin-induced cell swelling and prevented further leakage of lactate dehydrogenase. Leukotoxin-induced leakage of lactate dehydrogenase required both cell swelling and Ca2+-dependent processes. The Ca2+-dependent steps can occur before or concurrent with cell swelling.
Dwarf Males of Octolasmis warwickii (Cirripedia: Thoracica): The First Example of Coexistence of Males and Hermaphrodites in the Suborder Lepadomorpha

In the lepadomorph barnacle Octolasmis warwickii, individuals are often found attached to the scutum of conspecifics living externally on the crab hosts. To test whether these conspecific-attached individuals are dwarf males, as are known to occur in other suborders of barnacles, we compared the pattern of attachment, size-frequency distribution, and reproductive status of the conspecific-attached (Con-A) and crab-attached (Crab-A) individuals. Con-As were smaller than Crab-As. There was a positive relationship between the body size of Crab-As and the number of individuals on them. Con-As had longer penises than Crab-As of the same body size, and their testes were better developed. The four largest Con-As examined were brooding eggs. These results indicate that Con-As of O. warwickii are dwarf males, with a potential to become hermaphroditic. This represents the first known example of coexistence of males and hermaphrodites in the suborder Lepadomorpha. The mating group size of O. warwickii was smaller than in its hermaphroditic congeners but larger than in barnacles with dwarf males and females, which supports the current theories that group size is important for the evolution of sexuality patterns in barnacles.
Glutamatergic autoinhibition of quantal release augments the early phase of releases after a depolarization pulse

At the crayfish neuromuscular junction, glutamatergic autoinhibition of quantal excitatory postsynaptic current (qEPSC) release is mediated by a presynaptic dl‐glutamate transporter and its associated Cl– conductance. I investigated whether it also affects the time course of release. qEPSCs were recorded with a perfused macroelectrode through which depolarization pulses and d‐ or l‐glutamate could be applied to a terminal. In order to represent the time course of release, cumulative delays of qEPSCs were determined and scaled to a common final value. At 10 °C, on the application of d‐ or l‐glutamate, release increased relative to the controls especially during its first millisecond, taking the mean of 20 experiments (P < 0.01). Also, in many single experiments the respective shifts in the time courses of release were highly significant. The relative surplus of early releases decreased with time constants τ1 of 86 µs and τ2 of 0.75 ms. At 0 °C, in the presence of glutamate, the surplus of early delays was increased relative to the controls to a significantly greater extent and for a longer time than at 10 °C. The τ1 of 240 µs was almost three times larger than at 10 °C. Autoinhibition was inactivated in Cl–‐free solution. In such solutions the surplus of early releases also disappeared and the shortening of early delays reverted to a lengthening. Interaction of the inhibitory autoreceptor and its associated Cl– flow with the release machinery is discussed.
Comparison of two sets of low-order basis functions for tetrahedral VIE modeling

A convergence study is made for the two types of low-order basis functions for the volume integral equation (VIE). Both functions impose the continuity of the normal component of the electric flux through the faces. The one basis function is that of Schaubert, Wilton, and Glisson (1984) and is face-based. Another basis function was first introduced by de Carvalho and de Souza Mendes (1999) and is edge-based. The exact number of unknowns for the edge-based functions is determined in this study. The study demonstrates a better performance of the edge-based basis functions compared to the face-based bases. First, the edge-based basis functions have nearly the same or a faster convergence rate for equal tetrahedral meshes. They also show a high numerical stability. Second, for the same tetrahedral mesh, the number of unknowns for the edge-based functions is considerably smaller. The ratio of unknowns (edge-based versus face-based) ranges from 0.6 for rough plate meshes to approximately 0.5 for large volumetric meshes. Third, the edge-based functions are piecewise constant and are easily implemented into the method of moments. Their disadvantage is a preliminary condition "operation," which implies the elimination of the nullspace of the basis set.
Arterial spin labeling: Pathologically proven superiority over conventional MRI for detection of high-grade glioma progression after treatment

Background Standard of care for high-grade gliomas (HGGs) includes surgical debulking and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. Patients under treatment require frequent clinical and imaging monitoring for therapy modulation. Differentiating tumor progression from treatment-related changes can be challenging on conventional MRI, resulting in delayed recognition of tumor progression. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) may be more sensitive for tumor progression. Materials and methods ASL and associated conventional MR images obtained in patients previously treated for HGGs and before biopsy or re-resection were reviewed by three neuroradiologists who were blinded to the histopathologic results. Regions of interest (ROIs) of greatest perfusion were chosen by consensus, and mirror-image contralateral ROIs were also placed. Sensitivity of ASL for tumor progression was compared with those of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (T1W-CE) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images using McNemar’s test. We tested for an association between cerebral blood flow (CBF) and apparent diffusion correlation (ADC) using a Hotelling–Lawley trace. Finally, we used a Pearson’s analysis to test for a correlation between CBF and percentage of tumor within each resection. Results Twenty-two patients were studied. ASL demonstrated hyperperfusion in all cases with mean CBF ratio 3.37 (±1.71). T1W-CE and FLAIR images were positive in 15 (p = 0.0233) and 16 (p = 0.0412) cases, respectively. There was no association between ADC and CBF (p = 0.687). There was a correlation between CBF and percentage of tumor (p = 0.048). Conclusion ASL may be more sensitive than conventional MR sequences for the detection of tumor progression in patients treated for HGGs.
Nucleolar size indicates the rapidity of cell proliferation in cancer tissues

In order to define the importance of the nucleolus in tumour pathology, the relationship between nucleolar size and function and tumour mass growth rate was studied in vivo. Ten established human cancer cell lines from colon carcinomas and neuroblastomas were inoculated subcutaneously in athymic mice and the doubling time (DT) of the xenograft tumour mass was calculated. The tumour DTs ranged from 3.2 to 15.7 days. Nucleolar size was evaluated in sections from formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded tumour samples after silver staining for AgNOR proteins, using a specific image analysis system. The nucleolar area values were inversely related to the xenograft tumour mass DTs (r=−0.90; p<0.001). Nucleolar functional activity was also evaluated using rapid, intermediate, and slow growing tumours (one each). The values of RNA polymerase I activity measured in vitro were strongly related to the corresponding tumour DTs (r=−0.99; p=0.03). The labelling indices (LIs) of three proliferation markers, MIB1, PCNA, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), were also evaluated. As revealed by the MIB1 and PCNA LIs, almost all the cells of the xenograft tumours were cycling (86.6±5.6 SD and 95.5±2.0 SD, respectively). Neither the MIB1, PCNA or BrdU LIs were related to the xenograft tumour mass DT, showing that the different growth rates of tumour xenografts were not due to different growth fractions, but were mainly related to different cell proliferation rates. The present data demonstrate that the size and function of the nucleolus are related to the cell proliferation rate of cancer tissue. Evaluation of nucleolar size after silver staining of AgNOR proteins represents a unique parameter for the histological assessment of rapidity of cell proliferation in tumour lesions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neuregulin‐1 polymorphism in late onset Alzheimer's disease families with psychoses

Probands with late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) exhibit positive symptoms of psychosis, 30–60% of the time. Positive symptoms of psychosis have been shown to appear prior to the onset of dementia to be accompanied by greater cognitive deficits, and to predict a more rapid decline. A study of the distribution of AD with psychosis (ADP) in families from the NIMH Alzheimer's Disease Genetic Initiative sample indicates that the trait is heritable, and linkage studies of multiplex ADP families have found suggestive peaks on 2p, 6q, 8p, and 21q. A genome scan of idiopathic psychosis, schizophrenia, in the Icelandic population identified a risk haplotype within the 5′ region of neuregulin‐1 (NRG1) on 8p12. Associations with NRG1 SNPs have also been found in other schizophrenia populations from Scotland, Ireland, and China. Here, we report results demonstrating a significant linkage peak for ADP on 8p12 in the NIMH AD dataset, encompassing the NRG1 region. We also demonstrate that there is a significant association with a NRG1 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism), rs392499, with ADP, χ2 = 7.0, P = 0.008. This same SNP is part of a 3‐SNP haplotype preferentially transmitted to individuals with this phenotype. Our results suggest that NRG1 plays a role in increasing the genetic risk to positive symptoms of psychosis in a proportion of LOAD families. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Local industrial structure, agglomeration economies and the creation of innovative start-ups: evidence from the Italian case

Abstract We explore the local factors associated with the emergence of innovative start-ups fostered by a targeted industrial policy intervention in Italy. We focus on the local industrial fabric and the agglomeration mechanisms, namely localization (specialization) economies, diversification economies and the proximity to large firms. Results show that both localization economies and diversification economies are at play. Notably, a greater presence of large firms at local level seems to support the creation of innovative start-ups. Other factors, such us the presence of technical and scientific universities and the urbanization, are found to encourage their formation. The contribution of local factors to the innovative start-up creation is found to be different depending on the regional development conditions. Our analysis outlines the features of a local ecosystem favourable to the emergence of these firms, providing policy makers with suggestions for moulding industrial policies to regional specific needs and to better exploit the local opportunities.
Confronting Institutionalized Racism

When I was invited to submit a paper for this issue of Phylon, I immediately knew that my topic would be “Confronting Institutionalized Racism. ” That is because I have become convinced that it is only by naming racism, asking the question “How is racism operating here? ” and then mobilizing with others to actually confront the system and dismantle it that we can have any significant or lasting impacts on the pervasive “racial” health disparities that have plagued this country for centuries. However, it has taken me a long time to actually write this piece because each time I started, I had so much to say that I didn’t know where to start or end, or what my tack should be. Should it be a presentation of a scientific roadmap for addressing the impacts of racism on the health and well-being of the nation’s children? Or a review of the domains of racism that should be covered in any measures that we develop or use? Or an outline of strategies we might employ in launching local efforts to combat institutionalized racism in our cities? In the end, I decided on this format, a conversation centered on/in what I consider to be some of the emergent questions facing us today as we seek to understand and intervene on the impacts of racism on the health and well-being of this nation. Some of these questions are: Why discuss racism at all when talking about health? What is racism? What is “race”? Is there something about the environment that we have previously not named that we can usefully describe as the racial climate, and if so, how do we measure it and what is it doing? If we want to confront institutionalized racism, what does that really mean and how do we get started? So sit back in your office chair or your airplane seat or your bed, and wander with me as I raise and seek to answer some of these questions. After all, it is only in the raising of important questions and the naming of the un-nameable that we will be able to focus our tremendous personal and intellectual resources on a system so powerful and pervasive that the majority of Americans are still in denial about its very existence.
A score for assessing the risk of first-time adolescent pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Adolescent pregnancy is an important health issue. Prevention programs are usually aimed at the prevention of repeat pregnancy, ignoring the adolescents at risk of becoming pregnant for the first time. OBJECTIVES To analyse if socio-economic status, family type and mother's age at first pregnancy are risk factors for adolescent pregnancy and to design a risk score of first-time adolescent pregnancy. METHODS A case-control study was performed: cases were primiparous adolescents and controls were primiparous adult women. Participants were asked about their socio-economic status and family structure during adolescence and the age at which their mothers' first pregnancy occurred. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. A first-time adolescent pregnancy risk score was designed based on a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS Sixty-six adolescents and 140 adults were interviewed. Belonging to a family other than nuclear or extended types was an independent risk factor for adolescent pregnancy (OR 9.37, 95% CI 3.36-38.07). Low socio-economic status and having a mother with history of adolescent pregnancy were not independent risk factors (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.34-5.11 and OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.42-4.32, respectively), achieving significance only when simultaneously present (OR 6.01, 95% CI 2.36-20.79). The presence of all these factors determined the highest adolescent pregnancy probability (OR 10.49, 95% CI 3.43-51.00). A first-time adolescent pregnancy risk assessment score was designed, with an estimated sensitivity of 75.8% and specificity of 75.0%. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent pregnancy is associated with unfavorable precedents that can be used to identify adolescents at increased risk of early pregnancy.
Efficacy and safety of periprocedural dabigatran in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND Periprocedural anticoagulation using uninterrupted warfarin could reduce the risk of thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Few studies, however, have evaluated the efficacy and safety of periprocedural dabigatran in AF ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 211 consecutive patients who underwent AF ablation, including 110 patients who received 110mg dabigatran twice daily (group D) and 101 patients who received dose-adjusted warfarin (international normalized ratio, 2.0-3.0; group W), were evaluated. Dabigatran was discontinued on the morning of the procedure, and resumed on the next morning. Warfarin was continued throughout the procedure. During the procedure, heparin infusion was maintained to achieve an activated clotting time of >300s. Postprocedural cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 60 patients (group D, n=31; group W, n=29). No periprocedural deaths or symptomatic thromboembolic complications were observed in either group. MRI indicated a silent cerebral infarction in 1 patient in each group. Five patients in group D and 11 in group W had minor bleeding (P=0.12). Cardiac tamponade occurred in 2 patients in group W, but in none in group D. Total bleeding complications occurred less frequently in group D (4.5%) than in group W (12.9%; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Dabigatran at a dose of 110mg twice daily was safe for AF ablation in patients with a relatively low risk of thromboemboli, suggesting that it may become an alternative to warfarin in those patients.
Carbendazim combined with imazalil or cypermethrin potentiate DNA damage in hepatocytes of mice

Traces of pesticides imazalil, cypermethrin and carbendazim are detected in plants used for human consumption. To explore whether their application in oral combinations will induce DNA breaks in hepatocytes, a subchronic in vivo experiment was performed in Swiss mice. Doses of 10 mg kg–1 of imazalil (im) and cypermethrin (cy), and 20 mg kg–1 of carbendazim (car) and their combinations (im, 10 mg kg–1 + cy, 10 mg kg–1; im, 10 mg kg–1 + car, 20 mg kg–1; car, 20 mg kg–1 + cy, 10 mg kg–1) were applied daily for 28 days. Afterward, DNA damage in hepatocytes was evaluated by comet assay. Individually, imazalil and cypermethrin damaged DNA at alkali-labile sites, while the tail moment (TM) of carbendazim alone was similar to control but with higher tail length. In combination with carbendazim clastogen, properties of imazalils and cypermethrins were potentiated compared to all other treatments and control. There were pronounced sex differences in pattern of fragmentation between treated groups. Higher long tail nuclei (LTN) in females indicate that certain cells in females were especially prone to total nucleus disintegration. Due to synergistic effects, low environmentally present concentrations of imazalil and cypermethrin in food, and especially their mixtures with carbendazim have genotoxic potential that could be particularly dangerous over prolonged exposure in mammalian organism.