Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PHYLOGENETIC AND BIOGEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SOME HOLARCTIC FROG LUNG FLUKES (DIGENEA: HAEMATOLOECHIDAE)

A phylogenetic study of 8 North American and European species of frog lung flukes belonging to Haematoloechus was conducted using approximately 850 to 1,000 bases of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS 1 + 5.8S + ITS 2) and 1,250 bases of the large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. Adequate phylogenetic resolution could not be obtained from 5.8S or ITS 2 data. Analysis of ITS 1 data produced 2 equally parsimonious trees that differed only in the position of Haematoloechus breviplexus relative to H. medioplexus and H. varioplexus. Single, identical trees were produced by analysis of both LSU sequence data and a data set comprised of all ITS and LSU data. All trees demonstrated 3 distinct evolutionary lineages within the Holarctic Haematoloechus examined. The results confirmed the taxonomic validity of H. abbreviatus and demonstrated that the presence or absence of extracecal uterine loops is not a character meaningful to the recognition of evolutionary lineages or differentiation of genera. Examination of ITS sequence data revealed almost no intraspecific variation within 5 species of Haematoloechus and demonstrated an approximately 150-base indel common to the North American H. longiplexus and the European H. asper. Two of 3 clades revealed by the phylogenetic analyses are comprised of both European and North American species, indicating that lineages of Haematoloechus arose before the breakup of Laurasia and radiated after Eurasia and North America split. Within each of 3 evolutionary lineages, members share similar patterns of arthropod host specificity distinct from patterns found in the other lineages. This suggests that second intermediate host specificity may be a trait that has been conserved through evolutionary time.
Surgical Management of Multiple Painful Rib Nonunions in Patient With a History of Severe Shoulder Girdle Trauma: A Case Report and Literature Review

The authors report painful nonunions after multiple rib fractures in a 50-year-old man who sustained a displaced scapula fracture and multiple ipsilateral rib fractures. The rib nonunions were reconstructed after an 11-month trial of nonoperative management, which was unsuccessful. The nonunions healed and symptoms completely resolved.
Hyperfibrinogen Is Associated With the Systemic Inflammatory Response and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic prediction value of plasma fibrinogen level for overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods A total of 321 patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma were retrospectively recruited. The association between plasma fibrinogen level and OS was analyzed. We also evaluated the relationship between plasma fibrinogen level and the systemic inflammatory response markers: the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelets/lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio. Results High plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly correlated with shorter OS in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (175 days for patients with high fibrinogen levels vs 357 days for patients with low fibrinogen levels; log rank, 22.949; P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses confirmed that plasma fibrinogen level was an independent prognostic predictor for OS (hazard ratio, 2.184; 95% confidence interval, 1.574–3.032; P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that including plasma fibrinogen level alongside traditional factors (tumor stage and CA 19-9) significantly improved prognostic prediction capability (traditional model area under the curve of 0.62 versus combined model area under the curve of 0.708; P = 0.016). In addition, plasma fibrinogen level was positively correlated with neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelets/lymphocyte ratio and negatively correlated with lymphocyte/monocyte ratio. Conclusions Hyperfibrinogen is associated with the systemic inflammatory response and predicts poor prognosis for advanced pancreatic cancer.
Exocrine pancreatic function assessed by secretin cholangio-Wirsung magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is useful to assess exocrine pancreatic function by combining rapid imaging acquisition with the administration of secretin, a gastrointestinal hormone that stimulates the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice. However, extensive data on this method are lacking. This study aimed to determine whether MRCP with secretin administration is able to simultaneously detect alterations of both the pancreatic ducts and exocrine pancreatic function. METHODS All subjects older than 18 years who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cholangio-Wirsung magnetic resonance imaging (CWMRI) for suspicion of benign or malignant pancreatic diseases from January 2006 to December 2006 were enrolled in the study. MRI and CWMRI were carried out using a dedicated apparatus. RESULTS Eighty-seven patients (46 males, 41 females, mean age 59.7+/-14.6, range 27-87 years) were enrolled. Of the 87 patients, 39 had a normal pancreas on imaging, 20 had an intrapapillary mucinous tumor (IPMT), and the rest had chronic pancreatitis (7), serous cystadenoma (6), a previous attack of acute biliary pancreatitis (5), congenital ductal abnormalities (5), mucinous cystadenoma (3), previous pancreatic head resection for autoimmune pancreatitis (1), or cholangiocarcinoma (1). Morphologically, we found two pseudocysts (one of the 7 patients with chronic pancreatitis, and one of the 5 patients after an attack of acute pancreatitis; the latter pseudocyst communicated with the main pancreatic duct). Calcifications were found in 3 of the 7 patients with chronic pancreatitis. All patients with IPMT and mucinous cystadenoma and 3 patients with serous cystadenoma were histologically confirmed. The remaining patients were followed up adequately to confirm the diagnosis by imaging. According to the Matos criteria, 73 patients (83.9%) were of grade 3, 8 grade 2, 4 grade 1, and 2 grade 0. The only pancreatic diseases which impaired the exocrine pancreatic secretion stimulated by secretin were chronic pancreatitis (57.1% of the patients, grade 0-1) and the IPMT mixed type in 2 of the 4 patients was grade 1. CONCLUSION Secretin MRCP is a useful technique to simultaneously detect the presence of alterations of the pancreatic ducts and exocrine pancreatic function.
A plant root system architectural taxonomy: A framework for root nomenclature

Abstract Research into root system morphology over the last two centuries has developed a diverse set of terminologies that are difficult to apply consistently across species and research specialties. In response to a need for better communication, a workshop held by the International Society for Root Research established some nomenclature standards for root research. These standards and their justification are presented in this study. A framework for a root system architectural taxonomy is created by defining four main classes of root: the tap root, that is, the first root to emerge from the seed; lateral roots, which are branches of other roots; shoot‐borne roots, which arise from shoot tissues; and basal roots, which develop from the hypocotyl, that is, the organ which is between the base of the shoot and the base of the tap root. It is concluded that adherence to the presented taxonomy will reduce confusion and eliminate some of the current confounding of results.
Status of adverse drug reaction monitoring and pharmacovigilance in selected countries

The main responsibility of any drug regulatory authority is to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of all marketed products. The first two criteria can be established through data obtained from in vitro testing to ensure compliance with acceptable standards and data obtained from animal studies, preclinical and clinical trials involving humans. It is a well-established fact that pre-marketing clinical trials do not have the statistical power to detect rare adverse drug reactions (ADRs) nor do they have significant follow-up to identify delayed ADRs or effects from long-term exposure. In view of this, pharmacovigilance plays a prominent role in establishing the safety profile of marketed drugs. Originally a modest appendix of drug regulation; it has become a major activity now.
Management of acutely ill patients in the hospital setting: focus on quetiapine

We have considered published work and clinical experience focusing on the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine in order to form a consensus on the most appropriate treatment strategies for hospitalised patients with acute schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It is important to consider the specific treatment needs of these patients and these are discussed in the context of current treatment guidelines. We will review the efficacy and tolerability of atypical antipsychotics versus conventional antipsychotics and/or benzodiazepines as a first-line treatment, and examine the suitability of oral versus intramuscular formulations in the acute setting. The potentially beneficial properties of specific atypical agents are also considered. Appropriate dosing is particularly important in acutely ill patients as it can help achieve rapid improvement. We will discuss emerging data which show that rapid initiation of quetiapine in patients with acute psychosis or mania is not only as effective as standard initiation, but is also well tolerated. This may be important for treatment in the long term as a positive initial treatment experience can determine patient compliance and treatment adherence. In conclusion, this review recommends that oral atypical antipsychotics should be a first-choice medication for acutely ill cooperative patients in the hospital setting.
Comparison of nonspecific reactivity in indirect and reverse immunoassays for measles and mumps immunoglobulin M antibodies

Serum specimens collected from patients convalescing from acute measles or mumps infections, other viral infections, or rheumatoid arthritis and from blood donors were tested in indirect and reverse assays for measles and mumps immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. All the samples from patients convalescing from acute mumps and measles infections gave positive IgM results in both tests. However, 6% of sera from patients recovering from other viral infections, 68.4% of sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 5.6% of sera from normal blood donors gave false-positive results by the indirect measles IgM enzyme immunoassay (EIA). By the indirect mumps IgM EIA, 9% of sera from other viral infections, 70.1% of sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 5.6% of sera from normal blood donors gave false-positive reactions. The reverse test system for measles IgM gave false-positive results in 1.5% of sera from the group with other viral infections, and the reverse mumps EIA gave false-positive results in 0.9% of the patients. Other sera groups did not react in either measles or mumps reverse IgM assays. The results indicated that although nonspecific reactions are frequent in indirect IgM tests for viral antibodies, such reactions are rarely encountered when reverse IgM EIA tests are employed.
Altered Chloroplast Development and Delayed Fruit Ripening Caused by Mutations in a Zinc Metalloprotease at the lutescent2 Locus of Tomato1[W][OA]

The chloroplast is the site of photosynthesis in higher plants but also functions as the center of synthesis for primary and specialized metabolites including amino acids, fatty acids, starch, and diverse isoprenoids. Mutants that disrupt aspects of chloroplast function represent valuable tools for defining structural and biochemical regulation of the chloroplast and its interplay with whole-plant structure and function. The lutescent1 (l1) and l2 mutants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) possess a range of chlorophyll-deficient phenotypes including reduced rates of chlorophyll synthesis during deetiolation and enhanced rates of chlorophyll loss in leaves and fruits as they age, particularly in response to high-light stress and darkness. In addition, the onset of fruit ripening is delayed in lutescent mutants by approximately 1 week although once ripening is initiated they ripen at a normal rate and accumulation of carotenoids is not impaired. The l2 locus was mapped to the long arm of chromosome 10 and positional cloning revealed the existence of a premature stop codon in a chloroplast-targeted zinc metalloprotease of the M50 family that is homologous to the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) gene ETHYLENE-DEPENDENT GRAVITROPISM DEFICIENT AND YELLOW-GREEN1. Screening of tomato germplasm identified two additional l2 mutant alleles. This study suggests a role for the chloroplast in mediating the onset of fruit ripening in tomato and indicates that chromoplast development in fruit does not depend on functional chloroplasts.
Myeloid Leukemia Cell Growth and Differentiation Are Independent of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase ERK1/2 Activation*

The mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK1/2 pathway is essential in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation in most cellular systems. As such, it has been considered a potential target for antineoplastic therapy. For this purpose, we have examined the role of ERK activation in myeloid leukemia cell growth and differentiation. Using a representative set of myeloid leukemia cell lines, we show that cell proliferation was not accompanied by increases on ERK1/2 activation, and mitogenic stimulation did not enhance ERK activity. Moreover, abolition of ERK function by the inhibitor PD98059 or by a dominant inhibitory mutant ERK2 had no significant effects on proliferation. With the aid of various differentiation inducers, we found that within the same cell line, differentiation to a given lineage could occur with and without ERK1/2 activation, depending on the stimulus. Also, a differentiator could have the same effect in the presence or absence of ERK stimulation, depending on the cell line. ERK inhibition did not affect the differentiation elicited by stimuli whose effects were accompanied by ERK activation. Finally, constitutive ERK activity was also ineffective on proliferation and differentiation. Thus, our results indicate that ERK1/2 activation is not an essential requirement for leukemic cell growth and differentiation.
Effects of 2-Deoxy-d-Glucose on Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Endothelial Cells

2-Deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) is a glucose analogue that has been proposed for cancer therapy due to its cytostatic properties. Its effect on the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells has not been fully clarified. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of 2-DG on the proliferation of porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) and porcine smooth muscle cells (PSMC), to establish an overview of its dose-dependent inhibitory capacity and to examine whether the short-term incubation of cells with 2-DG has an impact on cell proliferation in culture. Our results showed a dose-dependent significant inhibitory effect on proliferation, which was more pronounced in PSMC than in PAEC. Even after short-term incubation of cells with 2-DG, relevant inhibition of proliferation was documented. The clinical application of 2-DG might be a promising concept by inhibiting cells that show a potentially rapid proliferation in response to non-malignant stimuli, such as smooth muscle cells after intracoronary stenting.
Gender differences in viral infection after repeated exercise stress.

UNLABELLED Fatiguing exercise can increase susceptibility to respiratory infection after intranasal inoculation with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) in male mice. Although gender differences in susceptibility to certain pathogens do exist, it is unknown whether female mice will respond differently than males in response to strenuous exercise and HSV-1 infection. PURPOSE To test the effects of gender on susceptibility to HSV-1 respiratory infection after repeated exhaustive exercise. METHODS Male (N = 86) and female (N = 89) CD-1 mice (approximately 60 d old) were randomly assigned to exercise (Ex) or control (C) groups. Exercise consisted of 3 d of treadmill running at 36 m x min(-1) at 8% grade until volitional fatigue (135 +/- 5min). Fifteen minutes after the last bout of exercise, Ex and C mice were inoculated intranasally with a standard dose (LD30) of HSV-1. Mice were monitored for 21 d for morbidity (time to sickness and symptom severity) and mortality. RESULTS Run time to fatigue was significantly longer in females than males (P = 0.027). Significant gender differences in susceptibility to infection were found after exercise stress. In males, exercise stress resulted in increased morbidity (66%, P < 0.05) and mortality (30%, P < 0.05) whereas in females, exercise stress only resulted in increased morbidity (66%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Results suggest that although males and females have similar morbidity rates after infection and exercise stress, females recover to a greater extent and are ultimately better protected from death.
A few remarks on relating reaction time to magnocellular activity

Studies have found dyslexic readers to have longer reaction times than nondyslexic readers. These results have been discussed relative to the hypothesis that dyslexia is caused by a magnocellular deficit. We here point out that attempts to link reaction times in dyslexic readers to magnocellular sensitivity face at least two serious problems: (a) The reaction time differences between dyslexics and controls appear too large to be attributable to deficits in the magnocellular system; (b) there is evidence to suggest that in the case of stimuli with contrast above about 10% behavioral reaction times may reflect parvocellular rather than magnocellular activity.
Running Asymmetries during a 5-Km Time Trial and their Changes over Time

Gait Asymmetry during Running Was Proven to Be Inefficient, Uneconomical and a Possible Risk Factor for injury. Research has either been conducted in laboratory settings or only discontinuous data were collected. Hence, the present study evaluated gait asymmetries in elite runners by quantifying the differences between ground contact times (GCT) of the right and left foot and their continuous changes over the course of a 5-km time trial. Data of 25 female and male runners of the Swiss orienteering national team were obtained during a 5-km competition on a 400-m outdoor track. By means of the inertial sensor PARTwear, GCT of every step were assessed, divided into GCT of the left and right foot and averaged over 200-m sections. The results revealed an overall asymmetry of 2.6%, significant (p < 0.01) longer GCT during left than right foot contacts and no changes in asymmetry over the course. This is the first study presenting data on asymmetries in elite athletes during a competitive time trial. In conclusion, low and consistent GCT asymmetries were observed. The examined athletes had a balanced running style and showed no adverse asymmetry with emerging fatigue, which in turn could affect acute performance and increase injury risk.
Distractor Ratio and Grouping Processes in Visual Conjunction Search

According to feature integration theory, conjunction search is conducted via a serial self-terminating search. However, effects attributed to search processes operating on the entire display may actually reflect search restricted to elements defined by a single feature. In experiment 1 this question is addressed in a reaction-time (RT) paradigm by varying distractor ratios within an array of fixed size. For trials in which the target was present in the array, RT functions were roughly symmetric, the shortest RTs being for extreme distractor ratios, and the longest RTs being for arrays in which there were an equal number of each distractor type. This result is superficially consistent with Zohary and Hochstein's interpretation that subjects search for only one distractor type and are able to switch search strategy from trial to trial. However, negative-trial data from experiment 1 cast doubt on this interpretation. In experiment 2 the possible role of ‘pop out’ and of distractor grouping in visual conjunction search is investigated. Results of experiment 2 suggest that grouping may play a more important role than does distractor ratio, and point to the importance of the spatial layout of the target and of the distractor elements in visual conjunction search. Results of experiment 2 also provide clear evidence that groups of spatially adjacent homogeneous elements may be processed as a unit.
The folate cycle is a new metabolic weakness of cancer

ABSTRACT Cancer cells harness nutrients to support its rapid proliferation through metabolic reprogramming. Our report identified folate cycle as a metabolic target in hepatocellular carcinoma. Folate cycle stagnation via inhibition of its mitochondrial folate enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1-like (MTHFD1L) greatly induced oxidative stress improving HCC cells' response to sorafenib.
Efecto Residual de la Fertilización del Cultivo de Papa Sobre el Cultivo de Haba (Vicia faba L) en el Sistema de Rotación

Durante la campana agricola 1993-1994, en la Estacion Experimental Toralapa en Cochabamba, Bolivia, se evaluo el efecto residual de niveles de fertilizacion mineral (nitrogeno y fosforo) y de la aplicacion de cal viva (Ca(OH)2) en el comportamiento agronomico del haba (Vicia faba L.). Este estudio es la continuacion de trabajos iniciados por el Programa de Investigacion de la Papa (PROINPA), sobre la fertilizacion del cultivo de la papa en 1991-1992 y los efectos residuales en los cultivos de rotacion como la cebada y el haba. Los analisis de suelos mostraron que el nutriente mas afectado por los niveles de fertilizacion fue el fosforo, con una alta disponibilidad en el suelo en el segundo ano de rotacion. En cambio, el efecto residual de la aplicacion de cal incremento los valores de pH, calcio, magnesio y la Capacidad de Intercambio Cationico (CIC). Los principales resultados indican que el efecto residual de la cal, independientemente de las dosis aplicadas (10 o 20t/ha), permiten incrementar los componentes del rendimiento en materia seca de haba: la fitomasa aerea de 49%, la nodulacion bacteriana (223%), y el rendimiento en grano seco (46%) con respecto al testigo. Esto demuestra el prolongado efecto residual de la cal y su efecto positivo en la productividad del cultivo de haba. Se determino tambien que el cultivo de haba es el segundo cultivo mas rentable despues de la papa en el sistema de rotacion que tambien incluye la cebada. El valor actualizado neto(VAN) para el sistema de rotacion (papa, cebada y haba) muestra que el nivel de 40-80-0 kg/ha de N y P2O5 combinado con 10 t/ha de cal viva es el que proporciona el mayor beneficio con 12,520 Bs/ha. (US$1=Bs 4.65). Se necesita continuar los estudios para establecer dosis optimas de cal.Aceptado para publicacion: julio 1997.
Bandwidth extension of analog multiplier using dynamic threshold MOS transistor

This paper presents an attractive approach for bandwidth extension of a four quadrant CMOS analog multiplier. The proposed approach is based on using dynamic threshold MOS transistor (DTMOS) which is an effective technique that achieves supply voltage reduction with a simultaneous increase in the overall transconductance of the MOS transistor. The proposed multiplier can operate at very high frequencies at low supply voltage of 0.6V without any distortion. The proposed approach increases the bandwidth of multiplier by 4.6GHz at unity gain. This multiplier is simulated at 180nm technology and has high gain in comparison to previous reported circuit. The proposed approach optimizes multiplier bandwidth and thus more suitable for high frequency and low voltage applications.