Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and assessment of stable formulations containing two herbal antimicrobials: Allium sativum L. and Eruca sativa miller seed oils

Abstract Context: Garlic oil and Eruca oil have been reported to have excellent antimicrobial activity. However, the exact knowledge of their required hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (rHLB) values to facilitate their emulsification are still not reported in the literature. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine rHLB values of Garlic and Eruca oils to formulate an elegant stable cream formulation enriched with both oils. Materials and methods: Emulsions of both oils were prepared by the bottle method using water, Tween 80 and Span 80. Formulated emulsions were evaluated for creaming index (CI), droplet size, and turbidity to determine rHLB. Utilizing determined rHLB, creams were formulated using a combination of two surfactants, Span 60:Brij 58 (1:2.333) at three different concentrations (2, 4, and 6%). Results: rHLB of Garlic oil and Eruca oil was determined to be 7.92 ± 0.27 and 9.76 ± 0.32, respectively. Stable cream (F1) developed with 2% surfactant blend showed elegant rheological properties, the best antimicrobial activity against Staphyococcus aureus ATCC29737, Escherichia coli ATCC25299 S. aureus (MRSA), Malassezia fufur AUMC No. 5173 with no skin irritation. In addition, its texture parameters and pH were found to be consistent over 12 months at 25 ± 1 °C and 60% relative humidity. Discussion: The lowest CI, smallest droplet size, and highest turbidity were obtained at the optimum surfactant concentration in the prepared emulsions. Increasing surfactant blend concentration in cream formulations leads to increasing viscosity and consequently decreasing antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: Determination of the rHLB of Garlic and Eruca oils allows the ease of preparation of stable, consistent, and non-irritant cream.
Values, attitudes, and interpersonal behavior.

A multi-user, multi-task analog/hybrid system having a digital computer and a main digital memory. The programs are run with one of the analog and digital programs becoming time critical. A linkage system having ADC and DAM channels link the data flow between the analog computers and the digital computer. The linking system is controlled to substantially allocate all of the data flow to the time critical analog and digital programs and as available data flow is allocated to nontime critical programs. After allocation, there is automatic data transfer without digital computer intervention.
Intradermal Delivery of TLR Agonists in a Human Explant Skin Model: Preferential Activation of Migratory Dendritic Cells by Polyribosinic-Polyribocytidylic Acid and Peptidoglycans

TLR agonists are attractive candidate adjuvants for therapeutic cancer vaccines as they can induce a balanced humoral and T cell–mediated immune response. With a dense network of dendritic cells (DCs) and draining lymphatics, the skin provides an ideal portal for vaccine delivery. Beside direct DC activation, TLR agonists may also induce DC activation through triggering the release of inflammatory mediators by accessory cells in the skin microenvironment. Therefore, a human skin explant model was used to explore the in vivo potential of intradermally delivered TLR agonists to stimulate Langerhans cells and dermal DCs in their natural complex tissue environment. The skin-emigrated DCs were phenotyped and analyzed for T cell stimulatory capacity. We report that, of six tested TLR-agonists, the TLR2 and -3 agonists peptidoglycan (PGN) and polyribosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) were uniquely able to enhance the T cell–priming ability of skin-emigrated DCs, which, in the case of PGN, was accompanied by Th1 polarization. The enhanced priming capacity of Poly I:C–stimulated DCs was associated with a strong upregulation of appropriate costimulatory molecules, including CD70, whereas that of PGN-stimulated DCs was associated with the release of a broad array of proinflammatory cytokines. Transcriptional profiling further supported the notion that the PGN- and Poly I:C–induced effects were mediated through binding to TLR2/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 and TLR3/MDA5, respectively. These data warrant further exploration of PGN and Poly I:C, alone or in combination, as DC-targeted adjuvants for intradermal cancer vaccines.
Allergenicity of Ascaris lumbricoides Tropomyosin and IgE Sensitization among Asthmatic Patients in a Tropical Environment

Background:Ascaris lumbricoides induces a Th2 response and specific IgE synthesis in humans. This confers antiparasite immunity but could modify the natural history of allergic diseases in the tropics, justifying the study of its allergenic composition. We analyzed the allergenic properties of Ascaris tropomyosin and the frequency of sensitization in subjects exposed to the parasite. Methods: cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription PCR, cloned into pQE30-UA and purified as a 6× His-tagged protein. Equivalence with its natural counterpart was analyzed by cross-inhibition and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Specific IgE was measured by ELISA in 175 asthmatics and 170 nonasthmatics naturally exposed to the parasite and sensitized to the Ascaris extract. Results: The cDNA encoded 287 residues with high sequence identity with other invertebrate tropomyosins. The 40-kDa protein was recognized by human serum and affinity-purified anti-rBlo t 10 IgE. Specific IgE to tropomyosin could represent approximately 50% of the total IgE response to the extract. Ascaris tropomyosin induced wheal and flare in skin prick tests and histamine release from basophils. Although the prevalence of IgE to Ascaris tropomyosin was higher in asthmatic patients, logistic regression analysis suggested that this result was biased by sensitization to mites. Conclusions:A. lumbricoides tropomyosin (Asc l 3) is a new allergen that binds specific IgE, induces mediator release from effector cells and is cross-reactive to mite tropomyosins. IgE reactivity to this allergen is very frequent in both asthmatic and normal subjects sensitized to Ascaris extract. The potential role of Ascaris tropomyosin in asthma pathogenesis in tropical regions should be further investigated.
Stub-Loaded Long-Wire Monopoles Optimized for High Gain Performance

A technique to realize stub-loaded monopoles with enhanced gain performance is introduced in this paper. The omnidirectional high gain is achieved by combining an electrically long monopole with stubs attached at optimal locations along the antenna. In general, the lengths of the stub-loaded monopoles presented in this paper are significantly longer than conventional quarter-wave monopoles. Long wires alone do not provide the desired gain and VSWR performance; the stubs connected to the long monopole are vital in realizing simultaneous high gain and low VSWR at the intended operating frequency. A genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to optimize the locations and lengths of each of the stubs required to meet the design objectives. The results of this work show that between 11 and 12 dBi of gain can be obtained when the stub-loaded monopoles are placed over an infinite ground plane, whereas 8 dBi is obtained for one example when sited over a finite ground plane. A prototype of an optimized stub-loaded monopole was fabricated and tested. Excellent agreement was achieved between the measured and simulated results.
Production of Biodiesel from Sludge Palm Oil by Esterification Process

Sludge palm oil (SPO) is an attractive feedstock and a significant raw material for biodiesel production. The use of SPO can lower the cost of biodiesel production significantly. In this study biodiesel fuel was produced from SPO by esterification process using P-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) as acid catalyst in different dosages in presence of methanol to convert free fatty acid (FFA) to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). Batch esterification process of SPO was carried out to study the influence of PTSA dosage (0.25-10% wt/wt), molar ratio of methanol to SPO (6:1-20:1), temperature (40-80 o C), reaction time (30-120 min). The effects of those parameters on the yield of crude biodiesel and conversion of FFA to FAME were monitored. The optimum condition for batch esterification process was 0.75% wt/wt, 10:1 molar ratio, 60 o C temperature and 60 minutes reaction time.
Implementation challenges for a constructivist physical education curriculum

Background: Curriculum fidelity describes the extent to which a curriculum is implemented faithfully as planned. Curriculum fidelity issues may arise when teachers implement the curriculum inconsistently due to differences in philosophy, barriers in the setting, or other local concerns. Purpose: The study examined challenges that a teacher faced in implementing a constructivist physical education curriculum that had fidelity implications. Research design: Ethnographic case study design was employed in the research. Participants and setting: One physical education teacher, ‘Daniel’, and his students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades participated in the study as they were involved in a curriculum intervention in a large urban school district in the US. Daniel's school was randomly assigned to an experimental group to implement a physical education curriculum based on health/fitness-related science. Data collection: The researchers observed 75 lessons taught by Daniel using non-participant observation techniques and conducted two structured interviews with Daniel and eight interviews with his students. Data analysis: Constant comparison with open and axial coding was used to analyze the observation and interview data. Findings: Two thematic challenges emerged: (1) school contextual constraints that limited the fitness science learning environment in physical education, and (2) Daniel's personal values and preference for a recreational rather than a science-based physical education program. These challenges impacted Daniel's decisions when teaching the curriculum.
EMG evaluation of the floppy infant: Differential diagnosis and technical aspects

Electromyographic examination of the newborn and young infant provides a relatively uncommon challenge to most electromyographers. The usual reason for referral for electromyographic studies in the newborn and young infant is to evaluate a floppy baby. The electromyographer must not only be aware of important differences in normal physiologic parameters but must also be familiar with a spectrum of diseases that are not typically encountered in the adult. The results of electromyography must also be correlated with the normal maturation of neuromuscular function. Although the most common pathophysiologic mechanisms affecting the peripheral motor unit are infantile motor neuron disease and the congenital myopathies, a large number of other disease entities warrant careful consideration.
Experimental infection studies of uk Culicoides species midges with bluetongue virus serotypes 8 and 9

This paper describes a rapid, standardised method for testing the susceptibility to bluetongue virus (btv) of northern Palaearctic Culicoides species midges that can be used to assess the competence of both field-caught and laboratory-infected midges. The method has been used to show that Culicoides scoticus can replicate btv serotype 8 and btv serotype 9 strains to more than 3 log10 tcid50/midge, the first evidence of the potential of this species to transmit btv.
Effectiveness of Female Community Health Volunteers in the Detection and Management of Low-BirthWeight Infants in Nepal

Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major risk factor for neonatal death. However, most neonates in low-income countries are not weighed at birth. This results in many LBW infants being overlooked. Female community health volunteers (FCHVs) in Nepal are non-health professionals who are living in local communities and have already worked in a field of reproductive and child health under the government of Nepal for more than 20 years. The effectiveness of involving FCHVs to detect LBW infants and to initiate prompt action for their care. was studied in rural areas of Nepal. Methods: FCHVs were tasked with weighing all neonates born in selected areas using color-coded spring scales. Supervisors repeated each weighing using electronic scales as the gold standard comparator. Data on the relative birth sizes of the infants, as assessed by their mothers, were also collected and compared with the measured weights. Each of the 205 FCHVs involved in the study was asked about the steps that she would take when she came across a LBW infant, and knowledge of zeroing a spring scale was also assessed through individual interviews. The effect of the background social characteristics of the FCHVs on their performance was examined by logistic regression. This study was nested within a community-based neonatal sepsis management intervention surveillance system, which facilitated an assessment of the performance of the FCHVs in weighing neonates, coverage of FCHVs’ visits, and weighing of babies through maternal interviews. Results: A total of 462 babies were weighed, using both spring scales and electronic scales, within 72 h of birth. The prevalence of LBW, as assessed by the gold standard method, was 28%. The sensitivity of detection of LBW by FCHVs was 89%, whereas the sensitivity of the mothers’ perception of size at birth was only 40%. Of the 205 FCHVs participating in the study, 70% of FCHVs understood what they should do when they identified LBW and very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Ninety-six percent could describe how to zero a scale and approximately 50% could do it correctly. Seventy-seven percent of FCHVs weighed infants at least once during the study period, and 19 of them (12%) miscategorized infant weights. Differences were not detected between the background social characteristics of FCHVs who miscategorized infants and those who did not. On the basis of maternal reporting, 67% of FCHVs who visited infants had weighed them. Conclusions: FCHVs are able to correctly identify LBW and VLBW infants using spring scales and describe the correct steps to take after identification of these infants. Use of FCHVs as newborn care providers allows for utilization of their logistical, geographical, and cultural strengths, particularly a high level of access to neonates, that can complement the Nepalese health care system. Providing additional training to and increasing supervision of local FCHVs regarding birth weight measurement will increase the identification of high-risk neonates in resource-limited settings.
Modulation of nociceptive dural input to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis via activation of the orexin 1 receptor in the rat

Migraine pathophysiology is thought to involve the trigeminal innervation of the dura mater and intracranial blood vessels. Electrical stimulation of dural blood vessels is painful in humans and causes activation of neurons in the caudal‐most portion of the trigeminal nucleus in experimental animals. The hypothalamic neuropeptides orexin A and B are selectively synthesized in the lateral and posterior hypothalamus, and recent findings have implicated their involvement in nociceptive processing. To evaluate the potential for orexin receptor modulation of trigeminovascular nociceptive afferents, we examined the effects of intravenous orexin A and B on responses of neurons in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. To dissect the receptor pharmacology of responses to stimulation we utilized the novel orexin 1 receptor (OX1R) antagonist N‐(2‐methyl‐6‐benzoxazolyl)‐N′′‐1,5‐naphthyridin‐4‐yl urea (SB‐334867). Orexin A 30 µg/kg (F1.9,9.8 = 21.93, P < 0.001) and 50 µg/kg (F3.2,16.4 = 3.28, P < 0.045) inhibited the A‐fibre responses to dural electrical stimulation over 60 min. Maximum inhibition was achieved at 25 min for both 30 µg/kg (t5 = 19.83, n = 6, P < 0.001) and 50 µg/kg (t5 = 7.74, n = 6, P < 0.001). The response with orexin A 30 µg/kg was reversed by pretreatment with the OX1R antagonist SB‐334867 (F3.5,17.5 = 0.49, P = 0.73), which had no effect when given alone. Orexin B and control vehicle administration had no significant effect on trigeminal neuronal firing. The current study demonstrates that orexin A is able to inhibit A‐fibre responses to dural electrical stimulation via activation of the OX1R.
Homotopy methods for multiplication modulo triangular sets

We study the cost of multiplication modulo triangular families of polynomials. Following previous work by Li, Moreno Maza and Schost, we propose an algorithm that relies on homotopy and fast evaluation-interpolation techniques. We obtain a quasi-linear time complexity for substantial families of examples, for which no such result was known before. Applications are given to notably addition of algebraic numbers in small characteristic.
USE AND MISUSE OF BENZODIAZEPINES IN BRAZIL: A REVIEW

Benzodiazepines are among the most prescribed and consumed medication groups in the world. Although benzodiazepines are used in the treatment of several psychiatric and non-psychiatric disorders, and are generally safe and well-tolerated, the potential for misuse and abuse is considerable. This makes the study and regulation of benzodiazepine prescription and consumption an item of concern in public health around the world. Most developed countries have consistent data of benzodiazepine sales and consumption; however, data from developing countries is scarce, making health policies on the use of benzodiazepines a much tougher issue in these countries. This article aims to review the epidemiology of benzodiazepine use in Brazil, as well as to analyze how legislation, physician misinformation and economic factors might contribute to making benzodiazepine abuse a problem in the country.
Mechanism of aldose reductase inhibition: binding of NADP+/NADPH and alrestatin-like inhibitors.

Aldose reductase enfolds NADP+/NADPH via a complex loop mechanism, with cofactor exchange being the rate-limiting step for the overall reaction. This study measures the binding constants of these cofactors in the wild-type enzyme, as well as a variety of active-site mutants (C298A, Y48H, Y48F, Y209F, H110A, W219A, and W20A), and seeks to identify the binding site and mechanism of the aldose reductase inhibitor alrestatin in the recombinant human enzyme. All the mutant enzymes, regardless of their enzyme activities, have normal or only slightly elevated coenzyme binding constants, suggesting a tertiary structure similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. Binding of alrestatin was detected by fluorescence assays, and by an ultrafiltration assay which measures the fraction of unbound alrestatin. Alrestatin binds preferentially to the enzyme/NADP+ complex, consistent with the steady-state inhibition pattern. Alrestatin binding and enzyme inhibition were abolished in the Tyr48 mutants Y48F and Y48H, implicating the positively charged anion well formed by the Asp43-/Lys77+/Tyr48(0)/NADP+ complex in inhibitor binding (Harrison et al., 1994; Bohren et al., 1994). The enzyme mutant W20A severely affected the inhibitory potencies of a variety of commercially developed aldose reductase inhibitors (zopolrestat, tolrestat, FK366, AL1576, alrestatin, ponalrestat, and sorbinil). Inhibition by citrate, previously shown to bind to the positively charged anion well, was not affected by this mutation. Inhibitors with flexible double aromatic ring systems (Zopolrestat, FK366, and ponalrestat) were less affected than others possessing a single aromatic ring system, suggesting that the additional pharmacophor ring system stabilizes the inhibitor by interaction at some other hydrophobic site. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Soft tissue sarcoma and occupational exposures

The associations between soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and occupational exposures were studied in a case‐referent study in the southeast of Sweden. Exposure information was obtained through mailed questionnaires to 96 cases, 450 randomly selected population referents, and 200 cancer referents. Odds ratios (OR), were calculated for various occupational groups, and particularly, for occupations with potential exposure to chlorinated phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols. In the analyses based on population referents, increased risks for soft tissue sarcoma were seen for especially gardeners (OR = 4.1), but also railroad workers (OR = 3.1); construction workers with exposure to impregnating agents (OR = 2.3), asbestos (OR = 1.8), or pressure impregnating agents (OR = 1.7); and unspecified chemical workers with potential exposure to phenoxy herbicides and/or chlorophenols (OR = 1.6). A similar pattern appeared when cancer referents were used although the numerical values of the odds ratios became different. A grouping of jobs resulted in Mantel‐Haensel OR from 1.5 to 1.9 for farmers and forestry workers, dependent on referents used and even more increased OR for railroad workers and unspecified chemical workers with potential exposure to phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols. The results of the study confirm rather than refute that phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols could be of etiologic importance for STS; the high risk for gardeners, although based on a small number of individuals, was unexpected and remains unclear. Also, since other cancers were used as referents, no definite problems of recall bias should obtain in this material. None of the exposed groups had a higher proportion of smokers than the unexposed group.
Formation of novel hydrophobic complexes between cationic lipids and plasmid DNA.

An ability to generate a well defined lipid-based carrier system for the delivery of plasmid DNA in vivo requires the characterization of factors governing DNA/lipid interactions and carrier formation. We report that a hydrophobic DNA/lipid complex can be formed following addition of cationic lipids to DNA in a Bligh and Dyer monophase consisting of chloroform/methanol/water (1:2.1:1). Subsequent partitioning of the monophase into a two-phase system allows for the extraction of DNA into the organic phase. When using monovalent cationic lipids, such as dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide, dioleyldimethylammonium chloride, and 1,2-dioleyl-3-N,N,N-trimethylaminopropane chloride, greater than 95% of the DNA present can be recovered in the organic phase when the lipid is added at concentrations sufficient to neutralize DNA phosphate charge. When the polyvalent cationic lipids 2,3-dioleyloxy-N-[2(sperminecarboxamido)ethyl]-N,N-dimethyl- 1- propanaminium trifluoroacetate and diheptadecylamidoglycyl spermidine are used, efficient extraction of the DNA into the organic phase is also achieved when the charge ratio between lipid and DNA is approximately equal. Formation of the hydrophobic DNA complex can only be achieved with cationic lipids. In the absence of added cations or in the presence of excess Ca2+, L-lysine, or poly(L-lysine), 100% of the DNA is recovered in the aqueous fraction. The monovalent cationic lipid/DNA complexes can also be prepared in the presence of detergent; however, low concentrations of NaCl (< 1 mM) lead to dissociation of the complex. Importantly, these results clearly demonstrate that cationic lipid binding does not lead to DNA condensation. The methods described, therefore, enable DNA/lipid complexes to be characterized in the absence of DNA condensation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)