Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of exercise training on hippocampus concentrations of insulin and IGF‐1 in diabetic rats

The present study investigated the role of swimming training on cerebral metabolism and hippocampus concentrations of insulin and IGF‐1 in diabetic rats. Wistar rats were divided in sedentary control (SC), trained control (TC), sedentary diabetic (SD), and trained diabetic (TD). Diabetes was induced by Alloxan (35 mg kg−1 b.w.). Training program consisted in swimming 5 days/week, 1 h/day, 8 weeks, supporting a load corresponding to 90% of maximal lactate steady state (MLSS). For MLSS determination, rats were submitted to three sessions of 25‐min supporting loads of 4, 5, or 6% of body wt, with intervals of 1 week. Blood samples were collected every 5 min for lactate determination. An acute exercise test (25 min to 90% of MLSS) was done in 7th week to confirm the efficacy of training. All dependent variables were analyzed by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a significance level of P < 0.05 was used for all comparisons. The Bonferroni test was used for post hoc comparisons. At the end of the training period, rats were sacrificed and sample blood was collected for determinations of serum glucose, insulin, GH, and IGF‐1. Samples of gastrocnemius muscle and liver were removed to evaluate glycogen content. Hippocampus was extracted to determinate glycogen, insulin, and IGF‐1 contents. Diabetes decreased serum GH, IGF‐1, and liver glycogen stores in SD. Diabetes also increased hippocampus glycogen and reduced hippocampus IGF‐1 content. Physical training recovered liver and hippocampus glycogen stores and promoted increases in serum IGF‐1 in TD group. Physical training restored hippocampus IGF‐1 content in diabetic group. It was concluded that in diabetic rats, physical training induces important metabolic and hormonal alterations that areassociated with an improvement in glucose homeostasis and with an increased activity in the systemic and hippocampus IGF‐1 peptide. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The right atrium, a forgotten cardiac chamber: An updated review of multimodality imaging

Despite several limitations, two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is the standard method for assessing the right atrium (RA) in everyday clinical routine. Cardiac magnetic resonance remains the current “gold standard” for RA visualization and volume quantification. The development of 2DE‐derived strain imaging has enabled assessing RA deformation and phasic function in various pathologic conditions. Three‐dimensional echocardiography was demonstrated to be more accurate and reproducible than 2DE for cardiac chamber quantification, while also allowing the evaluation of RA phasic function without geometric assumption. The purpose of this review is to summarize currently available data about RA anatomy, phasic function, and mechanics acquired by different imaging modalities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 43:335–345, 2015
Telephone help line for cancer counseling and cancer information.

PURPOSE A telephone help line for providing cancer counseling and information was started in 1990 at the University Hospital of Uppsala, Sweden. The current study aimed to assess the experience of the telephone help line after 3 years of operation and to compare the results with telephone services in other countries. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY For each telephone call, a standard report form was completed and a short narrative description of the caller's concerns was written. RESULTS During the first 3 years, 735 calls were registered. Most of the calls were made by next of kin (30%) and patients (28%). Most (77%) of callers were women. The issues addressed were mainly medical or psychosocial. The medical questions were, in most cases, related to a patient's illness or treatment. The psychosocial questions dealt with the caller's (patient or next of kin) own anxiety, and these calls developed into supportive dialogues. Patients made more medical inquiries than next of kin, whereas family members were more concerned with psychosocial questions (P < 0.01). Questions relating to breast cancer accounted for a great part of the calls from patients (34%), but significantly less from the relatives (10%; P < 0.0001), whereas the opposite was true for colorectal adenocarcinomas (P < 0.01). These findings are discussed together with cultural differences between Sweden and other countries, particularly the United States. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The telephone help line can supply information to patients, next of kin, and the general public on their own premises. Another important task is to function as a link between people with symptoms and appropriate health service.
THE EFFECTS OF AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON THE ADRENAL GLAND OF ADULT WISTAR RATS

Grain of paradise (Aframomum melegueta [Roscoe] K. Schum.) seeds are used in West Africa as a remedy for variety of ailments such as stomachache, snakebite, diarrhea and they have reported anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the seeds contain gingerols and related compounds that may be useful against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and inflammation. A 28-day sub-chronic toxicity study in adult wistar rats was conducted to evaluate the safety of Aframomum melegueta aqueous extract on the adrenal gland. Twenty wistar rats weighing between 180-215kg were used. They were grouped into four groups of five animals. Group A served as the control and received 0.35ml of distilled water, the experimental groups B,C & D received 0.55ml, 0.65ml and 0.75ml of aqueous extract of Aframomum melegueta respectively for twenty eight days. Twenty four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, anaesthesized using chloroform inhalation method and dissected. Organ (adrenal gland) tissues were removed, weighed and trimmed down to a size of 3mm × 3mm thick and fixed in 10% formalin for histological studies. There were body weight gain in the experimental groups compared with the control. The organ (adrenal gland) weight of the experimental groups were statistically similar with the control. There was no apparent toxicity assessed by histological examination.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Gynecologic Malignancies

AbstractThere is mounting evidence that the immune system plays an important role in the development and growth of gynecologic malignancies, and preliminary studies show activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in ovarian, endometrial, and cervix cancer. In this review, we outline the completed trials of immune checkpoint blockade in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. In addition, we review the ongoing trials in each disease site. The questions of which patients will benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors and when immune checkpoint inhibitors should be incorporated into the treatment of gynecologic malignancies continue to be largely unanswered. As preclinical and clinical data emerge regarding predictive markers for response and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, rational combination treatment strategies will help to further develop this emerging field in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies.
Telemark skiing injuries: characteristics and risk factors

Objective To determine the types of injuries associated with telemark skiing and the effects of ability level, equipment, and terrain. Methods A survey was mailed to a sample of North American telemark skiers. Results Completed surveys were returned by 548 telemarkers (response rate = 74.5%). The mean age was 42.7 (±9.3) years, and 69% were male. A total of 439 injury events resulted in 494 body injuries, reported by 285 skiers (52%). Lower-extremity injuries (n = 231) were more frequent than upper-extremity injuries (n = 187). Knee injuries were most common with 128 cases, followed by 80 thumb, 66 shoulder, and 44 ankle injuries. Surgery was required in 39 cases. Skiers suffering thumb injuries with sequela lasting greater than 3 months were 10.1 times less likely to have sought medical attention than skiers with other long-term injuries (p < 0.001). Injuries occurred more often at lift-served ski areas (74.2%) than in the backcountry (25.8% [p < 0.001, OR = 2.09]). There was no association between boot type and overall knee or ankle injury, but risk of severe ankle injury was increased in leather boots compared to plastic (OR = 8.0, CI = 1.05, 60.59). Release bindings were used by 27.9% of all skiers but were in use in only 18.7% of injury events, suggesting that release plates have a protective effect against injury (OR = 0.59, p < 0.001). In 66 of 82 injuries (80.5%) sustained while using release bindings, the bindings did not release. Conclusions The knee, thumb, shoulder, and ankle are most frequently injured telemark skiing. Injuries are more likely to occur at lift-served areas than in the backcountry. Thumb injuries are often ignored and may result in long-term sequela. Ankle injuries appear more severe in leather boots. Release bindings appear protective against injury, but they often do not release.
Neuronal gene transfer by baculovirus‐derived vectors accommodating a neurone‐specific promoter

Recombinant baculoviruses have been employed as gene delivery vectors for mammalian cells, including neurones, during recent years. The aim of the current study was to develop a new recombinant baculovirus vector capable of enhancing gene expression in neurones. A hybrid promoter constructed by fusing the enhancer of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediately early promoter to the human platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) β‐chain promoter was placed into a baculovirus expression cassette. In cultured neurones, baculovirus vectors containing the hybrid promoter augmented transgene expression up to 100‐fold greater than that mediated by titre‐matched baculovirus vectors with the PDGF promoter alone. Double immunostaining of tissue sections collected from the striatum and the retina injected with the new baculovirus vector demonstrated its specificity in driving gene expression almost exclusively in neurones, confirming the feasibility of using a tissue‐specific promoter in the context of baculovirus vectors to provide cell type‐specific transgene expression. The attributes of the new baculovirus vector might have practical implications for gene therapy in the nervous system.
Opioid Pharmacogenetics of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is one of the most common and devastating diseases in the world. Given the tremendous heterogeneity of alcohol-addicted individuals, it is unlikely that one medication will help nearly all patients. Thus, there is a clear need to develop predictors of response to existing medications. Naltrexone is a m-opioid receptor antagonist, which has been approved in the United States for treatment of alcohol addiction since 1994. It has limited efficacy, in part because of noncompliance, but many patients do not respond despite high levels of compliance. There are reports that a missense single nucleotide polymorphism (rs179919 or A118G) in the m-opioid receptor gene predicts a favorable response to naltrexone if an individual carries a “G” allele. This work will review the evidence for this hypothesis. The data are promising that the “G” allele predisposes to a beneficial naltrexone response among alcohol-addicted persons, but additional research is needed to prove this hypothesis in prospective clinical trials.
Changes in the expression of some neuropeptides in the intestines and nerve ganglia during the porcine dysentery

The study was designed to investigate the changes in the expression of GAL, VIP, SOM, NPY, SP and CGRP in the porcine intestines (ileum and colon), as well as nerve ganglia (IMG, CSMG, DRG), in the course of swine dysentery in comparison with control animals. Experimental animals were infected per os with Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. After the clinical symptoms of the disease developed, the animals were sacrificed and the above mentioned tissues, as well as relevant tissues from control animals, were dissected out. In the tissue samples the concentrations of the neuropeptides were assayed with ELISA. The assays revealed that all the examined neuropeptides were present in the tissues of the experimental and control animals. The most statistically significant differences were those concerning the concentration of GAL in IMG, DRG, and colon, those concerning the concentration of VIP in CSMG and IMG, concentration of SOM in the ileum, IMG, DRG and CSMG, concentration of NPY in CSMG, DRG and IMG, as well as concentration of SP in IMG.
NEW CONSTRAINTS ON THE GALACTIC HALO MAGNETIC FIELD USING ROTATION MEASURES OF EXTRAGALACTIC SOURCES TOWARD THE OUTER GALAXY

We present a study of the Milky Way disk and halo magnetic field, determined from observations of Faraday rotation measure (RM) toward 641 polarized extragalactic radio sources in the Galactic longitude range 100°–117°, within 30° of the Galactic plane. For |b| < 15°, we observe a symmetric RM distribution about the Galactic plane. This is consistent with a disk field in the Perseus arm of even parity across the Galactic mid-plane. In the range 15° < |b| < 30°, we find median RMs of −15 ± 4 rad m−2 and −62 ± 5 rad m−2 in the northern and southern Galactic hemispheres, respectively. If the RM distribution is a signature of the large-scale field parallel to the Galactic plane, then this suggests that the halo magnetic field toward the outer Galaxy does not reverse direction across the mid-plane. The variation of RM as a function of Galactic latitude in this longitude range is such that RMs become more negative at larger |b|. This is consistent with an azimuthal magnetic field of strength 2 μG (7 μG) at a height 0.8–2 kpc above (below) the Galactic plane between the local and the Perseus spiral arm. We propose that the Milky Way could possess spiral-like halo magnetic fields similar to those observed in M51.
A hierarchical approach for job scheduling in grid computing based on resource prediction and meta-heuristic algorithms

The computational grids as a distributed system are hardware and software infrastructures that are capable of solving large-scale issues, and they use heterogeneous or homogeneous resources scattered around the globe by a high-speed network. Scheduling is a critical and prominent issue in grid computing. An appropriate prediction method for allocating jobs to resources may significantly affect quality of service parameters. In this paper, a hierarchical approach is presented for job scheduling in computational grid utilizing a resource prediction method based on the scoring system. It is inspired by meta-heuristic algorithms in order to improve parameters such as makespan, load balancing and the rate of meeting deadlines. To evaluate the proposed method, GridSim toolkit is exploited. According to the simulation results and comparison with some recent wellknown methods, this approach has been successful in improving the mentioned parameters.
Crassulacean acid metabolism and fitness under water deficit stress: if not for carbon gain, what is facultative CAM good for?

BACKGROUND In obligate Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), up to 99 % of CO(2) assimilation occurs during the night, therefore supporting the hypothesis that CAM is adaptive because it allows CO(2) fixation during the part of the day with lower evaporative demand, making life in water-limited environments possible. By comparison, in facultative CAM (inducible CAM, C(3)-CAM) and CAM-cycling plants drought-induced dark CO(2) fixation may only be, with few exceptions, a small proportion of C(3) CO(2) assimilation in watered plants and occur during a few days. From the viewpoint of survival the adaptive advantages, i.e. increased fitness, of facultative CAM and CAM-cycling are not obvious. Therefore, it is hypothesized that, if it is to increase fitness, CAM must aid in reproduction. Scope An examination of published reports of 23 facultative CAM and CAM-cycling species finds that, in 19 species, drought-induced dark CO(2) fixation represents on average 11 % of C(3) CO(2) assimilation of watered plants. Evidence is discussed on the impact of the operation of CAM in facultative and CAM-cycling plants on their survival--carbon balance, water conservation, water absorption, photo-protection of the photosynthetic apparatus--and reproductive effort. It is concluded that in some species, but not all, facultative and cycling CAM contribute, rather than to increase carbon balance, to increase water-use efficiency, water absorption, prevention of photoinhibition and reproductive output.
Reproduction in moose at their southern range limit

Reproduction is a critical fitness component in large herbivores. Biogeographic models predict that populations occurring at the edges of the range may have compromised reproductive rates because of inferior habitat at range peripheries. When reproductive rates are chronically low, ungulate populations may lack the resiliency to rebound quickly after periods of environmental stress, and this effect may be greatest for heat-sensitive organisms at their southern range limit. To assess the demographic vulnerability of moose (Alces alces), we studied relationships between reproductive rates, maternal age, and rump fat in the southernmost naturally occurring moose population in North America. For prime-aged moose in our study, pregnancy rates were high (92%), but moose aged < 3 or > 9 years had low pregnancy rates (32% and 38%, respectively). The relationship between rump fat and pregnancy was nonlinear such that a threshold of at least 2 mm of rump fat yielded a high probability of being pregnant midwinter. In contrast, among pregnant moose, the probability of both producing a calf and recruiting it until spring increased linearly with rump fat. We also conducted a meta-analysis of pregnancy and twinning rates for adult (≥ 2 years) moose across a latitudinal gradient to compare reproductive rates from our study to other populations in North America. Moose living at southern latitudes tended to have lower reproductive rates than those living in the core of moose range, implying that southern moose populations may be demographically more vulnerable than northern moose populations.
Lower Triassic oolites of the Nanpanjiang Basin, south China: Facies architecture, giant ooids, and diagenesis—Implications for hydrocarbon reservoirs

Lower Triassic platforms in the Nanpanjiang Basin contain extensive oolites. Interior oolites are stacked in meter-scale cycles arranged into larger coarsening-upward sequences. Oolites thicken toward margins to include grainstones up to 50 m (164 ft) thick and contain giant ooids (up to 1 cm [0.4 in.]) and composite coated grains. Cross-bedding, ripples, and abraded ooids indicate deposition in high-energy shoals. Apparent layer-cake correlation across interiors indicates amalgamation of shoals. Thinner interior lenses represent spillover lobes. Ooids are interpreted to have originally been bimineralic with cortices of radial or micritic fabrics (high-magnesium calcite), alternating with coarse pseudospar or brickwork (originally aragonite). Distorted ooids formed by brittle compaction of micritic cortices around voids are interpreted to have been dissolved aragonite. Abundant potential nuclei indicate that limited supply was not a factor contributing to the large ooid size. High-energy and abnormally high–seawater CaCO3 saturation are interpreted to be causes of the giant ooids. Most previous reports of giant ooids come from the Neoproterozoic, a period of increasing surface-water oxygenation and high CaCO3 saturation caused by a minimal skeletal carbonate precipitation. We interpret similar seawater chemistry in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction to explain the genesis of the giant ooids in the Early Triassic. The genesis of bimineralic ooids during an Early Triassic period of rapidly increasing pCO2 and low indicates that an increasing Ca/Mg ratio was the primary mechanism driving the change from aragonite to calcite seas. The architecture, textures, and diagenesis of the Lower Triassic oolites of the Nanpanjiang Basin provide useful analogs for coeval reservoirs in Sichuan and the Middle East.
Modeling peptide mass fingerprinting data using the atomic composition of peptides

The peptide mass fingerprinting technique is commonly used for identifying proteins analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS) after enzymatic digestion. Our goal is to build a theoretical model that predicts the mass spectra of such digestion products in order to improve the identification and characterization of proteins using this technique. We present here the first step towards a full MS model. We have modeled MS spectra using the atomic composition of peptides and evaluated the influence that this composition may have on the MS signals. Peptides deduced from the SWISS‐PROT protein sequence database were used for the calculation. To validate the model, the variability of the peptide mass distribution in SWISS‐PROT was compared to two theoretical, randomly generated databases. Functions have been built that describe the behavior of the isotopic distribution according to the mass of peptides. The variability of these functions was analyzed. In particular, the influence of sulfur was studied. This work, while representing only a first step in the construction of an MS model, yields immediate practical results, as the new isotopic distribution model significantly improves peak detection in MS spectra used by protein identification algorithms.
Association between bone mineral density and C-reactive protein in a large population-based sample.

OBJECTIVE Several studies suggest that bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced in chronic inflammatory diseases. Higher serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with lower BMD in women and older adults. However, it is not clear whether this association holds in a representative sample of the general population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between BMD and CRP level in a large representative US population-based sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS We included participants age ≥20 years with BMD (total and subregions) measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry scans and complete information on covariates from NHANES. The association between CRP level and BMD was evaluated using multivariate linear regression models, adjusting for potential confounders and further adjusting for comorbid diseases, medications, and serum vitamin D levels. RESULTS The study sample included 10,475 participants (53% Caucasian, 22% Mexican American, 18% African American, and 7% other races). Men had higher BMD and lower CRP concentrations than women. BMD (total body BMD as well as subtotal BMD and BMD of the extremities, ribs, and trunk subregions) was inversely associated with quintiles of CRP concentration both in men and in women in a dose-dependent manner (for total BMD, P for trend < 0.0001 for men, P for trend = 0.0005 for women). The associations were independent of medications, comorbidities, and other potential confounders. The results remained largely unchanged with further adjustment for serum vitamin D levels. CONCLUSION Among men and women in a large representative population-based sample, the CRP level was inversely and independently associated with total BMD in a dose-dependent manner.
The Moral Police

Abstract How does the general public understand media coverage of immigration issues? The present article analyses the media effects of an extensive news series focusing on the harassment of people believed to disrespect traditional Muslim norms. Through an explorative survey study, it traces how Norwegian media launched and covered what was labeled “the moral police” phenomenon, and to what extent the media framing of the issue had an agendasetting and/or frame-setting effect on the public. It finds that, although most respondents had become aware of the issue through the media, they did not necessarily adopt the media’s framing of the phenomenon. The respondents did not primarily relate the “moral police” to immigration (the dominant media frame), they understood the new phenomenon through experiences from their own lives and framed it as a general social problem.