Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy dissipation in drought-avoiding and drought-tolerant tree species at midday during the Mediterranean summer.

Photosynthetic performance was monitored during two consecutive summers in four co-occurring evergreen Mediterranean tree species growing on a south-facing rocky slope. In response to midday water stress, the drought-avoiding species Pinus halepensis Mill. exhibited marked stomatal closure (g(s)) but no changes in stem water potential (Psi(s)), whereas the drought-tolerant species Quercus coccifera L. , Q. ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. and Juniperus phoenicea L. displayed declines in midday g(s) and Psi(s). The higher resistance to CO(2) influx in needles of P. halepensis compared with the other species did not result in either a proportional increase in non-radiative dissipation of excess energy or photo-inactivation of photosystem II (PSII). No significant differences were found among species either in the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle (DPS) or in the pool of its components on a total chlorophyll basis (VAZ). Despite contrasting midday assimilation rates, the three drought-tolerant species all exhibited a pronounced drop in photochemical efficiency at midday that was characterized by a decrease in the excitation capture efficiency of the open PSII centers. Although photoinhibition was not fully reversed before dawn, it apparently did not result in cumulative photo-damage. Thus, the drought-avoiding and drought-tolerant species employed different mechanisms for coping with excess light during the midday depression in photosynthesis that involved contrasting midday photochemical efficiencies of PSII and different degrees of dynamic photoinhibition as a photo-protective mechanism. These behaviors may be related to the different mechanisms employed by drought-avoiding and drought-tolerant species to withstand water deficit.
Effects of calcium on cardiovascular events in patients with kidney disease and in a healthy population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the largest contributor to all-cause mortality in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Accelerated vascular calcification is a key risk factor for CVD in these patients. The etiology of vascular calcification and the specific role calcium supplementation may play in accelerating calcification have not been fully elucidated. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We summarize published data that report on the association between calcium supplementation, vascular calcification, and CVD in patients with and without ESRD. RESULTS The majority of randomized, controlled trials in patients with ESRD suggest that calcium supplementation--in the form of calcium-based phosphate binders--leads to a progression of vascular calcification. However, studies showing that calcium-based phosphate binders increase cardiovascular mortality are lacking in patients with ESRD. In contrast, one randomized trial in healthy postmenopausal women reported that, compared with those not receiving calcium supplementation, women who take supplements are at an increased risk for cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS Given the potential for harm with calcium supplementation in healthy postmenopausal women and the evidence that calcium-based phosphate binders are associated with adverse intermediate outcomes in patients with ESRD, calcium-either as a phosphate binder or as a supplement--should be prescribed with caution.
Integration of Family Planning in HIV/AIDS Program in Solwezi District, Northwestern Zambia: Status and Perspectives

The aim of this study was to assess the status of Family Planning (FP) service uptake through its integration in HIV program for identification of determinants of its low use in Solwezi district of Zambia. Comparative quantitative FP/HIV data was gathered during quality improvement process from database at Zambia Prevention Care and Treatment Partnership (ZPCT) Consortium for 2012 and 2013. Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews with 29 professionals, at the main urban clinic in the district, from January to June 2013. Two key indicators were assessed: HIV/FP referrals at facility level and male partners' involvement in seeking HIV/FP services. Referrals between HIV and FP services during the first semester of 2013 increased by 1.0% compared to 2012, whilst male involvement in integrated FP/HIV services remained stagnant at 11%. Low male involvement in FP/HIV service was linked to busy spouses' work schedules (74%), and lack of knowledge (16%). FP/HIV couple counseling was offered on selected clinic days in 74%, whilst lack of policy implementation encouraging male involvement was noted in 58% of responses. Fear of FP side effects (89%), long distances to the clinic (74%), lack of adequate health information on FP (17%) and unavailability of the preferred FP method (11%) were essential obstacles to service accessibility. Internal systems improvement indicated slight progress in cross-referrals reported. Interventions on the demand side are required, such as in strengthening male involvement in FP/HIV service. FP services in the district would also benefit from increased variety of accessible FP methods.
A Bioluminescence Sensor of NLRP 3 Inflammasome Activation

The innate immune system is many organisms first line of defense against pathogenic insult or tissue damage [1]. This defense strategy is intent on restoring homeostasis upon perturbation. Upon activation of the innate immune system in humans, an oligomeric protein complex termed the “Inflammasome” forms in myeloid cells [2]. The canonical output of activation of any subset of inflammasome is Caspase-1-mediated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1β and IL18 [3, 4]. Chronic or uncontrolled inflammasome activation is at the core of myriad economically burdening diseases [5-8]. In many of these diseases, endogenous factors chronically engage the innate immune system. To study these diseases in in vivo, over time as they progress, in a transgenic organism will segue into the development of next generation therapeutics. In this study we sought to utilize a modified Firefly Luciferase (pGLO) construct to measure Caspase1, and thus, inflammasome activity. pGLO has been engineered to be catalytically activated in response to targeted cleavage by a protease [9]. We report that insertion of a short peptide sequence targeted by Caspase-1 into the linker region of a circularly permuted Firefly Luciferase (pGLO) has allowed us to quantitatively assess the level of inflammasome activation in live cells. A successful in vitro experiment demonstrating sensitive and specific quantification of Caspase-1 activity should lead to an in vivo mouse model for the study of inflammatory disease.
Fibrates in hypertension: where do we stand?

I n 1993, Roman et al. [1] showed that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) agonist clofibrate reduced blood pressure in Dahl saltsensitive rats on an 8% salt diet. Importantly, cessation of clofibrate caused a rebound of arterial pressure to baseline values, stressing that this was a direct and reversible effect. Subsequently, the same group and others have shown that in various models of salt-sensitive hypertension, both clofibrate and fenofibrate can prevent the development of a positive sodium balance or even reverse the sodium balance from positive to negative at a later stage [2–4]. There is also evidence that fenofibrate can reduce salt-sensitive hypertension in humans [5]. The signalling route from PPARalpha via Cyp4a induces the production of the arachidonic acid metabolite 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), which appears to be required for this natriuresis [6]. Salt-sensitive rodent models are listed in Table 1. Moreover, rodent models of hypertension depending on activation of the renin–angiotensin system at normal salt intake such as angiotensin II infusion [7], reduced renal perfusion in the two-kidney one-clip model [8] or in abdominal aorta constriction between the left and right renal arteries [9] also show a fall in arterial pressure with fibrate treatment. Antihypertensive effects have also been reported at normal salt intake in the high-fat diet model of the metabolic syndrome wherever salt retention is also reversed [10]. Similar observations have often been reported in the deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt model [11] and at normal salt intake in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) [12]. An overview of rodent studies with hypertension at normal salt intake is provided in Table 2. So far so good; however, there are a number of observations, mostly to be found in Table 2, that do not fit easily into this picture. Fenofibrate would be expected to be ineffective whenever hypertension is induced in transgenic mice lacking PPARalpha. Alarmingly, however, PPARalphadeficient mice show adverse effects of fenofibrate. This was
Land in Her Own Name: Women as Homesteaders in North Dakota

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Dietary vitamin D and cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus.

BACKGROUND Data on the association between vitamin D and upper digestive tract neoplasms are limited. METHODS In two case-control studies in Italy, we examined the relation between dietary vitamin D intake and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE; 304 cases) and oral/pharyngeal cancer (804 cases). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS Adjusted ORs for SCCE and oral/pharyngeal cancer were 0.58 (95% CI 0.39-0.86) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.60-0.94), respectively, for the highest tertile of vitamin D intake. Using a reference group of those in the highest tertile of vitamin D who were never/former smokers, ORs were 8.7 (95% CI 4.1-18.7) for SCCE and 10.4 (95% CI 6.9-15.5) for oral/pharyngeal cancer among heavy smokers in the lowest vitamin D tertile; similarly, compared with those in the highest tertile of vitamin D who drank <3 alcoholic drinks/day, corresponding ORs were 41.9 (95% CI 13.7-128.6) for SCCE and 8.5 (95% CI 5.7-12.5) for oral/pharyngeal cancer, among heavy alcohol drinkers in the lowest vitamin D tertile. CONCLUSION We observed inverse associations between dietary vitamin D intake and risk of SCCE and, perhaps, oral/pharyngeal cancer, which were most pronounced among heavy current smokers and heavy consumers of alcohol.
Improvement of amphotericin B activity during experimental cryptococcosis by incorporation into specific immunoliposomes

Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection that is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The high toxicity of the antifungal agent that is mainly used against cryptococcosis, amphotericin B (AMB), accounts for the need for new treatments, especially in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome because of the high relapse rate of cryptococcosis. Drug targeting may be one of these alternate treatments. Since we have demonstrated that an immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) anti-Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A monoclonal antibody (E1) was protective during experimental cryptococcosis in mice, we investigated whether specific targeting of AMB with liposomes that bear E1 would improve the therapeutic index of the drug. For that purpose, in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to compare the specificities and activities of these liposomes with those of control immunoliposomes bearing a nonrelated IgG1 monoclonal antibody (CY34). The immunoliposomes were prepared by covalently linking E1 or CY34 and small unilamellar vesicles. When immunoliposomes were incubated with yeast cells, only E1-bearing liposomes recognized C. neoformans. In vivo, mice that were treated 24 h after infection with one injection of AMB (0.12 mg/kg of body weight) intercalated into E1-bearing liposomes survived significantly longer than did those given the same dose of AMB alone or AMB intercalated into nontargeted liposomes or control immunoliposomes. None of the mice that were given control treatments did statistically better than those that were given AMB. Keeping in mind that this kind of therapy requires knowledge of the antigenic type of the infecting organism, the results suggest that specific targeting of small doses of AMB improve the efficacy of AMB and might be an alternative to the use of larger doses of AMB.
The impact of add-on catalytic devices on pollutant emissions from unvented kerosene heaters.

Many studies have documented pollutant emission rates from kerosene heaters. Carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO{sub 2}), formaldehyde (HCHO), suspended particles, and semivolatile and nonvolatile organic compounds, including some nitrated and non-nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can be emitted by kerosene heaters. Recently, several add-on catalytic devices designed to reduce some pollutant emissions have become commercially available. The tests described here were designed to measure the impact of these devices on pollutant emissions from unvented kerosene heaters. Emissions of CO, NO, NO{sub 2}, HCHO, and total suspended particles were investigated in this study. In addition, analyses of particulate sulfur and chromium were conducted for some tests.
Cataracts in Early Childhood

Cataract is a rare disorder in childhood, but is nevertheless the dominant cause of poor vision in a significant proportion of visually handicapped children. Fine (1968) examined 817 blind schoolchildren in England and Wales and, excluding cases of retrolental fibroplasia, found that 21.2% were affected by cataract. In a similar study of 1374 partially sighted schoolchildren she discovered cataracts to be the principal cause of visual handicap in 25.3% of cases. Fraser & Friedmann (1967) reported bilateral lens opacities as the principal feature in 107 (13.8%) of 776 blind schoolchildren examined in England and Wales, and 52.3% of these showed evidence of having genetically determined cataracts, with a predominantly autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Of the non-inherited group 43% suffered from the rubella syndrome and more than 50% had a history of perinatal problems such as prematurity, relatively low birth weight, and neonatal hypoglycemia; there was a marked excess of boys in this group. Bilateral cataracts in childhood therefore have a very varied etiology and indeed much more so than has already been mentioned. In addition to the large group in which non-progressive lens opacities represent an isolated inherited congenital disorder there are more rarely cases in which progressive cataracts complicate genetically determined metabolic diseases such as galactosxemia and homocystinuria in their varied forms. Rubella is the most important infective cause of cataracts in childhood and, as the virus continues to live in the lens after birth and can be released into the eye by lens surgery giving rise to endophthalmitis, such cases
Interception of Small Particles by Flocculent Structures, Sessile Ciliates, and the Basic Layer of a Wastewater Biofilm

ABSTRACT We investigated attachment processes of hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles (diameter = 1 μm) to mature biofilms grown on clay marbles in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor. During a treatment cycle with filtered wastewater containing different fluorescent beads, the progression of particle density in various biofilm compartments (carrier biofilm, basic biofilm layer, biofilm flocs, and sessile ciliates) was determined by flow cytometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy and automated image analysis. Particles were almost completely removed from wastewater by typical processes of particle retention: up to 58% of particles attached to clay marbles, up to 15% were associated with suspended flocs, and up to 10% were ingested by sessile ciliates. Ingestion of particles by ciliates was exceptionally high immediately after wastewater addition (1,200 particles grazer−1 h−1) and continued until approximately 14% of the water had been cleared by ciliate filter feeding. Most probably, ciliate bioturbation increases particle sorption to the basic biofilm. Backwashing of the reactor detached pieces of biofilm and thus released approximately 50% of the particles into rinsing water. Clay marbles in the upper part of the reactor were more efficiently abraded than in the lower part. No indications for selective attachment of the applied hydrophobic and hydrophilic beads were found. As a consequence of interception patterns, organisms at elevated biofilm structures are probably major profiteers of wastewater particles; among them, ciliates may be of major importance because of their highly active digestive food vacuoles.
Coronary vasodilator reserve in primary and secondary left ventricular hypertrophy. A study with positron emission tomography.

OBJECTIVES Coronary vasodilator reserve is reduced in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and secondary left ventricular hypertrophy despite angiographically normal coronaries. The aim of the present study was to assess whether quantitative differences exist between these conditions. METHODS Using positron emission tomography with H2(15)O, myocardial blood flow was measured at baseline and following intravenous dipyridamole (0.56 mg.kg-1) in 12 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients (age 34 (11) years, mean (SD), all male), 16 secondary left ventricular hypertrophy patients (age 58 (20) years, P < 0.01 vs hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; 10 female) and 40 normal controls (age 54 (20), 13 female). In view of the known decline of post-dipyridamole myocardial blood flow with age, myocardial blood flow was compared between the patient groups and appropriately matched subsets of the total control group. RESULTS Baseline myocardial blood flow in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients was 0.82 (0.23) ml.min-1.g-1 vs 0.94 (0.14) ml.min-1.g-1 in its matched control group, P = ns. For the secondary left ventricular hypertrophy patient group, baseline myocardial blood flow was 1.17 (0.40) ml.min-1.g-1 vs 1.06 (0.28) ml.min-1.g-1 for the secondary left ventricular hypertrophy matched control group, P = ns. Following dipyridamole, myocardial blood flow was 1.64 (0.44) ml.min-1.g. -1 in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients vs 3.50 (0.95) ml.min-1.g-1 for the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy matched control group, P = 0.0001. For the left ventricular hypertrophy patients, post-dipyridamole myocardial blood flow was 2.27 (0.60) ml.min-1.g-1 vs 2.94 (1.29) ml.min-1.g-1 for the left ventricular hypertrophy controls, P = 0.06. Coronary vasodilator reserve (dipyridamole-myocardial blood flow/baseline-myocardial blood flow) was 2.05 (0.61) for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients vs 3.81 (0.98) for the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy controls (P = 0.0001, patients vs controls) and 2.06 (0.62) for left ventricular hypertrophy patients vs 2.90 (1.38) for the left ventricular hypertrophy controls, P < 0.03 patients vs controls. After correction of baseline myocardial blood flow for baseline heart rate x systolic pressure product, coronary vasodilator reserve for the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients was 2.06 (1.06) vs 4.34 (1.54) for the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy controls. P = 0.0002 and in the secondary left ventricular hypertrophy patients, the values were 2.13 (0.64) vs 2.89 (1.42) in the secondary left ventricular hypertrophy controls, P < 0.05. CONCLUSION In both hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and secondary left ventricular hypertrophy, the computed coronary vasodilator reserve is impaired, even after correction for baseline cardiac work. However, the extent of the reduction is greater in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients. In the blunting of vasodilator reserve of secondary left ventricular hypertrophy, the patients' greater hyperaemic response is partly offset by the higher baseline myocardial blood flow.
Eco-evolutionary dynamics in urbanized landscapes: evolution, species sorting and the change in zooplankton body size along urbanization gradients

Urbanization causes both changes in community composition and evolutionary responses, but most studies focus on these responses in isolation. We performed an integrated analysis assessing the relative contribution of intra- and interspecific trait turnover to the observed change in zooplankton community body size in 83 cladoceran communities along urbanization gradients quantified at seven spatial scales (50–3200 m radii). We also performed a quantitative genetic analysis on 12 Daphnia magna populations along the same urbanization gradient. Body size in zooplankton communities generally declined with increasing urbanization, but the opposite was observed for communities dominated by large species. The contribution of intraspecific trait variation to community body size turnover with urbanization strongly varied with the spatial scale considered, and was highest for communities dominated by large cladoceran species and at intermediate spatial scales. Genotypic size at maturity was smaller for urban than for rural D. magna populations and for animals cultured at 24°C compared with 20°C. While local genetic adaptation likely contributed to the persistence of D. magna in the urban heat islands, buffering for the phenotypic shift to larger body sizes with increasing urbanization, community body size turnover was mainly driven by non-genetic intraspecific trait change. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Human influences on evolution, and the ecological and societal consequences’.
An adapted bass guitar for one-handed playing

We present an attachment for the bass guitar which allows MIDI-controlled actuated fretting. This instrument adaptation is presented as a potential method of augmenting the bass guitar for those with upper-limb disabilities. Following a survey of 48 bassists, we found that timbral and dynamic features related to the plucking hand were most important to the survey respondents. We designed an actuated fretting mechanism to replace the role of the fretting hand in order to preserve plucking hand techniques. We conducted a performance study in which experienced bassists performed an accompaniment to a backing track with the adapted bass. This highlighted ways in which adapting a fretted string instrument in this way impacts plucking hand technique.