Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting world health organization toxic equivalency factor dioxin and dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyl levels in farmed atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) based on known levels in feed

Assimilation and elimination rate constant of dietary polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs) with a World Health Organization toxic equivalency factor (WHO‐TEF) were estimated in market‐size Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using fish that were previously fed vegetable oil–based (low in PCDD/Fs and DLPCBs) or fish oil–based (high in PCDD/Fs and PCBs) diets. At the start of the kinetic trial, half the fish that were fed fish oils were fed vegetable oil feeds and inverted (cross‐over design) for five months. The assimilation efficiencies of the PCDD/F congeners were more variable (3–89%) and, generally, were lower than those of the DLPCBs (70–80%). Among the PCDD/F congeners, the assimilation efficiency of the most toxic tetra‐ and pentachlorinated PCDD/Fs was greater than that of higher‐chlorinated PCDD/Fs. Elimination rates for DLPCBs were higher than those for PCDD/Fs. Lower‐chlorinated PCDDs had a lower elimination rate than the higher‐chlorinated PCDDs, but no differences were observed among PCDF congeners or DLPCB congeners. Kinetic parameters were used to predict the level of WHO‐TEF dioxins and DLPCBs in Atlantic salmon reared in a large‐scale facility under commercial conditions. Predictions were based on preanalyzed levels of these organochlorines in feeds with three different replacement levels (0, 30, and 60%) of vegetable oil. A simple one‐compartmental, first‐order kinetic model was used to predict the level of sum WHO toxic equivalents for PCDD/Fs and DL‐PCBs. The predicted values varied by 0 to 11% from the measured values in the commercially reared salmon.
Smile Through Your Fear and Sadness

It is well established that animal communication signals have adapted to the evolutionary pressures of their environment. For example, the low-frequency vocalizations of the elephant are tailored to long-range communications, whereas the high-frequency trills of birds are adapted to their more localized acoustic niche. Like the voice, the human face transmits social signals about the internal emotional state of the transmitter. Here, we address two main issues: First, we characterized the spectral composition of the facial features signaling each of the six universal expressions of emotion (happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, and surprise). From these analyses, we then predicted and tested the effectiveness of the transmission of emotion signals over different viewing distances. We reveal a gradient of recognition over viewing distances constraining the relative adaptive usefulness of facial expressions of emotion (distal expressions are good signals over a wide range of viewing distances; proximal expressions are suited to closer-range communication).
Review of the grassland leafhopper genus Nephotettix Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Chiasmini) from the Chinese mainland.

The Chinese mainland species of the leafhopper genus Nephotettix Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Chiasmini) (Nephotettix cincticeps (Uhler), Nephotettix malayanus Ishihara & Kawase, Nephotettix nigropictus (Stål), Nephotettix parvus Ishihara & Kawase rec. n. , and Nephotettix virescens (Distant)) are reviewed. This genus is redescribed. Variation is described and illustrated. Keys for their separation are provided together with a worldwide checklist.
Effects of propranolol on bone metabolism in the rat

Propranolol, a nonspecific β‐blocker, has many physiologic effects. Its effects on bone in vivo are unknown, although β receptor sites have been found on osteoblasts. In this study, the hypothesis tested was that low doses of propranolol could alter bone properties and enhance orthotopic endochondral bone formation. In a group of nonsurgical rats, propranolol treatment increased formation. In a group of nonsurgical rats, propranolol treatment increased femoral torsional strength on biomechanical testing. In the rat surgical model used, right femora were fixed to a polyethylene plate and then defects were created mid‐diaphysis and subsequently filled with demineralized bone matrix. These rats (defect rats) were randomly divided into groups that were given propranolol or a saline carrier for 19 consecutive days. In the defect rats, increased trabecular femoral metaphyseal mineral apposition rates were observed in propranolol‐treated groups. Densitometry and roentgenographic scoring of callus formation after 12 weeks in propranolol‐treated rats revealed increased callus and bone union. The results of this study indicate that propranolol treatment can significantly affect bone properties.
Wear of nickel-titanium endodontic instruments evaluated by scanning electron microscopy: effect of ion implantation.

The present work analyzes possible increases in resistance to wear of nickel-titanium endodontic instruments that have undergone a process of ionic implantation. ProFile . 04 taper #25 instruments were subjected to ionic implantation with bands of nitrogen ions of 250 KeV, currents in the order of 10 microA/cm2, and doses of 2 x 10(17) ions/ cm2. The instruments were used to make preparations in acrylic endodontic training blocks. Scanning electron microscopic investigations showed that after 60 s of work inside the endodontic training blocks nonionic implanted control instruments showed small modifications in their blades, and their tips showed the first signs of wear. After 240 s the control instruments showed consistent signs of wear and frequent changes to their surfaces. After 240 s of use the ionic-implanted instruments did not present any significant changes in the micromorphology of their surfaces. The implanted instruments did not manifest the typical signs of wear and did not show the surface changes that quickly affect the working life of untreated endodontic instruments manufactured from nickel-titanium.
Rotaviruses induce an early membrane permeabilization of MA104 cells and do not require a low intracellular Ca2+ concentration to initiate their replication cycle

In this work, we found that rotavirus infection induces an early membrane permeabilization of MA104 cells and promotes the coentry of toxins, such as alpha-sarcin, into the cell. This cell permeability was shown to depend on infectious virus and was also shown to be virus dose dependent, with 10 infectious particles per cell being sufficient to achieve maximum permeability; transient, lasting no more than 15 min after virus entry and probably occurring concomitantly with virus penetration; and specific, since cells that are poorly permissive for rotavirus were not permeabilized. The rotavirus-mediated coentry of toxins was not blocked by the endocytosis inhibitors dansylcadaverine and cytochalasin D or by the vacuolar proton-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1, suggesting that neither endocytocis nor an intraendosomal acidic pH or a proton gradient is required for permeabilization of the cells. Compounds that raise the intracellular concentration of calcium ([Ca2+]i) by different mechanisms, such as the calcium ionophores A23187 and ionomycin and the endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, did not block the coentry of alpha-sarcin or affect the onset of viral protein synthesis, suggesting that a low [Ca2+]i is not essential for the initial steps of the virus life cycle. Since the entry of alpha-sarcin correlates with virus penetration in all parameters tested, the assay for permeabilization to toxins might be a useful tool for studying and characterizing the route of entry and the mechanism used by rotaviruses to traverse the cell membrane and initiate a productive replication cycle.
Erythematous and reticular forms of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid reactions differ in pathological features related to disease activity.

BACKGROUND Common clinical forms of oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid reactions (OLR) are erythematous (ERY) or reticular (RET). The purpose of this study was to find histopathological changes that differ between these forms. METHODS Epithelial thickness, epithelial proliferation rate, apoptosis, and HLA-DR expression were compared among 10 reticular and 12 erythematous lesions, and 11 normal oral mucosa samples (NOM). RESULTS The epithelium in ERY was thinner than in NOM, whereas RET showed values between ERY and NOM. Cell proliferation increased significantly in ERY as compared with RET and NOM, with no difference between RET and NOM. Relative numbers of epithelial cell nuclei displaying visible chromatin condensation were reduced in ERY form. CONCLUSIONS The markedly increased cell proliferation in ERY supports the notion that this form displays a higher disease activity as compared to RET. It can therefore be important to study each disease form separately.
PEA-15 Is Inhibited by Adenovirus E1A and Plays a Role in ERK Nuclear Export and Ras-induced Senescence*

Oncogenic ras activates multiple signaling pathways to enforce cell proliferation in tumor cells. The ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is required for the transforming effects of ras, and its activation is often sufficient to convey mitogenic stimulation. However, in some settings oncogenic ras triggers a permanent cell cycle arrest with features of cellular senescence. How the Ras/ERK1/2 pathway activates different cellular programs is not well understood. Here we show that ERK1/2 localize predominantly in the cytoplasm during ras-induced senescence. This cytoplasmic localization seems to be dependent on an active nuclear export mechanism and can be rescued by the viral oncoprotein E1A. Consistent with this hypothesis, we showed that E1A dramatically down-regulated the expression of the ERK1/2 nuclear export factor PEA-15. Also, RNA interference against PEA-15 restored the nuclear localization of phospho-ERK1/2 in Ras-expressing primary murine embryo fibroblasts and stimulated their escape from senescence. Because senescence prevents the transforming effect of oncogenic ras, our results suggest a tumor suppressor function for PEA-15 that operates by means of controlling the localization of phospho-ERK1/2.
Recurring Histomonosis on an Organic Farm

Abstract This report describes outbreaks of histomonosis, a severe disease caused by the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis, which occurred over a period of 3 yr on an organic farm in southern Germany. Among other species, the farm houses layers, broilers, and turkeys. In August 2005 one group of turkeys was naturally infected with H. meleagridis. The strain causing infection was typed by C-profiling as genotype B. A second outbreak occurred 3 yr later. Again, a group of turkeys was naturally infected. The strain causing the infection belonged to genotype A. Two months later one group of broilers became infected with H. meleagridis type B and a group of turkeys with H. meleagridis type A. Four weeks later two further groups of broilers showed symptoms. DNA of H. meleagridis was detected but genotyping was not possible. In conclusion, genotyping of the histomonal strains causing the disease showed that at least two different histomonal strains caused the outbreaks and that the strains circulated on the farm at the same time.
Content and Effects of News Stories About Uncertain Cancer Causes and Preventive Behaviors

This article presents findings from two studies that describe news portrayals of cancer causes and prevention in local TV and test the effects of typical aspects of this coverage on cancer-related fatalism and overload. Study 1 analyzed the content of stories focused on cancer causes and prevention from an October 2002 national sample of local TV and newspaper cancer coverage (n = 122 television stations; n = 60 newspapers). Informed by results from the content analysis, Study 2 describes results from a randomized experiment testing effects of the volume and content of news stories about cancer causes and prevention (n = 601). Study 1 indicates that local TV news stories describe cancer causes and prevention as comparatively more certain than newspapers but include less information about how to reduce cancer risk. Study 2 reveals that the combination of stories conveying an emerging cancer cause and prevention behavior as moderately certain leads to an increased sense of overload, while a short summary of well-established preventive behaviors mitigates these potentially harmful beliefs. We conclude with a series of recommendations for health communication and health journalism practice.
Microbiological examination of cold ready‐to‐eat sliced meats from catering establishments in the United Kingdom

A microbiological study of cold, ready‐to‐eat sliced meats from 2579 catering establishments (public houses, hotels, cafés, restaurants, residential homes and other catering premises) found that 2587 of 3494 samples (74%) were of acceptable quality, 892 (26%) were of unsatisfactory quality and 15 (<1%) were of unacceptable quality. Unacceptable results were due to high levels of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria species and/or Clostridium perfringens. Unsatisfactory results were mostly due to high Aerobic Plate Counts. The microbiological quality of cold, ready‐to‐eat meats was associated with meat type, premises type, management training, hygienic practices, meat supplier and length of storage. The relationship between food hygiene training and microbiological quality is discussed.
The Health Care Working Conditions That Affect Patient Safety As Perceived By the Nursing Staff

Patient safety necessitate the modification of behavior of health care providers to perceive the wide range of factors of working conditions that affect patient safety and designing of the physical environment to reduce hazards, thereby reducing the chance of accidents. This study aimed to assess the health care working conditions that affect patient safety as perceived by nursing. Design: descriptive, cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Setting: The study was carried out in Menoufia University Hospital and in Liver Institute at Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate. Subjects: Composed of two groups: Group 1: All available number of the staff nurses at the selected inpatient and critical care units in the two hospitals at the time of the study, Group2:All available number of the head nurses in the total previously selected hospitals. Tool: Questionnaire Sheet" Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture Questionnaire" Results: Indicated that high level of nursing staff perception toward health care working conditions that affect patient safety in the two settings. And also there was increase of nursing staff perception regarding all domains of working conditions in Liver Institute than Menoufia University hospital. Conclusion: This study concluded that the mean score of nurses' perception in both Menoufia University Hospital and Liver Institute showed a high level of perception toward health care working conditions that affect patient safety. Nurses' perception about working conditions can be used as a baseline for raising safety awareness throughout the organization and identifying the areas that need for improvement. Recommendations: further research is recommended in the field of patient safety to further investigate the relationship between the nursing staff perception about working conditions that affect patient safety and their actual performance. Also, implementing continuous training programs on patient safety issues for the different categories of health care providers to ensure their own safety as well as patients' safety.
Influence of nonfat milk diets on intake, growth, and energy utilization by young calves.

Abstract The influence on intake, growth, and energy utilization of feeding undiluted and diluted fresh and reconstituted instantized nonfat milks ad libitum was studied with calves 2 through 22 days of age. Diets were a) fresh nonfat milk; b) reconstituted nonfat milk isocaloric on the metabolizable energy basis to Diet a); c) Diet a) diluted with 1.5 parts of water and d) Diet b) diluted with 1.5 parts of water. Milk intakes and weight gains for the 21 days averaged 273 and 15.8; 232 and 14.6; 380 and 10.2, and 383 and 10.0 kg for Diets a through d. Dietary intakes were significantly different except between the 2 diluted milks. Calves on the diluted milks gained significantly less than those on undiluted. The kilocalorie intake above resting metabolism per gram of gain was 3.20, 2.75, 1.63, and 1.62 on the respective diets. All values differed significantly except for the comparison between the diluted milks. When values were adjusted for intake, differences were not significant.
The GABA Excitatory/Inhibitory Shift in Brain Maturation and Neurological Disorders

Ionic currents and the network-driven patterns they generate differ in immature and adult neurons: The developing brain is not a “small adult brain. ” One of the most investigated examples is the developmentally regulated shift of actions of the transmitter GABA that inhibit adult neurons but excite immature ones because of an initially higher intracellular chloride concentration [Cl−]i, leading to depolarizing and often excitatory actions of GABA instead of hyperpolarizing and inhibitory actions. The levels of [Cl−]i are also highly labile, being readily altered transiently or persistently by enhanced episodes of activity in relation to synaptic plasticity or a variety of pathological conditions, including seizures and brain insults. Among the plethora of channels, transporters, and other devices involved in controlling [Cl−]i, two have emerged as playing a particularly important role: the chloride importer NKCC1 and the chloride exporter KCC2. Here, the authors stress the importance of determining how [Cl−]i is dynamically regulated and how this affects brain operation in health and disease. In a clinical perspective, agents that control [Cl−]i and reinstate inhibitory actions of GABA open novel therapeutic perspectives in many neurological disorders, including infantile epilepsies, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disorders.
Azelnidipine and glucose tolerance: possible indications and treatment selection for hypertensive patients with metabolic disorders

Azelnidipine is a unique dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker with selectivity for L-type calcium channels that has been launched for the treatment of hypertension. Azelnidipine exhibits long-acting blood pressure-lowering effects without increasing heart rate. High blood pressure is associated with many metabolic disorders, including glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Antihypertensive medications that interfere with various steps in the renin–angiotensin system improve glucose tolerance and insulin resistance; however, the effects of calcium channel blockers on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance remain controversial. Recent studies have demonstrated that azelnidipine could improve insulin resistance and glucose tolerance by potentially inhibiting sympathetic nerve activity. In addition, azelnidipine exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, suggesting that it is a beneficial antihypertensive agent with anti-atherogenic and cardioprotective effects for the treatment of not only hypertensive patients with glucose intolerance, but also those with metabolic disorders.
Cloning of Interferon in Sea Bream ( Sparus aurata ) : An Important Marker for Immune Response after Viral Infection

The interferons (IFNs) are soluble cytokines involved in the immune response against viral pathogens. In mammals, three families of IFNs have been identified (types I, II and III) and, recently, homologues of type I have been found in different fish species. In this paper we report the cloning of IFN genes from sea bream (Sparus aurata), expression analysis and gene structure. The sea bream IFN cDNA consists of 914 bp that translate in one reading frame to give the entire molecule containing 186 amino acids. The analysis of the sequences revealed the presence of a putative 20 amino acid signal peptide, two cysteine residues and two potential N-glycosylation sites and, finally, a high percentage of identity with type I IFN from mammals compared to type III IFN. Real time PCR was performed after poly I:C stimulation of head kidney leukocytes from sea bream to investigate the expression of sea bream IFN and Mx and an induction was observed for both genes at different time points and with different intensities. The sea bream IFN genes contains four introns, as type III IFN from mammals. The presented results will give the opportunity to investigate more in detail antiviral immune responses, vaccination and immunostimulation effects in sea bream, an economical important species for the South Mediterranean aquaculture. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Extracellular Magnesium Ion Modifies the Actions of Volatile Anesthetics in Area CA1 of Rat Hippocampus In Vitro

Background Magnesium ion (Mg2+) is involved in important processes as modulation of ion channels, receptors, neurotransmitter release, and cell excitability in the central nervous system. Although extracellular Mg2+ concentration ([Mg2+]o) can be altered during general anesthesia, there has been no evidence for [Mg2+]o-dependent modification of anesthetic actions on neural excitability in central nervous system preparations. The purpose of current study was to determine whether the effects of volatile anesthetics are [Mg2+]o-dependent in mammalian central nervous system. Methods Extracellular electrophysiologic recordings from CA1 neurons in rat hippocampal slices were used to investigate the effects of [Mg2+]o and anesthetics on population spike amplitude and excitatory postsynaptic potential slope. Results The depression of population spike amplitudes and excitatory postsynaptic potential slopes by volatile anesthetics were significantly dependent on [Mg2+]o. The effects were attenuated in the presence of a constant [Mg2+]o/extracellular Ca2+ concentration ratio. However, neither N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists nor a non–N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist altered the [Mg2+]o-dependent anesthetic-induced depression of population spikes. Volatile anesthetics produced minimal effects on input–output (excitatory postsynaptic potential–population spike) relations or the threshold for population spike generation. The effects were not modified by changes in [Mg2+]o. In addition, the population spike amplitudes, elicited via antidromic (nonsynaptic) stimulation, were not influenced by [Mg2+]o in the presence of volatile anesthetics. Conclusions These results provide support that alteration of [Mg2+]o modifies the actions of volatile anesthetics on synaptic transmission and that the effects could be, at least in part, a result of presynaptic Ca2+ channel–related mechanisms.
The Intravenous Model of Murine Tuberculosis is Less Pathogenic Than the Aerogenic Model Owing to a More Rapid Induction of Systemic Immunity

The detection of mRNA in the murine model of tuberculosis for key cytokines involved in protective immunity in the lung tissues revealed a much faster emergence of the interferon (IFN)‐γ response in the intravenous route than in the aerosol route of inoculation. This slower response in the lungs was associated with a stronger inflammatory response, resulting in large granulomatous structures and eventual tissue damage.