Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of dietary phosphate and calcium intake on fibroblast growth factor-23.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Little is known about the influence of dietary phosphate intake on fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) and its subsequent effects on vitamin D levels. This study addresses changes in intact FGF23 (iFGF23) and C-terminal FGF23 (cFGF23), phosphaturia, and levels of vitamin D on high and low phosphate and calcium intake. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Ten healthy subjects adhered to a diet low or high in phosphate and calcium content for 36 hours each with a 1-week interval during which subjects adhered to their usual diet. Serum phosphate, calcium, vitamin D metabolites, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and FGF23 levels (cFGF23 and iFGF23) were measured several times a day. Phosphate, calcium, and creatinine excretion was measured in 24-hour urine on all study days. RESULTS Serum phosphate levels and urinary phosphate increased during high dietary phosphate intake (from 1.11 to 1.32 mmol/L, P<0.0001 and 21.6 to 28.8 mmol/d, P=0.0005, respectively). FGF23 serum levels increased during high dietary phosphate/calcium intake (cFGF23 from 60 to 72 RU/ml, P<0.001; iFGF23 from 33 to 37 ng/L, P=0.003), whereas PTH declined. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) showed an inverse relation with FGF23. CONCLUSIONS Variation in dietary phosphate and calcium intake induces changes in FGF23 (on top of a circadian rhythm) and 1,25D blood levels as well as in urinary phosphate excretion. These changes are detectable the day after the change in the phosphate content of meals. Higher FGF23 levels are associated with phosphaturia and a decline in 1,25D levels.
Restorative effects of Chrysin pretreatment on oxidant–antioxidant status, inflammatory cytokine production, and apoptotic and autophagic markers in acute paracetamol‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats: An experimental and biochemical study

Paracetamol (PC) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug, but it leads to acute hepatotoxicity at high doses intakes. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Chrysin (CR) on hepatotoxicity constituted at high doses of PC in rats. Rats were subjected to oral pretreatment of CR (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) via feeding needle for 6 days against hepatotoxicity induced by a single dose of PC (500 mg/kg b.w.) administered orally via feeding needles. Although PC increases lipid peroxidation and liver enzyme activities, it has led to reduction of antioxidant enzyme activities. PC induced inflammatory responses by increasing the levels of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. Furthermore, PC caused apoptosis and autophagy by increasing activity of Caspase‐3 and LC3B level. On the other hand, CR therapy significantly regulated these values in rats. This study demonstrated that CR possesses restorative effect against PC‐induced hepatotoxicity by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic and autophagic tissue damage.
Clinical evaluation of enalapril maleate and furosemide usage in dogs with degenerative myxomatous mitral valve, CHF functional class Ib

Degenerative myxomatous mitral valve (DMMV) is a heart disease of high incidence in small animal clinical medicine, affecting mainly older dogs and small breeds. Thus, a scientific investigation was performed in order to evaluate the clinical use of the medicines furosemide and enalapril maleate in dogs with this disease in CHF functional class Ib before and after the treatment was established. For this purpose 16 dogs with the given valve disease were used, separated into two groups: the first received furosemide (n=8) and the second received enalapril maleate (n=8) throughout 56 days. The dogs were evaluated in four stages (T0, T14, T28 and T56 day) in relation to clinical signs, hematological, biochemical and serum assessment, which included serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and aldosterone, as well as radiography, electrocardiography, Doppler-echocardiography and blood pressure. The results regarding the clinical, hematological and serum chemistry evaluations revealed no significant changes in both groups, but significant reductions in the values of ACE and aldosterone in the group receiving enalapril maleate were verified. The radiographic examination revealed reductions of VHS values and variable Pms wave of the electrocardiogram in both groups, but no changes in blood pressure values were identified. The echocardiogram showed a significant decrease of the variables LVDd/s in the studied groups and the FS% in animals that received only enalapril. Therefore, analysis of results showed that monotherapy based on enalapril maleate showed better efficiency of symptoms control in patients with CHF functional class Ib.
Dosimetric evaluation of a 2D pixel ionization chamber for implementation in clinical routine

In this paper we present the results of a dosimetric evaluation of a 2D ionization chamber array with the objective of its implementation for quality assurance in clinical routine. The pixel ionization chamber MatriXX (Scanditronix Wellhofer, Germany) consists of 32 × 32 chambers with a distance of 7.6 mm between chamber centres. The effective depth of measurement under the surface of the detector was determined. The dose and energy dependence, the behaviour of the device during its initial phase and its time stability as well as the lateral response of a single chamber of the detector in cross-plane and diagonal directions were analysed. It could be shown, that the detector's response is linear with dose and energy independent. Taking the lateral response into account, two different dose profiles, for a pyramidal and an IMRT dose distribution, were applied to compare the data generated by a treatment planning system with measurements. From these investigations it can be concluded that the detector is a suitable device for quality assurance and 2D dose verifications.
Characterization of Normal Spermiation and Spermiation Failure Induced by Hormone Suppression in Adult Rats1

Abstract At the end of spermatogenesis, elongated spermatids are released from supporting Sertoli cells via the process termed spermiation. Previous studies have shown that spermiation failure occurs after hormone suppression, in which spermatids are retained instead of releasing. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in spermiation and spermiation failure are largely unknown. The aims of the present study were, first, to characterize the ultrastructural events associated with normal spermiation and spermiation failure using light and electron microscopy and, second, to investigate the localization of cell adhesion-associated (β1-integrin and cadherins) and junction-associated molecules (integrin-associated kinase [ILK], β-catenin, and espin) during these processes. Four adult Sprague-Dawley rats received testosterone and estradiol implants and FSH antibody (2 mg kg−1 day−1) for 7 days to suppress testicular testosterone and FSH and to induce spermiation failure. Four rats treated with saline were used as controls. After testosterone and FSH suppression, spermiation at the ultrastructural level appeared to be normal until the final disengagement of the spermatids from Sertoli cells (stage VIII), at which stage a large number of retained spermatids were noted. Immunohistochemical localization of espin showed that during spermiation, removal of the ectoplasmic specialization (ES) occurred 30 h before spermatid disengagement, suggesting that non-ES junctions mediate the spermatid-Sertoli cell interaction before and during disengagement. β1-Integrin and β-catenin remained associated with spermatids after ES removal and until disengagement; however, ILK was removed along with the ES. Though detectable, N-cadherin was not associated with the spermatid-Sertoli cell junction. After testosterone and FSH suppression, β1-integrin, but not N-cadherin or β-catenin, remained associated with spermatids that failed to spermiate. In conclusion, hormone suppression-induced spermiation failure is caused by defects in the disengagement of spermatids from the Sertoli cell, and this process likely is mediated by β1-integrin in an ILK-independent mechanism.
Perceptions of parenting styles in South Africa: The effects of gender and ethnicity

Abstract Parenting style is an area of research which is emerging in South Africa. Previous research notes significant differences between ethnic groups in terms of parenting. In a country as diverse as South Africa, which has also evolved from an era of separatism and segregation, comparing parenting styles across ethnic groups is an interesting topic. This is a comparative study using a cross-sectional design. The Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire was used to collect the data. The final sample consisted of 746 participants with a mean age of 20.48 (SD = 1.96) years; 36% males and 64% females. The results found maternal authoritative parenting style to be the most prevalent across and within groups, but there were also significant differences between and within groups. Fathers’ parenting style was perceived as significantly different in three ethnic groups, but mothers’ parenting styles were not perceived as significantly different.
Future considerations for dendritic cell immunotherapy against chronic viral infections

Dendritic cells (DCs) are multifunctional cells that are pivotal in immune defense. As such they have been explored as vaccine carriers, largely in cancer immunotherapy and against some infectious diseases including HIV and viral hepatitis. However, while the use of DCs as vaccine carrier has shown some promise in cancer immunotherapy, this approach is laborious and is subject to strict quality control, which makes it expensive. Furthermore, in some individuals chronically infected with HIV, HCV and/or HBV the numbers of circulating DCs are reduced and/or their functions impaired. In vivo expansion and mobilization of DCs with Flt3L in combination with antigen and/or adjuvant targeting to critical DC receptors may be a more effective approach to control viral replication in chronically infected HIV, HBV and/or HCV patients than current DC immunotherapy approaches.
Lightning: A High-Efficient Neighbor Discovery Protocol for Low Duty Cycle WSNs

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), due to the limited energy of nodes, discovering neighbors needs to be achieved in an energy-efficient way. This means that, at a given energy consumption, we need to reduce the worst-case neighbor discovery latency as far as possible. In this letter, we propose a novel deterministic neighbor discovery method, called Lightning. Lightning employs two kinds of active slots of different active lengths (we call A slot and C slot, respectively). The active time of C slot is much shorter than that of A slot in order to reduce the energy consumption. In addition, to maximize the energy efficiency, Lightning adopts one-way neighbor discovery method. This makes C slot have the smallest active length that is only enough to send one beaconing packet. Through proactively sending one beaconing packet after one-way discovery, Lightning also realizes bi-directional neighbor discovery. The theoretical analysis indicates that, with the same energy consumption, our method reduces the worst-case latency bound up to 37.9% compared with Searchlight-Trim, the best existing discovery algorithm. The simulation verifies the soundness and effectiveness of our design.
Oxidation of ethanol in the rat brain and effects associated with chronic ethanol exposure

It has been reported that chronic and acute alcohol exposure decreases cerebral glucose metabolism and increases acetate oxidation. However, it remains unknown how much ethanol the living brain can oxidize directly and whether such a process would be affected by alcohol exposure. The questions have implications for reward, oxidative damage, and long-term adaptation to drinking. One group of adult male Sprague–Dawley rats was treated with ethanol vapor and the other given room air. After 3 wk the rats received i.v. [2-13C]ethanol and [1, 2-13C2]acetate for 2 h, and then the brain was fixed, removed, and divided into neocortex and subcortical tissues for measurement of 13C isotopic labeling of glutamate and glutamine by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Ethanol oxidation was seen to occur both in the cortex and the subcortex. In ethanol-naïve rats, cortical oxidation of ethanol occurred at rates of 0.017 ± 0.002 µmol/min/g in astroglia and 0.014 ± 0.003 µmol/min/g in neurons, and chronic alcohol exposure increased the astroglial ethanol oxidation to 0.028 ± 0.002 µmol/min/g (P = 0.001) with an insignificant effect on neuronal ethanol oxidation. Compared with published rates of overall oxidative metabolism in astroglia and neurons, ethanol provided 12.3 ± 1.4% of cortical astroglial oxidation in ethanol-naïve rats and 20.2 ± 1.5% in ethanol-treated rats. For cortical astroglia and neurons combined, the ethanol oxidation for naïve and treated rats was 3.2 ± 0.3% and 3.8 ± 0.2% of total oxidation, respectively. 13C labeling from subcortical oxidation of ethanol was similar to that seen in cortex but was not affected by chronic ethanol exposure.
Phenyl hydroquinone, an Ames test‐negative carcinogen, induces Hog1‐dependent stress response signaling

Recently, we have shown that phenyl hydroquinone, a hepatic metabolite of the Ames test‐negative carcinogen o‐phenylphenol, efficiently induced aneuploidy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We further found that phenyl hydroquinone arrested the cell cycle at G1 and G2/M. In this study, we demonstrate that phenyl hydroquinone can arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M transition as a result of stabilization of Swe1 (a Wee1 homolog), probably leading to inactivation of Cdc28 (a Cdk1/Cdc2 homolog). Furthermore, Hog1 (a p38 MAPK homolog) was robustly phosphorylated by phenyl hydroquinone, which can stabilize Swe1. On the other hand, Chk1 and Rad53 were not phosphorylated by phenyl hydroquinone, indicating that the Mec1/Tel1 DNA‐damage checkpoint was not functional. Mutations of swe1 and hog1 abolished phenyl hydroquinone‐induced arrest at the G2/M transition and the cells became resistant to phenyl hydroquinone lethality and aneuploidy development. These data suggest that a phenyl hydroqionone‐induced G2/M transition checkpoint that is activated by the Hog1–Swe1 pathway plays a role in the development of aneuploidy.
“Learning is our Achilles heel”. Conditions for long-term environmental policy integration in Swedish regional development programming

The aim of this paper is to explore how the capacity to integrate environmental sustainability in Swedish regional development programming has evolved over time, particularly focusing on what facilitates and restricts change in different stages of implementation. The study builds on focus group and individual interviews in four Swedish regions carried out in 2005 and 2011. The results suggest temporary and partial, rather than enduring and substantial, environmental policy integration (EPI). In 2005 the main challenges were to allocate support, focus and prioritise beyond the national policy rhetoric of regional sustainable development, to identify regional applications beyond singular ‘pockets of good practice’ and to spread ownership and engagement for EPI from specific ambassadors to organisational mainstreaming. In 2011 we found evidence of a more mainstreamed approach of regional sustainable development, but with new challenges of policy diffusion and sectorisation as well as a strong sense of projectification. There is a need to develop arenas and processes for inter-sectoral exchange, interaction and learning to achieve a more systematic change – which is, in essence, what policy integration is all about.
Valvular calcification and left ventricular modifying in peritoneal dialysis patients

Abstract Background: Cardiac valve calcification (CVC) and left ventricular (LV) alterations are frequent complication in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We determined the prevalence of CVC and LV hypertrophy (LVH) in ESRD patients before renal replacement therapy and 12 months after peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: A prospective longitudinal of 50 incident PD patients was studied. Demographic and clinical data were recorded and blood assayed at baseline and after 1-year of follow-up. CVC and LVH were evaluated by M-mode two-dimensional echocardiography. Results: CVC of the mitral and aortic valves and of both valves were noted in 30, 18 and 10% of patients, respectively. After 12 months of PD regimen, 20% patients had aortic, 24% mitral and 8% had calcification of both valves. After one year of PD, LVH was 62 and 36% in patients with and without CVC, respectively (p < 0.05). Endothelin-1 is an independent predictor of CVC at the baseline, while nitric oxide is inversely an independent predictor at the end of follow-up. Conclusions: CVC is associated with LVH in PD patients. These findings identified a potential role for monitored markers to be incorporated into therapeutic strategies aimed at detection and treatment of cardiovascular complications and prevention strategies.
Enhancing Optomechanical Coupling via the Josephson Effect

Cavity optomechanics is showing promise for studying quantum mechanics in large systems. However, smallness of the radiation-pressure coupling is a serious hindrance. Here we show how the charge tuning of the Josephson inductance in a single-Cooper-pair transistor (SCPT) can be exploited to arrange a strong radiation pressure -type coupling $g_0$ between mechanical and microwave resonators. In a certain limit of parameters, such a coupling can also be seen as a qubit-mediated coupling of two resonators. We show that this scheme allows reaching extremely high $g_0$. Contrary to the recent proposals for exploiting the non-linearity of a large radiation pressure coupling, the main non-linearity in this setup originates from a cross-Kerr type of coupling between the resonators, where the cavity refractive index depends on the phonon number. The presence of this coupling will allow accessing the individual phonon numbers via the measurement of the cavity.
Assessment of higher level cognitive-communication functions in adolescents with ABI: Standardization of the student version of the functional assessment of verbal reasoning and executive strategies (S-FAVRES)

Abstract Background: Childhood acquired brain injuries can disrupt communication functions needed for success in school, work and social interaction. Cognitive-communication difficulties may not be apparent until adolescence, when academic, environmental and social-emotional demands increase. Objective: The Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Strategies for Students (S-FAVRES) is a new activity-level measure of cognitive-communication skills in complex, contextual and integrative tasks that simulate real world communication challenges. It is hypothesized that S-FAVRES performance would differentiate adolescents with and without acquired brain injury (ABI) on scores for Accuracy, Rationale, Reasoning Subskills and Time. Methods: S-FAVRES was administered to 182 typically-developing (TD) and 57 adolescents with mild-to-severe ABI aged 12–19. Group differences, internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity, reliability and contributing factors to performance (age, gender, brain injury) were examined statistically. Results: Those with ABI attained statistically lower Accuracy, Rationale and Reasoning sub-skills scores than their TD peers. Time scores were not significantly different. Performance trends were consistent across tasks, administrations, gender and age groups. Inter-rater reliability for scoring was acceptable. Conclusion: The S-FAVRES provides a reliable, functional and quantifiable measure of subtle cognitive-communication difficulties in adolescents that can assist speech-language pathologists in planning treatment and integration to school and real world communication.
A Distributed Algorithm for Solving a Linear Algebraic Equation

A distributed algorithm is described for solving a linear algebraic equation of the form Ax = b assuming the equation has at least one solution. The equation is simultaneously solved by m agents assuming each agent knows only a subset of the rows of the partitioned matrix [A b], the current estimates of the equation's solution generated by its neighbors, and nothing more. Each agent recursively updates its estimate by utilizing the current estimates generated by each of its neighbors. Neighbor relations are characterized by a time-dependent directed graph N(t) whose vertices correspond to agents and whose arcs depict neighbor relations. It is shown that for any matrix A for which the equation has a solution and any sequence of “repeatedly jointly strongly connected graphs” N(t), t = 1, 2, . , the algorithm causes all agents' estimates to converge exponentially fast to the same solution to Ax = b. It is also shown that, under mild assumptions, the neighbor graph sequence must actually be repeatedly jointly strongly connected if exponential convergence is to be assured. A worst case convergence rate bound is derived for the case when Ax = b has a unique solution. It is demonstrated that with minor modification, the algorithm can track the solution to Ax = b, even if A and b are changing with time, provided the rates of change of A and bare sufficiently small. It is also shown that in the absence of communication delays, exponential convergence to a solution occurs even if the times at which each agent updates its estimates are not synchronized with the update times of its neighbors. A modification of the algorithm is outlined which enables it to obtain a least squares solution to Ax = b in a distributed manner, even if Ax = b does not have a solution.
Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping of Salt Tolerance and Identification of Salt-Tolerant Genes in Brassica napus L

Salinity stress is one of typical abiotic stresses that seriously limit crop production. In this study, a genetic linkage map based on 532 molecular markers covering 1341.1 cM was constructed to identify the loci associated with salt tolerance in Brassica napus. Up to 45 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 10 indicators were identified in the F2:3 populations. These QTLs can account for 4.80–51.14% of the phenotypic variation. A major QTL, qSPAD5 on LG5 associated with chlorophyll can be detected in three replicates. Two intron polymorphic (IP) markers in this QTL region were developed successfully to narrow down the QTL location to a region of 390 kb. A salt tolerance related gene Bra003640 was primary identified as the candidate gene in this region. The full length of the candidate gene was 1,063 bp containing three exons and two introns in B. napus L. The open reading frame (ORF) is 867 bp and encodes 287 amino acids. Three amino acid differences (34, 54, and 83) in the conserved domain (B-box) were identified. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the gene expression had significant difference between the two parents. The study laid great foundation for salt tolerance related gene mapping and cloning in B. napus L.
Exploring the Contemporary Stage and Scripts for the Enactment of Dying Roles: A Narrative Review of the Literature

This narrative review explores the literature regarding the drama of dying from several academic perspectives. Three key themes were identified including “The impact of blurred boundaries on roles and transitions,” “The orchestration of death and dying through time,” and “Contemporary dying and new machinery of control. ” This review reveals the manner in which tightly scripted dying roles serve the needs of the living to a greater extent than those of the dying, by ensuring the depiction of both dying and death as phenomena which have been brought under the control of the living, thereby countering death anxiety. An incongruence between the actual experience of dying and contemporary dying scripts is also highlighted. The authors argue that this incongruence is hidden from the broader societal audience through the maintenance of a dying role that demands serenity and acceptance, thus downplaying or even hiding the actual end-of-life experiences of the dying themselves.