Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the essential oil content and composition of the spathe, buds and pollen of Phoenix dactylifera

Several medicinal applications have been reported for different components of date palm. The inflorescence of the male date tree is composed of spathe that surrounds many buds containing pollen. In this study, a comparison between the content and composition of the essential oils obtained from these three components of an inflorescence was made. After obtaining each oil using hydro-distillation method, the oil yield was measured as the weight ratio of the oil to the distilled sample (w/w %) and the chemical composition of the oil was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. It was observed that the pollen possessed the most oil content (1.47%) composed of 68.04% oleic acid, whereas the content of this fatty acid in the spathe and bud oils was found to be less than 0.05% and 5.65%, respectively. Spathe oil was dominated by 3,4-dimethoxytoluene (52.90%) while the main constituent of the bud oil was trans-caryophyllene (44.20%).
Uric acid, an important antioxidant contributing to survival in termites

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated spontaneously in all organisms and cause oxidative damage to biomolecules when present in excess. Accumulated oxidative damage accelerates aging; enhanced antioxidant capacity may be a positive factor for longevity. Recently, numerous studies of aging and longevity have been performed using short-lived animals, however, longevity mechanisms remain unknown. Here we show that a termite Reticulitermes speratus that is thought to be long-lived eusocial insect than other solitary insects uses large quantities of uric acid as an antioxidant against ROS. We demonstrated that the accumulation of uric acid considerably increases the free radical-scavenging activity and resistance against ultraviolet-induced oxidative stress in laboratory-maintained termites. In addition, we found that externally administered uric acid aided termite survival under highly oxidative conditions. The present data demonstrates that in addition to nutritional and metabolic roles, uric acid is an essential antioxidant for survival and contributes significantly to longevity. Uric acid also plays important roles in primates but causes gout when present in excess in humans. Further longevity studies of long-lived organisms may provide important breakthroughs with human health applications.
Alternative therapies for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE To review available evidence about the effectiveness of alternative therapies for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE and 13 additional US and international data bases were searched in 1996-1997 for papers that described use of alternative medicine in the treatment of pregnancy and pregnancy complications, specifically those addressing nausea, vomiting, and hyperemesis. Bibliographies of retrieved papers were reviewed to identify additional sources. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION All relevant English language clinical research papers were reviewed. Randomized clinical trials addressing specifically the use of nonpharmaceutical and nondietary interventions were chosen for detailed review. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS Ten randomized trials studying the effects of acupressure, ginger, and pyridoxine on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy were reviewed. Evidence of beneficial effects was found for these three interventions, although the data on acupressure are equivocal. Insufficient evidence was found for the benefits of hypnosis. Other interventions have not been studied. CONCLUSION There is a dearth of research to support or to refute the efficacy of a number of common remedies for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. The best-studied alternative remedy is acupressure, which may afford relief to many women; ginger and vitamin B6 also may be beneficial.
HOW DO KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TO COMMON EYE DISEASES RELATE TO EYE SERVICE UTILIZATION BY MEDICAL ENROLLEES IN UYO METROPOLIS ?

This study was on knowledge and attitude to common eye diseases as related to eye service utilization by medical enrollees in Uyo metropolis. Ex-post facto research design was adopted. Five research questions were answered and five null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study comprised 5410 and simple random sampling technique was used in selecting a sample of 541 medical enrollees. Simple Linear Regression Coefficient was used in answering the research questions and testing the hypotheses. The finding of the study revealed that knowledge and attitude to common eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, apollo, age-related macular degeneration and refractive errors had positive and significant relationship with utilization of eye services by medical enrollees in Uyo metropolis. Based on the findings, it is recommended that Managers of Nigerian Health Insurance such as Hygeia, and Mansard should create awareness campaigns about common eye diseases among their enrollees so that they can access available eye services.
Taxol(®)-induced phosphatidylserine exposure and microvesicle formation in red blood cells is mediated by its vehicle Cremophor(®) EL.

AIM The conventional clinical formulation of paclitaxel (PTX), Taxol®, consists of Cremophor® EL (CrEL) and ethanol. CrEL-formulated PTX is associated with acute hypersensitivity reactions, anemia and cardiovascular events. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of CrEL-PTX on red blood cells (RBCs) and compared these with the effects observed after exposure to the novel nanoparticle albumin-bound PTX, marketed as Abraxane®. RESULTS The authors demonstrate that CrEL is primarily responsible for RBC lysis and induction of phosphatidylserine exposure. Phosphatidylserine-exposing RBCs showed increased association with endothelial cells in culture. The authors also identified CrEL as being responsible for vesiculation of RBCs. This is the first time that excipients have been shown to be involved in microvesicle formation. Microvesicles were taken up by endothelial cells. CONCLUSION These results offer new insights into the side effect profile of Taxol, which is likely to have implications for patients with erythrocyte disorders. Abraxane did not induce any of these effects on RBCs, indicating that the choice of excipients can have a pronounced influence on the efficacy and side effects of drug molecules.
GABRA2 Alcohol Dependence Risk Allele is Associated with Reduced Expression of Chromosome 4p12 GABAA Subunit Genes in Human Neural Cultures.

BACKGROUND Genetic variation in a region of chromosome 4p12 that includes the GABAA subunit gene GABRA2 has been reproducibly associated with alcohol dependence (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association are unknown. This study examined correlates of in vitro gene expression of the AD-associated GABRA2 rs279858*C-allele in human neural cells using an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model system. METHODS We examined mRNA expression of chromosome 4p12 GABAA subunit genes (GABRG1, GABRA2, GABRA4, and GABRB1) in 36 human neural cell lines differentiated from iPSCs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and next-generation RNA sequencing. mRNA expression in adult human brain was examined using the BrainCloud and BRAINEAC data sets. RESULTS We found significantly lower levels of GABRA2 mRNA in neural cell cultures derived from rs279858*C-allele carriers. Levels of GABRA2 RNA were correlated with those of the other 3 chromosome 4p12 GABAA genes, but not other neural genes. Cluster analysis based on the relative RNA levels of the 4 chromosome 4p12 GABAA genes identified 2 distinct clusters of cell lines, a low-expression cluster associated with rs279858*C-allele carriers and a high-expression cluster enriched for the rs279858*T/T genotype. In contrast, there was no association of genotype with chromosome 4p12 GABAA gene expression in postmortem adult cortex in either the BrainCloud or BRAINEAC data sets. CONCLUSIONS AD-associated variation in GABRA2 is associated with differential expression of the entire cluster of GABAA subunit genes on chromosome 4p12 in human iPSC-derived neural cell cultures. The absence of a parallel effect in postmortem human adult brain samples suggests that AD-associated genotype effects on GABAA expression, although not present in mature cortex, could have effects on regulation of the chromosome 4p12 GABAA cluster during neural development.
We don't need no education ... . (Pink Floyd, The Wall ) Multidisciplinary predialysis education programmes: pass or fail?

In the famous Pink Floyd song, education fails as it reduces every pupil in a totalitarian way to ‘another brick in the wall’. Recently, much attention has been paid to timely referral and multidisciplinary predialysis education (MPE) programmes (for review see [1]). In this issue of Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (NDT), Wu et al. [2] report the results of a non-randomized observational trial on the impact of an established MPE programme on the outcome of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 or higher. The authors conclude that such an MPE programme decreases the number of patients ending up on dialysis, and reduces mortality. In what follows, we try to discuss why some methodological aspects of studying the effect of MPE make that the question whether all centres should have MPE programmes cannot be answered by a definite ‘yes’; as such, we also try to offer some explanations why MPE programmes seem to work in some but not in all studies.
Scavenger receptor‐A mediates gp96/GRP94 and calreticulin internalization by antigen‐presenting cells

gp96 (GRP94) elicits antigen‐presenting cell (APC) activation and can direct peptides into the cross‐ presentation pathways of APC. These responses arise through interactions of gp96 with Toll‐like (APC activation) and endocytic (cross‐presentation) receptors of APC. Previously, CD91, the α2‐macroglobulin receptor, was identified as the heat shock/chaperone protein receptor of APC. Recent data indicates, however, that inhibition of CD91 ligand binding does not alter gp96 recognition and uptake. Furthermore, CD91 expression is not itself sufficient for gp96 binding and internalization. We now report that scavenger receptor class‐A (SR‐A), a prominent scavenger receptor of macrophages and dendritic cells, serves a primary role in gp96 and calreticulin recognition and internalization. gp96 internalization and peptide re‐presentation are inhibited by the SR‐A inhibitory ligand fucoidin, although fucoidin was without effect on α2‐macroglobulin binding or uptake. Ectopic expression of SR‐A in HEK 293 cells yielded gp96 recognition and uptake activity. In addition, macrophages derived from SR‐A−/− mice were substantially impaired in gp96 binding and uptake. These data identify new roles for SR‐A in the regulation of cellular responses to heat shock proteins.
Language Specificity in the Relation of Maternal Education to Bilingual Children’s Vocabulary Growth

The robust relation between maternal education and child language that is observed in monolingual populations has not been reliably replicated among bilingual children from immigrant families in the United States. We hypothesized that a variable that operates in immigrant populations—the language in which mothers achieved their highest level of education, is relevant to the benefits of maternal education to children’s language growth. The participants were 92 U.S.-born bilingually developing children (47 boys, 45 girls) with native Spanish-speaking immigrant mothers. The mothers varied both in their level of education and in the language (English or Spanish) in which they had achieved their highest level of education. The children’s expressive vocabulary in English and Spanish was assessed at 6-month intervals between 30 and 60 months. Four sets of multilevel models, which included estimates of children’s relative amount of input in each language and mothers’ age of arrival, found that maternal level of education in English was significantly related to children’s English skill, but not their Spanish skill, and that maternal level of education in Spanish was related to children’s Spanish skill, but not their English skill. These language specific relations between mothers’ levels of education and their children’s language development potentially explain previous findings in immigrant populations. These findings further argue that maternal education benefits children’s language because education changes mothers’ use of the language in which that education was achieved. There was no evidence of a language general benefit of education, as might arise from increased knowledge of child development.
Identification of downstream targets of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein pathway in the Drosophila nervous system

Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling mediated by the receptor Wishful thinking (Wit) is essential for nervous system development in Drosophila. Mutants lacking wit function show defects in neuromuscular junction development and function, specification of neurosecretory phenotypes, and eclosion behavior that result in lethality. The ligand is Glass bottom boat, the Drosophila ortholog of mammalian BMP‐7, which acts as a retrograde signal through the Wit receptor. In order to identify transcriptional targets of the BMP pathway in the Drosophila nervous system, we have analyzed the gene expression profile of wit mutant larval central nervous system. Genes differentially expressed identified by microarray analysis have been verified by quantitative PCR and studied by in situ hybridization. Among the genes thus identified, we find solute transporters, neuropeptides, mitochondrial proteins, and novel genes. In addition, several genes are regulated by wit in an isoform‐specific manner that suggest regulation of alternative splicing by BMP signaling. Developmental Dynamics 239:2413–2425, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Feedbacks between Conservation and Social‐Ecological Systems

Abstract: Robust ways to meet objectives of environmental conservation and social and economic development remain elusive. This struggle may in part be related to insufficient understanding of the feedbacks between conservation initiatives and social–ecological systems, specifically, the ways in which conservation initiatives result in social changes that have secondary effects on the environments targeted by conservation. To explore this idea, we sampled peer‐reviewed articles addressing the social and environmental dimensions of conservation and coded each paper according to its research focus and characterization of these feedbacks. The majority of articles in our sample focused either on the effect of conservation initiatives on people (e.g., relocation, employment) or the effect of people on the environment (e.g., fragmentation, conservation efficacy of traditional management systems). Few studies in our sample empirically addressed both the social dynamics resulting from conservation initiatives and subsequent environmental effects. In many cases, one was measured and the other was discussed anecdotally. Among the studies that describe feedbacks between social and environmental variables, there was more evidence of positive (amplifying) feedbacks between social and environmental outcomes (i.e., undesirable social outcomes yielded undesirable environmental effects and desirable social outcomes yielded desirable environmental effects). The major themes within the sampled literature include conflict between humans and wild animals, social movements, adaptive comanagement, loss of traditional management systems, traditional ecological knowledge, human displacement and risks to livelihoods, and conservation and development. The narratives associated with each theme can serve as hypotheses for facilitating further discussion about conservation issues and for catalyzing future studies of the feedbacks between conservation and social–ecological systems.
Non-unionised migrant workers: evidence from the UK Labour Force Survey for a 'Triple-Challenge Model'

This paper aims to help rectify the lack of systematic research into the unionisation of migrant workers in Britain. We will explore the Labour Force Survey data using a logistic regression modelling. With a varying degree of influence on men and women, the results provide empirical evidence to assist the development of comprehensive explanations for the obstacles behind migrant workers’ unionisation. The impediments we analysed can be considered within what one might call a triple-challenge model comprising of i) encounter inputs: demographic factors brought into the host society and citizenry rights offered by the host society to migrant workers ii) accentuated structural factors: workplace characteristics, flexible work and migrant workers’ disproportionate location in less unionised companies with flexible contracts iii) knock-on effects: educational and occupational influences along with the impacts of encounter inputs and accentuated structural factors on such influences.
Structure of the type III pantothenate kinase from Bacillus anthracis at 2.0 A resolution: implications for coenzyme A-dependent redox biology.

Coenzyme A (CoASH) is the major low-molecular weight thiol in Staphylococcus aureus and a number of other bacteria; the crystal structure of the S. aureus coenzyme A-disulfide reductase (CoADR), which maintains the reduced intracellular state of CoASH, has recently been reported [Mallett, T.C. , Wallen, J.R. , Karplus, P.A. , Sakai, H. , Tsukihara, T. , and Claiborne, A. (2006) Biochemistry 45, 11278-89]. In this report we demonstrate that CoASH is the major thiol in Bacillus anthracis; a bioinformatics analysis indicates that three of the four proteins responsible for the conversion of pantothenate (Pan) to CoASH in Escherichia coli are conserved in B. anthracis. In contrast, a novel type III pantothenate kinase (PanK) catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthetic pathway in B. anthracis; unlike the E. coli type I PanK, this enzyme is not subject to feedback inhibition by CoASH. The crystal structure of B. anthracis PanK (BaPanK), solved using multiwavelength anomalous dispersion data and refined at a resolution of 2.0 A, demonstrates that BaPanK is a new member of the Acetate and Sugar Kinase/Hsc70/Actin (ASKHA) superfamily. The Pan and ATP substrates have been modeled into the active-site cleft; in addition to providing a clear rationale for the absence of CoASH inhibition, analysis of the Pan-binding pocket has led to the development of two new structure-based motifs (the PAN and INTERFACE motifs). Our analyses also suggest that the type III PanK in the spore-forming B. anthracis plays an essential role in the novel thiol/disulfide redox biology of this category A biodefense pathogen.
Verletzungsmechanismen des Fussgaengers bei Kollisionen mit einer modernen Fahrzeugfront - eine experimentelle Studie

Nach aktuellen Ergebnissen aus der Verkehrsunfallforschung sollen unter anderem Massnahmen an der aeusseren Gestaltung moderner Fahrzeuge zu einer Minderung der Verletzungsschwere und einem dementsprechend guenstigeren Verletzungsmuster von Fussgaengern fuehren, die mit der Front eines Pkw erfasst werden. Um diesen Einfluss genauer analysieren zu koennen wurden Pkw-Fussgaenger-Unfaelle an PMTO's mit einem modernen Kleinwagen mit einer kurzen und geneigten Motorhaube simuliert. Es wurden zunaechst drei Versuche bei Kollisionsgeschwindigkeiten von 30 bis 40 km/h durchgefuehrt. Mit Hilfe von Hochgeschwindigkeitsfilm- und Videoaufnahmen wurden speziell die Bewegungsablaeufe waehrend der Aufschoepfphase analysiert, wobei insbesondere der Kopfaufprallort und die Aufprallgeschwindigkeit untersucht wurden. Weiterhin wurde die dynamische Verlaengerung im Bereich der Wirbelsaeule analysiert. Die so gewonnenen Ergebnisse wurden unter anderem mit frueheren Untersuchungen verglichen, die mit einem Fahrzeug aus einer Baureihe vor 1990 durchgefuehrt worden waren. Ziel war es, herauszufinden, inwieweit die moderne Formgebung der Fahrzeugfront einen Einfluss auf die Kinematik und das Verletzungsmuster des angefahrenen Fussgaengers hat. Die Ergebnisse koennen wie folgt zusammengefasst werden: - Die Flugbahn des Kopfes wurde nicht signifikant von der Form der untersuchten Fahrzeugfronten beeinflusst; - die Frontgestaltung hatte einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die maximale resultierende Geschwindigkeit des Kopfes. Sie lag beim aelteren Modell etwa 10 Prozent hoeher, jedoch war die Anprallgeschwindigkeit des Kopfes am Fahrzeug deutlich geringer; - bei der kuerzeren Motorhaube lag der Kopfaufprallbereich entsprechend hoeher auf der Windschutzscheibe; - bei einer Kollisionsgeschwindigkeit von 40 km/h konnte eine deutliche Dehnung der Wirbelsaeule in Laengsrichtung beobachtet werden. Diese ersten Versuche zeigten, dass moderne Pkw-Fronten nicht die erwartete guenstige Beeinflussung des Kopfanpralls am Fahrzeug erbrachten. Somit erscheinen auch weitere Massnahmen zur Verletzungsminderung notwendig, wie zum Beispiel durch energieabsorbierende Strukturen der gesamten Frontgestaltung. (A) Beitrag zum Themenbereich Biomechanik - Rekonstruktion - Verkehrssicherheit der 30. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Verkehrsmedizin e.V. , Berlin, 10. bis 13. Maerz 1999. Siehe auch Gesamtaufnahme der Jahrestagung, IDS-Nummer D342301.
The results of thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVE To review our experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort study following up consecutive patients for 3 to 4.3 years. SETTING Thoracic Surgery Department, Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION Seventy-two consecutive patients undergoing thoracoscopy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1994 to June 1996. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 25 years (range, 15 to 40 years), and 67 were men (93%). All patients were successfully treated using video-assisted thoracoscopic technique. Recurrent pneumothorax was the most frequent indication for surgery, occurring in 49 patients. The most common method of management was stapling of an identified bleb, which was done in 56 cases. Pleurodesis was achieved by gauze abrasion (n = 39) and apical pleurectomy (n = 33). Postoperative prolonged air leak occurred in five patients (6.9%). There were no deaths attributable to the procedure. The mean (+/-SD) postoperative hospital stay was 4 +/- 2 days. Mean follow-up is 42 months (range, 36 to 54 months) for all patients. Pneumothorax recurred in four patients (5.5%) in whom pleural abrasion was done. The recurrences occurred in the first year of follow-up, three required a reoperation, and one healed by rest without pleural drainage. CONCLUSIONS Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a safe procedure in the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Apical pleurectomy is a more effective way of producing pleural symphysis. Long-term follow-up did not increase the rate of recurrence.