Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the time course of the anorectic effect of fenfluramine and amphetamine with drug levels in blood

Time courses of the suppressive effects on food intake of (+)‐amphetamine and (±)‐fenfluramine in deprived rats were found to be different. Amphetamine displayed a potent initial action which rapidly decayed, and this behavioural effect was consistent with the measured blood concentration of amphetamine which showed a peak at 1 h followed by rapid clearance. For fenfluramine, the initial suppression of eating was maintained over several hours and was, for the first hour, related to the blood concentration of fenfluramine but later to an active metabolite, norfenfluramine. The study shows how drug‐induced changes in feeding behaviour fluctuate over time and illustrate how single measures of food intake may overlook information about the effectiveness of anorectic drugs.
Physical, Biochemical, and Immunological Properties of Coliphage MS-2 Particles

H (heavy) and L (light) MS-2 particles differ in density, absorption spectrum, and infectivity. Studies on their sedimentation, ribonucleic acid (RNA) content and infectivity, appearance under the electron microscope, ribonuclease sensitivity, and A-protein content failed to demonstrate any difference between the two particle types. Studies on the size, RNA content, and density of the capsid and two smaller coat protein components were also conducted. The antigenic relatedness of five different viral and subviral particles of MS-2 were studied by using immunodiffusion and neutralization. Capsids and the H and L viral particles were shown to be antigenically related, whereas the coat protein monomers and dimers were shown to be unrelated to the higher-molecular-weight particles.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection in children hospitalised with acute lower respiratory tract infection.

BACKGROUND Data are lacking on respiratory syncytial virus. (RSV) respiratory tract infections in children from developing countries. OBJECTIVE To determine the importance of RSV as a cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in Cape Town children. METHODS Children younger than 2 years of age admitted to hospital with ALRTI over a 15-month period from 1 June 1995 to 31 August 1996 were studied prospectively. Sociodemographic data, risk factors for severe RSV disease, clinical signs, diagnosis and hospital course were documented. A nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) for detection of RSV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was obtained in all cases. The NPA of every fifth child was sent for viral culture. RESULTS A total of 1,288 patients (60% male, 40% female) with a median age (25th-75th percentile) of 6 months (2-11 months) was enrolled; 32.4 had one or more risk factors for severe RSV infection. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 62.2%, bronchiolitis in 20.6%, laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) in 8% and other respiratory illnesses in 9.2%. Mild disease, requiring admission to an overnight ward, was documented in 38.1%, while 48.9% and 13% respectively had moderate and severe disease requiring admission to a general ward and intensive care unit (ICU). Supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation were required by 68.9% and 8.5% of patients, respectively. The median duration of hospital stay was 5 days (range 1-10 days). RSV EIA was positive in 16.4% of cases, and there was no difference in detection rates according to diagnosis. Viral culture performed in 162 of the 1,288 study patients (12.6%) grew RSV in 11.7% of cases, adenovirus in 3.7%, para-influenza virus type 3 in 2.5% and influenza B virus in 0.6%. Patients who tested RSV EIA-positive did not significantly differ from those who tested negative with regard to demographic variables, clinical diagnoses, risk factors for RSV or length of hospitalisation. The only significant difference noted was the presence of hyperinflation, which occurred in 70.1% of EIA-positive patients compared with 57.1% of those testing negative (P = 0.0005). The mortality rate (2%) was similar for both groups. CONCLUSION This study indicates that RSV is an important cause of hospitalisation in infants and young children with ALRTI. Distinguishing RSV from other ALRTIs is difficult because of similarity in clinical presentation among children.
In vitro effects of three woody plant and sainfoin extracts on 3rd-stage larvae and adult worms of three gastrointestinal nematodes

Most studies on the effects of tanniferous plants on nematodes have examined forages but have neglected the woody plants. Therefore, in vitro effects of extracts from 3 woody plants (Rubus fructicosus, Quercus robur, Corylus avellana) have been tested on trichostrongyles and compared to sainfoin, a legume forage. Because some in vivo results indicated that the effects of tannins differed depending on the parasitic species and/or stages, the effects were measured on 3rd-stage larvae (L3) and adult worms of Teladorsagia circumcincta, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The effects of plant extracts varied according to the plant sources, the parasite species and stages. For the woody plants, significant inhibitory effects were obtained on both stages of abomasal species. Results for T. colubriformis were more variable. Effects of sainfoin extracts were significant on T. colubriformis and H. contortus L3, and on abomasal adult worms. In order to assess the implications of tannins, polyethylene glycol (PEG), an inhibitor of tannins, was added to hazel tree, oak and sainfoin extracts. Without PEG, significant inhibitory effects on L3 and adult worms were confirmed. After addition of PEG, the larval migration and motility of adult worms were restored in most cases. These results confirm variations in effects depending on factors related to plants or parasites and suggest that tannins are partly responsible for the effects.
Model predictions and evaluation of possible control strategies for the 2009 A/H1N1v influenza pandemic in Italy

SUMMARY We describe the real-time modelling analysis conducted in Italy during the early phases of the 2009 A/H1N1v influenza pandemic in order to estimate the impact of the pandemic and of the related mitigation measures implemented. Results are presented along with a comparison with epidemiological surveillance data which subsequently became available. Simulated epidemics were fitted to the estimated number of influenza-like syndromes collected within the Italian sentinel surveillance systems and showed good agreement with the timing of the observed epidemic. On the basis of the model predictions, we estimated the underreporting factor of the influenza surveillance system to be in the range 3·3–3·7 depending on the scenario considered. Model prediction suggested that the epidemic would peak in early November. These predictions have proved to be a valuable support for public health policy-makers in planning interventions for mitigating the spread of the pandemic.
Being an "ass": An Early Bronze Age burial of a donkey from Tell es-Safi/Gath, Israel

Burials of domestic asses appear in the Early Bronze Age (EBA) of the Near East, yet there is little understanding of the nature and importance of such burials. Usually, they are treated relatively simplistically as the remains of adored pets (if carefully interred) or sick animals who have lost their usefulness (e.g. as beasts of burden). Also, the relation- ship between the burials and the surrounding deposits and structures is rarely clear (e.g. were they buried in an abandoned area of sites or purposely buried beneath floors). In this paper, we discuss the excavation and analytical results of the burial of an ass found under the floor of an EB III house at the site of Tell es-Safi/Gath, Israel. By integrating the results of zooarchaeological, architectural, stratigraphic, and typochronological analyses to this bioarchaeological deposit, it is clear that the ass was deliberately bound, slaughtered and buried as a foundation deposit under the EB III house. e importance of this taxon to the religious and economic realms of the EBA of the Near East is discussed. If this ap- proach is applied to the other ass burials dispersed across the region, their significance is clarified.
Current concepts in immunoregulation and pathology of human Chagas disease

Purpose of review Chagas disease is a complex ailment caused by infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. It afflicts millions in Latin America. Years of studies have focused on the development of pathology in Chagas disease and recent studies have helped us understand the cellular mechanisms behind differential clinical evolution of Chagas disease. Recent findings We discuss recent findings concerning the cellular immune response in human Chagas disease focusing on immunoregulation and the development of pathology. We seek to put several findings into the context of a disease that initially controls an extreme and patent infection, and later progresses to a chronic phase marked by the presence (cardiac and digestive forms), or not (indeterminate form), of associated pathology. Summary Several theories exist to explain differential clinical evolution of Chagas disease. A coherent understanding of these theories will certainly aid in determining what combination of them approximates the true development of chagasic pathology. For achieving the goal of developing a successful therapy or intervention, it is critical that no theory be excluded at this point, but. Rather, rather that a thoughtful analysis and assimilation of the best components of each system into a central theory that best fits the reality of human Chagas disease is desirable.
Phylogenetic evidence for the acquisition of ribosomal RNA introns subsequent to the divergence of some of the major Tetrahymena groups.

Previous work has demonstrated the presence of a self‐splicing intron in the large subunit ribosomal RNA coding region in some strains of the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena. Sequence comparisons of the intron regions from six Tetrahymena species showed these to fall into three homology groups. In an attempt to evaluate the evolutionary origins of the intervening sequences, we have now determined complete small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences from 13 species of Tetrahymena and the absolute number of nucleotide differences between the sequences was used to construct a phylogenetic tree. This phylogeny was consistent with the groupings suggested by comparisons of other biochemical characters including cytoskeletal proteins, isozyme analyses, and restriction maps of complete rRNA transcription units. The homology groupings that were based upon the intron sequence data do not agree with the relationships inferred from the small subunit rRNA sequence data. These observations are taken to indicate that the intron character has been acquired independently in different species at a stage later than the branching out of the species.
CONCUSSION AND HEAD INJURY ( S LUCAS , SECTION EDITOR ) White Matter Damage and Brain Network Alterations in Concussed Patients : A Review of Recent Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Resting-State Functional Connectivity Data

Over 2 million people are diagnosed with concussion each year in the USA, resulting in substantial individual and societal burdens. Although ‘routine’ clinical neuroimaging is useful for the diagnosis of more severe forms of traumatic brain injury, it is insensitive for detecting pathology associated with concussion. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) are techniques that allow for investigation of brain structural and functional connectivity patterns. DTI and rsfMRI may be more sensitive than routine neuroimaging for detecting brain sequelae of concussion. This review summarizes recent DTI and rs-fMRI findings of altered structural and functional connectivity patterns in concussed patients.
Community-Based Stroke Information for Clients with Stroke and Their Carers: Is There Congruency Between Actual and Recommended Practice?

Abstract Purpose: Information provision is an integral part of poststroke care, and there is a need to identify how to provide it most effectively. Intervention details, such as content, delivery style, format, and timing, are infrequently reported in the literature. This project describes in detail the provision of information to clients with stroke and their carers by community services in Brisbane, Australia, and compares these to current recommendations in the literature. Method: Fifty-seven metropolitan-based community services were surveyed regarding the content, delivery style, format, and timing of information available to clients with stroke and their carers, using a telephone-administered questionnaire designed for this study. Results: Services provided information using a range of formats and delivery styles. The most frequently provided topics were information on services and benefits available and practical management strategies. Less than 75% of services provided written information to most of their clients and/or carers. Less than 40% of services considered client and carer input when designing written information materials. Conclusion: Community services surveyed in this study demonstrated congruency with some, but not all, of the current content, format, and delivery style recommendations in the literature. Areas for improvement are discussed.
Differences of propofol concentrations in mammalian whole blood and in corresponding plasma samples analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography.

BACKGROUND In preparation for a study of the pharmacokinetics and elimination of propofol, a frequently used intravenous narcotic, we sought for a simple but accurate method for determining the drug in biological fluids from various mammalian species. MATERIALS AND METHODS We established an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay with fluorimetric detection for quantification of propofol, studied the analytical characteristics of the method, and measured the narcotic in heparinized whole blood and corresponding plasma samples drawn from 5 subjects each of humans, pigs, sheep and goats prior to and after 10 minutes of constant infusion of propofol. RESULTS Following protein precipitation with methanol, propofol was quantified in the alcoholic phase. With 30 microl extract, lower limits of detection and quantification of propofol were 2 and 10 microg I(-1), the measurable range extended to 8000 microg I(-1). Intra- and inter-assay CVs tested at propofol concentrations between 40 and 3000 microg I(-1) were < 3% and < 8%, respectively. Propofol levels ranged from 900 to 10,000 microg I(-1) after 10 minutes of drug infusion; among the animals treated with identical doses, pigs exhibited the highest and sheep the lowest circulating propofol concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of propofol by the HPLC method described is highly practicable, sensitive and specific. Propofol concentrations measured in heparinized blood and corresponding plasma samples differ slightly; in addition to inter-individual variations, species-specific differences in the drug's disposition between plasma and blood cells were observed.
Changes in arteriovenous complement activity induced by inhalation challenge.

Inhalation challenge with fungal antigens (Trichoderma and Scopulariopsis) cultured from sawdust reproduced occupational asthma in a sawyer. Cutaneous anaphylactic hypersensitivity to the fungi was demonstrated, but precipitating antibodies could not be detected in the serum. Complement activity was measured in mixed venous and arterial blood and was correlated with changes in ventilation and gas exchange induced by endobronchial inhalation challenge. Inhalation of the first fungal antigen produced immediate transient bronchospasm that was followed 24 hours later by asymptomatic reversal of the venoarterial complement difference, changes consistent with complement consumption within the lesser circulation. The alteration in venoarterial difference in complement activity persisted until challenge with the second antigen 2 days later, which also provoked immediate transient bronchospasm and was followed by delayed bronchospasm, hypoxia, and transient respiratory failure. Nonspecific activation of the comple.
Causal Judgement from Information about Outcome Magnitude

Information was presented in which a candidate cause was either present or absent, and the outcome variable (number of spots on a patient's skin) could take any of four nonzero values. It was found that cause-absent information carried greater weight than cause-present information. This is contrary to the usual finding for contingency information about binary outcome variables. Judgement was influenced more by extreme values of the outcome variable, and larger outcome values tended to have more effect on judgements than smaller outcome values. The hypothesis that participants compute linear correlation is disconfirmed by these results. Instead, the results show that participants focus disproportionate attention on some kinds of events and neglect others.
The Activity of the Plexin-A1 Receptor Is Regulated by Rac*

Plexins constitute a large family of transmembrane proteins that act as receptors for the semaphorin family of ligands. They are best known for their role in growth cone guidance, although they also are widely expressed outside the nervous system. Plexins are thought to control axon guidance by modifying the growth cone cytoskeleton, and Rho GTPases have been strongly implicated in this response. However, the exact contribution of Rho proteins is unclear. Sema3A/Plexin-A1-induced growth cone collapse, for example, requires Rac activity, which is a surprising result given that this GTPase is usually associated with membrane protrusions. We show here that Sema3A-induced collapse of COS-7 cells expressing Plexin-A1 also requires Rac but not Rho activity and that the cytoplasmic tail of Plexin-A1 interacts directly with activated Rac. However, collapse induced by a constitutively activated version of Plexin-A1 does not require Rac. We propose a novel function for Rac, namely that it acts upstream of Plexin-A1 during semaphoring-induced collapse, to regulate the activity of the receptor.
Respiratory tract exacerbations revisited: Ventilation, inflammation, perfusion, and structure (VIPS) monitoring to redefine treatment

For cystic fibrosis (CF) patients older than 6 years there are convincing data that suggest respiratory tract exacerbations (RTE) play an important role in the progressive loss of functional lung tissue. There is a poor understanding of the pathobiology of RTE and whether specific treatment of RTE reduces lung damage in the long term. In addition, there are limited tools available to measure the various components of CF lung disease and responses to therapy. Therefore, in order to better understand the impact of RTE on CF lung disease we need to develop sensitive measures to characterize RTE and responses to treatment; and improve our understanding of structure‐function changes during treatment of RTE. In this paper we review our current knowledge of the impact of RTE on the progression of lung disease and identify strategies to improve our understanding of the pathobiology of RTE. By improving our knowledge regarding RTE in CF we will be better positioned to develop approaches to treatment that are individualized and that can prevent permanent structural damage. We suggest the development of a ventilation, perfusion, inflammation and structure (VIPS)‐MRI suite that supplies the clinician with data on ventilation, inflammation, perfusion, and structure in one MRI session. VIPS‐MRI could be an important step to better understand the factors that contribute to and limit treatment efficacy of RTE. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:S57–S65. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Magnetically-induced lattice distortions and ferroelectricity in magnetoelectric GdMnO3

In this work we investigate the magnetic field dependence of Ag octahedra rotation (tilt) and B2g symmetric stretching modes frequencies at different temperatures. Our field-dependent Raman investigation at 10 K is interpreted by an ionic displacive nature of the magnetically-induced ferroelectric phase transition. The increasing frequency of the Ag tilt mode with magnetic field gives evidence for the increase of the MnO6 tilt angle, which in turn leads to a weakening of the ferromagnetic exchange interaction, yielding the necessary conditions for the onset of ferroelectricity on the basis of the inverse Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. The frequency change of the B2g symmetric stretching mode at the ferroelectric phase transition enables one to estimate the shift of oxygen ion positions and the corresponding spontaneous polarization of 480 μC m−2 in magnitude, which is of the same order as earlier reported values in single crystals.
Structural alignment of the (+)-trans-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-dG adduct positioned opposite dC at a DNA template-primer junction.

This study reports on the solution conformation of the covalent (+)-trans-anti-[BP]dG adduct (derived from the binding of the highly mutagenic and tumorigenic (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide to the N2 of deoxyguanosine) positioned opposite dC at a junctional site in the d(A1-A2-C3-[BP]G4-C5- T6-A7-C8-C9-A10-T11-C12-C13). d(G14-G15-A16-T17-+ ++G18-G19-T20-A21-G22-C23) 13/10-mer DNA sequence. The 13-mer represents the template strand containing the junction [BP]dG4 lesion while the complementary 10-mer models a primer strand which extends upto and is complementary to the modified dG4 residue. The solution conformation has been determined by initially incorporating intramolecular and intermolecular proton-proton distances defined by lower and upper bounds deduced from NOESY spectra as restraints in molecular mechanics computations in torsion angle space and subsequently through restrained molecular dynamics calculations based on a NOE distance and intensity refinement protocol. The duplex segment retains a minimally perturbed B-DNA conformation with all base pairs, including the junctional [BP]dG4.dC23 pair, in Watson-Crick hydrogen-bonded alignments. The pyrenyl ring is not stacked over the adjacent dC5.dG22 base pair but is positioned on the minor groove-side of the [BP]dG moiety and directed toward the 5'-end of the template strand. The pyrenyl ring stacks over the base of the non-adjacent dA2 residue in one direction and the sugar ring of dC23 in the other direction. The solution structure of the (+)-trans-anti-[BP]dG adduct opposite dC in the 13/10-mer in which the modified deoxyguanosine adopts an anti glycosidic torsion angle (this study) is in striking contrast to the structure of the same (+)-trans-anti-[BP]dG moiety in a 13/9-mer of the same sequence but without the dC23 residue positioned opposite the adduct site [Cosman, M. , et al. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 15334-15350]. For the latter case, the aromatic portion of the BP residue stacks over the adjacent dC5.dG22 base pair, the modified deoxyguanosine adopts a syn glycosidic torsion angle and is displaced toward the major groove direction. Insights into the factors that affect the sequence and context dependent conformations of stereoisomeric [BP]dG lesions have emerged following comparison of these two structures with the minor groove conformations of the same (+)-trans-anti-[BP]dG lesion in the fully complementary 11-mer duplex [Cosman, M. , et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 1914-1918] and in the base displaced-intercalative conformation of the 11/10-mer deletion duplex containing a -1 deletion site opposite the lesion [Cosman, M. , et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 11507-11517]. The contributing factors where applicable include Watson-Crick base pairing at the site of the lesion, positioning of the carcinogen within the floor of the minor groove, and the tendency of the bulky hydrophobic aromatic BP residue to assume stacked or intercalative conformations.