Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developmental DNA rearrangements and micronucleus-specific sequences in five species within the Tetrahymena pyriformis species complex.

In Tetrahymena thermophila, the development of a transcriptionally active macronucleus from a transcriptionally inert micronucleus includes the elimination of many segments of DNA, the bulk of which belong to repetitive sequence families. Two approaches were used to study the interspecies variations in developmentally eliminated DNA segments. First, the occurrence of restriction fragments crosshybridizing to developmentally eliminated DNA segments isolated from T. thermophila was examined in other species of Tetrahymena. Most micronucleus-specific sequence families examined showed large differences in numbers and intensities of crosshybridizing bands in different species, indicating the possibility of gain or loss of repeats within each of the sequence families. Second, the presence of developmentally excisable DNA segments, i.e., of rearrangement sites, was examined in the same set of species at a number of unique loci. This was carried out by comparing the hybridization patterns of seven unique macronucleus-retained sequences in the micro- and macronuclei of each of the species. Essentially all of the loci displayed variability with respect to the presence of rearrangement sites among the species examined. Results from the two approaches indicate that generation or loss of developmental rearrangements can occur among the species examined here.
Differences between the sexes with regard towork‐related skin disease *

Work‐related skin disease is common and usually presents as hand eczema. From the Occupational Injury Information System in Sweden, as well as from registers of industrial injuries in other countries, it is evident that females report skin disease more often than males. Epidemiological studies of hand eczema also show that women are more often affected than men, in particular young women. The most common type of hand eczema is irritant contact dermatitis, which is often caused by wet work. Many female‐dominated occupations involve extensive wet work, e.g., hairdressing, catering, cleaning and health‐care work. These occupations are also high‐risk occupations for hand eczema. Experimental studies of skin irritation have not confirmed differences between the sexes; thus, the higher prevalence of irritant contact dermatitis among females is most likely due to exposure, occupational and non‐occupational. Nickel allergy is the most common contact allergy, which is most frequent in young females, and in 30–40% results over time in hand eczema. Hand eczema has an impact on quality of life and females seem to report a higher degree of discomfort than males. To achieve the optimal effect of preventive efforts regarding occupational skin disease, the focus for prevention should aim at reducing wet exposure.
The Enteric Enhancement of Glucose-stimulated Insulin Release: The Role of GIP in Aging, Obesity, and Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus

The effect of aging, obesity, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus on glucose-stimulated gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) levels was studied in 55 male subjects, ranging in age from 19 to 84 yr, and in obesity, expressed as body mass index, from 21 to 34. Studies were performed using the hyperglycemie glucose clamp technique, in which the blood glucose was maintained at 125 mg/dl above basal for 2 h. Glucose (40 g/m2 body surface) was ingested at 60 min. Plasma immunoreactive GIP (IR-GIP) did not change during intravenous (i.v.) glucose alone, but began to rise within 10 min after glucose ingestion and reached a peak at 30–40 min. Basal and stimulated IR-GIP levels were markedly elevated in diabetic subjects and modestly elevated in obese subjects, compared with appropriately matched controls. In contrast, age had little effect on plasma IR-GIP levels either in the basal state or after glucose ingestion. When IR-GIP responses to oral glucose were expressed as a relative change from basal levels, IR-GIP rose 86% in diabetic subjects and 243% in obese subjects, compared with 185% and 165% in their respective controls. IR-GIP rose 179% in young subjects and 144% in middle-aged subjects, while, in old subjects, the increase was 265%. Plasma IRI levels were reduced in the diabetic subjects, slightly elevated in obese subjects, and were similar in older and younger subjects. Beta cell sensitivity to endogenous GIP decreases with age, and is unchanged in both obesity and nonmedicated diabetes.
Multicenter Evaluation of SonoVue for Improved Endocardial Border Delineation

Objectives: Two multicenter studies were conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SonoVue as a contrast agent for enhanced left ventricular endocardial border delineation (LVEBD), and to compare the efficacy of SonoVue and Albunex in adult patients with a suboptimal, nonenhanced echocardiogram. Background: The use of contrast to enhance echocardiographic assessment of LVEBD is well‐established. SonoVue is a new microbubble contrast agent that contains sulfur hexafluoride. Methods: Patients were randomized to receive four injections of SonoVue (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 ml), or two injections of Albunex and two injections of hand‐agitated saline (0.08 and 0.22 ml/kg). Echocardiographic images were evaluated at the study centers and by four blinded, offsite reviewers for degree of left ventricle opacification (LVO), duration of contrast enhancement, and LVEBD. Results: LVO scores were significantly higher for all doses of SonoVue. Patients with complete LVO ranged from 34%–87% for SonoVue and from 0%–16% for Albunex. The mean duration of useful contrast effect ranged from 0.8–4.1 minutes for SonoVue and < 15 seconds for Albunex. Mean increases in LVEBD scores ranged from 3.8–18.2 for SonoVue and 0.1–4.3 for Albunex. SonoVue (cumulative 7.5 ml dose) was well‐tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that observed in the control group. Conclusions: SonoVue is superior to Albunex for improving visualization of endocardial borders in patients with suboptimal noncontrast echocardiograms. Optimal increases in LVEBD, LVO, and duration of useful contrast effect were observed at the 2.0 ml dose of SonoVue.
Induced Magnetic Anisotropy in Stress-Annealed Galfenol Alloys

Values of the uniaxial anisotropy, cubic anisotropy, saturation magnetic induction, and saturation magnetostriction were obtained from measurements of the magnetization and magnetostriction of stress-annealed Galfenol (Fe<sub>100-x</sub>Ga<sub>x</sub>,x=12.5,18.4, and 22.0)and Fe<sub>81</sub>Al<sub>19</sub> as a function of compressive stresses <100 MPa. The values were derived from fitting magnetization and magnetostriction curves to the energy expression E<sub>i</sub>=-mu <sub>0</sub>M<sub>s</sub>Halpha<sub>z</sub>+K<sub>cubic</sub>(alpha <sub>x</sub> <sup>4</sup>+alpha<sub>y</sub> <sup>4</sup>+alpha<sub>z </sub> <sup>4</sup>)+K<sub>u </sub>n<sub>iaxial</sub>alpha<sub>z</sub> <sup>2</sup>-lambda<sub>sat</sub>Talpha<sub>z</sub> <sup>2</sup>, where M<sub>s</sub>,lambda<sub>sat</sub> and the K's are fit parameters. The alpha<sub>i</sub>'s are the direction cosines of the magnetization direction with respect to the field and stress direction (z). H is the magnetic field and T is the measurement stress (compressive T<0). Data are fit with high precision by only the above four constants plus a smoothing constant. Importantly, K<sub>uniaxial</sub> enables a prediction of the maximum usable tensile stress
Anal sex among HIV-seronegative women at high risk of HIV exposure. The HIVNET Vaccine Preparedness Study 2 Protocol Team.

To assess the prevalence and the sociodemographic and behavioral correlates of anal sex in a cohort of HIV-seronegative U.S. women at high risk of HIV exposure, we administered a risk assessment using audio computer-assisted self-interview (A-CASI). Of 1268 sexually active women, 432 (32%) reported anal sex in the previous 6 months. Compared with women who did not report anal sex, those who did had more unprotected vaginal sex (median of 11 versus 7 episodes; p <. 001) and a higher proportion of unprotected sexual (vaginal plus anal) episodes (median of 0.90 versus 0.81; p =.01). Anal sex was reported by higher proportions of women who did not always use condoms, who used crack in the past year, who were </=35 years of age, with no formal education beyond high school, who had had a diagnosed sexually transmitted disease in the previous year, a primary male sex partner, and a male sex partner with a history of injecting use. Women were more likely to report anal sex by A-CASI than during interviewer-administered risk assessments (odds ratio [OR], 9.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-71.0). A less biased method of ascertainment may account for the large proportion of women reporting anal sex. Given increased vaginal risk among women reporting anal sex, the relative importance of anal sex in heterosexual transmission merits further study. Behavioral and biomedical prevention strategies effective for anal as well as vaginal sex are needed.
Cyclophosphamide‐induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract: Cyclophosphamide is widely used in neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Although several adverse events have been described with its use, acute and subacute interstitial pneumonitis leading to pulmonary fibrosis is rare and potentially fatal. This case report describes a 64‐year‐old man who, after the fifth chemotherapy cycle, developed a severe ARDS leading to pulmonary fibrosis in just 30 days.
Comparison of self-reported and observed prevalence of safety belt and helmet use in Florence.

METHODS Safety belt and helmet use was estimated from PASSI data and measured through Ulisse observations. Between 2008 and 2012 a total of 2,081 cars and motorcycle users were interviewed in the LHU of Florence and a total of 59,787 drivers (11,870 front passengers, 1,129 rear passengers and 16,816 motorcyclists) were observed. The comparison between self-reported and observed prevalences was performed by calculating the over-reporting factor (ORF), defined as the ratio of the self-reported to the observed prevalence of seat belt or helmet use. The time trend of the prevalence (both from self-reported and observed data) and of the ORF was assessed by using linear regression and Poisson's regression, respectively. RESULTS The correlation between self-reported and observed prevalence is high, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.95 (p <0.05). Regarding front seat belt use rates, the difference between self-reported and observed data increases over time and the ORF range varies from 1.12 to 1.32. Rear seat belt data show a great variability, and the ORF varies from 0.67 to 1.37. In 2011 and 2012, the observed prevalence was higher than the self-reported one (ORF <1). Helmet use rates are very high, close to 100% with both methods; ORF has very small oscillations and ranges from 0.98 to 1, showing a good correlation between self-reported and observational data. There are no significant temporal variations both for the prevalences of use and for the ORF. CONCLUSIONS The reasonable accuracy of self-reported data makes this method fit in the routinary assessment of safety belts and helmet usage, in order to limit the observations of the Ulisse system at predetermined time intervals. However, self-reported estimates need to be adjusted using an appropriate over-reporting factor.
Nitric oxide modulates vascular permeability in the rat coronary circulation

1 The objective of the present study was to assess whether inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production could modulate vascular permeability in the coronary circulation in conscious rats. 2 Intravenous injection of NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME, 2 mg kg−1) resulted in a slowly developing hypertension and evoked twofold increases in vascular permeability in the left ventricle and right atrium as measured by the extravasation of Evans blue dye. Maintenance of mean arterial blood pressure at the level observed following l‐NAME injection by infusion of noradrenaline (620–820 ng kg−1 min−1) did not induce significant protein extravasation in the coronary circulation. 3 l‐NAME treatment markedly enhanced (up to 490%) protein extravasation both in the left ventricle and right atrium in response to platelet‐activating factor (PAF, 1.9 nmol kg−1, i.v.) and endothelin‐1 (1 nmol kg−1, i.v.). Noradrenaline infusion potentiated (up to 69%) endothelin‐1‐induced protein extravasation. The permeability effect of PAF was only slightly enhanced by noradrenaline. 4 The present findings indicate that inhibition of endogenous NO synthesis leads to an increase in protein extravasation and to potentiation of the permeability effects of PAF and endothelin‐1 in the coronary circulation. These results also suggest that NO may be an important regulator of vascular permeability under physiological and pathological conditions.
Use of health services in people with multiple sclerosis with and without fatigue

Objective To explore and compare the use of health services in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) with and without fatigue. Methods Over a period of 30 months, the use of health services in 48 MS outpatients with persistent fatigue and 36 without fatigue was studied. Data were collected from a computerized register and by interviews, and analyzed with regard to disease severity categorized as mild or moderate/severe MS. Results Fatigued people with mild MS used more hospital outpatient care and primary care including rehabilitation, and a higher proportion had transportation service, compared with non-fatigued people with mild MS. In moderate/severe MS, the differences were that non-fatigued people used more occupational therapy in primary care and a higher proportion had salaried service. Regardless of MS severity, informal care was more common among fatigued people. Conclusions Overall, fatigued people with mild MS have more contacts with outpatient health care compared with non-fatigued people. There are few such differences in people with moderate/severe MS. The reasons for the differences in use between fatigued and non-fatigued people are not understood and need further exploration. Fatigued people more often receive informal care, thus support to caregivers are of particular importance if fatigue is present.
Correlations of Media Habits Across Time, Generations, and Media Modalities

This study investigates media uses and preferences across two generations and across television and video games. Path analyses using data from 335 families show that the number of hours of television viewed by the first generation (parents at age 30) positively predicts the amount of television use by their offspring in the second generation 18 years later, as well as their own amount of television viewing at that time. The analyses also show that the amount of video game playing among offspring is significantly related to their own as well as their parents' concurrent TV use. While there is no similar longitudinal correlation between a preference for violent television by parents at age 30 and that of their offspring 18 years later, parents' violent television preferences at age 48 are positively correlated with their offspring's concurrent preference for violent television content. Additionally, the violent television preferences of offspring are positively correlated with their own preferences for violent video games. These effects were found while controlling for SES, intellectual achievement, and offspring gender. These results suggest that the amount of time devoted to media use and preferences for violent media generalize across media modalities and are transmitted across generations.
A retrospective study of the clinical presentation of 140 dogs and 39 cats with bacteraemia.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate retrospective data from 140 dogs and 39 cats with positive blood cultures that were presented to the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine in Munich from 1995 to 2004. METHODS The identity of bacteria isolated from blood cultures of dogs and cats with bacteraemia was determined, and clinical and laboratory findings and outcome of animals with Gram-negative versus Gram-positive bacteraemia were compared. RESULTS Sepsis was diagnosed in 81.7 per cent of dogs and 59.5 per cent of cats with bacteraemia. Escherichia coli was isolated in one third of the animals. Dogs with bacteraemia more often showed monocytosis and increased alkaline phosphatase activity, while in cats, hyperglycaemia was found more commonly. Dogs with Gram-negative bacteraemia had hypoalbuminaemia significantly more often than dogs with Gram-positive bacteraemia, while among the remaining parameters, there were no statistically significant differences. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Not all dogs and cats with a positive blood culture met the criteria for sepsis. Bacteraemia caused by Gram-positive versus Gram-negative bacteria cannot be distinguished based on clinical or laboratory parameters, and bacterial culture and susceptibility testing have to be performed for the right choice of antibiotic treatment.
The use and users of scholarly e-journals: a review of log analysis studies

Purpose – To provide a review of the log analysis studies of use and users of scholarly electronic journals.Design/methodology/approach – The advantages and limitations of log analysis are described and then past studies of e‐journals' use and users that applied this methodology are critiqued. The results of these studies will be very briefly compared with some survey studies. Those aspects of online journals' use and users studies that log analysis can investigate well and those aspects that log analysis can not disclose enough information about are highlighted.Findings – The review indicates that although there is a debate about reliability of the results of log analysis, this methodology has great potential for studying online journals' use and their users' information seeking behaviour.Originality/value – This paper highlights the strengths and weaknesses of log analysis for studying digital journals and raises a couple of questions to be investigated by further studies.
Granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor promotes regeneration of retinal ganglion cells in vitro through a mammalian target of rapamycin‐dependent mechanism

Lack of regeneration in the adult central nervous system (CNS) is a major hurdle that limits recovery from neurological ailments. Although accumulating research suggests the possibility of axon regeneration by targeting intrinsic signaling mechanisms, it remains a matter of controversy whether functional recovery can be achieved by manipulating aspects of molecular signaling. Recent studies have shown that granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) may be an effective means of targeting repair following CNS injury; how this molecule is able to produce this effect is not known. Indeed, GM‐CSF has been shown to promote neuronal survival, potentially through activation of as yet unknown cytokine‐dependent signals and potentially through regulation of antiapoptotic mechanisms. It is well established that the loss of intrinsic regenerative ability is highly correlated with development of CNS neurons. We therefore designed experiments, using a well‐established in vitro retinal ganglion cell (RGC) culture system, to evaluate the effect of GM‐CSF on axon growth and cell survival and define possible mechanisms involved in GM‐CSF‐mediated effects in vitro. Several developmental stages were evaluated, with particular focus placed on stages at which axon growth is known to be significantly diminished. Our results reveal that GM‐CSF not only promotes axon growth in postnatal RGCs but also enhances cell survival through a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)‐dependent mechanism. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heterophoria adaptation during the viewing of 3D stereoscopic stimuli

In this experiment two hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis was that viewing 3D stereoscopic stimuli which are located geometrically beyond the screen on which the images are displayed would induce exophoric heterophoria (phoria) changes (adaptation). The second hypothesis was that participants whose phoria changed as a consequence of adaptation during the viewing of the stereoscopic stimuli would experience less visual discomfort than people whose phoria did not adapt.
Hormonal therapies in acne

Hormones, in particular androgen hormones, are the main cause of acne in men, women, children and adults, in both normal states and endocrine disorders. Therefore, the use of hormonal therapies in acne is rational in concept and gratifying in practice. Although non-hormonal therapies enjoy wide usage and continue to be developed, there is a solid place for hormonal approaches in women with acne, especially adult women with persistent acne. This review covers the physiological basis for hormonal influence in acne, the treatments that are in use today and those that show promise for the future. The main treatments to be discussed are oral contraceptives androgen receptor blockers like spironolactone and flutamide, inhibitors of the enzyme 5α-reductase and topical hormonal treatments.
PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS . ( LINN . ) SCHARED

Citrullus colocynthis (Linn). Schred is an important medicinal plant of family Cucurbitaceae. The crude fruit extract were examined for antimicrobial potentialities against Gram positive, Gram negative bacteria and fungi. Fruit extract was evaluated on bacterial strains like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Shigella shigella and Candida albicans . The solvent used for the extraction of plants were water, methanol, petroleum ether, ethanol and acetone. The acetone, methanol, ethanol and distilled water fruit extracts exhibit significant activity against all test organisms. The petroleum ether showed least activity against test bacterial strains which were investigated. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the active extract was compared with standard antibiotic Cephlexin. The MIC values of the extracts were also determined. The plant contains tannins, saponins, flavanoids, terepenoids, alkaloids, steroids and cardiac glycoside.
Production and properties of hemicellulases by a Thermomyces lanuginosus strain

Thermophilic fungi producing extremely high β‐xylanase and their associated hemicellulases have attracted considerable attention because of potential industrial applications. Thermomyces lanuginosus strain SSBP isolated from soil, produced β‐xylanase activity of 59 600 nkat ml−1 when cultivated on a medium containing corn cobs as substrate and yeast extract as nitrogen source. Lower β‐xylanase activities were produced after growth on other xylan substrates, sugars and soluble starch. Other hemicellulases were produced extracellularly at significantly lower levels than the β‐xylanase activity produced on corn cobs. No cellulase activity was observed. The optimal conditions for β‐xylanase production were 50 °C and pH 6·5, whereas 70 °C and between pH 5·5 and 9·5 were optimal for β‐xylanase activity. The temperature optima for other hemicellulases were less than the xylanase with the exception of β‐mannosidase. The pH optima of the other hemicellulases were between 5·0 and 6·5. Xylanase was stable up to 70 °C and between pH 5·5 and 9·0 for 30 min whereas the other hemicellulase were less stable. These results suggest that the most suitable conditions for hydrolysis of hemicellulose by these enzymes would be at 50 °C and pH 6·0.