Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bildung or development? Rereading George Lamming and W. Arthur Lewis

This article revisits two “Third World classics” published by West Indians in the UK in the immediate postwar period, George Lamming’s 1953 novel In the Castle of My Skin and the Saint Lucian economist W. Arthur Lewis’s 1954 essay “Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labour”. Reading these texts against the recent wave of research on the politics and aesthetics of the postcolonial bildungsroman, I argue that Lamming’s novel can be usefully interpreted as an allegory of national formation caught between two distinct models: Bildung, which uses the metaphor of the national body to figure an incipient postcolonial nation-state; and economic “development”, which refigures national growth in terms of liberal modernization. Placing an emphasis on the distinction in these two discourses between a “nation-people” and a national “population”, the article goes on to consider the mythologized figure of the Windrush “exile”, not, or not only, as a heroic individual in pursuit of upward social (and literary) mobility, but as a narrative response to developmentalist ideology in the 1950s.
Weakness in pregnancy – expect the unexpected

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is rare in pregnancy with an incidence estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.9 cases per 100,000 people annually, and it is generally accepted that it carries a high maternal risk. Delayed diagnosis is common because the initial non-specific symptoms may mimic changes in pregnancy. GBS should be considered in any pregnant patient complaining of muscle weakness, general malaise, tingling of the fingers and respiratory discomfort. This case aims to highlight the importance of early diagnosis, allowing prompt initiation of the immunomodulatory treatments which have been shown to improve outcome alongside multidisciplinary care.
THE EFFECTS OF ISOSTEVIOL AGAINST MYOCARDIUM INJURY INDUCED BY ISCHAEMIA–REPERFUSION IN THE ISOLATED GUINEA PIG HEART

1 This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of isosteviol against myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion (IR) injury and its effects on mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐sensitive potassium channel (mitoKATP) activity in vitro. 2 Groups of eight guinea pigs were treated as follows: constant perfusion control (PC), IR control, ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) + IR, isosteviol (50, 250 or 500 nmol) + IR, 5‐hydroxydecanoate acid (5‐HD) (5 µmol) + isosteviol (500 nmol) + IR. The guinea pig heart was isolated and perfused in Langendorff mode with modified Tyrode solution at a flow rate of 10 mL/min. Ischaemia was introduced for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 20 min. Cardiac function, coronary arterial flow rate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities in the perfusate were measured prior to ischaemia and at the end of reperfusion. 3 There were no significant (P > 0.05) changes in cardiac function or markers of cell damage (i.e. activities of LDH and CK) in the PC group. In contrast, cardiac function was adversely affected in the IR group, with significant (P < 0.05) decreases in left ventricular developing pressure (LVDevP), dP/dtmax and dP/dtmin compared with baseline and the PC group. In addition, there were increases in activity of LDH (20%) and CK (67%) compared with baseline and the PC group. 4 Ischaemic preconditioning and pretreatment with isosteviol, at all dose levels, resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) attenuation of IR injury. Lactate dehydrogenase and CK activities were not significantly (P < 0.05) different compared with baseline. Isosteviol did not increase coronary flow, suggesting that the protective effect of isosteviol on the myocardium was not mediated by dilation of the coronary blood vessels. 5 Pretreatment with the mitoKATP blocker 5‐HD partially antagonized the effects of 500 nmol isosteviol, with a statistically significant attenuation of its protective effects on HR, LVDevP, dP/dtmax and dP/dtmin compared with isosteviol alone pretreatment. 6 The IR injury on the Langendorff perfused guinea pig heart was alleviated by isosteviol, which appears to mediate its effects through mitoKATP channels. Future research might aim to investigate the interaction of isosteviol with mitoKATP channels in order to clarify its mechanism of action.
Knockdown of CELL DIVISION CYCLE16 Reveals an Inverse Relationship between Lateral Root and Nodule Numbers and a Link to Auxin in Medicago truncatula1[W][OA]

The postembryonic development of lateral roots and nodules is a highly regulated process. Recent studies suggest the existence of cross talk and interdependency in the growth of these two organs. Although plant hormones, including auxin and cytokinin, appear to be key players in coordinating this cross talk, very few genes that cross-regulate root and nodule development have been uncovered so far. This study reports that a homolog of CELL DIVISION CYCLE16 (CDC16), a core component of the Anaphase Promoting Complex, is one of the key mediators in controlling the overall number of lateral roots and nodules. A partial suppression of this gene in Medicago truncatula leads to a decrease in number of lateral roots and a 4-fold increase in number of nodules. The roots showing lowered expression of MtCDC16 also show reduced sensitivity to phytohormone auxin, thus providing a potential function of CDC16 in auxin signaling.
Genetic biases for showy males: Are some genetic systems especially conducive to sexual selection?

Male secondary sexual characters (conspicuous ornaments, signals, colors) are among nature's most striking features. Yet, it is unclear why certain groups of organisms are more likely than others to evolve these traits. One explanation for such taxonomic biases is that some genetic systems may be especially conducive to sexual selection. Here, we present theory and simulation results demonstrating that rare alleles encoding either male ornaments or female preferences for those ornaments are better protected against random loss in species with ZZ/ZW or ZZ/ZO sex chromosome systems (male homogamety) than in species with XX/XY or XX/XO systems (male heterogamety). Moreover, this protection is much stronger in diploid than haplodiploid species. We also present empirical data showing that male secondary sexual characters are better developed in diploid than haplodiploid species and in diploid species with male homogamety than in those with male heterogamety. Thus, taxonomic biases for showy males may stem from differences in sex chromosome systems.
Potential of Conjugal Transfer as a Strategy for the Introduction of Recombinant Genetic Material into Strains ofLactobacillus helveticus

ABSTRACT Cointegrates generated between a plasmid pIP501 deletion derivative (pVA797) and nonconjugative shuttle vector pSA3 were confirmed as capable of exconjugation from lactococci into a range of strains ofLactobacillus helveticus with the concomitant expression of a recombinant gene. The plasmid cointegrate that was formed appeared to be segregationally stable at 37°C in some host strains. In all strains, however, the plasmid became increasingly unstable as the incubation temperature was raised. The technique offers not only a generalized method for the introduction of novel genetic material into this important industrial microbe but also the possibility of exploiting the thermal sensitivity of the plasmid to enable it to act as a delivery system for the integration of cloned genes into the bacterial chromosome, at restrictive temperatures, by recombination at regions of homology.
Evaluation of less invasive methods to assess fatty acids from phospholipid fraction: cheek cell and capillary blood sampling

Abstract Plasma is the most commonly employed matrix for analyzing fatty acids (FAs), but its extraction is not well accepted in the infant population. The objectives of this study were to evaluate cheek cells and capillary blood as alternatives to plasma sampling for FA analysis and to standardize the methodology. Samples were obtained from 20 children who underwent lipid extraction, phospholipid isolation by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) in a 96-well plate, methylation, and analysis by fast gas chromatography (GC). A positive correlation was found for most of the FAs, especially long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), in cheek cells and capillary blood versus plasma samples (r = 0.32–0.99). No differences were found in the levels of n-6: n-3 PUFA and n-6: n-3 LC-PUFA ratios between cheek cells and capillary blood. These two proposed samples can therefore be used as alternatives to plasma sampling for phospholipid FA analysis, especially LC-PUFAs.
The Link Between Perceived Adequacy of Preparation to Practice, Nursing Error, and Perceived Difficulty of Entry-level Practice

he National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) conducts studies, entitled ‘‘Practice and Professional Issues Surveys,’’ each year to scan the practice environment for emerging changes and issues of concern to nursing regulation. The most recent of these studies was performed in Spring 2002 and collected information related to the perceptions of newly licensed nurses regarding their preparedness for practice. Results of an earlier study conducted by NCSBN indicated that RNs need better preparation in the areas of recognizing abnormal laboratory findings, responding to emergency situations, and supervising care provided by others. In a later study, using different lists of competencies, BSN graduates were more likely to say they were not well prepared to provide ‘‘caring and respect’’ and ADN graduates were less likely to agree that they were definitely prepared for a ‘‘commitment to professional development. ’’ The purpose of this study was to provide a more thorough understanding of perceived preparation, involvement with errors, and perceived difficulty with patient assignments.
Valine 108, a chain-folding initiation site-belonging residue, crucial for the ribonuclease A stability.

Thermal denaturation of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A and a set of its single variants, carrying replacements of hydrophobic residues in the postulated 106-118 chain folding initiation site, has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Ribonuclease A variants undergo a two-state thermal transition denaturation except for those with replacement of valine 108. Most mutations cause a significant destabilization of the protein compared to the wild-type, thus demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic residues at the 106-118 region in maintaining the stability of the molecule. Among them, those of valine 108 promote the greatest (14-27 degrees C) destabilization of the molecule. Therefore, valine 108 plays a crucial role for ribonuclease A stability.
Memory complaints in healthy young and elderly adults: Reliability of memory reporting

The relationship between memory complaints and objective memory performance remains poorly understood, particularly in young and middle aged people. We studied the relationship between reports of memory complaints and objective memory performance, and the possibility of differentiating good and poor reporters across the lifespan based on concordance between reported abilities and objectively assessed performance. This cross-sectional study enrolled 292 healthy individuals, aged 18 to 87 years, able to perform common activities of daily living and without neurological or psychiatric conditions or systemic diseases likely to interfere with cognition. No correlation between memory complaints, as assessed by the Subjective Memory Complaints scale (SMC) score and the objective memory performance, evaluated by the long-delay free recall (LDFR) score of the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), was found, even when grouping the participants by decade. The SMC score was influenced by the presence of depressive symptoms. Participants who were more educated, female and younger tended to have a higher CVLT-LDFR score. Younger subjects were more likely to have good memory performance and report few memory complaints than older subjects. In conclusion, there are differences in the reliability of memory reporting across the lifespan, younger subjects being more likely to correctly report good memory than older subjects.
A cohort study of cancer incidence in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To describe the incidence of cancer in a large cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and compare it to the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registries. METHODS Cancer risk in a large cohort of patients with SSc followed at our institution was assessed. A total of 769 patients with SSc who were followed between 1987 and 2002 were screened for the development of cancer. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) for malignancies identified after diagnosis of SSc were calculated using the SEER cancer registries and stratified by sex. RESULTS Ninety malignancies were diagnosed in 769 patients followed at our institution between 1987 and 2002. Sixty-two malignancies were diagnosed after diagnosis of SSc in a total of 3,775 patient years of followup. Twenty-eight malignancies were diagnosed prior to diagnosis of SSc. The SIR for all cancers diagnosed after diagnosis of SSc was 1.55 (1.16-1.93). The SIR for esophageal cancer was 15.9 (4.2-27.6) while that of oropharyngeal cancer was 9.63 (2.97-16.29). CONCLUSION We identified an overall increase in the incidence of cancer in a cohort of patients with SSc compared to the general population, with statistically significant differences in the incidence of esophageal and oropharyngeal cancers.
The δ‐Opioid Receptor in SK‐N‐BE Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line Undergoes Heterologous Desensitization

Abstract: The human neuroblastoma cell line SK‐N‐BE expresses δ‐opioid receptors negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase. Prolonged treatment (2 h) of the cells with 100 nM etorphine leads to an almost complete desensitization (8.2 ± 5.9 vs. 45.8 ± 8.7% for the control). Other receptors negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase, namely, D2‐dopaminergic, α2‐adrenergic, and m2/m4‐muscarinic, were identified by screening of these cells, and it was shown that prolonged treatment (2 h) with 1 µM 2‐bromo‐α‐ergocryptine or 1 µM arterenol resulted in a marked desensitization of D2‐dopaminergic and α2‐adrenergic receptors, respectively. Cross‐desensitization experiments revealed that pretreatment with etorphine desensitized with the same efficiency the δ‐opioid receptor and the D2‐dopaminergic receptor, and pretreatment with 2‐bromo‐α‐ergocryptine also desensitized both receptors. In contrast, pretreatment with etorphine desensitized only partly the α2‐adrenergic receptor response, whereas pretreatment with 1 µM arterenol partly desensitized the δ‐opioid receptor response. It is concluded that the δ‐opioid receptor‐mediated inhibitory response of adenylyl cyclase undergoes heterologous desensitization, and it is suggested that δ‐opioid and D2‐dopaminergic receptors are coupled to adenylyl cyclase via a Gi2 protein, whereas α2‐adrenergic receptor could be coupled to the enzyme via two G proteins, Gi2 and another member of the Gi/Go family.
Immunohistochemical Study on the Distribution and Relative Frequency of Endocrine Cells in the Stomach of the Malayan Pangolin, Manis javanica

The distribution and relative frequency of six kinds of endocrine cells in the stomach of the Malayan pangolin, Manis javanica were studied immunohistochemically using the avidin–biotin–peroxidase complex method. The stomach of the pangolin has three regions of mucous gland, one oxyntic gland and one pyloric gland. Cells immunoreactive for chromogranin, serotonin, somatostatin, BPP and glucagon were detected in all of the gastric glands, while gastrin‐immunoreactive cells were found in the entire gastric gland except for the oxyntic gland. The distribution pattern of endocrine cells in the mucous gland and pyloric gland was mainly from the middle to apical portions of the glands. The endocrine cells were rare or not detected in the basal portion of all of the mucous glands and pyloric gland, but they were also found in the basal portion of the oxyntic gland. The distribution pattern of the endocrine cells in the mucous and pyloric glands suggested that this position facilitates a quick response to the luminal ingesta. The wide distribution of gastrin‐immunoreactive cells in all of the mucous glands and pyloric gland was the most remarkable finding. This distribution suggests a major function of gastrin‐immunoreactive cells for the digestive process in the Malayan pangolin stomach.
Circulating acylcarnitine profile in human heart failure: a surrogate of fatty acid metabolic dysregulation in mitochondria and beyond.

Heart failure (HF) is associated with metabolic perturbations, particularly of fatty acids (FAs), which remain to be better understood in humans. This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that HF patients with reduced ejection fraction display systemic perturbations in levels of energy-related metabolites, especially those reflecting dysregulation of FA metabolism, namely, acylcarnitines (ACs). Circulating metabolites were assessed using mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods in two cohorts. The main cohort consisted of 72 control subjects and 68 HF patients exhibiting depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (25.9 ± 6.9%) and mostly of ischemic etiology with ≥2 comorbidities. HF patients displayed marginal changes in plasma levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle-related metabolites or indexes of mitochondrial or cytosolic redox status. They had, however, 22-79% higher circulating ACs, irrespective of chain length (P < 0.0001, adjusted for sex, age, renal function, and insulin resistance, determined by shotgun MS/MS), which reflects defective mitochondrial β-oxidation, and were significantly associated with levels of NH2-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels, a disease severity marker. Subsequent extended liquid chromatography-tandem MS analysis of 53 plasma ACs in a subset group from the primary cohort confirmed and further substantiated with a comprehensive lipidomic analysis in a validation cohort revealed in HF patients a more complex circulating AC profile. The latter included dicarboxylic-ACs and dihydroxy-ACs as well as very long chain (VLC) ACs or sphingolipids with VLCFAs (>20 carbons), which are proxies of dysregulated FA metabolism in peroxisomes. Our study identified alterations in circulating ACs in HF patients that are independent of biological traits and associated with disease severity markers. These alterations reflect dysfunctional FA metabolism in mitochondria but also beyond, namely, in peroxisomes, suggesting a novel mechanism contributing to global lipid perturbations in human HF.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mass spectrometry-based profiling of circulating energy metabolites, including acylcarnitines, in two cohorts of heart failure versus control subjects revealed multiple alterations in fatty acid metabolism in peroxisomes in addition to mitochondria, thereby highlighting a novel mechanism contributing to global lipid perturbations in heart failure.Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at http://ajpheart.podbean. com/e/acylcarnitines-in-human-heart-failure/.
Protective effect of ginger and zinc chloride mixture on the liver and kidney alterations induced by malathion toxicity

This study was carried out on four groups of male Wistar rats, 10 rats per group. Group I got open access to food intake and water with normal balanced diet. Group II was administered 400 mg ginger per kg body weight (BW) and zinc chloride (ZnCl2) (300 mg/L) diluted in tap water for 4 months. Group III was administered malathion at a dose of 50 mg/kg BW/day in 0.2 mL corn oil via gavages for 4 months. This dose equal to 1/50 of the LD50. Group IV was given a mixture of 400 mg ginger per kg BW and ZnCl2 (300 mg/L) diluted in tap water in addition to 100 mg malathion/kg BW for 4 months. The liver showed histopathological changes include congestion, edema, and leucocytic infiltrations which were ameliorated by the addition of ginger and ZnCl2 mixture. The kidney showed cloudy swelling and hydropic degeneration of the renal tubules. These changes were ameliorated by the addition of ginger and ZnCl2 mixture. Ki67 immunoreactivity was localized in the cytoplasm and nuclear membrane. Its expression was estimated as the percentage of cells positively stained by the antibody in the different groups. In conclusion, malathion was toxic to the liver and kidney and must be avoided and protected by the addition of ginger and zinc mixture.
Patients Enrolled in HIV Care in Mozambique: Baseline Characteristics and Follow-Up Outcomes

ObjectiveTo utilize routinely collected service delivery data from HIV care and treatment clinics in Mozambique to describe the patient population and programmatic outcomes from 2003 to 2009. MethodsData from patient charts were entered into an electronic database at 28 clinics in 5 Mozambican provinces. Patients' characteristics at enrollment in HIV care and at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation were examined. We calculated a corrected 12-month mortality estimate using a recently developed nomogram for sub-Saharan African ART patients. ResultsA total of 154,188 HIV-infected individuals (10,164 children <15 years old) were enrolled in HIV care services between 2003 and 2009. Of the 51,269 (36%) adults who started ART, 35% initiated ART with CD4 count <100 cells per microliter and 14.4% with World Health Organization stage IV. Just more than 10% (10.5%) of women were documented to be pregnant at enrollment. One-third of the 3,745 (37%) children who initiated ART were <2 years old, and 53% of those <5 years initiated ART severely immunosuppressed (CD4% <15%). Thirty-five percent of all children and 30% of those initiating ART met the definition of severe malnourishment (weight-for-age Z score <−3). Among those who initiated ART, the median estimated 12-month mortality rate across sites was 13.1% (interquartile range: 11.5%–16.0%) and 13.5% (interquartile range: 11.4%–17.4%) for adults and children, respectively. ConclusionsA substantial number of HIV-infected patients have been enrolled in HIV care and initiated on ART, with many patients having advanced HIV disease. With the release of new guidelines for ART use for adults, pregnant women, and children, extensive efforts are needed to ensure more timely initiation of ART.
Outcome of PCNL- Success &Complications

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is now considered as the standard treatment for large and complex renal stones. The outcomes of PCNL can be interpreted in terms of success and complication rates. Recent attempts to report complication rates of PCNL have focused on stratifying them by severity by use of the Clavien Dindo grading system. The Guy's Stone Score (GSS) used to classify the burden of stones. This was a prospective study conducted by the department of Urology, NIMS hospital, Jaipur. In study of 508 PCNL cases, overall stone free status achieved in 88.72% of cases. Stone free status for GSS 1- 100%, GSS 2- 93.95%, GSS 3- 79.5%, GSS 4-39. In GSS 4 all cases were of staghorn calculus. Post- operative complications classified by the modified Clavien Dindo grading system. Fever was most common complication encountered (32.39%). Other frequent complications were haematuria requiring blood transfusion (24.88%), perinephrostomy urine leak (17.37%) and UTI requiring change of antibiotics (11.26%). Pneumothorax, post-operative JJ stent placement and clot retension requiring bladder wash were rare. Grade 4 and 5 complications were not encountered in our study.