Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Roads to polyploidy: The megakaryocyte example

Polyploidy, recognized by multiple copies of the haploid chromosome number, has been described in plants, insects, and in mammalian cells such as, the platelet precursors, the megakaryocytes. Several of these cell types reach high ploidy via a different cell cycle. Megakaryocytes undergo an endomitotic cell cycle, which consists of an S phase interrupted by a gap, during which the cells enter mitosis but skip anaphase B and cytokinesis. Here, we review the mechanisms that lead to this cell cycle and to polyploidy in megakaryocytes, while also comparing them to those described for other systems in which high ploidy is achieved. Overall, polyploidy is associated with an orchestrated change in expression of several genes, of which, some may be a result of high ploidy and hence a determinant of a new cell physiology, while others are inducers of polyploidization. Future studies will aim to further explore these two groups of genes. J. Cell. Physiol. 190: 7–20, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
International trends in cardiovascular diseases in the elderly.

The only available statistical data on cardiovascular diseases which are relatively reliable and internationally comparable are those on mortality. Cardiovascular diseases constitute the leading cause of death in the elderly, especially in industrialized countries. In recent years, the majority of these countries have recorded a decreasing trend in cardiovascular mortality in the elderly as well as in younger people. Data on morbidity are not sufficiently standardized to allow international comparisons, and even within a country chronologically comparable statistical series rarely exist, especially population-based data. The U.S.A. and Japan, two of the countries which have maintained such data series and which have registered the most rapid mortality decline, do not show similar improvements in the morbidity level for cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, therefore, seem to continue to impose a great burden on society in general and on the elderly population in particular, despite some improvements in survival.
Development of carcinoma of the lung as reflected in exfoliated cells

Cytologic examinations of sputum collected periodically since 1957 on a group of uranium miners have been studied and related to the development of bronchogenic carcinoma. Many individuals developed abnormal squamous cell metaplasia that gradually progressed, in several, to develop invasive carcinoma. This progression has been classified into mild, moderate, and marked atypical, squamous cell metaplasias and carcinoma in situ. Cigarette smoking and uranium mining were both associated with the prevalence of these atypias, and with carcinoma in situ and invasive cancer. Neither of these agents, however, appeared to be strongly associated with the duration of the stages of atypia. Age at start of uranium mining was more strongly associated with age at development of carcinoma in situ than other factors tested. There appears to be an average period of 4 or 5 years during which individuals exfoliate cells that are markedly atypical or represent carcinoma in situ in their sputum before developing invasive carcinoma of epidermoid or small cell, undifferentiated varieties. Periodic sputum surveillance of groups at elevated risk of bronchogenic cancer can utilize this period for early detection and treatment.
Giant Aural Cholesteatoma-A Case Report

We present a 65 year old male, who developed giant Cholesteatoma with intracranial extension, multiple cranial nerve palsies, lateral sinus thrombosis with obliteration and post aural fistula. The Patient had foul smelling discharge from right ear since childhood. He complained of headache and LMN type of facial paralysis (right) since 6 months. Patient underwent Right Modified Radical Mastoidectomy few months back but the post aural wound didn’t heal. As we saw and evaluated the patient CT and MRI Imaging showed extensive cholesteatoma involving entire temporal bone, part of occipital bone, extending into zygomatic bone, medially encroaching jugular foramen, and postero-inferiorly up to C1 and C2 vertebra, extended intracranially into both middle and posterior cranial fossa. Using skull base surgical principles entire cholesteatoma excised, patient had uneventful follow up for 6 months. This case emphasizes the value of pre-operative radiological assessment; we present this case because of rarity of giant cholesteatoma.
Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Changes, and Their Ecological Implications in Wuhan, China

This study investigated land use changes, and their ecological effects in Wuhan (1987-2005). Remote Sensing techniques extracted land use data, whilst the spatial analyst software, Fragstats quantified ecological metrics at both landscape and class levels. The results showed increased urban and agricultural land uses (1987-2005); with urban land increasing more than 250 percent. This was largely attributed to: i) state favors accorded to it as the economic, industrial, scientific and cultural hub of central China; and ii) socioeconomic reforms. This is also shown by the positive correlation between urban growth and socioeconomic variables in the order GDP > per capita GDP > per capita annual net urban income. Ecological metrics at landscape level (example, number of patches, Shannon and Simpson’s diversity Indices) showed that fragmentation strengthened (1987-1994), but weakened (1994-2005). Socioeconomic factors and ecological metrics indeed explained land use changes and their effects in Wuhan.
Overcome the Doxorubicin Resistance by Multimodal Nanoparticles in Mice

The efficacy of many chemotherapeutic agents is reduced in cells that have developed multiple drug resistance (MDR). To address this important problem, a biodegradable polymer was coupled to the photosensitizer and the resulting photosensitizer-nanoparticles were loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. The combination of photosensitizer and chemotherapeutic agent had a synergistic action on a doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer MCF-7 cells. To increase the effectiveness of this combination, D-alpha-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate (TPGS), an inhibitor of the multidrug transporter overproduced in these resistant cells, was added during the formation of the nanoparticles. Clearly, the tumor regrowth delay was observed after administration of doxorubicin-loaded photosensitizer-nanoparticles plus light. This combination of photodynamic activity in a powerful nanocarrier loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin can be used to deliver two types of cancer therapy simultaneously and can overcome the drug resistance in vivo. Therefore, this innovative delivery system can act as a potential nanomedicine for both drugsensitive and drug-resistant cancer therapy.
Detachments of Hypergraphs I: The Berge–Johnson Problem

A detachment of a hypergraph is formed by splitting each vertex into one or more subvertices, and sharing the incident edges arbitrarily among the subvertices. For a given edge-coloured hypergraph , we prove that there exists a detachment such that the degree of each vertex and the multiplicity of each edge in (and each colour class of ) are shared fairly among the subvertices in (and each colour class of , respectively). Let $(\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_m) K^{h_1,\ldots,\, h_m}_{p_1,\ldots,\, p_n}$ be a hypergraph with vertex partition {V1,. ,Vn}, |Vi| = pi for 1 ≤ i ≤ n such that there are λi edges of size hi incident with every hi vertices, at most one vertex from each part for 1 ≤ i ≤ m (so no edge is incident with more than one vertex of a part). We use our detachment theorem to show that the obvious necessary conditions for $(\lambda_1\dots,\lambda_m) K^{h_1,\ldots,h_m}_{p_1,\ldots,p_n}$ to be expressed as the union 1 ∪ ··· ∪ k of k edge-disjoint factors, where for 1 ≤ i ≤ k, i is ri-regular, are also sufficient. Baranyai solved the case of h1 = ··· = hm, λ1 = ··· = λm = 1, p1 = ··· = pm, r1 = ··· = rk. Berge and Johnson (and later Brouwer and Tijdeman, respectively) considered (and solved, respectively) the case of hi = i, 1 ≤ i ≤ m, p1 = ··· = pm = λ1 = ··· = λm = r1 = ··· = rk = 1. We also extend our result to the case where each i is almost regular.
Nitric oxide synthesis serves to reduce hepatic damage during acute murine endotoxemia

Background and MethodsNitric oxide synthesis occurs both in vitro and in vivo in response to inflammatory stimuli and can have profound effects on the local cellular environment. Hepatocytes, Kupfler cells, and endothelial cells produce nitric oxide in vitro, but the in vivo role of this reactive mediator in the liver is unknown. We assessed the role of nitric oxide synthesis during endotoxemia in mice by inhibiting its synthesis with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine after lipopolysaccharide injection and by determining the effects of this inhibition on hepatic damage. ResultsInjection of lipopolysaccharide in mice increased plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations, the stable end products of nitric oxide metabolism, and caused mild hepatic damage as measured by increased circulating hepatocellular enzyme levels. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine decreased plasma nitrite and nitrate values, but increased the lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine caused no hepatic damage when given without lipopolysaccharide. The extent of hepatic damage with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine was proportional to the dose of lipopolysaccharide used and could be reduced with concurrent administration of L-arginine but not D-arginine. ConclusionsNitric oxide synthesis provides a protective function against lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury that increases in importance as the degree of endotoxemia increases. The production of nitric oxide is, therefore, an important part of the liver's response to a systemic inflammatory stimulus.
Can physical exercise during gestation attenuate the effects of a maternal perinatal low‐protein diet on oxygen consumption in rats?

A protocol of physical exercise, based on maximal oxygen uptake , for female rats before and during pregnancy was developed to evaluate the impact of a low‐protein diet on oxygen consumption during gestation and growth rate of the offspring. Virgin female Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: untrained (NT, n= 5); trained (T, n= 5); untrained with low‐protein diet (NT+LP, n= 5); and trained with low‐protein diet (T+LP, n= 5). Trained rats were submitted to a protocol of moderate physical training on a treadmill over a period of 4 weeks (5 days week−1 and 60 min day−1, at 65% of ). At confirmation of pregnancy, the intensity and duration of the exercise was reduced. Low‐protein groups received an 8% casein diet, and their peers received a 17% casein diet. The birth weight and growth rate of the pups up to the 90th day were recorded. Oxygen consumption , CO2 production and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were determined using an indirect open‐circuit calorimeter. Exercise training increased by about 20% when compared with the initial values (45.6 ± 1.0 ml kg−1 min−1). During gestation, all groups showed a progressive reduction in the resting values. Dams in the NT+LP group showed lower values of resting than those in the NT group. The growth rate of pups from low‐protein‐fed mothers was around 50% lower than that of their respective controls. The T group showed an increase in body weight from the 60th day onwards, while the NT+LP group presented a reduced body weight from weaning onwards. In conclusion, physical training attenuated the impact of the low‐protein diet on oxygen consumption during gestation and on the growth rate of the offspring.
The social network of people who attempt suicide

Social characteristics and self‐rating of social support by means of the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction were investigated in 75 inpatients after a suicide attempt. We found that very few suicide attempters (13%) had a well functioning relationship, and two‐thirds had problems in their occupational situation. Divorced patients had unsatisfactory social interaction compared with those who were married or cohabiting and with those who were single or widowed. Employees and students more often had deep emotional relations than those who were unemployed or in vocational rehabilitation. The latter were also less satisfied with their social interaction than those who were retired or had a disability pension. Poor social interaction was more commonly reported by patients with dysthymia than by those in other diagnostic subgroups. We conclude that an evaluation of the social network should be an integral part of the clinical handling of suicide attempters, since it forms a basis for planning psychiatric treatment.
Non‐invasive measurements of myocardial carbon metabolism using in vivo 13C NMR spectroscopy

Despite their prime role in maintaining contractile performance, myocardial substrate uptake, substrate preference and metabolism are difficult to assess non‐invasively. The objective of the present work was to extend the scope of cardiac 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to the in vivo situation (‘closed‐chest model’) and to quantitatively appraise myocardial metabolism in vivo. For this purpose, overnight‐fasted Sprague–Dawley rats received intravenous infusions of non‐radioactive 13C‐labeled glucose, 3‐hydroxybutyrate, and acetate as markers for glycolysis, metabolism of ketone bodies and direct incorporation into tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, respectively. In vivo 13C NMR spectra (at 7 T) were acquired from the myocardium with a time resolution of 6 min. At the end of the infusion experiments, tissue extracts were prepared and further analyzed by high‐resolution 13C NMR spectroscopy in order to corroborate the findings obtained in vivo. Accordingly, 3‐hydroxybutyrate and acetate were rapidly extracted by the myocardium and supplied 42 ± 6 and 53 ± 9% of the acetyl‐CoA for TCA cycle operation, whereas glucose, although also well extracted, did not contribute to myocardial oxidative metabolism. Myocardial TCA cycle turnover (VTCA) in vivo was estimated at 1.34 ± 0.07 µmol/min/g wet weight, myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) at 2.95 ± 0.16 µmol/min/g wet weight, exchange rate between α‐ketoglutarate and glutamate (V x) at 1.22 ± 0.08 µmol/min/g wet weight and rate of glutamine synthesis (Vgln) at 0.14 ± 0.02 µmol/min/g wet weight. The substantial synthesis of myocardial glutamine is in contrast to experiments with isolated and saline perfused hearts. In conclusion, it is demonstrated that 13C NMR spectroscopy of the heart in intact rats is feasible and provides new quantitative insight into myocardial substrate uptake, preference and metabolism in vivo. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sextic B-spline collocation method for the modified Burgers' equation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the numerical solutions of the Burgers' and modified Burgers' equation using sextic B‐spline collocation method.Design/methodology/approach – Crank‐Nicolson central differencing scheme has been used for the time integration and sextic B‐spline functions have been used for the space integration to the modified and time splitted modified Burgers' equation.Findings – It has been found that the proposed method is unconditionally stable and obtained results are consistent with some earlier published studies.Originality/value – Sextic B‐spline collocation method for the Burgers' and modified Burgers' equation is given.
Incidence of Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni Isolated in Alberta, Canada, from 1999 to 2002, with Special Reference to tet(O)-Mediated Tetracycline Resistance

ABSTRACT Of 203 human clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni from Alberta, Canada (1999 to 2002), 101 isolates (50%) were resistant to at least 64 μg of tetracycline/ml, with four isolates exhibiting higher levels of tetracycline resistance (512 μg/ml). In total, the MICs for 37% of tetracycline-resistant isolates (256 to 512 μg/ml) were higher than those previously reported in C. jejuni (64 to 128 μg/ml). In the tetracycline-resistant clinical isolates, 67% contained plasmids and all contained the tet(O) gene. Four isolates resistant to high levels of tetracycline (MIC = 512 μg/ml) contained plasmids carrying the tet(O) gene, which could be transferred to other isolates of C. jejuni. The tetracycline MICs for transconjugants were comparable to those of the donors. Cloning of tet(O) from the four high-level tetracycline-resistant isolates conferred an MIC of 32 μg/ml for Escherichia coli DH5α. In contrast, transfer to a strain of C. jejuni by using mobilization conferred an MIC of 128 μg/ml. DNA sequence analysis determined that the tet(O) genes encoding lower MICs (64 to 128 μg/ml) were identical to one other, although the tet(O) genes encoding a 512-μg/ml MIC demonstrated several nucleotide substitutions. The quinolone resistance determining region of four ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates (2%) was analyzed, and resistance was associated with a chromosomal mutation in the gyrA gene resulting in a Thr-86-Ile substitution. In addition, six kanamycin-resistant isolates contained large plasmids that carry the aphA-3 marker coding for 3′-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase. Resistance to erythromycin was not detected in 203 isolates. In general, resistance to most antibiotics in C. jejuni remains low, except for resistance to tetracycline, which has increased from about 8 to 50% over the past 20 years.
Association between Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Gene Polymorphisms and Preeclampsia

It is known that the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) protein levels are increased in placentas of preeclamptic subjects. Therefore, we assessed whether polymorphisms related to the transcriptional control of the PAI-1 gene (–675 4G/5G and –844G/A) are associated with mild preeclampsia. We compared 52 women with preeclampsia to 80 women with a normal pregnancy. None of the preeclamptic women suffered from the severe form of preeclampsia. DNA was extracted from blood, and –675 4G/5G and –844G/A genotypes of the PAI-1 gene were determined. Since it has been shown that the presence of factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T gene variants may be associated with preeclampsia, their frequency was also evaluated in our study groups. The factor V Leiden, PT G20210A, and MTHFR C677T gene variants were not associated with preeclampsia. In the case of the –675 4G/5G polymorphism, genotypes 4G/4G and 5G/5G were more prevalent in the preeclamptic and in the control group, respectively. In the case of –844 G/A polymorphism, genotypes A/A and G/G were more prevalent in the preeclamptic and in the control group, respectively. By using the χ2 test for trend, differences for both genotypes were significant (p = 0.0141 for the –675 genotypes and p = 0.0492 for the –844 genotypes). The frequency of the 4G and 5G alleles of the –675 gene polymorphism was significantly different between preeclamptic and normal women (p = 0.032). Differently, the allelic frequency of the –844 gene polymorphism did not show significant differences between preeclamptic and normal women (p = 0.083). In conclusion, the hypofibrinolytic genotypes 4G/4G and A/A at positions –675 and –844 of the PAI-1 gene are associated with the occurrence of mild preeclampsia independently of thrombophilic mutations of the factor V, prothrombin, and MTHFR genes.
Globalization and user-interface design for the Web

User interfaces, including information visualization, for successful Web-based products and services enable users around the world to access complex data and functions. Solutions to global user-interface design consist of partially universal and partially local solutions to the design of metaphors, mental models, navigation, appearance, and interaction. By managing the user’s experience of familiar structures and processes, the user-interface designer can achieve compelling forms that enable the user interface to be more usable and acceptable to a wider range of users. The user will be more productive and satisfied with the product in many different locations globally.
Micropump Modeling: Current Status and Challenges

Micropumps are one product which was commercialized from Microsystem Industries. It has many applications and many potential as well, and due to this there is a growing interest in their modeling, simulation, and performance and this is going and in hand with research on their fabrication as well. In this paper, we are reviewing the basic aspects of modeling of micropump and their challenges. Basically, the microfluid behavior and the structural behavior in these devices. Also, we are exploring the fluid structural interaction.
The dynamic state of the macrophage plasma membrane. Attachment and fate of immunoglobulin, antigen and lectins

The dynamic state of the macrophage plasma membrane and its possible role in antigen presentation were studied by fluorescence microscopy. Our main observations are as follows: (a) macrophages from the peritoneal cavity of mice have easily detectable surface Ig which, in small/medium macrophages, remains associated with the membrane for four days in culture. On larger macrophages it is progressively lost by capping. Most of this surface Ig is rapidly redistributed in polar caps by divalent but not monovalent anti‐Ig reagents. Complete clearance of the membrane is, however, difficult to obtain. (b) Binding and redistribution of concanavalin, phytohemagglutinin and poly‐L‐lysine on macrophages are as described for lymphocytes. However, pokeweed mitogen, which binds in a detectable way only to thymocytes and not to peripheral B or T lymphocytes, binds also to macrophages and redistributes in polar caps by itself. (c) Antigen binds well to macrophages at 37 °C and weakly at 0 °C, but binding is not sensitive to NaN3. Macrophages do not show selectivity for antigen binding. Part of the bound antigen is redistributed in caps and endocytozed, but some antigen is still detected at the cell surface after 4 days of culture. Antigen binding is not antibody mediated. Antigen appears to stick to a ubiquitous macrophage membrane component and not to a receptor. Part of the endocytozed antigen is later reexposed at the plasma membrane surface.
Five-Year Outcome of Surgical Treatment of Migraine Headaches

Background: This study was designed to assess the long-term efficacy of surgical deactivation of migraine headache trigger sites. Methods: One hundred twenty-five volunteers were randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 100) or control group (n = 25) after examination by the team neurologist to ensure a diagnosis of migraine headache. Patients were asked to complete the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Migraine-Specific Quality of Life, and Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaires before treatment and at 12- and 60-month postoperative follow-up. The treatment group received botulinum toxin to confirm the trigger sites; controls received saline injections. Treated patients underwent surgical deactivation of trigger site(s). Results were analyzed at 1 year (previously published) and 5 years postoperatively (the subject of this report). Results: Eighty-nine of 100 patients in the treatment group underwent surgery, and 79 were followed for 5 years. Ten patients underwent deactivation of additional (different) trigger sites during the follow-up period and were not included in the data analysis. The final outcome with or without inclusion of these 10 patients was not statistically different. Sixty-one (88 percent) of 69 patients have experienced a positive response to the surgery after 5 years. Twenty (29 percent) reported complete elimination of migraine headache, 41 (59 percent) noticed a significant decrease, and eight (12 percent) experienced no significant change. When compared with the baseline values, all measured variables at 60 months improved significantly (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Based on the 5-year follow-up data, there is strong evidence that surgical manipulation of one or more migraine trigger sites can successfully eliminate or reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of migraine headache in a lasting manner.