Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Up‐regulation of p53 and mitochondrial signaling pathway in apoptosis by a combination of cox‐2 inhibitor, celecoxib and dolastatin 15, a marine mollusk linear peptide in experimental colon carcinogenesis

Programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, is an active process occurring in eukaryotic cells and it depends on various sets of pro and anti‐apoptotic proteins. Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer can be achieved by inducing apoptosis using synthetic compound, Celecoxib and natural peptide, Dolastatin 15 in an effective manner. But the apoptotic signaling by these two drugs remain unclear. The present study was thus focused on the role of Bcl2 family of proteins and their interplay with p53 in rats during the chemoprevention by these two drugs. After treatment for 6 wk with 1, 2‐dimethylhydrazine (DMH), animals showed a marked occurrence of multiple plaque lesions. However, a simultaneous treatment with Celecoxib and Dolastatin 15 decreases such number to a significant level. DMH treatment also decreases the number of apoptotic cells in the colonic enterocytes which were corrected to the normal level by Celecoxib and Dolastatin 15. An increased expression of Bcl2 while other proteins like Bax, Apaf‐1, cyt c, and caspases in the apoptotic pathway, and the tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and p21 get down‐regulated after DMH treatment which were reverted back to normal with Celecoxib and Dolastatin 15. Also, cells having high mitochondrial membrane potential had been seen to increase to significant levels which were reduced after the administration of these anti‐inflammatory drugs. In silico molecular docking studies also showed that Dolastatin 15 and Celecoxib may bind to the active site pocket of Bcl2, thus revealing the direct target of Dolastatin 15 and Celecoxib apart from binding to COX‐2. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cyclosporine A-Based Immunotherapy in Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Accurate and Improved Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by 4-hr Intravenous Infusion

Background. A paucity of data exists for evaluating therapeutic drug monitoring in association with clinical outcomes of cyclosporine A (CYA) treatment in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 50 consecutive adult patients who underwent LDLT between 2001 and 2009 to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of 4-hr continuous intravenous infusion of CYA-based immunotherapy (4-hr CYA-IV, n=27) and compare the pharmacokinetic profile and short-term prognoses with an oral microemulsion formulation of CYA (CYA-ME, n=23). Results. All patients in the 4-hr CYA-IV group reached target CYA peak by day 3 compared with only 22% in the CYA-ME group (P<0.001). Adjustability to achieve the target range was easier in the 4-hr CYA-IV group compared with the CYA-ME group (P=0.017). Acute cellular rejection rate was lower in the 4-hr CYA-IV group (0%) compared with the CYA-ME group (17%, P=0.038). A subset analysis of the CYA-ME group revealed that CYA exposure was affected by external bile output (P=0.006). Patients in the CYA-ME group showed increased risk of switch to tacrolimus (35%) compared with the 4-hr CYA-IV group (7%, P=0.030). Toxicities and mortality rates were equivalent. The optimal initial dose of oral CYA at conversion from the 4-hr CYA-IV was considered to be 3-fold greater than that of the intravenous dose. Conclusions. In LDLT, our 4-hr CYA-IV immunosuppression protocol was superior to CYA-ME oral dosing and allowed accurate therapeutic drug monitoring with excellent patient compliance.
T cell receptor Vβ repertoire of T lymphocytes and T regulatory cells by flow cytometric analysis in healthy children

Evaluation of the T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ repertoire by flow cytometric analysis has been used for studying the T cell compartments for diseases in which T cells are implicated in the pathogenesis. For the interpretation of these studies information is needed about Vβ usage in healthy individuals and there are few data for normal usage in paediatric populations. We examined the T lymphocyte (sub)populations in 47 healthy controls (age range: 3 months−16 years). We found non‐random Vβ usage with skewed reactivity of some families towards CD4+ or CD4– T cells. Importantly, there appeared to be no significant change in Vβ usage according to age group. Some controls showed expansions in some Vβ families, although incidence of such expansions was low. We went on to examine the repertoire of CD4+CD25Bright T regulatory cells in 25 healthy controls. We found overlapping quantitative usage for each of the Vβ families between CD4+CD25– and CD4+CD25Bright T cells. However, there was a significant preferential usage for five Vβ families and decreased usage of two Vβ families in the CD4+CD25Bright T cells, suggesting that although they overlap there may be subtle but important differences in the TCR repertoire of T regulatory cells.
An empirical study of proxy consent for elderly persons.

To investigate empirical assumptions about substituted judgment, three treatment decision scenarios were presented to 43 competent elderly persons and 115 persons related to them. Related subjects who were explicitly asked to make a substituted judgment came significantly closer to the elderly person's preferences than those who were asked to make their best recommendation (p = .005-.067, depending on index used). These results support the use of a substituted judgment approach to proxy decision makers; other results suggest some limitations of durable powers of attorney.
New wheelie aid for wheelchairs: controlled trial of safety and efficacy.

OBJECTIVE To test hypotheses that people learning to perform aided wheelies (AW) with a new self-deploying wheelie aid (WA) (1) are safer than those who use the conventional wheelie (CW), (2) are more successful at learning the skills, (3) learn more quickly, and (4) find such skills less difficult. DESIGN Randomized, controlled study. SETTING Wheelchair obstacle course. PARTICIPANTS Forty-two subjects (12 wheelchair users, 30 able-bodied) randomly assigned to the CW (n = 23) or AW (n = 19) groups. INTERVENTIONS We performed static tests on a WA-modified wheelchair occupied by a test dummy. We also attempted to teach each subject to perform a set of 14 wheelie-related skills. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual analog scale (VAS) of safety, percentage of subjects able to learn the skills, the time required, and subjective difficulty scores (from 1 for "very easy" to 5 for "very difficult"). RESULTS Up to 11.2 degrees of antitip-device stability was available without the WA extending beyond the rearmost aspect of the rear wheel in the resting position. For the CW and AW groups, the mean +/- standard deviation VAS safety scores were 43% +/- 27% and 98% +/- 2% (p <.0001), respectively; the overall success rates were 93% and 96% (p =.079), respectively; the mean times required to learn a skill (in 5-min increments) were 1.56 +/- 1.08 minutes and.72 +/-. 35 minutes (p =.002), respectively; and the mean difficulty scores were 2.94 +/-. 38 and 2.23 +/-. 34 (p <.0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The new WA provides stability and wheelie-like function without interfering with maneuverability. Although both groups were equally successful, learning to perform AWs is safer, faster, and less difficult than learning CWs.
Space Vector Method for Voltage Dips and Swells Analysis

A new method for voltage dips and swells analysis is presented in this paper. This method is based on the space vector representation in the complex plane and the zero-sequence voltage. Indeed, in the case of nonfaulted system voltages, the space vector follows a circle in the complex plane with a radius equal to the nominal voltage. It follows the same shape for balanced dips, but with a smaller radius. For unbalanced dips, this shape becomes an ellipse with parameters depending on the phase(s) in drop, dip magnitude and phase angle shift. For swells the space vector shape is not modified, though the zero-sequence voltage presents significant changes in its phase and magnitude and can be used for swells analysis. The changes in the space vector and the zero-sequence voltage are used to determine the dip/swell time occurrence, to classify and finally characterize the measured power-quality disturbance. Algorithms are developed for each step of this automatic voltage dips and swells analysis (segmentation, classification, and characterization) and are validated on real measurement data.
Some telencephalic connections in the frog, Rana pipiens

Some afferent, efferent and intrinsic connections of the telencephalon of Rana pipiens were studied using a horseradish peroxidase method. Afferents to the telencephalon from thalamic and brain stem cell groups were demonstrated. These findings, taken together with the results of previous studies, indicate that separate thalamic cell groups project visual, auditory and somatosensory information onto the striatum. A separate thalamic cell group projects to the medial telencephalic wall and probably conveys visual and somatosensory information. These telencephalic afferent systems do not appear to be directly comparable to those of birds and reptiles. Additionally, some telencephalic efferents demonstrated in previous studies using anterograde degeneration techniques were confirmed, and some intratelencephalic connections were identified.
Sorption of Isoxaflutole Diketonitrile Degradate (DKN) and Dicamba in Unsaturated Soil

When analyzing the sorption characteristics of weakly sorbing or labile pesticides, batch methods tend to yield a high margin of error attributable to errors in concentration measurement and to degradation, respectively. This study employs a recently developed unsaturated transient flow method to determine the sorption of isoxaflutole's herbicidally active diketonitrile degradate (DKN) and dicamba. A 20-cm acrylic column was packed with soils with varied texture that had been uniformly treated with 14C-labeled chemical. The antecedent solution herbicide in equilibrium with sorbed phase herbicide was displaced by herbicide-free water, which was infiltrated into the column. Sorption coefficients, Kd, were obtained from a plot of total herbicide concentration in the soil versus water content in the region where the antecedent solution accumulated. DKN Kd values were ∼2–3 times (average Kd = 0.71 L kg−1) greater using the unsaturated transient flow method as compared to the batch equilibration method in clay loam (Kd = 0.33 L kg−1), but similar for the two methods in sand (0.12 vs 0.09 L kg−1) soils. Dicamba Kd values were 3 times greater using the unsaturated transient flow method as compared to the batch equilibration method in the clay loam soil (0.38 vs 0.13 L kg−1), however, the Kd values were the same for the two methods in the sand (∼0.06 L kg−1). This demonstrates that to determine sorption coefficients for labile hydrophilic pesticides, an unsaturated transient flow method may be a suitable alternative to the batch method. In fact, it may be better in cases where transport models have overpredicted herbicide leaching when batch sorption coefficients have been used.
Pindolol Augmentation of Antidepressants: A Review and Rationale

Objective: To critically review the literature on clinical trials in which pindolol, a 5HT1A receptor antagonist, has been used to augment the effects of antidepressants in patients with depression and to examine the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics that may underlie such augmentations. Method: The available literature from the previous 10 years relating to the clinical use of pindolol in combination with antidepressants was critically examined. This was placed in the context of its pharmacodynamic rationale, and evidence supporting its use was critically reviewed. Results: A number of open-label and placebo-controlled, double-blind trials on patients with depression showed conflicting results as to the value of adding pindolol to various antidepressant regimens in reducing latency or in augmenting the anti-depressant effect in treatment-resistant cases. While pre-clinical studies using electrophysiological and microdialysis techniques suggest utility in terms of increases in extracellular concentration of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5HT) in serotonergic projection areas, few studies have examined the possibility of drug–drug interactions and subsequent elevated plasma levels of antidepressant. Conclusions: Pre-clinical studies suggest possible advantages of pindolol augmentation of antidepressant regimens and the achievement of faster acting antidepressants. The results of investigations in patients with depression have so far been conflicting. There exists the possibility of drug–drug interaction in pindolol/antidepressant augmentation strategies which remains to be examined.
GENDER IDEOLOGY AND MANOEUVRING SPACE FOR FEMALE FISHERIES ENTREPRENEURS

Local gender ideologies vary considerably in fishing communities along the coast of Ghana. This article compares the extent to which women convert capital from the female market sphere into ownership of fishing equipment in the male fishing sphere in three ethnically diverse communities - Moree (Fante), Kpone (Ga-Adangbe) and Dzelukope (Anlo-Ewe). Kinship ideologies, post-marital residence patterns, and gender division of labour and roles in the local fishing economies shape women's place-specific manoeuvring spaces. It is argued that a loyal and trustworthy male cooperation partner is a prerequisite for the success of female entrepreneurs in a male arena like the fisheries.
Implications of Biofuel Feedstock Crops for the Livestock Feed Industry in Canada

The rapid growth of liquid biofuel production could eventually require three or four times the amount of land currently used to supply the feedstock for biofuels (FAO, 2008). The 2007 US Energy Independence and Security Act set the target for 2022 for national ethanol production at nearly four times the present production. It is predicted that this goal would result in the largest and most rapid changes in land use in history (Sinclair and Sinclair, 2010), especially when combined with the similar changes that can be expected in Canada (Klein and LeRoy, 2007). In spite of the major impact on agriculture that can be expected from such change in land use, biofuels will satisfy a relatively small share of the fuels needed for transportation (FAO, 2008; Karman et al., 2008). Consequently, small increases in the addition of ethanol to gasoline (from 5% to 10%) have meant very large changes in crop distributions (Dufey, 2007; Fritshe et al, 2009). The adoption of 5% biodiesel in Canada could have a similar impact on land use (Dyer et al., 2010a). The increased demand for biofuel may, in turn, lead to higher retail prices for meat and dairy products because of higher livestock feed costs (Zhang and Wetzstein, 2008). Agricultural policy must take the growth of biofuels into account as part of planning for future food security. Since anthropogenic global warming/climate change will likely be the greatest challenge to mankind in the 21st century (thanks to our addiction to oil), renewable energy supply and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are the prime justification for biofuel production (Karman et al., 2008). If properly developed, biofuels can potentially help to reduce fossil CO2 emissions from transport (IEA, 2004; Klein and LeRoy, 2007; Murphy, 2008). Because of the sensitivity of the agricultural resource base to the expansion of biofuel feedstock production, the real potential reduction in GHG emissions from biofuel should take into account any related changes in land use. Such changes should include both the use of the actual land on which the biofuel feedstock was grown and any secondary, or indirect, shifts in land use (Dyer et al., 2011). In addition, land use effects may end up being as important in altering weather as changes in climate patterns associated with GHG buildup (Pielke, 2005). While it is not clear whether the impacts on food production from increased biofuel feedstock production will always be negative, some shrinkage of resources available to
Movement disorders with cerebral toxoplasmosis and AIDS

Movement disorders occur in some patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis with HIV‐1 infection. Such movement disorders have not been described in patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis without HIV‐1 infection. This report discusses their diagnostic features, aspects of management, and possible mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of the movement disorders.
Progesterone Receptors and Proliferation in the Bitch Uterus during Different Stages of the Oestrous Cycle

Immunopresence of the progesterone receptors (PR) and proliferative activity in the bitch uterus were studied during different stages of the oestrous cycle. Uterine samples were collected at 4 different stages of the oestrous cycle; prooestrus, oestrus, dioestrus and anoestrus. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the localization and to semiquantitate PR and uterine proliferation by using monoclonal antibodies to the PR and the proliferative marker, Ki-67 respectively. The results showed that PR and Ki-67 levels were highest during prooestrus and oestrus while they were low at other stages. However, a significant difference was observed only in the surface epithelium for Ki-67 immunostaining. A positive correlation was found between PR positive and Ki-67 positive cells in the surface epithelium. The results from the present study strengthen previous finding that the presence of PR and uterine proliferation differ with oestrous cycle stages and among different uterine compartments; and suggested a possible relationship between the PR and the proliferative marker, Ki-67 in the surface epithelium of the bitch uterus.
Extractive metallurgy of rare earths

Abstract A short account is given on the extraction of rare earths from monazite sand, bastnasite ore, and phosphate rock of igneous origin. This includes mineral beneficiation, leaching methods, fractional crystallisation [of historical interest], ion exchange, solvent extraction, precipitation from solution, and reduction to metals. On donne un bref compte-rendu de l’extraction des terres rares à partir de sable monazité, de minerai de bastnaésite et de roche phosphatée d’origine ignée. Ceci inclut l’enrichissement du minéral, les méthodes de lixiviation, la cristallisation fractionnelle (d’intérêt historique), l’échange d’ion, l’extraction par solvant, la précipitation à partir de solution et la réduction en métaux.
Effects of mercury contamination on the culturable heterotrophic, functional and genetic diversity of the bacterial community in soil.

This study investigates the effect of mercury contamination on the culturable heterotrophic, functional and genetic diversity of the bacterial community in soil. The changes in diversity were monitored in soil microcosms, enriched with 25 &mgr;g Hg(II) g(-1) soil, over a period of 3 months. The culturable heterotrophic diversity was investigated by colony morphology and colony appearance on solid LB medium. Functional diversity was analysed as sole carbon utilisation patterns in ECOplates. Genetic diversity was measured as bands on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) gels obtained by purification of total soil DNA and amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA fragments by polymerase chain reaction. Concentrations of bioavailable and total mercury were measured throughout the experiment. The effect on the culturable heterotrophic and genetic diversity was very similar, showing an immediate decrease after mercury addition but then slowly increasing throughout the entire experimental period. Pre-exposure levels were not reached within the time span of this investigation. The DGGE band pattern indicated that a shift in the community structure was responsible for recovered diversity. When analysed by Shannon-Weaver indices, functional diversity was found to increase almost immediately after mercury addition and to remain at a level higher than the control soil for the rest of the experiment. The fraction of culturable heterotrophic bacteria increased from 1% to 10% of the total bacterial number as a result of mercury addition, and the mercury-resistant population increased to represent the entire heterotrophic population.
Causes of HIV and AIDS Stigmatization in Nepal: a Proposed Model to Reduce Stigma

Stigma related to HIV and AIDS in Nepal is an issue that requires better understanding. Some prevention efforts, because of lack of cultural understanding, have paradoxically amplified the problem they were intended to reduce. In this paper I set out to identify the causes of stigma related to HIV and AIDS in Nepal and propose a prevention model that makes use of culture to reduce this more effectively.
Complex Dynamic Behaviors in Cellular Automata Rule 14

Wolfram divided the 256 elementary cellular automata rules informally into four classes using dynamical concepts like periodicity, stability, and chaos. Rule 14, which is Bernoulli στ-shift rule and is a member of Wolfram’s class II, is said to be simple as periodic before. Therefore, it is worthwhile studying dynamical behaviors of rule 14, whether it possesses chaotic attractors or not. In this paper, the complex dynamical behaviors of rule 14 of one-dimensional cellular automata are investigated from the viewpoint of symbolic dynamics. We find that rule 14 is chaotic in the sense of both Li-Yorke and Devaney on its attractor. Then, we prove that there exist fixed points in rule 14. Finally, we use diagrams to explain the attractor of rule 14, where characteristic function is used to describe that all points fall into Bernoulli-shift map after two iterations under rule 14.
Gelation of Arabinoxylans from Maize Wastewater — Effect of Alkaline Hydrolysis Conditions on the Gel Rheology and Microstructure

The purpose of this research was to extract arabinoxylans (AX) from maize wastewater generated under different maize nixtamalization conditions and to investigate the polysaccharide gelling capability, as well as the rheological and microstructural characteristics of the gels formed. The nixtamalization conditions were 1.5 hours of cooking and 24 hours of alkaline hydrolysis (AX1) or 30 minutes cooking and 4 hours of alkaline hydrolysis (AX2). AX1 and AX2 presented yield values of 0.9% and 0.5% (w/v), respectively. Both AX samples presented similar molecular identity (Fourier Transform Infra-Red) and molecular weight distribution but different ferulic acid (FA) content. AX1 and AX2 presented gelling capability under laccase exposure. The kinetics of gelation of both AX samples was rheologically monitored by small amplitude oscillatory shear. The gelation profiles followed a characteristic kinetics with an initial increase in the storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") followed by a plateau region for both gels. AX1 presented higher G' than AX2. In scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, both gels present an irregular honeycomb microstructure. The lower FA content in AX2 form gels presenting minor elasticity values and a more fragmented microstructure. These results indicate that nixtamali‐ zation process conditions can modify the characteristics of AX gels.