Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical and structural alterations characterizing healing gingiva.

The aim of the present study was to compare the structural composition of the gingiva of dogs which had not previously suffered from inflammation with that of gingiva which for 6 months had been inflamed, but subsequently healed. The experiments were carried out in eight dogs. After weaning, the dogs were daily subjected to tooth cleaning. When the animals were 10 months old a clinical examination was carried out after which the dogs were randomly distributed into two groups, A and B. Immediately after the clinical assessments, gingival biopsies were obtained from the premolars and molars of the dogsof Group A. The dogs of Group B were allowed to accumulate plaque during a 6-month period after which the examinations were repeated and biopsies were sampled from predetermined areas of the dentition. Following biopsy the remaining teeth of the dogs of Group B were scaled. During the subsequent 6 weeks, the animals were daily subjected to tooth cleaning. The examinations were repeated and biopsies sampled on days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42. The biopsy material was subjected to morphometric analysis. The resuls showed that it is possible to shift a chronically inflamed gingiva into one which, from a clinical and structural point of view, is almost identical to a gingiva which has never been exposed to gross plaque accumulation. This shift was achieved by elimination of calculus and plaque and by the institution of a careful, daily practiced plaque control program. During healing, the inflammatory cell infiltrate in the connective tissue below the junctional epithelium gradually disappeared and became replaced by collagen. In comparison to inflamed gingiva during healing, the leukocyte content of the junctional epithelium was reduced, whle ee peg formations remained. In the connective tissue papillae beneath these rete pegs, vessels could be recognized. This gave the connective tissue of the healed gingiva a higher vascular content thatn that of a gingiva which had not previously suffered from inflammation.
Cyclooxygenase-1 suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in rat gastric inducible nitric oxide synthase

Objective: Both nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) have inducible isoforms that are up-regulated during inflammatory states. However, the interaction between these enzymes is not clearly understood. The objective was to clarify the interactions between NOS and COX in the rat gastric mucosa in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide. Design: Laboratory study. Setting: Medical school laboratory. Subjects: Female Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions: We used nonselective and selective COX inhibitors to determine the role of COX on inducible NOS (iNOS) expression in the gastric mucosa. Measurements and Main Results: The nonselective COX inhibitors salicylate and indomethacin enhanced the expression of iNOS in the rat gastric mucosa and exacerbated gastric injury in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, effects reversed by exogenous prostaglandin E2. Selective COX-1 inhibition with SC560 similarly increased gastric iNOS expression and exacerbated gastric injury, while the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS398 had no effect on iNOS expression or gastric injury in the presence of lipopolysaccharide. Conclusions: These data suggest that COX-1 derived prostaglandins exert an inhibitory effect on gastric iNOS during endotoxemia, and this may represent a potential cytoprotective mechanism not previously recognized for this enzyme, since up-regulation of iNOS is deleterious in some tissues.
Augmentation Therapy for α1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: A Meta-Analysis

Background. Augmentation with exogenous α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) is the only specific therapy for α1-AT deficiency. Uncertainty persists concerning its effectiveness. Purpose. To test the hypothesis that augmentation therapy in patients with α1-AT deficiency slows the decline in FEV1. Study Selection. Randomized and nonrandomized clinical studies with either parallel-group design or single cohort pre-post design were eligible if they compared augmentation therapy with a control regimen and if long-term (> 1 y) longitudinal FEV1 follow-up data were collected. Data Synthesis. FEV1 data from five trials with 1509 patients were combined by random effects meta-analysis. The decline in FEV1 was slower by 23% (absolute difference, 13.4 ml/year; CI, 1.5 to 25.3 ml/year) among all patients receiving augmentation therapy. This overall protective effect reflected predominantly the results in the subset of patients with baseline FEV1 30–65% of predicted. In that subset, augmentation was associated with a 26% reduction in rate of FEV1 decline (absolute difference, 17.9 ml/year; CI, 9.6 to 26.1 ml/year). Similar trends amongst patients with baseline FEV1 percent of predicted < 30% or > 65% were not statistically significant. Conclusions. This meta-analysis supports the conclusion that augmentation can slow lung function decline in patients with AAT deficiency Patients with moderate obstruction are most likely to benefit.
Vital Signs: Obesity Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children — United States, 2008–2011

Background The prevalence of obesity among U.S. preschoolers has doubled in recent decades. Childhood obesity increases the risk for adult obesity and is associated with negative health consequences. Trends in the state-specific prevalence of obesity among low-income U.S. preschool children have not been examined since 2008. State-specific obesity prevalence surveillance helps determine the need for and impact of state and local obesity prevention strategies. Methods Measured weight and height data from approximately 11.6 million low-income children aged 2–4 years from 40 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories who participated in the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System during 2008–2011 were used to estimate state obesity prevalence. Obesity was defined as having an age- and sex-specific body mass index ≥95th percentile, according to the 2000 CDC growth charts. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity were used to examine trends in the state-specific obesity prevalence. Results During 2008–2011, statistically significant downward trends in obesity prevalence were observed in 18 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, South Dakota, and the U.S. Virgin Islands had the largest absolute decreases in obesity prevalence, each with a decrease of ≥1 percentage point. Twenty states and Puerto Rico experienced no significant change, and obesity prevalence increased significantly in three states. Conclusions and Implications for Public Health Practice Small but significant declines in obesity among low-income preschoolers were observed in 19 of 43 states/territories examined. Continued prevention efforts are needed to sustain and expand the implementation and evaluation of population-level interventions to prevent childhood obesity.
Role of magnetic resonance imaging in lumbar spondylosis.

OBJECTIVE To assess the frequency of various MRI findings in patients with lumbar spondylosis and determine their association with symptoms of patients. DESIGN Cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Radiology Department,The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January to December, 2002. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 120 patients who presented with low back and leg pain. Segmental classification system was used to classify the pain distribution. All patients underwent lumbar MRI using 1.5 T-scanner. MRI scans was evaluated for magnitude and location of nerve compression, disc extrusion and the nature of nerve and thecal sac deformation in the central canal, lateral recess and intervertebral foramen at each spinal level. Statistical analysis was performed using computer program SPSS (Version; 10). Chi-square test was also used to determine significance of association between degree of compression, duration of symptoms, site of pain and presence of weakness and numbness. Independent samples test (Levenes test) and Chi-square test were used to determine the significance of associations between age, gender, chronicity of symptoms and MRI findings. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to indicate statistically significant association. RESULTS The study included 120 patients, the age range was 22 to 88 years (mean 47 years). Twenty-three patients had acute pain of less than 2 months, 40 patients had recurrence of previous symptoms within past 2 months and 57 patients had chronic pain. Disc herniation was most frequent finding seen in 107 patients (89%). Eighty-eight patients (73%) had MRI evidence showing some degree of nerve or thecal sac compression. Severe nerve compression was present in 48 patients (40%). Disc extrusion was present in 22 patients (18%). There was no significant association between segmental distribution of symptoms and presence of anatomic impairment. However, severe nerve compression and disc extrusion were significantly associated with pain distal to the knees. CONCLUSION The presence of disc extrusion or ipsilateral severe nerve compression at one or multiple side is strongly associated with distal leg pain. There should be a correlation between patient symptoms and signs of sciatica and imaging demonstration of nerve root compression before invasive therapy is undertaken.
Measured Influence of Big-five Factor and Gender as Correlates of Academic Self- efficacy of Educationally Distressed Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria by

This study examined the influence of big-five personality factors (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to expression, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and gender on academic selfefficacy of educationally distressed adolescents. Educationally distressed adolescents in the context of the study refer to students attending extra mural classes and who have spent more than two years repeatedly writing the same examinations. 450 (Males =173, Females = 277) adolescents aged between 17 and 21 attending extra mural classes in four centres in Ibadan, Nigeria were purposively sampled using a randomised cluster sampling technique. With the aid of two instruments, NEO Five-Factor Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1991) (r=0.77) and Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (r= 0.84), data collected were analysed on two research hypotheses using hierarchical multiple regression statistics. The results obtained showed that the big-five personality factors and gender were positively associated with academic selfefficacy of educationally distressed adolescents. However, the relative contribution of the predictors indicated that only neuroticism and gender could predict academic self-efficacy of the participants. The implications of these findings are discussed with a view to helping educationally distressed adolescents attending extra mural classes.
Polymer Infrared Proximity Sensor Array

A near-infrared proximity sensor array is achieved by integrating a polymer light-emitting diode and a polymer photodetector (PD). A green emission is converted into deep red peaked at 670 nm by the inorganic phosphor Intematix R670 with quantum efficiency of over 20%. A bandpass filter is used to select a spectral tail of phosphor luminescence with a wavelength above 700 nm. The emissive polymer is green polyfluorene. The infrared PD contains a thick film of a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester up to a thickness of 8 m. Position of a moving object at a distance of 10 cm is detected in real time by the array with dynamic images displayed on the computer screen.
Isothermal RNA Sequence Amplification Method for Rapid Antituberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT RNA transcript quantification by an isothermal sequence amplification reaction was evaluated for susceptibility testing of 15 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Agreement with the proportion method on Ogawa egg medium and the BACTEC MGIT 960 system was 100 and 87% for rifampin, 93 and 100% for isoniazid, 60 and 53% for ethambutol, and 80 and 80% for streptomycin, respectively.
Structural Deterioration in Produce : Phospholipase D , Membrane Deterioration , and Senescence

Ripening and senescence are the ultimate phases in the developmental events of fruits that result in the expression of the quality characteristics inherent to the fruit. Although it is difficult to demarcate a dividing point between ripening and senescence, the former can be designated as the quality-developing phase, whereas the latter predominantly involves the loss of quality. Degradation of structural elements such as the cell wall and the plasma membrane is an inherent feature of ripening and senescence. Wilting of flowers also involves similar deteriorative changes. Harvested vegetables, when exposed to abiotic stresses such as heat, cold, and water deficit, undergo deteriorative changes in the cell membrane that result in the loss of quality. Seasonal changes that result in a decrease in light duration and intensity, temperature, etc., are natural cues for the initiation of ripening in fruits. Often such changes are associated with the biosynthesis of ethylene, which is also an initiator of ripening in many fruits and senescence in leaves. At the ultrastructural level, the events that occur during ripening and senescence reflect the deterioration of cellular structures, and in particular the cell membrane, which results in a loss of compartmentalization of ions and metabolites, leading to the loss of tissue structure and ultimately homeostasis. The importance of regulating the deteriorative events that occur during ripening and senescence has been well recognized. Consequently, several scientific approaches and technologies have been developed with the objective of enhancing the shelf life and quality of harvested fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Some of these include attempts to stabilize the cell wall by the application of calcium, biotechnological approaches to inhibit cell wall–degrading enzymes, and modification of the ethylene biosynthetic pathway through inhibition of key enzymes (e.g., inhibition of ACC synthase by the application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), commercially available as “ReTain” (Valent Biosciences)), and biotechnological approaches (e.g., antisense transformation of apple, tomato, and melon for ACC synthase or ACC oxidase). Inhibiting ethylene action through the application of the ethylene antagonist 1-methylcyclopropene (SmartFresh, AgroFresh, Inc.) has become a practice of both basic biological and practical interest. Application of 1-MCP has been successfully used to extend the shelf life of fruits (e.g., apples and pears) and flowers. The cell membrane is a key site where senescence-dependent changes are observed to occur earlier than most other
Effects of NSP Degrading Enzyme on In vitro Digestion of Barley

A digestion trial in vitro was conducted to study effects of supplementation of NSP (non-starch polysaccharides) degrading enzyme (feed grade) on cell wall degradation and digestibility of nutrients in barley. The slices of barley were soaked in distilled water with or without 0.15% non-starch polysaccharides degrading enzyme. Microscopic examination of the slices showed that the endosperm cell wall of barley was completely degraded by the non-starch polysaccharides degrading enzyme. The residues and supernatant of digesta in vitro were separated by filtration with 0.1 mm nylon fabric. The residues were used for measurement of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture. The supernatant was used for determination of viscosity, as well as amino-nitrogen and glucose content. The results showed that compared with the control, the amino-nitrogen and glucose content of the supernatant increased by 17.58% (p<0.05) and 10.26% (p<0.05), respectively, while viscosity did not change. Enzyme supplementation increased the digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, crude fat and crude fiber of barley by 18.1% (p<0.05), 20.3% (p<0.05), 16.4% (p<0.05), 26.9% (p<0.05) and 30.0% (p<0.05), respectively. The present study suggests that cell wall hydrolysis may contribute to improved nutrient digestion in vivo when non-starch polysaccharides degrading enzymes are fed to swine. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 1 : 122-126)
Alkylated Imino Sugars, Reversible Male Infertility-Inducing Agents, Do Not Affect the Genetic Integrity of Male Mouse Germ Cells During Short-Term Treatment Despite Induction of Sperm Deformities1

Abstract Reversible infertility can be induced in male mice by oral administration of the alkylated imino sugars N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) and N-butyldeoxygalactonojirimycin (NB-DGJ). Spermatozoa of these mice have grossly misshapen heads and reduced motility. Because NB-DNJ and related compounds may hold promise as nonhormonal male contraceptives, a comprehensive examination of their effects on male reproduction is necessary. To this end, we further examined reproductive properties of the dysmorphic spermatozoa that are produced after short-term imino sugar administration at the minimal dose that completely abolishes the ability of male C57BL/6 mice to produce offspring by natural mating. Here, we report that, in vitro, the abnormal spermatozoa from the NB-DNJ- and NB-DGJ-treated mice were unable to fertilize oocytes. In addition, we investigated whether the imino sugars damage the genetic integrity of spermatozoa. To test this, we microsurgically injected deformed spermatozoa from imino sugar-treated males into oocytes. The deformed spermatozoa from the testis were able to activate oocytes very efficiently, but those from the cauda epididymis often failed to do so. This problem was overcome when the sperm-injected oocytes were treated with a parthenogenetic agent, Sr2+. Oocytes injected with the misshapen spermatozoa from NB-DNJ- and NB-DGJ-treated mice developed (with or without Sr2+ treatment) into live offspring that grew normally and were normally fertile. This indicates that during short-term administration, alkylated imino sugars alter sperm morphology and physiology but do not diminish the genetic potential of spermatozoa.
Changes in the Relative Amounts of Aspartate and Glutamate Released and Retained in Hippocampal Slices During Stimulation

Abstract: It has been found previously that the ratio of aspartate to glutamate released and retained by brain slices reversibly changes with changing glucose concentrations in the medium. To find out whether increased neuronal activity also results in changes in the ratio of aspartate to glutamate, in this study electrical‐field stimulation was applied for 10 min to hippocampal slices in the presence of 0.2–5 mM glucose. In 5 mM glucose, the ratio of aspartate to glutamate released did not change during stimulation, but the amount of aspartate retained at the end of stimulation was reduced. In contrast, in 1 mM or less glucose, the ratio of aspartate to glutamate released increased progressively and the rate of increase was inversely proportional to the glucose content of the medium. The evoked release of aspartate and glutamate both in low and high glucose was nearly suppressed in low (0.1 mM) Ca2+ or by tetrodotoxin. In low glucose, the ratio of aspartate to glutamate contained in the slices also increased as a result of stimulation. This increase was reduced only a little in low Ca2+, but was nearly eliminated by tetrodotoxin. Results suggest that increased neuronal activity causes a shift in the ratio of aspartate to glutamate released in the presence of glucose concentrations similar to those found in the brain in normoglycemic rats. This shift, due to an increased energy demand, probably originates from terminals which release aspartate and glutamate in different proportions.
Frequency and impact of disease symptoms experienced by patients with systemic sclerosis from five European countries.

OBJECTIVES Knowledge about the nature and impact of symptoms faced by patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is needed to identify targets for research and treatment. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the frequency and impact on everyday activities of SSc symptoms among patients from five European countries. METHODS European patients with SSc were invited through announcements by patient associations to complete an online survey. The survey included items assessing the frequency of 40 SSc symptoms and the impact on daily activities, if present. Chi-square tests were utilised to assess the differences in frequency and impact of symptoms across countries. RESULTS In total, 537 patients were included from France (n=111), the Netherlands (n=229), Spain (n=61), Switzerland (n=50), and the United Kingdom (n=86). Symptoms experienced by ≥ 70% of patients in all countries were fatigue, Raynaud's phenomenon, joint pain, and muscle pain. Twenty symptoms were experienced by ≥ 50% of patients in all countries. Thirty symptoms had an impact on daily activities in ≥ 50% of patients who reported that the symptom was present in all countries. There were significant differences among countries in the prevalence of 17 out of 40 symptoms. Furthermore, in 24 out of 40 symptoms significant differences in the proportion of patients reporting impact of a specific symptom on everyday activities were observed. CONCLUSIONS European patients with SSc experience a broad range of symptoms that have an impact on everyday activities. International research initiatives should target common SSc symptoms cooperatively. Further research is needed to better understand the differences in SSc symptoms among countries.
Nonlinear optical properties of Ag/PMMA nanocomposite polymer film

We prepared Ag/PMMA nanocomposite polymer film by a simple in situ synthesis and measured their linear and nonlinear optical properties to evaluate their potential applications to all-optical devices. The linear absorption spectrum has shown the increase of absorption intensity in the presence of Ag nanoparticles. Nonlinear optical properties were studied using Z-scan technique with 13 ns pulse duration at 532 nm. The nonlinear refractive index gamma and nonlinear absorption coefficient beta of Ag/PMMA nanocomposite polymer film were measured to be 5.781 x 10-2 cm2 GW and 2.225 x 103 cm I GW , respectively. Giant enhancement of nonlinear optical responses was found for Ag/PMMA nanocomposite polymer film compared with pure PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) film. The results indicate that the enhancements of linear and nonlinear optical properties were caused by the surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles. Analyzed with respect to Stegeman figures of merit, the Ag/PMMA nonlinear polymer film show promise for practical use in ultrafast optical devices.
Composition and Seasonality of Diet in Wild Hamadryas Baboons: Preliminary Findings from Filoha

Here we report the first year-round quantitative data on dietary composition and seasonality in wild hamadryas baboons. Study subjects were adult male members of band 3 at the Filoha field site in central lowland Ethiopia. Data collection consisted of 10-min focal samples during all-day follows 4–6 days per month over the course of 1 year. The two largest contributors to the diet were Hyphaene thebaica and Acacia senegal, and these were the only plant species found in the diet during every month of the year. Other relatively major contributors to the diet, such as Cyperus grandibulbosus, Seddera bagshawei, Tribulus cistoides and Typhalatifolia, showed a seasonal pattern. Fewer plant species were consumed during the dry months of the year compared to the wet months. During the hottest and driest months of the year, study subjects subsisted almost exclusively on H. thebaica, A. senegal, C. grandibulbosus and T.latifolia. Overall, these patterns suggest that this population of hamadryas baboons spends less time feeding and is able to subsist on a narrower array of plant foods compared to other baboons. This pattern may be driven by the presence at Filoha of the doum palm (H. thebaica), a high-quality food resource that is consumed year-round.