Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of seasonality and irrigation on malaria transmission in two villages in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract The seasonality of malaria transmission was investigated in two villages in central Côte d'Ivoire: one usually with irrigated rice farming (Zatta) and one without (Tiémélékro). Adult mosquitoes were collected, from February 2002 to August 2005, inside and outside sentinel houses. In Tiémélékro, the biting rate of Anopheles gambiae s.s. showed a significant difference between the dry and rainy season only in 2003 (P<0.001). The corresponding rates for An. funestus s.s. showed significant seasonal differences in both 2002 and 2003 (P<0.001 for each year). In Zatta in 2003–2004, when irrigated rice farming was interrupted, there was no significant difference between the An. gambiae s.s. biting rates recorded in the dry and rainy seasons. In both 2002 and 2005, however, when irrigated rice farming was practised, the An. gambiae s.s. biting rate recorded in Zatta during the rainy season was significantly higher than that seen in the dry season (P<0.001 for each year). With just one exception (in Tiémélékro in 2005, the prevalence of Plasmodium infection in the An. funestus was significantly higher in the rainy season than in the dry season), no significant seasonal differences were seen in the prevalences of Plasmodium infection among the An. gambiae or An. funestus. In conclusion, although malaria transmission is quite stable in central Côte d'Ivoire throughout the year, it can be distinctly modified by irrigated rice farming.
The role of enjoyment in exercise for people with arthritis: Four different viewpoints from a Q‐methodology study

PURPOSE There is limited research on the role of enjoyment of exercise among people with arthritis. The aim of the present study was to determine distinct viewpoints on exercise held by people with arthritis, and how enjoyment features in these viewpoints. METHODS A Q-methodology study was conducted, which involved two interviews with people with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis (aged 20-85 years). In the first interviews, 11 participants helped to create the Q-set, a set of statements reflecting a range of existing views on exercising. In the second interviews, 12 participants (nine of the 11 from the first interviews and three others) ranked the Q-set on a forced quasi-normal distribution of agreement. A Q-method factor analysis was carried out to determine groupings of participants with similar views on exercise. RESULTS Four groupings were discovered, and defined in terms of rankings of statements and illustrative quotes from the ranking procedure. The first grouping had all changed their exercise habits after diagnosis with arthritis. The second grouping had a shared enjoyment for walking to stay healthy. The third grouping's viewpoints focused on knowledge about how much exercise they should carry out. The fourth grouping shared a sense of importance of being responsible for their health by exercising. CONCLUSION These findings provide information about the role that enjoyment plays in motivating people with arthritis to exercise, although enjoyment of exercise was not expressed by all participants. People with arthritis who share these viewpoints on exercise enjoyment may require different forms of advice regarding feasible and enjoyable exercise.
Breast carcinoma: Pattern of metastasis at autopsy

Breast cancer is known to metastasize to all organs of the human body, and its manifestations are protean. It is almost impossible to predict which organ system will be invaded. Since 1950, there are seven autopsy series of patients with breast carcinoma published in the English literature. All data came from American hospitals (total of 2,147 patients), and each report studied more than 100 patients with breast cancer. The reported incidence of involvement of different organ sites are presented in Table I. Although the data came from different institutions and spanned over 35 years (1943–1977), the findings regarding metastatic involvement of specific organs are fairly similar.
Species differentiation of seafood spoilage and pathogenic gram-negative bacteria by MALDI-TOF mass fingerprinting.

Species differentiation is important for the early detection and identification of pathogenic and food-spoilage microorganisms that may be present in fish and seafood products. The main 26 species of seafood spoilage and pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, including Aeromonas hydrophila, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas spp. , and Enterobacter spp. among others, were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) of low molecular weight proteins extracted from intact bacterial cells by a fast procedure. From the acquired spectra, a library of specific mass spectral fingerprints was constructed. To analyze spectral fingerprints, peaks in the mass range of 2000-10 000 Da were considered and representative mass lists of 10-35 peak masses were compiled. At least one unique biomarker peak was observed for each species, and various genus-specific peaks were detected for genera Proteus, Providencia, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Shewanella, and Vibrio. Phyloproteomic relationships based on these data were compared to phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene, and a similar clustering was found. The method was also successfully applied for the identification of three bacterial strains isolated from seafood by comparing the spectral fingerprints with the created library of reference fingerprints. Thus, the proteomic approach demonstrated to be a competent tool for species identification.
Bilingual Education in English-Only: A Qualitative Case Study of Language Policy in Practice at Lincoln Elementary School.

In this qualitative case study, we investigate teachers’ appropriation of language policy at one urban elementary school in Illinois. Recognizing classroom teachers’ central role in the education of English learners, we probe teachers’ policy appropriation, or how bilingual educators take state-, district-, and school-level policies and corresponding programmatic requirements and utilize them in their own ways in classrooms in the midst of heightened accountability, including the shift to the Common Core Standards and other policy changes. Using ethnographic methods including participant observation, field notes, surveys, and interviews, we study the case of Abraham Lincoln School, which serves predominantly Latino students through both transitional and maintenance bilingual program models. Findings indicate the impacts of external demands on bilingual teachers’ policy appropriation, as accountability to English-only tests shaped decisions in classroom practice. Results demonstrate that bilingual education is not consistently occurring in Lincoln classrooms, due to lack of clear expectations, multiple initiatives that take away from needed classroom instructional time, high-stakes and standardized tests given only in English, and varying challenges of students’ Spanish proficiency due to the rush to mainstream. The significance of findings center on teachers’ integral roles as policy makers in bilingual education, as they engage in daily decision making that directly impacts the education of English learners in Midwestern schools.
Laxative Effects of Total Diterpenoids Extracted from the Roots of Euphorbia pekinensis Are Attributable to Alterations of Aquaporins in the Colon

This study was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of total diterpenoids extracted from the roots of Euphorbia pekinensis (TDEP) on the mouse colon and to clarify the mechanism. Dried powdered roots of E. pekinensis were extracted with chloroform, and then the extract (6.7 g) was subjected to column chromatography and preparative TLC, giving TDEP. Using the HPLC-DAD method, the purity of TDEP was determined as 85.26%. Mice were orally administered with TDEP (3.942, 19.71 and 39.42 mg/kg), after which fecal water content and colon water content were examined. Both of them increased over time after TDEP administration, accompanied by severe diarrhea. Three hours after TDEP administration, the animals were sacrificed to obtain their colons. The mRNA and protein expression levels of aquaporin 1 (AQP1), AQP3 and AQP4 in the colon were measured using real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. TDEP significantly increased the levels of AQP3 and AQP4, but decreased that of AQP1 in dose-dependent manners. Similarly, Pekinenin C, a casbane diterpenoid, significantly increased AQP3 protein and mRNA expressions in human intestinal epithelial cells (HT-29). Histopathological examination revealed that the colon was not significantly damaged. The laxative effects of E. pekinensis were associated with the alterations of AQPs in the colon by TDEP.
Rapid Alterations of BDNF Protein Levels in the Rat Brain after Focal Ischemia: Evidence for Increased Synthesis and Anterograde Axonal Transport

Cellular localization and tissue levels of BDNF protein were studied using immunocytochemistry and enzyme immunoassay, respectively, in the cortex and striatum at different reperfusion times (0-24 h) after 2 h of unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. The distribution of neuronal injury was analyzed in NeuN-, cresyl violet-, and Fluoro-Jade-stained sections. At 2 h postischemia, but not at later time points, there was a several-fold increase of the number of BDNF-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in the ipsilateral cingulate and frontal cortices outside the damaged area. Animals with cortical injury showed loss of BDNF-ir fibers in the striatum at 2-24 h, whereas rats with cell damage confined to the striatum exhibited no such change. At 2-16 h, strongly BDNF-ir fibers were observed along the myelinated fascicles medially in the striatum, in the anterior commissure, and in the corpus callosum ipsilateral to the MCAO. BDNF protein levels were increased (by 133-213%) at 2 h in the cingulate and frontal cortices and decreased (by 40%) at 24 h in the striatum. These findings show that the increased expression of BDNF mRNA in cortical neurons previously demonstrated after transient focal ischemia is accompanied by elevated levels of BDNF protein. The rapid decline of BDNF protein levels suggests a pronounced release or anterograde axonal transport in the postischemic phase. The reduction of BDNF protein in the striatum of animals with cortical damage provides further evidence for anterograde transport, which is also supported by the accumulation of BDNF protein in several preterminal fiber systems. The changes of BDNF protein after focal ischemia could play a role for survival and plasticity of cortical and striatal neurons.
Myocardial Perfusion in Patients With a Totally Occluded Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Reinjected by a Normal Right Coronary Artery: The Role of Collateral Circulation

In this article, myocardial perfusion in patients with a totally occluded left anterior descending artery reinjected by a normal right coronary artery is assessed using stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In all, 20 patients, with a totally occluded left anterior descending artery reinjected by normal right coronary artery, underwent myocardial single photon emission computed tomography imaging within 60 days of angiography. All patients had abnormal perfusion single photon emission computed tomography results and 70% had reversible defects. Perfusion defects at rest were present in 75% of patients, with perinecrotic residual ischemia in 45% of patients whereas for 30% of patients, no viable myocardium was detected in the collateral-dependent segments. In all, 25% of patients had no resting perfusion defects but all are presented with stress-induced ischemia. Collaterals are not protective against stress-induced ischemia, but they can preserve myocardial viability. This conclusion is highly supported by the presence of residual ischemia in the collateral-dependent segments.
Preclinical validation of a microarray method for full molecular karyotyping of blastomeres in a 24-h protocol

BACKGROUND Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) has been used in an attempt to determine embryonic aneuploidy. Techniques that use new molecular methods to determine the karyotype of an embryo are expanding the scope of PGS. METHODS We introduce a new method for PGS, termed ‘parental support’, which leverages microarray measurements from parental DNA to ‘clean’ single-cell microarray measurements on embryonic cells and explicitly computes confidence in each copy number call. The method distinguishes mitotic and meiotic copy errors and determines parental source of aneuploidy. RESULTS Validation with 459 single cells of known karyotype indicated that per-cell false-positive and false-negative rates are roughly equivalent to the ‘gold standard’ metaphase karyotype. The majority of the cells were run in parallel with a clinical commercial PGS service. Computed confidences were conservative and roughly concordant with accuracy. To examine ploidy in human embryos, the method was then applied to 26 disaggregated, cryopreserved, cleavage-stage embryos for a total of 134 single blastomeres. Only 23.1% of the embryos were euploid, though 46.2% of embryos were mosaic euploid. Mosaicism affected 57.7% of the embryos. Counts of mitotic and meiotic errors were roughly equivalent. Maternal meiotic trisomy predominated over paternal trisomy, and maternal meiotic trisomies were negatively predictive of mosaic euploid embryos. CONCLUSIONS We have performed a major preclinical validation of a new method for PGS and found that the technology performs approximately as well as a metaphase karyotype. We also directly measured the mechanism of aneuploidy in cleavage-stage human embryos and found high rates and distinct patterns of mitotic and meiotic aneuploidy.
Increased Insulin Sensitivity and Reduced Adiposity in Phosphatidylinositol 5-Phosphate 4-Kinase β−/− Mice

ABSTRACT Phosphorylated derivatives of the lipid phosphatidylinositol are known to play critical roles in insulin response. Phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinases convert phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bis-phosphate. To understand the physiological role of these kinases, we generated mice that do not express phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β. These mice are hypersensitive to insulin and have reduced body weights compared to wild-type littermates. While adult male mice lacking phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β have significantly less body fat than wild-type littermates, female mice lacking phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β have increased insulin sensitivity in the presence of normal adiposity. Furthermore, in vivo insulin-induced activation of the protein kinase Akt is enhanced in skeletal muscle and liver from mice lacking phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β. These results indicate that phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β plays a role in determining insulin sensitivity and adiposity in vivo and suggest that inhibitors of this enzyme may be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Salmeterol tachyphylaxis in steroid treated asthmatic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Tachyphylaxis to the protection afforded by salmeterol to broncho-constrictor stimuli after regular use has been described in patients with mild asthma not receiving inhaled corticosteroids. The present study was performed to investigate whether airway tachyphylaxis occurs in symptomatic asthmatic subjects receiving inhaled corticosteroids, the group for whom salmeterol is recommended in clinical practice. METHODS: Thirty one adult patients with symptomatic chronic asthma who were receiving inhaled corticosteroids were randomised in a double blind manner and on a 2:1 basis to receive salmeterol 50 micrograms (n = 22) or placebo (n = 9) twice daily. Baseline forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was measured during the run-in period, on day 0, and after four and eight weeks of regular treatment (following a 36 hour test drug washout period). Airway responsiveness to methacholine was measured one hour after administration of the test drug on these occasions. Diary cards were kept throughout the study and for a two week follow up period. RESULTS: Baseline FEV1 was not significantly different between the treatment groups or between visits. There was significant bronchodilatation one hour after salmeterol administration at 0, four, and eight weeks. No significant tachyphylaxis of the bronchodilator action of salmeterol was seen. Protection against methacholine induced bronchoconstriction reduced from 3.3 doubling dilutions after the first dose of salmeterol to two doubling dilutions after four and eight weeks of regular treatment. Symptom scores and "rescue" salbutamol use were significantly reduced during salmeterol treatment and daytime improvements were maintained into the follow up period. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled corticosteroids did not prevent tachyphylaxis to the protection afforded by salmeterol to methacholine induced bronchoconstriction. The clinical significance, if any, of these findings remains to be defined.
C5a alters blood‐brain barrier integrity in experimental lupus

The blood‐brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial anatomic location in the brain. Its dysfunction complicates many neurodegenerative diseases, from acute conditions, such as sepsis, to chronic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Several studies suggest an altered BBB in lupus, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the current study, we observed a definite loss of BBB integrity in MRL/MpJ‐Tnfrsf6lpr (MRL/lpr) lupus mice by IgG infiltration into brain parenchyma. In line with this result, we examined the role of complement activation, a key event in this setting, in maintenance of BBB integrity. Complement activation generates C5a, a molecule with multiple functions. Because the expression of the C5a receptor (C5aR) is significantly increased in brain endothelial cells treated with lupus serum, the study focused on the role of C5a signaling through its G‐protein‐coupled receptor C5aR in brain endothelial cells, in a lupus setting. Reactive oxygen species production increased significantly in endothelial cells, in both primary cells and the bEnd3 cell line treated with lupus serum from MRL/lpr mice, compared with those treated with control serum from MRL+/+ mice. In addition, increased permeability monitored by changes in transendothelial electrical resistance, cytoskeletal remodeling caused by actin fiber rearrangement, and increased iNOS mRNA expression were observed in bEnd3 cells. These disruptive effects were alleviated by pretreating cells with a C5a receptor antagonist (C5aRant) or a C5a antibody. Furthermore, the structural integrity of the vasculature in MRL/lpr brain was maintained by C5aR inhibition. These results demonstrate the regulation of BBB integrity by the complement system in a neuroinflammatory setting. For the first time, a novel role of C5a in the maintenance of BBB integrity is identified and the potential of C5a/C5aR blockade highlighted as a promising therapeutic strategy in SLE and other neurodegenerative diseases. —Jacob, A. , Hack, B. , Chiang, E. , Garcia, J. G. N. , Quigg, R. J., Alexander, J. J. C5a alters blood‐brain barrier integrity in experimental lupus. FASEB J. 24, 1682–1688 (2010). www.fasebj. org
Smoking cessation and acute airway response to ozone.

Pulmonary function and symptom responses of asymptomatic smokers were measured during chamber exposures to ozone or filtered air. Subjects were evaluated while habituated to smoking and after 6 mo of smoking abstinence. At the onset of treatment, subjects (n = 18) who had a history of smoking 33.4 +/- 15.6 packs/y and who had almost normal pulmonary function (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1.0], and mid-maximal flow [MMF] were greater than 82% of predicted) were unresponsive to ozone exposure (0.4 ppm for 2 h). A matched group of control smokers (n = 16) did not respond to filtered air exposure. After 6 mo of smoking cessation, baseline MMF rates improved significantly (p less than .02); exsmokers (n = 15) raised this index from 3.32 to 4.11 l/s. All 9 subjects who abstained from smoking cigarettes for 6 mo and who were re-exposed to 0.4 ppm ozone had significant (p less than .01) reductions in MMF (from a mean of 3.86 +/- 1.32 [standard deviation] to 2.99 +/- 0.94 l/s, i.e., 22.5% reduction) and marginally significant reductions in comfort, as evidenced by an increase in the incidence of dry cough (p less than .10). The FVC was not reduced during ozone exposure. Control exsmokers (n = 6) remained unresponsive to filtered air exposure. The exsmokers' responses to ozone and their improved MMF during the period of smoking abstinence were correlated (coefficient = .88), i.e., subjects with the largest baseline gains in MMF after withdrawal experienced the largest acute decrements in MMF during ozone exposure. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
ENDIVIDAMENTO AGRÍCOLA: QUÃO COMPROMETIDOS SÃO OS PRODUTORES DO POLO PETROLINA-JUAZEIRO FRENTE SUAS DÍVIDAS?

O presente artigo busca identificar os determinantes da inadimplencia entre os produtores de frutas do Polo Petrolina-Juazeiro. Para tanto, foi utilizado um modelo logit ordenado em funcao do produtor "escolher" se tornar inadimplente, renegociar sua divida ou ser adimplente com os setores publico e privado. Os resultados mostram que os produtores tem cinco vezes mais chances de se tornarem inadimplentes com o setor publico do que com o setor privado. Ha divergencias quanto aos fatores que explicam a inadimplencia frente ao setor publico e frente ao setor privado, o que aprofunda a compreensao do tema em questao.
Factors affecting the induction of secondary dormancy in lettuce.

The relationship between the temperature at which germination of 50% of the seeds is inhibited in the light (GT(50) Light) and secondary dormancy was investigated in three cultivars of Lactuca sativa L. Seeds were incubated for varying periods under non-germinating conditions and subsequent germination in response to red light (R) was determined over a wide range of temperatures. Dark incubation at 32 C reduced the GT(50) Light of cv. New York but did not affect germination at temperatures below 24 C. Dark, 32 C incubation had no effect on the GT(50) Light of cv. Great Lakes. In cv. Grand Rapids, dark incubation at 15, 24, 32, or 35 C initially reduced the GT(50) Light. However, longer incubations induced a secondary dormancy, i.e., the seeds became unable to germinate at all temperatures in response to R given after the high temperature incubation. A single exposure to R at the beginning of a 32 C incubation slowed the induction of secondary dormancy. Repeated exposures to R prevented the induction of secondary dormancy, but did not prevent a decline in the GT(50) Light. GA(3) mimicked the effect of repeated R.The differences in the germination behavior of the three cultivars suggest that there may be qualitative differences in the germination mechanism of these cultivars. This research demonstrates the significance of monitoring germination at a range of temperatures to avoid misinterpretation of the data.