Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fatty acid esters of 3-MCPD: Overview of occurrence and exposure estimates

Many studies and surveys concerning the ocurrence and exposure of free 3-MCPD have been performed in the last 30 years. Although a huge number of food samples, especially fats and oils, were analysed in the last 3 years, no systematic study about ester-bound 3-MCPD and the resulting exposure was performed up to now. In this paper published data of 3-MCPD esters in different foods are reviewed, with a focus on fats and oils and infant formula. Concerning fats and oils, only in refined products significant concentrations of 3-MCPD esters in a range from 0.25-15 mg/kg were present, with the highest levels found in palm oil. In infant formula, levels of ester-linked 3-MCPD were nearly unchanged in three surveys from April 2009 to May 2010, while levels of ester-linked glycidol decreased dramatically in this period. Based on analytical data of more than 200 refined fats and oils, an average daily intake of 1.5 μg 3-MCPD/kg bw/day, respectively, 0.9 μg glycidol/kg bw/day was calculated to result from consumer exposure to ester-bound 3-MCPD and glycidol.
The Influence of Island and Mainland Lakeshore Landscapes on Boreal Forest Fire Regimes

In order to characterize the fire regime of the southern boreal forest and to understand the way in which landscape and fire regime interact, a detailed study of fire history was undertaken in two adjacent contrasting landscapes in northwestern Quebec. The fire history for the islands of Lake Duparquet was reconstructed and compared to that of the surrounding lakeshore. Fire occurrence was determined by archival search and by collection of information from fire scars. Dendroecological techniques were used to deter- mine years of stand initiation on the lakeshore and for a subsample of the islands. Stand initiation data were used to estimate fire frequency, fire cycle, and fire intensity (lethal and non-lethal fires). Tree composition and surficial deposits were sampled in order to assess the possible effect of topography and forest cover on fire frequency. Dated fire scars (n = 273) revealed 82 fire years, with the earliest dated to 1593. Islands experienced more fire years (56) than the lakeshore (37), and fire years were uncorrelated. Most (72%) of the lakeshore stands were initiated by a few large fires (eight), whereas the fire size on islands was variable, ranging from < 10% to 100% of the total surface of the island. Despite these differences in fire regime, fire occurrence and fire frequency decreased concurrently on the islands and the lakeshore starting ; 120 yr ago. The lakeshore fire cycle was 63 yr before 1870 and 99 yr since 1870, whereas the fire cycle on the islands was slightly longer (74 yr and 112 yr) during the same intervals. The long-term decrease in fire frequency of both the lakeshore and the islands was possibly driven by climatic change. Fire frequency was generally similar for all surficial deposits and fuel types on the lakeshore, whereas fires were more abundant in pine woodland growing on bedrock on the islands. Lakeshore fires were generally of lethal intensity, whereas both a long cycle of lethal fires and a shorter cycle of non-lethal fires were observed on 50% of the islands. The morphology and location of islands with both types of fires suggest that a higher frequency of lightning strikes resulted in a regime characterized by more frequent fires and fires of variable intensity. The specific fire regime observed in the island landscape may be the cause of the abundance of pines, whose presence may contribute, in turn, to the continuation of this regime of less intense and more frequent fires. We suggest that fire regime in the boreal forest is controlled by long-term climate change at the regional scale, and by a strong interaction with landscape at the local scale, both components having a great impact on the distribution and the dynamics of boreal vege- tation.
Mood disorders and severe psychosocial impairment characterize adolescent suicidal female outpatients

Among adolescents referred between 1984 and 1989 to an outpatient clinic and followed up 6 years, 50 suicidal females were compared with 72 non-suicidal females, as well as with 37 suicidal surviving males, in terms of individual and treatment-related factors. Referral by health care professional, a history of previous inpatient care and mood disorders were more common among the suicidal females compared with the non-suicidal females. The proportion of those who had attempted suicide was higher among suicidal females than among suicidal surviving males (72% vs. 51%). Severe psychosocial impairment, psychotropic medication and a recommendation for inpatient treatment characterized both suicidal females and males. Psychosocial treatment modalities meeting the specific needs of mood-disordered adolescent female suicidal outpatients need to be developed.
Sleeping difficulties in relation to depression and anxiety in elderly adults

This study examines the prevalence of sleeping difficulties and their relationship to depression and anxiety in 1328 subjects aged 57? 79 years by means of a questionnaire. Difficulties initiating sleep (DIS), difficulties maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakenings (EMA), and nightmares were assessed with The Uppsala Sleep Inventory (USI) and depression and anxiety with The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD scale). A total of 20.4% reported severe sleeping difficulties (DIS, DMS, or EMA), with a female preponderance. On the basis of the HAD scale we found that 3.4% fulfilled the criteria for ''definite depression'' and 10.1% fulfilled the criteria for ''possible depression''. The prevalence of ''definite'' and ''possible pure anxiety'' (anxiety without depression) was 2.7% and 8.1%, respectively. There was no sex difference in reports of depression, but women more often reported pure anxiety. Altogether, 24.3% of the sample had either depression or anxiety. Nightmares were reported by 2.2% of the sample and associated with both depression and anxiety. We found that 39% of respondents with definite depression and 45.2% with definite pure anxiety reported sleeping difficulties. Depression emerged as the variable most consistently associated with sleeping difficulties when depression, pure anxiety, age, and sex were considered simultaneously. Habitual sleeping pill use was reported by 31.1% of the subjects with definite depression, whereas only 24.4% received antidepressive medication. These findings indicate that sleeping difficulties often are associated with psychiatric symptoms, especially depression.
Impaired Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance in first-episode severe depression

An important issue in the practice of clinical neuropsychology is to define the degree to which impaired executive functions associated with severe depression are a result of organic dysfunction or of only current depressive experience, reflecting clinical state. Twenty-eight patients with psychotic depression, 29 with nonpsychotic depression and 30 healthy controls, matched for age and education were tested on WCST, WAIS-R, and the Rorschach according to the Comprehensive System, providing indices of depression (DEPI) and coping deficit (CDI). Patients were impaired in WCST performance. The stepwise regression for WCST scores yielded two significant predictor variables: the DEPI and Digit Symbol as a measure of complex attention and response speed. Within the groups, Picture Completion in patients with nonpsychotic depression and the CDI in patients with psychotic depression emerged as the significant predictors of WCST scores. Patients with severe major depressive disorder have profound executive impairments as assessed by the WCST at early stages of the illness. Intense emotional distress and psychomotor retardation seem to contribute to impaired performance. The depression groups revealed different response patterns, reflecting more severe deterioration and signs of possible organic dysfunction in patients with psychotic depression.
Labile conjugation of a hydrophilic drug to PLA oligomers to modify a drug delivery system: cephradin in a PLAGA matrix

The physical entrapment of a hydrophilic drug within degradable microspheres is generally difficult because of poor entrapment yield and/or fast release, depending on the microsphere fabrication method. In order to counter the effects of drug hydrophilicity, it is proposed to covalently attach the drug to lactic acid oligomers, with the aim of achieving temporary hydrophobization and slower release controlled by the separation of the drug from the degradable link within the polymer matrix. This strategy was tested on microspheres of the antibiotic cephradin. As the prodrug form, the entrapment of the drug was almost quantitative. The prodrug did degrade in an aqueous medium, modelling body fluids, but cleavage did not occur at the drug-oligomer junction and drug molecules bearing two lactyl residual units were released. When the prodrug is entrapped within a PLAGA matrix, no release was observed within the experimental time period. However, data suggest that conjugation via a bond more sensitive to hydrolysis than the main chain PLA ester bonds should make the system work as desired.
PLGA microsphere bioburden evaluation for radiosterilization dose selection

The aim of this study was to determine the bioburden of PLGA microspheres produced by the solvent emulsion/extraction process as a means of determining an appropriate ®-irradiation dose for sterilization. Bioburden was evaluated on the basis of ISO speci®cations. The analysis of initial microbial contamination was performed on blank microspheres, prepared by a non-aseptic laboratory scale process. A mean bioburden of 36.04 CFU (colony forming units)/110 mg microspheres was determined. Most of the detected germs originated from human commensal ̄ora. According to the ISO dose-selection method, a ®-irradiation dose of 19.6 kGy was found su cient to ensure a sterility level of 10¡6. The eŒect of the selected irradiation dose on both the molecular weight of the polymer and the kinetics of 5̄uorouracil drug release from the microspheres was compared to the European Pharmacopeia recommended irradiation dose (25 kGy). This 20% reduced dose showed a lower extent of molecular weight reduction of PLGA and a better control of 5-FU release from microparticles. This can be related to reduce polymer radiation damage.
Lipid phase separation correlates with activation in platelets during chilling

When human platelets are chilled below 22°C, they spontaneously activate, a phenomenon that severely limits their storage life. It has previously been proposed that there is a correlation between cold-induced platelet activation and passage of the membranes through a liquid-crystalline to gel phase transition. Because animal models are essential for developing methods for cold storage of platelets, it is necessary to investigate such a correlation in animal platelets. In this work, horse platelets were used as a model, and it was found thatcoldinduced morphological activation is related to the lipid phase transition. Using fluorescence microscopy with the lipophilic fluorescent dye 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI-C18), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), it was found that lipid phase separation occurs during cooling and low temperature storage. Furthermore, removal of cholesterol from the plasma membrane also induced a phase separation, possibly between specific phospholipid classes. Steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and trimethylammonium-DPH (TMA-DPH) were compared in cells and multilamellar vesicles (MLV)composed of platelet lipids. Cholesterol depletion led to a decrease in the fluorescence anisotropy of the two probes, which can be explained by changes in the order of the phospholipid molecules. In addition, the lipid composition and fatty acid profile of the cellular phospholipids were determined. Based ofthe similarities between horse and human platelets, it is suggested that horse platelets may be used as a model for studying cold-stored platelets. The results are discussed in relation to the possible role of phase separation during cell signalling.
Palynology of South American Podostemaceae: I. Apinagia Tul.

Pollen structure of three species of Apinagia (Podostemaceae) that grow in the Paranean Province, South America, are described. The pollen grains are isopolar, tricolpate, spheroidal to subprolate, with microechinate sculpture. The ornamental processes are of different size. The colpus membrane has similar ornamentation as the non-apertural wall but larger. Ultrastructural studies of the wall demonstrated that the ectexine is composed of a tectum, a granular infratectum formed by cylindrical elements, similar to rounded cords of different diameter and a basal layer. The general morphology and exine ultrastructure are similar to that of other taxa of Podostemaceae ( Marathrum , Mourera , Podostemum , Tristicha ). These are the first palynological descriptions of Apinagia , using transmission electron microscopes (TEM). Pollen quantity per anther is also reported for the first time.
Influence of dietary α‐tocopherol on tocopherol concentrations in chick tissues

Abstract 1. The effect of feeding α‐tocopherol (5 to 180 μg/g diet) for 24 days on the concentrations of α‐tocopherol in various chicken tissues was investigated. 2. Tissue α‐tocopherol concentrations responded to dietary intake in the order: heart =; lung > liver > thigh muscle > brain, and in all cases the relationship between the concentrations of dietary and tissue α‐tocopherol was highly significant (0.997 ≤ r ≤ 1). 3. Plasma α‐tocopherol concentration appears to be a good index (r ≥ 0.910, P< 0.001) of α‐tocopherol status of lung, liver and heart.
Ascophyllum nodosum na dieta de tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)e o efeito dela depois da inoculação com Aeromonas hydrophila

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ascophyllum nodosum brown seaweed meal (FAM) on the health of Nile tilapia submitted to inoculation with Aeromonas hydrophila. The experiment was conducted for a period of 40 days using 120 Nile tilapia fingerlings, with age of 40 days, distributed in 20 tanks. A diet including Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed meal at 20g.kg-1 and a control diet (without FAM) were provided which constituted the treatments. Thirty days after beginning the experiment, A. hydrophila was inoculated by bacterial inoculum diluted in sterile saline solution at a concentration of 106 CFU ml-1. Except for the width, which was greater for the treatment with the provision of FAM (P<0.05), there was no influence on the performance parameters of the fingerlings, but the occurrence of lesions in animals inoculated with A. hydrophila and fed with FAM was lower and they also exhibited a decline in the lesions in a shorter period of time than the control group. FAM prevents hepatopancreatic congestion in infected animals. Ascophyllum nodosum brown seaweed meal reduced the number of lesions in fish in a shorter time when compared to the control group.
The relation of parental practices and self-conceptions to young adolescent problem behaviors and substance use

The object of the present research was to examine the role of parenting practices for young adolescent psychosocial adjustment and self-regulation problems. The sample included 287 sixth- and seventh-grade subjects from intact families. The participants completed a questionnaire that measured variables including family interaction, parental involvement in children's activities, parental support, joint decision-making, and monitoring of children's behavior. Children's involvement with friends, after-school activities, school achievement, and self-reported externalizing behaviors (problem behaviors, cigarette and alcohol use) were also measured. Self-concept domains (scholastic competence, social acceptance, and behavioral conduct) were assessed with Harter's Self-Perception Profile. The findings indicated that self-conceptions of positive behavioral conduct and higher parental monitoring of children's activities were consistently negatively related to young girls' and boys' behavior problems and substance use. Parental monitoring was higher for girls and for younger children. Lower monitoring was also related to children's pattern of after-school activities that were connected to at-risk behavior. Parental involvement and supervision of children's day-to-day activities seem particularly important in socializing children's behavior at the time of early adolescence.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx&An Analysis of Treatment Results in 149 Consecuti v e Patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of primary treatment and treatment of recurrences in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The material included 149 consecutive patients seen at the Aarhus University Hospital from 1963 to 1991 (49 females and 100 males). The stage distribution was: Stage I –9%, II–3%, III–28%, and IV–60%. Primary treatment was delivered with curative intent in 145 patients (97%). Persistent or recurrent disease after primary radical treatment was observed in 82 of the patients; 54% at the T-level, 40% at the N-level, and 33% at the M-level. A curative salvage attempt was carried out in 14 patients only, all with nodal recurrence: surgery in 8 patients (4 controlled) and radiotherapy in 6 patients (2 controlled). The 5-year local tumour control, locoregional tumour control, disease-specific survival rate and the overall survival rate for the patients treated with curative intent were 66%, 53%, 50% and 43%, respectively. Most of the patients (88%) had poorly differentiated tumours and these patients had the best prognosis. A major complication in three patients was radiation-induced myelopathy due to high-dose radiation delivered to the brain stem. Significant positive prognostic factors for treatment outcome in univariate analyses were early T-classification, small clinical stage, poor differentiation and low age. The Cox multivariate analysis showed that early T-categories, low N-categories and poor differentiation were independent, positive prognostic factors. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is curable with primary radiotherapy; patients with poorly differentiated tumours have the best prognosis. Only a few patients were salvaged after recurrence. The factor most essential for success is primary control of the disease at the T- and N-levels.
A comparative analysis of acute toxicity of chromium, copper and cadmium to daphnia magna, biomphalaria glabrata, and brachydanio rerio

Abstract Acute toxicity of Cr6+ , Cu2+ and Cd2+to Daphnia magna, Biomphalaria glabrata and Brachydanio rerio was evaluated. Copper resulted the most toxic element to the three animals and D. magna the most sensitive organism. The wide spectrum of the responses obtained was examined to permit the development of hypothesis about the environmental effects of the tested metals.
Effect of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) on cytokine production and the viability of murine peritoneal macrophages

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effects of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) on murine peritoneal macrophages. Immunomodulatory effects of SLN composed of either a lipid(glycerol-behenate) or a wax (cetylpalmitate) matrix stabilized by the surfactant Poloxamer 188 were analysed by detection of proinflammatory and downregulatory cytokines in supernatants of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytotoxicity of SLN was assessed using the MTT test. Incubation of macrophages with either SLN at low concentrations did not increase production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. At higher SLN concentrations, a concentration-dependent decrease in IL-6 secretion was observed compared to background production of IL-6 by untreated macrophages. IL-12 and TNF-alpha production was neither detected in supernatants of macrophages treated with SLN at any concentration nor in those of untreated cells. The decrease in IL-6 secretion was paralleled by concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of SLN on these cells. In contrast, incubation with polystyrene reference particles neither resulted in decreased IL-6 production nor in a loss of viability. SLN-treated macrophages were found to up-regulate their cytokine production following stimulation with Pansorbin, despite the concentration-dependent cytotoxicity induced by SLN. Down-regulatory effects on SLN-treated macrophages by IL-10 were not observed. In conclusion, incubation of SLN with murine peritoneal macrophages did not induce the production of proinflammatory and down-regulatory cytokines. At high concentrations of SLN, cytotoxic effects on these cells were observed. Cytotoxicity appears to be the main cause of decreased cytokine production by these cells.
Histologic Grading in Breast Cancer: Reproducibility Between Seven Pathologic Departments

Histologic grade, including tubular formations, nuclear grade, and mitotic activity, is a well-documented prognostic factor in breast cancer. In comparison with other prognostic parameters, the evaluation of histologic grade is cheap and can be performed, in principle, in all cases of breast cancer. One possible disadvantage is that the evaluation may vary between different pathological departments. The aim of the present work was therefore to study the reproducibility of the histologic grading system by distributing haematoxylin-erythrosin-stained slides from 93 invasive breast cancers to the seven pathology departments within the southern healthcare region of Sweden. The evaluation was performed blindly and without any knowledge of other clinical parameters. In 31% of the cases the same histologic grade was obtained for all departments. The overall mean kappa was 0.54, indicating a moderate reproducibility. Of the three factors included in histologic grade, the agreement was best for tubular formations and poorest for nuclear grade and mitotic activity. The overall moderate reproducibility should be considered when the clinical usefulness of histologic grading is compared with other prognostic instruments.
Can kinetic analysis be a tool for evaluating pore characteristics?

As the pore morphology influences drug release, the purpose is to study pore characteristics by comparing bead performances. Casein/gelatin beads have been prepared by the emulsification extraction method, cross-linked with D, Lglyceraldehyde in acetone:water mixture 3:1 (v/v) and loaded with sodium fluorescein as a model drug. The beads with higher casein percentage have a higher matrix porosity, a wider average pore diameter and a higher crosslinking degree. The higher casein percentage causes a lower drug release rate. The kinetic analysis shows that the drug release occurs by diffusion and that the diffusion coefficient is affected by the casein percentage and the cross-linking degree. It can be hypothesized that the pore and channel morphology (tortuosity), due to the casein percentage in the matrix and the cross-linking treatment, can be evaluated by kinetic analysis of the release data.