Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement of Cyclic GMP in Nitric-Oxide-induced Gastric Relaxation: Comparison of the Actions of Cyclic GMP and Cyclic AMP

Background: Smooth muscle relaxation induced by various agents that increase the cellular levels of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) is accompanied by a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. However, little is known about the differences between the inhibitory effects of cAMP and cGMP on the contraction of smooth muscle. Objective: To compare the effects and underlying mechanisms of cAMP and cGMP on the inhibition of gastric smooth muscle contraction, cyclic nucleotide promoting agents, as well as cell membrane permeable cyclic nucleotides were used. Methods: Isometric contraction was measured from circular muscle strips prepared from the fundus of cat stomach in a cylinder-shaped chamber filled with Krebs-Ringer solution (pH 7.4, temperature 36°C) bubbled with 5% CO2 in O2. The level of inositol phosphates (IPs) was measured. Results: Forskolin and sodium nitroprusside significantly inhibited acetylcholine (ACh)-induced gastric smooth muscle contraction and increased the cellular levels of cAMP and cGMP, respectively. Direct application of 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP also significantly inhibited ACh-induced contraction. Both verapamil and TMB-8 inhibited ACh-induced contraction. The combined inhibitory effect of verapamil and TMB-8 was significantly greater than the effect of either one, separately. Forskolin or sodium nitroprusside similarly augmented the effect of verapamil. However, the inhibitory effect of TMB-8 was augmented only by 8-Br-cGMP or sodium nitroprusside but not by 8-BrcAMP or forskolin. Forskolin and 8-Br-cAMP significantly inhibited the formation of inositol phosphates stimulated by ACh. Conclusions: cAMP inhibits the contraction mechanism associated with intracellular Ca2+ mobilization as well as extracellular Ca2+ influx, while cGMP inhibits contraction by inhibiting the mechanism associated with extracellular Ca2+ influx.
How men and women in recovery give meaning to severe mental illness

Background: An important factor facilitating recovery from mental illness is the creation of new meaning out of the illness experience. Aims: This study explores such meaning-making with reference to severe mental illness, and how this new meaning facilitates recovery. Methods: Through 30 in-depth interviews, we explored mens' and womens' meaning-making regarding mental illness using grounded theory analysis. Results: Throughout the process of making-meaning, the percieved reason for the illness emerged as the core category. However, the reasons differed both between and within the male and female groups. Four response patterns were found when analysing the material, and three of the four groups restructured the meaning of their illness more favourably, helping to redirect life towards authenticity. Conclusions: The results underline the need for further research into recovery achievements connected to meaning-making and changes in attitudes towards illness. One area to be researched is meaning-making in which gender is reconsidered in relation to the individual's capacity and life situation.
Ten years in the life of a community mental health team: The impact of the care programme approach in the UK

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in the operation of a community mental health service five years after the implementation of the Care Programme Approach. Method: We undertook cross-sectional surveys in 1992, before the introductions of the CPA, and in 1998, to describe the case mix and service provided. The service is entirely community-based and attempts to reduce the use of in-patient facilities by early intervention, assertive outreach and partial hospitalisation. Results: The number of patients in contact with the service increased from 293 to 334 with an increased proportion with severe mental disorder (psychotic and mood disorders) but hospitalisation did not increase. Full multidisciplinary CPA was used for patients with severe disorders and low levels of functioning. Conclusion: Introduction of clinical case management through the care programme approach was associated with an increasing focus on patients with the most severe disorders.
Long-Term Follow-up after the First Episode of Acute Alcoholic Pancreatitis: Time Course and Risk Factors for Recurrence

Background: Owing to the current lack of long-term follow-up data on the recurrence of alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis (AP), we studied the pattern of recurrence and determined the characteristics of the disease to predict the recurrence. Methods: Between 1972 and 1991, 2678 AP episodes were detected; 1555 were induced by alcohol, and 591 of them were the first episode. During the first alcohol-induced AP 29 patients died and were excluded from further analysis. Of the 562 included, 503 were men, and 59 women. Admission serum tests, severity index, development of complications, intensive care unit and hospital stay, and need for surgery were assessed. Case records were studied. The national database was used to detect admissions to other hospitals. Results: Overall, 260 (46%) developed recurrent disease. Of the first relapses, 80% developed during 4 years. The recurrence rate has not changed with time. Age less than 45 years increased the risk (odds ratio (OR) = 2.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30-4.50). The risk factors of the first alcohol-induced AP associated with the development of multi-recurring pancreatitis are age <45 years (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.59-13.0), 0-2 positive Glasgow criteria (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.16-5.19), and arterial oxygen tension >60 mmHg (OR, 9.90; 95% CI, 1.32-74.3). Conclusions: Fewer than half of the patients develop recurrent alcohol-induced AP. Younger patients are at the highest risk of recurrence. Those whose first alcohol-induced pancreatitis episode was not severe are at a higher risk of developing multi-recurring pancreatitis.
Improved Gastric Emptying Rate in Humans of a Unique Glucose Polymer with Gel-forming Properties

Background: The energy density of a nutrient drink is one of the main factors that affect the gastric emptying of the solution, while osmolality and viscosity are thought to have only a minimal influence. Method: The rate of gastric emptying of two isoenergetic carbohydrate solutions with different osmolality and viscosity was determined using a double sampling gastric aspiration technique. Six healthy male subjects were studied on two occasions using approximately 550 ml of a solution containing 13.5% of carbohydrate either in the form of a mixture of monomeric glucose and short chain glucose oligomers (G-drink) or of long chain glucose polymers composed of 78% amylopectin and 22% amylose (C-drink). Result: The half emptying time (t 1/2, median and range) for the viscous, markedly hypotonic (62 mosmol/kg) C-drink was faster (17.0 (6.2-31.4) min) than for the moderately hypertonic (336 mosmol/kg) G-drink (32.6 (25.2-40.7) min). The amount (median and range) of carbohydrate delivered to the small intestine was greater during the first 10 min after ingestion of C-drink (31.8 (15.8-55.9) g) than after ingestion of G-drink (14.3 (6.8-22.2) g). However, there was no difference in the blood glucose (P = 0.73) or serum insulin (P = 0.38) concentration at any time point after ingestion of the two test drinks. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the carbohydrate present in C-drink, although it has the propensity to form a gel, empties from the stomach faster than that of an isoenergetic carbohydrate solution (G-drink) without potentiating increased circulating blood glucose or insulin levels.
Induction of Chemokine and Cytokine Responses by Helicobacter pylori in Human Stomach Explants

Background: The cytokine response during the acute phase of Helicobacter pylori infection in humans has not been studied. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the early cytokine responses against H. pylori using cultured human stomach explants as a model of acute infection. Methods: Gastric corpus tissue obtained from 13 adult uninfected and 3 H. pylori-infected patients undergoing gastric surgery due to obesity was used for preparation of mucosal explants. The cultured explants were exposed to different H. pylori
A Survey of Methods for Computing (un)Stable Manifolds of Vector Fields

The computation of global invariant manifolds has seen renewed interest in recent years. We survey different approaches for computing a global stable or unstable manifold of a vector field, where we concentrate on the case of a two-dimensional manifold. All methods are illustrated with the same example — the two-dimensional stable manifold of the origin in the Lorenz system.
Ergot resistance in sorghum in relation to flowering, inoculation technique and disease development

Ergot is an important disease of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in parts of Africa and Asia. Studies were conducted to determine the relationship between flowering biology and ergot infection, and to develop an artificial field-screening technique to identify ergot resistance in sorghum. Spikelets resisted infection after anthesis, but each day's delay in anthesis after inoculation supported 8-3% more ergot. The screening technique consisted of three components: trimming of panicles to remove pollinated spikelets before inoculation, a single inoculation of trimmed panicles, and panicle bagging for 7-10 days. Inoculated panicles were evaluated by a qualitative visual rating method (on a 1-5 scale) and a quantitative spikelet counting method. Selected accessions from the world collection of sorghum germplasm were screened at Karama Research Station, Rwanda, for two seasons and 12 ergot-resistant lines were identified. These were also resistant at ICRISAT Centre, India.
Nestling Behavior and Parental Care of the Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus) in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract We recorded and quantified the nocturnal activity and parental care of a brooding Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus) using an infrared camera in southeastern Brazil. Parents alternated care of the nestling and decreased their presence as the nestling grew. Nestling feeding on passing insects while sitting on the nest, movements on the nest, wing exercising, preening, and defecating were recorded primarily while it was alone. The frequency of begging calls per hour was higher when the nestling was accompanied by one of the parents. Nocturnal recordings of this species on the nest revealed behaviors that were not cited in past studies, including: feedings bouts on passing flies performed by the nestling and adults, nestling defecation, and nestling plumage maintenance. The well-known plus newly quantified behaviors of the Common Potoo reinforce their value to survival during the long nestling period.
Hemostatic Side Effects of High-Dose Methotrexate in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hemostatic side effects of HDMTX. Between 2001 and 2002, 20 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the Dr. Sami Ulus Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, treated according to the St. Jude ALL XIII protocol were eligible to this study. Methotrexate at a dose of 2 g/m2was infused over 24 hours. Coagulation screening studies included prothrombin time (PT), APTT, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation product (D-Dimer), factor II, factor V, factor VII, factor VIII, factor IX, factor X, PC, PS, AT-III determinations before HDMTX therapy (PreT), 1 day after (PostT1D), and 1 week after (PostT1W) the end of the HDMTX infusion. We found that PT and APTT were prolonged, PC, PS, and AT-III levels were decreased with a slight increase in D-Dimer 1 day after the administration of HDMTX and all of them returned to the normal levels by 7 days. In addition we found that FVII, FIX, FX were significantly decreased 1 day after therapy and normalised by 7 days.
Effect of Beta-adrenergic Blockade on Elevated Arterial Compliance and Low Systemic Vascular Resistance in Cirrhosis

Background: Patients with cirrhosis exhibit a characteristic hyperdynamic circulation with increased cardiac output and heart rate and reduced systemic vascular resistance. The compliance of the arterial tree has recently been reported to be increased in these patients, who are often treated with beta-blockers, but the effect of this treatment on arterial compliance has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the effects of propranolol on the arterial compliance of patients with cirrhosis. Methods: Twenty patients with cirrhosis underwent a haemodynamic investigation with determination of splanchnic and systemic haemodynamics. Arterial compliance was determined as the ratio of the stroke volume to the pulse pressure and compared to normal values. Results: All the patients had significant portal hypertension, with a mean hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) of 17.8 mmHg, and responded to beta-blocker treatment with a significant reduction in the HVPG (-16%; P < 0.001). Arterial compliance was elevated (1.27 versus controls 1.01 ml/mmHg; P
Covariation among demographic and climate parameters in whiskered auklets Aethia pygmaea

Annual survival rate and other demographic parameters of whiskered auklets Aethia pygmaea, a small planktivorous seabird, were measured at Buldir Island Alaska during 1992–2003 to provide comparative information for auk life history studies and to test for links among climate, age, productivity and survival. Using two 9 m mistnets, we captured and recaptured 384 adult and 193 sub-adult (one year old, a known-age component of our sample) birds as they arrived at the colony after dark during May and June (1,730 capture events). The best fitting model indicated a lower initial survival rate over the first year following marking (0.708±0.036 SE), and subsequent survival (mean 0.835±0.029) covarying with the Aleutian Low Pressure climate Index, with higher auklet survival in years with weak low pressure over the Aleutian Islands. Annual survival rate varied from 0.726±0.127 in 1998–99 to 0.994±0.077 in 1994–95, rates similar to those previously reported for least A. pusilla and crested auklets A. cristatella. A model based only on recaptures of known-age birds indicated a lower local survival estimate over the first year following marking (age one to two years), with no other age-effects on survival. Breeding propensity by age inferred from recaptures of birds with fully-developed brood patches that were originally marked as sub-adults (one year olds) indicated 53% breeding at age two, 94% breeding at age 3, 97% breeding at age 4 and 100% breeding thereafter. The sex ratio of the sampled birds was significantly male biased (60/40), likely due to differences in behaviour between males and females during the incubation stage. Taken together, our data indicate that whiskered auklet survival and productivity covaried with continuous variation in large-scale climatic conditions, the mechanism being either negative effects of stormy North Pacific weather or indirect effects on food supplies.
Prey Influence on the Laboratory Mass Rearing of Rhinocoris kumarii Ambrose & Livingstone, a Potential Biological Control Agent (Insecta, Heteroptera, Reduviidae)

The relative importance of 6 different types of preys, viz., 1. Chrotogonus sp. 2. Musca domestica, 3. Bruchus theobromae, 4. Odontotermes obesus, 5. Camponotus compressus and 6. the mixture of above said five preys in the laboratory mass rearing of R. kumarii, a biological control agent, is assessed. Taking into consideration the development, fecundity and hatchability, B. theobromae is found to be the most suitable prey among all the test preys. The shortest stadial period is recorded for the nymphal instars fed with O. obesus and the longest stadial period is recorded for the nymphal instars fed with B. theobromae. The highest nymphal mortality is observed among the individuals fed with M. domestica and the lowest among the individuals fed with O. obesus. The adults emerged from the nymphal instars fed with Chrotogonus sp. , B. theobromae, C. compressus and the mixture of preys are of male biased, whereas the adults emerged from the nymphal instars fed with M. domestica and O. obesus are of female biased. The longest adult longevity is observed among the individuals fed with B. theobromae and the lowest among the individuals fed with O. obesus. The shortest preoviposition period is observed among the individuals fed with B. theobromae and the longest preoviposition period is observed among the individuals fed with the mixture of preys. Regarding the fecundity, the highest fecundity is observed among the females fed with B. theobromae. The shortest incubation period is observed among the females fed with the mixture of preys. Maximum number of nymphs hatch from the eggs laid by the individuals reared on B. theobromae. B. theobromae, a pest of pulses, is found to be the most suitable prey for the laboratory mass rearing for the conservation and augmentation of R. kumarii.
Fatty acid profile of coconut oil in relation to nut maturity and season in selected cultivars/hybrids

Purpose – The objective of this work is to study the fatty acid profile of coconut oil in the kernel in relation to maturity of the nut and season of fertilization in five selected varieties of coconut.Design/methodology/approach – The coconut oil from the popular cultivars/hybrids were studied in post‐monsoon, pre‐monsoon and monsoon seasons at 7, 8, 10 and 12 months after fertilization.Findings – Nuts that fertilized in the post monsoon season were found to have higher oil contents. Of the five varieties, COD×WCT had lesser amounts of caprylic, capric and lauric acids and greater amounts of the long chain fatty acids. Though significant differences were observed in fatty acid concentrations in nuts differing in their variety and season of tagging, the trend remained the same.Originality/value – The study helps to ensure the safety of the usage of coconut oil as dietary oil, from the nature of fatty acids present.
Survival and Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis in Funen County Diagnosed between 1973 and 1993

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the death rate and the risk of developing colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis in Funen County. Methods: The medical records of 801 patients with ulcerative colitis diagnosed in 1973-93 in Funen County were scrutinized with regard to colectomy, survival, and colorectal cancer, and in 1998 a follow-up was carried out. Results: The patients were managed at nine different hospitals: one university hospital, one central hospital, and seven smaller hospitals. The mean age at diagnosis was 41 years, and the mean duration of disease was 10.11 years. Sixty-one per cent of the patients were classified as having proctosigmoiditis, 21% as having left-sided colitis, and 18% as having pancolitis. In 127 patients who underwent proctocolectomy during the study period lethal complications occurred in 8 cases: 5 of 110 in Odense University hospital and 3 of 17 in the other hospitals. One hundred and twenty patients in the cohort died during the period of observation, nine of them of colitis-related causes. There was a slightly increased risk of early death in the cohort after 15 years of disease. Six colorectal cancers were found, whereas four were expected, giving a standard incidence ratio of 1.665. The cumulative cancer risk after 20 years' disease duration was 5.3% in the observed group, contrasting with an expected rate of 0.49%, and 10.1% after 25 years. Conclusion: In this cohort of ulcerative colitis patients the mortality and the risk of developing colorectal cancer were slightly higher than expected compared with the background population.
Seed production and longevity, seasonal emergence and phenology of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.).

Experiments conducted from 1977 to 1979, at Rutherglen, north-eastern Victoria, investigated seed production, seed longevity, seasonal emergence and phenological development in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.), a weed of field crops. Seed production of wild radish reached 17 275 seeds/m2; seeds retained viability and germinated over a period of three years. The loss of viability was faster at the soil surface or at 1 cm depth than at 5 or 10 cm. Of 1000 wild radish seeds buried at 1 cm depth, 737 emerged after three years, compared with 367, 167 and 5 at 0.5 and 10 cm, respectively. Phenological development of wild radish was affected by time of planting, and the duration of the period from plant emergence to plant senescence ranged from 5 to 10 months. Temperature appeared to influence development up to flowering, but photoperiod affected the length of flowering. Plants emerging at any time during the year were able to flower and seed successfully. The implications of these findings for control programs are discussed.
Interactive effects of increased pCO2, temperature and irradiance on the marine coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (Prymnesiophyceae)

We examined the effects of increased temperature, pCO2, and irradiance on a calcifying strain of the marine coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi in semi-continuous laboratory cultures. Emiliania huxleyi CCMP 371 was cultured in four temperature and pCO2 treatments at both low and high irradiance (50 and 400 µmol photons m−2 s−1): (i) 20°C and 375 ppm CO2 (ambient control); (ii) 20°C and 750 ppm CO2 (high pCO2); (iii) 24°C and 375 ppm CO2 (high temperature); and (iv) 24°C and 750 ppm CO2 (‘greenhouse’). The growth of E. huxleyi was greatly accelerated by elevated temperature at low irradiance. Photosynthesis was significantly promoted by increases in both pCO2 and temperature at both irradiances. Higher cellular C/P ratios were found in the higher CO2 treatments at high irradiance, indicating a reduced requirement for P. The PIC/POC (particulate inorganic to organic carbon) ratio remained constant at low light, regardless of CO2 or temperature conditions. However, both the cellular PIC content and PIC/POC ratio were greatly decreased by elevated irradiance, and were further decreased by increased pCO2 only at high light, indicating a combined effect of CO2 and light on calcification. These results suggest that future trends of CO2 enrichment, sea-surface warming and exposure to higher mean irradiances from intensified stratification will have a large influence on the growth of Emiliania huxleyi, and potentially on the PIC/POC ‘rain ratio’. Our study demonstrates that it is possible to obtain a more complete picture of global change impacts on marine phytoplankton by designing experiments that consider multiple global change variables and their mutual interactions.
Étude du parasitisme des simulies (Diptera, Simuliidae) par des Mermithidae (Nematoda) en Afrique de l'Ouest : description de deux nouvelles espèces de Gastromermis

From material collected by R. Le Berre in 1972 and by J. J. Petersen and B. Mondet in 1975, two new species of Mermithidae are described from blackfly larvae, including Simulium damnosum s.l. , for the first time in West Africa. These species, Gastromermis philipponi n.sp. and Gastromermis leberrei n.sp. possess a rudimentary excretory gland and the preparasitic larvae of the former contain a characteristic caudal appendage which is lost during penetration into the simuliid larvae. Therefore, these two species are the only ones of Gastromermis known to have six longitudinal cords.