Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prophylactic Effect of Aqueous and Methanolic extracts of Andrographis Paniculata on Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei infected mice

The prospect of immunization against the African trypanosomiasis appears remote due to it phenomenal antigenic variation. It is therefore necessary to search for new and more potent anti-trypanosomal compounds of natural origin to complement the existing synthetic anti-trypanosomal drugs that are gradually becoming less potent against the pathogenic trypanosomes. Andropgraphis paniculata ; a medicinal plant in Asian has been tested in-vitro to has anti-trypanosomal activity. This study aimed at evaluating the prophylactic activity of aqueous and methanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice.Thirty six (36) male swiss mice of average weight 25g were group into six (6) groups of six (6) animals each. Group (A-D) were orally administered 5000mg/Kg of methanolic leaf, methanolic stem, aqueous leaf and aqueous stem extract of A. paniculata respectively while group E (infected) and F were the positive control and negative control group respectively. Animals were inoculated with 10 2 trypanosomes intraperitoneally after 10 days of extracts administration. The parasite growth, survival rate, rectal temperature, body weight, PCV and white blood cell differential count were monitored.High parasitic replication was observed in positive control group with 100% mortality on 10 th day post infection. Some treated mice survived beyond 17 days post infection with no appearance of parasite. Treatment with aqueous leaf extract has the highest survival rate (67%) and aqueous stem extract has the least rate (33%). The rectal temperature showed no significant difference (P<0.05) in all treated group when compared with negative control. Mean body weight of group A and D showed no significant difference (P<0.05) compared to negative control group while group B, C and positive control showed significant difference. Treated mice maintained stable PCV but there was reduction in negative control. Negative control group revealed increase in lymphocyte and monocyte count compared with positive control. No significant difference in monocyte and neutrophil count in the treated groups when compared with positive control (P<0.05). A. paniculata leaf and stem contain bioactive components that exhibited trypanocidal activity. The active principles can be isolated for the development of cheap, safe and effective drugs for the treatment and management of African trypanosomiasis.
NDT_A_283016 11..18

1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, 545006, People’s Republic of China Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore association of serum dystroglycan (DG), matrix metalloproteinase-2/matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-2/9), and aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) expression and haematoma expansion in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), which are proteins involved in maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Methods: We included patients older than 18 years old with ICH who had undergone baseline CT within 6 hours after intracerebral haemorrhage symptom onset in our hospital between April 2018 and December 2018. Two readers independently assessed haematoma volume and other imaging information upon admission and again within 24 hours. All patients underwent 5 mL of venous blood collection 6 and 24 hours after admission. Serum expression levels of dystroglycan, matrix metalloproteinase-2/matrix metalloproteinase-9 and aquaporin-4 were determined by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Repeated analysis of variance was used to determine whether expression of the four proteins in patients with cerebral haemorrhage changed within 24 hours and whether there were differences between the haematoma enlargement and non-haematoma enlargement groups over time. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to compare the correlation among expression of the four proteins, clinical characteristics of patients and haematoma enlargement. Results: Expression levels of serum matrix metalloproteinase-2/matrix metalloproteinases-9 and aquaporin-4 gradually increased within 24 hours in patients with cerebral haemorrhage (P<0.001), while expression levels of dystroglycan gradually decreased (P<0.01). Expression of serum matrix metalloproteinases-9 6 hours after onset was independently correlated with the expansion of cerebral haemorrhage. The ROC curve (AUC=0.778, 95% Cl: 0.661–0.894, P<0.001) exhibited high sensitivity (0.900) and low specificity (0.642). Conclusion: These data support that expression of MMP-9 in peripheral blood is independently correlated with the enlargement of haematoma in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage 6 hours after onset and can be used as an independent predictor of haematoma enlargement in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. However, although the expression of MMP-2, AQP-4 and DG exhibited some changes within 6 and 24 hours after onset, they were not independently correlated with early haematoma enlargement in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. Further multi-time point exploration and expansion of the sample size is necessary in future studies.
The massive black hole-velocity dispersion relation and the halo baryon fraction: a case for positive AGN feedback

Force balance considerations put a limit on the rate of AGN radiation momentum output, L/c , capable of driving galactic superwinds and reproducing the observed M BH − σ relation between black hole mass and spheroid velocity dispersion. We show that black holes cannot supply enough momentum in radiation to drive the gas out by pressure alone. Energy-driven winds give a M BH − σ scaling favoured by a recent analysis but also fall short energetically once cooling is incorporated. We propose that outﬂow-triggering of star formation by enhancing the intercloud medium turbulent pressure and squeezing clouds can supply the necessary boost, and suggest possible tests of this hypothesis. Our hypothesis simultaneously can account for the observed halo baryon fraction.
p-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 nanocomposites with enhanced figure of merit

We report enhanced figure of merit, ZT, in p-type Bi0.4Sb1. 6Te3 nanocomposites fabricated by a rapid and high throughput method of mixing nanostructured Bi0.4Sb1. 6Te3 particles obtained through melt spinning with micronsized particles obtained via solid state reaction. Due to effective scattering of phonons over a wide wavelength spectrum, low thermal conductivity, and moderately good power factor were obtained in the nanocomposites to achieve ZT above 1.5 at room temperature. A maximum ZT of 1.80 was attained at 43 °C for the nanocomposite consisting 40 wt % nanoinclusions. This was a 56% increment over the bulk sample, and the highest ZT reported for Bi2Te3-based materials.
Quantiﬁcation of Amikacin in Bronchial Epithelial Lining Fluid in Neonates (cid:1)

Amikacin efﬁcacy is based on peak concentrations and the possibility of reaching therapeutic levels at the infection site. This study aimed to describe amikacin concentrations in the epithelial lining ﬂuid (ELF) through bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in newborns. BAL ﬂuid was collected in ventilated neonates treated with intravenous (i.v.) amikacin. Clinical characteristics, amikacin therapeutic drug monitoring serum concentrations, and the concentrations of urea in plasma were extracted from the individual patient ﬁles. Amikacin and urea BAL ﬂuid concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography with pulsed electrochemical detection (LC-PED) and capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE-C 4 D), respectively. ELF amikacin concentrations were converted from BAL ﬂuid concentrations through quantiﬁcation of dilution (urea in plasma/urea in BAL ﬂuid) during the BAL procedure. Twenty-two obser- vations in 17 neonates (postmenstrual age, 31.9 [range, 25.1 to 41] weeks; postnatal age, 3.5 [range, 2 to 37] days) were collected. Median trough and peak amikacin serum concentrations were 2.1 (range, 1 to 7.1) mg/liter and 39.1 (range, 24.1 to 73.2) mg/liter; the median urea plasma concentration was 30 (8 to 90) mg/dl. The median amikacin concentration in ELF was 6.5 mg/liter, the minimum measured concentration was 1.5 mg/liter, and the maximum (peak) was 23 mg/liter. The highest measured ELF concentration was reached between 6 and 14.5 h after i.v. amikacin administration, and an estimated terminal elimination half-life was 8 to 10 h. The median and highest (peak) ELF amikacin concentrations observed in our study population were, respectively, 6.5 and 23 mg/liter. Despite the frequent use of amikacin in neonatal (pulmonary) infections, this is the ﬁrst report of amikacin quantiﬁcation in ELF in newborns. D). The experiments were performed on a P/ACE MDQ capillary electrophoresis instrument (Beckman Coulter, Inc., Fullerton, CA), coupled with an eDAQ C 4 D system (eDAQ, Denistone East, Australia). The eDAQ C 4 D detector was employed at a peak-to-peak amplitude of 100 V, and the frequency was 1,200 kHz. This method provided conditions without inter- ference of matrix components and the recovery was found to be 97.9% and 99.3% for BAL ﬂuid spiked with urea at concentrations of 1.8 mg/liter and 7.2 mg/liter, respectively. For the CE-C 4 D method, the intraday precision is 0.7% ( n (cid:5) 6), and the interday precision is 1.4% ( n (cid:5) 18, representing 3 days with six analyses/day).
CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINK INDUCES OXIDATIVE STRESS, LIPID PEROXIDATION AND MILD DISTORTION OF CELLS IN THE RENAL CORTEX OF ADULT WISTAR RATS

Over the years, there has been an alarming increase in the production of different brands of caffeinated energy drink (ED) with different flavours that attracts the consumers with the aim of providing energy boost in their day to day activities. This study was conducted to effect of low and high doses ED on the renal histology system. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats weighing 150-200 g were divided into five (5) experimental groups; Groups A: control, B treated with 2 ml ED, C treated with 2 ml energy drink and discontinued for 7 days, D treated with 4 ml ED, and E was treated with 4 ml energy drink and discontinued for 7 days. Histological analysis using haematoxylin and eosin, and PAS was conducted to ascertain the histoarchitectural integrity of the renal tissue. It was deduced from the study that caffeinated ED caused a significant increase in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level as compared with the control while MDA (malondialdehyde) serum activity increased as compared with control and withdrawal groups; increased in Bowman’s space, space, decreases the inner epithelial layer of the glomerulus as well as the epithelium of the proximal convoluted tubule. It was shown that ED consumption for a long time could affect the kidney by inducing oxidative stress and altering the histoarchitecture of the renal tissue. However, discontinuation of ED for 7 days shows positive potential of restoring the integrity of the renal cortex.
University of Birmingham Architecture and roles of periplasmic adaptor proteins in tripartite eux assemblies

Recent years have seen major advances in the structural understanding of the different components of tripartite efﬂux assemblies, which encompass the multidrug efﬂux (MDR) pumps and type I secretion systems. The majority of these investigations have focused on the role played by the inner membrane transporters and the outer membrane factor (OMF), leaving the third component of the system – the Periplasmic Adaptor Proteins (PAPs) – relatively understudied. Here we review the current state of knowledge of these versatile proteins which, far from being passive linkers between the OMF and the transporter, emerge as active architects of tripartite assemblies, and play diverse roles in the transport process. Recognition between the PAPs and OMFs is essential for pump assembly and function, and targeting this interaction may provide a novel avenue for combating multidrug resistance. With the recent advances elucidating the drug efﬂux and energetics of the tripartite assemblies, the understanding of the interaction between the OMFs and PAPs is the last piece remaining in the complete structure of the tripartite pump assembly puzzle.
REVIEW Cascading community and ecosystem consequences of introduced coconut palms ( Cocos nucifera ) in tropical islands 1

: Biological invasions are a pervasive and dominant form of anthropogenic disturbance. However, we seldom have the opportunity to evaluate the long-term, indirect, and often slow-moving cascading effects of invasions at the community and ecosystem scale. Here we synthesize the collective knowledge from 10 years of study on the inﬂuence of the deep historical introduction of coconut palms ( Cocos nucifera L.) across a series of islets at Palmyra Atoll. Through a suite of pathways, we ﬁnd this palm drives near-complete ecosystem state change when it becomes dominant. Abiotic conditions are transformed, with major soil nutrients 2.7–11.5 times lower and water stress 15% elevated in palm-dominated forests compared with native forest. Faunal communities are likewise dramatically altered, not only in composition but also in behavior, body size, and body condition. Biotic interactions, including herbivory rates, palatability, and seed predation, are likewise changed. Cumulatively, these changes transform food webs, leading to dramatically shortened and simpliﬁed food chains in invaded ecosystems. Many of these changes appear to create slow-acting feedback loops that favor the palm at the expense of native species. Given the widespread nature of this historical introduction, many island and coastal regions of tropical oceans may be similarly trans- formed. nucifera L. ) sur une série d’îlots dans l’atoll Palmyra. Nous constatons que, par l’entremise d’un ensemble de voies, cet arbre entraîne un changement presque complet de l’état de l’écosystème quand il devient dominant. Les conditions abiotiques sont transformées, les concentrations des principaux élé- ments nutritifs du sol étant de 2,7 a` 11,5 fois plus faibles et le stress hydrique était 15 % plus grand dans les forêts dominées par les cocotiers que dans les forêts naturelles. Les communautés fauniques sont aussi considérablement modiﬁées, non seulement sur le plan de la composition, mais également du comportement, de la taille du corps et de l’embonpoint. Les interactions biotiques, y compris les taux d’herbivorie, la palatabilité et la granivorie, sont également modiﬁées. Combinés, ces changements transforment les réseaux trophiques, produisant des chaînes alimentaires considérablement raccourcies et simpliﬁées dans les écosystèmesenvahis. Bonnombredeceschangementssemblentcréerdesbouclesderétroactionlentesquifavorisent lecocotier au détriment d’espèces indigènes. Étant donné le caractère répandu de cette introduction historique, de nombreuses régions insulaires et côtières des océans tropicaux pourraient être transformées de manière semblable. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés: espèceenvahissante,espèceintroduite,introductionshistoriques,cascadesécologiques,processusascendants,présage écologique, apports spatiaux, Cocos nucifera .
A transport theory of millimeter wave propagation in woods and forests

Abstract : A theory of mm wave propagation in woods and forests is presented which models the vegetation environment as a statistically homogeneous random medium of scatterers characterized by a scatter function (phase function) with a narrow forward lobe and an omnidirectional background. The model describes the medium in terms of four overall theoretical parameters whose numerical values can be determined in principle by comparison of analytical results and experimental data. The scalar transport theory is used to determine the coherent and incoherent field intensities in the forest medium; the problem solved is that of a vegetation halfspace illuminated by a plane wave. Formulas and graphs are presented on the range dependence of the coherent and incoherent intensities, and on the angular spectrum (beam broadening) of the incoherent intensity. Comparison with experimental results obtained by an independent investigation has shown good qualitative agreement of calculated and measured results. Originator-supplied keywords include: Millimeter wave propagation, RF propagation in woods/forests, terrain effects on millimeter wave transmission, Transport theory, Random media, Coherent and incoherent field components, and Range dependence and beambroadening of millimeter waves in vegetation.
Estimation of DNA Fragmentation, Mutagenicity and Biochemical Changes in Mice Exposed to Diazinon and Its Commercial Formulation

— The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of organophosphorus (OP) insecticide diazinon (DZN) and its formulation (DZNF) in bone marrow and germ cells, DNA fragmentation and biochemical changes induced in Swiss albino male mice. The mice were randomly divided into 7 groups (10 mice each), the 1 st group served as control, the 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th groups, as well, 5 th , 6 th , and 7 th groups are treated with 1/10LD 50 (6.5 mg/kg bw), 1/20 LD 50 (13mg/kg bw) and 1/40 LD 50 (26mg/kg bw) of DZNF and DZN i.p with single dose/week for 4 weeks, respectively. At the end of treatment all animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after 24 h of the last treatment. Bone marrow and spermatocyte cells were subjected to chromosomal analysis. As well, liver and brain tissues were collected from all animals for DNA fragmentation and biochemical analyses. Cytogenetic analysis revealeda significant increase (more than 2 folds) in structural aberrations (Chromatid and chromosomal gaps, breaks, deletions, centromeric attenuation and end to end)as well as numerical variations in DZNF treated groups than DZN treated groups in a dose dependent manner. A significant increase (about 3 folds) also was found in DZNF treated groups in structural and numerical aberrations of spermatocyte cells than DZN treated mice in a dose dependent manner. Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA) and DNA fragmentation were significantly increased (about 2 fold) in mice exposed to DZNF than DZN exposed groups. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that DZNF is more genotoxic than DZN as assessed by cytogenetic analysis of both somatic and germ cells of mice and had adverse effects on DNA and biochemical parameters. These results suggested that the effects of DZNF and DZN are dose dependent and the treatment with DZNF is more hazardous and toxic than DZN and it is important to avoid toxicities induced by organophosphate insecticides, take a high level of caution and minimize its agricultural and household uses.
Pre-Service ESL Teachers’ Reflections on their Feelings toward Action Research Writing

A productive skill, writing has also been viewed as a demanding process, especially in a second language setting mainly due to the students’ difficulty in using a second language in expressing their thoughts. Since writing requirements at the college level are more complex, many college students are more anxious as they are initiated into library research for instance (Mellon, 1986) because the activity is something new to them (Daly & Hailey, 1980). The task is likewise deemed demanding (Rose, 1980), and at the same time, compulsory (Powers, Cook & Meyer, 1979). To make it worse, negative attitudes about writing appear to be self-fulfilling (Daly, 1977). This study is motivated by the need to further understand what students feel about the research process as they do a research proposal and their reflection about their own emotions toward doing research. Participants were 25 Education (major in English) students who were in their junior year in the program at the time of data gathering. Data came from four sets of reflective logs written by the students after each major research task (finding a research focus, planning the methodology, consulting with the professor, revising and presenting the proposal) in their pre-thesis writing class. Analyzing the reflective logs using thematic analysis, the researchers were able to identify emerging themes which were evaluated and subsequently confirmed by two inter coders with 95% agreement. Results show that the students reported both positive and negative emotions focused on themselves as researchers (feeling good about themselves and their skills), on the particular research task (perceived ease or difficulty and usefulness), or of other people (frustration and appreciation of their group mates and of the teacher). Their emotions at various stages of four research writing tasks were reported as well.
ALLELOPATHIC EFFECTS OF CHENOPODIUM MURALE L. ON FOUR TEST SPECIES

The allelopathic effect of weed Chenopodium murale L. aqueous extract bioassay against seed germination and radicle elongation of four test crops i.e. Triticum aestivum L. ( Wheat), Zea mays L. (Maiz ), Cicer arietinum L. (Gram) and Vigna radiata L. (Mung) were examined. These experiments were conducted in the green house of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi. Plant material of the weed collected from Malir agriculture field, Karachi and dried at room temperature (25 o C-30 o C) in laboratory. The experiment was conducted in sterilized petridishes. The extract of weed at 1, 3 and 5 % concentration were used to determined their effect on seed germination and radicle elongation compared to distilled water as control. Each treatment had five replicates. The aqueous extract of weed under study effected seed germination of test species and root length and pronounced allelopathic inhibitory effects, proportional to the concentration of extracts. Data analyzed using one – way ANOVA and treatments means were compared using the least significant difference (LSD) at P=0.05.
Mass-SpectrometricDeterminationof Serum Cortisol:Comparisonof Data fromTwo IndependentLaboratories

Isotope dilutionand mass spectrometry were used in two independentlaboratoriesto determinecortisolin 15 plasma and serum pools used in the British and German national schemes for the external quality assessment of routine assays. For the concentration range 240-700 nmol/L, differences between the data obtained by the two laboratories were generally <4% but were approximately7% in two instances.The discrepanciesare nevertheless small incomparisonwith the bias observedfor many routineassays.
Adapted Physical Activity Interventions among the Elderly: Their Effects on Physical Performance

: This study is part of a research project on testing the effectiveness of an APA (adapted physical activity) protocol aimed at promoting the maintenance and development of autonomy and wellbeing among the elderly. The research was carried out in two elderly people centers located in Salerno (Southern Italy). The sample consisted of 33 people aged between 69 and 97 years (81.53 ± 7.02). The experimental group consisted of 18 participants aged between 70 and 92 (81.11 ± 6.85), while the control group of 15 participants were between 69 and 97 years old (82 ± 7.43). The effects of the APA protocol, was measured using the SPPB (Short Physical Performance Battery) before and after the 18-week intervention, which included two weekly sessions of structured training modules focusing on the coordinating and organic conditioning of the elderly. The results obtained found a substantial improvement in motor performance in the experimental group compared to the control group (72.2% vs. 33.3%) and hence suggest the need for further research on the effects of APA interventions, across a larger range of subjects.