Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of effects of altered gastric pH on absorption of dapsone in healthy volunteers

A prospective, randomized, crossover study was performed with seven healthy volunteers to address the effect of increased gastric pH on dapsone absorption. Subjects were randomized to receive a single 100-mg dose of dapsone or a single 100-mg dose of dapsone in addition to 30 ml of a high potency antacid 1 h before dapsone administration and hourly thereafter for a total of 10 doses. Dapsone concentrations in serum were measured periodically for 48 h. No statistical differences between the two regimens were noted when mean dapsone maximal initial concentrations, times to peak, and areas under the curve were compared. These data suggest that an increase in gastric pH has little or no effect on the absorption of dapsone in healthy subjects.
Assembly of a processive messenger RNA polyadenylation complex.

Polyadenylation of mRNA precursors by poly(A) polymerase depends on two specificity factors and their recognition sequences. These are cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF), recognizing the polyadenylation signal AAUAAA, and poly(A) binding protein II (PAB II), interacting with the growing poly(A) tail. Their effects are independent of ATP and an RNA 5′‐cap. Analysis of RNA‐protein interactions by non‐denaturing gel electrophoresis shows that CPSF, PAB II and poly(A) polymerase form a quaternary complex with the substrate RNA that transiently stabilizes the binding of poly(A) polymerase to the RNA 3′‐end. Only the complex formed from all three proteins is competent for the processive synthesis of a full‐length poly(A) tail.
Procalcitonin--a Marker for Anastomotic Insufficiency after Pancreatoduodenectomy?

BACKGROUND Anastomotic insufficiency after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) represents a major complication in pancreatic surgery. Early detection and treatment of pancreatic fistulas (PF) are essential for the outcome of affected patients. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biochemical marker which allows detection of bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate if PCT is suitable for early detection of PF after PD. METHODS In this prospective study patients undergoing PD from 08/2010 to 09/2012 were included into three groups: (1) patients without complications (n = 19), (2) patients with postoperative infections (n = 14) and (3) PF (n = 7). Using a defined study protocol, clinical (e.g., vital signs, drain fluid, etc.) and laboratory parameters (full blood count, inflammatory markers) were assessed daily for the first ten postoperative days. RESULTS 76 patients were assessed. 40 (52.6%) patients underwent PD and were included. CRP and PCT demonstrated an initial peak at the 1st to 3rd postoperative day with subsequent normalization. Patients with postoperative infections and PF showed a significant increase of PCT and CRP (p < 0.05) compared to patients without complications. Leucocyte counts demonstrated a variance in all three groups and clinical use for detection of complications was not evident. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a postoperative complication revealed significantly increased levels of PCT and CRP without the expected normalization. PCT and/or CRP did not enable a distinction between patients with PF or postoperative infections. Thus, PCT does not seem to be suitable for detecting PF after PD and its use in the postoperative course after PD cannot be recommended.
Modeling and simulation of a laser deflecting system

In this report a model of Differential and Algebraic Equations (DAE) for the dynamics of a rotating laser deflecting system, which is a multibody system, is derived. Classical numerical integration software isn't however able to solve these equations, so the possiblity to transform the model into a set of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE) is investigated. Elimination of the algebraic equations leads to an unmanageable model or yield a stiff numerical problem. This results in a very time consuming simulation. Therefore techniques to solve DAE system directly are examined. First some characteristics of DAE's like their index and structure are explained. It appears that multibody systems always result in an index three DAE. Then the possibilities classical (ODE based) techniques like Backward Differential and Runge-Kutta methods are discussed. Also special techniques for index three DAE's are mentioned: index reduction, Baumgarte stabilization, projection method, stabilizing Lagrange multipliers and state space transformation. The backward difference based code DASSL is used to simulate the rotating system. The results are accurate and obtained much faster than by the above mentioned simulation technique. This makes it possible to compare the behaviour of the nonlinear system to that of the linearized system that is also derived in this report. Only for very small angles the linear model is a good approximation. For large angles there are considerable differences. Furthermore the sensors of the deflecting system are discussed. It appears that these sensors can give rise to unaccuracy of the 3-D position measurement system in which the deflecting system is implemented.
Genetic Variation in Captive Herd of Arabian Oryx Using RAPD and ISSR Markers

According to the international taxonomy of IUCN, the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is considered to be in endangered and included among the animals that may be extinct. Saudi Arabia began an important project of captive breeding of this species in 1986 at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC). Therefore, the current captive population of Saudi Arabian Oryx at NWRC may suffer from inbreeding depression due to the population of small sizes. The genetic variation among 10 Arabian Oryx animals was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The animals were chosen as a representative sample of NWRC current herd. The objectives of this study were: (1) Establishment of RAPD and ISSR marker sets for the genetic characterization of Saudi Arabian Oryx and (2) application of the RAPD and ISSR markers for the identification and estimation of the genetic variation among the 10 Arabian Oryx animals. The results of the RAPD and ISSR primers used in this study confirmed that there was no sex specificity for any of them. 20 random primers were used for the RAPD experiment that generated 118 fragments with 93.5% polymorphism (110 fragments). Also, 12 ISSR primers were used to detect the polymorphism level among the 10 animals of Arabian Oryx. These primers generated 89 fragments and the number of polymorphic fragment was 65 (71.5%). At the same time, they showed average heterozygosity (variability measurement) of 0.24 among the 89 ISSR loci. The result of the genetic variation of RAPD and ISSR indicated a high level of variation among the 10 genotypes as a representative sample of the animals from the germplasm of NWRC. Finally, it can be recommended that the amount of variations among the NWRC germplasm is enough for selection and breeding improvement without affecting the genetic diversity within the captive herd. Key words: Arabian Oryx, captive herd, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC),random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR), genetic diversity, Saudi Arabia.
Fusion Kalman/UFIR Filter for State Estimation With Uncertain Parameters and Noise Statistics

In this paper, we fuse the Kalman filter (KF) that is optimal but not robust with the unbiased finite-impulse response (UFIR) filter which is more robust than KF but not optimal. The fusion filter employs the KF and UFIR filter as subfilters and produces smaller errors under the industrial conditions. In order to provide the best fusion effect, the operation point where UFIR meets Kalman is determined by applying probabilistic weights to each subfilter. Extensive simulations of the three degree of freedom (3-DOF) hover system have shown that the fusion filter output tends to range close to that by the best subfilter. Experimental verification provided for a 1-DOF torsion system has confirmed validity of simulation.
Chromosome Instability as a Result of Double-Strand Breaks near Telomeres in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

ABSTRACT Telomeres are essential for protecting the ends of chromosomes and preventing chromosome fusion. Telomere loss has been proposed to play an important role in the chromosomal rearrangements associated with tumorigenesis. To determine the relationship between telomere loss and chromosome instability in mammalian cells, we investigated the events resulting from the introduction of a double-strand break near a telomere with I-SceI endonuclease in mouse embryonic stem cells. The inactivation of a selectable marker gene adjacent to a telomere as a result of the I-SceI-induced double-strand break involved either the addition of a telomere at the site of the break or the formation of inverted repeats and large tandem duplications on the end of the chromosome. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrated large deletions and little or no complementarity at the recombination sites involved in the formation of the inverted repeats. The formation of inverted repeats was followed by a period of chromosome instability, characterized by amplification of the subtelomeric region, translocation of chromosomal fragments onto the end of the chromosome, and the formation of dicentric chromosomes. Despite this heterogeneity, the rearranged chromosomes eventually acquired telomeres and were stable in most of the cells in the population at the time of analysis. Our observations are consistent with a model in which broken chromosomes that do not regain a telomere undergo sister chromatid fusion involving nonhomologous end joining. Sister chromatid fusion is followed by chromosome instability resulting from breakage-fusion-bridge cycles involving the sister chromatids and rearrangements with other chromosomes. This process results in highly rearranged chromosomes that eventually become stable through the addition of a telomere onto the broken end. We have observed similar events after spontaneous telomere loss in a human tumor cell line, suggesting that chromosome instability resulting from telomere loss plays a role in chromosomal rearrangements associated with tumor cell progression.
Effect of Hyperosmolality upon the Mesothelial Monolayer Exposed in vivo and in situ to a Mannitol-Enriched Dialysis Solution

Studies done using the in vivo mouse model of population analysis of mesothelium showed that dialysis solutions containing high concentrations of glucose induced the development of a hypertrophic phenotype. Since these changes were neither related to the low pH nor to the presence of lactate buffer, we hypothesized that the presence of glucose was at the origin of the observed alterations. Theoretical analysis of the problem points to three possible mechanisms: hyperosmolality; metabolic changes derived from the high-glucose concentration itself, and/or the presence of products derived from the nonenzymatic degradation of glucose. The present study was designed to demonstrate or rule out the eventual effect of hyperosmolality upon the monolayer, applying the in vivo mouse model of population analysis of mesothelium. For this purpose, morphometric observations made in mice injected once a day during 30 consecutive days with a filter-sterilized 4.25% solution of mannitol (233.29 mM) were compared with those seen in intact mice and in a previously reported group of animals exposed to heat-sterilized fluid, having an equimolar concentration of glucose (235.9 mM), and the same osmolality (486 mosm/l) and electrolyte concentrations. The main findings observed in the mannitol-treated mice during the period of exposure included increased cell size and cytoplasmic surface area, as well as decreased cell viability. The regenerative capabilities of the exposed mesothelium remained intact. After a recovery period of 7 days, the aforementioned parameters reverted to normal values. This pattern is significantly different from the hypertrophic, senescent and low regenerative phenotype observed in mice treated with the high-glucose concentration solution. We conclude that, at least in the in vivo and in situ setup, the detrimental effects of hyperosmolality alone upon the exposed mesothelium are quite limited and fully reversible within a recovery period of 7 days.
Evaluation of immunological mechanisms mediating thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy by radionuclide imaging using the somatostatin analog 111In-octreotide.

Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is a disorder involving the soft tissues and extraocular muscles of the orbit seen mainly in cases of Graves' disease. Although an immunogenic pathogenesis has been proposed, the actual mechanisms of the in vivo retrobulbar involvement are not well defined. The recent introduction of the 111In-labeled somatostatin analog, octreotide, which can bind in vivo to the cell membrane of activated lymphocytes expressing somatostatin receptors, has provided a new investigational tool for diseases with a presumed immunological background. Based on this property, octreotide scans can be expected to be positive in cases of immunological disease showing tracer accumulation within affected sites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of scintigraphic imaging with octreotide of the retrobulbar space in cases of TAO, including sequential studies of patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. We studied a series of 51 patients who had Graves' disease with varying degrees of TAO. Nine patients had received immunosuppressive therapy. The degree of orbital inflammation was classified according to the clinical activity score of Mourits. Both planar and tomographic imaging of the orbit were carried out using 111 MBq of the 111In-labeled octreotide (OctreoScan) 2 h after tracer injection. A significant tracer accumulation in the retrobulbar space was seen in all 20 patients with a high activity score, in 8 of 16 cases with a negative score, and in 11 of 20 cases with an intermediate Mourits' score. In cases of persistent eye disease in spite of immunosuppressive therapy, the octreotide scan remained positive. Successful therapy either with prednisolone, external radiation, or i.v. immunoglobulins showed a significant diminution of tracer uptake after finishing the therapeutic regime. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the images also revealed a significant tracer accumulation in the areas of the lacrimal gland, the nasal region, and the pituitary. Controls cases (n = 30) showed no uptake in the orbital region. We conclude that 111In octreotide scintigraphy is an objective method that identifies patients with active inflammatory eye disease, i.e., having significant tracer uptake in the retrobulbar space. This uptake appears to reflect an immunological process, since immunosuppressive therapy will significantly decrease tracer accumulation.
32P-postlabeling test for covalent DNA binding of chemicals in vivo: application to a variety of aromatic carcinogens and methylating agents.

Carcinogen--DNA adducts were detected and determined by 32P-postlabeling assay after exposure of mouse or rat tissues in vivo to a total of 28 compounds comprising 7 arylamines and derivatives, 3 azo compounds, 2 nitroaromatics, 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 4 methylating agents. DNA was isolated from mouse skin, mouse liver, and rat liver after treatment with the individual carcinogens, then digested enzymatically to deoxyribonucleoside 3'-monophosphates, which were converted to 5'-32P-labeled deoxyribonucleoside 3',5'-bisphosphates by T4 polynucleotide kinase-catalyzed [32P]phosphate transfer from [gamma-32P]ATP. The nucleotides were resolved by anion-exchange t.l. c. on polyethyleneimine-cellulose and detected by autoradiography. The determination of low levels of DNA binding of the aromatic carcinogens entailed the removal of normal nucleotides prior to the resolution of adduct nucleotides. For this purpose, an alternative procedure employing reversed-phase t.l. c. was devised which offered advantages for the detection of quantitatively minor adducts. The procedures described enabled the detection of 1 aromatic DNA adduct in approximately 10(8) normal nucleotides, while the limit of detection of methylated adducts was 1 adduct in approximately 6 X 10(5) nucleotides. The results show that a great number of carcinogen-DNA adducts of diverse structure are substrates for 32P-labeling by polynucleotide kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation. Because covalent DNA adduct formation in vivo appears to be an essential property of the majority of chemical carcinogens, 32P-postlabeling analysis of carcinogen--DNA adducts in mammalian tissues may serve as a test for the screening of chemicals for potential carcinogenicity.
The ‘heavy’ subunit of the photosynthetic reaction centre from Rhodopseudomonas viridis: isolation of the gene, nucleotide and amino acid sequence

The gene coding for the ‘heavy’ subunit of the photosynthetic reaction centre from Rhodopseudomonas viridis was isolated in an expression vector. Expression of the heavy subunit in Escherichia coli was detected with antibodies raised against crystalline reaction centres. The entire subunit, and not a fusion protein, was expressed in E. coli. The protein coding region of the gene was sequenced and the amino acid sequence derived. Part of the amino acid sequence was confirmed by chemical sequence analysis of the protein. The heavy subunit consists of 258 amino acids and its mol. wt. is 28 345. It possesses one membrane‐spanning α‐helical segment, as was revealed by the concomitant X‐ray structure analysis.
African Association of Agricultural Economists . Shaping the Future of African Agriculture for Development : The Role of Social Scientists

Maize is the staple food crop and source of income for majority of the Kenyan population and many sub-Saharan African countries. The increasing Kenyan population demands an increase in maize production if intermittent food deficits have to be averted. Since the introduction of improved maize varieties in mid-1960, the start of Green Revolution period, maize yields increased drastically up to 1970s and started declining from 1980’s to-date. The key contributory factors are nutrient mining, sub-optimal input use and insect pest damage. Of the insect pests, stalk borer is of economic importance. Currently, KARI and CIMMYT are developing maize varieties that are tolerant to stalk borer damage. In order to evaluate the potential impact of these interventions economics of stalk borer control at farm level was evaluated. Surveys complemented with on-farm trials were executed in six major maize growing zones of Kenya. Farmers were randomly selected and a sample-frame established after which a total of 1854 households were randomly selected using random sampling technique. Each household was interviewed using structured questionnaire. Data on method of stalk borer control and the type insecticides used was collected. Partial budget and economic surplus models were used. The results indicated that very few farmers control stalk borer in maize despite significant stalk borer losses of about 15%. Therefore if Bt maize is introduced in Kenya it is likely to reduce these losses. This will benefit many hungry and poor Kenyans with improved household food supply and on farm incomes, in line with Government policy of food security and poverty eradication.
An exact method to generate all nondominated spanning trees

We describe an exact method to generate the nondominated set of the minimum spanning tree problem with at least two criteria. It is a separation and construction based method whose branching process is done with respect to edges belonging to at least two cycles of a given graph, inducing a step of constructing linear constraints that progressively break cycles while respecting the connectivity of the resulting graph. This has the effect of partitioning the initial graph into subgraphs, each of which corresponds to a discrete multi-objective linear program allowing to find the nondominated set of spanning trees. Randomly generated instances with more than two criteria are provided that show the efficiency of the method.
Type 2 Diabetes and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: a Population‐based Study

The prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with Type 2 (non‐insulin‐dependent) diabetes was examined in a population‐based study of 1586 men and women aged 50 years or older. Men and women with previously diagnosed diabetes had significantly higher mean Beck Depression Inventory total, somatic subscale, and affective subscale scores than normal men and women and individuals with newly diagnosed diabetes. The age‐ and sex‐adjusted rates of Inventory scores of 13 or greater among individuals with previously diagnosed diabetes was 3.7 times greater than the rates among individuals with newly diagnosed diabetes (p < 0.05). Medication use and fasting plasma glucose were unrelated to symptom score. The number of other chronic conditions and age were significant independent predictors of depressive symptoms in all diabetic men and women. Results suggest that depressive symptoms in individuals with Type 2 diabetes may be related to awareness of diabetic condition in addition to poor health.
Variability of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha Pallas in the Drava river (Croatia)

Provedenim istraživanjem nastojala se utvrditi morfometrija skoljki vrste Dreissena polymorpha sakupljenih u sustavu hidroelektrane Dubrava, izgrađene na rijeci Dravi (Hrvatska). Odabrane postaje razlikovale su se po tipu sedimenta, dubini i fizikalno-kemijskim znacajkama. Za postaju 1 odabrana je obala rijeke, dok su postaje 2 i 3 bile smjestene u akumulacijskom jezeru Dubrava na dubini od 3, odnosno 8 metara. Ukupno je sakupljeno 1200 skoljkasa. Mjerene su slijedece morfoloske varijable: duljina skoljke (DS), visina skoljke (VS), sirina skoljke (SS) i težina skoljke (TS). Osim toga, definirana su tri omjera: SS/DS, VS/DS i SS/VS. Analiza varijance (ANOVA) i testovi visestruke usporedbe (Duncan test) primijenjeni su kako bi se testirale razlike u omjerima između tri postaje te odredilo koje se postaje razlikuju međusobno. Provedena analiza pokazala je da se omjeri SS/DS i SS/VS statisticki znacajno razlikuju između sve tri postaje (p<0.0001), dok se omjer VS/DS ne razlikuje između postaja. Nadalje, analiza glavnih komponenata primijenjena je na logaritamski transformirana obilježja skupa od ukupno 540 skoljki. ANOVA i Duncan test primijenjeni su na rezultirajuce komponente s ciljem testiranja razlike u vrijednostima komponenti između sve tri postaje. Primijenjena analiza razdvojila je rijecnu i jezersku populaciju skoljkasa u dvije morfoloske grupe ukazujuci da među njima postoji znacajna fenotipska plasticnost.