Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dwarfs and Giants: Cannibalism and Competition in Size‐Structured Populations

Cannibals and their victims often share common resources and thus potentially compete. Smaller individuals are often competitively superior to larger ones because of size‐dependent scaling of foraging and metabolic rates, while larger ones may use cannibalism to counter this competition. We study the interplay between cannibalism and competition using a size‐structured population model in which all individuals consume a shared resource but in which larger ones may cannibalize smaller conspecifics. In this model, intercohort competition causes single‐cohort cycles when cannibalism is absent. Moderate levels of cannibalism reduce intercohort competition, enabling coexistence of many cohorts. More voracious cannibalism, in combination with competition, produces large‐amplitude cycles and a bimodal population size distribution with many small and few giant individuals. These coexisting ``dwarfs'' and ``giants'' have very different life histories, resulting from a reversal in importance of cannibalism and competition. The population structure at time of birth determines whether individuals suffer severe cannibalism, with the few survivors reaching giant sizes, or whether they suffer intense intracohort competition, with all individuals remaining small. These model results agree remarkably well with empirical data on perch population dynamics. We argue that the induction of cannibalistic giants in piscivorous fish is a population‐dynamic emergent phenomenon that requires a combination of size‐dependent cannibalism and competition.
Effects of fats high in stearic acid on lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in men.

The effects of beef tallow and cocoa butter, two fats with a high stearic acid content (C18:0), on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were compared with the effects of butter fat and olive oil in 10 middle-aged men. Liquid-formula diets containing 40% of the calories from the test fat were fed in random order for 3 wk each, with lipoprotein concentrations measured on the last five days. Butter fat raised low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations the most (4.23 +/- .15 mmol/L; mean +/- SE). Beef-tallow feeding resulted in significantly lower concentrations of LDL (4.03 +/- 0.18 mmol/L); cocoa butter resulted in even lower concentrations (3.82 +/- .15 mmol/L). The lowest concentration of LDL was observed with olive oil (3.62 +/- 0.18 mmol/L). Fecal excretion of fatty acids, after adjustment for fecal flow, indicated that oleic acid (C18:1) was 99% absorbed, palmitic acid (C16:0) was 96-97% absorbed, and stearic acid was 90-94% absorbed for the three fats containing significant amounts of stearic acid.
Plasma vitamin E and selenium and breath pentane in home parenteral nutrition patients.

Because both vitamin E and selenium protect against lipid peroxidation, we evaluated the relationship between breath pentane, evolved from the peroxidation of linoleic acid, and plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), Se, and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSHPx). Nine home parenteral-nutrition (HPN) patients received added Se in intravenous solutions and were compared with 10 normal control subjects. The excretion of pentane (pmol.kg-1.min-1, means +/- SEM) in control subjects (6.34 +/- 0.96) was significantly lower than in HPN patients (15.02 +/- 1.12, p less than 0.001). alpha-Tocopherol (mumol/L), Se (mumol/L), and Se-GSHPx (U) values were, respectively, 18.13 +/- 1.70, 1.70 +/- 0.05, and 5.34 +/- 0.27 in control subjects and 10.21 +/- 1.66, 1.35 +/- 0.14, and 7.01 +/- 0.31 in HPN patients. All differences were statistically significant. Significant negative correlations were observed between plasma alpha-tocopherol levels and HPN duration and between pentane output and plasma alpha-tocopherol levels (r = -0.58, p less than 0.01). In HPN patients with reduced plasma alpha-tocopherol levels associated with increased pentane output, there is, inferentially, increased lipid peroxidation despite normal plasma Se and Se-GSHPx levels.
Pregnant rat myometrial cells show heterogeneous ryanodine- and caffeine-sensitive calcium stores.

Intracellular Ca2+ release channels such as ryanodine receptors play crucial roles in the Ca2+-mediated signaling that triggers excitation-contraction coupling in muscles. Although the existence and the role of these channels are well characterized in skeletal and cardiac muscles, their existence in smooth muscles, and more particularly in the myometrium, is very controversial. We have now clearly demonstrated the expression of ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channels in rat myometrial smooth muscle, and for the first time, intracellular Ca2+ concentration experiments with indo 1 on single myometrial cells have revealed the existence of a functional ryanodine- and caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ release mechanism in 30% of rat myometrial cells. RT-PCR and RNase protection assay on whole myometrial smooth muscle demonstrate the existence of all three ryr mRNAs in the myometrium: ryr3 mRNA is the predominant subtype, with much lower levels of expression for ryr1 and ryr2 mRNAs, suggesting that the ryanodine Ca2+ release mechanism in rat myometrium is largely encoded by ryr3. Moreover, using intracellular Ca2+ concentration measurements and RNase protection assays, we have demonstrated that the expression, the percentage of cells responding to ryanodine, and the function of these channels are not modified during pregnancy.
Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis applied to the characterization of peruvian wari ceramics

Trace elemental analysis of ancient ceramics has been proven a very useful tool for tracing the circulation of this material. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was for years the analytical technique of choice to measure the composition of ceramics because of the large number of elements it could determine and its good sensitivity. Lately, a few publications have shown that laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) could provide similar results as INAA more quickly and at lower cost. A protocol has been developed to determine 51 elements using LA-ICP-MS and tested it on Wari period ceramics previously analyzed using INAA. We show how INAA and LA-ICP-MS analysis lead to the same conclusion in terms of sample groupings.
Permanent Neurological Deficit Related to Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Patient with Implanted Deep Brain Stimulation Electrodes for Parkinson’s Disease: Case Report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE:Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an accepted treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease refractory to medication. The efficacy of this therapy has led to increasing numbers of patients receiving DBS implants. Importantly, physicians caring for patients with implantable neurostimulators must be aware of treatment guidelines for these patients, including the use of therapeutic ultrasound, diathermy, and imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CLINICAL PRESENTATION:We describe a case of serious, permanent neurological injury secondary to a radiofrequency lesion produced by heating of a DBS electrode associated with MRI of the lumbar spine in a patient with Parkinson’s disease. INTERVENTION:MRI may be performed safely in patients with DBS devices only by following the specific guidelines of the manufacturer. The generalization of these conditions to other neurostimulation system positioning schemes, other scanners, and other imaging scenarios can lead to significant patient injuries. CONCLUSION:To prevent catastrophic incidents, the manufacturer’s guidelines should be followed carefully because they are known to result in the safe performance of MRI examinations of patients with neurostimulation systems used for DBS.
Polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced H9C2 cell apoptosis.

BACKGROUND We aimed to observe the protective effect of EGCG on hypoxia/reoxygenation injury of H9C2 myocardial cells and to study the inhibition mechanism of EGCG on hypoxia/reoxygenation injury of H9C2 myocardial cells. METHODS H9C2 cells were used as the objects of study and hypoxia/reoxygenation cells were pretreated with EGCG in different concentrations. MTT, Hoechst 33258 and LDH were used to detect the viability and apoptosis of H9C2 cells. The protection mechanism of polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate was studied via western blotting and mitochondrial membrane potential detection. RESULTS Polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (10 μM) reduced the proportion of H9C2 cell apoptosis after hypoxia/reoxygenation (4/20 h), stabilized the mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased the expressions of mitochondrial damage-related proteins, thus protecting the mitochondrial function. CONCLUSIONS Polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate alleviates the hypoxia-/reoxygenation-induced H9C2 cell apoptosis, which may play the myocardial protective effect through inhibiting the mitochondrial Caspase pathway.
Energy density but not fat content of foods affected energy intake in lean and obese women.

BACKGROUND Studies have shown that energy intake increases when both the fat content and energy density of the entire diet increases. When the fat content and energy density vary independently of one another, however, energy density, but not fat content, influences intake. OBJECTIVE The present study examined whether energy intake in lean and obese women is affected when either the energy density or the fat content of a portion of the diet is manipulated and palatability is held constant. DESIGN In a within-subjects design, 17 lean and 17 obese women consumed meals in the laboratory for four, 4-d test periods. In 3 of these test periods the energy density (4.4 and 6.7 kJ/g) or the fat content (16% and 36% of energy) of compulsory entrees representing 50% of each subject's usual energy intake was manipulated. Additional self-selected foods were consumed ad libitum at meals and as snacks. RESULTS There were no systematic differences in palatability of the manipulated foods across conditions. Obese and lean participants responded similarly to the dietary manipulations. Intake of self-selected foods at meals was reduced significantly by 16% for both lean and obese subjects in the low- compared with the high-energy-density condition. The fat content of the compulsory foods had no significant effect on energy intake. Ratings of hunger did not differ between diets. CONCLUSION These results indicate that when a portion of the diet was manipulated, the energy density, but not the fat content, of the foods affected total energy intake at meals in both lean and obese women.
DLC Film Deposited on Micro-Electrode with NBECVD for Bio-LSIs

Bio-LSI has been developed as advanced bio-sensing device for electrochemical bio-imaging and multi-point bio-sensing [1]. Based on this work, we want to find suitable electrode material, which can provide high sensitive bio-imaging platform for wide applications. As known, diamond-like carbon (DLC) film has good chemical stability and mechanical properties. There are some reports on the electrochemical behavior of DLC for some redox species [2]. DLC has much wider potential window than traditional metal electrode so it is a promising candidate electrode material for Bio-LSI sensor. To apply DLC film in this use, the challenge is to carry out the deposition in low temperature because the integrated transistors in Bio-LSI can’t be processed with high temperature. In this study, we performed the DLC film deposition in low temperature with neutral beam enhanced chemical vapor deposition (NBECVD). The NBECVD device is detailed descried in Ref. 3, in which the conductive amorphous hydrocarbon (aCH) is successfully deposited in low temperature. In the following work, we used nitrogen doping to make the DLC film express a significantly improved voltammetry property. With this improvement in electrochemical property, this DLC film was applied in the Bio-LSI fabrication. Cyclic voltammograms of the Bio-LSI with DLC film electrode is shown in Fig. 1 (b). More experimental details and results will be presented in the conference.
Olive oil feeding up-regulates uncoupling protein genes in rat brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.

BACKGROUND Some nutrients, such as carotenoids, retinoic acid, and certain types of fatty acids, increase thermogenic capacity. OBJECTIVE The influence of 4 dietary lipid sources (olive oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, and beef tallow) on the content of uncoupling proteins 1, 2, and 3 (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) and their messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in several tissues of rats was compared. DESIGN Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed ad libitum diets containing 40% of energy as fat. UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA and protein were assessed by Northern blot and Western blot, respectively. Oxygen consumption in tissues was measured by polarography. Total-body oxygen consumption was assessed in an open-circuit chamber system. Circulating fuels (fatty acids and glucose) and hormones (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, corticosterone, and insulin) were measured. RESULTS Olive oil feeding induced the highest UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA expression in interscapular brown adipose tissue. An analogous effect was observed in gastrocnemius muscle UCP3 mRNA. No significant differences were observed in perirenal white adipose tissue UCP2 mRNA. Changes in mRNAs were not accompanied by close changes in the protein content of UCPs and were not associated with changes in adipose tissue oxygen consumption. Nevertheless, total-body oxygen consumption was higher in rats fed olive oil than in those fed the other 3 diets. No significant differences were found in body and tissue weights or in serum indexes. CONCLUSION Olive oil induced an up-regulating effect on UCP mRNA that was probably not mediated by systemic metabolic changes, but rather related to a local effect on interscapular brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.
Folate and vitamin B-12 status in relation to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment in older Americans in the age of folic acid fortification.

BACKGROUND Historic reports on the treatment of pernicious anemia with folic acid suggest that high-level folic acid fortification delays the diagnosis of or exacerbates the effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency, which affects many seniors. This idea is controversial, however, because observational data are few and inconclusive. Furthermore, experimental investigation is unethical. OBJECTIVE We examined the relations between serum folate and vitamin B-12 status relative to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment (ie, Digit Symbol-Coding score < 34) in senior participants in the 1999-2002 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. DESIGN The subjects had normal serum creatinine concentrations and reported no history of stroke, alcoholism, recent anemia therapy, or diseases of the liver, thyroid, or coronary arteries (n = 1459). We defined low vitamin B-12 status as a serum vitamin B-12 concentration < 148 pmol/L or a serum methylmalonic acid concentration > 210 nmol/L-the maximum of the reference range for serum vitamin B-12-replete participants with normal creatinine. RESULTS After control for demographic characteristics, cancer, smoking, alcohol intake, serum ferritin, and serum creatinine, low versus normal vitamin B-12 status was associated with anemia [odds ratio (OR): 2.7; 95% CI: 1.7, 4.2], macrocytosis (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.3), and cognitive impairment (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.6, 3.8). In the group with a low vitamin B-12 status, serum folate > 59 nmol/L (80th percentile), as opposed to < or = 59 nmol/L, was associated with anemia (OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.6) and cognitive impairment (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1, 6.1). In the normal vitamin B-12 group, ORs relating high versus normal serum folate to these outcomes were < 1.0 (P(interaction) < 0.05), but significantly < 1.0 only for cognitive impairment (0.4; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.9). CONCLUSION In seniors with low vitamin B-12 status, high serum folate was associated with anemia and cognitive impairment. When vitamin B-12 status was normal, however, high serum folate was associated with protection against cognitive impairment.
Measurement of body water by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy in a multiethnic pediatric population.

BACKGROUND Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) may provide a noninvasive, rapid method for the assessment of total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), and intracellular water (ICW). Few studies, however, have examined the accuracy of BIS in pediatric populations. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of BIS for the measurement of TBW, ECW, and ICW in healthy children. DESIGN Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), total body potassium (TBK), and BIS measurements were performed in 347 children (202 males and 145 females aged 4-18 y). The reference values for TBW, ECW, and ICW were defined by using a DXA+TBK model. BIS values were evaluated by using the method of Bland and Altman. A randomly selected calibration group (n = 231) was used to derive new BIS constants that were tested in the remaining group (n = 116). RESULTS BIS values were highly correlated with the reference values (r(2) = 0.94-0.97, P < 0.0001), but differences between the BIS and DXA+TBK models for individuals were significant (P < 0.001). Use of new BIS constants reduced the mean differences between the BIS and DXA+TBK models; the SDs of the mean differences were improved (1.8 L for TBW, 1.4 L for ICW, and 1.0 L for ECW) for the total population. CONCLUSIONS On a population basis, BIS can be calibrated to replace the DXA+TBK model for the assessment of TBW, ECW, and ICW in healthy children. The accuracy of the BIS measurement in individual children may be refined further by using age- and sex-specific adjustments for the BIS calibration constants.
Interchangeability of pencil-beam and fan-beam dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements in piglets and infants.

BACKGROUND Compared with the older pencil-beam (PB) dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the newer fan-beam (FB) DXA has the advantage of faster scan acquisition and greater accuracy of body-composition measurement in small subjects. However, no data exist on the relation between the measurements obtained with these techniques. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to investigate whether PB and FB DXA measurements in small subjects are interchangeable. DESIGN PB and FB DXA scans were performed on 26 piglets and 54 infants to examine the relation between the measurements obtained by using the 2 techniques. RESULTS The correlation between all PB and FB DXA measurements of variables (total weight, bone area, bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and lean and fat masses) approached 1.0, but there were significant differences in absolute values. The extent of the differences varied according to the variable, with the lowest value for total weight (mean difference: approximately 1% for both piglets and infants) and the highest value for bone mineral content (mean difference: 35.3% and 36.7% for piglets and infants, respectively). PB and FB DXA measurements were strongly predictive of each other after adjustment (r(2) = 0.927-1.000 for the piglet data and 0.939-0.999 for the infant data). CONCLUSION In small subjects, DXA measurements from PB and FB techniques were strongly predictive of each other, although their absolute values differed. Thus, group comparison of PB and FB DXA data is possible after adjustment of the data from either technique. It is advisable to generate normative data for each technique and to use the same technique throughout longitudinal studies.
Glutathione and ABC transporters as determinants of sensitivity to oxidative and nitrosative stress.

The development of novel drugs remains a high priority in the successful therapeutic management of cancer. We have applied our accumulated knowledge of the importance of glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and ATP-dependent binding cassette (ABC) transporters to the identification of novel targets and testing of new agents that are influenced by thiol homeostasis in tumors. Glutathione S-transferase π (GST π ) interacts with and suppresses the activity of c-Jun NH 2 terminal kinase (JNK) (1). GST π -deficient mice (GST π −/− ) have higher levels of circulating white blood cells than wild type mice. A peptidomimetic inhibitor of GST π disrupts the interaction between GST π and JNK and mimics in wild type mice the increased myeloproliferation observed in GST π −/− mice. In an in vitro hematopoiesis assay, interleukin-3, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor were more effective at stimulating proliferation of hematopoietic cells in GST π −/− mice than in wild type mice. The GST π inhibitor increased myeloproliferation induced by these cytokines in wild type but not in GST π −/− mice, suggesting a key role for GST π in the effect of this drug. The JNK inhibitor, SP600125 which itself caused little inhibition of cytokine-induced myeloproliferation, prevented all myelostimulant effects of the GST π
Low-salt diet downregulates plasma but not tissue kallikrein-kinin system.

The kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) is involved in the regulation of blood pressure and in the sodium and water excretion. In humans, the KKS is divided functionally into a plasma KKS (pKKS) generating the biologically active peptide bradykinin and into the tissue (glandular) KKS (tKKS) generating the active peptide kallidin. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a low-NaCl diet on the concentration of both pKKS and tKKS in plasma and urine in 10 healthy volunteers. After a 4-day low-NaCl diet, the urinary sodium and chloride excretions had decreased from 234 to 21.2 mmol/24 h and from 198 to 14.6 mmol/24 h, respectively. The plasma levels of ANG I, aldosterone, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) significantly increased from 50.4 to 82.8 pg/ml, from 129 to 315 pg/ml, and from 46.4 to 59.8 U/ml, respectively, demonstrating the physiological adjustment to the low-salt diet. In plasma, the levels of bradykinin and plasma kallikrein had significantly decreased from 13.7 to 7.57 pg/ml and 14.4 to 7.13 U/ml, respectively. However, the levels of high-molecular-weight kininogen (HMW kininogen) remain unchanged (101 vs. 112 μg/ml, not significant). Contrary to plasma kallikrein, the plasma levels of tissue kallikrein increased (0.345 vs. 0.500 U/ml; P < 0.01). The plasma kallidin levels, however, did not change (64.7 vs. 68.6 pg/ml, not significant). This can be explained by a simultaneous decrease in the plasma low-molecular-weight kininogen (LMW kininogen) levels (89.9 vs. 44.4 μg/ml; P < 0.05). As in plasma, we find increased urinary concentrations of renal (tissue) kallikrein (23.3 to 42.8 U/24 h; P < 0.05) that contrast with, and are presumably counterbalanced by, urinary LMW kininogen levels (77.0 vs. 51.8 μg/24 h; P < 0.05). Consequently, in urine low-NaCl diet caused no significant change in either bradykinin or kallidin (9.2 vs. 10.8 μg/24 h, and 10.9 vs. 10.3 μg/24 h). It is concluded that the stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system on a low-NaCl diet is associated with a decrease in pKKS (bradykinin and plasma kallikrein) but not in tissue and renal KKS. Although tissue kallikrein is increased, there is no change in kallidin, as LMW kininogen in plasma and urine is decreased. These data suggest a difference in the regulation of pKKS and tKKS by low-salt diet.