Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Jasmonate-Elicited Stress Induces Metabolic Change in the Leaves of Leucaena leucocephala

The plant Leucaena leucocephala was exposed to four jasmonate elicitors, i.e., jasmonic acid (JA), methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA), jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine (JA-Ile) and 6-ethyl indanoyl glycine conjugate (2-[(6-ethyl-1-oxo-indane-4-carbonyl)-amino]-acetic acid methyl ester) (CGM). The treatment was to mimic the herbivores and wounding stresses. By using NMR spectroscopy along with chemometric analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the changes of metabolites in the leaves of L. leucocephala were determined under the stress as induced by the four elicitors. The challenge of JA-Ile caused an accumulation of lactic acid (6), β-glucose (10), alanine (12), threonine (13), steroids (18), 3,4-dihydroxypyridine (19) and an unidentified compound 20. The chemometric analysis of the PCA and PLS-DA models indicated that the alternation of metabolites triggered by JA, MeJA, and CGM treatments were very minimum. In contrast, the treatment by JA-Ile could induce the most significant metabolic changes in the leaves. Moreover, there was very minimal new metabolite being detected in responding to the jasmonate-induced stresses. The results showed some metabolite concentrations changed after application of the elicitors, which may be related to a high level of tolerance to stress conditions as well as the strong ecological suitability of L. leucocephala.
Radiographic assessment of impacted mandibular third molar sockets filled with composite xenogenic bone graft.

OBJECTIVES The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic aspect of the healing of extraction sockets filled with a xenogenic graft material (Gent-tech). METHODS Thirty-nine patients ranging in age from 15 years to 25 years with bilateral impacted mandibular molars were chosen based on bilateral mandibular similarities. After tooth extraction, the socket was filled with the graft. The opposite site was left to heal naturally and served as a control. The experimental and control sites were chosen randomly. Bone density and crest healing were evaluated on digital radiographs taken immediately, 2 months and 6 months after surgery. The respective pixels values obtained with the Digora software were compared statistically. RESULTS The results showed a significant decrease in the distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar bone crest, but no difference was found between the control and experimental groups. Bone density increased significantly, and there was difference between experimental and control groups. CONCLUSION The analysed parameters observed by the authors were similar to those of the control group, suggesting xenogenic graft being an acceptable material and a graft option.
Missed and inconsistent classification of current drinkers: results from the 2005 US National Alcohol Survey.

AIMS This study compares current 12-month drinkers who do not report drinking in the last 30 days with current drinkers who drank in the last 30 days and assesses possible misclassification errors from use of a 30-day consumption measure. DESIGN Data are from the 2005 US National Alcohol Survey (n = 6919), a national household probability survey. SETTING Telephone interviews were used to measure alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. PARTICIPANTS This study compared 1300 current drinkers who did not drink in the last 30 days with 2956 current drinkers who drank in the last 30 days. MEASUREMENTS Volume was measured by quantity/frequency scales (12-month and 30-day) and a graduated frequency scale (12-month). Both groups were compared by demographic, alcohol volume, days of five or more drinks, social consequences and dependence measures. FINDINGS Results indicate a significantly lower prevalence rate of current drinking for 30-day measures-47.3% (45.8%, 48.8%) versus 67.3% (66.0%, 68.7%) with 12-month measures. Further, 385 non-30-day drinkers reported 12-month drinking frequencies of once a month or more often, suggesting possible inconsistent reporting of their alcohol use. When this group of 'inconsistent' respondents is compared with the 915 non-30-day current drinkers who reported less than monthly drinking, they reported significantly higher yearly volume, days of five or more drinks, mean social consequences and proportion reporting alcohol dependence. CONCLUSIONS In population surveys assessing alcohol use, asking about the previous 12 months rather than the past 30 days provides higher estimates of current use, including more days of heavy episodic use.
Quality of life of family caregivers of elderly patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND Despite the growing number of elderly patients with end-stage renal disease who need support, there are few studies about their caregivers. The objective of this study is to describe caregivers' characteristics and evaluate their burden and quality of life. METHODS We studied caregivers of elderly patients (>or=65 years) on hemodialysis (HD) therapy (n = 84), on peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy (n = 40), and a group of caregivers (n = 77) of nonelderly HD patients. Their quality of life was evaluated by using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire, Caregiver Burden scale, and Cognitive Index of Depression. RESULTS Most caregivers of the elderly were women (78%) aged 55 +/- 15 years and sons or daughters (41%) or wives or husbands (50%) of patients. Caregivers' Emotional Aspect, Vitality, and Mental Health were the most affected dimensions. The Mental Component Summary mean score, adjusted for patient race, educational level, primary diagnosis, hematocrit, comorbidities, and physical functional status, was worse for caregivers of PD than HD elderly patients (36.3 +/- 1.9 versus 44.8 +/- 1.5; P < 0.01). The most affected Caregiver Burden scale dimensions were General Strain and Environment. Thirty-two percent of caregivers showed signs of depression. CONCLUSION Caregivers of elderly dialysis patients, especially of those on PD therapy, experience a significant burden and adverse effects on their quality of life. Educational, social, and psychological support interventions should be considered to improve the quality of life of caregivers.
Fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry demonstrates that L‐DOPA produces dose‐dependent, regionally selective bimodal effects on striatal dopamine kinetics in vivo

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating condition that is caused by a relatively specific degeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. L‐DOPA was introduced as a viable treatment option for PD over 40 years ago and still remains the most common and effective therapy for PD. Though the effects of L‐DOPA to augment striatal DA production are well known, little is actually known about how L‐DOPA alters the kinetics of DA neurotransmission that contribute to its beneficial and adverse effects. In this study, we examined the effects of L‐DOPA administration (50 mg/kg carbidopa + 0, 100, and 250 mg/kg L‐DOPA) on regional electrically stimulated DA response kinetics using fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry in anesthetized rats. We demonstrate that L‐DOPA enhances DA release in both the dorsal striatum (D‐STR) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), but surprisingly causes a delayed inhibition of release in the D‐STR. In both regions, L‐DOPA progressively attenuated reuptake kinetics, predominantly through a decrease in Vmax. These findings have important implications on understanding the pharmacodynamics of L‐DOPA, which may be informative for understanding its therapeutic effects and also common side effects like L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesias (LID).
Influence of modified work on recurrence of sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints.

OBJECTIVES Workers who carry out modified work during sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints seem to return to full-capacity work earlier than colleagues not given modified work. This study evaluates whether modified work during sick leave also influences the recurrence of a new episode of sick leave. METHODS Questionnaires on physical and psychosocial workload, musculoskeletal complaints, general health and sick leave were sent to 137 workers on sick leave for 2-6 weeks due to musculoskeletal complaints, shortly after full return to work, and 12 months after the first day of sick leave. RESULTS Approximately 45% of the participants experienced a recurrence of musculoskeletal sick leave within 12 months after the start of the initial sick leave. Subjects who performed modified work during initial sick leave reported significantly less recurrence than those who had started immediately at full capacity. Musculoskeletal sick leave prior to the start of the study also predicted the recurrence of sick leave. Many workers reported residual health problems at the time of return to work, which in turn influenced recurrence of musculoskeletal sickness absence. CONCLUSION This study suggests that, although full recovery of musculoskeletal complaints was not established at the time of return to work, workers who had performed modified work had a lower risk of recurrence of musculoskeletal sick leave than those who had returned directly to full duties.
Correlations of fetal cardiac sympathetic activity with maternal body mass index

We tested the hypothesis that maternal body mass index (BMI) determines fetal cardiac sympathetic activity. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters of fetal are measured for obese & non-obese mother prior to delivery with Doppler ultrasound method. We studied 64 maternal abdominal Doppler ultrasound signals. From these, we identify 41 subjects of whose body mass index (BMI) ranging from 20 to 37. The R-R interval variability which shows the variation between consecutive heart beats, change over time was eventually adopted to calculate for time-domain, frequency domain and non linear analysis. Based on frequency analysis, the ranges of the LF and HF domains were defined as 0.04-0.15 and 0.15-0.4 Hz, respectively. We defined low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio as a index of sympathetic activity. The value of LF/HF ratio [Nonparametric Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Based method] in normal pregnancy group displayed clearly decreasing trend with body mass index (BMI) y = - 0.013x + 0.965; R2 = 0.040 (one-way ANOVA: P <; 0.0001). The value of LF/HF ratio [Parametric Autoregressive (AR) Based] in normal pregnancy group displayed clearly decreasing trend with body mass index (BMI) y = - 0.011x + 0.8555; R2 = 0.051 (one-way ANOVA: P <; 0.0001). In consultation with gynecologists and child specialist it has been verified that the new born babies have more neurological problems following deliveries from obese mothers compared with deliveries from non-obese mothers.
‘New’ functions for ‘old’ proteins: The role of the calcium-binding proteins calbindin D-28k, calretinin and parvalbumin, in cerebellar physiology. Studies with knockout mice

Calretinin (CR), calbindin D-28k (CB) and parvalbumin (PV) belong to the large family of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins, which comprises more than 200 members in man. Structurally these proteins are characterized by the presence of a variable number of evolutionary well-conserved helix-loop-helix motives, which bind Ca2+ ions with high affinity. Functionally, they fall into two groups: by interaction with target proteins, calcium sensors translate calcium concentrations into signaling cascades, whereas calcium buffers are thought to modify the spatiotemporal aspects of calcium transients. Although CR, CB and PV are currently being considered calcium buffers, this may change as we learn more about their biology. Remarkable differences in their biophysical properties have led to the distinction of fast and slow buffers and suggested functional specificity of individual calcium buffers. Evaluation of the physiological roles of CR, CB and PV has been facilitated by the recent generation of mouse strains deficient in these proteins. Here, we review the biology of these calcium-binding proteins with distinct reference to the cerebellum, since they are particularly enriched in specific cerebellar neurons. CR is principally expressed in granule cells and their parallel fibres, while PV and CB are present throughout the axon, soma, dendrites and spines of Purkinje cells. PV is additionally found in a subpopulation of inhibitory interneurons, the stellate and basket cells. Studies on deficient mice together within vitro work and their unique cell type-specific distribution in the cerebellum suggest that these calcium-binding proteins have evolved as functionally distinct, physiologically relevant modulators of intracellular calcium transients. Analysis of different brain regions suggests that these proteins are involved in regulating calcium pools critical for synaptic plasticity. Surprisingly, a major role of any of these three calcium-binding proteins as an endogenous neuroprotectant is not generally supported.
Thin-film strained-SOI CMOS Devices-physical mechanisms for reduction of carrier mobility

We have examined physical mechanisms responsible for the reduction in both electron and hole mobility in strained-silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS devices with thin strained-Si layers. A slight decrease in the electron mobility with thinning strained-Si layers is attributable to the quantum-mechanical confinement effect of the inversion layer electrons, originating in the conduction band offset of the strained-Si layers. Also, the diffusion of Ge atoms into the SiO/sub 2//strained-Si interface is found to generate interface states near the valence band edge, leading to the reduction in hole mobility in the lower E/sub eff/ region through Coulomb scattering. Moreover, the decrease in hole mobility enhancement in both thin and thick strained-Si structures at the higher electric field is caused by the reduction of the energy splitting between the heavy and the light hole bands, with an increase in the electric field. Based on considerations of these factors affecting the mobility reduction, the strained-Si thickness and the Ge content have been designed to realize high-speed strained-SOI CMOS under the 90-nm technology and beyond.
Reduction in bone resorption by exogenous glucagon-like peptide-2 administration requires an intact gastrointestinal tract

Objective. Biochemical markers for bone resorption (s-CTX) are reduced by food intake, whereas markers for bone formation seem to be unaffected by meal status. Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is a peptide secreted from endocrine L cells in the intestinal mucosa in relation to food-intake. Subcutaneous GLP-2 treatment has been shown to reduce bone resorption in postmenopausal women. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of exogenous GLP-2 to reduce bone resorption in patients with jejunostomy or ileostomy and to elucidate whether an intact gastrointestinal tract and the ability to secrete GLP-2 are required for meal-induced inhibition of bone resorption. Material and methods. Fifteen control subjects, 13 colectomized patients with an ileostomy and 12 colectomized patients with a jejunostomy (remnant small bowel 89±53 cm) were given: a) a subcutaneous injection of 1600 µg GLP-2, b) placebo and c) 3.8 MJ of a breakfast meal. Blood was sampled for measurements of s-CTX, s-osteocalcin and GLP-2 for 4 h after each intervention. Results. After the GLP-2 injection, only control subjects showed a significant reduction in s-CTX (24%±13%, p=0.05, 120 min) compared with baseline values. Patients with an ileostomy had a preserved endogenous postprandial GLP-2 secretion, which was absent in patients with a jejunostomy. Consumption of a meal reduced s-CTX in all groups but significantly less so in the jejunostomy group. Conclusions. Reductions in bone resorption by exogenous GLP-2 require an intact gastrointestinal tract. The decreased meal-induced inhibition of bone resorption in the jejunostomy patients, who lack a GLP-2 response, supports the view that GLP-2 plays a role in postprandial reduction in bone resorption.
Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus, Glycemic Control, and Associated Factors in a Malay Population in Singapore

There is substantial heterogeneity regarding diabetes mellitus prevalence and glycemic control in Asian populations. The authors examined a population-based sample of 3000 adults (52% women) of Malay ethnicity (40-80 years) in Singapore. The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 18.4% (95% confidence interval = 17.0% to 19.8%). Being overweight, presence of hypertension, presence of cardiovascular disease, and family history of diabetes were found to be positively associated with diabetes mellitus. Higher education, employment status, and current smoking were found to be inversely associated with diabetes mellitus. Among those treated for diabetes, 29% achieved the optimal glycemic goal (glycosylated hemoglobin <7%). Lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were associated with good glycemic control. Nearly 1 in 5 middle-aged Malay adults living in a developed Asian society had diabetes mellitus and a substantial proportion had suboptimal glycemic control.
enginy@eps: Motivating the engineering courses: Social valuation as a motivating factor

This paper presents an academic initiative to increase the motivation of students for engineering topics, and discusses the results obtained. The initiative is a journal where students may publish, both in paper and in electronic format, the final reports of their laboratory works or research activities. The name of the journal is enginy@eps. The existence of this journal becomes an external element for motivating the students, since their documents are going to be reviewed by an editorial staff and are going to be published out of the classroom. The collected data shows that social recognition is still a useful element to motivate the students in technical courses.
Instruments for Evaluating Shared Medical Decision Making

The author conducted a structured literature review of instruments for evaluating shared medical decision making. She included relevant instruments that were generalizable beyond specific situations and had been formally evaluated and organized them by domains of values or preferences, information and communication in decision making, and other aspects of decision making. For values or preferences, the author identified 11 instruments, mostly on preferences for roles and information. For information and communication, she found a systematic review of instruments for observational assessment of decision making, 3 additional observational instruments, and 3 questionnaires. For other aspects of decision making, the author identified 3 instruments in domains such as decision self-efficacy and 4 multidimensional instruments. Although instrument development tended to cluster in several areas and there were clear gaps in the literature, the diversity of instruments demonstrates the broad range of constructs involved in assessing shared decision making.
Fibrin sealant: current and potential clinical applications.

There are few well-controlled studies of the clinical efficacy of fibrin sealant, defined by lives saved or reduced need for blood transfusions. Evaluation of fibrin sealant in trauma situations, e.g. liver laceration, has been difficult to perform. Only recently has fibrin sealant been actively promoted by US manufacturers as a commercially valuable alternative to the relatively inexpensive crude bovine thrombin and cryoprecipitate that are in current use. Regulatory agencies and manufacturers are aware that patients in the USA are receiving a suboptimal form of fibrin glue since cryoprecipitate is not virally inactivated and has a variable fibrinogen concentration. In addition, bovine thrombin is not regulated with respect to factor V content or any other impurities. During the past year regulatory agencies, together with manufacturers and clinicians, have begun to define clinically valid endpoints for efficacy of a commercially prepared fibrin sealant. These may include improvement in hemostasis compared with a placebo or agents considered to be 'standard of care'. Thus, the regulatory agencies may be willing to consider studies in animals that demonstrate efficacy as well as surrogate endpoints, such as reduced factor concentrate requirements in patients with severe hemophilia requiring dental extraction. As fibrin sealant becomes available in a liquid and potentially in a bandage form, it may also become an essential matrix for recombinant factors that can affect endothelial function.
Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate induces growth inhibition and apoptosis of human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells through suppression of EGFR/ERK pathway and cyclin B1/CDK1 complex

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most lethal cancers because of its aggressiveness and the lack of efficacious therapy. Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), a major catechin in green tea, was shown to possess remarkable therapeutic potential against various types of human cancer cells in in vitro and in vivo models. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of EGCG on the proliferation and apoptosis of ARO cells—human ATC cells.
Maternal Tissue Repartitioning in Pregnant Primiparous Swine in Response to Restriction of Calories or Feed

Abstract Crossbred (Chester White X Landrace X Large White X Yorkshire) primiparous gilts were fed daily a corn-soybean meal-based gestation diet at 1.8 kg (C) or 0.6 kg (R) (6000 or 2000 kcal calculated digestible energy, DE) or a high-protein diet (RCal) at 0.6 kg (2000 kcal calculated DE) from day of mating to slaughter at 100 to 106 days of gestation. The RCal diet contained three times the concentrations of protein and of mineral and vitamin supplement present in the C diet. Body weight and ultrasonically estimated backfat depth were recorded at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postcoitum. The results showed differential effects of form of diet restriction (R vs RCal) on body weight, backfat depth, relative and absolute uterine weight, and on relative kidney, stomach, and trimmed wholesale cut weights of the dam. Maternal and fetal plasma glucose and urea-N concentrations were higher in RCal than in R groups. Total uterus plus gastrointestinal tract relative weight, with or without fetuses, was lower in RCal than in R and C gilts. The ratio of uterus (with or without fetuses) weight to gastrointestinal tract weight was greater in R than in C or RCal gilts. The data are interpreted to indicate that restriction of carbohydrate-fat calories only compared with restriction of a standard diet throughout gestation in swine had a negative effect on uterine growth associated with repartitioning of nutrients to visceral organ and lean tissue growth at the expense of maternal uterine tissue and body fat conservation.