Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant biodiversity and ethnobotany of Borana pastoralists in Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

A survey of plant biodiversity and ethnobotanical studies was conducted in southern Ethiopia using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions, interviews and questionnaires. Species richness, growth forms and uses of native wild plants are described. Borana pastoralists distinguished and named 86% of the plant species identified. A total of 327 plant species distributed among 197 genera and 69 families are documented: 40% are trees/shrubs, 30% forbs (non-woody plants other than grasses and sedges), 16% grasses, 10% climbers, 2% sedges and 2% succulents. Based on richness of species and usefulness, the most important families are Poaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. Two hundred forty-eight species (76%) are used by Borana pastoralists, out of which 42% have multiple uses. Indigenous knowledge of pastoralists on use and management of their plant resources is a valuable source of information for conservation and sustainable utilization of the plant biodiversity and, hence, conservation based on indigenous knowledge is recommended.
Phenotypic Analysis Reveals that the 2010 Haiti Cholera Epidemic Is Linked to a Hypervirulent Strain

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor strains have been responsible for pandemic cholera since 1961. These strains have evolved over time, spreading globally in three separate waves. Wave 3 is caused by altered El Tor (AET) variant strains, which include the strain with the signature ctxB7 allele that was introduced in 2010 into Haiti, where it caused a devastating epidemic. In this study, we used phenotypic analysis to compare an early isolate from the Haiti epidemic to wave 1 El Tor isolates commonly used for research. It is demonstrated that the Haiti isolate has increased production of cholera toxin (CT) and hemolysin, increased motility, and a reduced ability to form biofilms. This strain also outcompetes common wave 1 El Tor isolates for colonization of infant mice, indicating that it has increased virulence. Monitoring of CT production and motility in additional wave 3 isolates revealed that this phenotypic variation likely evolved over time rather than in a single genetic event. Analysis of available whole-genome sequences and phylogenetic analyses suggested that increased virulence arose from positive selection for mutations found in known and putative regulatory genes, including hns and vieA, diguanylate cyclase genes, and genes belonging to the lysR and gntR regulatory families. Overall, the studies presented here revealed that V. cholerae virulence potential can evolve and that the currently prevalent wave 3 AET strains are both phenotypically distinct from and more virulent than many El Tor isolates.
Millimeter-Wave Properties and Structure of Gradient Co–Ir Films Deposited on Opal Matrix

The millimeter-waveband properties of gradient cobalt and iridium films deposited on the surface of opal matrix have been studied. The transmission and reflection coefficients are measured in frequency range from 26 to 38 GHz. The algorithm is developed to extract the value of microwave effective conductivity from the frequency dependence of transmission coefficient. The values of microwave conductivity are three orders of magnitude greater than dc conductivity. Besides microwave measurements, electron microscopy and chemical composition studies are carried out.
Comparison of Three Kinds of Mid-Urethral Slings for Surgical Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

Aims A study was conducted to compare the efficacy and complications of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), transobturator vaginal tape inside-out TVT-0 and transobturator vaginal tape out-inside (TOT) procedures for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence SUI. Methods This study is a prospective randomized trial involving 187 women with primary SUI; 77 received TVT, 65 received TVT-O, and 45 patients were treated with TVT-0 between June 2002 and December 2009. Before the operation, a complete medical history was taken and a gynecologic examination was performed, including subjective symptoms, history and urodynamic studies. Postoperative data included mean operation time, days of hospitalization, postoperative complications and efficacy evaluation. Therapeutic effect was assessed by presence or absence of incontinence when abdominal pressure increased. Results The history, physical examination and urodynamic studies among the three groups have no significant difference (P>0.05). The total cure rate was 91.4%. The cure rate in TVT, TVT-O and TOT groups were 90.9%, 92.3% and 91.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05). Mean operative time showed no significant difference between TVT-O and TOT groups, but both were significantly shorter than TVT group (26.90±16.80, 20.00±13.50 vs 48.20±21.90). The mean postoperative hospital stay showed no significant difference between TVT and TVT-O groups, but both groups were significantly longer than TOT group. Mean postoperative hospital stay of TVT, TVT-O and TOT were 5.00±2.40 days, 4.00±2.20 days and 2.30±0.80 days, respectively. The complication rate in TVT, TVT-O and TOT groups was 15.60%, 9.20% and 8.90%, respectively. In TVT group, 4 patients experienced bladder perforation, postoperative dysuria or retention occurred in 7 cases and was cured by urethral dilation, hematomas of retropubic space in 1 patient. No bladder injury occurred in TVT-O and TOT group, 3 patients had postoperative dysuria or retention and 3 patients had transient dysfunction of both lower limbs postoperatively in TVT-O group, 2 patients had postoperative dysuria or retention and 2 patients had transient dysfunction of both lower limbs postoperatively in TOT group. Summary The three tension-free urethral suspension techniques have similar efficacy, all of them are safe and effective procedures for the treatment of female SUI. Compared with TVT, TVT-O and TOT are simpler, less invasive and have fewer complications.
A Kinase Activity Associated with Simian Virus 40 Large T Antigen Phosphorylates Upstream Binding Factor (UBF) and Promotes Formation of a Stable Initiation Complex between UBF and SL1

ABSTRACT Simian virus 40 large T antigen is a multifunctional protein which has been shown to modulate the expression of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase I (Pol I), II, and III. In all three transcription systems, a key step in the activation process is the recruitment of large T antigen to the promoter by direct protein-protein interaction with the TATA binding protein (TBP)-TAF complexes, namely, SL1, TFIID, and TFIIIB. However, our previous studies on large T antigen stimulation of Pol I transcription also revealed that the binding to the TBP-TAFI complex SL1 is not sufficient to activate transcription. To further define the molecular mechanism involved in large T antigen-mediated Pol I activation, we examined whether the high-mobility group box-containing upstream binding factor (UBF) plays any role in this process. Here, using cell labeling experiments, we showed that large T antigen expression induces an increase in UBF phosphorylation. Further biochemical analysis demonstrated that UBF is phosphorylated by a kinase activity that is strongly associated with large T antigen, and that the carboxy-terminal activation domain of UBF is required for the phosphorylation to occur. Using in vitro reconstituted transcription assays, we demonstrated that the inability of alkaline phosphatase treated UBF to efficiently activate transcription can be rescued by large T antigen. Moreover, we showed that large T antigen-induced UBF phosphorylation promotes the formation of a stable UBF-SL1 complex. Together, these results provide strong evidence for an important role for the large T antigen-associated kinase in mediating the stimulation of RNA Pol I transcription.
A Model for Text Summarization

Text summarization is a process for creating a concise version of documents preserving its main content. In this paper, to cover all topics and reduce redundancy in summaries, a two-stage sentences selection method for text summarization is proposed. At the first stage, to discover all topics the sentences set is clustered by using k-means method. At the second stage, optimum selection of sentences is proposed. From each cluster the salient sentences are selected according to their contribution to the topic cluster and their proximity to other sentences in cluster to avoid redundancy in summaries until the appointed summary length is reached. Sentence selection is modeled as an optimization problem. In this study, to solve the optimization problem an adaptive differential evolution with novel mutation strategy is employed. With a test on benchmark DUC2001 and DUC2002 data sets, the ROUGE value of summaries got by the proposed approach demonstrated its validity, compared to the traditional methods of sentence selection and the top three performing systems for DUC2001 and DUC2002.
Antioxidant capacity of flavonoids and a new arylphenol of the resinous exudate from Heliotropium sinuatum

From the resinous exudate of Heliotropium sinuatum (family Boraginaceae), a new compound: 4-(3′,5′-dihydroxynonadecyl)phenol 1, together with eight previously described flavonoids, were isolated and their antioxidant activities were assessed by quenching measurements with ABTS and DPPH cation radicals.
Interaction Association Analysis of Imputed SNPs in Case‐Control and Follow‐Up Studies

A new method is described to assess the interactions of imputed SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in case‐control and follow‐up studies, properly incorporating SNP imputation uncertainty in the likelihood model. Using simulation studies and analysis of real data obtained from the Framingham study cohort, we compare the performance of this new method to DOSAGE and NAIVE (also known as Best‐Guess) methods, developed and commonly used in the context of single SNP and extended to SNP‐by‐SNP interaction. The results show that only our new method is unbiased under all examined scenarios regarding allele frequencies, imputation uncertainty degree, and interaction effect size. In addition, our method achieves at least as much power as the other two, and exceeds their statistical power in certain follow‐up analysis situations. This method is fast enough to perform Genome Wide Interaction Studies (GWIS) with hundreds of thousands of interactions. By performing an exhaustive simulation study let us to provide recommendations for selecting the most appropriated method depending on MAF, interaction effect size, and uncertainty degree. In general, DOSAGE and our proposed method are recommended in most situations being our method more powerful and accurate when uncertainty and effect increase.
Platelet glycocalicin. Interaction with thrombin and role as thrombin receptor of the platelet surface.

Intact human platelets contain on their outer surface a glycoprotein, glycocalicin (M, = 150,000). which is released in soluble form following platelet homogenization while glycoprotein I, which has a similar electrophoretic mobility, remains bound to the plasma membrane (Okumura, T., and Jamieson, G. A. (1976)5. Bid. Chem. 251, 5944-5949). Purified glycocalicin has now been shown to be a competitive inhibitor of the binding of thrombin to intact platelets in both the high affinity (0.05 to 0.6 nM; 5 to 60 milliunitsl ml) and low affinity (2.5 to 28 nM; 250 to 2,800 milliunits/ml) ranges. Inhibitor constants of 30 nM were obtained but with nonlinear kinetics in the latter case. The inhibitory activity (K, 15 nM) resides in the peptide fragment (M, = 45,000) previously obtained by proteolytic digestion of glycocalicin (Okumura, T., Lombart, C., and Jamieson, G. A. (1976) J. Bid. Chem. 251, 5950-5955). the macroglycopeptide (M, = 120,000) being devoid of activity. Isolated platelet plasma membranes also inhibited the binding of thrombin to intact platelets and their inhibitory activity was identical with that of purified glycocalicin when calculated on the basis of their content of glycoprotein I. One-half of the membrane-bound glycoprotein could be solubilized in 1 M sodium chloride solution. The solubilized material was immunologically identical with glycocalicin when tested against a monospecific antiglycocalicin antiserum. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of the salinesoluble material was identical with that of glycocalicin itself. Thrombin-binding activity of platelets remained under conditions (formalinization or brief treatment with chymotrypsin) where platelet aggregating ability is lost and the amount of thrombin bound by modified platelets was proportional to the total amount of glycocalicinlglycoprotein I present.
In Vivo Gene Transfer: A Biological Tool

Advances in molecular genetics have allowed for the development of new animal models of cardiovascular disease, and these genetic models have permitted investigations into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of these diseases. The animal models include transgenics, in which a recombinant gene is introduced into germ line cells and recombinant protein is expressed in all somatic cells, and gene transfer, in which a recombinant gene is introduced locally into somatic cells of an organ. These genetic models have been useful to study the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases and have the potential to develop new treatments. Our laboratory has been interested in using gene transfer models to study the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell growth in atherosclerosis and restenosis. Studies from many laboratories suggest that the pathogenesis of restenosis is complex and multifactorial, comprised of cell proliferation, elastic recoil or vessel constriction, and thrombosis. ’,* Each of these components is important and contributes to restenosis, however, in this review we will focus on the role of cell proliferation. In order to investigate the function of different growth factor genes in the response to arterial injury, we have expressed three growth factor genes in porcine arteries by direct gene transfer: PDGF B,’ FGF-1: and TGF-P1.5 The expression of each growth factor gene was associated with the development of intimal hyperplasia; however, the phenotype of the intima was different for each gene. For example, the expression of a PDGF B gene in porcine arteries was associated with intimal smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration? FGF1 gene expression stimulated intimal angiogenesis? while TGF-P 1 gene expression resulted in accelerated procollagen synthesis in the intima and media of arteries? These findings suggested considerable redundancy in growth factor signaling pathways; that is, the expression of multiple growth factor and cytokine genes contributes to the pathogenesis of intimal lesion formation. Therefore, this redundancy in growth factor signaling has led to the hypothesis that effective genetic therapies for vascular proliferative diseases should target central regulatory pathways, such as DNA replication or cell cycle regulatory proteins rather than more proximal, potentially redundant pathways. In order to determine whether the expression of an antiproliferative gene can modify the response to vascular injury, wl first examined a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk). HSV-tk is not expressed in mammalian cells, and encodes for an enzyme (thymidine kinase) that phosphorylates a nucleoside analog, ganciclovir. Incorporation of phosphorylated ganciclovir into replicating DNA in dividing cells leads to DNA chain termination,
Endoleak as a Complication of Endoluminal Grafting of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Classification, Incidence, Diagnosis, and Management

The inability to obtain or maintain a secure seal between a vessel wall and a transluminally implanted intra-aneurysmal graft is a complication unique to the evolving technique of endovascular aneurysm exclusion. Because the term “leak” has long been associated with aneurysm rupture, the term “endoleak” is proposed as a more definitive description of this phenomenon. Embracing both persistent blood flow into the aneurysmal sac from within or around the graft (graft related) and from patent collateral arteries (nongraft related), endoleak can be classified as primary or secondary depending on the time of occurrence (within 30 days of implantation or following apparent initial seal, respectively). Diagnostic techniques to detect endoleak include arteriography, intraprocedural pressure monitoring, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, abdominal X ray, and duplex scanning. Management strategies for endoleak range from observation with periodic imaging surveillance to correction by additional endoluminal or surgical procedures. Standardization of the terminology describing this important sequela to endovascular aneurysm exclusion should facilitate uniform reporting of clinical trial data vital to the evaluation of this emerging technique.
Imaging of valence shell dynamics using intense laser pulses

Electron correlation is one of the main frontiers of modern science and of fundamental importance to such diverse fields as, e.g., many body systems, superconductivity and quantum computing. At the ultrafast laser frontier electron correlation has found prominence in the dramatic enhancement of multiple ionization and high harmonic generation. The underlying mechanism, called recollision, forms the foundation of attosecond science. However, above a certain threshold intensity the laser field-electron coupling dominates electron correlation and recollision is no longer important. Hence, electron correlation was assumed to be restricted to lower laser intensities. Only recently experimental evidence has corroborated the notion that the creation of a continuum electron wave packet by laser pulses often entails a correlated electronic hole wave packet in the ion in particular at those higher laser intensities.
Differentiation of human neural progenitor cells on PLGA microfibers

In this study, we investigated the application of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to neural tissue engineering. hESCs were differentiated to neural progenitor cells and cultured on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microfibers. PLGA microfibers were prepared by using a microfluidic spinning system and aligned in parallel manner by winding the nascent fibers around a rotating frame. Neural progenitor cells were prepared by differentiating embryoid bodies (EBs). Neural progenitors cultured on the PLGA fibers were assessed for further proliferation and differentiation. To verify the expression of neural progenitor markers, cells were immunostained with neuronal specific antibodies. After six-days in culture, neuronal protein expression was confirmed with neuron specific beta III tubulin antibody (Tuj1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). After 20-days, cells were immunostained with microfilament associated protein (MAP) and neurofilament. The neurites of differentiated cells cultured for 20 days elongated along the direction of the PLGA microfibers. This result shows the possibility of using PLGA microfibers for neural tissue regeneration as a guidance cue for hESC derived cells.
The role of computerized order sets in pediatric inpatient asthma treatment

Condition‐specific order sets within computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems are designed to decrease unnecessary practice variation and to promote evidence‐based practice. This study quantitatively assessed the relationship between use of a computerized order set and processes of care in inpatient pediatric asthma treatment, and qualitatively assessed user attitudes toward order set use.
PERSONALISED CANCER MEDICINE IN COLORECTAL CANCER - A SHORT OVERVIEW

Summary In this article, a short overview of the current clinical situation of colorectal cancer (CRC) personalised medicine is presented. CRC is a complex, heterogeneous disease that involves multiple signalling pathways and tumors that appear histologically identical, but may have different prognoses and different responses to treatment. Basically, the treatment for colorectal cancer varies by tumor location, stage at diagnosis, and patient’s general condition. Recent newer polychemotherapy protocols, along with the use of inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways, have enhanced the therapeutic responses and potentially also the patient’s prognosis. These recent improvements in anticancer treatments and patient outcome in CRC were followed by a series of biomarker studies attempting to refine prognosis and predict patients who are likely to derive the most benefit from treatment. Consequently, validated predictive and prognostic biomarkers offer potential for personalised therapy for CRC patients. Microsatellite instability (MSI), as well as clinical pathological factors in stage II and III colorectal cancer, may now be considered to be a robust prognostic biomarker in the adjuvant setting. On the other hand, KRAS mutation status should be taken up as a part of routine clinical practice, as a predictive marker for response to EGFR-targeted therapies. The treatment of CRC is expected to become more and more routinely based on identified CRC subtypes and on validated prognostic and predictive biomarkers relatively soon (within several years), which should offer patients better therapeutic outcomes with less side effects.
(1SR,2RS,3SR,5SR,6RS)-6-[(Z)-1-Acetoxy-2-phenylethenyl]-3-ethoxy-2-phenylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-1-yl acetate

The molecule of the title compound, C26H28O5, is chiral with five stereogenic centres; however, the centrosymmetric triclinic group gives a racemic crystal. The fused ring system adopta boat conformation in which the cyclopropane ring plane is roughly perpendicular to the styryl group plane, forming a dihedral angle of 74.78 (19)°. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 77.24 (6)°.
Commentary on: Are we overpathologizing everyday life? A tenable blueprint for behavioral addiction research

This commentary considers a recent article on how the proliferating use of atheoretical, confirmatory and diagnosis driven research approaches is resulting in the over-identification of behavioral addictions. In response to the original article, I reflect on the timeliness and value of its observations and expand on a central point it raises: The importance of thinking beyond diagnostic frameworks in developing a comprehensive understanding of addictive behaviors and associated treatments.
'Paradoxical' rise in blood pressure during ultrafiltration in dialysis patients.

In some hypertensive haemodialysis (HD) patients, blood pressure rises further during ultrafiltration (UF). We investigated seven such patients, who were not responsive to hypotensive drugs, including converting enzyme inhibitors. All had marked cardiac dilatation, but most were non-oedematous. They were treated with repeated intense UF while monitoring cardiac function by echocardiography. After a variable time period they all became (near) normotensive without medication. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 46 +/- 18 and 22 +/- 9 mmHg respectively while bodyweight decreased by a mean of 6.7 +/- 3.0 kg. Plasma volume decreased by 22%, and mean albumin increased from 3.9 +/- 0.3 to 4.2 +/- 0.3 g/dl. Cardiothoracic index decreased from a 0.56 +/- 0.02 to 0.45 +/- 0.03. Mitral and tricuspid insufficiency was present in four patients and improved or disappeared in all of them. Diameters of the inferior vena cava, left atrium, and end systolic and diastolic left ventricle markedly decreased in all patients. Ejection fraction increased, but remained subnormal in some patients, while cardiac output increased in five and decreased in two patients. We conclude that paradoxical blood pressure rise with UF usually occurs in the presence overhydration and cardiac dilatation and should be treated by intensified UF. The explanation of this phenomenon remains speculative.