Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The homology and phylogeny of chondrichthyan tooth enameloid

A systematic SEM survey of tooth microstructure in (primarily) fossil taxa spanning chondrichthyan phylogeny demonstrates the presence of a superficial cap of single crystallite enameloid (SCE) on the teeth of several basal elasmobranchs, as well as on the tooth plates of Helodus (a basal holocephalan). This suggests that the epithelial–mesenchymal interactions required for the development of enameloid during odontogenesis are plesiomorphic in chondrichthyans, and most likely in toothed gnathostomes, and provides phylogenetic support for the homology of chondrichthyan and actinopterygian enameloid. Along the neoselachian stem, we see a crownward progression, possibly modulated by heterochrony, from a monolayer of SCE lacking microstructural differentiation to the complex triple‐layered tooth enameloid fabric of neoselachians. Finally, the occurrence of fully‐differentiated neoselachian enameloid microstructure (including compression‐resistant tangle fibered enameloid and bending‐resistant parallel fibered enameloid) in Chlamydoselachus anguineus, a basal Squalean with teeth that are functionally “cladodont,” is evidence that triple‐layered enameloid microstructure was a preadaption to the cutting and gouging function of many neoselachian teeth, and thus may have played an integral role in the Mesozoic radiation of the neoselachian crown group. J. Morphol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Domestic Space in the Roman World: Pompeii and beyond@@@"Domus": Edilizia privata e societa pompeiana fra III e I secolo a. C.

B: POMPEII: A CASE STUDY 91 Salvatore Nappo The urban transformation at Pompeii in the late third and early second centuries B.C. 121 Jens-Arne Dickmann The peristyle and the transformation of domestic space in Hellenistic Pompeii 137 Mark Grahame Public and private in the Roman house: investigating the social order of the Casa del Fauno 165 Felix Pirson Rented accommodation at Pompeii: the evidence of the Insula Arriana Polliana VI 6 183 Joanne Berry Household artefacts: towards a re-interpretation of Roman domestic space 196 Pedar Foss Watchful Lares: Roman household organization and the rituals of cooking and dining 219 Andrew Wallace-Hadrill Rethinking the Roman atrium house
Risk of Hemorrhagic Stroke in Asian American Ethnic Groups

The sparseness of prospective data about hemorrhagic stroke (HS) risk among Asian American ethnic groups led to the investigation of 128,934 persons with self-classified ethnicity at health examinations in 1978–1985. Subsequently, 431 persons were hospitalized for HS; 31% for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 69% for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Ethnic predictors of HS were studied by Cox proportional hazard models with 7 covariates. With whites as reference, the adjusted relative risk (95% CI) of all Asians for HS was 1.6 (1.1–2.3, p = 0.01), due substantially to increased risks of SAH in Japanese people and ICH in Filipinos. These data mandate emphasis upon preventive measures in these groups.
Potential of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings to Refine Case Definition for Mechanical Low Back Pain in Epidemiological Studies: A Systematic Review

Study Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Objective. To assess how confidently low back pain (LBP) can be attributed to abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and thereby explore the potential value of MRI abnormalities in refining case definition for mechanical LBP in epidemiological research. Summary of Background Data. Most epidemiological studies of mechanical LBP have defined cases only by reported symptoms, but it is possible that the potency of causes differs depending on whether there is demonstrable underlying spinal pathology. Methods. We reviewed the published data on MRI abnormalities, looking for data on the repeatability of their assessment, their prevalence in people free from LBP, and their association with LBP. Where data were sufficient, we calculated a summary estimate of prevalence in people without LBP and a meta-estimate of the odds ratio for the association with LBP. A formula was then applied to estimate the corresponding prevalence rate ratio, assuming 3 possible prevalence rates for LBP in the general population. Results. Data were most extensive for disc protrusion, nerve root displacement or compression, disc degeneration, and high intensity zone, all of which could be assessed repeatedly. All were associated with LBP, meta-estimates of odds ratios ranging from 2.3 (nerve root displacement or compression) to 3.6 (disc protrusion). However, even for disc protrusion, estimates of the corresponding prevalence rate ratios were mostly less than 2. Conclusion. MRI findings of disc protrusion, nerve root displacement or compression, disc degeneration, and high intensity zone are all associated with LBP, but individually, none of these abnormalities provides a strong indication that LBP is attributable to underlying pathology. This limits their value in refining epidemiological case definitions for LBP.
A Parallel Approach for Matching Large-scale Ontologies

Recent years have seen an increasing use of large ontologies in various areas of knowledge, e.g. health and agriculture. In this scenario, ontology matching is an important way of establishing interoperability between applications that use different but related ontologies. Matching large ontologies is challenging since it involves a great number of comparisons between concepts which leads to high execution time and requires a large amount of computing resources. This work proposes a MapReduce-based approach that distributes the computation of comparisons between concepts among the nodes of a cloud computing infrastructure. Experimental results indicate that the proposed approach can reduce execution time without necessarily compromising the effectiveness of ontology alignments.
Molekularzytogenetische Charakterisierung von Glioblastomen mit einer oligodendroglialen Komponente als Beitrag zur Einführung einer individuellen Diagnostik

Glioblastome stellen die haufigsten und zugleich bosartigsten Tumoren des zentralen Nervensystems dar mit einer sehr ungunstigen Prognose und einer medianen Uberlebenszeit von weniger als einem Jahr. Ein Teil der Glioblastome weist Areale mit einer oligodendroglialen Differenzierung auf. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, Glioblastome mit einer oligodendroglialen Komponente (GBMO) genetisch zu charakterisieren, um mogliche diagnostische bzw. prognostische Marker identifizieren zu konnen. Es wurden die beiden unterschiedlichen histologischen Anteile von 13 GBMO getrennt mittels Interphase-FISH- (unter Verwendung eines eigens entwickeltem Sondenset) sowie mittels CGH-Analyse nach Mikrodissektion untersucht sowie 10 klassische Glioblastome (GBM). Mit Hilfe des Sondensets liesen sich in den GBMO vier genetische Subtypen unterscheiden: ein “astrozytarer”, ein “oligodendroglialer”, ein “intermediarer” und ein “anderer” Subtyp. Alle klassischen GBM entsprachen dagegen genetisch dem “astrozytaren” Subtyp. Die Glioblastompatienten, deren Tumoren genetisch dem “anderen” Subtyp aufwiesen, uberlebten signifikant langer als die Glioblastompatienten mit Tumoren der anderen drei genetischen Subtypen (p = 0,022). Insgesamt hatten Patienten mit einem GBMO eine signifikant langere Uberlebenszeit als Patienten mit einem klassischen GBM (p = 0,005). Unsere Untersuchungen zeigen, dass GBMO aufgrund ihrer gunstigeren Prognose histologisch von klassischen GBM unterschieden werden sollten. Auserdem unterstreichen sie die Bedeutung molekulargenetischer Analysen als Erganzung zur histologischen Diagnostik der Gliome.
ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND GROWTH CONTROL OF A SULFATE REDUCING BACTERIA FROM SEWAGE WATER

Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) are a diverse heter ogeneous group of anaerobic microorganisms inhabiting in various environmental conditions. SRB are one of the most important groups of microorganisms that participate in variou s nutritional cycles of the environment and cause degradation of various organic matters through the process of dissimilatory sulfate reduction. They ar e known to be implicated in cases of microbially infl uenced corrosion arising in a wide range of natural and industrial circumstances. SRB are known to utilize th indigenous sulfate source and hence produce the deadly poisonous hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) gas. In the present study one strain of SRB desi gnated as WS-1 was collected from sewage water. The sample was enr iched in a basal mineral media in an anaerobic condition using lactic acid as carbon source. The i solated strain (WS-1) was Gram negative cocci shape d and occured in chains and pairs. Biochemical charac terization of the strains revealed that, the strain WS-1 was closely related to Veillonella. Sulfate reduction and sulfide formation were evid nt both in case of lactic acid and acetic acid as carbon source. It wa s observed that sodium nitrate and potassium nitrat e were effective in controlling sulfide formation.
A parallel electronic sensor for phenotypic screening in energy production

This paper presents a micro fuel cell array able to characterize and screen complex phenotypes. The specific example presented implements an array of 96 bacterial fuel cells since it measures continuously the electric current produced by a population of cells contained in each well. Since the current output is a mirror of the cells' metabolic state, it can be used for screening them according to their response to environmental conditions.
Septins enforce morphogenetic events during sexual reproduction and contribute to virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans

Septins are conserved, cytoskeletal GTPases that contribute to cytokinesis, exocytosis, cell surface organization and vesicle fusion by mechanisms that are poorly understood. Roles of septins in morphogenesis and virulence of a human pathogen and basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans were investigated. In contrast to a well‐established paradigm in S. cerevisiae, Cdc3 and Cdc12 septin homologues are dispensable for growth in C. neoformans yeast cells at 24°C but are essential at 37°C. In a bilateral cross between septin mutants, cells fuse but the resulting hyphae exhibit morphological abnormalities, including lack of properly fused specialized clamp cells and failure to produce spores. Interestingly, post‐mating hyphae of the septin mutants have a defect in nuclear distribution. Thus, septins are essential for the development of spores, clamp cell fusion and also play a specific role in nuclear dynamics in hyphae. In the post‐mating hyphae the septins localize to discrete sites in clamp connections, to the septa and the bases of the initial emerging spores. Strains lacking CDC3 or CDC12 exhibit significantly reduced virulence in a Galleria mellonella model of infection. Thus, C. neoformans septins are vital to morphology of the hyphae and contribute to virulence.
Induction of autoimmune disease by graft‐versus host reaction across MHC class II difference: modification of the lesions in IL‐6 transgenic mice

We examined the effect of IL‐6 on the development of autoimmune diseases (primary biliary cirrhosis. Sjögren's syndrome) employing murine grari‐versus‐host reaction (GVHR) model with MHC class II disparity. For this purpose, we used IL‐6 transgenic(B6.6) mice in which a high level of IL‐6 was detected. C57B1/6 (B6) spleen T cells were injected into B6.6 mated with B6.C‐H‐2(bml2) mutant mice ((bmi2x B6.6)FI) and GVHR with MHC class II disparity was induced. The iransgenic hybrid mice with GVHR showed a larger spleen index and contained a higher serum level of IL‐6 than those without GVHR. Autoimmune‐like lesions in transgenic recipients became weakened compared with those in non‐transgenic (bml2 x B6)F1 recipients. In contrast, levels of antimitochondrial antibodies in (bm 12 x B6.6)FI GVHR group were signiiicantly higher than that of (bml2 X B6)FI GVHR group. These results indicate that lL‐6 excessively produced in vivo might regulate the progression of autotmmune diseases.
[Hypertension in the metabolic syndrome among Caribbean non diabetic subjects].

OBJECTIVE To study the metabolic syndrome (MS) components in Caribbean non diabetic individuals and to determine the magnitude of hypertension (HT) in those with and without MS. RESEARCH METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study, of 966 consecutive subjects aged 18-74 years. The MS was identified according to the NCEP/ATpiiI definition. Age, gender, body mass index and the MS components (blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol) were taken into account. The Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to understand correlations between these continuous variables within the data base, and to identify principal factors (combinations of variables) and the magnitude of HT in these combinations. RESULTS In the overall study population, mean age was 38 years and there were 60.1% of women. HT was more frequently found in men than in women (52.2% vs. 41.3%; p=0.001). Prevalence of MS was 11.3%. With PCA, in the complete sample of men, the first factor, explained 31.5% of the total variance in the original variables and was dominated by blood pressure, clustered with age and fasting blood glucose (FBG). In the women's sample, the first factor (31.1% of the variance) was dominated by obesity combined with FBG and lipids. In subjects with the metabolic syndrome the principal factors were dominated by blood pressure in both genders with higher loadings in men than in women. CONCLUSION In this non diabetic population study the prevailing obese women profile clustering with fasting glucose and lipid disturbances might explain the higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes among women, observed in this Caribbean region.
Interictal Discharges in Tungsten Foci and EEG Seizure Activity

The relationship between the frequency of occurrence of interictal phenomena and seizure activity was analyzed in experimental tungstic acid epilepsy. Well‐organized, typical electrographic seizures took place at optimal rates of occurrence when the intervals between the interictal spikes were between 4 and 20 sec. Longer intervals led to gradual disappearance of seizures and recovery from the epileptic state. Shorter intervals were incompatible with seizure activity.
Efficacy of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against acute otitis media.

BACKGROUND Ear infections are a common cause of illness during the first two years of life. New conjugate vaccines may be able to prevent a substantial portion of cases of acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. METHODS We enrolled 1662 infants in a randomized, double-blind efficacy trial of a heptavalent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in which the carrier protein is the nontoxic diphtheria-toxin analogue CRM197. The children received either the study vaccine or a hepatitis B vaccine as a control at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age. The clinical diagnosis of acute otitis media was based on predefined criteria, and the bacteriologic diagnosis was based on a culture of middle-ear fluid obtained by myringotomy. RESULTS Of the children who were enrolled, 95.1 percent completed the trial. With the pneumococcal vaccine, there were more local reactions than with the hepatitis B vaccine but fewer than with the combined whole-cell diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine that was administered simultaneously. There were 2596 episodes of acute otitis media during the follow-up period between 6.5 and 24 months of age. The vaccine reduced the number of episodes of acute otitis media from any cause by 6 percent (95 percent confidence interval, -4 to 16 percent [the negative number indicates a possible increase in the number of episodes]), culture-confirmed pneumococcal episodes by 34 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 21 to 45 percent), and the number of episodes due to the serotypes contained in the vaccine by 57 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 44 to 67 percent). The number of episodes attributed to serotypes that are cross-reactive with those in the vaccine was reduced by 51 percent, whereas the number of episodes due to all other serotypes increased by 33 percent. CONCLUSIONS The heptavalent pneumococcal polysaccharide-CRM197 conjugate vaccine is safe and efficacious in the prevention of acute otitis media caused by the serotypes included in the vaccine.
Demonstration of the quantum Zeno effect on the nitrogen vacancy center in nanodiamond

Already in 430 BC ancient Greek's philosopher Zeno of Elea formulated his well known paradox: An object that can be observed at any instant of time at a well defined position can not move. Today, this paradox is solved by the infinitesimal calculus invented by Newton and Leibniz in the 18 century. Nevertheless in 1977 it was shown that Zeno's paradox rises again from the formalism of quantum mechanics [1]. We present our latest measurement results on the quantum Zeno effect in a solid state spin, namely the ground state spin of a single negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond [2]. These results are supported by an extended theoretical analysis and give evidence that the quantum Zeno effect is physical reality not only in atomic systems [3], but also in nanoscopic solid state systems [4].
Serum levels of the adipokine vaspin in relation to metabolic and renal parameters.

CONTEXT Recently, vaspin was identified as an insulin-sensitizing adipokine. However, regulation of this adipocyte-secreted factor in human disease has not been determined. OBJECTIVE We investigated vaspin serum concentrations in diabetic and nondiabetic patients on chronic hemodialysis (CD) as compared with controls with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) above 50 ml/min. DESIGN Vaspin was quantified by ELISA in control (n = 60) and CD (n = 60) patients and correlated to clinical and biochemical measures of renal function, glucose, and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation, in both groups. RESULTS Mean serum vaspin concentrations were not significantly different between CD patients and controls. Circulating vaspin was significantly lower in males (0.6 +/- 0.9 microg/liter) as compared with females (1.3 +/- 1.5 microg/liter) and was decreased in insulin-treated subjects. In univariate analyses, vaspin levels positively correlated with age and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and negatively with waist-to-hip ratio and GFR in control patients, whereas the adipokine was negatively associated with GFR and C-reactive protein (CRP) in CD patients. In multivariate analyses, age and gender were independently associated with vaspin in controls, whereas gender, GFR, and CRP independently predicted circulating vaspin in CD patients. CONCLUSIONS Vaspin levels are significantly higher in women, and gender is an independent predictor of circulating vaspin in both control and CD patients. In addition, age independently predicts vaspin in control patients, whereas GFR and CRP are independently associated with this adipokine in CD patients. In contrast, circulating vaspin is not independently associated with markers of glucose and lipid metabolism.
Meta-analysis of cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors previously treated with standard-dose chemotherapy.

PURPOSE Evidence is mixed regarding long-term cognitive deficits in patients treated with chemotherapy. Previous meta-analyses have not focused specifically on the postchemotherapy period and have not incorporated several recent studies. The goal of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis of cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors who were treated with chemotherapy ≥ 6 months previously. METHODS A search of PubMed, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Library yielded 2,751 abstracts, which were independently evaluated by pairs of raters. Meta-analysis was conducted on 17 studies of 807 patients previously treated with standard-dose chemotherapy for breast cancer. Neuropsychological tests were categorized according to eight cognitive domains: attention, executive functioning, information processing, motor speed, verbal ability, verbal memory, visual memory, and visuospatial ability. RESULTS Deficits in cognitive functioning were observed in patients treated with chemotherapy relative to controls or prechemotherapy baseline in the domains of verbal ability (g = -0.19; P < .01) and visuospatial ability (g = -0.27; P < .01). Patients treated with chemotherapy performed worse than noncancer controls in verbal ability and worse than patients treated without chemotherapy in visuospatial ability (both P < .01). Age, education, time since treatment, and endocrine therapy did not moderate observed cognitive deficits in verbal ability or visuospatial ability (all P ≥ .51). CONCLUSION Results indicate that, on average, observed cognitive deficits in patients with breast cancer previously treated with chemotherapy are small in magnitude and limited to the domains of verbal ability and visuospatial ability. This information can be used to inform interventions to educate patients with breast cancer regarding the long-term impact of chemotherapy on cognitive functioning.
Clinical study of vertigo in the outpatient clinic of Kyoto University Hospital

Abstract Conclusion: The epidemiology of vertigo remains unclear. This study might contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying vestibular disease. Objective: To investigate the epidemiological features of patients with vertigo. Methods: A retrospective study on 612 patients with vertigo who visited Kyoto University Hospital. Results: Elderly individuals comprised > 30% of patients presenting with vertigo, with more female patients than male patients.
From redox flow to gene regulation: role of the PrrC protein of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1.

Activation of photosynthesis (PS) gene expression by the PrrBA two-component activation system in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4. 1 results from the interruption of an inhibitory signal originating from the cbb(3) cytochrome c oxidase via its interaction with oxygen, in conjunction with the Rdx redox proteins. The CcoQ protein, encoded by the ccoNOQP operon, which encodes the cbb(3) cytochrome c oxidase, was shown to act as a "transponder" that conveys the signal derived from reductant flow through cbb(3) to oxygen, to the Prr system. To further define the elements comprising this signal transduction pathway we considered the prrC gene product, which to date possessed no definable role in this signal transduction pathway despite its being part of the prrBCA gene cluster. Similar to mutations in cbb(3) and rdx, suitably constructed prrC deletion mutations lead to PS gene expression in the presence of high oxygen. Unlike mutations that remove cbb(3) terminal oxidase activity or Rdx function, the PrrC deletion mutant shows no effect upon cbb(3) activity, nor does it affect the ratio of the carotenoid (Crt) spheroidene (SE) to spheroidenone (SO). Thus, the PrrC deletion mutant behaves identically to the CcoQ deletion mutant. Taking these and previous results together, we suggest that PrrC is located upstream of the two-component PrrBA activation system in the signal transduction pathway but downstream of the cbb(3) cytochrome c oxidase and its "transponder" CcoQ. The PrrC deletion mutant was also shown to lead to an increase in the DorA protein under aerobic conditions as was shown earlier for the cbb(3) mutant. Finally, PrrC is a member of a highly conserved family of proteins found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and this appears to be the first instance in which a direct regulatory role has been ascribed to a member of this protein family.