Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biochemical Effect of Antioxidants on Lipids and Liver Function in Experimentally-Induced Liver Damage

Recent studies demonstrated the role of antioxidants in preventing organ damage caused by free radicals. The present study was conducted to find out the modulatory effect of some antioxidants on lipid patterns in experimentally-induced liver damage. Rats chronically intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CC14) were used as a model of liver injury terminating with fibrosis or cirrhosis. One hundred and sixty six albino rats were classified into five groups: one served as a control group; the second was subjected to oral administration of CC14 (200 μL/100 g body weight) twice a week; the other three groups, in addition to CC14, received oral doses of silymarin (30mg/kg), vitamin E (200 IU/kg) and vitamin C (50mg/kg) respectively. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed, blood was collected and liver was taken for histopathological examination. Liver function tests, disturbed by CC14 were significantly modulated by antioxidants, and histopathological examination showed that antioxidants ameliorated the necrotic and fibrotic changes caused by CC14. Treatment with antioxidants was also shown to modulate the toxic effect of CC14 on the lipid profile and malondialdehyde content. Administration of antioxidants could play an important role in prophylaxis against lipid peroxidation and consequently liver fibrosis caused by free radicals.
Translation of trpG in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP)

trpG of Bacillus subtilis encodes a glutamine amidotransferase subunit that is involved in the synthesis of both folic acid and L-tryptophan. Expression of trpG is negatively regulated by tryptophan even though this gene is located within a folic acid biosynthetic operon. Examination of both transcriptional and translational gene fusions to lacZ involving trpG and direct measurements of trpG mRNA levels and TrpG polypeptide accumulation demonstrated that translation of trpG is regulated by tryptophan whereas transcription is not. these studies also show that this regulation is mediated by the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein. Deletion and point mutations indicated that regulation is dependent on a series of G/UAG trinucleotide repeats surrounding the putative ribosome-binding site for trpG. Our results are consistent with a model in which the tryptophan-activated trp RNA-binding attenuation protein and ribosomes compete for binding to trpG mRNA.
Gastric alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene concentrations in association with Helicobacter pylori infection.

OBJECTIVE The effects of Helicobacter pylori infection and its associated gastric histology on alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene concentrations in serum, gastric juice and antral mucosa were investigated in patients undergoing routine gastroscopy for investigation of dyspepsia. METHOD Eighty-six patients were studied. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene concentrations. H. pylori infection was assessed by histology, bacterial culture, rapid urease test and serology. RESULTS No obvious association was found between age, sex, smoking or endoscopic diagnosis and alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene concentrations in serum, gastric juice and antral mucosa. However, alcohol drinkers had significantly lower antral mucosal and gastric juice beta-carotene concentrations compared to non-drinkers. Gastric juice beta-carotene concentration was markedly lower in patients infected with H. pylori than uninfected controls (2.9 nmol/l (interquartile range 0.3-4.3) versus 4.6 nmol/l (interquartile range 3.5-7.6), P = 0.01), but there was no significant difference in serum or gastric mucosal beta-carotene concentrations between the two patient groups. The presence of gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia was significantly associated with reduced mucosal alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene concentrations. Furthermore, antral mucosal alpha-tocopherol concentrations decreased progressively as antral mucosal histology changed from normal to chronic gastritis alone and finally to atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. CONCLUSION Gastric alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene concentrations are affected by H. pylori-associated gastric histological changes, and these findings suggest that H. pylori infection may not only impair the protective role of vitamin C, but also of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene in the stomach.
Timeliness Across the Continuum of Care in Veterans with Lung Cancer

Introduction: By providing timely care at all steps along the continuum of lung cancer care, providers may be able to limit disease progression before treatment and possibly improve clinical outcomes. This study examines the timeliness of key events in the process of care between initial radiograph and first treatment. Methods: Dates of key events were extracted from the medical records of 2463 veterans receiving lung cancer care at 133 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. After reviewing their site’s abstraction results, facility leaders completed a survey on their perceptions of their local processes of lung cancer care. Results: Median time from first radiography to first treatment was 71 days. The longest intermediate time interval examined was between first treatment referral and first treatment (median = 12 days). Time from first to last diagnostic test was most variable (interquartile range = 0–27 days). We found a significant trend indicating that the time interval from first radiograph to treatment was shorter for patients with more advanced disease. This effect was also significant within six of the seven intermediate time intervals we examined. Survey responses indicated that the chart review process stimulated improvement activity. Conclusions: Although patients with earlier stage disease benefit more from treatment, they do not proceed as quickly through the continuum of care as patients with more advanced disease. By measuring variability in timeliness of care at multiple steps in the lung cancer care process, facilities may identify opportunities for improvement.
Conceptualization and Multiobjective Optimization of the Electric System of an Airborne Wind Turbine

Airborne wind turbines (AWTs) represent a radically new and fascinating concept for future harnessing of wind power. This concept consists of realizing only the blades of a conventional wind turbine (CWT) in the form of a power kite flying at high speed perpendicular to the wind. On the kite are mounted a turbine, an electrical generator, and a power electronics converter. The electric power generated is transmitted via a medium voltage cable to the ground. Because of the high flight speed of the power kite, several times the actual wind speed, only a very small swept area of the turbine is required according to Betz's Law and/or a turbine of low weight for the generation of a given electric power. Moreover, because of the high turbine rotational speed, no gear transmission is necessary and the size of the generator is also reduced. For takeoff and landing of the power kite, the turbines act as propellers and the generators as motors, i.e., electric power is supplied so that the system can be maneuvered like a helicopter. In the present work, the configuration of power electronics converters for the implementation of a 100 kW AWT is considered. The major aspect here is the trade-off between power-to-weight ratio (W/kg) and efficiency. The dependence of cable weight and cable losses on the voltage level of power transmission is investigated, and a comparison is made between low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) versions of generators. Furthermore, the interdependence of the weight and efficiency of a bidirectional dual active bridge dc-dc converter for coupling the rectified output voltage of a LV generator to the MV cable is discussed. On the basis of this discussion, the concept offering the best possible compromise of weight and efficiency in the power electronics system is selected and a model of the control behavior is derived for both the power flow directions. A control structure is then proposed and dimensioned. Furthermore, questions of electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety are treated. In conclusion, the essential results of this paper are summarized, and an outlook on future research is given. To enable the reader to make simplified calculations and a comparison of a CWT with an AWT, the aerodynamic fundamentals of both the systems are summarized in highly simplified form in an Appendix, and numerical values are given for the 100 kW system discussed in this paper.
A new genus and two new species of pyroglyphinae (Acari, Astigmata, Pyroglyphidae) from South American birds.

A new genus, Campephilocoptes, in the subfamily Pyroglyphinae (Pyroglyphidae, Astigmata) and two new species, Campephilocoptes atyeoi and C. Paraguayensis, are described from Southe American Woodpeckers. It is supposed that the true habitat of these mites is merely the nests of the birds and not the birds themselves.
cDNA Cloning and mRNA analysis of PGC-1 in epitrochlearis muscle in swimming-exercised rats.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1), a cold-inducible coactivator of nuclear receptors, stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration in muscle cells. In the present study, we first cloned a rat PGC-1 gene from a brown adipose tissue cDNA library which encodes a predicted 796-amino-acid protein and exhibits respectively 98% and 95% identity with the mouse and human homologues. Next, we examined the effect of swimming exercise training on the level of expression of the PGC-1 gene in rat epitrochlearis (Epi) muscle. PGC-1 mRNA level in Epi muscle in rats that swam 2 h a day for 3 and 7 days increased dramatically by 154% and 163%, respectively, compared to the non-exercised control group. PGC-1 mRNA up-regulation was not observed in an immersion group treated at 35 degrees C during the training program but without swimming exercise. These results demonstrate that expression of the PGC-1 gene in Epi muscle is induced not only by cold exposure but also by prolonged low-intensity physical exercise.
A 0.2V–1.2V converter for power harvesting applications

A DC/DC boost converter to power integrated circuits is presented. It can boost extremely low voltages, starting from about 150 mV. The converter is based on a new hybrid inductive and capacitive architecture and it is suitable for power harvesting applications. A test chip was designed and fabricated using a UMC 180 nm low threshold CMOS process. Measurements on the chip confirm the validity of the design.
Comparative metabolic effects of hydrochlorothiazide and indapamide in hypertensive diabetic patients receiving ACE inhibitor therapy

Background ACE inhibitors, when used as monotherapy, are frequently unable to adequately control blood pressure in diabetic patients. A diuretic may be added; however, thiazide diuretics, but not indapamide, have been associated with adverse metabolic effects. Whether these effects also apply to thiazides when administered in the currently used lower doses, and whether they differ from indapamide in their metabolic effects, particularly when used in combination with an ACE inhibitor in diabetic patients, has not been previously studied.
A novel block elimination procedure for general linear systems of equations

Groups of unknowns in linear systems of algebraic equations are eliminated by solving smaller systems whose coefficients are just coefficients in the original systems, with no matrix inversions and multiplications being involved. This could yield solutions with improved accuracy with respect to other solution methods. The amount of computation involved is only slightly higher than that in the Gaussian elimination.
Direct Neurotoxicity of Tetracaine on Growth Cones and Neurites of Growing Neurons In Vitro

BackgroundLocal anesthetics have direct neurotoxicity on neurons. However, precise morphologic changes induced by the direct application of local anesthetics to neurons have not yet been fully understood. Also, despite the fact that local anesthetics are sometimes applied to the sites where peripheral nerves may be regenerating after injury, the effects of local anesthetics on growing or regenerating neurons have never been studied. MethodsThree different neuronal tissues (dorsal root ganglion, retinal ganglion cell layer, and sympathetic ganglion chain) were isolated from an age-matched chick embryo and cultured for 20 h. Effects of tetracaine were examined microscopically and by a quantitative morphologic assay, growth cone collapse assay. ResultsTetracaine induced growth cone collapse and neurite destruction. Three neuronal tissues showed significantly different dose–response, both at 60 min and at 24 h after the application of tetracaine (P < 0.01). The ED50 values (mean ± SD) at 60 min were 1.53 ± 1.05 mm in dorsal root ganglion, 0.15 ± 0.05 mm in retinal, and 0.06 ± 0.02 mm in sympathetic ganglion chain cultures. The ED50 values at 24 h were 0.43 ± 0.15 mm in dorsal root ganglion, 0.07 ± 0.03 mm in retinal, and 0.02 ± 0.01 mm in sympathetic ganglion chain cultures. Concentration of nerve growth factor in the culture media did not influence the ED50 values. The growth cone collapsing effect was partially reversible in dorsal root ganglion and retinal neurons. However, in the sympathetic ganglion culture, no reversibility was observed after exposure to 1 mm tetracaine for 10 or for 60 min. Bupivacaine had similar neurotoxicity to the three types of growing neurons. (The ED50 values at 60 min were 2.32 ± 0.50 mm in dorsal root ganglion, 0.96 ± 0.16 mm in retinal, and 0.18 ± 0.05 mm in sympathetic ganglion chain cultures. The ED50 values at 24 h were 0.34 ± 0.09 mm in dorsal root ganglion, 0.21 ± 0.06 mm in retinal, and 0.45 ± 0.10 mm in sympathetic ganglion chain cultures.) ConclusionsShort-term exposure to tetracaine produced irreversible changes in growing neurons. Growth cones were quickly affected, and neurites degenerated subsequently. Sensitivity varied with neuronal type and was not influenced by the concentration of nerve growth factor. Because a similar phenomenon was observed after exposure to bupivacaine, the toxicity to growing neurons may not be unique to tetracaine.
Chemical tuning of PtC nanostructures fabricated via focused electron beam induced deposition

The fundamental dependence between process parameters during focused electron beam induced deposition and the chemistry of functional PtC nanostructures have been studied via a multi-technique approach using SEM, (S)TEM, EELS, AFM, and EFM. The study reveals that the highest Pt contents can only be achieved by an ideal balance between potentially dissociating electrons and available precursor molecules on the surface. For precursor regimes apart from this situation, an unwanted increase of carbon is observed which originates from completely different mechanisms: (1) an excess of electrons leads to polymerization of precursor fragments whereas (2) a lack of electrons leads to incompletely dissociated precursor molecules incorporated into the nanostructures. While the former represents an unwanted class of carbon, the latter condition maximizes the volume growth rates and allows for post-growth curing strategies which can strongly increase the functionality. Furthermore, the study gives an explanation of why growing deposits can dynamically change their chemistry and provides a straightforward guide towards more controlled fabrication conditions.
PLATELET ASSOCIATED IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE

Multiple platelet abnormalities have been reported in patients with chronic liver disease. These include defects in primary and secondary aggregation, reduced survival, and impaired platelet factor 3 availability (Rubin et al, 1979). The thrombocytopenia of cirrhosis is mainly attributed to hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension, although in cirrhosis bone marrow suppression and interference with primary platelet metabolism can also contribute. In addition these patients may be severely malnourished, and are often folate deficient. Hypergammaglobulinaemia is well recognized in association with cirrhosis (Stobo, 1979) and there are many reports of autoantibodies in these patients, particularly antibodies to smooth muscle, mitochondria and fibroblasts. Platelet-associated immunoglobulins were reported in one study on non-thrombocytopenic patients with chronic active hepatitis (Landolfi et al, 1979). The aim of the present study was to establish whether platelet autoantibodies were present in patients with cirrhosis as these might contribute to the thrombocytopenia observed in this condition.
Psychosocial profiles of patients with burning mouth syndrome.

AIMS Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is estimated to affect 1 to 5% of the adult population, with women experiencing symptoms more frequently than men. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychosocial profiles of BMS patients to determine whether psychologic factors are related to pain reports. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesized that patients with BMS would be characterized by clinical elevations on standardized psychologic assessment instruments that included the Revised Symptom Checklist (SCL-90R) and the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI). METHODS Thirty-three BMS patients completed the McGill Pain Questionnaire, MPI, and SCL-90R during their initial clinical evaluation session. The SCL-90R and MPI data were then summarized and presented in standardized format (T-scores) to enable meaningful comparisons with larger population samples that included both a chronic pain population and a normal nonclinical sample. RESULTS The T-score for the overall pain severity on the MPI was 40.8 (SD 12.8). For the entire BMS sample, there was no evidence for significant clinical elevations on any of the SCL-90R subscales, including depression, anxiety, and somatization. Moreover, patients reported significantly fewer disruptions in normal activities as a result of their oral burning pain than did a large sample of chronic pain patients. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that, as a group, this sample of BMS patients did not report significant psychologic distress. There were, however, individual cases (7 of 33, or 21%) where psychometric data indicated a likelihood of psychologic distress, and further evaluation by a competent health professional would be warranted for those individuals.
Disclosure of corporate social responsibility information and explanatory factors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the voluntary disclosure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in companies of different countries. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a sample of 110 companies for the year 2014, a total of 79 indicators were analyzed, nine of which correspond to economic aspects of the company, 30 to environmental aspects and 40 to social aspects, according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI G3.1). Moreover, a dependence model was set up to see which variables may affect the disclosure of economic, social and environmental information, both separately and as a whole. Findings – The companies in the sample showed an average of six economic indicators, 20 environmental indicators and 27 social indicators. Regarding the explanatory variables tested, the results obtained showed that company SIZE, LEVERAGE, DJSI and CIVILLAW were the most significant variables, most affecting a company’s decision to make voluntary disclosure in relation to CSR issues. Practical im.
Transfer learning based on the observation probability of each attribute

Machine learning is the basis of important advances in artificial intelligence. Unlike the general methods of machine learning, which use the same tasks for training and testing, the method of transfer learning uses different tasks to learn a new task. Among the various transfer learning algorithms in the literature, we focus on the attribute-based transfer learning. This algorithm realizes transfer learning by introducing attributes and transferring the results of training to another task with the common attributes. However, the existing method does not consider the frequency in which each attribute appears in feature vectors (called the observation probability). In this paper, we present a generative model with the observation probability. By the experiments, we show that the proposed method has achieved a higher accuracy rate than the existing method. Moreover, we see that it makes possible the incremental learning that was impossible in the existing method.
Performance of the A-line Autoregressive Index (AAI) and of the Bispectral Index (BIS) at Assessing Depth of Short-term Sedation following Cardiac Surgery

This study evaluated the correlation and agreement between the Bispectral Index (BIS) or A-line Autoregressive Index (AAI) and a clinical scoring system, the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS), in 40 patients after elective cardiac surgery and admission to the intensive care unit. All patients received sedation with propofol according to the study protocol. BIS, AAI and RSS were documented at two different levels of sedation: deep sedation RSS 4–6; and slight sedation/extubation RSS 2–3. Both the BIS and AAI agreed well with the RSS (η-coefficients of 0.902 and 0.836, respectively, for mean overall RSS stages). The systems agreed well among each other (overall intra-class correlations of 0.670 for consistency and 0.676 for absolute agreement). There was significant discrimination between RSS 2–3 and RSS 4–6 with BIS and AAI (BIS mean difference of 24.73, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 21.08–28.37; AAI mean difference of 20.90, 95% CI 14.64–27.16). In conclusion, BIS and AAI correlated well with RSS overall and also at different levels of sedation.
Infection with Wolbachia protects mosquitoes against Plasmodium‐induced mortality in a natural system

In recent years, there has been a shift in the one host‐one parasite paradigm with the realization that, in the field, most hosts are coinfected with multiple parasites. Coinfections are particularly relevant when the host is a vector of diseases, because multiple infections can have drastic consequences for parasite transmission at both the ecological and evolutionary timescales. Wolbachia pipientis is the most common parasitic microorganism in insects, and as such, it is of special interest for understanding the role of coinfections in the outcome of parasite infections. Here, we investigate whether Wolbachia can modulate the effect of Plasmodium on what is, arguably, the most important component of the vectorial capacity of mosquitoes: their longevity. For this purpose, and in contrast to recent studies that have focused on mosquito–Plasmodium and/or mosquito–Wolbachia combinations not found in nature, we work on a Wolbachia–mosquito–Plasmodium triad with a common evolutionary history. Our results show that Wolbachia protects mosquitoes from Plasmodium‐induced mortality. The results are consistent across two different strains of Wolbachia and repeatable across two different experimental blocks. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such an effect has been shown for Plasmodium‐infected mosquitoes and, in particular, in a natural Wolbachia–host combination. We discuss different mechanistic and evolutionary explanations for these results as well as their consequences for Plasmodium transmission.