Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of nutrient amendments on the phytoextraction of weathered 2,2‐bis(p‐chlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dichloroethylene by cucurbits

Field experiments were conducted to determine the impact of nutrient amendments on the phytoextraction of weathered 2,2‐bis(p‐chlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dichloroethylene (p,p′‐DDE) by eight cultivars of cucurbits over a single growing season. Four cultivars of Cucurbita pepo ssp pepo are accumulators and extract percent level quantities of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), whereas C. pepo ssp ovifera and Cucumis sativus are nonaccumulators. The nonamended accumulators phytoextracted 1.0% of the p,p'‐DDE and had a translocation factor of 0.44; however, the nonaccumulators removed 0.16% of the contaminant and had a translocation factor value of 0.09. The accumulators also had 3.8 times greater inorganic element content than the nonaccumulators. Duplicate mounds of each cultivar also received weekly nutrient amendments of phosphorus (400 mg/L K2HPO4), nitrogen (200 mg/L KNO3), or nitrogen/phosphorus (400 mg/L K2HPO4, 200 mg/L KNO3); a minus phosphorus treatment involved a 1‐L addition of 1 g/L AlSO4 to the soil before planting. When normalized to respective control values (unamended vegetation), the root and stem p,p′‐DDE bioconcentration factors (BCF) of the accumulator cultivars were significantly greater than those of the nonaccumulator cultivars under most nutrient regimes. The biomass of accumulator cultivars decreased by up to 61% under certain nutrient regimes, resulting in mixed effects on the amount of p,p′‐DDE extracted. Treatment with N and P increased nonaccumulator biomass by 40 to 100%, and increased p,p′‐DDE extraction from soil by 75%. Although generally assumed that fertilizer amendments will enhance phytoremediation, as evidenced here by the nonaccumulators, additions of macronutrients may reduce the phytoextraction of weathered POPs by C. pepo ssp pepo. These findings support our hypothesis that the ability of C. pepo ssp pepo to remove sequestered organic contaminants is governed by unique nutrient‐acquisition mechanisms.
Midluteal Endometrial Biopsy and &agr;v&bgr;3 Integrin Expression in the Evaluation of the Endometrium in Infertility: Implications for Fecundity

It has been recently proposed that the immunohistochemical evaluation of &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin in combination with histologic dating in midluteal endometrial biopsy specimens should be performed to evaluate the endometrial receptivity in the infertile patient. However, no studies have attempted to correlate these findings with subsequent fecundity. In 100 consecutive infertile patients (mean age 31.9±3.4 years) undergoing a routine work-up, two endometrial biopsies were performed during a single menstrual cycle: a midluteal biopsy on postovulatory days 6 to 8 and another biopsy 4 days later. Histological dating and immunohistochemical evaluation of &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin expression were done in all endometrial biopsy specimens. All patients were followed without treatment during 18 to 24 months (mean 23.5±1.4, range 18 to 24). Twenty-five midluteal biopsies showed out-of-phase endometria, whereas all but one late-luteal biopsy specimens were in-phase. Glandular &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin expression was observed in 50% of midluteal specimens with this expression being significantly more frequent among in-phase (63%) than among out-of-phase (12%) specimens (p<0.001). However, all late-luteal specimens strongly expressed this integrin. Thirty-eight women became spontaneously pregnant during the follow-up period, 32 ended in a live birth and 6 in first trimester spontaneous abortion. The Cox regression method showed no differences between the hazard of pregnancy when the &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin-positive and -negative groups were compared (odds ratio 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–2.36; p=0.49) or when patients with in-phase endometria were compared with those with delayed endometrial maturation (odds ratio 1.12; 95% CI 0.53–2.37; p=0.76). In conclusion, neither midluteal histological evaluation nor &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin expression in mid- or late-luteal endometrial biopsy specimens correlated with outcome for subsequently untreated infertile women.
Advantages of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Respect to Computed Tomography in the Follow-up of Lymphoma Patients with Abdominal Presentation

For abdominal lymphoma patients, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) provides unique information on the presence of residual active disease. We provide an update on the largest reported cohort of patients whose management following induction therapy was based on routine PET and computed tomography (CT) restaging. Fifty-nine patients with Hodgkin's disease or aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting abdominal involvement (35% with bulky disease) were studied with both PET and CT following combined chemotherapy/radiation treatment. After treatment, 3/3 (100%) patients who were PET+/CT- relapsed, compared with 0/7 patients in the PET-/CT- subset. Among the 49 patients who were CT+, six of the 10 (60%) who were PET+ relapsed, as compared with only two of the 39 (5%) who were PET-. The actuarial relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were 0 and 100% in the PET+/CT- and PET-/CT- subsets, respectively. In the PET+/CT+ subset, RFS was 94% at 5 years. PET restaging is very valuable for the identification of patients who would need appropriate second-line therapy because of the presence of residual active abdominal disease and should be made widely available in combination with CT.
The control of angular momentum for asymmetric rigid bodies

A linear feedback law is obtained in closed form for the regulation of the angular momentum of an arbitrary rotating rigid body. without linearizing hypotheses of symmetry, yet optimal for a suitable quadratic energy cost. The evolution of the amplitude of the controlled angular momentum is thereby obtained in closed form, whence asymptotic closed loop stability and exact open loop terminal rate nulling are derived. Earlier steady state results are recovered as particular cases.
Intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy on children with severe active lupus nephritis.

We conducted a preliminary study of monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) therapy on children with active lupus nephritis to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of IVCY pulse therapy. From June 1993 to May 1994, 13 patients (mean age: 14 +/- 0.9 years old; female: male = 11:2) with active lupus nephritis were treated with intermittent IVCY in addition to their regular corticosteroid therapy. Criteria for patients who received intermittent IVCY therapy were associated with any one of the following conditions: 1) with renal biopsy-proved diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis; 2) with nephrotic syndrome and are inert to high dose of prednisolone therapy; and 3) with severe side effect of steroid therapy. Cyclophosphamide (CY) was administrated monthly for the first 6 doses, and at 2 to 3-month interval afterward for 2 years. The mean IVCY pulses per patient was 6.5 +/- 0.5 times. The initial dose of CY was 0.5 gm/mm2, then gradually increased to 1 gm/mm2 with a monthly increment of 0.25 gm/mm2. After 6 months, cyclophosphamide treatment was associated with significant improvement in mean levels of serum C3 (41.6 +/- 5.1 vs. 96.7 +/- 11.3 mg/dl), C4 (11.7 +/- 1.1 vs. 35.3 +/- 5.0 mg/dl) and anti-DNA titer (65.4 +/- 17.1 vs. 9.1 +/- 2.8 IU/ml) (all p < 0.01), despite a significant reduction in mean prednisolone dosage (48.5 +/- 4.8 vs. 15.6 +/- 3.2 mg/day; p < 0.01). The mean creatinine clearance also improved significantly from 44.7 +/- 5.7 to 81.9 +/- 2.7 ml/min/1.73 mm2 (p < 0.01) after 6 months of therapy. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Bone density and risk of osteoporosis in Klinefelter syndrome

Different mechanisms in Klinefelter syndrome contribute to reduced bone mass and osteoporosis, which have a precocious onset and are detected in up to 40% of patients, irrespectively of testosterone levels. Androgen receptor, X chromosome inactivation and INSL3 levels are hypothesized to cooperate with and modulate the effect of testosterone on the bone.
Turnover of protein in growing and non-growing populations of Escherichia coli.

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Noradrenaline‐mediated synaptic inhibition in rat locus coeruleus neurones.

Intracellular recordings were made from neurones in the nucleus locus coeruleus (l.c.) in slices of rat pons maintained in vitro. Focal electrical stimulation to the slice surface within the region of the l.c. evoked a synaptic depolarization followed by a hyperpolarization. These potentials were graded with stimulus intensity and were abolished in calcium‐free and/or high‐magnesium solutions. The nature of the hyperpolarizing synaptic potential (i.p.s.p.) was investigated. The i.p.s.p. amplitude decreased as the membrane was artificially made more negative and reversed at ‐114 mV. This reversal potential shifted to less negative potentials in solutions of elevated potassium ion content as predicted by the Nernst equation. The i.p.s.p. was potentiated in amplitude and its time course was prolonged by desmethylimipramine (DMI). Yohimbine (100 nM) and phentolamine (100 nM) reversibly abolished the i.p.s.p. and did not change the synaptic depolarization. Noradrenaline hyperpolarized all l.c. neurones tested, whether applied by perfusion (1‐30 microM) or by pressure ejection from a micropipette placed in the solution near the recording site. The noradrenaline‐induced hyperpolarization was accompanied by an increase in conductance and it reversed in polarity at ‐104 mV. The reversal potential of the noradrenaline hyperpolarization became less negative when the potassium ion content was increased. The noradrenaline‐induced hyperpolarization was potentiated by DMI and was antagonized by yohimbine and phentolamine in the same concentrations which blocked the i.p.s.p. The results support the notion that l.c. neurones can release noradrenaline onto the somadendritic membrane of other l.c. neurones and thereby provide local feed‐back inhibition.
Prognostic role of XTP1/DEPDC1B and SDP35/DEPDC1A in high grade soft-tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND The outcome of patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) remains unfavourable and new therapeutic strategies are needed. The aim of this study was to determine the role of RhoGAP, XTP1/DEPDC1B and SDP35/DEPDC1A, as possible prognostic markers, to be used to identify candidate patients for more effective and personalized therapies. MATERIALS-METHODS SDP35/DEPDC1A and XTP1/DEPDC1B transcriptional levels were evaluated by Real-Time PCR in 86 primary STS and 22 paired lung metastasis. 17 normal tissues were used as control. Protein expression was evaluated by tissue microarray, including 152 paraffin-embedded STS samples and by western blot in 22 lung metastases and paired primary STS. Non-parametric and parametric analysis were used to establish the differences in gene and protein expression and prognostic factors were tested with Kaplan Meier and Cox's regression analyses. RESULTS SDP35/DEPDC1A and XTP1/DEPDC1B gene were down-regulated in adjacent normal tissues while sarcoma specimens presented high mRNA levels, significantly related to metastasis-free survival. Gene expression further increased in paired metastatic lesions. Immunohistochemical staining showed a variable expression in intensity and distribution, with a significantly higher probability of metastatic disease in patients up-regulating SDP35/DEPDC1A. Western blotting assessed high levels of proteins in STS specimens and indicated a stronger expression of SDP35/DEPDC1A in metastases when compared to primary tumours. Multivariate analyses highlighted that SDP35/DEPDC1A abundance, grade III and no history of radiation therapy were significant independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that increased expression of SDP35/DEPDC1A and XPT1/DEPDC1B correlates with metastatic progression and identified SDP35/DEPDC1A as an independent marker for prediction of poor prognosis.
The effects of varying levels of dietary starch on reproductivetraits in lactating dairy cows

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of three different dietary starch levels on postpartum milk yield, blood metabolites, and reproductive traits in cows. A total of 23 primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were fed three different diets including different starch levels on a dry matter basis from parturition until day 80. Cows were randomly assigned into the three groups according to the starch levels: low (LS, 16%, n = 7), medium (MS, 20%, n = 8), and high (HS, 24%, n = 8). Milk yields were recorded daily, and body condition score (BCS) was determined every week. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed, and blood samples were taken three times each week to determine reproductive traits and blood metabolites. Although the milk yield was greater in the LS group compared to the other groups, BCS and blood metabolites did not differ among the groups. The postpartum follicular patterns, times of first postpartum ovulation, and involution processes did not differ among the groups. In addition, the ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum sizes and the progesterone levels after induced estrus were numerically greater in HS than other groups. Thus, there were no effects of starch levels on postpartum reproductive traits.
Unipedicular Balloon Kyphoplasty for the Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: Early Results

Introduction The traditional bipedicular kyphoplasty was proved to be safe and effective for the treatment of pain associated with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Nevertheless, unilateral kyphoplasty would be an attractive alternative to the traditional bipedicular kyphoplasty owing to theoretical speed, safety, and less expense; thus far, the biomechanical testing showed that experimental unilateral kyphoplasty had properties comparable with bipedicular kyphoplasty. To date, no clinical data are available regarding the efficacy and safety of unilateral balloon kyphoplasty. In this prospective observational study, the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the unipedicular (unilateral) balloon kyphoplasty in osteoporotic VCFs are evaluated. Methods Three hundred and seventeen kyphoplasty procedures were performed in 142 patients with osteoporotic VCFs using the unilateral technique. This technique involves the unilateral cannulation of the center of the vertebral body and the placement of a single balloon tamp. To evaluate improvement in pain and physical function, preoperative and postoperative scores of visual analog scale (VAS), SF-36, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were compared at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Complications related to the procedure and cement extravasation rates were recorded. Height restoration and overall coronal and sagittal spinal alignment were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Results Significant improvement on the VAS, SF-36 scores, and ODI was noted at 3 months postoperatively; these results were preserved at the 12-month follow-up for the 30 patients who completed the SF-36 questionnaire (VAS/ODI scores were available only for 19 of the 30 patients also showing sustained improvement). No complication was recorded; 34 cases (10.73%) of cement extravasation were all asymptomatic. Mean middle height restoration was found 48.9%; when vertebral levels treated were stratified into 2 groups, with or without height restoration (90.1% and 9.9% of all levels, respectively), corrected mean middle height restoration was found 54%. No lateral wedging or changes in the coronal alignment was observed in the unipedicular group. Conclusions Unipedicular (unilateral) extrapedicular kyphoplasty is both a safe and efficacious alternative to the traditional bipedicular kyphoplasty for the treatment of painful osteoporotic VCFs. As a technique, it is faster, less expensive, and involves less radiation exposure for the surgical suite personnel.
Inhibitory effect of antisense RNA of ornithine decarboxylase gene on human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line Eca 109 Research Article

To investigate the in vitro inhibitory effect of rAd-ODC/Ex3as on human esophageal carcinoma cells. The infection rate of rAd-ODC/Ex3as was measured with the aid of GFP expression. Western Blot technique was used to observe the inhibition of ODC expression in infected tumor cells. The malignant phenotype of Eca109 cell line was assessed by growth curve. TUNEL was used to analyze cell apoptosis. Approximate 65% of Eca109 cell line were infected with rAd-ODC/Ex3as when MOI reached 50. The expression of ODC was inhibited in the infected tumor cells. rAdODC/Ex3as could inhibit Eca109 cell line growth and invasive ability at 20 of MOI. TUNEL proved that rAdODC/Ex3as can lead to cell apoptosis. rAd-ODC/Ex3as could inhibit effectively the expression of ODC gene and the growth of of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line Eca109 in vitro, and induce apoptosis. It may be one of the promising medicines for antisense gene therapy in esophageal cancer.
Numerical Optimization of an Active Voltage Controller for High-Power IGBT Converters

Feedback control of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) in the active region can be used to regulate the device switching trajectory. This facilitates series connection of devices without the use of external snubber networks. Control must be achieved across the full active region of the IGBT and must balance a number of conflicting system goals including diode recovery. To date, the choice of control parameters has been a largely empirical process. This paper uses accurate device models and formalized optimization procedures to evaluate IGBT active voltage controllers. A detailed optimization for the control of IGBT turn-on is presented in this paper
Projections of thalamic and cortical gustatory areas in the rat ,

The method of Nauta was used to stain axons which degenerated after lesions of the thalamic projection nucleus and cortical zone subserving gustation in the rat. Lesions of the medial subnucleus of the thalamic ventral nuclear complex resulted principally in degeneration which passed rostrolaterally through the thalamus, internal capsule, globus pallidus, and striatum to terminate in insular and inferior parietal cortex around the region of the middle cerebral artery. Lesions of this cortical projection zone resulted in degeneration which passed caudomedially through the same striatal and pallidal areas traversed by the thalamocortical fibers. One component of these fibers continued into the thalamus to terminate just dorsal to the medial subnucleus. A second component turned caudally into the cerebral peduncle to terminate in the substantia nigra. There was evidence of terminal degeneration in the striatum but not in the pallidum after both thalamic and cortical lesions. There was no evidence of degeneration in any structures primarily associated with olfactory or alimentary functions.
Optical properties of mice skull bone in the 455- to 705-nm range.

Rodent brain is studied to understand the basics of brain function. The activity of cell populations and networks is commonly recorded in vivo with wide-field optical imaging techniques such as intrinsic optical imaging, fluorescence imaging, or laser speckle imaging. These techniques were recently adapted to unrestrained mice carrying transcranial windows. Furthermore, optogenetics studies would benefit from optical stimulation through the skull without implanting an optical fiber, especially for longitudinal studies. In this context, the knowledge of bone optical properties is requested to improve the quantitation of the depth and volume of imaged or stimulated tissues. Here, we provide experimental measurements of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of freshly excised mice skull for wavelengths between 455 and 705 nm. Absorption coefficients from 6 to 8 months mice skull samples range between 1.67 ± 0.28 ? mm ? 1 at 455 nm and 0.47 ± 0.07 ? mm ? 1 at 705 nm, whereas reduced scattering coefficients were in the range of 2.79 ± 0.26 ? mm ? 1 at 455 nm up to 2.29 ± 0.12 ? mm ? 1 at 705 nm. In comparison, measurements carried out on 4 to 5 weeks mice showed similar spectral profiles but smaller absorption and reduced scattering coefficients by a factor of about 2 and 1.5, respectively.
Regeneration and pattern formation in planarians III . Evidence that neoblasts are totipotent stem cells and the source of blastema cells

In most regenerating systems, blastema cells arise by dedifferentiation of functional tissue cells. In planarians, though, it is still debatable whether dedifferentiated cells or a population of undifferentiated cells, the neoblasts, are the main source of blastema cells. Moreover, it is unclear whether in the intact organisms neoblasts are quiescent cells 'reserved' for regeneration or if they serve as functional stem cells of all differentiated cell types. Both uncertainties partly stem from the failure to distinguish by conventional labelling methods neoblasts from differentiated cells. Here we describe a new approach to these problems based on testing the regenerative and stem cell capabilities of purified neoblasts and differentiated cells when introduced, separately, into irradiated hosts. Introduction of neoblasts led to resumed mitotic activity, blastema formation, and extended or complete survival of the host; differentiated cells, in contrast, never did so. Therefore, planarian neoblasts can be qualified as totipotent stem cells and the main source of blastema cells, while dedifferentiation does not seem to operate either in intact or regenerating organisms. In addition, these results strengthen the idea that different types of regeneration and blastema formation, linked to the tissular complexity of the organisms, are present in the animal kingdom.
Contribution of α‐smooth muscle actin and extracellular matrix to the in vitro reorganization of cardiomyocyte contractile system

Cardiomyocytes in culture undergo reversible rearrangement of their contractile apparatus with the conversion of typical myofibrils into the structures of non‐muscle type and the loss of contractility. Along with these transformations, the cardiomyocytes gain the capacity to synthesize extracellular matrix. Here we show that during cultivation of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes, the inherent α‐cardiac actin isoform is transiently replaced by α‐smooth‐muscle actin, whose expression is accompanied by transformation of myofibrils into stress‐fiber‐like structures. The following down‐regulation of α‐smooth muscle actin parallels restoration of myofibrillar system and correlates with the accumulation of extracellular collagen and laminin, initially missing from the cardiomyocytes culture.