Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Different Types of General Cold Adaptation in Man

Different types of general cold adaptation have been described over the last 50 years. Metabolic adaptation (Alacaluf Indians, Arctic Indians Eskimos), insulative adaptation (coastal Aborigines of tropical northern Australia), hypothermic adaptation (bushmen of the Kalahari desert, Peruvian Indians) and insulative hypothermic adaptation (Central Australian Aborigines, nomadic Lapps, Korean and Japanese diving women). These different types of cold adaptation are related to the intensity of the cold stress and to individual factors such as diet, the level of physical fitness and body fat content. Thus, in natural environments, man develops a strategy of adaptation to cold, which takes into account environmental and individual factors. This strategy is susceptible to be modified when these conditions change. Caloric intake deficit could have been responsible for the hypothermic adaptation observed after J.-L. Etienne's journey to the North Pole. Physiological responses were adapted to maintain an acceptable level of energetic reserves with a moderate hypothermia, which was not life threatening for the climatic conditions encountered by the polar explorer.
Health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE A number of studies (all n <200) have assessed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), but no systematic review of the effect of SSc on HRQOL has been done. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on HRQOL in SSc measured using the Medical Outcomes Trust Short Form 36 (SF-36). METHODS A comprehensive search was conducted in August 2007 using Medline, CINAHL, and EMBase to identify original research studies reporting SF-36 scores of SSc patients. Selected studies were reviewed and characteristics of the study samples and SF-36 data were extracted. Bayesian meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed to obtain pooled estimates of SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores for all patients as well as by limited and diffuse disease status. RESULTS Twelve data sets with a total of 1,127 SSc patients were included in the systematic review. HRQOL was impaired in patients with SSc, with pooled SF-36 PCS scores being more than 1 SD below the general population (38.3; 95% credible interval [95% CI] 35.2, 41.5) and pooled SF-36 MCS scores being approximately 0.5 SDs below the general population (46.6; 95% CI 44.2, 49.1). SF-36 PCS scores were 3.5 points (95% CI -1.0, 8.0) lower in patients with diffuse compared with limited disease. CONCLUSION This study provides robust evidence of the presence and magnitude of impairment in HRQOL in patients with SSc. Although the impairment appears greater in physical health, mental health impairment is also reported.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia with circuit changes every 2 days versus every week.

BACKGROUND Frequent ventilator circuit changes are expensive and sometimes unnecessary. Following the worldwide trend to lengthen the intervals for ventilator circuit change from 2 days to 1 week, this study aims to assure that low rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can be maintained with cost containment. METHODS Ventilator circuits were routinely changed every 7 days in the study period for 2 years and every 2 days during the historical control period of another 2 years. Pediatric patients (age less than 15 years) were not included. Nosocomial pneumonia was diagnosed by the criteria of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States (US). VAP was identified by combining and comparing 2 databases from the Respiratory Therapy Department and the Infection Control Unit of our hospital. RESULTS In the study group, 225 episodes of pneumonias were observed in 7,068 patients and 87,338 ventilator days. The rate of VAP was 2.58 per 1,000 ventilator days. There were 174 episodes of pneumonia in 6,213 patients and 65,467 ventilator days of the control group. The rate of VAP was 2.66 per 1,000 ventilator days. The difference between both groups was not significant (p = 0.803). Yet, the cost curbed was around 80,000 US dollars per year. CONCLUSIONS Extending ventilator circuit change interval from 2 days to 7 days do not increase the risk for VAP, but the cost savings for labor and supply are substantial.
Functions of the endothelial cell surface.

The primary interactions between the blood components and the vessel wall take place at the luminal surface of vascular endothelium. The blood­ endothelial interface is a composite of the endothelial cell coat proper and some plasma proteins temporarily associated with the former. The endothelial cell coat actually represents the ectodomains of membrane proteins and glycopro­ teins, and proteoglycans. It is still uncertain whether proteoglycans are true membrane constituents or are only attached to the glycocalyx. Endothelial cell surface (ECS) occupies a special strategic position. It is continuously exposed to the dynamic internal milieu, and it senses, transmits, and participates in adjustments to deviations in homeostasis. To fulfill these very complex and vital activities ECS has been endowed with an intricate chemical and functional machinery that is responsible for the blood-tissue exchanges, active monitoring of plasma molecules, and maintenance of a nonthrombogenic surface. The inability, so far, to obtain a pure fraction of endothelial plasma mem­ brane explains the lack of detailed information on its chemistry, including the molecular organization of the glycocalyx. Data currently available emerged mostly from indirect investigations using membrane markers, and from physiologic inquiries on some activities significantly associated with endothe­ lial membrane and implicitly with its cell coat. Our present information comes from studies on both microvascular and large vessel endothelia, and is often affected by the unavoidable limitations of the in-culture conditions. The main purpose of this review is to consider some of the significant advances in (a) the chemical mapping of ECS, (b) the cell surface-associated plasma proteins, and (c) some cell surfaceand membrane-associated activi-
Zika virus infection in a pediatric patient with acute gastrointestinal involvement

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, which has been related to severe neurological complications in neonates. However, many clinical aspects of the infection remain unclear, especially in pediatric patients. In this case report we describe the uncommon presentation of ZIKV infection in a pediatric patient with acute gastrointestinal involvement hospitalized in a Brazilian Emergency Unit. Dengue hemorrhagic fever was initially suspected, however, the molecular result for Dengue was negative. Molecular testing for other arboviruses (ZIKV and Chikungunya), revealed positive for ZIKV RNA result in both blood and saliva. The ZIKV load in saliva (6.947 copies/mL) was higher than the vetected ZIKV RNA in plasma (1.945 copies/mL). Additionally, the performed abdominal ultrasound revealed mesenteric lymphadenitis without abdominal retention of fluids. The presentation of this case demonstrates that ZIKV can be involved in a broader range of clinical conditions than currently assumed, including pediatric emergencies, especially in regions with extensive ZIKV outbreaks.
Environmental impact of port construction: Port of Sillamäe case study (Gulf of Finlad, Baltic Sea)

The aim of the study was to assess and map the location and status of environmentally sensitive areas (valuable marine habitats) near the Port of Sillama umle, and to assess the potential impacts from the dredging and disposal operations on the local marine ecology (especially on valuable habitats). The observations and field measurements were carried out there since the time when the dumping site of radioactive substances from the former uranium enrichment plant at Sillama umle was in use. The rate of erosion of the narrow separating dam of the dumping site and the velocities of accumulation of shore sediment were assessed in this study. The monitoring of seashore dynamics in recent years has been focused on an area east of the port. While being an attractive recreation area for the local people, that area is characterized by active natural processes. Repetitive measurements are carried out with the aim of monitoring the impact of the port on shore processes, particularly on increasing erosion of the shores. The most recent investigations since 2004 have not revealed any direct impact of the port facilities on shore dynamics. At the same time, changes caused by extremely strong storms of January 2005 or of winter 2006-2007 are evident. Over the last 30 years, the average freezing date has shifted from December to January and ice break-up begins earlier. As a result, the ice-free period, when wave action can freely access the coast, gets gradually longer, and it happens mainly on account of more stormy autumn and winter months. Dredging and disposal operations may have either direct (removal or burial) or/and indirect effects (enhanced turbidity and sedimentation rates, and changes in hydrographic regime) on benthic invertebrates. Thus, the magnitude and direction of the effects depend on the processes involved. The data obtained before, during and after dredging and disposal revealed the re-establishment of directly affected communities following a year after the cessation of disturbance. The results of special monitoring program concluded that the environmental impact of the dredging operations on the benthic communities was minimal to moderate. Using the results of hydrodynamic modeling of the area at the Port of Sillama umle, the behavior of suspended sediment plumes from dredging and disposal of concrete material was modeled using FRESCO high resolution, sigma coordinate, non-hydrostatic, baroclinic model system. Wind waves are calculated by narrow directional approximation model and the turbulent mixing based on the k-omega turbulence closer model. Numerical experiments have been performed for four nested marine basins with different space resolution. In the highest resolution nested domain the horizontal grid size was approximately 1/10 of nautical miles. Modeling results included spatial information on suspended sediment concentrations and sedimentation rates.
Accentuating the Role of Pharmacovigilance and Ecopharmacovigilance in Context to Man and Ecology-A Review

A pharmaceutical drug is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. World is witnessing the increased production of pharmaceutical drug to meet the demand of ailing and sick population. Pharmaceutical drugs are dynamic in the biotic system and nature and may sometime induce adverse reaction, which may threaten not only the targeted species but also non targeted species of both terrestrial and aquatic forms. Pharmacovigilance plays a pivotal, prominent and stupendous role in ensuring the drug safety through identification, quantification and documentation of drug-related inconvenience; helping the diminution of drug-related ailment and delivering secured healthcare systems. Pharmacovigilance works on the facts, information and understanding, feature and mechanism of drug linked injury. World Health Organisation emphasized Pharmacovigilance as ‘the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem’. Pharmacovigilance holds the task of imparting information to clients, practitioners and controller on the safety and handling of drug related issues, fabricating programmes for effective use of drugs and measures, gathering and considering information from patients and clinical experts. Environmental pharmacology or Eco-pharmacology is a relatively new and emerging specialty of pharmacology dealing with the adverse effect of these drugs on the environment and its components.
Effect of low-molecular-weight chitosans on the adhesive properties of oral streptococci.

It was previously shown that a low-molecular-weight chitosan and its derivatives N-carboxymethyl chitosan and imidazolyl chitosan inhibit Streptococcus mutans adsorption to hydroxyapatite. The ability of the same molecules to interfere with adhesive properties of other oral streptococci (Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus constellatus, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus vestibularis) was tested. When saliva-coated or -uncoated hydroxyapatite beads were treated with N-carboxymethyl chitosan, a reduction varying from 60% to 98% depending on strains was observed. Low-molecular-weight chitosans and imidazolyl chitosan did not have any effect. Growth in N-carboxymethyl chitosan-supplemented medium (final concentrations ranging from 20 to 500 micrograms.ml-1) caused a dose related reduction in the adsorption of all strains to hydroxyapatite and in their affinity towards xylene. No effect was observed with low-molecular-weight chitosans and imidazolyl chitosan. In contrast to what observed with S. mutans, the three polysaccharides did not affect detachment from hydroxyapatite beads and adherence to cheek epithelial cells of the other streptococci. These results suggest that low-molecular-weight chitosans and/or imidazolyl chitosan, selectively affecting S. mutans adsorption to hydroxyapatite, may be very interesting as potential anti-dental caries agents.
Epigenetic and genetic mechanisms contribute to telomerase inhibition by EGCG

The ends of human chromosomes are protected from the degradation associated with cell division by 15–20 kb long segments of hexameric repeats of 5′‐TTAGGG‐3′ termed telomeres. In normal cells telomeres lose up to 300 bp of DNA per cell division that ultimately leads to senescence; however, most cancer cells bypass this lifespan restriction through the expression of telomerase. hTERT, the catalytic subunit essential for the proper function of telomerase, has been shown to be expressed in approximately 90% of all cancers. In this study we investigated the hTERT inhibiting effects of (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol found in green tea catechins, in MCF‐7 breast cancers cells and HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Exposure to EGCG reduced cellular proliferation and induced apoptosis in both MCF‐7 and HL60 cells in vitro, although hTERT mRNA expression was decreased only in MCF‐7 cells when treated with EGCG. Furthermore, down‐regulation of hTERT gene expression in MCF‐7 cells appeared to be largely due to epigenetic alterations. Treatment of MCF‐7 cells with EGCG resulted in a time‐dependent decrease in hTERT promoter methylation and ablated histone H3 Lys9 acetylation. In conjunction with demethylation, further analysis showed an increase in hTERT repressor E2F‐1 binding at the promoter. From these findings, we propose that EGCG is effective in causing cell death in both MCF‐7 and HL60 cancer cell lines and may work through different pathways involving both anti‐oxidant effects and epigenetic modulation. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 509–519, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of Reverse Logistics Operations for a Computer Company

As reverse logistics is a relatively new field in supply chain management, especially in Asia, a detailed study is conducted to understand the status of companies practicing reverse logistics to support their Asia Pacific operations. This paper discusses an empirical examination of a company performing reverse logistics in Asia with Singapore being the coordination hub with the United States (US). Data on the transaction volumes and other material information are collected over a period of two years to understand the behaviour and trends of reverse logistics in this company. Statistical tools such as serial correlation, seasonality and trend analysis are performed on the data to understand their behaviour and its managerial implication. The study has shown that there is an upward trend for the return volume and how financial closing has an impact to the return volumes.
Substrate surface corrugation effects on the electronic transport in graphene nanoribbons

In this work, the electronic transport in armchair graphene nanoribbons in the presence of surface corrugation is studied. The non-equilibrium Green's function along with tight-binding model for describing the electronic band structure is employed to investigate the electronic properties of graphene nanoribbons. The effects of surface corrugation parameters, such as corrugation amplitude and correlation length, on the electronic properties of the graphene nanoribbons are studied. The mean free path of carriers is extracted and its dependency on the corrugation amplitude and correlation length is investigated.
Calcium influx and calcium current in single synaptic terminals of goldfish retinal bipolar neurons.

1. The calcium influx pathway in large synaptic terminals of acutely isolated bipolar neurons from goldfish retina was characterized using Fura‐2 measurements of intracellular calcium and patch‐clamp recordings of whole‐cell calcium current. 2. Depolarization of bipolar cells with high [K+]o resulted in a sustained, reversible increase in [Ca2+]i in both synaptic terminals and somata. Removal of external calcium abolished the response, as did the addition of 200 microM‐cadmium to the bathing solution, indicating that the rise in [Ca2+]i was due to entry of external calcium. Dihydropyridine blockers of voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels also blocked the influx, and the Ca2+ channel agonist Bay K 8644 potentiated influx, implicating voltage‐activated, dihydropyridine‐sensitive channels in the influx pathway. 3. Under voltage clamp, depolarization from a holding potential of ‐60 mV evoked a slowly inactivating inward current that began to activate at ‐50 to ‐40 mV and reached a maximal amplitude between ‐20 and ‐15 mV. This current was identified as a calcium current because it decreased when the extracellular calcium concentration was lowered, increased when barium was the charge carrier, and was blocked by 200 microM‐external cadmium. The current was substantially blocked by 1 microM‐nitrendipine and potentiated by 0.1 microM‐Bay K 8644, as expected for L‐type Ca2+ channels; it was unaffected by omega‐conotoxin. No evidence for transient or rapidly inactivating Ca2+ current was found. 4. At a given level of potassium depolarization, both the amplitude and the speed of increase in [Ca2+]i were greater in synaptic terminals than in somata. For instance, depolarization by 32.6 mM‐potassium caused an increase in intracellular calcium of 400 +/‐ 23 nM in terminals and 180 +/‐ 20 nM in somata (mean +/‐ S.E.M., n = 73 terminals, n = 30 somata), with maximal rates of change of 40 +/‐ 3 and 12 +/‐ 2 nM/s, respectively. 5. The contribution of terminal and somatic currents to the total whole‐cell Ca2+ current was determined under voltage clamp by local application of calcium or of blocking agents. While there was no qualitative difference between currents in terminals and somata, synaptic terminals accounted for 64 +/‐ 3% (mean +/‐ S.E.M., n = 12) of the total whole‐cell calcium current, and somata accounted for 39 +/‐ 2%. Thus, the density of Ca2+ current was higher in the terminal, accounting for the greater magnitude and speed of Ca2+ influx observed in terminals in Fura‐2 experiments. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
STUDIES OF INSULIN‐LIKE GROWTH FACTOR ‐I AND ‐II BY SPECIFIC RADIOLIGAND ASSAYS IN UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD

Somatomedin concentrations in human umbilical sera (n= 206) were measured using a specific radioimmunoassay for insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I and a specific radioreceptor assay for IGF‐II following acid‐ethanol extraction of the sera to remove the somatomedin binding proteins. IGF‐I concentrations were lower (P< 0·001) than adult values and correlated with gestational age (P< 0·001) and birth weight (P< 0·0001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that both birth weight expressed independently of gestational age as the standard deviate score (P< 0·0001) and gestational age (P< 0·002) had effects on umbilical cord IGF‐I concentrations. IGF‐II concentrations were similar to adult values and did not correlate with gestational age, birth size or IGF‐I values. IGF‐II concentrations were higher (P< 0·005) in male than female fetuses. These data support a role for IGF‐I in influencing fetal growth and suggest the independent regulation of the secretion of IGF‐I and II in the perinatal period. These was no evidence to suggest a distinct perinatal form of somatomedin.
Atypical lipomatous tumor: molecular characterization

Purpose of review Atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas (ALT/WDLs) are one of the more frequent mesenchymal neoplasms and are characterized by specific chromosome aberrations: supernumerary chromosome or giant marker chromosome or both. Extra copies of known oncogenes such as MDM2, CDK4, SAS, HMGA2 and others are present in this abnormal genetic material. Recent findings In the past few years, several papers have further dissected the genetic alterations present in these tumors, allowing the identification of new potential oncogenes. Summary ALT/WDLs represent therefore an interesting model for assessing the potential role of these oncogenes, not only in the pathogenesis, but also as a therapeutic target.
House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Activity near Baits Containing (Z)-9-tricosene and Efficacy of Commercial Toxic Fly Baits on a Southern California Dairy

Abstract Sticky card captures of house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), were used to compare efficacy of screen-covered baits containing sugar, sugar and 0.1% (Z)-9-tricosene, sugar and 1.0% (Z)-9-tricosene, Golden Malrin [1.1% methomyl and 0.049% (Z)-9-tricosene], and QuickBayt [0.5% imidacloprid and 0.1% (Z)-9-tricosene]. The QuickBayt treatment caught more flies per hour (mean = 116.5) than sugar alone (mean = 81.0), but the addition of (Z)-9-tricosene to sugar did not increase fly capture compared with sugar alone. More males (65% of total) than females were collected on the sticky cards for all treatments. Fly kill by plain sugar (control) and the commercial baits Golden Malrin, QuikStrike Fly Abatement strips (1.0% nithiazine), and QuickBayt was tested over a 90-min period. An average of 1.4, 5.6, 363.0, and 1,266.0 flies were killed using sugar, Golden Malrin, QuikStrike, and QuickBayt, respectively. The similarity between Golden Malrin and plain sugar reflects severe resistance to this once effective methomyl bait. A no-choice feeding assay using lab-reared methomyl-susceptible and methomyl-resistant house flies was conducted with and without (Z)-9-tricosene. Adult mortality was significantly higher in the methomyl-susceptible strain exposed to treatments containing methomyl. Lower consumption of the methomyl treatments by resistant flies suggested resistance was behavioral and mortality was not influenced by (Z)-9-tricosene for either fly strain.
CLINICO-PATHOLOGIC CONFERENCE: CONGENITAL HYPOMYELINATING NEUROPATHY IN TWO INFANTS OF A TRIPLET BIRTH

Maria Gieron-Korthals u Professor of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine,Tampa, Florida, USA Atilano Lacson u Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, University of South Florida College ofMedicine,Tampa, Florida and Pathologist, All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA Herbert H. Pomerance u Professor of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, College of Medicine,Tampa, Florida, USA