Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interferão peguilado e ribavirina em doentes com hepatite crónica sem resposta sustentada ao interferão standard e ribavirina

Introdução: Apesar de submetidos a tratamento, muitos dos doentes com hepatite C crónica permanecem infectados. Com o interferão peguilado e ribavirina, a resposta virológica sustentada ultrapassou os 50%, um acréscimo de 17 a 25% comparativamente ao interferão standard e ribavirina. Tal facto poderá fundamentar o retratamento dos doentes sem resposta a tratamentos anteriores. Objectivos: Avaliar a eficácia do tratamento com interferão peguilado e ribavirina, após falência do interferão standard e ribavirina. Identificar factores preditivos de boa resposta. Doentes e Métodos: Análise retrospectiva dos doentes retratados com interferão peguilado e ribavirina após falência do interferão standard e ribavirina. Resultados: Identificaram-se 27 doentes (78% do sexo masculino, média de idades de 43 anos). O genótipo 1 foi identificado em 23 doentes. Catorze tinham virémias superiores a 500.000 UI/L. Quinze doentes tinham efectuado interferão standard em monoterapia. Todos cumpriram tratamento com interferão standard e ribavirina, sendo a resposta nula em dois terços. Com o retratamento (interferão peguilado e ribavirina), a resposta sustentada atingiu 25,9% (7 doentes). Os factores preditivos de boa resposta foram: resposta virológica precoce ao retratamento e ausência de curso prévio de interferão em monoterapia. Conclusões: O retratamento deverá ser considerado, sobretudo se estiverem presentes os factores preditivos de boa resposta. Summary
High‐Temperature Oxidation of Boron Nitride: I, Monolithic Boron Nitride

High-temperature oxidation of monolithic boron nitride (BN) is examined at 900–1200°C. Hot-pressed BN and both low- and high-density chemically vapor-deposited BN are studied. The oxidation product is B2O3(l) and the oxidation kinetics are sensitive to crystallographic orientation, porosity, and impurity levels. The B2O3 product also reacts readily with ambient water vapor in the test furnace (ppm levels) to form the volatile species HBO2(g), leading to overall paralinear kinetics. The linear rate constant extracted from these experiments agreed with that predicted from diffusion of HBO2(g) across a static boundary layer.
Effect of Mineral Fertilization and Manure on Some Characteristics in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Field trial was carried out at the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria (2000-2003) to study the effect of mineral fertilization and manure on nitrate reductase activity, plastid pigments content and dry root mass in alfalfa. The experiment was carried out on slightly leached chernozem soil subtype and no irrigation. Mineral fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) and manure (well rotted cattle manure) at the doses of 70, 140 and 210 kg N ha were applied. A tendency for increase of nitrate reductase activity in leaves compared to unfertilzed 1 control and decrease in roots regardless of dose for the both type of fertilizers was found. By increasing the dose of mineral fertilizer nitrate reductase activity in leaves and stems decreased and when manure was applied the values were similar. Mineral fertilizer and manure decreased the total chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a+b) and the decrease was less at high doses. Content of carotenoids increased for all treatments. Dry root mass formed after manure fertilization was from 25.2 to 51.7% greater than that after mineral.
Substituent effects of porphyrin monolayers on the structure and photoelectrochemical properties of self-assembled monolayers of porphyrin on indium-tin oxide electrode

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of porphyrins have been prepared to examine the substituent effects of porphyrin monolayers on the structure and photoelectrochemical properties of the SAMs on an ITO electrode. The ultraviolet (UV)−visible absorption, steady-state fluorescence, and cyclic voltammetry measurements for the porphyrin SAMs revealed that the interaction between the porphyrins without bulky tert-butyl groups is much larger than that of the porphyrins with bulky tert-butyl groups. Photoelectrochemical measurements were performed in nitrogen-saturated Na2SO4 aqueous solution containing triethanolamine as an electron sacrificer using the modified ITO working electrode, a platinum wire counter electrode, and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The internal quantum yields of photocurrent generation together with the porphyrin fluorescence lifetimes remain virtually the same irrespective of the steric hindrance, which is in sharp contrast with severe self-quenching of the porphyrin excited singlet state .
SELECTIVITY AND PARTITIONING OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM IN SESAME

Net uptake and partitioning of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) in plants of two sesame cultivars (Sesamum indicum cv. ‘PB-1’ and cv. ‘UCR’) exposed to 20 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) were studied over a period of 28 days. Both cultivars showed a marked discrimination between K+ and Na+ during uptake. The reduction of K+ in the plants caused by the NaCl treatment was of similar magnitude in the two cvs. The cv. ‘UCR’ showed lower Na+ concentrations in the shoot tissues than ‘PB-1’ and K+/Na+ selectivity ratios were higher in cv. ‘UCR’ than in cv. ‘PB-1’. At the last sampling on day 28 there was a marked decrease of shoot growth in cv. ‘PB-1’ in comparison to the cv. ‘UCR’. Leaves of cv. ‘PB-1’ showed clear toxic symptoms, while those of cv. ‘UCR’ did not. It is concluded that Na+ exclusion from the shoot contributes to salt tolerance of sesame, cv. ‘UCR’.
Screening technique to estimate high benzo[a]pyrene concentrations near roads

The emission factors of benzo[a]pyrene for gasoline cars and for diesel cars were measured by directly collecting the exhaust gas using a portable sampling equipment and became 660 ng km-1 and 1700 ng km-1, respectively. The regression equations to easily evaluate the concentrations at the roadsides and at the crossroads were introduced as the functions of building height, road width, and wind speed from CFD simulations. The estimated concentrations showed that there were almost locations with the high concentrations exceeding the screening level to the probability of 10-5 that a person has a cancer during his life.
Impact of land management practices on high‐affinity methanotrophic bacterial populations: evidence from long‐term sites at Rothamsted

The impacts of land‐use change and long‐term agricultural practices on the bacterial and methanotrophic biomass in the soils comprising the Classical Experiments at Rothamsted Research were investigated by using 13CH4 phospholipid fatty acid stable isotope probing (PLFA SIP). Nine sites were studied, including six arable plots, two regenerated woodlands and a regenerated grassland. The regenerating sites had all been in arable cropping for at least 200 years (and probably much longer) before commencing regeneration approximately 120 years ago. Six sites were plots within the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, which had been cultivated, and on which winter wheat was grown annually for 163 years with different fertilizer and manure treatments; the field had been in arable cropping for at least 200 years previously. Triplicate soil samples were incubated under 2 ppmv 13CH4 for up to 100 days. Extraction and 13C‐PLFA analysis revealed that overall methanotrophic biomass was smaller in the Rothamsted soils compared with the other mineral soils studied to date, as indicated by poor 13C incorporation. High‐affinity methanotrophs similar to known type II methanotrophs were most abundant in all of the soils studied, except in two plots receiving farmyard manure (FYM and FYM + N). Manuring resulted in a shift to a population similar to known type I methanotrophs. Methanotrophic biomass was elevated in soils that had received the largest input of N fertilizer, though without detectable differences in CH4 oxidation rates, indicating the potential mediation of atmospheric CH4 oxidation by non‐methanotrophs, which are most likely to be nitrifying bacteria.
Rheological Characterization of Aqueous Polysaccharide Mixtures Undergoing Shear

We studied the rheological properties of aqueous polysaccharide mixtures, prepared by blending two compatible biopolymers, i.e. sodium carboxymethylcellulose and xanthan, under destructive and non-destructive shear conditions, in order to evaluate synergistic/non-synergistic effects of mixed polysaccharide systems. The rheological experiments were carried out with the controlled stress rotational rheometer to detect the response of structured samples at low shear stresses. The flow behavior and the viscoelastic properties of polysaccharide systems under shear conditions were examined by applying continuous shear and oscillatory tests at ambient temperature. The empirical analysis of the flow behavior enabled us to evaluate the deviations in the zero shear viscosity, and the intensity of the shear-thinning behavior as determined for investigated binary mixtures, when compared to the flow behavior of pure component solutions. The mechanical properties of polysaccharide mixtures in the range of the linear viscoelastic response were analyzed with the generalized Maxwell model and the relaxation spectra were determined. The examined mixtures exhibited complex rheological behavior under the shear conditions, regarding the flow characteristics as well as the viscoelastic properties in the linear viscoelastic regime.
STUDIES ON ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTY OF EUCALYPTUS - THE AROMATIC PLANT Research Article

Eucalyptus is a plant that is used in traditional medicine for the treatment as antimicrobial drugs. To calculate the potential of the plant, the antimicrobial activities of extracts of the leaves were evaluated against some common bacteria. The dried powdered leaves were extracted using aqueous and organic solvents (methanol, acetone and water). The antimicrobial activity of the concentrated extracts was evaluated by determination of the diameter of zone of inhibition against both gram negative and gram positive bacteria and fungi using the paper disc diffusion method. The least activity was shown by aqueous extract against E. coli (6.5 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (10 mm) while the maximum was recognized by the alcoholic extract, with a recorded zone diameter for E. coli (14 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (17 mm). Phytochemical screening of the plant exposed the presence of tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The results of this analysis support the traditional use of Eucalyptus leaves as an antibacterial agent.
Corporate social responsibility of SMEs in the Republic of Croatia

From a long-term perspective, modern capitalism does not only require companies to profit as much as possible, but is increasingly paying attention to the social and environmental problems of business. It refers to meeting the social and environmental needs of the wider community. Climate change affecting the extinction of biological species has a major impact on human life and the global economic crisis, which increasingly requires corporations to care about global environmental impact and bio-sustainability, which requires strengthening corporate responsibility with increasing attention to social and environmental problem. The main objective of this paper is to examine the representation of the CSR strategy in small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Croatia, looking through the economic, social and environmental dimensions. An analysis of the application of the existing level of socially responsible business was made, as well as a comparison of the levels of implementation of the social and environmental dimension in the observed SMEs. The empirical research in this paper concludes that the sample SMEs are oriented towards the operational and financial aspects of business, while at the same time adopting business strategies across all three dimensions of CSR.
Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Sucrose by Seeding Formation in the Solid Phase and Seeding Growth in Aqueous Solution

A simple method for safely preparing Au nanoparticles of a few to 20 nm in diameter has been developed on the basis of chemical reduction of HAuCl4 with glucose and fructose produced by the acidic hydrolysis of sucrose. The method includes seeding formation in the solid mixture of HAuCl4 and sucrose via heat treatment at 70−100 °C and seeding growth after dissolving the heated mixture in water at room temperature. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses of the HAuCl4−sucrose mixture heated at 80 °C for 15 min confirmed the presence of Au(0) and Au(I) in the sample. Both the X-ray diffraction and UV−vis spectroscopic measurements of the heated mixture suggest the very small sizes of gold clusters in the sample. The particle growth in the aqueous solution was followed by in-situ monitoring of the surface plasmon band with a time-resolved UV−vis spectrometer. The size and size distribution of the resulting nanoparticles were measured by both dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscop.
Effect of Minoxidil on blood glucose levels in euglycemic and type2 diabetic models and its pharmacodynamic interaction with glibenclamide : An experimental study

OBJECTIVES: Minoxidil, is proven to be effective in the treatment of alopecia. As Minoxidil and diazoxide, which are potassium channel openers have been used in severe hypertension. The commonest side effect of diazoxide is hyperglycemia, due to opening of potassium channel in + beta cells producing hyperpolarisation that inhibits insulin release. So when concomitantly K channel activators are used, they may oppose the actions of commonly used sulfonylureas in type2 Diabetics with hypertension. There is paucity of literature in pre-clinical studies regarding the consequences of pharmacodynamic drug interaction between the two drugs and non-diabetic and diabetic persons on blood glucose levels. To evaluate the effect of Minoxidil on euglycemic and type2 diabetic and its interaction with glibencalamide, in type2 diabetic animal models. METHODS: Type2 diabetes was induced by High fat diet-fed and low dose streptozotocin 35mg/kg i.p. Rats with blood glucose level between 250-350mg% were considered and divided into various groups according to protocol. RESULTS: In 28 days treatment with Minoxidil (500µ/Kg,oral) produced euglycemia in non-diabetic rats, hyperglycemia in diabetic rats and antagonised the effect of glibenclamide in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Minoxidil has hyperglycemic effect in diabetic rats, euglycemic effect in non-diabetic rats and it reduced the hypoglycemic effect of glibenclamide when it is used in type2 diabetic models of rats.
REAL-TIME OPTICAL MONITORING OF CAPILLARY GRID SPATIAL PATTERN IN EPITHELIUM BY SPATIALLY RESOLVED DIFFUSE REFLECTANCE PROBE

We developed a novel method for real-time monitoring of alteration of the local epithelium vessel/capillary and blood oxygenation spatial pattern in epithelium exploiting a compact fibre sensor system based on spatially and spectrally resolved diffuse reflectance. The method is based on collection of spatially resolved diffuse reflectance R(λ) by fiber sensors. The spatial resolution is provided as a dependence of R(λ) on a set of distances ρ between the source and detector (attenuation curve). It is expected that the new method can reasonably extract the minor spatial deviations of oxygenation and local blood volume fraction — parameters, directly related to the local vessel density and capillary spatial patterns in the epithelium. Light scattering in visible range is naturally taken into account in the proposed method.
Modeling the Dynamics of Amyloid Formation of Islet Beta Cells under Therapeutic Interventions and its Role in Discovery of Novel Target for Drug Action

Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP or amylin) is a protein which was first discovered in the year 1987. It is co- expressed and cosecreted in the b islet cells of the pancreas along with insulin. IAPP forms amyloid plaques in diseased states like type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Hyperten- sion. These comorbidities play an important role in devel- opment of cardiovascular diseases(CVD). Thus, control of amyloidosis is vital in prevention and management of T2DM and CVD. In this work, we model the dynamics of amyloid formation of islet beta cells under therapeutic interventions. According to this model the effects of drug therapy on amy- loid formation are given by a system of ordinary differential equations and a partial differential equation. The model is then converted into a system of ordinary differential equa- tions and the equilibrium points are computed and their sta- bility is studied. Also, numerical simulations are performed on the model and we conclude that amyloidosis can be con- trolled in the presence of therapeutic intervention.
Biexcitons in crystals with large ortho-para-exciton splitting

It is shown that in a system of ortho- and para-excitons two ortho-excitons with total spin S = 0 interact attractively and biexcitons can be formed. The interaction potential of two ortho-excitons is approximated by a generalized Morse potential depending on the electron—hole mass ratio σ. On this basis the energy of vibrational and rotational levels of the biexciton is obtained. The binding energy of the biexciton ground state is estimated for all values of σ. Es wird gezeigt, das in einem System von Ortho- und Para-Exzitonen zwei Ortho-Exzitonen mit Gesamtspin S = 0 anziehend wechselwirken und Biexzitonen bilden. Das Wechselwirkungspotential zweier Ortho-Exzitonen kann durch ein verallgemeinertes Morse-Potential angenahert werden, das vom Elektronen—Locher-Massenverhaltnis σ abhangt. Auf dieser Grundlage wird die Energie der Schwingungs- und Rotationsmoden des Biexzitons erhalten. Die Bindungsenergie des Biexzitonengrundzustands wird fur alle Werte von σ berechnet.
The stratospheric response to changes in ozone and carbon dioxide as modelled with a GCM including parameterised ozone chemistry

To disentangle the combined effect of CO 2 and O 3 changes on both the large-scale circulation and global distribution of ozone, we have conducted four idealised climate change experiments using a version of the Met Office's Unified Model (UM) with a well-resolved middle atmosphere and parameterised stratospheric ozone chemistry, imposing CO 2 and ozone changes. Focusing on the northern hemisphere we compare our model results with respect to existing observations of process-oriented quantities involving ozone, in particular the slope of the ozone loss-PSC volume relationship as described by REX et al. (2004). We study the sensitivities in our model system with respect to changes in trace gases and discuss problems in assessing likely future developments relating to the recovery of the ozone layer. We find a highly non-linear response in the modelled ozone at 70 hPa during northern hemisphere winter, whereas the response on the southern hemisphere is quite linear. The ozone loss-PSC volume relationship in the northern hemisphere is well-defined for all integrations, except for the case with the most extreme climate change (doubled CO 2 and decreased ozone).
SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF BACTERIOCHLOROPHYLLS IN VITRO AND IN VIVO *

Abstract— Chromatophores from Rhodopseudonionas spheroides were treated with potassium iridic chloride so as to destroy the major complement of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) without harming the photochemically active P870. A band at 802 mμ, attributed to a pigment P800, survived this treatment along with P870. Extraction of such chromatophores with a mixture of acetone and methanol removed the absorption bands of P800 and P870; a corresponding amount of BChl was found in the extract. The yield of BChl was too great to have been derived from either P800 or P870 alone; analysis of extinction cofficients and band areas of these pigments indicates that they are both specialized fornis of BChl, in a molecular ratio of 2P800:1P870.
Heptane Adsorption in Silicalite-1: Neutron Scattering Investigation

Structural properties of confined deuterated n-heptane in silicalite-1 have been investigated by neutron scattering experiments during the adsorption process. At 300 K, the adsorption isotherm shows a sharp inflection at a loading near Nads ) 4 molecules per silicalite-1 unit cell. In addition, the diffusivities obtained from recent QENS data exhibit a loading dependence. Our motivation is to find structural signatures of the peculiar behavior of n-heptane in silicalite-1 and to check the numerous computer simulation findings of this behavior. Our detailed neutron diffraction investigation agrees with the MONO-ORTHO phase transition of the silicalite-1 above a Nads value of 4 molecules per unit cell, while no transition is reported for the n-hexane/silicalite-1 system at 300 K. Besides, the adsorption of C7D16 molecules in silicalite-1 is proved to be a two-step filling process. The location of the C7D16 molecules at increasing loading obtained from Rietveld refinement shows that the C7D16 molecules begin by first filling the straight channels, then near Nads ) 4 mol. /u.c. , C7D16 molecules fill both straight and sinusoidal channels. Our structural results happen to be in agreement with computer simulation calculations newly reported by Song et al. By contrast, the commensurate “freezing” of n-heptane in the sinusoidal channels of the silicalite-1 obtained from molecular simulation does not explain the two-step adsorption process. Rather, it corresponds to the final adsorption state similar to the molecular arrangement determined for the 8 n-hexane/silicalite-1 complex at 180 K. Recent thermodesorption studies on the both n-heptane/ZSM-5 and n-heptane/ZSM-11 systems showed also the defectiveness of the commensurate “freezing” interpretation.
Study on the addition of nonmetal interstitial atoms to the yttrium lattice: formation of YBx, YCx and YNx alloys

Yttrium is a rather rare and reactive met al. Due to these characteristics it absorbs important quantities of light atoms in its void spaces. Here, we present a study where B, C and N atoms are gradually incorporated into the octahedral interstices of Y. The idea is to model, by first‐principles calculations in a supercell approach, several stages of nonmetal assimilation in the yttrium lattice. In this case to develop YBx, YCx and YNx alloys. This study is limited to the cubic close‐packed stacking of Y and chemical compositions in the 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 range. We found that the studied alloys become thermodynamically favored. The cohesive energies improve with the addition of the nonmetal atoms. Besides, the cell volume and the bulk modulus vary differently for each kind of added atom. We come upon the fact that the ratio between cohesive energy and cell volume is strikingly better for YNx. We conclude that these alloys permit a remarkable degree of modulation in their properties and electronic structures by means of chemical composition. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)