Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Agouti‐Related Protein on Metabolism and Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Gene Expression

The hypothalamic melanocortin system regulates feeding in part through interaction of the appetite stimulating peptide, agouti‐related protein (AGRP), and the anorectic peptide, α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone, a peptide derived from the pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) polyprotein. Central administration of AGRP induces hyperphagia and increased gain in body weight in rodents, but may also exert metabolic effects even when hyperphagia is prevented. In the present studies, the effects of AGRP on hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression and metabolism were examined in the rat. Central administration of AGRP for 3‐ and 7‐day periods resulted in hyperphagia, increased body weight and increased plasma leptin and insulin concentrations compared to saline‐injected controls. Hypothalamic concentrations of Pomc mRNA were also increased by 27% and 44% (in 3‐ and 7‐day experiments, respectively). The hypothalamic concentration of Agrp mRNA was unchanged after 3 days, but was significantly decreased by 33% after 7 days of AGRP infusion. To determine if these changes were dependent upon AGRP‐induced hyperphagia, pair‐fed rats with restricted food intake receiving central administration of AGRP were also studied. In the absence of hyperphagia, intracerebralventricular administration of AGRP caused significant increases in plasma leptin and insulin concentrations (two‐fold and 1.5‐fold, respectively) and fat pad mass. A significant increase in hypothalamic Pomc mRNA concentrations was not detected in pair‐fed rats. In contrast, Agrp mRNA concentrations remained suppressed by 45% in the pair‐fed group after 7 days of AGRP infusion despite equal body weight compared to saline controls. The ratio of hypothalamic Pomc to Agrp mRNA was elevated two‐fold in ad libitum and pair‐fed AGRP‐injected rats, which is consistent with increased stimulation of central melanocortin signalling pathways. Thus, central administration of AGRP exerts changes in hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression and metabolic effects that are independent of the effects on food intake and body weight.
Evolución de la fuerza muscular relacionada con la producción y aclaramiento de lactato en sucesivos combates de judo

Proposito: El proposito de este estudio es analizar el efecto de 4 combates de Judo sobre la potencia maxima de los brazos (PM), medida antes y despues de cada combate y conocer su relacion con la maxima produccion de acido lactico en sangre despues de los combates. Metodo: Participaron en este estudio doce judokas varones: A) Medallistas nacionales Sub20 en Espana (n.2). B) Medallistas nacionales Sub23 en Espana (n.7). C) Medallistas nacionales Sub23 en Francia (n.1). D) Medallistas regionales senior de Espana (Andalucia) (n.2). Se procedio a la recogida de datos durante una competicion de Judo. Cada sujeto realizo 4 combates de 5 min de duracion, con un descanso pasivo de 15 min entre cada uno de ellos. Inmediatamente antes y despues de cada combate, los sujetos realizaban tres repeticiones de una extension de brazos con barra (ejercicio de press en banca) solamente en su fase concentrica, con el % de 1RM con el que habian conseguido la PM en el test preliminar. En los min 1, 3 y 14 despues de finalizar cada combate, se obtuvo una muestra de sangre para la determinacion de la concentracion de lactato post-esfuerzo y la concentracion previa al inicio del siguiente combate. Resultados: Muestran la ausencia de cambios significativos en la potencia maxima desarrollada antes de los combates (PMA), aunque respecto al nivel de P = 0.058, podemos considerar que existe una significacion practica. Para la potencia maxima desarrollada despues de los combates (PMD), indica que si existen diferencias significativas. En las comparaciones por pares entre los valores registrados antes y despues, se muestra que no hay cambios significativos de la PMA entre combates, excepto en la PMA entre los combates 1 y 2, y en la PMD entre los combates 3 y 4. La PMA oscila entre los 778,08 ± 306,79 W del 1o y los 907,08 ± 375,79 W del 2o. En lo que respecta a la PMD oscila entre los 976,68 ± 414,72 W del 1o y los 1092,90 ± 438,29 W del 4o. Existen diferencias significativas entre la velocidad con la que se consigue la PM antes de los combates (VA) y despues (VD), tanto en general (P=0,000), como en cada combate (P=0,004), pero no en la fuerza (F) con la que se consigue la PM entre los cuatro combates (P=0,101), y tampoco entre la fuerza con la que se consigue la PM antes de los combates (FA) y despues (FD), tanto en general (P=0,188),como en cada combate (P=0,171). La PM relativa a la masa corporal de los judokas de nuestro estudio es de 10.06 ± 3.17 W/Kg, y la PM relativa a la masa magra, es de 12.07 ± 4.19 W/Kg. No existe correlacion de la PMD de los combates con la maxima concentracion de lactato sanguineo despues de los combates. Conclusiones: La sucesion de combates produce un aumento significativo de la potencia maxima de los brazos despues de los combates de Judo, en base al incremento significativo de la velocidad. La concentracion sanguinea de lactato, no tiene una influencia significativa en la PMD. PALABRAS CLAVE: Potencia maxima, bench press, fuerza de brazos, judo, lactato.
What works to prevent violence against women and girls? Evidence Review of interventions to prevent violence against women and girls

There is growing recognition of both the scale and many forms of violence experienced by women and girls in conflict and emergencies, as well as of the life-saving nature of programmes that respond to it. However, a lack of understanding of the key drivers as well as a lack of evidence about which programmes are most effective in preventing and responding to this violence are holding donors, multilaterals and NGOs back from effectively mitigating, reducing, and preventing VAWG in emergencies.
Latent Species C Adenoviruses in Human Tonsil Tissues

ABSTRACT Although species C human adenoviruses establish persistent infections, the molecular details of this lifestyle remain poorly understood. We previously reported that adenovirus DNA is found in human mucosal T lymphocytes in a noninfectious form (C. T. Garnett, D. Erdman, W. Xu, and L. R. Gooding, J. Virol. 76:10608-10616, 2002). In this study, human tonsil and adenoid tissues were analyzed to determine the dynamics of infection, the rate of clearance of viral DNA, and the possibility of reactivation of virus from these tissues. The presence of viral DNA peaked at 4 years of age and declined thereafter. The average number of viral genomes declined with the age of the donor. The frequency of virus-bearing cells ranged from 3 × 10−7 to 3.4 × 10−4, while the amount of viral DNA per cell varied less, with an average of 280 copies per cell. All species C serotypes were represented in these tissues, although adenovirus type 6 was notably rare. Infectious virus was detected infrequently (13 of 94 of donors tested), even among donors with the highest levels of adenoviral DNA. Adenovirus transcripts were rarely detected in uncultured lymphocytes (2 of 12 donors) but appeared following stimulation and culture (11 of 13 donors). Viral DNA replication could be stimulated in most donor samples by lymphocyte stimulation in culture. New infectious virus was detected in 13 of 15 donors following in vitro stimulation. These data suggest that species C adenoviruses can establish latent infections in mucosal lymphocytes and that stimulation of these cells can cause viral reactivation resulting in RNA transcription, DNA replication, and infectious virus production.
Immature Core protein of hepatitis C virus induces an unfolded protein response through inhibition of ERAD‐L in a yeast model system

The structural protein Core of hepatitis C virus (HCV), a cytosolic protein, induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) in hepatocytes, and is responsible for the pathogenesis of persistent HCV infection. Using yeast as a model system, we evaluated mechanisms underlying Core‐induced interference of ER homeostasis and UPR, and found that UPR is induced by the immature Core (aa 1–191, Core191) but not by the mature Core (aa 1–177, Core177). Interestingly, Core191 inhibits both ERAD‐L, a degradation system responsible for misfolded/unfolded proteins in the ER lumen, and ERAD‐M, a degradation system responsible for proteins carrying a misfolded/unfolded region in the ER membrane. In contrast, Core177 inhibits ERAD‐M but not ERAD‐L. In addition, requirement of an unfolded protein sensor in the ER lumen suggested that inhibition of ERAD‐L is probably responsible for Core191‐dependent UPR activation. These results implicate inadequate maturation of Core as a trigger for induction of ER stress and UPR.
Prevalence and severity of neurologic dysfunction in critically ill patients. Influence on need for continued mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE The relative importance of neurologic dysfunction in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients has not been well studied. This study investigates the prevalence of neurologic dysfunction in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients and its influence on preventing the discontinuation of mechanical ventilation and patient outcome. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING University-based, tertiary care center. PATIENTS All eligible adult patients mechanically ventilated for more than 48 h were included. A total of 66 patients were evaluated. INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Two independent questionnaires, one completed by the critical care attending physician documenting the major clinical factors necessitating continued mechanical ventilation, and a second questionnaire, completed by a critical-care trained neurologist documenting neurologic status and objective cardiopulmonary status formed the basis for outcome measurements. Respiratory and physiologic data, the patient's clinical conditions, and outcome (mortality) were also included in the database. RESULTS Pulmonary factors were the major reason for prolonged ventilation in only 51 percent of the patient evaluations. Neurologic status was the major factor necessitating continued mechanical ventilation in 32 percent of the patient evaluations and a significant contributing factor in an additional 41 percent. Of the neurologic factors, diminished level of consciousness was the major cause of continued ventilatory support. This was usually due to a systemic illness, rather than a primary central nervous system disorder. Mortality was significantly lower in patients who continued to require mechanical ventilation after 48 h because of neurologic factors as opposed to pulmonary factors (15 percent vs 72 percent, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence of neurologic dysfunction in critically ill patients and this problem plays a significant role in preventing the discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. Altered mental status is a major factor necessitating continued mechanical ventilation in combined medical-surgical intensive care units.
The Jomon in early agriculture discourse: issues arising from Matsui, Kanehara and Pearson

Abstract Two articles in World Archaeology (2006) raise issues regarding the long-standing classification of the Jomon as collectors and affluent foragers. Crops and food production have not played a significant role in understanding Jomon settlement systems, population density, complexity and their regional variation despite the reports of crops from numerous Jomon sites. A misunderstanding of one of my publications provides an opportunity to assess why the Jomon is understood the way it is in some circles. I also critically assess the affluent forager/collector model and the role that analogies with the Ainu play in the model. Agricultural origins theory tends to eschew classifying people as hunter-gatherers/foragers or agricultural and I argue that such should be the case for the Jomon. By acknowledging a significant role for food/resource production among Jomon populations we may arrive at a better understanding of Jomon populations and how they interacted with the environment. The comparative potential of the Jomon in the context of agricultural archaeology can also be realized.
Remoteness and maternal and child health service utilization in rural Liberia: A population–based survey

Background This study seeks to understand distance from health facilities as a barrier to maternal and child health service uptake within a rural Liberian population. Better understanding the relationship between distance from health facilities and rural health care utilization is important for post–Ebola health systems reconstruction and for general rural health system planning in sub–Saharan Africa. Methods Cluster–sample survey data collected in 2012 in a very rural southeastern Liberian population were analyzed to determine associations between quartiles of GPS–measured distance from the nearest health facility and the odds of maternal (ANC, facility–based delivery, and PNC) and child (deworming and care seeking for ARI, diarrhea, and fever) service use. We estimated associations by fitting simple and multiple logistic regression models, with standard errors adjusted for clustered data. Findings Living in the farthest quartile was associated with lower odds of attending 1–or–more ANC checkup (AOR = 0.04, P < 0.001), 4–or–more ANC checkups (AOR = 0.13, P < 0.001), delivering in a facility (AOR = 0.41, P = 0.006), and postnatal care from a health care worker (AOR = 0.44, P = 0.009). Children living in all other quartiles had lower odds of seeking facility–based fever care (AOR for fourth quartile = 0.06, P < 0.001) than those in the nearest quartile. Children in the fourth quartile were less likely to receive deworming treatment (AOR = 0.16, P < 0.001) and less likely (but with only marginal statistical significance) to seek ARI care from a formal HCW (AOR = 0.05, P = 0.05). Parents in distant quartiles more often sought ARI and diarrhea care from informal providers. Conclusions Within a rural Liberian population, distance is associated with reduced health care uptake. As Liberia rebuilds its health system after Ebola, overcoming geographic disparities, including through further dissemination of providers and greater use of community health workers should be prioritized.
Letter by Diomedi et al regarding article "continuous stroke unit electrocardiographic monitoring versus 24-hour holter electrocardiography for detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after stroke".

We read with interest the article by Rizos et al.1 The authors reported on the efficacy of continuous stroke unit ECG monitoring (CEM) in the detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(AF) compared with 24-hour Holter ECG. With a median recording time of 64 hours, CEM proved to be superior with a significant higher percentage of paroxysmal AF diagnosis. We totally agree with the authors on the unnecessary use of 24-hour Holter ECG in addition to CEM in the in-hospital setting because the latter allows longer-recording time …
Hospitalizations for Chronic Pancreatitis in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA

Background/Aims: Population-based estimates for chronic pancreatitis (CP) are scarce. We determined incident CP hospitalization rates and the risk of pancreatitis-related readmissions in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. Methods: We used Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) dataset to identify all unique White and Black Allegheny County residents with incident hospitalization for CP from years 1996–2005. We noted presence of alcoholism codes (from one year before index hospitalization until last contact) and pancreatitis-related readmissions until the third quarter of 2007. Age-, sex-, and race-adjusted (to US 2000 population) rates/100,000 were calculated. Results: 988 unique County residents with incident hospitalization for CP were identified. Of these, 37.6% also received alcoholism codes. Overall hospitalization rate was 7.75/100,000 (95% CI 7.26–8.24), which remained stable throughout the study period. Patients with alcoholism codes were significantly younger (47.2 vs. 58.0 years), more likely to be male (71.4 vs. 36.6%), and Black (38.5 vs. 17.7%). Hospitalization rates were significantly higher (2.4-fold) in Blacks (vs. Whites), particularly for those with alcoholism codes. During follow-up (median 45 months), pancreatitis-related readmissions were common, significantly more so for patients with alcoholism codes. Conclusions: CP hospitalization rates over a one-decade period were stable. Readmissions were highest among patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism.
Editörden: Türkiye’de göç çalışmaları

Turkiye’de goc arastirmalari hem akademide hem de genel kamuoyunda son yillarda daha fazla ilgi odagi haline gelen konulardan biri durumundadir. Londra’da yer alan Regent’s Universitesi’nde iki kez duzenlenen ve ucuncusu 2015 Haziran ayinda yapilacak olan Turk goc konferanslari bu konuda uluslararasi duzeyde artan bir ilginin varligini gostermesi acisindan onemlidir. 2012 ve 2014’te gerceklestirilen bu konferanslara Kuzey Amerika, Avrupa ve Turkiye’den toplamda dort yuzden fazla akademisyenin katilmis olmasi ‘Turk gocu’ konusunun oldukca yaygin bir uzman grup tarafindan onemsendiginin acik bir gostergesidir. Derginin, onumuzdeki yillarda zengin bir akademik kaynak olarak hem ogrenci ve arastirmacilarin hem de bu alanda calisan uygulayici ve politikacilarin ilgisini cekecegini umuyoruz. Icinden gectigimiz su gunlerde Suriye ve Irak’tan gelen zorunlu goc akimlari nedeniyle Turkiye iki yil zarfinda onemli bir gocmen ulkesi durumuna gelmistir. Bu durum, konunun hem arastirmacilar hem de politika yapicilar ve pratisyenler icin oneminin hizla artmasina neden olmustur. Dolayisiyla Turkce arastirmalarin ve birikimin paylasimi icin bir aracin olusturulmasi zaruri hale gelmistir.
Facile preparation of transparent and conductive polymer films based on silver nanowire/polycarbonate nanocomposites

Silver nanowires (AgNW) synthesized by a solvothermal method were incorporated into a polycarbonate matrix by a solution mixing procedure. Films with a thickness around 18 μm were obtained, showing a good distribution of the wires within the polymer matrix. The thermal stability of the polymer matrix increased significantly, with the main decomposition peak shifting up to 74 ° C for an AgNW loading of 4.35 wt%. The percolation threshold was obtained at very low AgNW content (0.04 wt%), and the composite electrical conductivity at the maximum loading (4.35 wt%) was 41.3 Ω cm. Excellent transparency was obtained at the percolation threshold, with negligible reduction in the transmittance of the polymer matrix (from 88.2 to 87.6% at 0.04 wt% loading of AgNW). In addition, the polymer matrix protected the silver nanowires from oxidation, as demonstrated by the XPS analysis.
Inter-observer concordance in grading retinopathy in cerebral malaria

In children severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria causes a unique set of retinal signs (Lewallen et al. 1993; Hero et al. 1997). Some of these changes are entirely specific to severe malaria and have been associated with fatal outcome in cerebral malaria (Lewallen et al. 1996; unpubl. obs.). Observations of these retinopathies therefore have a contribution to continuing studies on the patho-physiological processes in cerebral malaria (CM). Lewallen et al. (1999) described these opthalmic changes in detail and proposed a system for grading them. In an attempt to validate and standardize this grading system the level of agreement between two independent observers who used the system to grade retinopathy in CM and then recorded their findings on standardized charts was investigated in a prospective study. The patients investigated were the consecutive children with CM who were admitted to the Malaria Projects research ward at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre Malawi during one malaria season. For the purposes of this study CM was defined as a Blantyre coma score of 2 or less in the presence of P. falciparum parasitaemia with no other explanation of coma (Molyneux et al. 1989). The Malawi College of Medicines Research Committee gave ethical approval for the study and patients were included only after permission from their parents or guardians was obtained. The tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki were also followed. (excerpt)
Stat 3 signaling in acute myeloid leukemia : ligand-dependent and-independent activation and induction of apoptosis by a novel small-molecule Stat 3 inhibitor

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy with a relapse rate approaching 50%, despite aggressive chemotherapy. New therapies for AML are targeted at signal transduction pathways known to support blast survival, such as the Stat3 pathway. Aberrant activation of Stat3 has been demonstrated in many different malignancies, including AML, and this finding is frequently associated with more aggressive disease. The objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize Stat3 signaling patterns in AML cells lines and primary pediatric samples; and (2) to test the efficacy and potency of a novel Stat3 inhibitor in inducing apoptosis in AML cells. We found that Stat3 was constitutively activated in 6 of 7 AML cell lines and 6 of 18 primary pediatric AML samples. Moreover, constitutively phosphorylated Stat3 was frequent in samples with normal karyotype but uncommon in samples with t(8;21). Most cell lines and primary samples responded to G-CSF stimulation, although the sensitivity and magnitude of the response varied dramatically. Our novel small-molecule Stat3 inhibitor, C188-9, inhibited G-CSF–induced Stat3 phosphorylation, induced apoptosis in AML cell lines and primary samples, and inhibited AML blast colony formation with potencies in the low micromolar range. Therefore, Stat3 inhibition may be a valuable strategy for targeted therapies for AML. (Blood. 2011;117(21):5701-5709)
Physics-based model acquisition and identification in airborne spectral images

We consider the problem of acquiring models for unknown materials in airborne 0.4 /spl mu/m-2.5 /spl mu/m hyperspectral imagery and using these models to identify the unknown materials an image data obtained under significantly different conditions. The material models are generated using an airborne sensor spectrum measured under unknown conditions and a physical model for spectral variability. For computational efficiency, the material models are represented using low-dimensional spectral subspaces. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the material models using a set of material tracking experiments in HYDICE images acquired in a forest environment over widely varying conditions. We show that techniques based on the new representation significantly outperform methods based on direct spectral matching.
The Study on the Anode Current Density Distribution in a Moving Arc Root

This study aims at the reconstruction of anode two- dimensional current density distribution in a moving arc root using algebraic reconstruction technique(ART). The principle of the multi-angle slit-cavity electrode is proposed to obtain the linear current distribution of arc root in diverse directions on the basis of work made by Drouet and his cooperators. The iterative reconstructive algorithm associated with ART is introduced. The measured results of linear current distribution in seven directions are processed with the ART algorithm, and two-dimensional current density in arc root is obtained. Keywords-arc root; anode current density distribution; ART.