bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of artemisinin, with or without lumefantrine and amodiaquine on gastric ulcer healing in rat
Authors: Ajeigbe Kazeem O. , Emikpe Benjamin O. , Olaleye Samuel Babafemi 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

Background
Antimalarial drugs have been shown to predispose the stomach to ulceration in rats. However, their role in the modulation of gastric ulcer healing is not known. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of artemisinin-based combination therapies on ulcer healing.

Methods
Gastric kissing ulcers were induced in 40 male albino rats (150–180 g) using 0.2 mL 50% acetic acid. One day after the ulcer induction, experimental rats were divided into four groups and treated once daily orally for 3 days as follows: (1) normal saline, (2) artemether-lumefantrine (2/12 mg/kg), (3) artesunate-amodiaquine (4/10 mg/kg), and (4) artesunate (2 mg/kg) only. A fifth group of 10 rats served as overall control with no ulcer induced and no treatment given. Ulcer healing was determined on days 4 and 7 post induction using ulcer score and planimetry.

Results
Artesunate decreased ulcer severity by 12.5% and 52.0% on days 4 and 7, respectively. Significant increases in severity were observed in rats treated with artemether-lumefantrine (25.0% and 40.0%) and artesunate-amodiaquine (50.0% and 95.0%). Lipid peroxidation was decreased by artesunate by day 7 (27%; p<0.05) but increased in artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine administered rats (63.6% and 55%; p<0.05). The activity of superoxide dismutase was reduced by artesunate-amodiaquine on day 7 (22%; p<0.05) but no effect in the artemether-lumefantrine treatment. Neutrophil infiltration, total leukocyte count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein values were significantly increased in the artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine treated groups when compared with the untreated ulcer control group (p<0.05). These variables were all reduced by artesunate (p<0.05).

Conclusions
This study revealed that although artesunate may be beneficial in gastric ulcer healing, its combination with either lumefantrine or amodiaquine may delay healing of gastric mucosal injury.
Age-Dependent Changes in Plasma Amino Acids Contribute to Alterations in Glycoxidation Products
Authors: Foroumandi Elaheh , Alizadeh Mohammad , Kheirouri Sorayya 
Published: April 2018

Summary
Background: Glycative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of various degenerative disorders. This study sought to determine the effect of age-related changes in amino acids on serum levels of pentosidine and carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) in healthy individuals.
Methods: The subjects were 78 healthy individuals categorized into three age groups. The ages of the groups were as follows: 26 young adults (20–30 y, 25.2±3.03), 26 middle-aged adults (35–50 y, 39.46±6.97) and 26 older adults (60 y or older, 69.80±10.01). Serum levels of pentosidine and CML were measured by ELISA and levels of plasma amino acids were determined using HPLC.
Results: Serum levels of pentosidine and CML in the youngest group were higher than in the oldest group (p=0.026, 0.029, respectively). There was a positive correlation between the serum levels of pentosidine and CML and the levels of plasmaTyrosine (p=0.032, r=0.211 and p=0.037, r=0.224), Valine (p=0.037, r=0.224 and p=0.021, r=0.247) and Isoleucine (p=0.041, r=0.203 and p=0.021, r=0.247), respectively. Serum levels of pentosidine and CML may be modulated by the plasma levels of selected amino acids.
Conclusions: Better understanding of the role of these selective amino acids might provide new perception of how glycation pathways may be altered and pave the way for new therapeutic principles.
Friedrich II., ein Sizilianer auf dem Kaiserthron?
Authors: Houben Hubert 
Published: April 2018

Riassunto
Il contributo esamina la tesi di Olaf Rader, secondo cui l’imperatore Federico II, nato in Italia e cresciuto in Sicilia, sarebbe stato „durch und durch Sizilianer“ (del tutto siciliano), come aveva sostenuto nella seconda meta del sec. XIX Leopold von Ranke e di conseguenza „il primo straniero sul trono tedesco“, come scrisse poi Johannes Haller nella prima meta del Novecento. Secondo tale interpretazione, egli avrebbe dato priorita al regno di Sicilia, ereditato dalla madre Costanza d’Altavilla, e trascurato invece l’impero romano-tedesco, diversamente da suo nonno Federico I Barbarossa. Questa tesi risulta poco convincente perche attribuendo a Federico II una chiara identita siciliana si trascura il fatto che egli, trasferitosi in Germania all’eta di 17 anni e rimanendovi per otto, si immerse in un contesto del tutto tedesco, riappropriandosi delle sue radici sveve. Inoltre Federico II difese accanitamente gli interessi dell’impero romano-tedesco contro il papato e i comuni settentrionali, mettendo le ingenti risorse economiche del regno di Sicilia al servizio delle sue azioni militari. Essendo a quell’epoca particolarmente importante la presenza fisica del sovrano per l’azione di governo, Federico ovvio alla sua assenza nelle zone d’oltralpe, prive di strutture amministrative paragonabili a quelle italiane, delegando i suoi figli - Enrico (VII) prima e Corrado IV poi - a rappresentarlo in Germania. La tesi di un Federico II come „il siciliano sul trono imperiale“ non convince perche e basata su concetti ottoe novecenteschi quali popolo, nazione e identita nazionali che mal si adattano al Medioevo.
Der Ingenieur Konrad Gruter von Werden in Ferrara, Venedig, Lucca und Pietrasanta (ca. 1402–1424)
Authors: Lohrmann Dietrich 
Published: April 2018

Riassunto
Il nome del chierico e ingegnere Konrad Gruter di Werden/Ruhr e emerso solo nel 2006 con la pubblicazione del suo trattato De machinis et rebus mechanicis compilato nel 1424 a Venezia e dedicato al re Erik VII di Danimarca, Norvegia e Svezia. Al contempo e stato possibile ricostruire le tappe della sua attivita, lunga piu di trent’anni, come sperimentatore e ingegnere consigliere presso una serie di corti principesche italiane. Una fonte d’informazione, pero, e rimasta finora in gran parte inesplorata, vale a dire il materiale assai istruttivo, benche molto sparso, conservato nell’Archivio di Stato di Lucca. Alla raccolta di queste notizie ha collaborato Dr. Geoffrey Nuttall, Courtauld Institute London.
La santa di Casa: Benedetto XIV e la beata Imelda Lambertini
Authors: Fattori Maria Teresa 
Published: April 2018

Zusammenfassung
Papst Benedikt XIV. leitete keinen auf die Kanonisierung zielenden Seligsprechungsprozess Imelda Lambertinis ein, obgleich er als Pralat die junge, 1333 verstorbene Nonne schatzte. Die Uberlieferung weist in diesem Fall viele Lucken und kaum zuverlassiges Quellenmaterial auf, wahrend die Literatur des 18. Jh. aus dem Umfeld Muratoris dem Seligenkult Imeldas eher abtraglich war. Der Beitrag analysiert in drei Schritten die Grunde fur die Weigerungshaltung Benedikts XIV. (1675-1758). Zunachst werden die Fakten und Dokumente zusammengestellt, uber die sich der Papst die entsprechenden Informationen zu verschaffen versuchte. In einem zweiten Schritt wird die Entwicklung des Imelda-Kultes im 17. und 18. Jh. skizziert, wobei der potentiell heilige Wesenszug dieser Figur aufscheint und das Thema der eucharistischen Devotion, die fur ihr Leben kennzeichnend ist, in den Zusammenhang der Debatten uber die Eucharistie eingeordnet wird. Schlieslich sollen die Zweifel erortert werden, mit denen die Kultur des 18. Jh. auf die hagiographische Tradition blickte; vor dem Hintergrund des innigen, aber auch hochst kritischen Verhaltnisses zwischen dem Bologneser Papst einerseits und seiner Familie bzw. seiner Geburtsstadt andererseits lassen sich auf diese Weise die Beweggrunde herausarbeiten, die ihm nahelegten, auf eine Selig- und Heiligsprechung zu verzichten.
Bayerische Blicke auf den römischen Kunstmarkt (1790–1815)
Authors: Putz Hannelore 
Published: April 2018

Riassunto
A partire dal Rinascimento, Roma fu il centro europeo del mercato delle antichita e delle opere d’arte, nonche dell’attivita artistica. L’importanza politica e culturale, assunta dalla citta quasi senza soluzione di continuita fin dai tempi antichi, aveva fatto nascere, nel corso dei secoli, straordinarie collezioni di opere d’arte. Al contempo gli artisti producevano nuove opere, e giovani artisti confluivano in questa „metropoli europea dell’arte“ per studiare, per imparare dai grandi, per raccoglierne gli impulsi in maniera creativa, per riportare in patria le cognizioni acquisite. I rivolgimenti e le crisi politiche, economiche e belliche, che verso la fine del XVIII secolo scuotevano tutta l’Europa, ebbero dirette consequenze sul delicatissimo mercato d’arte romano, cambiandone radicalmente le condizioni complessive che sarebbero rimaste critiche fino al riordinamento dell’Europa dopo le guerre napoleoniche. Nel 1810 il principe ereditario bavarese, Lodovico, mando a Roma lo scultore Johann Martin von Wagner che nella qualita di agente d’arte doveva rappresentare i suoi interessi in loco. L’intensa corrispondenza tra i due, che duro fino alla morte di Wagner sopravvenuta nel 1858, getta una luce particolare sul mercato romano dalla prospettiva del committente e nell’ottica professionale dell’artista. Si apre cosi uno squarcio singolare sulle condizioni e sui meccanismi del mercato e i suoi attori durante gli ultimi anni dell’eta napoleonica a Roma.
A proposito di Nationes a Roma in età moderna: provenienza, appartenenza culturale, integrazione sociale
Authors: Fosi Irene 
Published: April 2018

Zusammenfassung
Der Beitrag behandelt neuere Studien zum Thema der nationes im fruhneuzeitlichen Rom in jungeren Studien. Er bezieht sich auf Forschungen angesehener auslandischer Einrichtungen wie der Bibliotheca Hertziana, Studien italienischer und auslandischer Wissenschaftler, die an einem von der romischen Accademia di Ungheria organisierten Studientag teilgenommen hatten, aber auch auf Untersuchungen einzelner Wissenschaftler. Alle behandeln nicht nur die kunstlerischen Perspektiven, dieser nationalen Einrichtungen - Kirchen, Bruderschaften, Kollegien -, sondern analysieren auch deren Rolle als soziale, kulturelle und politische Aggregations- und Integrationsorte, die sie in dem komplexen romischen Umfeld ausgefullt haben. Eine eindeutige Definition der Begriffe natio und Nationalkirche bleibt dabei schwierig, vor allem dann, wenn in den Einrichtungen Personen und Gruppen aus entfernten Territorien und Grenzregionen zusammenkamen. Vor diesem vielschichtigen Hintergrund fehlt es ferner noch an einer vertieften Erorterung der Nationalkollegien, die eine Missions- und Beherbergungsfunktion in sich vereinten.
Team Dynamics, Running, and Skill-Related Performances of Brazilian U11 to Professional Soccer Players During Official Matches
Authors: Palucci Vieira Luiz H. , Aquino Rodrigo , Moura Felipe A. , Barros Ricardo M.L de , Arpini Vitor M. , Oliveira Lucas P. , Bedo Bruno L.S , Santiago Paulo R.P 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Palucci Vieira, LH, Aquino, R, Moura, FA, Barros, RMLd, Arpini, VM, Oliveira, LdP, Bedo, BLdS, and Pereira Santiago, PR. Team dynamics, running, and skill-related performances of Brazilian U11 to professional soccer players during official matches. J Strength Cond Res 33(8): 2202–2216, 2019—Analyses of movements during soccer competition have been used previously to help develop conditioning programs. However, this has not been extensively studied in youth populations. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to examine (1) dynamics of collective tactical movements, (2) running, and (3) skill-related performances during soccer matches disputed by children to senior players. A total of 120 Brazilian players in the age groups U11, U13, U15, U17, U20, and professional (PRO) were monitored during official competition matches (N = 12). Using semiautomatic video-based tracking (30 Hz), match running variables including total distance traveled, average speed, maximum sprint speed, and high-intensity activities were evaluated. Tactical metrics were computed as team surface area, spread, and median frequency. Through notational analysis, technical skills such as involvements with the ball, passes, ball touches, duels, and goal attempts were also recorded. One-way analysis of variance and magnitude-based inferences were used to detect differences between ages. Although the average speed, team surface area, and spread tended to present stabilized increases from the U15 (e.g., U15 > U13 > U11), maximal sprinting speed (PRO > U17 > U15, U13, U11) and percentage at very high-intensity activities (U20 > PRO, U17 > U15 > U13 > U11) demonstrated continuous gains. Median frequencies were higher in the younger groups (U13, U15, U17 > U20, PRO), although the percentage of successful passes was higher in the older groups (PRO > U17, U15 > U13, U11). We concluded that Brazilian U11 to PRO players present different performance profiles for running, collective movement dynamics, and technical skills, and that the rate of development regarding these components varies. Coaches should be aware of these differences to select and adapt training content for each age group.
Primary Tactile Thalamus Spiking Reflects Cognitive Signals
Authors: Waiblinger Christian , Whitmire Clarissa J. , Sederberg Audrey , Stanley Garrett B. , Schwarz Cornelius 
Published: April 2018

Little is known about whether information transfer at primary sensory thalamic nuclei is modified by behavioral context. Here we studied the influence of previous decisions/rewards on current choices and preceding spike responses of ventroposterior medial thalamus (VPm; the primary sensory thalamus in the rat whisker-related tactile system). We trained head-fixed rats to detect a ramp-like deflection of one whisker interspersed within ongoing white noise stimulation. Using generative modeling of behavior, we identify two task-related variables that are predictive of actual decisions. The first reflects task engagement on a local scale (“trial history”: defined as the decisions and outcomes of a small number of past trials), whereas the other captures behavioral dynamics on a global scale (“satiation”: slow dynamics of the response pattern along an entire session). Although satiation brought about a slow drift from Go to NoGo decisions during the session, trial history was related to local (trial-by-trial) patterning of Go and NoGo decisions. A second model that related the same predictors first to VPm spike responses, and from there to decisions, indicated that spiking, in contrast to behavior, is sensitive to trial history but relatively insensitive to satiation. Trial history influences VPm spike rates and regularity such that a history of Go decisions would predict fewer noise-driven spikes (but more regular ones), and more ramp-driven spikes. Neuronal activity in VPm, thus, is sensitive to local behavioral history, and may play an important role in higher-order cognitive signaling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIt is an important question for perceptual and brain functions to find out whether cognitive signals modulate the sensory signal stream and if so, where in the brain this happens. This study provides evidence that decision and reward history can already be reflected in the ascending sensory pathway, on the level of first-order sensory thalamus. Cognitive signals are relayed very selectively such that only local trial history (spanning a few trials) but not global history (spanning an entire session) are reflected.
Granular cell tumour of the neurohypophysis: an unusual cause of hypopituitarism
Authors: Bello Carlos Tavares , Cipriano Patricia , Henriques Vanessa , Duarte João Sequeira , Marques Conceição Canas 
Published: April 2018

Summary
Granular cell tumours (GCT) are rare, slow-growing, benign neoplasms that are usually located in the head and neck. They are more frequent in the female gender and typically have an asymptomatic clinical course, being diagnosed only at autopsy. Symptomatic GCT of the neurohypophysis are exceedingly rare, being less than 70 cases described so far. The authors report on a case of a 28-year-old male that presented to the Endocrinology clinic with clinical and biochemical evidence of hypogonadism. He also reported minor headaches without any major visual symptoms. Further laboratory tests confirmed hypopituitarism (hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, central hypothyroidism and hypocortisolism) and central nervous system imaging revealed a pituitary macroadenoma. The patient underwent transcranial pituitary adenoma resection and the pathology report described a GCT of the neurohypophysis with low mitotic index. The reported case is noteworthy for the rarity of the clinicopathological entity.

Learning points:

Symptomatic GCTs are rare CNS tumours whose cell of origin is not well defined that usually give rise to visual symptoms, headache and endocrine dysfunction.

Imaging is quite unspecific and diagnosis is difficult to establish preoperatively.

Surgical excision is challenging due to lesion’s high vascularity and propensity to adhere to adjacent structures.

The reported case is noteworthy for the rarity of the clinicopathological entity.
Dual ectopic thyroid associated with thyroid hemiagenesis
Authors: Nakamura Shigenori , Masuda Teruyuki , Ishimori Masatoshi 
Published: April 2018

SummaryWe report a case of a 15-year-old girl with a midline neck mass that was first noted 2 or 3 years previously. She had been treated with levothyroxine (L-T4) for congenital hypothyroidism until 11 years of age. Ultrasonography revealed an atrophic right thyroid (1.0 × 1.6 × 2.6 cm in size) and a mass (2.3 × 1.0 × 3.5 cm in size) in the upper part of the neck. No left lobe of the thyroid was detected. On further evaluation, Tc-99m pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy and CT showed ectopic thyroid tissue in the lingual region and infrahyoid region. Thus, she was diagnosed as having dual ectopic thyroid and thyroid hemiagenesis. The atrophic right thyroid was thought be non-functional. Treatment with L-T4 was started to reduce the size of the dual ectopic thyroid tissue. This may be the first reported case of dual ectopic thyroid associated with hemiagenesis detected only by ultrasonography.Learning points:Ultrasonography can confirm the presence or absence of orthotopic thyroid tissue in patients with ectopic thyroid.The cause of congenital hypothyroidism should be examined.Clinical manifestation of ectopic thyroid may appear when the treatment with L-T4 is discontinued.Annual follow-up is needed in all children when their thyroid hormone replacement is stopped.
Calculations of the thermal conductivity of Si1-xGex films with nonuniform composition
Authors: Kuryliuk V. V. , Krit O. M. 
Published: April 2018

SiGe films have attracted much attention recently due to experimental demonstrations of improved thermoelectric properties over those of the corresponding bulk material. However, despite this increasing attention, available information on the thermoelectric properties of Si1-xGex films is quite limited, especially for nonuniform composition in wide temperature interval. In this paper we have used the Boltzmann equation under the relaxation-time approximation to calculate the thermal conductivity of Si1-xGex films with nonuniform composition. It is confirmed that SiGe films with nonuniform composition has significantly lower thermal conductivity than its uniform counterpart. This suggests that an improvement in thermoelectric properties is possible by using the SiGe films with nonuniform distribution of germanium.
Interaction of the components in the Gd-Mn-Sn ternary system at 873 and 673 K
Authors: Romaka L. P. , Stadnyk Yu. V. , Romaka V. V. , Konyk M. , Serkiz R. 
Published: April 2018

The interaction of the components in the Gd-Mn-Sn ternary system was studied using the methods of X-ray and microstructure analyses, in the whole concentration range. The phase diagrams of the Gd-Mn-Sn system were constructed at 873 and 673 K. At both temperature of investigation the Gd-Mn-Sn system is characterized by existence of two ternary compounds: GdMn6Sn6 (MgFe6Ge6 structure type, space group P6/mmm) and Gd4Mn4Sn7 (Zr4Co4Ge7 structure type, space group I4/mmm). The formation of the interstitial solid solution GdMnхSn2 based on GdSn2 (ZrSi2-type) binary compound was found up to 10 at. % Mn at 873 K and 673 K. The existence of the substitutional solid solution based on GdMn2 (MgCu2-type) was observed up to 5 at.% Sn and 3 at. % Sn at 873 K and 673 K, respectively.
Ancestral State Reconstruction of the Apoptosis Machinery in the Common Ancestor of Eukaryotes
Authors: Klim Joanna , Gładki Arkadiusz , Kucharczyk Roza , Zielenkiewicz Urszula , Kaczanowski Szymon 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Apoptotic cell death is a type of eukaryotic cell death. In animals, it regulates development, is involved in cancer suppression, and causes cell death during pathological aging of neuronal cells in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Mitochondrial apoptotic-like cell death, a form of primordial apoptosis, also occurs in unicellular organisms. Here, we ask the question why the apoptosis machinery has been acquired and maintained in unicellular organisms and attempt to answer it by performing ancestral state reconstruction. We found indications of an ancient evolutionary arms race between protomitochondria and host cells, leading to the establishment of the currently existing apoptotic pathways. According to this reconstruction, the ancestral protomitochondrial apoptosis machinery contained both caspases and metacaspases, four types of apoptosis induction factors (AIFs), both fungal and animal OMI/HTR proteases, and various apoptotic DNases. This leads to the prediction that in extant unicellular eukaryotes, the apoptotic factors are involved in mitochondrial respiration and their activity is needed exclusively in aerobic conditions. We test this prediction experimentally using yeast and find that a loss of the main apoptotic factors is beneficial under anaerobic conditions yet deleterious under aerobic conditions in the absence of lethal stimuli. We also point out potential medical implications of these findings.