• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.518-523
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• 2018

Background: Lipemia, a significant source of analytical errors in clinical laboratory settings, should be removed prior to measuring biochemical parameters. We investigated whether lipemia in serum/plasma samples can be removed using a method that is easier and more practicable than ultracentrifugation, the current reference method. Methods: Seven hospital laboratories in Spain participated in this study. We first compared the effectiveness of ultracentrifugation ($108,200{\times}g$) and high-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) in removing lipemia. Second, we compared high-speed centrifugation with two liquid-liquid extraction methods-LipoClear (StatSpin, Norwood, USA), and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). We assessed 14 biochemical parameters: serum/plasma concentrations of sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, glucose, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase, calcium, and bilirubin. We analyzed whether the differences between lipemia removal methods exceeded the limit for clinically significant interference (LCSI). Results: When ultracentrifugation and high-speed centrifugation were compared, no parameter had a difference that exceeded the LCSI. When high-speed centrifugation was compared with the two liquid-liquid extraction methods, we found differences exceeding the LCSI in protein, calcium, and aspartate aminotransferase in the comparison with 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and in protein, albumin, and calcium in the comparison with LipoClear. Differences in other parameters did not exceed the LCSI. Conclusions: High-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) can be used instead of ultracentrifugation to remove lipemia in serum/plasma samples. LipoClear and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane are unsuitable as they interfere with the measurement of certain parameters.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.6-16
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• 2018

This article shows an approach to the study of two fundamental aspects of the prepublication of scientific manuscripts in specialized repositories (arXiv). The first refers to the size of the interaction of "standard papers" in journals appearing in the Web of Science (WoS)-now Clarivate Analytics-and "non-standard papers" (manuscripts appearing in arXiv). Specifically, we analyze the citations found in the WoS to articles in arXiv. The second aspect is how publication in arXiv affects the citation count of authors. The question is whether or not prepublishing in arXiv benefits authors from the point of view of increasing their citations, or rather produces a dispersion, which would diminish the relevance of their publications in evaluation processes. Data have been collected from arXiv, the websites of the journals, Google Scholar, and WoS following a specific ad hoc procedure. The number of citations in journal articles published in WoS to preprints in arXiv is not large. We show that citation counts from regular papers and preprints using different sources (arXiv, the journal's website, WoS) give completely different results. This suggests a rather scattered picture of citations that could distort the citation count of a given article against the author's interest. However, the number of WoS references to arXiv preprints is small, minimizing this potential negative effect.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.488-494
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• 2014

Twenty-eight Brangus cattle were used to determine the effect of copper and selenium supplementation on performance, feed efficiency, composition of fatty acids in Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle, and cholesterol concentration in serum and in LD muscle and enzymes activities, reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). The treatments were: i) Control, without copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) supplementation; ii) Se, 2 mg Se/kg of dry matter such as sodium selenite; iii) Cu, 40 mg Cu/kg of dry matter such as copper sulfate; iv) Se/Cu, 2 mg Se/kg of dry matter such as sodium selenite and 40 mg Cu/kg of dry matter such as copper sulfate. LD muscle fatty acid composition was not influenced by the treatments (p>0.05). The serum concentration of cholesterol was not influenced by the treatments (p>0.05), however, the concentration of cholesterol in LD was lower in cattle supplemented with copper and selenium (p<0.05). Oxidized glutathione and reduced glutathione increased (p<0.05) with Cu, Se and Se/Cu supplementation. The supplementation of copper (40 mg/kg DM) and selenium (2 mg/kg DM) altered the metabolism of lipids in confined Brangus cattle, through a decrease in cholesterol deposition in the LD, possibly by changing the ratio between reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione. Copper and selenium supplementation improved animal performance and feed efficiency (p<0.05) when compared to the control group, providing advantages in the production system, while also benefiting consumers by reducing cholesterol concentration in the meat.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.146-153
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• 2006

We have been investigating InGaAs HEMTs as a future high-speed and low-power logic technology for beyond CMOS applications. In this work, we have experimentally studied the role of the side-recess spacing $(L_{side})$ on the logic performance of 50 nm $In_{0.7}Ga_{0.3}As$ As HEMTs. We have found that $L_{side}$ has a large influence on the electrostatic integrity (or short channel effects), gate leakage current, gate-drain capacitance, and source and drain resistance of the device. For our device design, an optimum value of $L_{side}$ of 150 nm is found. 50 nm $In_{0.7}Ga_{0.3}As$ HEMTs with this value of $L_{side}$ exhibit $I_{ON}/I_{OFF}$ ratios in excess of $10^4$, subthreshold slopes smaller than 90 mV/dec, and logic gate delays of about 1.3 ps at a $V_{CC}$ of 0.5 V. In spite of the fact that these devices are not optimized for logic, these values are comparable to state-of-the-art MOSFETs with similar gate lengths. Our work confirms that in the landscape of alternatives for beyond CMOS technologies, InAs-rich InGaAs FETs hold considerable promise.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1349-1353
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• 2015

Background: Cervical cancer (CeCa) is the second most common cancer in women in developing countries, and human papilloma virus (HPV) is the primary etiological factor. Aberrant expression of HOX transcription factors has been observed in several types of cancer. To date, however, no reports exist on the expression of HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins during neoplastic progression in CeCa and its correlation with HPV infection. Materials and Methods: Expression of HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins was assessed in tissue microarrays from normal cervical epithelium, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias grade 1-3, and CeCa. HPV was detected by PCR and sequencing. Expression of HOX-positive cells was determined in each diagnostic group. Results: Percentage of HOXB2- and HOXB13-positive cells gradually increased from means of 10.9% and 16.7%, respectively, in samples from healthy women, to 75.2% and 88.6% in those from CeCa patients. Frequency of HPV infection also increased from 13% in healthy tissue samples to 92.3% in CeCa. Both HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins were preferentially expressed in HPV+ samples. Conclusions: The present study represents the first report on the expression of both HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins through cervix tumorigenesis, providing evidence that increased expression of such proteins is a common event during progression to CeCa.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2023

The mechanism is unclear for the reported protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning against oxidative stress in tissues, and the distinct effects of hyperbaric oxygen applied after stress. The trained mice were divided into three groups: the control, hyperbaric oxygenation preconditioning, and hyperbaric oxygenation applied after mild (fasting) or hard (prolonged exercise) stress. After preconditioning, we observed a decrease in basal levels of nitric oxide, tetrahydrobiopterin, and catalase despite the drastic increase in inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthases. Moreover, the basal levels of glutathione, related enzymes, and nitrosative stress only increased in the preconditioning group. The control and preconditioning groups showed a similar mild stress response of the endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthases. At the same time, the activity of all nitric oxide synthase, glutathione (GSH) in muscle, declined in the experimental groups but increased in control during hard stress. The results suggested that hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning provoked uncoupling of nitric oxide synthases and the elevated levels of GSH in muscle during this study, while hyperbaric oxygen applied after stress showed a lower level of GSH but higher recovery post-exercise levels in the majority of antioxidant enzymes. We discuss the possible mechanisms of the redox response and the role of the nitric oxide in this process.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.515-519
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• 1999

With the purpose of determining the influence of sexual partners on the oestrous behaviour and to evaluate the accuracy of predicting the time from implant withdrawal to sexual receptivity following a treatment with Synchromate B (SMB), 15 adult Brahman cows were used in each of three phases. During phase I and n, random pairs of animals were induced to display oestrus one pair after the other at daily intervals, while in phase III, cows were induced alternately, every other day, one cow on the 1st day, two on the 3rd, one on the 5th, two on the 7th until all cows were treated. Sixty six percent of the cows in phases I and II, and 80% in phase III came into oestrous after treatment. The interval between implant withdrawal and, expected and observed oestrous was statistically different in all phases. Clustering of oestrous was evident. Cows displayed sexual receptivity within a. range of -24 to +96; -24 to +72 and -216 to +192 hours after implant withdrawal for the three phases, respectively, with a tendency for cows treated first (within treatments), to delay their oestrus signs and vice versa. In phase III, four cows showed oestrous behaviour with the implant in place. These in spite of not observing pre-ovulatory follicles. Correlation values of 0.99, 0.93 and 0.90 (P<0.05) were found respectively among treatments, between the number of cows coming into oestrus and the number of mounts observed. These findings suggest that there are social and behavioural factors in a herd that may override exogenous synchronisation treatments.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.16.1-16.12
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• 2019

Objectives: The upper molars generally have three roots; therefore, different combinations of fusion can occur, increasing the possibility of finding more complex root canal systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characterization of fused roots in first and second maxillary molars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a Colombian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 1274 teeth were evaluated, of which 534 were maxillary first molars and 740 were maxillary second molars. Axial sections were made at the cervical, middle, and apical levels to determine the prevalence of root fusion and the types of fusion. Results: Overall, 43% of the molars (n = 551) presented some type of fused root. Root fusion was present in 23.4% of the maxillary first molars. The most frequent type of fused root was type 3 (distobuccal-palatal; DB-P) (58.9%). Root fusion was observed in 57.6% of the maxillary second molars, and the most prevalent type of fused root was type 6 (cone-shaped) (45.2%). Of the maxillary molars, 12.5% were classified as C-shaped. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, there was a high prevalence of fused roots in maxillary molars in the Colombian population, mainly in the maxillary second molars. In first molars, the most common type of fused root was type 3 (DB-P) and in second molars, the most common type was type 6 (cone-shaped). Additionally, molars with root fusion presented variation at different levels of the radicular portion, with implications for treatment quality.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.235-247
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits in Mexico remains a challenge. Promoting sustainable food production systems through schools may be an effective way to educate young people about food and nutrition issues. A study of nutritional education in adolescents, based on the school garden, is necessary in order to evaluate its effects on the consumption of fruits and vegetables among middle- and upper-income segments of the population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention, accompanied by a school garden as an educational teaching tool, to improve vegetable and fruit consumption by Mexican teenagers attending a private middle/high school. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Teenagers between 12 and 18 years of age (n = 126) attending a private middle/high school in Queretaro, Mexico participated in a 3-arm, controlled, comparative impact study using a vegetable and fruit consumption frequency questionnaire, food consumption diaries, a psychosocial factor assessment questionnaire of vegetable and fruit consumption, and structured interviews. The participants were randomized into 3 experimental groups: 1) food education + school garden (FE + SG), 2) FE only, and 3) control group (CG). RESULTS: The FE + SG and FE groups significantly increased the frequency and daily intake of vegetables and fruits compared to the CG. The FE + SG group showed greater understanding of, reflection upon, and analysis of the information they received about vegetable and fruit consumption, as well as a greater willingness to include these in their daily diet. CONCLUSIONS: FE accompanied by a SG as a teaching tool is more effective at promoting vegetable and fruit consumption than either education alone or control in teenagers in middle-upper income segments of the population.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2022

Purpose: Data on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in South America is scarce. Moreover, no studies are available in Ecuador. We evaluated the clinical, endoscopic, and histological characteristics of Ecuadorian children with EoE. Methods: Medical records of 2,711 children who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) between 2009 and 2020 at Hospital Metropolitano de Quito, Ecuador were reviewed. Esophageal mucosal biopsies were obtained from 72 patients and the features of 35 children with EoE were described. EoE was diagnosed when there were more than 15 eosinophils in the esophagus, per high power field. Results: EoE was diagnosed in 35 children (9.4±4.5 years) with a male predominance (74%). Abdominal pain (51.4%) and vomiting (31.4%) were dominant symptoms. A history of allergic diseases was noted in 47.1% of the children, which mainly included allergic rhinitis (37.1%) and atopic dermatitis (11.4%). The most common endoscopic findings were furrowing (82.9%) and edema (74.3%). All patients were initially treated with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). Those who did not respond to PPIs received steroids (5.7%) and diet therapy (5.7%), and five patients were referred to an allergist. Clinical and histological resolution was observed in 65% of the patients who underwent a second UGE after 6-8 weeks of PPI. Conclusion: Our study describes the clinical features of pediatric EoE in Ecuador. This is the first retrospective study in Ecuador that describes the clinical, endoscopic, and histological manifestations of EoE in a small pediatric population. Almost half of the children who underwent a biopsy had EoE.