1,721,048 research outputs found

    Cocaine-induced liver disease in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla.

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    Cocaine is a potent psychostimulant and highly addicting drug, causing hepatotoxicity in humans, laboratory animals and fish1. Due to the worldwide use of cocaine, it is detected in surface waters2; despite its low concentrations, cocaine induces toxic effects in the European eel3,4. In this study, the effect of cocaine on the liver of the European eel was evaluated. A stock solution of 0.006 mg/mLcocaine free-base in ethanol was prepared. Male silver eels were exposed for fifty days to 20 ng/ Lof cocaine; untreated control, vehicle control and two post-exposure recovery groups (exposed to cocaine and then deprived of it and only exposed to tap following parameters were evaluated: liver morphology; cytochrome oxidase (COX) activity, as a marker of oxidative metabolism5; caspase-3 activity, as a marker of apoptosis activation6; GRP78 expression, as a marker of the unfolded protein response7; blood glucose level, as a marker of stress8; serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and C-reactive protein (CRP), markers of liver injury8,9. In the exposed eels, loss of parenchymal cells and lipid content, and necrotic areas were observed. COX and caspase-3 activities, GRP78 expression, blood glucose level, ALT and CRP levels increased. In the post-exposure recovery eels COX returned to control values, caspase-3 activity was lower whereas GRP78 expression, blood glucose level, ALT and CRP levels were higher than controls. These results show that even low cocaine concentrations affect the eel liver, suggesting potential impact on the survival of this species. References 1. Arinç E, Bozcaarmutlu A. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2003;17:169-76. 2. Rosi Marshall EJ, et al. J Hazard Mater 2015;282:18-25. 3. Capaldo A, et al. Sci Tot Environ 2018;640-641:862-73. 4. Capaldo A, et al. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019;169:112-9. 5. Lionetti L, et al. Cell Mol Life Sci 2004;61:1366-71. 6. Brentnall M, et al. BMC Cell Biol 2013;14:32. 7. Kaufman RJ. Genes & Devel 1999;13:1211-33. 8. Banaee M, et al. Pest Biochem Physiol 2011;99:1-6. 9. Giannini EG, et al. CMAJ 2005;172:367-79

    Reti di prossimità e capitale sociale

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    Analisi della caratteristiche strutturali delle reti nella società contemporanea e valutazione delle reti come base di produzione del capitale social

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Variations on the Author

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    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship

    Photoallergic contact dermatitis to 8-methoxypsoralen in Ficus carica

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    BACKGROUND: Photocontact dermatitis to Ficus carica is induced by furocoumarins present in sap. These substances are generally considered to cause phototoxic reactions. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a patch test and histopathological study of patients with phytophoto contact dermatitis from the fig tree to evaluate the mechanism underlying the photoreaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patch and photopatch testing with serial dilutions of two natural furocoumarins [5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP)] contained in plant sap were performed in 47 patients. A synthetic furocoumarin, 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen, was also tested. Histopathological analyses were made of some positive photoreactions. RESULTS: Positive photopatch tests reactions to 8-MOP were obtained in 12 of 47 patients, in 4 of them down to a concentration of 0.0001%. Patch tests and photopatch tests to the other two furocoumarins were negative. Histopathological findings on biopsies from positive photopatch tests to 8-MOP showed a dermatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic photoreactions induced by contact with plants containing coumarins are generally regarded as chance findings. This study has demonstrated that phytophoto allergic contact dermatitis resulting from furocoumarins is not an exceptional finding, and should be suspected in subjects with diffuse clinical manifestations in photo-exposed but also non-exposed sites. To differentiate allergic from toxic photoreactions, patch tests need to be performed with serial dilutions of furocoumarins. Histological analysis of a biopsy sample from a positive test site will reveal alterations compatible with a photoallergic contact dermatitis

    Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis

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    We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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