Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel resistance mechanism against beta-lactams in Streptococcus pneumoniae involves CpoA, a putative glycosyltransferase

Piperacillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae was mediated by mutations in a novel gene, cpoA, that also confer transformation deficiency and a decrease in penicillin-binding protein la. cpoA is part of an operon located downstream of the primary sigma factor of S. pneumoniae. The deduced protein, CpoA, and the peptide encoded by the adjacent 3' open reading frame contained domains homologous to glycosyltransferases of procaryotes and eucaryotes that act on membrane-associated substrates, such as enzymes functioning in lipopolysaccharide core biosynthesis of gram-negative bacteria, RodD of Bacillus subtilis, which is involved in teichoic acid biosynthesis, and the human PIG-A protein, which is required for early steps of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis. This suggests that the cpo operon has a similar function related to cell surface components.
Seroprevalence of Chikungunya Virus in a Rural Community in Brazil

Background The emergence of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is currently expanding. In 2015, 38,332 cases of Chikungunya were reported to the Brazilian epidemiological surveillance system. Eighteen months after notification of the first case in the city of Feira de Santana, we conducted the first serosurvey to define the magnitude of transmission in a rural community in Brazil. Methodology/Main findings The serosurvey was conducted in a random sample of 450 residences in the Chapada district, located 100 kilometers from Feira de Santana. We administered questionnaires and tested 120 sera from Chapada district residents for CHIKV IgM- and IgG-specific antibodies. An individual with CHIKV infection was defined as any person with CHIKV IgM or IgG antibodies detected in the serum. One Hundred cases of Chikungunya were reported after prolonged rainfall, which reinforced the relationship between the rainfall index and CHIKV transmission. Eighteen months after the start of the outbreak, we identified a seroprevalence of 20% (95% CI, 15.4–35%). CHIKV IgG- and IgM-specific antibodies were detected in 22/120 (18.3%) and 6/120 (5.0%) individuals, respectively. Among seropositive patients, 13/24 (54.2%) reported fever and joint pain over the previous two years (p<0.01). The rate of symptomatic CHIKV infection was 40.7%. Conclusions/Significance We identified a moderate seroprevalence of Chikungunya in the Chapada district, and in half of the confirmed CHIKV infections, patients reported arthralgia and fever over the previous two years.
From Membrane Differential Filtration to Lipidfiltration: Technological Progress in Low‐density Lipoprotein Apheresis

Abstract: Extracorporeal low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is an established and highly effective therapy for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) not adequately responding to diet and drug therapy alone. Based on different methodology, five treatment options of LDL apheresis are available and in widespread practical use in Germany. All methods are safe and demonstrate equivalent efficacy of reducing LDL cholesterol with respect to the single apheresis session as well as during long‐term treatment. Owing to methodological properties all methods also exhibit characteristics of additional plasma protein elimination, which do not impair, but in part, increase the beneficial therapeutic effect of LDL apheresis. Fibrinogen reduction has to be mentioned as an example. The lipidfiltration system is based on plasmafiltration previously named membrane differential filtration (MDF), synonymous with double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP). The new term lipidfiltration was the result of technological progress leading to a significant improvement of the efficiency. The system consists of a novel lipid filter with enhanced sieving characteristics and capacity, and is completed by an enhanced therapy machine with an optimized heating unit.
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP1 transactivates EGFR/MET receptor tyrosine kinases and enhances invasiveness in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Recent evidence indicates that cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate the possible interaction between the COX‐2 and EGFR signaling pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Immunohistochemical analysis using serial sections of human HCC tissues revealed positive correlation between COX‐2 and EGFR in HCC cells (P < 0.01). Overexpression of COX‐2 in cultured HCC cells (Hep3B) or treatment with PGE2 or the selective EP1 receptor agonist, ONO‐DI‐004, increased EGFR phosphorylation and tumor cell invasion. The PGE2‐induced EGFR phosphorylation and cell invasiveness were blocked by the EP1 receptor siRNA or antagonist ONO‐8711 and by two EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, AG1478 and PD153035. The EP1‐induced EGFR transactivation and cell invasion involves c‐Src, in light of the presence of native binding complex of EP1/Src/EGFR and the inhibition of PGE2‐induced EGFR phosphorylation and cell invasion by the Src siRNA and the Src inhibitor, PP2. Further, overexpression of COX‐2 or treatment with PGE2 also induced phosphorylation of c‐Met, another receptor tyrosine kinase critical for HCC cell invasion. Moreover, activation of EGFR by EGF increased COX‐2 promoter activity and protein expression in Hep3B and Huh‐7 cells, whereas blocking PGE2 synthesis or EP1 attenuated EGFR phosphorylation induced by EGF, suggesting that the COX‐2/PGE2/EP1 pathway also modulate the activation of EGFR by its cognate ligand. These findings disclose a cross‐talk between the COX‐2/PGE2/EP1 and EGFR/c‐Met signaling pathways that coordinately regulate human HCC cell invasion. J. Cell. Physiol. 207: 261–270, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transcriptional Regulation of Lineage Commitment - A Stochastic Model of Cell Fate Decisions

Molecular mechanisms employed by individual multipotent cells at the point of lineage commitment remain largely uncharacterized. Current paradigms span from instructive to noise-driven mechanisms. Of considerable interest is also whether commitment involves a limited set of genes or the entire transcriptional program, and to what extent gene expression configures multiple trajectories into commitment. Importantly, the transient nature of the commitment transition confounds the experimental capture of committing cells. We develop a computational framework that simulates stochastic commitment events, and affords mechanistic exploration of the fate transition. We use a combined modeling approach guided by gene expression classifier methods that infers a time-series of stochastic commitment events from experimental growth characteristics and gene expression profiling of individual hematopoietic cells captured immediately before and after commitment. We define putative regulators of commitment and probabilistic rules of transition through machine learning methods, and employ clustering and correlation analyses to interrogate gene regulatory interactions in multipotent cells. Against this background, we develop a Monte Carlo time-series stochastic model of transcription where the parameters governing promoter status, mRNA production and mRNA decay in multipotent cells are fitted to experimental static gene expression distributions. Monte Carlo time is converted to physical time using cell culture kinetic data. Probability of commitment in time is a function of gene expression as defined by a logistic regression model obtained from experimental single-cell expression data. Our approach should be applicable to similar differentiating systems where single cell data is available. Within our system, we identify robust model solutions for the multipotent population within physiologically reasonable values and explore model predictions with regard to molecular scenarios of entry into commitment. The model suggests distinct dependencies of different commitment-associated genes on mRNA dynamics and promoter activity, which globally influence the probability of lineage commitment.
Red meat consumption is associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in men but not in women: a Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study

The relationship between different types of meat intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes remains unclear. We prospectively examined the association between total meat, total red meat, unprocessed red meat, processed meat and poultry intake and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Subjects were 27 425 men and 36 424 women aged 45–75 years who participated in the second survey of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study, and had no history of type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke, IHD, chronic liver disease or kidney disease. Meat intake was estimated using a validated 147-item FFQ. OR of self-reported, physician-diagnosed type 2 diabetes over 5 years were estimated using a multiple logistic regression. A total of 1178 newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes were self-reported. Intakes of total meat and total red meat were associated with the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in men but not in women. The multivariate-adjusted OR for the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile of total meat and total red meat intake were 1·36 (95 % CI 1·07, 1·73; P for trend = 0·006) and 1·48 (95 % CI 1·15, 1·90; P for trend = 0·003) for men, respectively, and 0·82 (95 % CI 0·62, 1·09; P for trend = 0·14) and 0·77 (95 % CI 0·57, 1·02; P for trend = 0·08) for women, respectively. Intakes of processed red meat and poultry were not associated with the increased risk of diabetes in either men or women. In conclusion, elevated intake of red meat is associated with the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men but not in women.
"Say It Loud—I'm Black and I'm Proud": Parents' Messages about Race, Racial Discrimination, and Academic Achievement in African American Boys

Abstract:This study uses two waves of data to examine the relationships among racial socialization, racial discrimination, and academic achievement outcomes in a sample of 144 African American male adolescents. Using latent class analyses, the authors identified four patterns of adolescent-reported racial socialization experiences: Positive Socialization, Moderate Negative, Self-Worth, and Low Frequency. Discrimination experiences were associated with subsequent academic performance. Wave 1 racial socialization experiences were associated with academic persistence and performance at Wave 2. These findings suggest that various patterns of racial socialization practices have the potential to improve educational outcomes for African American boys, particularly in the context of their experiences with racial discrimination.
Soyabean glyceollins: biological effects and relevance to human health

Glyceollins, one family of phytoalexins, are de novo synthesised from daidzein in the soyabean upon exposure to some types of fungus. The efficiency of glyceollin production appears to be influenced by soyabean variety, fungal species, and the degree of physical damage to the soyabean. The compounds have been shown to have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and to inhibit the proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells, suggesting their potential to prevent atherosclerosis. It has also been reported that glyceollins have inhibited the growth of prostate and breast cancer cells in xenograft animal models, which is probably due to their anti-oestrogenic activity. In essence, glyceollins deserve further animal and clinical studies to confirm their health benefits.
Designing for Situation Awareness of Future Power Grids: An Indicator System Based on Linear Eigenvalue Statistics of Large Random Matrices

Future power grids are fundamentally different from current ones, both in size and in complexity. This trend imposes challenges for situation awareness (SA) based on classical indicators, which are usually model-based and deterministic. As an alternative, this paper proposes a statistical indicator system based on linear eigenvalue statistics (LESs) of large random matrices: 1) from a data modeling viewpoint, we build, starting from power flows equations, the random matrix models (RMMs) only using the real-time data flow in a statistical manner; 2) for a data analysis that is fully driven from RMMs, we put forward the high-dimensional indicators, called LESs that have some unique statistical features such as Gaussian properties; and 3) we develop a 3-D power map to visualize the system, respectively, from a high-dimensional viewpoint and a low-dimensional one. Therefore, a statistical methodology of SA is employed; it conducts SA with a model-free and data-driven procedure, requiring no knowledge of system topologies, units operation/control models, causal relationship, and so on. This methodology has numerous advantages, such as sensitivity, universality, speed, and flexibility. In particular, its robustness against bad data is highlighted, with potential advantages in cyber security. The theory of big data-based stability for online operations may prove feasible along with this line of work, although this critical development will be reported elsewhere.
Research Education in M.S.W. Programs

The purpose of this paper is to describe the content and structure of research coursework in Graduate Schools of Social Work across the nation. In addition, the differences in research course content between large and small M.S.W. Programs, and between schools with and without doctoral programs are discussed. Based on the findings, course content and teaching strategies that might be adopted to strengthen research sequences in M.S.W. programs are examined.
Reconsidering Evaluation Criteria for Scientific Adequacy in Health Care Research: An Integrative Framework of Quantitative and Qualitative Criteria

It is important to reconsider evaluation criteria regarding scientific adequacy in health care research. In this article the authors review the four pairs of quantitative/qualitative paradigms. They discuss the use of evaluation criteria based on a pragmatic perspective after examining the epistemological issues behind the criteria. Validity/credibility is concerned with research framework, whereas reliability/dependability refers to the range of stability in observations, objectivity/ confirmability reflects influences between observers and subjects, and generalizability/transferability has epistemological differences in the way findings are applied. Qualitative studies should not always choose qualitative paradigms, and vice versa. If stability can be assumed to some extent in a qualitative study, it is better to use a quantitative paradigm. Regardless of whether it is quantitative or qualitative research, it is important to recognize the four epistemological axes.
Global dispersion and local diversification of the methane seep microbiome

Significance Methane seeps are natural gas leaks at the seafloor that emit methane to the hydrosphere. The emission rates are controlled by methane-oxidizing microorganisms, which shape the ecosystem by supplying energy sources to other microorganisms and animal symbioses. We provide evidence that methane seeps are island-like habitats, harboring distinct microbial communities that share few organisms with other seafloor ecosystems. The seep communities comprise bacteria and archaea that occur worldwide but are locally selected by the environment. These microorganisms show high relative sequence abundances, suggesting high population densities and global relevance for the control of methane emission from the seafloor. At individual seeps, the cosmopolitan microorganisms are associated with a substantial diversity of rare relatives, turning seeps into hotspots of microbial biodiversity. Methane seeps are widespread seafloor ecosystems shaped by the emission of gas from seabed reservoirs. The microorganisms inhabiting methane seeps transform the chemical energy in methane to products that sustain rich benthic communities around the gas leaks. Despite the biogeochemical relevance of microbial methane removal at seeps, the global diversity and dispersion of seep microbiota remain unknown. Here we determined the microbial diversity and community structure of 23 globally distributed methane seeps and compared these to the microbial communities of 54 other seafloor ecosystems, including sulfate–methane transition zones, hydrothermal vents, coastal sediments, and deep-sea surface and subsurface sediments. We found that methane seep communities show moderate levels of microbial richness compared with other seafloor ecosystems and harbor distinct bacterial and archaeal taxa with cosmopolitan distribution and key biogeochemical functions. The high relative sequence abundance of ANME (anaerobic methanotrophic archaea), as well as aerobic Methylococcales, sulfate-reducing Desulfobacterales, and sulfide-oxidizing Thiotrichales, matches the most favorable microbial metabolisms at methane seeps in terms of substrate supply and distinguishes the seep microbiome from other seafloor microbiomes. The key functional taxa varied in relative sequence abundance between different seeps due to the environmental factors, sediment depth and seafloor temperature. The degree of endemism of the methane seep microbiome suggests a high local diversification in these heterogeneous but long-lived ecosystems. Our results indicate that the seep microbiome is structured according to metacommunity processes and that few cosmopolitan microbial taxa mediate the bulk of methane oxidation, with global relevance to methane emission in the ocean.
Connectome: How the Brain's Wiring Makes Us Who We Are

"Connectome", by Sebastian Seung is "One of the most eagerly awaited scientific books of the year . intellectually exhilarating, beautifully written, exquisitely precise yet still managing to be inspirational". ("Irish Times"). What really makes us who we are? In this groundbreaking book, pioneering neuroscientist Sebastian Seung shows that our identity does not lie in our genes, but in the connections between our brain cells - our own particular wiring, or 'connectomes'. Everything about us - emotions, thoughts, memories - is encoded in these tangled patterns of neural connections, and now Seung and a dedicated team are mapping them in order to uncover the basis of personality, explain disorders such as autism and depression, and even enable us to 'upload' our brains. This book reveals the secrets of the brain, showing how our connectome makes each of us uniquely ourselves. "With the first-person flavour of James Watson's "Double Helix", "Connectome" gives a sense of the excitement on the cutting edge of neuroscience". ("New Scientist"). "Witty and exceptionally clear . beautifully explained . the best lay book on brain science I've ever read". ("Wall Street Journal"). "Seung is about to revolutionise brain science". ("The Times"). "The reader is swept along with his enthusiasm". ("The New York Times"). Sebastian Seung is Professor of Computational Neuroscience at MIT and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He has made important advances in robotics, neuroscience, neuroeconomics, and statistical physics. His research has been published in leading scientific journals, and also featured in "The New York Times", "Technology Review", and "The Economist".
Genetic Variants in CSMD1 Gene Are Associated with Cognitive Performance in Normal Elderly Population

Recently, genetic markers rs10503253 and rs2616984 in the CUB and Sushi multiple domains-1 (CSMD1) gene have been reported to be associated with schizophrenia and cognitive functions in genome-wide association studies. We examined the associations of the above SNPs with cognitive performance evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool in a cohort of the normal elderly from the Russian population. Significant association of rs2616984 genotypes with the MoCA scores was found using nonparametric analysis. No association of rs10503253 with MoCA scores was observed using both parametric and nonparametric statistics. Significant combined effect of two-locus CSMD1 genotypes on MoCA scores was demonstrated by median test. Allele “A” and genotype “AA” of rs2616984 were significantly associated with the lower MoCA scores in comparison of 1st and 4th quartiles of MoCA total score distribution. The results suggest that genetic variants in CSMD1 gene are likely a part of genetic component of cognitive performance in the elderly.
ACADEMIC HONESTY IN THE DIGITAL AGE

This quantitative study investigates cyber-plagiarism among undergraduate college students, particularly the prevalence and motives for copying and pasting unattributed sources on written assignments within the theoretically rich and broader context of self-efficacy theory. Four-hundred-thirty-seven students from three universities completed an online survey designed to examine the relationship between cyber-plagiarism and measures of self-efficacy. A Pearson Correlation revealed no empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that students cyber-plagiarize because they lack an ability to synthesize. The results also indicated that students do not perceive cyber-plagiarism as a socially acceptable practice at their universities, and that they strongly believe in an author's ownership in the digital age. Respondents reported that they almost never participate in cyber-plagiarism, yet perceive cyber-plagiarism as a prevalent practice among their peers.