Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of oleuropein and peracetic acid on suspended cells and mono-species biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

This preliminary study evaluated the efficacy of oleuropein (OLE), a phenolic compound extracted from olive leaves, alone or in combination with peracetic acid (PAA) to inactivate Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) in suspension and in mono-species biofilms. OLE (4.0 mg mL-1) alone exhibited mild antimicrobial activity on planktonic cells of S. aureus or E. coli, although no effect was observed on their biofilms formed on polystyrene microplates or stainless steel. PAA (2.0%) reduced nearly 63% and 79% of adherent cells of S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. The combination of OLE with PAA slightly increased the inactivation of planktonic cells of both bacterial species and their biofilms on stainless steel, and reduced (P<0.05) S. aureus biofilms on polystyrene microplates. Results indicate a potential for using OLE as an additive to enhance the antimicrobial effect of PAA against biofilms formed by S. aureus.
The Impact of Commercial Health Plan Prior Authorization Programs on the Utilization of Services for Low Back Pain

Study Design. An observational study. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a health plan's prior authorization (PA) programs for low back pain (LBP) in a non-Medicare population by assessing changes in pre-surgical nonoperative care; lumbar fusion trends; and overall back surgery rates compared with another health plan with a similar program and national benchmarks. The PA programs require mandatory physiatrist consultation before surgical evaluation, with subsequent additional LBP surgery PA. Summary of Background Data. LBP is prevalent and concern exists that spinal fusion is overutilized for LBP. Methods. Annual rates of lumbar fusion trended over 6 years, and analysis of changes in standardized costs for LBP-related services among a 501-member subset who underwent lumbar fusion before and after program implementations, during the period January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2013, among commercial members aged 18 to 65 years enrolled in a health maintenance organization with commercial membership averaging >500,000 annually. Results. After initiation of the physiatrist PA in December 2010, lumbar fusions decreased from 76.27/100,000 in 2010 to 62.63/100,000 in 2011 with subsequent increases to 64.24/100,000 and 73.84/100,000 in years 2012 and 2013. For members who had lumbar fusion, per-member, pre-surgical costs increased by $2,233 with the physiatrist PA and an additional $1,370 with implementation of the LBP surgery PA (March 2013). Spinal injections and inpatient admissions were the greatest contributors to the overall increase in costs. The physiatrist and LBP surgery PA programs were also associated with lengthening of LBP episodes ending in surgery by 309 and 198 days. Conclusion. Mandatory referral to a physiatrist before surgical evaluation did not result in persistent reduction in lumbar fusions. Instead, these programs were associated with the unintended consequence of increased costs from more nonoperative care for only a transitory change in the lumbar fusion rate, likely from delays due to the introduction of both PA programs. Level of Evidence: 3
Effect of Brazil's conditional cash transfer programme on tuberculosis incidence.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of the Brazilian cash transfer programme (Bolsa Família Programme, BFP) on tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Brazil from 2004 to 2012. DESIGN We studied tuberculosis surveillance data using a combination of an ecological multiple-group and time-trend design covering 2458 Brazilian municipalities. The main independent variable was BFP coverage and the outcome was the TB incidence rate. All study variables were obtained from national databases. We used fixed-effects negative binomial models for panel data adjusted for selected covariates and a variable representing time. RESULTS After controlling for covariates, TB incidence rates were significantly reduced in municipalities with high BFP coverage compared with those with low and intermediate coverage (in a model with a time variable incidence rate ratio = 0.96, 95%CI 0.93-0.99). CONCLUSION This was the first evidence of a statistically significant association between the increase in cash transfer programme coverage and a reduction in TB incidence rate. Our findings provide support for social protection interventions for tackling TB worldwide.
Silver nanoparticles in sewage sludge: Bioavailability of sulfidized silver to the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are efficiently converted during the wastewater‐treatment process into sparingly soluble Ag sulfides (Ag2S). In several countries, sewage sludge is used as a fertilizer in agriculture. The bioavailability of sulfidized Ag to the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber was investigated. Sewage sludge containing transformed AgNPs was obtained from a laboratory‐scale sewage‐treatment plant operated according to Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) guideline 303a. The results of transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray of sludge samples suggest that AgNPs were completely transformed to Ag2S. Adult isopods were exposed to OECD 207 soil substrate amended with the AgNP spiked sludge for 14 d (uptake phase) followed by an elimination phase in unspiked soil of equal duration. Most of the Ag measured in P. scaber at the end of the uptake phase was found in the hindgut (71%), indicating that only a minor part of the estimated Ag content was actually assimilated by the isopods with 16.3 and 12.7% found in the carcass and hepatopancreas, respectively. As a result of this, the Ag content of the animals dropped following transition to unspiked sludge within 2 d to one‐third of the previously measured Ag concentration and remained stable at this level until the end of the elimination period. The present study shows that Ag2S in sewage sludge is bioavailable to the terrestrial isopod P. scaber. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1606–1613. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
Role of Gut Microbiota in the Aetiology of Obesity: Proposed Mechanisms and Review of the Literature

The aetiology of obesity has been attributed to several factors (environmental, dietary, lifestyle, host, and genetic factors); however none of these fully explain the increase in the prevalence of obesity worldwide. Gut microbiota located at the interface of host and environment in the gut are a new area of research being explored to explain the excess accumulation of energy in obese individuals and may be a potential target for therapeutic manipulation to reduce host energy storage. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the role of gut microbiota in the aetiology of obesity such as short chain fatty acid production, stimulation of hormones, chronic low-grade inflammation, lipoprotein and bile acid metabolism, and increased endocannabinoid receptor system tone. However, evidence from animal and human studies clearly indicates controversies in determining the cause or effect relationship between the gut microbiota and obesity. Metagenomics based studies indicate that functionality rather than the composition of gut microbiota may be important. Further mechanistic studies controlling for environmental and epigenetic factors are therefore required to help unravel obesity pathogenesis.
Update on ablative therapies of renal tumors

Purpose of review To summarize the recent literature on ablative therapies for the management of renal tumors. Recent findings Recent studies show excellent long-term oncological outcome data for cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation with a minimal risk of major complications and excellent preservation of renal function. For properly selected patients, oncological outcomes appear to be similar to partial nephrectomy. Ablation is also feasible in T1b tumors and for metastatic sites. In case of local recurrence, salvage surgery is challenging because of perinephric fibrosis but offers excellent oncological control. Papillary renal cell carcinoma may respond better to ablation than clear cell. Microwave ablation and irreversible electroporation are evolving ablation techniques, but their efficacy needs to be proven. Summary Although high-quality randomized data are lacking, evidence shows that ablation of renal tumors achieves excellent long-term oncological results in properly selected patients. Cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation are the standard procedures, while other techniques require further evaluation.
Population structure of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in a large glacial-fed lake inferred from microsatellite DNA and morphological analysis

Understanding the structure of intraspecific genetic and morphological diversity within and across habitats is a fundamental aspect of biodiversity research with conservation value. Atlin Lake is the largest lake in British Columbia, Canada, and contains relatively pristine populations of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) that are key components of the lake’s fish community and local fisheries. Lake trout from Atlin Lake were examined for genetic and phenotypic variation using eight microsatellite DNA loci, body form, and colouration. Genetic assays were also conducted on lake trout from the adjoining Tagish Lake and from 17 other localities to provide spatial context for the variation within Atlin Lake. The genetic data suggested that there were three genetic subpopulations within the Atlin–Tagish lake system. Morphological analysis identified two morphological groups of lake trout within Atlin Lake. Genetic and morphological groupings in Atlin Lake were not associated with each other. A mixed-stock anal.
Calcium retention in adolescent boys on a range of controlled calcium intakes.

BACKGROUND National calcium requirements in the United States for boys are based on data from girls. On average, boys develop larger skeletons than do girls, yet it is unknown whether the additional skeletal accretion in boys requires additional dietary calcium intake. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine calcium retention in adolescent boys in response to a range of controlled intakes and to compare the intake needed for maximal retention in boys with that needed in adolescent girls studied under the same conditions. DESIGN Thirty-one boys aged 12-15 y participated in 3-wk metabolic balance studies testing a range (700-2100 mg/d) of calcium intakes in a crossover study design with a 2-wk washout period. Calcium intake was varied by using a beverage fortified with calcium citrate malate. After a 1-wk equilibration period, calcium retention was calculated as dietary calcium intake minus the calcium excreted in the feces and urine over the following 2 wk. The dietary intake at which maximal calcium retention occurred was determined by using a nonlinear regression model. The results in boys were compared with those obtained in 35 adolescent girls previously studied under the same protocol. RESULTS Maximal calcium retention in boys was achieved at an intake of 1140 mg/d. Calcium retention was higher (by 171 +/- 38 mg/d) in boys than in girls at all calcium intakes studied. CONCLUSION The higher calcium retention in boys than in girls was attained through higher net calcium absorption and lower urinary excretion than in girls.
Sharing End-of-Life Care Preferences with Family Members: Who Has the Discussion and Who Does Not.

BACKGROUND Research suggests that greater engagement in family discussions concerning end-of-life (EOL) care preferences could improve advance care planning and EOL outcomes. However, a substantial number of people have not had such discussions. OBJECTIVE The study's objective was to understand attitudes and experiences influencing engagement in discussions of EOL care preferences with family members, including the role of healthcare providers in such discussions. METHODS We conducted focus group interviews with 36 non-Hispanic White, African American, and Hispanic community-dwelling participants. Participants were divided among groups to explore differences between those who had or had not engaged in EOL care discussions. Atlas.ti version 7 was used to analyze data employing an open-coding method. RESULTS Participants' mean age was 70 (range: 58-87); three-fourths were female (n = 27). Twenty were white, non-Hispanic; 10 were African American; and 6 were Hispanic. Four themes emerged from the data, (1) being proactive or passive/reactive; (2) perceiving discussion of death as normal or abnormal; (3) response to family resistance/disconnection; and (4) knowledge acquired. A fifth theme, the role of healthcare providers in family EOL care discussions, resulted from facilitators' questions. Theme examination led to identification of a central category, decision-making. CONCLUSIONS It is important to understand the differing experiences and attitudes of those who do or do not engage in EOL discussions. Research is needed on healthcare practitioners' use of decision-making tools to help patients discuss their EOL care preferences with family and others, the goal of which is to provide care consistent with patients' goals.
Individual and Environmental Correlates to Quality of Life in Park Users in Colombia

Purpose: To explore individual and environmental correlates to quality of life (QoL) in park users in Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional study with face-to-face interviews was conducted with 1392 park users from ten parks in Colombia. The survey included sociodemographic questions, health condition assessed with EuroQuol-5-Dimensions-5-Levels; in addition, questions about accessibility to the parks and perceptions about quality of infrastructure and green areas were asked. The Spanish version of the questionnaire EUROHIS-QOL-8 items was applied to assess QoL. Log-binomial regression models were applied for analyses. Results: Years of schooling, visits to the park with a companion, active use of the park, a maximum score for quality of trees and walking paths, and the perception of safety on the way to the park were positively associated with a better QoL (p < 0.05). Health conditions related to problems in the ability to perform activities of daily living and anxiety/depression showed negative associations. Conclusions: The present study contributes to the Latin American studies by providing information on how parks in an intermediate city may contribute to increased QoL of park users through safety in neighborhoods, social support, active use, and aesthetics, cleanliness, and care of green areas.
Dietary fat and cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease among women with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Nutritional therapy is a cornerstone of diabetes management, but no epidemiologic studies have investigated the relation between specific dietary fatty acids and cholesterol and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among diabetic patients. OBJECTIVE This study assessed the relation between specific dietary fatty acids and cholesterol and CVD risk among women with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN Among 5672 women with type 2 diabetes from the Nurses' Health Study, diet was assessed prospectively and updated periodically. Relative risks of CVD were estimated from Cox proportional hazards analysis after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS Between 1980 and 1998, we identified 619 new cases of CVD (nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal coronary heart disease, and stroke). The relative risk (RR) of CVD for an increase of 200 mg cholesterol/1000 kcal was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.68; P = 0.003). Each 5% of energy intake from saturated fat, as compared with equivalent energy from carbohydrates, was associated with a 29% greater risk of CVD (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.63; P = 0.04). The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat (P:S) was inversely associated with the risk of fatal CVD. We estimated that replacement of 5% of energy from saturated fat with equivalent energy from carbohydrates or monounsaturated fat was associated with a 22% or 37% lower risk of CVD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS A higher intake of cholesterol and saturated fat and a low P:S were related to increased CVD risk among women with type 2 diabetes. Among diabetic persons, replacement of saturated fat with monounsaturated fat may be more effective in lowering CVD risk than is replacement with carbohydrates.
Dietary fish intake and plasma phospholipid n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk United Kingdom cohort.

BACKGROUND The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, found in fish and fish-oil supplements and also formed by conversion of alpha-linolenic acid in soy and rapeseed (canola) oils, are thought to have cardioprotective effects. OBJECTIVE Because the relative feasibility and measurement error of dietary methods varies, this study compared fish and fish-oil intakes obtained from 4 dietary methods with plasma n-3 PUFAs in men and women in a general population. DESIGN The study participants were 4949 men and women aged 40-79 y from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk United Kingdom cohort. Measurements of plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFA concentrations and fish intakes were made with the use of 4 dietary methods (food-frequency questionnaire, health and lifestyle questionnaire, 7-d diary, and first-day recall from the 7-d diary). RESULTS Amounts of fish consumed and relations with plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFAs were not substantially different between the 4 dietary methods. Plasma n-3 PUFA concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men, were 20% higher in fish-oil consumers than in non-fish-oil consumers, and were twice as high in fatty fish consumers as in total fish consumers. Only approximately 25% of the variation in plasma n-3 PUFA was explained by fish and fish-oil consumption. CONCLUSIONS This large study found no substantial differences between dietary methods and observed clear sex differences in plasma n-3 PUFAs. Because variation in n-3 PUFA was only partially determined by fish and fish-oil consumption, this could explain the inconsistent results of observational and intervention studies on coronary artery disease protection.
Efficacy of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Medicinal Plants against Blast and Brown Spot Disease of Rice

Phytochemicals are chemical compounds that occur naturally in the plant kingdom. Some are responsible for the oganoleptic properties of the natural sources in which they are present. The term is generally used to refer to those chemicals that may have biological significance, for example carotenoids, flavonoids, coumarins or chromones, but not all are established as essential nutrients. There may be as many as 4,000 different phytochemicals having potential activity against several diseases such as cancer and metabolic or degenerative diseases. Before the sixteenth century, most of the mainstream medical systems were based on the idea that one should work with nature and that the body's own healing capacity could be strengthened and complimented by the right herbs (Active constituents of herbs, 2015; Venkateshwer Rao). Plant chemistry includes the miracle of photosynthesis, plant respiration, structure, growth, development, and reproduction. Much of the chemical basis of life is common to both plants and animals. From a holistic perspective the whole of the plant must be respected as an integrated biologically evolved unit that is beyond the analytical comprehension of science. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 12 (2017) pp. 4138-4144 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Stability analysis for neural dynamics with time-varying delays

By using the usual additive neural-network model, a delay-independent stability criterion for neural dynamics with perturbations of time-varying delays is derived. We extend previously known results obtained by Gopalsamy and He to the time varying delay case, and present decay estimates of solutions of neural networks. The asymptotic stability is global in the state space of neuronal activations. From the techniques used in this paper, it is shown that our criterion ensures stability of neural dynamics even when the delay functions vary violently with time. Our approach provides an effective method for the stability analysis of neural dynamics with delays.
Regulation of Embryonic Cell Adhesion by the Prion Protein

Prion proteins (PrPs) are key players in fatal neurodegenerative disorders, yet their physiological functions remain unclear, as PrP knockout mice develop rather normally. We report a strong PrP loss-of-function phenotype in zebrafish embryos, characterized by the loss of embryonic cell adhesion and arrested gastrulation. Zebrafish and mouse PrP mRNAs can partially rescue this knockdown phenotype, indicating conserved PrP functions. Using zebrafish, mouse, and Drosophila cells, we show that PrP: (1) mediates Ca+2-independent homophilic cell adhesion and signaling; and (2) modulates Ca+2-dependent cell adhesion by regulating the delivery of E-cadherin to the plasma membrane. In vivo time-lapse analyses reveal that the arrested gastrulation in PrP knockdown embryos is due to deficient morphogenetic cell movements, which rely on E-cadherin–based adhesion. Cell-transplantation experiments indicate that the regulation of embryonic cell adhesion by PrP is cell-autonomous. Moreover, we find that the local accumulation of PrP at cell contact sites is concomitant with the activation of Src-related kinases, the recruitment of reggie/flotillin microdomains, and the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, consistent with a role of PrP in the modulation of cell adhesion via signaling. Altogether, our data uncover evolutionarily conserved roles of PrP in cell communication, which ultimately impinge on the stability of adherens cell junctions during embryonic development.
Operator Splitting Methods for Wave Equations

The motivation for our studies is coming from simulation of earthquakes, that are modelled by elastic wave equations. In our paper we focus on stiff phanomenons for the wave equations. In the course of this article we discuss iterative operator splitting methods for wave equations motivated by realistic problems dealing with seismic sources and waves. The operator splitting methods are well-known to solve this kind of multidimensional and multiphysical problems. We present the consistency analysis for iterative methods as theoretical background with respect to the underlying boundary conditions. From an algorithmic point of view we discuss the the decoupling and non-decoupling method with respect to the eigenvalues. We verify our methods with test examples for which analytical solutions can be derived. Multidimensional examples are presented for realistic applications for the wave equation. Finally we discuss the results.