Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Molecular Weight Polymer Promotes Bone Health and Prevents Bone Loss Under Salmonella Challenge in Broiler Chickens

As a consequence of rapid growth, broiler chickens are more susceptible to infection as well as bone fractures that result in birds being culled. Intestinal infection/inflammation has been demonstrated to promote bone loss in mice and humans. Given this link, we hypothesize that therapeutics that target the gut can benefit bone health. To test this, we infected broiler chickens (7 days old) with Salmonella and treated the birds with or without MDY, a non-absorbable mucus supplement known to benefit intestinal health, from day 1–21 or from day 14–21. Chicken femoral trabecular and cortical bone parameters were analyzed by microcomputed tomography at 21 days. Birds infected with Salmonella displayed significant trabecular bone loss and bone microarchitecture abnormalities that were specific to the femoral neck region, a common site of fracture in chickens. Histological analyses of the chicken bone indicated an increase in osteoclast surface/bone surface in this area indicating that infection-induced bone resorption likely causes the bone loss. Of great interest, treatment with MDY effectively prevented broiler chicken bone loss and architectural changes when given chronically throughout the experiment or for only a week after infection. The latter suggests that MDY may not only prevent bone loss but reverse bone loss. MDY also increased cortical bone mineral density in Salmonella-treated chickens. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that Salmonella-induced bone loss in broiler chickens is prevented by oral MDY.
Neurotrophin-3 Gene-Modified Schwann Cells Promote TrkC Gene-Modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Differentiate into Neuron-Like Cells in Poly(Lactic-Acid-Co-Glycolic Acid) Multiple-Channel Conduit

Rapid progress in the field of nerve tissue engineering has opened up the way for new therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI). Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be differentiated into neural lineages, which can be used as a potential cell source for nerve repair. Schwann cells (SCs) have been reported to support structural and functional recovery of SCI. In this study, we co-cultured neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene-modified SCs and NT-3 receptor tyrosine protein kinase C (TrkC) gene-modified MSCs in a three-dimensional porous poly(lactic-acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conduit with multiple channels in vitro for 14 days. Our results showed that more than 50% of the grafted MSCs were MAP2- and β-III-tubulin-positive cells, and the MSCs expressed a high level of β-III-tubulin detected by Western blotting, indicating a high rate of neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, immunostaining of PSD95 revealed the formation of a synapse-like structure, which was confirmed under electron microscopy. In conclusion, co-culture of NT-3 gene-modified SCs and TrkC gene-modified MSCs in the PLGA multiple-channeled conduit can promote MSCs’ differentiation into neuron-like cells with synaptogenesis potential. Our study provides a biological basis for future application of this artificial MSCs/SCs/PLGA complex in the SCI treatment.
Predictors of remission in juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

OBJECTIVE To determine factors associated with remission of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP). DESIGN Longitudinal study. SETTING Twenty-two tertiary care centers located across the United States. STUDY PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS The study included 165 patients diagnosed as having JORRP between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2000. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine associations between predictors and remission. INTERVENTIONS Surgical excision and drug therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Remission of JORRP, defined as no surgical procedures for at least 1 year, as associated with age at diagnosis, drug therapy in the first year after diagnosis, number of surgical procedures in the first year after diagnosis, and number of anatomical sites of disease at diagnosis. Demographic factors (sex and race) and Medicaid status were also evaluated. RESULTS Older age at diagnosis was positively associated with remission of JORRP (hazards ratio for every increase of 1 year in age, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.23). CONCLUSIONS Younger children were found to have persistent disease and often underwent an increased number of surgical procedures in the first year after diagnosis of JORRP. Sex and race were not important factors in determining remission.
Effect of Age , Gender and Season on Thyroid Hormones Status in Children of East Delhi-A Hospital Based Study

Background: Thyroid hormones are the most commonly prescribed tests in the clinical set up. Variations are observed in individuals of different age, sex, race and nutritional status. However few studies describe these changes in children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate thyroid hormones in children of East Delhi with respect to gender, age and season. Methods: The study included 850 children up to 12 years of age of both genders who attended the hospital for thyroid hormone analysis. Subjects suffering from thyroid disorders or those on medication affecting hormone status were excluded from the study. Non-fasting venous samples were collected and serum FT3, FT4 and TSH levels were estimated by chemiluminesence method. Statistical analysis was done by using unpaired t-test and ANOVA. Results: TSH levels were found to be statistically higher in the female subjects (p = 0.049). On evaluating hormones age wise FT3 levels were found to increase significantly with age (p = 0.000) whereas FT4 and TSH levels significantly declined with age (p = 0.000 and p = 0.039). Significant seasonal variation in hormones was also observed. Conclusions: Our results shows that thyroid hormone levels change markedly in childhood. Variation in thyroid hormone levels has to be kept in mind during evaluation and treatment of thyroid disorders in children.
A FRET analysis to unravel the role of cholesterol in Rac1 and PI 3‐kinase activation in the InlB/Met signalling pathway

The signalling pathway for the hepatocyte growth factor receptor, Met/HGF‐R, is hijacked by the bacterial surface protein InlB to induce Listeria monocytogenes entry into non‐phagocytic cells. We previously showed that Listeria invades host cells by interacting with specialized microdomains of the host plasma membrane called lipid rafts. In this study, we analysed in living cells signalling events that are crucial for Listeria entry using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer‐based microscopic method. Phosphoinositide (PI) 3‐kinase activity and Rac1 signalling induced by Listeria interacting with epithelial cells were monitored as well as signalling induced by soluble InlB and the Met natural ligand HGF. We found that InlB and HGF induced similar kinetics of PI 3‐kinase and Rac1 activation. PI 3‐kinase activation was upstream and independent of Rac1 activation. Cholesterol‐depletion experiments were performed to address the role of lipid rafts in Met signalling. The amount of 3′‐phosphoinositides produced by PI 3‐kinase was not affected by cholesterol depletion, while their membrane dynamic was cholesterol‐dependent. Rac1 activation, downstream from PI 3‐kinase, was cholesterol‐dependent suggesting that the spatial distribution of 3′‐phosphoinositides within membrane microdomains is critical for Rac1 activation and consequently for F‐actin assembly at bacterial entry site.
Outbreak of OXA-48-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Involving a Sequence Type 101 Clone in Batna University Hospital, Algeria

ABSTRACT Seven nonredundant ertapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were collected between May 2014 and 19 January 2015 in the nephrology and hematology units of Batna University Hospital in Algeria. All strains coproduced the blaOXA-48, blaCTX-M-15, blaSHV-1, and blaTEM-1D genes. Six of these isolates belonged to the pandemic clone sequence type 101 (ST101). The blaOXA-48 gene was located on a conjugative IncL/M-type plasmid. This is the first known outbreak of OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae isolates involving an ST101 clone in Batna University Hospital.
Universal stability curve for pattern formation in pulsed gas-solid fluidized beds of sandlike particles

A granular layer can form regular patterns, such as squares, stripes, and hexagons, when it is fluidized with a pulsating gas flow. These structures are reminiscent of the well-known patterns found in granular layers excited through vibration, but, contrarily to them, they have been hardly explored since they were first discovered. In this work, we investigate experimentally the conditions leading to pattern formation in pulsed fluidized beds and the dimensionless numbers governing the phenomenon. We show that the onset to the instability is universal for Geldart B (sandlike) particles and governed by the hydrodynamical parameters = ua/(utφ¯) and f/fn, where ua and f are the amplitude and frequency of the gas velocity, respectively, ut is the terminal velocity of the particles, φ¯ is the average solids fraction, and fn is the natural frequency of the bed. These findings suggest that patterns emerge as a result of a parametric resonance between the kinematic waves originating from the oscillating gas flow and the bulk dynamics. Particle friction plays virtually no role in the onset to pattern formation, but it is fundamental for pattern selection and stabilization.
Midlife cardiovascular fitness and dementia

Objective To investigate whether greater cardiovascular fitness in midlife is associated with decreased dementia risk in women followed up for 44 years. Methods A population-based sample of 1,462 women 38 to 60 years of age was examined in 1968. Of these, a systematic subsample comprising 191 women completed a stepwise-increased maximal ergometer cycling test to evaluate cardiovascular fitness. Subsequent examinations of dementia incidence were done in 1974, 1980, 1992, 2000, 2005, and 2009. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria on the basis of information from neuropsychiatric examinations, informant interviews, hospital records, and registry data up to 2012. Cox regressions were performed with adjustment for socioeconomic, lifestyle, and medical confounders. Results Compared with medium fitness, the adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause dementia during the 44-year follow-up was 0.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03–0.54) among those with high fitness and 1.41 (95% CI 0.72–2.79) among those with low fitness. High fitness delayed age at dementia onset by 9.5 years and time to dementia onset by 5 years compared to medium fitness. Conclusions Among Swedish women, a high cardiovascular fitness in midlife was associated with a decreased risk of subsequent dementia. Promotion of a high cardiovascular fitness may be included in strategies to mitigate or prevent dementia. Findings are not causal, and future research needs to focus on whether improved fitness could have positive effects on dementia risk and when during the life course a high cardiovascular fitness is most important.
The effect of a VR exercise program on falls and depression in the elderly with mild depression in the local community

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of a VR exercise program on falls and depression in the elderly with mild depression who reside in the local community. [Subjects and Methods] This study was performed by targeting 15 elderly subjects with mild depression who resided in the local community. The targeted subjects voluntarily selected 3 VR exercise programs (each lasting 10 minutes) among 4 activities, and a resting time of 5 minutes was given for an interval after each activity. The VR exercise program was performed for total 12 weeks (36 times), 3 times a week, 45 minutes per session. [Results] After exercise, scores of static balance test (anteroposterior), Falls Efficacy Scale, and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale in the test subjects were improved and depression and internal stress scores were significantly decreased after the intervention. [Conclusion] It can be concluded that the VR exercise program exerts a positive effect not only on the physical factor but also on the mental factor of the elderly subjects with mild depression who reside in the local community. It is expected that based on the VR exercise program, diversified home programs for the elderly should be developed in the future.
Interstellar Object ’Oumuamua as an Extinct Fragment of an Ejected Cometary Planetesimal

’Oumuamua was discovered passing through our solar system on a hyperbolic orbit. It presents an apparent contradiction, with colors similar to those of volatile-rich solar system bodies but with no visible outgassing or activity during its close approach to the Sun. Here, we show that this contradiction can be explained by the dynamics of planetesimal ejection by giant planets. We propose that ’Oumuamua is an extinct fragment of a comet-like planetesimal born a planet-forming disk that also formed Neptune- to Jupiter-mass giant planets. On its pathway to ejection ’Oumuamua’s parent body underwent a close encounter with a giant planet and was tidally disrupted into small pieces, similar to comet Shoemaker–Levy 9’s disruption after passing close to Jupiter. We use dynamical simulations to show that 0.1%–1% of cometary planetesimals undergo disruptive encounters prior to ejection. Rocky asteroidal planetesimals are unlikely to disrupt due to their higher densities. After disruption, the bulk of fragments undergo enough close passages to their host stars to lose their surface volatiles and become extinct. Planetesimal fragments such as ’Oumuamua contain little of the mass in the population of interstellar objects but dominate by number. Our model makes predictions that will be tested in the coming decade by the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
Molecular Basis of Increased Serum Resistance among Pulmonary Isolates of Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), a common commensal of the human pharynx, is also an opportunistic pathogen if it becomes established in the lower respiratory tract (LRT). In comparison to colonizing isolates from the upper airway, LRT isolates, especially those associated with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have increased resistance to the complement- and antibody-dependent, bactericidal effect of serum. To define the molecular basis of this resistance, mutants constructed in a serum resistant strain using the mariner transposon were screened for loss of survival in normal human serum. The loci required for serum resistance contribute to the structure of the exposed surface of the bacterial outer membrane. These included loci involved in biosynthesis of the oligosaccharide component of lipooligosaccharide (LOS), and vacJ, which functions with an ABC transporter encoded by yrb genes in retrograde trafficking of phospholipids from the outer to inner leaflet of the cell envelope. Mutations in vacJ and yrb genes reduced the stability of the outer membrane and were associated with increased cell surface hyrophobicity and phospholipid content. Loss of serum resistance in vacJ and yrb mutants correlated with increased binding of natural immunoglobulin M in serum as well as anti-oligosaccharide mAbs. Expression of vacJ and the yrb genes was positively correlated with serum resistance among clinical isolates. Our findings suggest that NTHi adapts to inflammation encountered during infection of the LRT by modulation of its outer leaflet through increased expression of vacJ and yrb genes to minimize recognition by bactericidal anti-oligosaccharide antibodies.
Screening the Drinking : Identifying Problem Alcohol Consumption in Primary Care Settings

roblem drinking is a common phenomenon in the United States that encompasses a wide range of drinking behavior. The National Institute of Epidemiology’s Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions found that more than 8% of the 43 093 adults surveyed had some drinking problem and as many as 3.8% had the disorder of alcohol dependence. Surveys indicate that more than a third of adults consume enough alcohol to be at risk for alcohol-related harm. Alcohol consumption is now the third leading cause of preventable death, contributing to at least 100 000 annual deaths. Problem drinking contributes to cancer, hypertension, and stroke. Furthermore, excessive alcohol consumption may decrease adherence to medications and follow-up for treatments, and limit therapeutic and pharmaceutical options for many diseases. Problem drinking meets the criteria for screening in primary care patients as it is a prevalent, harmful, preventable, and treatable condition in the context of outpatient care. An estimated 20% of patients in outpatient primary Screening the Drinking: Identifying Problem Alcohol Consumption in Primary Care Settings
A Capsule Network-based Embedding Model for Search Personalization

Search personalization aims to tailor search results to each specific user based on the user's personal interests and preferences (i.e., the user profile). Recent research approaches to search personalization by modelling the potential 3-way relationship between the submitted query, the user and the search results (i.e., documents). That relationship is then used to personalize the search results to that user. In this paper, we introduce a novel embedding model based on capsule network, which recently is a breakthrough in deep learning, to model the 3-way relationships for search personalization. In the model, each user (submitted query or returned document) is embedded by a vector in the same vector space. The 3-way relationship is described as a triple of (query, user, document) which is then modeled as a 3-column matrix containing the three embedding vectors. After that, the 3-column matrix is fed into a deep learning architecture to re-rank the search results returned by a basis ranker. Experimental results on query logs from a commercial web search engine show that our model achieves better performances than the basis ranker as well as strong search personalization baselines.
Comments on ‘on large‐scale circulations in convecting atmospheres’ by Kerry A. Emanuel, J. David Neelin and Christopher S. Bretherton (july B, 1994, 120, 1111‐1143)

The review paper by Emanuel et al. (1994; hereafter ENB) provides a stimulating and at times provocative overview of the dynamics of convecting systems and their interaction with larger-scale circulations. As such it prompted us to organize a semester-long seminar devoted to the study of these interactions, and to ENB’s ideas in particular. The following comments emerged from discussions and criticisms raised during the course of our seminar. To summarize, ENB take a critical position toward what they characterize as a prevalent view of tropical convection, namely that the Hadley cell and other large-scale circulations are driven by latent heating. They argue that, instead, the large-scale meridional temperature gradient imposed by latitudinal variations in solar insolation is the driving force behind the Hadley cell. They go on to argue that tropical convection consumes CAPE (convective available potential energy) as rapidly as it is produced by largescale forcing, leading to a state of quasi-equilibrium. The resulting quasi-invariance of the CAPE implies a one-to-one relationship between the local time-rates of change of sub-cloud entropy and the temperature of the free atmosphere. Moreover, by accounting for the finite lag time of convection (i.e. allowing the equilibrium to be ‘soft’), they find that large-scale perturbations organize convection in a manner which tends to damp the organizing disturbance. Consequently, conditional instability of the second kind (CISK) is not a mode of instability in the physical system, and the view that large-scale disturbances cooperate with convection is, in the absence of certain qualifications, wrong. Although there is a great deal to learn from ENB’s paper, many of their ideas require further discussion. Here we focus on three:
Glucocorticoid-induced bone loss in mice can be reversed by the actions of parathyroid hormone and risedronate on different pathways for bone formation and mineralization.

OBJECTIVE Glucocorticoid excess decreases bone mineralization and microarchitecture and leads to reduced bone strength. Both anabolic (parathyroid hormone [PTH]) and antiresorptive agents are used to prevent and treat glucocorticoid-induced bone loss, yet these bone-active agents alter bone turnover by very different mechanisms. This study was undertaken to determine how PTH and risedronate alter bone quality following glucocorticoid excess. METHODS Five-month-old male Swiss-Webster mice were treated with the glucocorticoid prednisolone (5 mg/kg in a 60-day slow-release pellet) or placebo. From day 28 to day 56, 2 groups of glucocorticoid-treated animals received either PTH (5 microg/kg) or risedronate (5 microg/kg) 5 times per week. Bone quality and quantity were measured using x-ray tomography for the degree of bone mineralization, microfocal computed tomography for bone microarchitecture, compression testing for trabecular bone strength, and biochemistry and histomorphometry for bone turnover. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were performed to monitor the expression of several key genes regulating Wnt signaling (bone formation) and mineralization. RESULTS Compared with placebo, glucocorticoid treatment decreased trabecular bone volume (bone volume/total volume [BV/TV]) and serum osteocalcin, but increased serum CTX and osteoclast surface, with a peak at day 28. Glucocorticoids plus PTH increased BV/TV, and glucocorticoids plus risedronate restored BV/TV to placebo levels after 28 days. The average degree of bone mineralization was decreased after glucocorticoid treatment (-27%), but was restored to placebo levels after treatment with glucocorticoids plus risedronate or glucocorticoids plus PTH. On day 56, RT-PCR revealed that expression of genes that inhibit bone mineralization (Dmp1 and Phex) was increased by continuous exposure to glucocorticoids and glucocorticoids plus PTH and decreased by glucocorticoids plus risedronate, compared with placebo. Wnt signaling antagonists Dkk-1, Sost, and Wif1 were up-regulated by glucocorticoid treatment but down-regulated after glucocorticoid plus PTH treatment. Immunohistochemistry of bone sections showed that glucocorticoids increased N-terminal Dmp-1 staining while PTH treatment increased both N- and C-terminal Dmp-1 staining around osteocytes. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that both PTH and risedronate improve bone mass, degree of bone mineralization, and bone strength in glucocorticoid-treated mice, and that PTH increases bone formation while risedronate reverses the deterioration of bone mineralization.