Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Convulsant doses of penicillin shorten the lifetime of GABA‐induced channels in cultured central neurones

1 The influence of sodium benzylpenicillin (PCN) on membrane channels activated by γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied in cultured spinal neurones of the mouse by the extracellular patch clamp technique. 2 In whole‐cell, current clamp recordings, concentrations of PCN above 0.2 mM significantly reduced the amplitude of the GABA response. 3 Single channel currents activated by GABA were studied in outside‐out patches of neuronal membrane. In both the absence and presence of PCN, cumulative open time distributions for GABA‐activated channels were well fitted by the sum of two exponential terms, characterized by fast (τf) and slow time constants (τs). 4 PCN (2 mM) reduced the mean value of τs from 4.29 ± 0.56 ms (mean ± s.e.mean) to 1.12 ± 0.09 ms but had no significant effect on τf. 5 The mean open time of GABA‐activated channels, calculated from the double exponential fits, decreased from 1.39 ± 0.35 ms to 0.53 ± 0.02 ms in the presence of 2 mM PCN. 6 The reduced mean open time of GABA‐sensitive channels seen in the presence of PCN may contribute to the convulsant action of the drug in vivo.
Lipopolysaccharide, capsule, and fimbriae as virulence factors among O1, O7, O16, O18, or O75 and K1, K5, or K100 Escherichia coli

K1, K5, and K100 Escherichia coli isolates of the lipopolysaccharide antigen types O1, O7, O16, O18, or O75, which had formerly been assigned to clonal groupings were compared with K? E. coli isolates and with laboratory-derived mutants defective in capsule or lipopolysaccharide synthesis. The amount of K1 capsule, the length distribution of the lipopolysaccharide, and the expression of type I and P fimbriae were determined. The clonal groupings were uniform with regard to these properties within each group but different from each other. Many of the K? strains differed from the clonal representatives. The results are interpreted with regard to the different diseases caused by each of these bacterial groups.
Fat‐Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction Cells Enhance the Bone‐Forming Capacity of Devitalized Engineered Hypertrophic Cartilage Matrix

Engineered and devitalized hypertrophic cartilage (HC) has been proposed as bone substitute material, potentially combining the features of osteoinductivity, resistance to hypoxia, capacity to attract blood vessels, and customization potential for specific indications. However, in comparison with vital tissues, devitalized HC grafts have reduced efficiency of bone formation and longer remodeling times. We tested the hypothesis that freshly harvested stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells from human adipose tissue—which include mesenchymal, endothelial, and osteoclastic progenitors—enhance devitalized HC remodeling into bone tissue. Human SVF cells isolated from abdominal lipoaspirates were characterized cytofluorimetrically. HC pellets, previously generated by human bone marrow‐derived stromal cells and devitalized by freeze/thaw, were embedded in fibrin gel with or without different amounts of SVF cells and implanted either ectopically in nude mice or in 4‐mm‐diameter calvarial defects in nude rats. In the ectopic model, SVF cells added to devitalized HC directly contributed to endothelial, osteoblastic, and osteoclastic populations. After 12 weeks, the extent of graft vascularization and amount of bone formation increased in a cell‐number‐dependent fashion (up to, respectively, 2.0‐fold and 2.9‐fold using 12 million cells per milliliter of gel). Mineralized tissue volume correlated with the number of implanted, SVF‐derived endothelial cells (CD31+ CD34+ CD146+). In the calvarial model, SVF activation of HC using 12 million cells per milliliter of gel induced efficient merging among implanted pellets and strongly enhanced (7.3‐fold) de novo bone tissue formation within the defects. Our findings outline a bone augmentation strategy based on off‐the‐shelf devitalized allogeneic HC, intraoperatively activated with autologous SVF cells.
Short-Course Isoniazid Plus Rifapentine Directly Observed Therapy for Latent Tuberculosis in Solid-Organ Transplant Candidates

Background Short-course directly observed isoniazid plus rifapentine (INH/RPT) combination could have potential advantages over a standard 9-month INH regimen for the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in solid-organ transplant (SOT) candidates. Methods We prospectively assessed the safety and tolerability of 12 weeks of INH/RPT given directly observed therapy in 17 consecutive SOT candidates with latent tuberculosis infection. Results The median age was 57 years and 82% were men. Of the 17 patients, 13 (76%) successfully completed therapy and 4 (24%) eventually underwent SOT. Treatment was prematurely discontinued in four patients. One of these patients underwent a kidney transplant. The overall dose compliance was 83% (169/204 scheduled doses), and 12 (71%) of 17 patients received 100% of scheduled doses. No patient developed transaminase elevations greater than twice baseline or greater than four times the upper limit of normal or clinical hepatotoxicity. No cases of TB developed during 20.4 months after transplant among INH/RPT–treated recipients. Conclusions For carefully selected SOT candidates, combination INH/RPT weekly given as directly observed therapy seems to be reasonably well tolerated and is associated with a relatively high completion rate. Future larger prospective studies to confirm the safety and high completion rates reported here and to identify the most appropriate SOT candidates for this regimen are warranted.
Social Network Integration and User Content Generation: Evidence from Natural Experiments

This study examines how social network integration (i.e., integration of online platforms with other social media services, for example, with Facebook or Twitter) can affect the characteristics of user-generated content (volume and linguistic features) in the context of online reviews. Building on the social presence theory, we propose a number of hypotheses on how social network integration affects review volume and linguistic features of review text. We consider two natural experiments at leading online review platforms (Yelp.com and TripAdvisor.com), wherein each implemented a social network integration with Facebook. Constructing a unique panel dataset of online reviews for a matched set of restaurants across the two review sites, we estimate a difference-in-differences (DID) model to assess the impact of social network integration. We find that integration with Facebook increased the production of user-generated content and positive emotion in review text, while simultaneously decreasing cognitive language, negative emotion, and expressions of disagreement (negations) in review text. Our findings demonstrate that social network integration works as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, integration provides benefits in terms of increased review quantity. On the other hand, these benefits appear to come at the cost of reduced review quality, given past research which has found that positive, emotional reviews are perceived by users to be less helpful. We discuss the implications of these results as they relate to the creation of sustainable online social platforms for user content generation.
Quaternary structure of WzzB and WzzE polysaccharide copolymerases

Bacteria have evolved cellular control mechanisms to ensure proper length specification for surface‐bound polysaccharides. Members of the Polysaccharide Copolymerase (PCP) family are central to this process. PCP‐1 family members are anchored to the inner membrane through two transmembrane helices and contain a large periplasm‐exposed domain. PCPs are known to form homooligomers but their exact stoichiometry is controversial in view of conflicting structural and biochemical data. Several prior investigations addressing this question indicated a nonameric, hexameric, or tetrameric organization of several PCP‐1 family members. In this work, we gathered additional evidence that E.coli WzzB and WzzE PCPs form octameric homo‐oligomeric complexes. Detergent‐solubilized PCPs were purified to homogeneity and subjected to blue native gel analysis, which indicated the presence of a predominant high‐molecular product of over 500 kDa in mass. Molecular mass of WzzE and WzzB‐detergent oligomers was estimated to be 550 kDA by size‐exclusion coupled to multiangle laser light scattering (SEC‐MALLS). Oligomeric organization of purified WzzB and WzzE was further investigated by negative stain electron microscopy and by X‐ray crystallography, respectively. Analysis of EM‐derived molecular envelope of WzzB indicated that the full‐length protein is composed of eight protomers. Crystal structure of LDAO‐solubilized WzzE was solved to 6 Å resolutions and revealed its octameric subunit stoichiometry. In summary, we identified a possible biological unit utilized for the glycan chain length determination by two PCP‐1 family members. This provides an important step toward further unraveling of the mechanistic basis of chain length control of the O‐antigen and the enterobacterial common antigen.
Teachers' pedagogical beliefs and their planning and conduct of computer-mediated classroom lessons

In this study, we observed and interviewed six teachers from two Singapore primary school classrooms. The schools were reportedly achieving high levels of computer integration as reflected in a nationwide questionnaire survey. Out of the 18 lessons that we observed, 14 lessons have incorporated some elements of constructivist teaching. However, closer examination revealed that the underlying orientation of the lessons was inclined towards information acquisition and regurgitation. Five out of the six teachers we interviewed were reportedly inclined towards constructivist notion of teaching. The teachers accounted for the inconsistency between their espoused beliefs and the teacher-centric teaching practice as due to contextual constraints. The teachers expressed that the need to complete the syllabi according to stipulated schedules so as to get the students ready for examination was the main barriers that prevented them from engaging in more constructivist teaching. This case study therefore highlights that although it is necessary for teachers to hold pedagogical beliefs that are compatible with the constructivist notion of teaching and learning, this is an insufficient condition to shift traditional teaching practice. Changes in assessment systems and substantial professional development are further conditions that have to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Concomitant Paravertebral FDG Uptake Helps Differentiate Supraclavicular and Suprarenal Brown Fat Uptake From Malignant Uptake When CT Coregistration Is Not Available

Objectives: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) uptake in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the supraclavicular, superior mediastinal, paravertebral, and suprarenal/perinephric regions has been recognized. Of these 4 areas, uptake in the supraclavicular, mediastinal, and suprarenal areas may be difficult to differentiate from malignancy for those who interpret PET images only without CT coregistration or fusion. We assessed the prevalence and concomitance of F-18 FDG uptake in these 4 BAT regions. Methods: A total of 1495 F-18-FDG PET studies were reviewed. Distinct patterns compatible with BAT uptake in the 4 regions were graded and correlated with each other. Results: Of the 1495 studies, supraclavicular uptake was seen in 40 (2.7%), paravertebral uptake in 29 (1.9%), mediastinal uptake in 23(1.5%), and suprarenal uptake in 11 (0.7%). Of the 40 studies showing supraclavicular uptake, paravertebral uptake was also seen in 27 (68%), mediastinal uptake in 23 (58%), and suprarenal uptake in 11 (28%). Alternatively, of the 29 studies showing paravertebral uptake, all but 2 studies (93%) also had concomitant supraclavicular uptake. No studies showed isolated mediastinal or suprarenal uptake. All studies with mediastinal uptake also had supraclavicular uptake, and all studies with suprarenal uptake also had paravertebral uptake. Conclusions: Virtually all of mediastinal and suprarenal BAT uptake was associated with supraclavicular and paravertebral uptake, respectively. Nearly all paravertebral uptake coexisted with supraclavicular uptake. Even when CT coregistration is not available, concomitant paravertebral uptake can help differentiate suprarenal uptake and somewhat less typical supraclavicular BAT uptake from malignant uptake, and concomitant supraclavicular uptake can help differentiate mediastinal uptake from malignant uptake.
Prevalence and distribution of enamel defects and dental caries in a region with different concentrations of fluoride in drinking water in Sri Lanka.

AIMS To assess the prevalence and distribution of developmental defects of enamel and caries in 14-year-old children who had been lifetime residents in a region with different concentrations of fluoride in drinking water in Sri Lanka. DESIGN A cross-sectional survey. SETTING Uda Walawe--a rural area in southern Sri Lanka where fluoride concentration in ground water is reported to be within the range of 0.05-6.10 mg/l. METHOD A total of 518 children from six representative schools from this area were examined for developmental defects of enamel and dental caries using the modified DDE index and WHO criteria. The present analysis is limited to 486 children from whom drinking water samples were collected. RESULTS Based on the fluoride concentration of the drinking water source the children were categorised into four groups: <0.3, 0.31-0.49, 0.5-0.7 and >0.7 mg/l. The prevalence of enamel defects ranged from 29-57% whilst 27-55% of children were affected by diffuse opacities in the four groups. Of the ten teeth examined, between 1.6-3.6 teeth per child were affected by enamel defects. Maxillary first premolars were the most commonly affected by diffuse opacities followed by the maxillary canines. Caries prevalence varied between 18-25% whilst the mean DMFT and DMFS values ranged from 0.29-0.54 and 0.45-0.67 respectively. Occlusal surfaces were the most affected by caries. CONCLUSIONS The wide differences observed in the prevalence and severity of enamel defects indicate that there are variations in individual response to high fluoride levels in drinking water. It also demonstrates the need to ascertain the factors that could contribute to the prevalence and severity of enamel defects other than high fluoride levels in drinking water.
A Hospital Based Study to Establish the Correlation between Recurrent Wheeze and Vitamin D Deficiency Among Children of Age Group Less than 3 Years in Indian Scenario.

INTRODUCTION Early childhood wheezing is a heterogeneous condition, which has several phenotypic expressions and a complex relationship with the development of asthma later in life. New studies indicate the prevalence of recurrent wheeze to be associated with Vitamin D deficiency. This has not been explored in Indian settings widely, mandating this exploration. AIM To determine the severity of Vitamin D deficiency and its association with recurrent wheeze in children less than 3 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS Consecutive type of non-probability sampling was followed for selection of study subjects with a total sample size to be 122 children in the Hospital setting. A pre- formed, pre- tested, structured interview schedule was used to obtain information. Estimation of 25 (OH) Vitamin D was done using ELISA method. Kit used for estimation was DLD Diagnostika GMBH 25(OH) Vitamin D ELISA from Germany. Standard statistical tools were used including Logistic regression analysis, and ROC curve, p value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. SPSS software version 17.0 was used. RESULTS Each 10ng/ml decrease in Vitamin D level is associated with 7.25% greater odds of wheezing. Our study also suggests, exclusive breast feeding and delaying of complementary feeding beyond 6 months of age are significant predictors of Vitamin D deficiency and have indirect association with increased incidence of wheezing in children. CONCLUSION The study concluded that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of recurrent wheezing.
Serum Levels of Pigmentation Markers Are Elevated in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background: Diffuse hyperpigmentation is common among patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We have examined serum levels of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5SCD, a pheomelanin precursor), pheomelanin, eumelanin, and protein-bound (PB-) 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and PB-5SCD in HD patients. Methods: Pheomelanin and eumelanin were assayed by chemical degradation methods. Results: Serum levels of free 5SCD in HD patients (n = 16) were 9-fold higher than in healthy controls (n = 16). Levels of pheomelanin in HD patients were 2.6-fold higher than in controls, while levels of eumelanin did not differ between HD patients and controls. Levels of PB-DOPA and PB-5SCD in HD patients were approximately 1.5-fold higher than in controls. Serum levels of free 5SCD were positively correlated to the duration of HD therapy. Conclusions: The high constitutive levels of free 5SCD, pheomelanin, and PB-DOPA in the blood may be deteriorating in HD patients through the production of reactive oxygen species.
Evaluation of the Most Intense High-Intensity Running Period in English FA Premier League Soccer Matches

Abstract Di Mascio, M and Bradley, PS. Evaluation of the most intense high-intensity running period in English FA Premier League soccer matches. J Strength Cond Res 27(4): 909–915, 2013—The aim of this study was to examine the most intense period of high-intensity running during elite soccer matches. Elite players (n = 100) were analyzed using a multicamera computerized tracking system. High-intensity running (speed >19.8 km·h−1) in 5-min periods were quantified during matches. High-intensity running was performed for approximately 3% of total time, but this doubled (F[1,99] = 9.179, p < 0.001, d > 1.2) during the most intense period (8.4 ± 2.7 vs. 16.4 ± 4.6 seconds). Recovery time between high-intensity efforts was approximately 30 seconds during the most intense period (33.3 ± 19.7 seconds). The work:rest ratio between high-intensity bouts increased (F[1,99] = 2.018, p < 0.001, d > 0.6) from 1:12 for the match average to 1:2 during the most intense period. The distance of each discrete high-intensity running bout increased (F[1,99] = 1.958, p < 0.001, d > 0.6) approximately 13% during the most intense period compared with that of the match average (6.7 ± 1.8 vs. 5.8 ± 0.6 m). Central defenders were running at high-intensity for less (F[4,95] = 4.907, p < 0.05, d > 0.6) time than full-backs, wide midfielders, and attackers (12.9 ± 2.4 vs. 17.9 ± 3.4, 18.3 ± 5.5, and 16.9 ± 3.8 seconds). Central defenders had a greater recovery time (F[4,95] = 3.083, p < 0.05, d > 0.6) between high-intensity efforts than wide midfielders. No differences were evident between playing positions for maximum running speed and average distances of high-intensity running. These results show that high-intensity running, work:rest ratios, and average high-intensity distances change markedly during the most intense period of matches and are highly dependent on positional role. Therefore, conditioning drills and performance tests should closely mimic distances, work:rest ratios, and recovery times of those found during the most intense period of matches.
Ca 2 + dependent but PKC independent signalling mediates UTP induced contraction of rat mesenteric arteries

Uridine triphosphate (UTP) can be released from damaged cells to cause vasoconstriction. Although UTP is known to act through P2Y receptors and PLC activation in vascular smooth muscle, the role of PKC in generating the response is somewhat unclear. Here we have used Tat-linked membrane permeable peptide inhibitors of PKC to assess the general role of PKC and also of specific isoforms of PKC in the UTP induced contraction of rat mesenteric artery. We examined the effect of PKC inhibition on UTP induced contraction, increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ and reduction of K+ currents and found that PKC inhibition caused a relatively small attenuation of contraction but had little effect on changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+. UTP attenuation of both voltage-gated (Kv) and ATP-dependent (KATP) K+ currents was abolished when intracellular Ca2+ was decreased from 100 to 20 nM. PKC inhibition reduced slightly the ability of UTP to attenuate Kv currents but had no effect on KATP current inhibition. In conclusion, both UTP induced contraction of mesenteric artery and the inhibition of Kv and KATP currents of mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells by UTP are relatively independent of PKC activation; furthermore, the inhibition of both Kv and KATP currents requires intracellular Ca2+.
Associations between primary appraisals and life-events while controlling for depression.

OBJECTIVES The main objective of this paper was to explore the associations between life-events and primary appraisals (threat, challenge and loss) controlling for depression. It was predicted that specific associations between life-events and primary appraisals would remain once depression had been partialled. A subgoal of this paper was to develop a content analytic coding frame for student life-events. DESIGN This study was a retrospective survey in which participants provided accounts of recent stressful encounters, and completed indices of primary appraisals and depression. METHOD The participants were 979 undergraduates who provided descriptions of life-events. A subsample of 391 provided additional information on primary appraisals and depression. The primary outcomes were the partial correlations between life-events and primary appraisals. RESULTS There were significant associations between life-events and primary appraisals above and beyond variance explained by depression. Results also indicated that the definition of loss appraisals could be extended to include events that were related to anticipated future loss, especially if the event was also perceived as threatening. Also certain self-defined negative life-events were appraised as positive. Life-events were shown to vary systematically as a function of external constraints (e.g. stage of the academic year). CONCLUSIONS A variety of events were associated with loss appraisals and this may have implications for risk factors in depression.
Induction of Primary Human T Cell Responses against Hepatitis C Virus-Derived Antigens NS3 or Core by Autologous Dendritic Cells Expressing Hepatitis C Virus Antigens: Potential for Vaccine and Immunotherapy1

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cell responses have been suggested to play significant role in viral clearance. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional APCs that play a major role in priming, initiating, and sustaining strong T cell responses against pathogen-derived Ags. DCs also have inherent capabilities of priming naive T cells against given Ags. Recombinant adenoviral vectors containing HCV-derived Core and NS3 genes were used to endogenously express HCV Core and NS3 proteins in human DCs. These HCV Ags expressing DCs were used to prime and stimulate autologous T cells obtained from uninfected healthy donors. The DCs expressing HCV Core or NS3 Ags were able to stimulate T cells to produce various cytokines and proliferate in HCV Ag-dependent manner. Evidence of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses against HCV Core and NS3 generated in vitro were obtained by flow cytometry and Ab blocking experiments. Further, in secondary assays, the T cells primed in vitro exhibited HCV Ag-specific proliferative responses against recombinant protein Ags and also against immunodominant permissive peptide epitopes from HCV Ags. In summary, we demonstrate that the dendritic cells expressing HCV Ags are able to prime the Ag-specific T cells from uninfected healthy individuals in vitro. These studies have implications in designing cellular vaccines, T cell adoptive transfer therapy or vaccine candidates for HCV infection in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings.