Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of enteral and parenteral nutrition on hepatic and muscle glucose metabolism.

Liver and muscle metabolism were assessed in dogs adapted to long-term total parenteral (TPN) and enteral (TEN) nutrition. Studies were done in 13 conscious long-term catheterized dogs in which sampling (artery, portal and hepatic vein, and iliac vein), infusion catheters (inferior vena cava, duodenum), and transonic flow probes (hepatic artery, portal vein, and iliac artery) were implanted. Fourteen days after surgery dogs were grouped to receive TPN or TEN. After 5 days of TPN/TEN, substrate balances across the liver and limb were assessed. The liver was a marked net consumer of glucose in both groups (23.6 +/- 3.3 vs 22.6 +/- 2.8 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1), TPN vs TEN) despite near normoglycemia (6.5 +/- 0.3 vs 6.7 +/- 0.2 mmol/L). Arterial insulin levels were higher during TEN (96 +/- 6 vs 144 +/- 30 pmol/L; p < .05). The majority (79 +/- 13 vs 76% +/- 7%) of the glucose taken up by the liver was released as lactate. Despite higher insulin levels during TEN the nonsplanchnic tissues consumed a lessor quantity of glucose (25.9 +/- 3.3 vs 16.1 +/- 3.9 micro x mol x kg(-1) x min(-1)). In summary, the liver undergoes a profound adaptation to TPN and TEN making it a major site of glucose uptake and conversion to lactate irrespective of the route of nutrient delivery. However, the insulin requirements are higher with TEN possibly secondary to impaired peripheral glucose removal.
Evaluation of eight bioaerosol samplers challenged with aerosols of free bacteria.

The need to quantify airborne microorganisms in the commercial microbiology industry (biotechnology) and during evaluations of indoor air quality, infectious disease outbreaks, and agriculture health investigations has shown there is a major technological void in bioaerosol sampling techniques to measure and identify viable and nonviable aerosols. As commercialization of microbiology increases and diversifies, it is increasingly necessary to assess occupational exposure to bioaerosols. Meaningful exposure estimates, by using area or environmental samplers, can only be ensured by the generation of data that are both precise and accurate. The Andersen six-stage viable (microbial) particle sizing sampler (6-STG) and the Ace Glass all-glass impinger-30 (AGI-30) have been suggested as the samplers of choice for the collection of viable microorganisms by the International Aerobiology Symposium and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Some researchers consider these samplers inconvenient for evaluating industrial bioprocesses and indoor or outdoor environments. Alternative samplers for the collection of bioaerosols are available; however, limited information has been reported on their collection efficiencies. A study of the relative sampling efficiencies of eight bioaerosol samplers has been completed. Eight samplers were individually challenged with a bioaerosol, created with a Collison nebulizer, of either Bacillus subtilis or Escherichia coli. The samplers were evaluated under controlled conditions in a horizontal bioaerosol chamber. During each experimental run, simultaneous samples were collected with a reference AGI-30 to verify the concentration of microorganisms in the chamber from run to run and day to day. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pediatric infective endocarditis: Has Staphylococcus aureus overtaken viridans group streptococci as the predominant etiological agent?

BACKGROUND Viridans group streptococci (VGS) have traditionally been the most common etiological agents of infective endocarditis (IE). Advances in cardiovascular surgery and the increasing use of long-term central venous catheters may have altered the epidemiology of pediatric IE. METHODS A chart review of children younger than 17 years of age with IE was completed at the Stollery Children's Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta) between 1985 and 2004. The literature was reviewed to look for changes over time in the most common etiological agents of pediatric IE. RESULTS There were 31 cases of definite IE and nine cases of possible IE at the Stollery Children's Hospital, 19 of which were nosocomial. Thirty cases (75%) had congenital heart disease. The etiological agents were Staphylocccus aureus (n=16), VGS (n=5), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n=3), enterococcus (n=3), other streptococci (n=8), Enterobacter cloacae (n=1) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n=1), while three cases were culture negative. Two deaths were due to S aureus IE. Review of the literature identified an increasing number of case series in which S aureus was the predominant etiological agent, but VGS still predominated in some recent series. CONCLUSION Congenital heart disease remains the primary risk factor for pediatric IE. Prospective population-based studies are required to determine whether S aureus has become the predominant pathogen.
Inflammatory aspects of epileptogenesis: contribution of molecular inflammatory mechanisms

Objective Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterised with seizures. The aetiology of the most generalised epilepsies cannot be explicitly determined and the seizures are pronounced to be genetically determined by disturbances of receptors in central nervous system. Besides, neurotransmitter distributions or other metabolic problems are supposed to involve in epileptogenesis. Lack of adequate data about pharmacological agents that have antiepileptogenic effects point to need of research on this field. Thus, in this review, inflammatory aspects of epileptogenesis has been focussed via considering several concepts like role of immune system, blood–brain barrier and antibody involvement in epileptogenesis. Methods We conducted an evidence-based review of the literatures in order to evaluate the possible participation of inflammatory processes to epileptogenesis and also, promising agents which are effective to these processes. We searched PubMed database up to November 2015 with no date restrictions. Results In the present review, 163 appropriate articles were included. Obtained data suggests that inflammatory processes participate to epileptogenesis in several ways like affecting fibroblast growth factor-2 and tropomyosin receptor kinase B signalling pathways, detrimental proinflammatory pathways [such as the interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)–interleukin-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) system], mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, microglial activities, release of glial inflammatory proteins (such as macrophage inflammatory protein, interleukin 6, C–C motif ligand 2 and IL-1β), adhesion molecules that are suggested to function in signalling pathways between neurons and microglia and also linkage between these molecules and proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion The literature research indicated that inflammation is a part of epileptogenesis. For this reason, further studies are necessary for assessing agents that will be effective in clinical use for therapeutic treatment of epileptogenesis.
Incremental Deployment Aspects of beyond 4G and 5G Mobile HetNets

In this paper, we perform the analysis of cost effective capacity expansion strategies with incremental deployment aspects of the forthcoming mobile heterogeneous networks from beyond 4 th and 5 th generation. We consider different over time (up to year 2025) increasing traffic volumes in order to determine the most cost-effective capacity expansion that would minimize aggregate incremental cost. In this aspect, we determine that deployments with base stations having smaller ranges offer a lower investment risk on long term, because incremental capacity can be satisfied in smaller stages. This is especially due to the fact that the cost structure of smaller base stations is dominated by operational expenditures as compared to, in the other extreme, a new macro base station site. From this perspective, our techno-economic analysis proposes a model that would be useful to analyze the economic viability of different type of traffic growth volumes and for various forthcoming heterogeneous network configurations.
Sinusoidal C4d deposits in liver allografts indicate an antibody‐mediated response: Diagnostic considerations in the evaluation of liver allografts

There is a paucity of data concerning the correlation of complement component 4d (C4d) staining in liver allografts and antibody‐mediated rejection. Data about the location and character of C4d deposits in native and allograft liver tissues are inconsistent. We performed C4d immunofluorescence (IF) on 141 fresh‐frozen liver allograft biopsy samples and native livers, documented the pattern of C4d IF staining, and correlated the findings with the presence of donor‐specific alloantibodies (DSAs). A linear/granular sinusoidal pattern of C4d IF was noted in 18 of 28 biopsy samples obtained after transplantation from patients with positive crossmatch and detectable donor‐specific alloantibody (pos‐XM/DSA) findings. None of the 59 tested biopsy samples from patients with negative crossmatch and detectable donor‐specific alloantibody (neg‐XM/DSA) findings were C4d‐positive (P < 0.001). No significant association was found between pos‐XM/DSA and C4d IF staining in other nonsinusoidal liver compartments. To compare the results of sinusoidal C4d staining with IF and 2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques, C4d IHC was performed on 19 liver allograft biopsy samples in which a sinusoidal pattern of C4d IF had been noted. Sinusoidal C4d IHC findings were negative for 17 of the 19 biopsy samples; 2 showed weak and focal staining, and both patients had pos‐XM/DSA findings. Portal vein endothelium staining was present in only 1 IF‐stained biopsy sample (pos‐XM/DSA) but in 11 IHC‐stained biopsy samples (2 of the 11 samples had neg‐XM/DSA findings). We conclude that sinusoidal C4d deposits detected by IF in frozen tissue samples from liver allograft recipients correlate with the presence of DSAs and an antibody‐mediated alloresponse. These observations are similar to findings reported for other solid organ transplants and can provide relevant information for patient management. Further validation of IHC techniques for C4d detection in liver allograft tissue is required. Liver Transpl 18:641–658, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.
NorA Functions as a Multidrug Efflux Protein in both Cytoplasmic Membrane Vesicles and Reconstituted Proteoliposomes

ABSTRACT Overexpression of NorA, an endogenous efflux transporter of Staphylococcus aureus, confers resistance to certain fluoroquinolone antimicrobials and diverse other substrates. The norA gene was amplified by PCR and cloned in the expression vector pTrcHis2. Histidine-tagged NorA (NorA-His) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells to prepare two experimental systems, everted membrane vesicles enriched with NorA-His and proteoliposomes reconstituted with purified NorA-His. In membrane vesicles, NorA-His actively transported Hoechst 33342, a dye that is strongly fluorescent in the membrane but has low fluorescence in an aqueous environment. Transport was activated by the addition of ATP or lactate and reversed by the addition of nigericin, with the addition of K+-valinomycin having little effect. Transport of Hoechst 33342 was inhibited competitively by verapamil, a known inhibitor of NorA, and by other NorA substrates, including tetraphenyl phosphonium and the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. In contrast, sparfloxacin, a fluoroquinolone whose antimicrobial activity is not affected by NorA expression, exhibited noncompetitive inhibition. NorA induction and overexpression yielded 0.5 to 1 mg of a largely homogeneous 40- to 43-kDa protein per liter of culture. NorA-His incorporated into proteoliposomes retained the ability to transport Hoechst 33342 in response to an artificial proton gradient, and transport was blocked by nigericin and verapamil. These data provide the first experimental evidence of NorA functioning as a self-sufficient multidrug transporter.
A pilot study to prevent hearing loss in farmers.

OBJECTIVE Determine the feasibility and outcome of a pilot program to increase farm workers' use of hearing protection when performing activities with high noise exposure. DESIGN The study was a quasi-experimental study. SAMPLE Eight intervention farmers and 17 comparison farmers participated in the study. MEASURES Before and after the intervention, farmers completed a survey to identify their frequency of use of hearing protection, and their beliefs about hearing loss and use of hearing protection. INTERVENTION The intervention consisted of noise assessments, educational sessions, mailed reminders with brochures, and placement of hearing protection on the farm. RESULTS The intervention was effective in increasing the use of hearing protection 1 and 2 months after the implementation of the program. CONCLUSIONS Hearing loss is a serious problem with farmers, and yet many farmers neglect to protect their hearing with the use of protection. The pilot study findings indicate that efforts to increase the use of hearing protection by farmers can be effective.
Observations of Microfilament Bundles in Living Cells Microinjected with Fluorescently Labelled Contractile Proteins

SUMMARY Fluorescently labelled contractile proteins (alpha-actinin and filamin) were used to study the dynamic nature of three types of microfilament bundles: myofibrils, stress fibres and polygonal networks. Cultured muscle and non-muscle cells that were microinjected with fluorescent alpha-actinin rapidly incorporated the labelled protein into Z-bands, stress fibre densities and the polygonal foci. Living, injected cells were then observed for varying periods of time, and changes in orientation and periodicity of the myofibrils, stress fibres and polygonal networks were recorded. Permeabilized cells were also reacted with fluorescently labelled proteins and with contractile protein antibodies in order to analyse further the changes taking place in the myofibrils and stress fibres. In both living cardiac myocytes and living skeletal muscle myotubes, contractile myofibrils were present in the same cell with non-contractile nascent myofibrils. The periodicities of small Z-bodies in the nascent non-contractile myofibrils were shorter than the Z-band spacings in the contractile myofibrils, yet both types of myofibrils contained muscle myosin. Over a period of 24 h, a nascent myofibril in a living, microinjected myotube was observed to grow from Z-body spacings of 0.9–1.3 μm to full sarcomere spacings (2.3 μm). During the same time, nascent myofibrils appeared de novo and Z-band alignment became more ordered in the fully formed myofibrils. Stress fibres were not observed to undergo the predictable type of growth seen in myofibrils, but stress fibre periodicities did change in some fibres; some shortened while others lengthened. The orientation of fibres shifted in cytoplasm of both mobile cells and stationary cells. Attachment plaques and foci also changed position and in some cases subdivided and/or disappeared. Models of stress fibres and polygonal networks are presented that suggest that the changes in the periodicities of the dense bodies in stress fibres and the distances between polygonal foci are related to the movement of the interdigitating actin and myosin filaments.
Surface Disposal of Past Tailings at the Bulyanhulu Gold Mine , Tanzania

Barrick Gold Corporation’s Bulyanhulu Gold Mine in Northern Tanzania was commissioned in the second quarter of 2001. The mine has implemented an innovative total paste solution to tailings management with 25% of the tailings produced by the mill being used underground as blended paste and crushed rock backfill and the remaining 75% being disposed on surface, in a stack, as a paste from end of pipe discharge. A simple, practical definition of paste tailings are tailings that have been dewatered to near the limit of pumpability such they do not segregate during low velocity transport and produce minimal bleed water when deposited. Surface disposal of paste tailings was chosen for Bulyanhulu because process water is in short supply and natural topography is not available for conventional slurry containment. It was also decided that paste tailings would be used for underground backfill. With paste, water recovery is maximized at the paste plant and recycled to the mill. This method of tailings management simplifies water management, eliminates the requirement to maintain a pond of water on top of the tailings, significantly reduces containment construction, allows for modular expansion of the tailings basin, inhibits oxidation, and facilitates progressive closure as individual components of the tailings basin become exhausted. The surface deposition plan at the Bulyanhulu site involves the deposition of a stable paste tailings stack using end-of-pipe discharge from multiple deposition towers. Deposition from the towers is cycled to promote consolidation and strength gain of the deposited paste and to control the evolution of the paste stack.
Identification and characterization of genomic loci unique to the Brazilian purpuric fever clonal group of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius: functionality explored using meningococcal homology

Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF) is a fulminant septicaemic infection of young children, caused by a clonal group of strains of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius (Hae), an organism previously solely associated with conjunctivitis. Their special capacity to invade from the initial site of conjunctival infection is unexplained. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplified subtractive hybridization technique was used to identify genes specific to the BPF clonal group. A copy of bacteriophage HP1 and 46 further chromosomal loci were identified in the BPF but not in the conjunctivitis strain of Hae. Sixteen were characterized further, and one – encoding an analogue of the Legionella pneumophila epithelial cell entry‐enhancing protein EnhC – was investigated in depth. Two genes, bpf001 and bpf002, unique to the BPF clonal group were identified between homologues of HI1276 and HI1277 in a complex locus close to H. influenzae genetic island 1, recently identified in pathogenic H. influenzae type b. Bpf001 encodes a protein homologous to EnhC and to the previously uncharacterized product of the meningococcal gene NMB0419. Functional studies of bpf001 proving intractable, NMB0419 was chosen as a surrogate for investigation and shown to modulate bacterial interaction with monolayers of human respiratory epithelial cells, promoting invasion, the first stage (for Hae) in the pathogenesis of BPF.
ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA IN SIX HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA SPP.)

Abstract: Six cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were identified in six captive adult Pacific (Phoca vitulina richardsii; n = 2) and Atlantic (Phoca vitulina concolor; n = 4) harbor seals. These seals presented with intermittent dysphagia, regurgitation, inappetence, and abnormal posturing. Common clinical pathology findings in these seals included azotemia, hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, and leukocytosis. Gastrointestinal endoscopy commonly revealed an ulcerated mass near the gastroesophageal junction. Each seal was euthanized (n = 3) due to poor prognosis, subsequently died while undergoing an anesthetic procedure (n = 2), or found dead (n = 1). The diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed via biopsy of esophageal mucosa during endoscopy or histopathologic examination of affected tissues after necropsy. On the basis of clinical and postmortem findings, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in aged harbor seals exhibiting clinical signs of regurgitation, decreased appetite or anorexia, vomiting, and/or abnormal posturing.
Salivary Growth Factors in Health and Disease

The salivary gland is considered to be a reservoir of many growth factors in rodents. In humans, the epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and insulin and insulin-like growth factor family have also been detected in this gland, but their physiological role remains unclear. In this study, we focused on bFGF, which is a well-known mitogen for various types of cells, and is present in the salivary gland as well as in saliva. The roles of bFGF in the salivary gland were investigated by three different procedures. First, the effects of bFGF on the salivary gland cells were investigated with a monolayer culture of normal submandibular gland cells. The effects of different concentrations of bFGF on the second passage of these cultured cells were examined. In both human and rat cultured submandibular gland cells, bFGF accelerated the cell proliferation at a concentraion of 100 ng/mL or higher. Next, an atrophic model of the rat submandibular gland was used to examine the ability of bFGF to accelerate tissue repair. Two weeks after ductal ligation, the ligature was removed, and various amounts of bFGF, isoproterenol, or saline were administered via a retrograde duct instillation. Both isoproterenol and bFGF increased acinar and ductal cell proliferation significantly. To determine the role of bFGF in saliva, we investigated its effect on the healing process of oral mucosal defects. Four-millimeter mucosal defects were made to the depth of the periosteum in the rat palate under anesthesia. bFGF or vehicle alone was applied once only at the time of surgery as a suspension. At days 3, 5, and 7 in the bFGF group, significant increases in the degree of re-epithelialization were found in treated groups. These results indicate that its action as a mitogen stimulus is the major effect of bFGF on salivary gland cells and mucosal epithelium.
The Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection ( UTI ) Among Pregnant Women In Hodeidah City

This study aimed to define the bacteriological etiology and incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among 55 pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinics in primary health center in Hodeida city, Yemen. Clean voided mid-stream urine samples were collected and cultured. Isolated bacteria were characterized by standard laboratory tests, and antibiotic sensitivity was performed by disk diffusion method. Clinically significant bacterial growth was detected in 30 (54.5%) of the samples examined. Escherichia coli was the most frequent etiological agent of UTI (50 %) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (13.3%), Streptococcus B-hemolytic (13.3%), Klebsiellaspp. (10%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (10%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.4%). The antimicrobial sensitivity analysis for E. coli, as the most commonly UTI isolated agents, to antibiotics are as follows: chloramphenicol (93.3%), gentamicin (73.3%), ampicillin (73.%), nalidixic acid (26.%), and tetracycline (2%). Our results reveal a high incidence of UTIs with highly variable pattern of antibiotic resistance. More surveillance is needed to enhance in the administration of antibiotics therapies and management of UTIs. Also, increased public educations about personal hygiene are strongly recommended to decrease the incidence of UTIs in pregnant women.