Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen peroxide induced repression of icaADBC transcription and biofilm development in Staphylococcus epidermidis

Expression of the icaADBC‐encoded polysaccharide intercellular adhesion by Staphylococcus epidermidis promotes biofilm formation and represents an important virulence factor in biomaterial‐related infections following orthopedic surgery. Biofilm development by the pathogen can be viewed as a protective reaction to environmental stressors including osmotic stress, thermal stress, and antimicrobial chemotherapy. Oxidative stress, arising from the release of toxic oxygen radicals by polymorphonuclear cells, is encountered by bacteria entering the body perioperatively. Evasion of this and other cell‐mediated immune responses by pathogenic bacteria plays an important role in the development of chronic biomaterial‐related infection. Here we investigated the impact of sublethal oxidative stress induced by H2O2 (<18 mM) on S. epidermidis biofilm formation. S. epidermidis grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) media supplemented with 5 mM H2O2 or 10 mM H2O2 formed significantly less biofilm (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) than bacteria grown in BHI alone. Consistent with this, using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction expression of the ica locus was also shown to be reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of H2O2. Furthermore, diminished ica operon expression correlated with increased expression of icaR, which encodes a repressor of icaADBC. Thus, these data suggest that mild oxidative stress downregulates biofilm development by S. epidermidis and may have potential in a therapeutic context. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 627–630, 2009
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation: What large-animal studies have taught us!

Background:Much of the information on the physiologic effects, mechanisms of gas exchange, and potential utility of high-frequency oscillation (HFO) has been acquired in animal studies. Specifically, large animal data have been useful in assessing adult application because large animals present many of the same concerns and challenges as adults. Objective:To review the literature on HFO testing in large animal models, identifying contributions to the understanding of mechanisms of action and the physiology of HFO. Results:Large animal studies have clarified the mechanisms of gas exchange during HFO, identified approaches to setting mean airway pressure based on lung mechanics, and identified a potentially better approach to applying partial liquid ventilation. Conclusion:The study of HFO in large animal models has been essential to our understanding of the optimal approach to applying HFO in human studies.
Cervical papillomavirus infection and cervical dysplasia in Hispanic, Native American, and non-Hispanic white women in New Mexico.

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus infections of the cervix are found with varying frequencies in different populations worldwide, and have been associated with cervical cytologic abnormalities. METHODS We studied 1,603 randomly selected Hispanic, Native American, and non-Hispanic White women in New Mexico to determine the prevalence of cervical HPV infection in these ethnic groups, and its association with Pap smear abnormalities, using a new commercial dot-blot hybridization assay. RESULTS Nine percent of all women screened had evidence of cervical HPV infection (13.7% of non-Hispanic White women, 9.7% of Hispanics, and 6.6% of Native American women). Prevalence was higher in younger women ages 14-19 years than in older age groups. Over half of women with cervical HPV infection (n = 145) had normal Pap smears. The proportion of infected women increased among those with more advanced cytopathologic abnormalities; 5.6 percent with normal Pap smears had cervical HPV vs 66.7 percent with moderate-severe dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS Cervical HPV infection is common among New Mexico clinic attendees, varies in prevalence among the three major ethnic groups, and is strongly associated with cervical cytopathologic abnormalities.
Sauerstoffdynamik der Nordsee - Untersuchungen mit einem drei-dimensionalen Ökosystemmodell

Gegenstand der Promotionsarbeit ist die Untersuchung und Quantifizierung der regionalen und zeitlichen Variabilitat von Sauerstoff in der Nordsee. Im Einzelnen geht es in dieser Arbeit darum, Charakteristika im Jahresgang des Sauerstoffs herauszustellen und diese sowohl auf der Grundlage physikalischer und biologischer Zusammenhange zwischen dem Sauerstoff und den anderen Zustandsgrosen des Okosystems als auch als Folge atmospharischer und ozeanographischer Antriebsmechanismen zu erklaren. Basis fur die Modellsimulationen bildet das Okosystemmodell ECOHAM, das um den Sauerstoffkreislauf erweitert wurde. Die im Rahmen der Promotionsarbeit erzielten und diskutierten Ergebnisse sollen zum besseren Verstandnis der Sauerstoffdynamik in flachen Schelfgebieten beitragen.
Weight gain and hypertension: the chicken-egg question revisited.

With conventional thinking, body weight gain causes hypertension. This concept is based on a large body of evidence linking weight gain to increases in blood pressure, including (i) population studies indicating that being overweight or obese are major risk factors for development of hypertension [1]; (ii) observation studies showing that weight gain increases blood pressure [2]; and (iii) clinical studies demonstrating that weight loss lowers blood pressure in most hypertensive patients [3]. In addition, epidemiological studies suggest that up to 75% of the risk for hypertension is attributable to excess weight [4].
ApoB-100 and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio in children and adolescents from families with very early myocardial infarction.

AIM The relationship between apolipoprotein B, LDL/ApoB, ApoB/ApoA-1, lipids and a family history of very early myocardial infarction (parent and/or grandparent <45 years) was studied in 46 children compared with 64 controls. METHODS 19 children came out of families with a myocardial infarction (MI) of the father and 27 children with MI of a grandparent. RESULTS In the whole risk group LDL-C, ApoB and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio showed the most significant relationship, whereas in children from families with MI of the father ApoB level showed the strongest association with family history of MI. No relationship could be found for ApoA1, HDL-C and LDL/ApoB. CONCLUSION Our results show that levels of ApoB, LDL-C and ApoB/ApoA-1 might be better predictors in children from families of very early MI as compared with ApoA-1, HDL-C and LDL/ApoB.
Healthy Older Adult Performance on A Modified Version of the Cognistat (NCSE): Demographic Issues and Preliminary Normative Data

Normative data for a healthy sample of older adults (n =108) ranging in age from 60 to 96 are provided for the Cognistat, a mental status exam previously known as the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (NCSE). A Cognistat Composite Score is also introduced that is intended to be used as a marker of general cognitive impairment, allowing the Cognistat to be used to match patients in terms of the severity of their cognitive dysfunction. The “screen and metric” approach of the Cognistat was abandoned in order to improve the reliability and standardization of this measure by administering the entire metric to all patients. The impact of demographic variables on Cognistat performance was examined, demonstrating that both age and education contribute uniquely to a number of Cognistat subtests as well as to the Cognistat Composite Score. This study highlights the importance of matching an examinee's demographic background to the normative sample with which his or her test score is being compared. Normative data were stratified accordingly by age and by both age and education. Current results indicate that the Cognistat is sensitive to normal aging and promises greater sensitivity to the impact of age than the commonly employed Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
Beyond Raw Frequency: Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition in Extensive Reading.

Second language vocabulary can be learned incidentally while the learner is engaged in extensive reading or reading for meaning, inferring the meaning of unknown words (Huckin & Coady, 1999; Hulstijn, 1992; Krashen, 1993; Pigada & Schmitt, 2006). 12 Korean learners of English read authentic literary texts and were tested on their knowledge of vocabulary before reading (pretest), immediately after reading (Posttest 1), and 1 month after Posttest 1 (Posttest 2). The results showed a significant word gain between the pretest and Posttest 1 and that most gained words were retained at Posttest 2. Of the 3 different word classes that were used, nouns were a little easier to retain than verbs and adjectives. More frequent words were more easily learned than less frequent words across all 3 word classes. However, words of lower frequency were better learned than words of higher frequency when the meanings of the lower frequency words were crucial for meaning comprehension.
Light Flashes Observed by Astronauts on Apollo 11 through Apollo 17

The crew members on the last seven Apollo flights observed light flashes that are tentatively attributed to cosmic ray nuclei (atomic number ≥ 6) penetrating the head and eyes of the observers. Analyses of the event rates for all missions has revealed an anomalously low rate for transearth coast observations with respect to translunar coast observations.
Social Commerce: the Role of Trust

With the recent emergence of social commercethe future of e-commerce is changing. Web 2.0 has affected e-commerce, resulting in the emergence of a new concept known as social commerce. For a long time trust had been considered a challenge for both parties in e-commerce transactions, nowtrust is also challenging s-commerce. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) we analyze trust, along with some of the constructs of social commerce which affect the intention to buy among individuals, by proposing and testing a Social Commerce Adoption Model (SCAM). This research gathers survey data and applies structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the data. The results show trust is influential in scommerce. The influence of trust is also strong on consumers’ intentions to buy. Limitations and implications are discussed in the end.
Spatio‐temporal regulation and cleavage by matrix metalloproteinase stromelysin‐3 implicate a role for laminin receptor in intestinal remodeling during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis

The 37‐kd laminin receptor precursor (LR) was first identified as a 67‐kd protein that binds laminin with high affinity. We have recently isolated the Xenopus laevis LR as an in vitro substrate of matrix metalloproteinase stromelysin‐3 (ST3), which is highly upregulated during intestinal metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis. Here, we show that LR is expressed in the intestinal epithelium of premetamorphic tadpoles. During intestinal metamorphosis, LR is downregulated in the apoptotic epithelium and concurrently upregulated in the connective tissue but with little expression in the developing adult epithelium. Toward the end of metamorphosis, as adult epithelial cells differentiate, they begin to express LR. Furthermore, LR is cleaved during intestinal remodeling when ST3 is highly expressed or in premetamorphic intestine of transgenic tadpoles overexpressing ST3. These results suggest that LR plays a role in cell fate determination and tissue morphogenesis, in part through its cleavage by ST3. Interestingly, high levels of LR are known to be expressed in tumor cells, which are often surrounded by fibroblasts expressing ST3, suggesting that LR cleavage by ST3 plays a role in both physiological and pathological processes. Developmental Dynamics 234:190–200, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On-line LC/UV/MS analysis of flavonols in the three apple varieties most widely cultivated in Brazil

Este trabalho apresenta a primeira investigacao sobre a estrutura quimica dos flavonois presentes em cascas das tres variedades de macas mais cultivadas no Brasil: Gala, Golden e Fuji. As analises foram feitas por CL/UV/EM (cromatografia liquida de alta eficiencia com detector UV com arranjo de diodos acoplada a espectrometria de massas), usando adicao poscoluna de reagentes de deslocamento de UV e tambem espectrometria de massas de multiplos estagios (EM n ) com ionizacao “electrospray” no modo negativo. A identificacao “on-line” com base nos dados de CL/UV/EM demonstrou a presenca de rutina, hiperosideo, isoquercitrina, quercitrina e outros tres derivados de quercetina-3-O-pentosideo. As analises por CL/UV/EM tambem demonstraram que as tres variedades de maca tem perfis cromatograficos semelhantes. This work describes the first detailed investigation into the chemical structures of flavonols present in the three apple varieties most commonly cultivated in Brazil: Gala, Golden and Fuji. The analyses were carried out by LC/UV/MS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array UV detection and mass spectrometry), using post-column addition of UV shift reagents, as well as multiple stage mass spectrometry (MS n ) with electrospray ionization in the negative ion mode. Rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin and three other quercetin-3-pentoside derivatives were identified through the characterization of on-line-based LC/UV/MS data. LC/UV/MS analysis also revealed that the three apple cultivars have similar chromatographic profiles.
Combining SURF and MSER along with Color Features for Image Retrieval System Based on Bag of Visual Words

Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) has received an extensive attention from researchers due to the rapid growing and widespread of image databases. Despite the massive research efforts consumed for CBIR, the completely satisfactory results have not yet been attained. In this article, we offer a new CBIR technique that relies on extracting Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) and Maximally Stable Extremal Regions (MSER) feature descriptors as well as the color features; color correlograms and Improved Color Coherence Vector (ICCV). These features are joined and used to build a multidimensional feature vector. Bag-of-Visual-Words (BoVW) technique is utilized to quantize the extracted feature vector. Then, a multiclass Support Vector Machine (SVM) is implemented to classify the query images. The performance of the presented retrieval framework is analyzed and scrutinized by comparing it with three alternative approaches. The first one is based on extracting SURF descriptors while the second one is based on extracting SURF descriptors, color correlograms and ICCV. The third approach, on the other hand, is based on extracting MSER, color correlograms and ICCV. All implemented schemes are tested on two benchmark datasets; Corel-1000 and COIL-100 datasets. The empirical results show that our suggested approach has a superior discriminative classification and retrieval performance with respect to other approaches. The proposed method achieves average precisions of 88 and 93% for the Corel-1000 and COIL-100 datasets, respectively. Moreover, the proposed system has shown a substantial advance in the retrieval precision when compared with other existing systems.
Increased Density of Olfactory Receptor Neurons Immunoreactive for Apolipoprotein E in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Immunolocalization of apolipoprotein E (apoE) was investigated in human olfactory mucosa in which olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) were identified with antiserum to protein gene product (PGP) 9.5. Tissue was obtained at autopsy from 10 nondemented middle-aged or elderly subjects and 9 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Double-labeling immunofluorescence established that apoE immunoreactivity was colocalized in a subpopulation of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive ORNs. The mean number of apoE-immunoreactive ORNs per unit epithelial length in AD patients was about 3.5 times greater than that in nondemented patients, although the mean number of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive ORNs was similar. The apoE-immunopositive Schwann cells in olfactory nerve bundles were the probable source of apoE in the ORNs. The increased numbers of apoE-immunoreactive ORNs in AD patients compared to nondemented subjects demonstrates another manifestation of AD-related neuropathology, in addition to cytoskeletal changes, β-amyloid deposition, and changes in immunoreactivity for other neuroproteins, that parallels changes in neurons in the AD brain.
Persistent Epstein‐Barr virus infection in a human T‐cell line: unique program of latent virus expression.

The growth transforming potential of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) for Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma is now extended to other neoplasia, such as Hodgkin's disease, peripheral T‐cell tumor and gastric cancer. We have generated an EBV recombinant with a selectable marker at the viral thymidine kinase locus. Recombinant EBV was successfully infected into a human T‐cell line, MT‐2. Following incubation in the selective medium, drug resistant MT‐2 cell clones were isolated and proved to be infected with recombinant EBV. EBV‐infected MT‐2 cell clones expressed EBNA 1 and LMP 1 and very little of EBNA 2, showing the BamHI F promoter‐driven latency II form of infection, which is seen in non‐B‐cell tumors. This is the first report of in vitro generation of latency II type EBV infection. The present system of persistent EBV infection in T cells should be a good model for investigating the pathogenic role of EBV in non‐B‐cell tumors.
Prediction of anthropometric measurements from tooth length--A Dravidian study.

BACKGROUND Anthropometric measurement is essential for identification of both victims and suspects. Often, this data is not readily available in a crime scene situation. The availability of one data set should help in predicting the other. This study was hypothesised on the basis of a correlation and geometry between the tooth length and various body measurements. AIM AND OBJECTIVE To correlate face, palm, foot and stature measurements with tooth length. To derive a regression formula to estimate the various measurements from tooth length. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was conducted on Dravidian dental students in the age group 18 - 25 with a sample size of 372. All of the dental and physical parameters were measured using standard anthropometric equipments and techniques. RESULTS The data was analysed using SPSS software and the methods used for statistical analysis were linear regression analysis and Pearson correlation. The parameters (incisor height (IH), face height (FH), palm length (PL), foot length (FL) and stature (S) showed nil to mild correlation (R = 0.2 ≤ 0.4) except for palm length (PL) and foot length (FL). (R>0.6). CONCLUSION It is concluded that odontometric data is not a reliable source for estimating the face height (FH), palm length (PL), foot length (FL) and stature (S).
No harm in looking, right? Men’s pornography consumption, body image, and well-being.

Many scholars have recognized and studied the links between various sources of appearance-related pressure (e.g., media and interpersonal pressures to be mesomorphic) and men’s body image and well-being. Pornography is another medium of appearance-related pressure that is very rarely considered in this research. The present study incorporated pornography use into 2 models of men’s body image and 1 model of men’s interpersonal and emotional well-being. College men (N 359) rated how often they viewed pornography and also completed measures of general media and interpersonal pressures to be mesomorphic, internalization of the mesomorphic ideal, body monitoring, body image (i.e., muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction, body appreciation), anxiety and avoidance within romantic relationships, and emotional well-being (i.e., positive and negative affect). Path analyses revealed that men’s frequency of pornography use was (a) positively linked to muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction indirectly through internalization of the mesomorphic ideal, (b) negatively linked to body appreciation directly and indirectly through body monitoring, (c) positively linked to negative affect indirectly through romantic attachment anxiety and avoidance, and (d) negatively linked to positive affect indirectly through relationship attachment anxiety and avoidance. General media and interpersonal pressures to be mesomorphic also made unique contributions within the models. These findings highlight the need to more comprehensively examine men’s pornography use and the implications of this use for their psychological health. Given these findings, counselors may want to examine how pornography use may be linked to their male clients’ body-related, relational, and emotional well-being.
[Prophylactic splenectomy to prevent complications of splenomegaly in children with sickle cell anemia?].

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of splenectomy in children with sickle cell anemia and to propose a therapeutic approach to splenomegaly in sickle cell anemia. MATERIAL AND METHOD This retrospective study, conducted in the pediatric surgery department of the Tokoin Teaching Hospital in Lomé, included 8 children followed for sickle cell anemia (hetero- and homozygous) and who were admitted from January 1987 through December 2004 for splenic rupture or referred for prophylactic splenectomy. RESULTS The patients' mean age at splenectomy was 9 years 6 months. Five were homozygous and three heterozygous; on Hackett's scale, spleen size was 4 for four patients and 5 for the other four. All had episodes of pain of the left hypochondrium before surgery and were averaging one blood transfusion a year. Five splenectomies were for traumatic rupture of splenomegaly and three for other splenic complications. Splenectomy made it possible to decrease the frequency of blood transfusions. Pre- and postoperative prophylaxis against infection included penicillin and vaccinations. CONCLUSION The review of literature shows a frequent loss of immune function in the enlarged spleens of children with sickle cell anemia. The authors propose prophylactic splenectomy in children with splenomegaly, to prevent the risk of splenic rupture and other complications. Preventive measures after the splenectomy are necessary to control infections.
Women With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Differences in Patients’ and Physicians’ Perceptions

The effective management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is enhanced by a therapeutic relationship between healthcare providers and the patient. This survey focused on addressing the symptoms and impact of IBS in women, as well as physician perceptions regarding IBS. A national survey was undertaken to 1) describe the attitudes, knowledge, treatment strategies, and compliance of women with IBS; 2) compare women with IBS to those without IBS on general health and activity limitations; 3) compare women with IBS to physicians regarding their relative perceptions about the disorder; and 4) determine whether physician gender influenced patient satisfaction.