Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metagenomic analysis of viral diversity in respiratory samples from patients with respiratory tract infections in Kuwait

A metagenomic approach based on target independent next‐generation sequencing has become a known method for the detection of both known and novel viruses in clinical samples. This study aimed to use the metagenomic sequencing approach to characterize the viral diversity in respiratory samples from patients with respiratory tract infections. We have investigated 86 respiratory samples received from various hospitals in Kuwait between 2015 and 2016 for the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections. A metagenomic approach using the next‐generation sequencer to characterize viruses was used. According to the metagenomic analysis, an average of 145, 019 reads were identified, and 2% of these reads were of viral origin. Also, metagenomic analysis of the viral sequences revealed many known respiratory viruses, which were detected in 30.2% of the clinical samples. Also, sequences of non‐respiratory viruses were detected in 14% of the clinical samples, while sequences of non‐human viruses were detected in 55.8% of the clinical samples. The average genome coverage of the viruses was 12% with the highest genome coverage of 99.2% for respiratory syncytial virus, and the lowest was 1% for torque teno midi virus 2. Our results showed 47.7% agreement between multiplex Real‐Time PCR and metagenomics sequencing in the detection of respiratory viruses in the clinical samples. Though there are some difficulties in using this method to clinical samples such as specimen quality, these observations are indicative of the promising utility of the metagenomic sequencing approach for the identification of respiratory viruses in patients with respiratory tract infections.
Ammonia sensing by neuroepithelial cells and ventilatory responses to ammonia in rainbow trout

SUMMARY Ammonia, the third respiratory gas in teleost fish, acts as an acute stimulant to ventilation in ammoniotelic rainbow trout. We investigated whether this sensitivity is maintained in trout chronically exposed (1+ months) to high environmental ammonia [HEA, 250 μmol l–1 (NH4)2SO4] in the water, and whether gill neuroepithelial cells (NECs) are involved in ammonia sensing. Hyperventilation was induced both by acute external (NH4)2SO4 exposure [250 or 500 μmol l–1 (NH4)2SO4] and by intra-arterial (NH4)2SO4 injection (580 μmol kg–1 of ammonia) in control trout, but these responses were abolished in chronic HEA animals. Hyperventilation in response to acute ammonia exposure persisted after bilateral removal of each of the four gill arch pairs separately or after combined removal of arches III and IV, but was delayed by removal of gill arch I, and eliminated by combined removal of arches I and II. NECs, identified by immunolabeling against 5-HT, were mainly organized in two lines along the filament epithelium in all four gill arches. In control trout, NECs were slightly smaller but more abundant on arches I and II than on arches III and IV. Chronic HEA exposure reduced the density of the NECs on all four arches, and their size on arches I and II only. Fura-2 fluorescence imaging was used to measure intracellular free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) responses in single NECs in short-term (24–48 h) culture in vitro. [Ca2+]i was elevated to a comparable extent by perfusion of 30 mmol l–1 KCl and 1 mmol l–1 NH4Cl, and these [Ca2+]i responses presented in two different forms, suggesting that ammonia may be sensed by multiple mechanisms. The [Ca2+]i responses to high ammonia were attenuated in NECs isolated from trout chronically exposed to HEA, especially in ones from gill arch I, but responses to high K+ were unchanged. We conclude that the hyperventilatory response to ammonia is lost after chronic waterborne HEA exposure, and that NECs, especially the ones located in gill arches I and II, are probably ammonia chemoreceptors that participate in ventilatory modulation in trout.
Orexin 1 Receptor Activation Attenuates Neurogenic Dural Vasodilation in an Animal Model of Trigeminovascular Nociception

The pathophysiology underlying the pulsating quality of the pain of a migraine attack is not fully understood, although trigeminal vascular afferents containing the sensory neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) must have a role. Antimigraine drugs, such as triptans, serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine1B/1D receptor agonists, reproducibly block neurogenic vasodilation associated with CGRP release. We examined the effects of the hypothalamic neuropeptides orexin A and orexin B on neurogenic dural vasodilation, dissecting out the receptor pharmacology with the novel orexin 1 (OX1) receptor antagonist N-(2-methyl-6-benzoxazolyl)-N″-1,5-naphthyridin-4-yl urea (SB-334867). Electrical stimulation of dural afferents (50–300 μA) resulted in reproducible dural vasodilation of 136 ± 9%. Orexin A 30 μg kg–1, but not 3 and 10 μg kg–1, inhibited the dilation brought about by electrical stimulation over 60 min and maximally after 15 min by 60% (t7 = 7.138; P < 0.001; n = 8). This response was reversed by pretreatment with the OX1 receptor antagonist SB-334867. Addition of CGRP8-37 at the point of maximal effect of orexin A produced a further significant decrease in neurogenic dural vasodilation compared with orexin A only. CGRP administration (1 μg kg–1) produced a reproducible dural blood vessel dilation of 145 ± 7% that was not inhibited by intravenous administration of orexin A (30 μg kg–1). Orexin B had no significant effect even at the highest dose. The current study demonstrates that orexin A is able to inhibit neurogenic dural vasodilation via activation of the OX1 receptor, resulting in inhibition of prejunctional release of CGRP from trigeminal neurons.
Mannose-binding lectin is a component of innate mucosal defense against Cryptosporidium parvum in AIDS.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Nonimmune mechanisms of mucosal defense seem to be biologically important and might explain the observed variability in the course of enteric infection in immunodeficiency. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency is associated with persistent diarrhea in children. We found that genetic determinants of MBL deficiency appear to predispose to cryptosporidiosis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and went on to study interactions of MBL and complement on Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites. METHODS This study involved cross-sectional study of MBL genotype and enteric infection in 72 Zambian AIDS patients with diarrhea, immunofluorescence analysis of MBL and C4 binding to C. parvum, and immunoblotting for MBL and complement in small intestinal fluid. RESULTS Individuals homozygous for MBL structural gene mutations were at increased risk of cryptosporidiosis (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 1. 5-42; P = 0.02). Lectin-mediated and concentration-dependent binding of purified MBL was detected on sporozoites but not oocysts, and MBL activated C4 on sporozoites. MBL, C3, C4, and albumin were detected in small intestinal fluid in half the patients tested, suggesting transudation of serum components into the enteropathic gut. CONCLUSIONS The increased risk of cryptosporidiosis in MBL deficiency appears to include patients with AIDS. It may operate through MBL-mediated complement activation on sporozoites.
Contribution des rongeurs du néogène d'Algérie à la biochronologie mammalienne d'Afrique nord-occidentale

Ce travail repose sur l'etude de vingt-deux nouveaux gisements de micromammiferes du miocene et du pliocene d'Algerie orientale ayant livre dix-sept especes nouvelles. Il aboutit a la revision des zramys et des paraethomys en Afrique du nord, permet de preciser l'origine du genre zramys et met en evidence l'existence de deux especes de zramys dans un meme site. Pour la premiere fois, les genres progonomys et paraethomys sont rencontres dans le meme gisement. Golunda et protolophiomys sont decouverts au Maghreb, representes par de nouvelles especes. Le seul site attribuable au messenien en Afrique du nord fournit, avec ses formes d'origine essentiellement europeenne (stephanomys, ruscinomys, apodemus gudrunae et castillomys), de nouvelles indications quant aux echanges fauniques du miocene terminal entre l'Europe et l'Afrique; de plus, la faune espagnole de salobrena semble devoir etre consideree comme d'origine maghrebine. La connaissance des faunes du miocene moyen du nord de l'Afrique est desormais plus precise, et un nouveau genre de myocricetodontinae a pu y etre decrit. Les principales periodes de renouvellement faunique sont mises en evidence, et la duree de vie des taxons miocenes est etudiee. Des precisions nouvelles sont donnees sur l'âge de divers gisements deja connus dans le nord de l'Afrique. L'ensemble de ces resultats permet de distinguer de nouveaux niveaux reperes, et de proposer pour l'Afrique nord-occidentale une biozonation fondee sur les micromammiferes, ainsi que des correlations avec les echelles bio chronologiques etablies en Europe
Self-focused attention in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE The clinical presentation of anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by preoccupation with body experience, intrusive concerns regarding shape, and pathological fears of weight gain. These symptoms are suggestive of unrelenting self-focused attention. No research to date has characterized self-focused attention (SFA) in AN nor examined neurocognitive features that may facilitate an excessive, rigid, or sustained focus on one's appearance. METHOD This study examined SFA, body image disturbance, and executive functioning in women with current anorexia nervosa (AN-C; n = 24), a history of AN who were weight-restored at the time of the study (WR; n = 19), and healthy controls (n = 24). RESULTS Private and public SFA were highest among WR and lowest among AN-C. Shape concerns were negatively correlated with SFA, especially among AN-C, after controlling for depression and social anxiety symptoms. DISCUSSION Lower levels of SFA among AN-C were unexpected and suggest the acute state of AN may lessen pathological self-focus, negatively reinforcing symptoms. In addition, body image concerns may distract from general SFA. Deficits in executive attention may explain these findings, as each one unit increase in perseverative errors among AN-C participants was associated with an almost one-half unit decrease in public SFA.
The CLEAR study: a 5-day, 3-g loading dose of mycophenolate mofetil versus standard 2-g dosing in renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Adequate early mycophenolic acid (MPA) exposure is associated with lower rates of acute rejection in renal transplantation. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to determine if higher initial mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) doses increased the proportion of patients reaching therapeutic MPA levels (30 to 60 mg.h/L) by day 5. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS De novo renal transplant patients were randomized to receive intensified dosing of MMF (1.5 g twice daily on days 1 to 5, then 1.0 g twice daily) or standard dosing (1.0 g twice daily). All recipients received tacrolimus and prednisone. Full MPA areas under the curve (AUCs) were completed on days 3 and 5, whereas a limited sampling strategy was utilized at four subsequent time points. RESULTS At day 5, 47.5% of the MMF 3-g arm achieved the MPA therapeutic window versus 54.4% of the MMF 2-g arm. However, MPA AUC levels were significantly higher in the 3-g arm at day 3 and 5. This resulted in a trend for fewer treated acute rejections at 6 months. Significantly more acute rejections (treated, biopsy-proven including and excluding borderline) occurred in patients with MPA AUC levels<30 mg.h/L compared with those >or=30 mg.h/L at day 5. No significant differences were seen in common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS A limited intensified dose of MMF increased early MPA exposure and was well tolerated. Further studies are required to determine whether limited intensified MMF dosing can reduce acute rejection.
The Association of Gasoline Prices With Hospital Utilization and Costs for Motorcycle and Nonmotorcycle Motor Vehicle Injuries in the United States

Objectives:This study examined the association between gasoline prices and hospitalizations for motorcycle and nonmotorcycle motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries. Methods:Data on inpatient hospitalizations were obtained from the 2001 to 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Panel feasible generalized least squares models were used to estimate the effects of monthly inflation-adjusted gasoline prices on hospitalization rates for MVC injuries and to predict the impact of increasing gasoline taxes. Results:On the basis of the available data, a $1.00 increase in the gasoline tax was associated with an estimated 8348 fewer annual hospitalizations for nonmotorcycle MVC injuries, and reduced hospital costs by $143 million. However, the increase in the gasoline tax was also associated with an estimated 3574 more annual hospitalizations for motorcycle crash injuries, and extended hospital costs by $73 million. Conclusions:This analysis of some existing data suggest that the increased utilization and costs of hospitalization from motorcycle crash injuries associated with an increase in the price of gasoline are likely to substantially offset reductions in nonmotorcycle MVC injuries. A policy decision to increase the gasoline tax could improve traffic safety if the increased tax is paired with public health interventions to improve motorcycle safety.
Platelet-Surface Glycoproteins in Healthy and Preeclamptic Mothers and Their Newborn Infants

Preeclampsia, a common complication of pregnancy, contributes significantly to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. It may lead to both quantitative and qualitative defects of maternal and neonatal platelets. In this prospective study, flow cytometry has been used to study expression of platelet-surface glycoproteins (GPs) on maternal and neonatal platelets of both healthy and preeclamptic subjects. We studied 15 preeclamptic women, 20-44 y of age, and their newborns (median gestational age, 32 wk; range, 26-38) and seven healthy women (aged 26-41 y) and their healthy newborns(median gestational age, 38 wk; range, 38-42). Compared with their healthy and preeclamptic mothers, resting platelets from neonates expressed significantly less CD41 and CD9. Thrombin activation resulted in significant increases in platelet-surface expression of CD62P, CD63, CD41, CD9, and CD36 in neonates and their healthy mothers. Compared with neonates of healthy mothers, platelets from neonates of preeclamptic mothers expressed lower levels of CD62P, CD63, CD9, and CD36 on activated platelets. These findings suggest that preeclampsia influences the expression of platelet-surface GPs on neonatal and maternal platelets, which may affect platelet function, leading to an additional risk for bleeding in thrombocytopenic neonates of mothers with preeclampsia.
Propagation model for small urban macrocell in actual vegetation scenarios

There are different propagation models designed to be used in cellular network planning. Some of them is supposed to take into account the presence of vegetation. However, the measurement of radio coverage within our cities shows large differences between vegetation and arid areas. This paper presents an evolution of previous models to incorporate the effect of vegetation in the cellular planning, incorporating the knowledge acquired by the measured results.
The Pathway for the Production of Inositol Hexakisphosphate in Human Cells*

The yeast and Drosophila pathways leading to the production of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) have been elucidated recently. The in vivo pathway in humans has been assumed to be similar. Here we show that overexpression of Ins(1,3,4)P3 5/6-kinase in human cell lines results in an increase of inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) isomers, inositol pentakisphosphate (InsP5) and InsP6, whereas its depletion by RNA interference decreases the amounts of these inositol phosphates. Expression of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 5-kinase does not increase the amount of InsP5 and InsP6, although its depletion does block InsP5 and InsP6 production, showing that it is necessary for production of InsP5 and InsP6. Expression of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 2-kinase increases the amount of InsP6 by depleting the InsP5 in the cell, and depletion of 2-kinase decreases the amount of InsP6 and causes an increase in InsP5. These results are consistent with a pathway that produces InsP6 through the sequential action of Ins(1,3,4)P3 5/6-kinase, Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 5-kinase, and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 2-kinase to convert Ins(1,3,4)P3 to InsP6. Furthermore, the evidence implicates 5/6-kinase as the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway.
Gender differences in regional fatty acid metabolism before and after meal ingestion.

UNLABELLED These studies were conducted to determine whether men and women differ with regards to their overnight postabsorptive (basal) and postprandial fatty acid kinetics. Systemic oleate turnover ([9,10(3)H]oleate) was measured before and after the consumption of a mixed meal. Leg and splanchnic free fatty acid (FFA) uptake and release were measured, allowing the calculation of upper-body subcutaneous FFA release. RESULTS basal oleate flux was virtually identical in men and women (3.0 +/- 3 versus 2.9 +/- 0.4 mumol.kg FFM-1.min-1), however, oleate Ra suppressed more in women than in men following meal ingestion (0.5 +/- 0.1 versus 0.8 +/- 0.1 mumol.kg FFM-1.min-1, P < 0.05). The fractional contribution of basal, regional FFA release to total FFA flux was not significantly different between men and women. In contrast, oleate release by upper-body subcutaneous adipose tissue was significantly greater (30 +/- 5 vs 8 +/- 3 mumol/min, respectively, P < 0.01) in men than in women during the meal nadir of FFA flux, whereas splanchnic oleate release was a greater percentage (39 +/- 7% vs 20 +/- 3%, respectively, P < 0.05) of nadir oleate Ra in women than in men. Thus, normal weight men and women differ significantly in the postprandial regulation of adipose tissue lipolysis in that men's upper-body subcutaneous adipose tissue is more resistant to the antilipolytic effects of meal ingestion. Differential regulation of regional adipose tissue lipolysis could contribute to the gender based differences in body fat distribution.
Phenotypic characterization of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 substrains reveals differences in sensitivity to abiotic stress

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a widely used model cyanobacterium, whose substrains can vary on both genotype and phenotype levels. Previously described phenotypic variations include ability of mixotrophic growth, ability of movement on agar plates and variations in pigments composition or cell size. In this study, we report for the first time significant variation among Synechocystis substrains in complex cellular traits such as growth rate, photosynthesis efficiency, cellular dry weight and cellular composition (including protein or carbohydrates content). We also confirmed previously reported differences in cell size. Synechocystis cultures were cultivated in controlled environment of flat panel photobioreactors under red, blue and white light of intensities up to 790 μmol(photons) m-2 s-1, temperatures 23°C–60°C, input CO2 concentrations ranging from 400 to 15 000 ppm and in BG11 cultivation medium with and without addition of NaCl. Three Synechocystis substrains were used for the comparative experiments: GT-L, GT-B (Brno, CZ) and PCC-B (Brno, CZ). Growth rates of Synechocystis GT-B were inhibited under high intensities of red light (585–670 nm), and growth rates of both substrains GT-B and PCC-B were inhibited under photons of wavelengths 485–585 nm and 670–700 nm. Synechocystis GT-B was more sensitive to low temperatures than the other two tested substrains, and Synechocystis GT-L was sensitive to the presence of NaCl in the cultivation media. The results suggest that stress sensitivity of commonly used Synechocystis substrains can strongly vary, similarly as glucose tolerance or motility as reported previously. Our study further supports the previous statement that emphasizes importance of proper Synechocystis substrains selection and awareness of phenotypical differences among Synechocystis substrains which is crucial for comparative and reproducible research. This is highly relevant for studies related to stress physiology and development of sustainable biotechnological applications.
Assessment of family needs in neonatal intensive care units.

BACKGROUND Limited research has been conducted to assess family needs in neonatal intensive care units. Health care providers often make assumptions about what families need, but these assumptions are unfounded and can lead to inappropriate conclusions. When assessed appropriately, family needs can be incorporated into individualized plans of care, enhancing family-centered care. OBJECTIVE To assess the needs of parents in neonatal intensive care units, we asked the following 3 questions: What are the most and least important needs of families in a level III neonatal intensive care unit? Do parents' needs differ at admission and discharge? Do the needs of mothers and fathers differ? METHODS Parents were interviewed by using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Family Needs Inventory. Participants rated statements as not important (1), slightly important (2), important (3), very important (4), or not applicable (5). RESULTS Fifty-two (93%) of the 56 items were rated as important or very important, and parents rated assurance-type needs highest. Parents at admission rated support needs higher than parents at discharge rated those needs. Needs of mothers and fathers did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS Identifying the needs of parents in neonatal intensive care units can enhance nursing communication and allow nurses to incorporate parents' needs into families' plans of care. The family needs inventory can help identify those needs and allows the integration of individualized nursing care to fulfill those needs, providing a positive family-centered experience in the unit for patients and their families.
Detection of mammographically occult architectural distortion on digital breast tomosynthesis screening: initial clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has been shown to improve the sensitivity of screening mammography. DBT may have the most potential impact in cases of subtle mammographic findings such as architectural distortion (AD). The objective of our study was to determine whether DBT provides better visualization of AD than digital mammography (DM) and whether sensitivity for cancer detection is increased by the addition of DBT as it relates to cases of mammographically occult AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective review of BI-RADS category 0 reports from 9982 screening DM examinations with adjunct DBT were searched for the term "architectural distortion" and were reviewed in consensus by three radiologists. ADs were classified by whether they were seen better on DM or DBT, were seen equally well on both, or were occult on either modality. The electronic medical record was reviewed to identify additional imaging studies, biopsy results, and surgical excision pathology results. RESULTS Review identified 26 cases of AD, 19 (73%) of which were seen only on the DBT images. Of the remaining seven ADs, six were seen better on DBT than DM. On diagnostic workup, nine lesions were assigned to BI-RADS category 4 or 5. Surgical pathology revealed two invasive carcinomas, two ductal carcinoma in situ lesions, three radial scars, and two lesions showing atypia. The cancer detection rate of DBT in mammographically occult AD was 21% (4/19). The positive predictive value of biopsy was 44%. CONCLUSION DBT provides better visualization of AD than DM and identifies a subset of ADs that are occult on DM. Identification of additional ADs on DBT increases the cancer detection rate.