Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Isolate of Vancomycin-HeterointermediateStaphylococcus aureus Susceptible to Methicillin and In Vitro Selection of a Vancomycin-Resistant Derivative

ABSTRACT A Staphylococcus aureus strain with low-level heteroresistance to vancomycin (designated MER) but susceptible to methicillin was isolated from an outpatient with conjunctivitis who did not receive any glycopeptide antibiotics. Incubation of the parent strain, MER, with increasing concentrations of vancomycin led to rapid selection of a stable progeny homogeneously resistant to vancomycin. Electron micrographs of strain MER showed enhanced cell wall thickness and abnormal septations typically seen with methicillin-resistantS. aureus having intermediate susceptibility to vancomycin.
Activin A: an autocrine regulator of cell growth and differentiation in renal proximal tubular cells.

BACKGROUND Activin A is involved in tubular regeneration after ischemia/reperfusion injury. The present study was conducted to examine the role of activin A in cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation of tubular cells. METHODS We performed cell proliferation assays (MTT assay, [3H]-thymidine incorporation) and apoptosis detection assays (nuclear staining, DNA ladder formation, TUNEL staining) using LLC-PK1 cells. Expression of activin and activin receptor in LLC-PK1 cells also were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunostaining. Stable cell lines expressing the truncated type II activin receptor were generated and the phenotype of these cells was analyzed. RESULTS Activin A inhibited DNA synthesis and cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis in LLC-PK1 cells. The expression level of mRNA for the activin betaA subunit was markedly increased when the growth was stimulated. The expression of the type II activin receptor was observed in LLC-PK1 cells. The growth rate of cells expressing dominantly negative activin receptor was significantly faster than that of non-transfected cells. The expression level and pattern of cytokeratin and vimentin in these cells were quite different compared to non-transfected cells. When cultured in collagen gel, these cells formed multiple processes, which was not observed in non-transfected cells. Finally, the expression of Pax-2 was markedly elevated in these cells. CONCLUSIONS Activin A acts as an autocrine inhibitor of cell growth, an inducer of apoptosis, and an important modulator of differentiation in cultured proximal tubular cells.
Haemophilus influenzae penicillin-binding proteins 1a and 3 possess distinct and opposite temperature-modulated penicillin-binding activities

Upon investigation of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in Haemophilus influenzae strains, five H. influenzae and seven other Haemophilus strains were tested for whole-cell penicillin binding at either 37 or 42 degrees C. Binding of [35S]penicillin G to H. influenzae PBPs 3a and 3b was drastically reduced at 42 degrees C, while PBP 1a showed a temperature-modulated increase in penicillin binding. Further investigation revealed that growth at 42 degrees C causes altered electrophoretic mobility of PBP 3a on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and that cell labeling performed at 42 degrees C showed the differential penicillin binding to target proteins. All Haemophilus spp. tested showed a similar temperature modulation of penicillin binding. Growth measurement and cell viability studies performed at 42 degrees C permitted correlation of PBP 3 temperature sensitivity to H. influenzae resistance to moxalactam at 42 degrees C, and the probable correlation of PBP 1a increased penicillin binding to the more rapid antibacterial activity of penicillin G against H. influenzae at 42 degrees C. Microscopic examination of Haemophilus cells grown at 42 degrees C revealed filamentous cell formation, supporting a role of PBP 3 in the septation process. Results of this study demonstrate that wild-type H. influenzae strains (and possibly all other Haemophilus spp.) possess PBPs 1a and 3, which have distinct and opposite temperature-modulated penicillin-binding activities.
OOF: an image-based finite-element analysis of material microstructures

Determining a material's macroscopic properties given its microscopic structure is of fundamental importance to materials science. The authors describe two public-domain programs that jointly predict macroscopic behavior: OOF (Object-Oriented Finite elements) and ppm2oof (Portable Pixel Map to OOF format translator). The programs start from an image of the microstructure and end with results from finite-element calculations.
Emotions and User Interface Design focused on Web pages

This paper presents an overview of web user's emotional reactions to different designs of web pages and the influence of badly designed web pages on its users. There is a detailed analysis of the common mistakes the designers make and the do's and dont's of web designing to create a user friendly, enjoyable web pages. A list of 50 points – based on the usability design guidelines is drawn that would be helpful in designing effective, easy to use web pages. Based on the design guidelines few web pages were designed, tested for usability features and finally subjected to user evaluation. The different stages of the research undertaken are: exploration of the theories of emotion in the psychological science, modeling of the emotional concerns about interfaces(web pages), testing of the different websites with different evaluation methodsautomatic test tools, emotional interface evaluation of poorly designed and better web pages (online surveys based on usability). The evaluation shows the user’s emotional responses towards different types of interfaces, highlighting the emotional improvements in users when browsing through a better designed web page. Finally a road map is drawn to illustrate the sequence of steps to be followed to pass the emotional interface evaluation.
Developmental changes in metabotropic glutamate receptor–mediated calcium homeostasis

Neurons of the chick cochlear nucleus, nucleus magnocellularis (NM), require eighth nerve activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) for maintenance of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Interrupting this activation results in an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) followed by cell atrophy, degeneration, and death of many neurons. Although these phenomena are well characterized in late embryonic and posthatch chicks, little is known about the role of mGluRs and calcium homeostasis during the development of synaptic activity in NM. Using Fura‐2 imaging, fluorescent immunohistochemistry, and Western immunoblotting, we investigated (1) the expression and function of group I mGluRs and their role in calcium regulation during development of NM, and (2) the expression of two other key molecules involved in regulating neuronal [Ca2+]i : inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPases (SERCAs). Confocal imaging of Fluo‐3‐labeled NM was used to investigate the kinetics of global NM neuron calcium signals. Measurements were made at four ages that extend from before synaptic function begins in NM, through functional onset, to mature patterns of spontaneous activity, namely, embryonic days (E) 10, 13, 15, and 18. mGluR5, mGluR1, and SERCA expression peaked at E13 and then decreased with age. IP3R expression increased to peak at E18. [Ca2+]i response to mGluR activation increased with age. The rise time of [Ca2+]i signals in NM neurons did not change with development, but E13 neurons were slower to reestablish baseline [Ca2+]i. These results suggest that the mGluR‐mediated calcium homeostasis of NM neurons develops in parallel with synaptic activity and appears to be refined with increasing synaptic activity. J. Comp. Neurol. 421:95–106, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of two-section coupled-cavity semiconductor lasers

Analysis and simulation studies of the longitudinal mode behavior of two-section coupled-cavity lasers in the steady-state are presented. The laser is analyzed with a resonance amplifier model and the scattering matrix formulation. The mode selection property of this laser is explained in terms of the wavelength-dependent effective reflectance. Expressions for the effective reflectance and the mode power are derived for two different cases: the case of weak reflection from the junction and strong coupling between individual cavities, and the case of strong reflection at the junction and relatively weak coupling between cavities. It is shown to be possible to simulate the longitudinal mode behavior with respect to temperature changes and wavelength tuning by separately pumping each section of the laser.
Regulatory effect of divalent cations on rat liver alkaline phosphatase activity: How Mg 2+ activates (and inhibits) the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate

The concentration-dependent stimulation of rat liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP) catalyzed hydrolysis of para- nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) was studied. ALP displayed some activity even in the absence of exogenous Mg 2+ . Kinetic analyses show that activation by Mg 2+ is exerted at the Vmax level without necessarily enhancing the affinity of the enzyme for the ion. However, the hyperbolic activation operates only within the optimal level of 0 to 5mM concentrations of the metal ion. Higher concentrations were actually inhibitory in a pure non-competitive manner. Mg 2+ , either as an activator (optimal concentrations) or inhibitor (supra-optimal levels) exerts its action via a V max effect with only negligible effect on K m for the substrate. Keywords : magnesium ion, alkaline phosphatase, supra optimal regulation Biokemistri Vol. 17(2) 2005: 129-136
The effect of ethinyloestradiol and levonorgestrel on the CYP2C19-mediated metabolism of omeprazole in healthy female subjects.

AIMS To study the effect of an oral contraceptive (OC) formulation containing ethinyloestradiol and levonorgestrel (LNG) (combination OC) or LNG alone on the CYP2C19-mediated hydroxylation of omeprazole in healthy females. METHODS This was an open crossover study with three phases. In phase one, 10 healthy females received a single 40-mg dose of omeprazole. Thereafter the subjects received in a random order either 40 micro g ethinyloestradiol and 75 micro g LNG or 60 micro g LNG alone once daily for 10 days. On day 10, 1 h after the last OC dose, subjects received a single 40-mg oral dose of omeprazole. The plasma concentrations of omeprazole, 5'-hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulphone were determined for up to 8 h. RESULTS The use of combination OC increased the area under the curve (AUC) of omeprazole by 38% [95% confidence interval (CI) - 3.8, 80; P = 0.040] and caused a 48% increase (95% CI 28, 68) in the AUC ratio of omeprazole/5-hydroxyomeprazole. LNG alone did not effect the 5'-hydroxylation of omeprazole. Neither of the OC preparations seemed to have an inhibitory effect on the formation of omeprazole sulphone by CYP3A4. CONCLUSIONS Oral contraceptives containing ethinyloestradiol but not those containing only LNG decrease CYP2C19 activity.
Characterization and Functional Analysis of the MAL and MPH Loci for Maltose Utilization in Some Ale and Lager Yeast Strains

ABSTRACT Maltose and maltotriose are the major sugars in brewer's wort. Brewer's yeasts contain multiple genes for maltose transporters. It is not known which of these express functional transporters. We correlated maltose transport kinetics with the genotypes of some ale and lager yeasts. Maltose transport by two ale strains was strongly inhibited by other α-glucosides, suggesting the use of broad substrate specificity transporters, such as Agt1p. Maltose transport by three lager strains was weakly inhibited by other α-glucosides, suggesting the use of narrow substrate specificity transporters. Hybridization studies showed that all five strains contained complete MAL1, MAL2, MAL3, and MAL4 loci, except for one ale strain, which lacked a MAL2 locus. All five strains also contained both AGT1 (coding a broad specificity α-glucoside transporter) and MAL11 alleles. MPH genes (maltose permease homologues) were present in the lager but not in the ale strains. During growth on maltose, the lager strains expressed AGT1 at low levels and MALx1 genes at high levels, whereas the ale strains expressed AGT1 at high levels and MALx1 genes at low levels. MPHx expression was negligible in all strains. The AGT1 sequences from the ale strains encoded full-length (616 amino acid) polypeptides, but those from both sequenced lager strains encoded truncated (394 amino acid) polypeptides that are unlikely to be functional transporters. Thus, despite the apparently similar genotypes of these ale and lager strains revealed by hybridization, maltose is predominantly carried by AGT1-encoded transporters in the ale strains and by MALx1-encoded transporters in the lager strains.
Multiple sclerosis and solar exposure before the age of 15 years: case—control study in Cuba, Martinique and Sicily

Few studies report a protective role of childhood solar exposure to multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to confirm the protective role of childhood solar exposure in multiple sclerosis in Cuba, Martinique and Sicily. This was a matched case— control study, and cases met Poser criteria for clinically, laboratory (definite, probable) multiple sclerosis. Controls were resident population, without neurological disorder, living close to cases (within 100 km), matched for sex, age (±5 years), residence before age 15. We recruited 551 subjects during a 1-year period (193 cases, Cuba n = 95, Sicily n = 50, Martinique n = 48; 358 controls). Some (89%) met definite clinical multiple sclerosis criteria (relapsing remitting form (with and without sequel) (74%), secondary progressive (21%), primary progressive (5%)). Odds ratios in a uni-variate analysis were: family history of multiple sclerosis (5.1) and autoimmune disorder (4.0); wearing shirt (3.5), hat (2.7), pants (2.4); sun exposure causing sunburn (1.8); sun exposure duration (1 h more/day; weekends 0.91, weekdays 0.86); bare-chested (0.6); water sports (0.2). Independent factors in the multivariate analysis were family history of multiple sclerosis (4.8 (1.50—15.10)), wearing pants under sunlight (1.9 (1.10—3.20)), sun exposure duration (1 h more/ day, weekdays 0.90 (0.85—0.98), weekends 0.93 (0.87—0.99)), water sports (0.23 (0.13—0.40)). We conclude that outdoor leisure activities in addition to sun exposure reports are associated with a reduced multiple sclerosis risk, with evidence of dose response.
Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles ( AgNPs ) in Staphylococcus aureus and Cytotoxicity Effect in Mammalian Cells

Staphylococcus aureus is a type of Gram-positive bacteria that can cause different healthcare-associated infections. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are considered to be used in various applications against bacteria that are resistant to common antibiotics or even multiresistant bacteria as the S. aureus. This work evaluated the antimicrobial activity of AgNPs in strains of S. aureus resistant to a large number of antibiotics. Regarding antimicrobial susceptibility tests, the reference strain showed sensitivity for almost 75% of the evaluated antibiotics and also to AgNPs suspension. The clinical strains showed resistance to 80% of antibiotics tested but one of the clinical strains was more sensitive to AgNPs suspension. Silver nanoparticles were non-cytotoxicity at 0. 156μg/ mL concentration in normal mouse fibroblasts 929 and tumoral HeLa and HepG2 cells.
Are neonatal intensive care resources located according to need? Regional variation in neonatologists, beds, and low birth weight newborns.

OBJECTIVE Despite marked growth in neonatal intensive care during the past 30 years, it is not known if neonatologists and beds are preferentially located in regions with greater newborn risk. This study reports the relationship between regional measures of intensive care capacity and low birth weight infants using newly developed market-based regions of neonatal intensive care. DESIGN Cross-sectional small-area analysis of 246 neonatal intensive care regions (NICRs). DATA SOURCES 1996 American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association masterfiles data of clinically active neonatologists; 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Perinatal Pediatrics survey of directors of neonatal intensive care units in the United States with 100% response rate; 1995 linked birth/death data. RESULTS The number of total births per neonatologist across NICRs ranged from 390 to 8197 (median: 1722) and the number of total births per intensive care bed ranged from 72 to 1319 (median: 317). The associations between capacity measures and low birth weight rates across NICRs were statistically significant but negligible (R(2): 0.04 for neonatologists; 0.05 for beds). NICRs in the quintile with the greatest neonatologist capacity (average of only 863 births per neonatologist) had very low birth weight (VLBW) rates of 1.5% while those in the quintile of lowest neonatologist capacity (average of 3718 births per neonatologist) had VLBW rates of 1.3%; a similar lack of meaningful difference in VLBW rates was noted across quintiles of intensive care bed capacity. Including midlevel providers and intermediate care beds to the analyses did not alter the findings. CONCLUSIONS Neonatal intensive care capacity is not preferentially located in regions with greater newborn need as measured by low birth weight rates. Whether greater capacity affords benefits to the newborns remains unknown.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer with needle biopsy: should all cases be biopsied before treatment?

BACKGROUND The triad of digital rectal examination (DRE), serum prostate specific antigen, and transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is used in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa). It is recommended that all cases of PCa should be diagnosed with needle biopsy before treatment. The exclusion criteria for those that may not be suitable have not yet been defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed all the patients diagnosed with PCa at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Southeast, Nigeria, from January 2007 to December 2010. Relevant biodata and method of diagnosis of PCa before treatment were reviewed. RESULTS A total of 133 patients had bilateral orchidectomy over the period. 120 (90.2%) had their diagnosis confirmed by needle biopsy before bilateral orchidectomy (category 1), while 13 (9.8%) had bilateral orchidectomy before diagnosis was confirmed. The method of diagnosis for category 1 patients was with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), abnormal DRE findings, elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and transrectal needle biopsy. For category 11 patients, diagnosis of PCa was suspected based on LUTS, abnormal DRE findings, and elevated PSA. Of this number, 11 (84.6%) had, in addition, sudden onset paraplegia at presentation, while 2 (15.4%) had severe uncontrolled hematuria at presentation. All the patients in both categories had needle biopsy confirmation of their disease. The sensitivity of PSA was 99.2%. CONCLUSION Needle biopsy of the prostate is the preferred method for the diagnosis of PCa in most cases before treatment is undertaken. There are valid reasons why all PCas will not be diagnosed in this fashion. Elevated PSA when combined with an abnormal DRE finding increases the predictive value for cancer. In areas where pathologists are lacking, abnormal DRE and elevated PSA results can be a guide to proceed to treatment especially, where there is severe compromise of patients' quality of life due to symptoms of advanced PCa while awaiting confirmation.
Meal timing, fasting and glucocorticoids interplay in serum leptin concentrations and diurnal profile.

BACKGROUND In a previous study, we reported a 4-fold increase in serum leptin following total parenteral nutrition given after surgery. We hypothesised that the perioperative fasting and stress contributed to this, possibly mediated by increased serum insulin and cortisol. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that fasting, in combination with glucocorticoids, sensitises the leptin response to subsequent energy intake. DESIGN Healthy volunteers were randomised into two groups, one group received dexamethasone (DEX), 0.1 mg twice daily for 3 days, while the other group served as a control. Each group was then subdivided into two feeding protocols. Protocol 1, where a standard meal was given at 0, 24, 36 and 48 h and protocol 2 where the same meal was given at 0 and 48 h. Blood samples were drawn before, as well as every other hour during the study period for determination of serum leptin, insulin, glucose and cortisol concentrations. RESULTS In all groups serum leptin increased significantly following each meal (P<0.01). The rise in serum leptin in response to the standard meal was higher when the meal was taken in the evening (P<0.001) or following longer duration of fasting (P<0.02). In those fasting for 48 h, leptin decreased by 60% and showed no diurnal variation. DEX intake increased leptin concentrations in those fasting for short periods (P<0.02) but not for 48 h. CONCLUSIONS Long durations of fasting sensitise the response of leptin to subsequent energy intake and abolish the DEX-induced upregulation of leptin. Meal timing is an important factor determining the leptin diurnal rhythm, but other factors must contribute since the leptin response to a standard meal taken in the evening was greater than to the same meal taken in the morning.
An empirical evaluation of text classification and feature selection methods

An extensive empirical evaluation of classifiers and feature selection methods for text categorization is presented. More than 500 models were trained and tested using different combinations of corpora, term weighting schemes, number of features, feature selection methods and classifiers. The performance measures used were micro-averaged F measure and classifier training time. The experiments used five benchmark corpora, three term weighting schemes, three feature selection methods and four classifiers. Results indicated only slight performance improvement with all the features over only 20% features selected using Information Gain and Chi Square. More importantly, this performance improvement was not deemed statistically significant. Support Vector Machine with linear kernel reigned supreme for text categorization tasks producing highest F measures and low training times even in the presence of high class skew. We found statistically significant difference between the performance of Support Vector Machine and other classifiers on text categorization problems.