Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature Sensitivity of Bacteriolysis Induced by β-Lactam Antibiotics in Amino Acid-Deprived Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The temperature-sensitive penicillin tolerance response previously reported in amino acid-deprived Escherichia coli (W. Kusser and E. E. Ishiguro, J. Bacteriol. 169:2310–2312, 1987) was not due to the induction of the heat shock response resulting from a temperature upshift and was therefore unrelated to the findings of another report (J. K. Powell and K. D. Young, J. Bacteriol. 173:4021–4026, 1991) indicating a positive correlation between the expression of heat shock proteins and penicillin tolerance. The thermosensitive event occurred in the lysis induction stage.
Mini-Open Tenorrhaphy of Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Background: The high incidence of soft tissue complications related to open Achilles repair has driven enthusiasm for developing minimally invasive surgical procedures. The Dresden procedure, which reduces wound-healing issues and avoids sural nerve damage, has recently been published and shows good functional results. Objective: To evaluate medium-term clinical results of procedures using the Dresden mini-open technique on acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 100 consecutive patients with a mean follow-up of 42.1 months. At follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, time to return to work and sports, subjective satisfaction, and complications were registered. An isokinetic test was performed on the first 21 patients of this series at 1 year postoperatively. Results: The mean time to return to work was 56.0 days, and the mean time to return to sports was 18.9 weeks. The mean AOFAS score was 97.7; 98% of patients were satisfied. No complications regarding soft tissues and sural nerve damage were reported. Two reruptures and 5 cases of deep venous thrombosis were observed. The isokinetic evaluation showed good recovery of the involved muscles. Conclusion: The excellent functional and satisfaction results, ease of the procedure, and avoidance of sural nerve damage make the mini-open technique a very attractive alternative for acute, spontaneous Achilles tendon ruptures.
Quasi-two-dimensional quantum states of H2 in stage-2 Rb-intercalated graphite.

Inelastic-incoherent-neutron scattering can be a valuable nanostructural probe of H{sub 2}-doped porous materials, provided the spectral peaks can be interpreted in terms of crystal-field-split hydrogen-molecule energy levels. Inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements as well as extensive theoretical analyses have been performed on stage-2 Rb-intercalated graphite (Rb-GIC), with physisorbed H{sub 2}, HD, and D{sub 2} [composition C{sub 24}M(H{sub 2}){sub {ital x}}, with {ital x}= 0.8 or 1.0], a layered porous system with abundant spectral peaks, to assess whether the crystal-field-state picture enables a quantitative understanding of the observed structure. The experiments were made at 15 K on the QENS spectrometer at the intense pulsed neutron source. Potential-energy surfaces for molecular rotational and translational motion (parallel and perpendicular to the intercalant plane), as well as the intermolecular interactions of hydrogen molecules in Rb-GIC, were calculated within local-density-functional theory (LDFT). A {radical}7{times}{radical}7 periodic unit cell (with composition C{sub 28}Rb) was treated in the calculations. Model potentials, parametrized using results of the LDFT calculations, were employed in schematic calculations of rotational and translational excited state spectra of a single physisorbed H{sub 2} molecule in Rb-GIC. Results of our analysis are basically consistent with the assignment by Stead {ital et} {ital al}. of the lowest-lying peak at 1.4more » meV to a rotational-tunneling transition of an isotropic hindered-rotor oriented normal to the planes, but indicate a small azimuthal anisotropy and a lower barrier than for the isotropic case. A peak of low intensity at 4.0 meV is most likely a host feature. Based on the experimental isotope shifts and the theoretically predicted states, we conclude that spectral peaks at 11 and 22 meV are most likely related to center of mass excitations. (Abstract Truncated)« less
Picky eating and child weight status development: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND Children's picky eating behaviour has been linked both to being overweight and underweight. However, the role of parenting practices in this relationship has rarely been investigated. The present study aimed to clarify the direction of the association between picky eating and weight status and to examine the moderating role of food parenting practices. METHODS The present study comprised a longitudinal study on the effects of picky eating on child weight status within the KOALA Birth Cohort Study, the Netherlands. Mothers and their children were included in the analyses. Children's picky eating behaviour and food parenting practices were assessed at baseline (child age 5 years). Their weight status was assessed repeatedly until age 9 years. Mixed effects linear and logistic regressions were used to compare picky eaters (n = 403) and non-picky eaters (n = 621) on changes in weight status over the years. RESULTS At baseline of age 5 years, picky eaters were slightly shorter, more often underweight and less often overweight than non-picky eaters, whereas energy intake in relation to body weight (kJ kg(-1)) was similar. Picky eaters with a normal weight at baseline had no increased risk of becoming underweight during follow-up until age 9 years, and were less likely to become overweight compared to non-picky eaters. There were no interactions with food parenting practices. The parents of picky eaters more often reported pressuring their child to eat and restrict unhealthy food intake compared to parents of non-picky eaters. CONCLUSIONS The association between picky eating and child weight status was not influenced by parenting practices.
[Risk factors for small-for-gestational age births among infants in Brazil].

OBJECTIVE To assess the risk factors for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births. METHODS All live births occurring in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, between October and December 1993 were identified and mothers interviewed soon after delivery. Birthweight was recorded by the maternity staff. Gestational age was obtained from the mothers' recall of their date of last menstrual period. SGA was defined as a birthweight below the 10th percentile for gestational age and sex, according to the reference developed by Williams. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used in the crude and multivariate analysis, respectively. RESULTS In all, 1082 births were identified. The prevalence of SGA was 13.1%. Even after adjusting for possible confounding variables, the odds ratio for SGA among those infants whose family income was <1 minimum wage was 8.81 (95% CI, 1.12-69.46) times higher than among those for infants with a family income > or = minimum wage. An antenatal care of low quality was associated with an odds ratio of 3.28 (95% CI, 1.09-9.91) for SGA. Short maternal stature and maternal smoking during pregnancy were also associated with SGA births. CONCLUSIONS Low socioeconomic status, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal height and an antenatal care of low quality are the main risk factors for SGA births.
Hypocholesterolemic effect of soymilk supplementation with usual diet in premenopausal normolipidemic Japanese women.

BACKGROUND The hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein concentrates on normolipidemic subjects still remains unclear. Our objective is to assess the effect of soymilk supplementation, a whole soy product, with usual diet on serum lipids in normolipidemic subjects. METHODS We conducted a randomized controlled trial on 60 premenopausal normolipidemic Japanese women. After excluding 8 subjects whose initial serum concentration of total cholesterol or triacylglycerol was higher than 220 mg/dL (5.69 mmol/L) or 160 mg/dL (1.81 mmol/L), respectively, we encouraged the subjects in the soymilk-supplemented group (n = 27) to consume 400 mL (408 g) of commercial regular soymilk daily during two menstrual cycles. There were no significant differences in variables, including nutrient intake, between the soymilk-supplemented and control (n = 25) groups before the intervention. RESULTS After the trial, we observed a significant decrease of 10.9 mg/dL, or 5.3%, in serum concentration of total cholesterol in the soymilk-supplemented group. During the intervention, nutrient intake assessment showed significant increases in nutrient densities of vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, isoflavones, and P/S ratio and decreases in total energy and nutrient densities of vitamin C and green tea in this group. A statistically significant decrease in serum total cholesterol could still be observed even after excluding the estimated hypocholesterolemic effects of soymilk's polyunsaturated fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest the hypocholesterolemic effect of soymilk, a traditional whole soy product, in Asian countries in normolipidemic subjects.
In Vivo Effects of Cefazolin, Daptomycin, and Nafcillin in Experimental Endocarditis with a Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Strain Showing an Inoculum Effect against Cefazolin

ABSTRACT Several reports have implicated the inoculum effect that some strains of type A beta-lactamase (Bla)-producing, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) show against cefazolin as the cause for clinical failures in certain serious deep-seated infections. Here, using a previously reported MSSA strain displaying this phenotype (TX0117), we obtained a Bla-cured derivative (TX0117c) with a combination of novobiocin and high temperature. Both isolates were then used in a rat endocarditis model and treated with cefazolin, nafcillin, and daptomycin, given to simulate human dosing. Animals were treated for 3 days and either sacrificed at 24 h after the last antibiotic dose (standard group) or left untreated for an additional 3 days (relapse group). With TX0117 in the standard treatment group, daptomycin and nafcillin were both significantly better than cefazolin in reducing CFU/g of vegetations, achieving mean log10 reductions compared to levels in untreated rats of 7.1, 5.3, and 1.8, respectively (cefazolin versus daptomycin, P < 0.0001; cefazolin versus nafcillin, P = 0.005; daptomycin versus nafcillin, P = 0.053). In addition, cefazolin was significantly more effective in reducing vegetation titers of TX0117c than of TX0117 (mean log10 reduction of 1.4 versus 5.5, respectively; P = 0.0001). Similar results were observed with animals in the relapse group. Thus, these data show that there can be an in vivo consequence of the in vitro inoculum effect that some MSSA strains display against cefazolin and indicate a specific role for Bla production using a Bla-cured derivative strain against which cefazolin regained both in vitro and in vivo activity.
Caffeine Could Not Efficiently Sensitize Homologous Recombination Repair-Deficient Cells to Ionizing Radiation-Induced Killing

Abstract Wang, H. , Wang, X. , Iliakis, G. and Wang, Y. Caffeine Could Not Efficiently Sensitize Homologous Recombination Repair-Deficient Cells to Ionizing Radiation-Induced Killing. Radiat. Res. 159, 420–425 (2003). Caffeine inhibits ATM and ATR, two important checkpoint regulators, abolishes ionizing radiation-induced checkpoint response, and radiosensitizes cells. Radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired by two major processes, homologous recombination repair (HRR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). It remains unclear which repair process, HRR or NHEJ, is affected when the checkpoint responses are abolished by caffeine. In this study we observed the effect of caffeine on gene-targeted DT40 chicken lymphoblast cells. We show that caffeine efficiently abolishes S- and G2-phase checkpoint responses after irradiation in all cell lines tested and greatly radiosensitizes wild-type and ATM–/– cells, the partially checkpoint-deficient cells. However, caffeine has a much smaller radiosensitizing effect on RAD54–/– cells and has no effect on RAD51-deficient cells. RAD51 and RAD54 are the important factors for HRR. Our results indicate that the checkpoint responses abolished by caffeine (S and G2) mainly affect HRR, which results in cell radiosensitization.
Corticotropin‐Releasing Hormone and Inflammation

Abstract: Cortic otropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) is a major regulator of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) and principal coordinator of the stress response. As in stress, intracerebroventricular administration of CRH suppresses the immune system indirectly, via glucocorticoid and/or sympathetic system‐mediated mechanisms. Also, during inflammatory stress, the cytokines TNFα, IL‐1, and IL‐6 stimulate hypothalamic CRH and/or vasopressin secretion as a way of preventing the inflammatory reaction from overreacting. Recently, CRH receptors were described in peripheral sites of the immune system, and CRH was found to promote several immune functions in vitro. We demonstrated a direct role of CRH in the inflammatory immune process in vivo, by first studying the effect of systemic CRH immunoneutralization in an experimental model of carrageenin‐induced aseptic inflammation in Spague‐Dawley rats. We extended these observations to other forms of experimental inflammation, including streptococcal cell wall polysaccharide‐ and adjuvant‐induced arthritides and peptide R16 (epitope of the interphotoreceptor retinoid‐binding protein)‐induced uveitis in Lewis rats. We also studied human disease states, including rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and ulcerative colitis. Inflamed tissues contained large amounts of IR CRH, reaching levels similar to those observed in the hypophyseal portal system. We also demonstrated the presence of CRH mRNA and CRH receptors in inflammatory cells and identified the mast cells as a major immune target for CRH. In addition to production by immune cells, the peripheral nervous system, including the postganglionic sympathetic neurons and the sensory fibers type C, appears to contribute to IR CRH production in inflammatory sites. The production of CRH from the post‐ganglionic sympathetic neurons may be responsible for the stress‐induced activation of allergic/autoimmune phenomena, such as asthma and eczema, via mast cell degranulation. Antalarmin, a novel nonpeptide CRH receptor antagonist, displaced 125I‐labeled ovine CRH binding in rat pituitary, frontal cortex, and cerebellum, but not heart, consistent with antagonism at the CRHR1 receptor. In vivo antalarmin significantly inhibited CRH‐stimulated ACTH release and carrageenin‐induced subcutaneous inflammation in rats. Thus, antalarmin and other related compounds that antagonize CRH at the level of its own receptor have therapeutic potential in some forms of inflammation directly mediated by type 1 CRH receptors and promise to enhance our understanding of the many roles of CRH in immune/inflammatory reactions.
Self-assessed emergency readiness and training needs of nurses in rural Texas.

OBJECTIVE Nurses, particularly public health nurses, play a key role in emergency preparedness and response in rural areas. To prepare rural jurisdictions for unforeseen disastrous events it is imperative to assess the public health emergency readiness and training needs of nurses. The objective of this study was to assess the self-reported terrorism preparedness and training needs of a nurse workforce. DESIGN AND SAMPLE Cross-sectional prevalence of practicing nurses in regions of North Texas. 3,508 rural nurses practicing in North Texas participated in the study. MEASUREMENTS Data were collected through a mailed survey; analyses included multinominal logistic regression and descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 941 (27%) nurses completed the survey. The majority of respondents reported limited bioterrorism-related training. Fewer than 10% were confident in their ability to diagnose or treat bioterrorism-related conditions. Although only 30% expressed a willingness to collaborate with state and local authorities during a bioterrorism event, more than 69% indicated interest in future training opportunities. Preferred training modalities included small group workshops with instructor-led training, and Internet-based training. CONCLUSIONS Licensing agencies, professional organizations, and community constituencies may need to play a stronger role in improving the bioterrorism-related emergency preparedness of rural nurses.
Is Reduced Quality of Life in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms due to Concomitant Diseases?

Objectives: To establish the effect of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on general health in an unselected male population in Finland using a reduction in general health as outcome. A further special focus was on the question of whether the effects can be accounted for by other concomitant helath problems or solely by LUTS. Methods: A population–based questionnaire study among 50–, 60– and 70–year–old men was conducted. The subjects were divided into 5 different groups according to the severity of the LUTS. Odds ratios (ORs) of reduced general health with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were counted for every group and the effects of age and diseases were controlled. The population etiologic fraction was determined. Results: The crude relative risks of reduced general health increased with any of the LUTS compared to men not having LUTS. Adjustment for age and concomitant diseases reduced the ORs, but the associations remained similar. Relatively the effect of adjustment was greatest in men with several and serious symptoms, i.e. in men with the highest scores (OR 11.1 vs. 6.9). Conclusions: LUTS and perceived general health are strongly correlated. About half of the association was accounted for by age and concomitant diseases, but the other half of the crude effect would appear to be independent of these factors. Severe LUTS severaly affects the general health.
Programs for the Prevention of Youth Depression: Evaluation of Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Readiness for Dissemination

The objective of this study was to evaluate the current state of evidence of the effectiveness of depression prevention programs for youth, assess the degree to which current evidence supports broad implementation, and outline additional steps needed to close the gap between effectiveness and dissemination. We used the Society for Prevention Research's Standards of Evidence (Flay et al., 2005) to evaluate the degree to which existing depression prevention programs have established intervention efficacy, effectiveness, and readiness for dissemination. We reviewed all depression prevention programs for youth that have been evaluated in at least two published, randomized controlled trials in which the intervention was compared to a no-intervention control group. A total of 37 studies evaluating 11 different programs were reviewed with regard to depressive symptoms and diagnoses at postintervention and follow-up (at least 6 months). Eight programs demonstrated significant main effects on depressive symptoms relative to controls in multiple randomized controlled trials; 5 programs had at least 1 trial with significant main effects present at least 1 year postintervention. Two programs demonstrated efficacy for both depressive symptoms and depressive episodes across multiple independent trials. Regarding effectiveness, 6 programs had at least 1 study showing significant effects when delivered by endogenous service providers; 4 programs had significant effects in studies conducted independently of the program developers. Several programs have demonstrated promise in terms of efficacy, but no depression prevention program for children or adolescents as yet has garnered sufficient evidence of effectiveness under real-world conditions to warrant widespread dissemination at this time.
Systems approaches map regulatory networks downstream of the auxin receptor AFB3 in the nitrate response of Arabidopsis thaliana roots

Auxin is a key phytohormone regulating central processes in plants. Although the mechanism by which auxin triggers changes in gene expression is well understood, little is known about the specific role of the individual members of the TIR1/AFB auxin receptors, Aux/IAA repressors, and ARF transcription factors and/or molecular pathways acting downstream leading to plant responses to the environment. We previously reported a role for AFB3 in coordinating primary and lateral root growth to nitrate availability. In this work, we used an integrated genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular genetics approach to dissect regulatory networks acting downstream of AFB3 that are activated by nitrate in roots. We found that the NAC4 transcription factor is a key regulatory element controlling a nitrate-responsive network, and that nac4 mutants have altered lateral root growth but normal primary root growth in response to nitrate. This finding suggests that AFB3 is able to activate two independent pathways to control root system architecture. Our systems approach has unraveled key components of the AFB3 regulatory network leading to changes in lateral root growth in response to nitrate.
Prevalence and risk factors of inflammatory acne vulgaris in rural and urban Ghanaian schoolchildren

transmitted component of each re-emitted state has its own random refractive index-induced retardance (retardance is the slowing of light due to the refractive index of the structure the light is penetrating). For each colour, the interference of the selectively transmitted states, which is due to their randomized retardances, may be either constructive (which enhances the colour) or destructive (which diminishes the colour). This produces ‘interference colours’, in a process similar to that in birds’ feathers such as, for example, the peacock. Thus, all of these complex effects in combination probably produce the colours of the ‘rainbow’. Hence, the rainbow pattern is probably a luminescence phenomenon related to light in different states of polarization interacting with the superficial and ⁄or deep structural components within the lesion. Each state of polarization will suffer varying absorption and retardance, resulting in a combination of absorbance-induced and interference-induced colour. Further in-depth research is necessary in order to understand the underlying optics for such ‘rainbows’ and to assess the possible diagnostic significance.