Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gut microbiota composition and its effects on obesity and insulin resistance

Purpose of review Rising evidence suggest that variation in the gut microbiome at gene and species levels defines subsets of individuals who have increased risk of obesity-related metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, which is influenced by diet and genetic profile of the host. Our goal in this review is gathering the newest findings concerning gut microbiota composition and effects on host's metabolism. Recent findings Dietary changes have been shown as the most prominent shaper of gut microbiota composition, reflecting major phenotypes, which can also be transmitted to other individuals, in spite of genetic variances. Gut microbiota composition has also been presented as diversity, which may have important implications in metabolite production and consequent interference with inflammatory activation, insulin resistance, and obesity. Summary Specific approaches made it possible to comprehend some of the interactions between certain bacterial strains and their host, and how their metabolites may interfere with host's cell signaling, changing its metabolic profile. Herein, we discuss some of the mechanisms by which alterations in the gut microbiota composition may contribute to the pathophysiology of obesity and its related co-morbities.
The Outermost Stratum Corneum Layer is an Effective Barrier Against Dermal Uptake of Topically Applied Micronized Titanium Dioxide

In order to help clarify the controversially discussed dermal uptake properties of micronized titanium dioxide (TiO ), we conducted extensive in vitro dermal absorption studies with ’Franz‐type’ diffusion cells on excised porcine skin. After biopsies and chemical fixation, the overall localization of TiO in the skin was analyzed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The lateral and vertical distribution of TiO within the stratum corneum (SC) was investigated by tape stripping and subsequent scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDXA).
On Some Packing Problem Related to Dynamic Storage Allocation

Etude du probleme de l'empilage de rectangles de hauteur 1 lorsque les abcisses des cotes gauches et droits sont specifies. Dans le cas off-line la solution optimale est en temps polynomial. Dans le cas on-line, il n'existe aucun algorithme dont le coefficient de performance soit meilleur que 3. Les rapports de ce probleme et du probleme de l'allocation dynamique de memoire sont egalement proposes
The Costs and Adverse Events Associated With Hospitalization of Patients With Spinal Cord Injury in Victoria, Australia

Study Design. Analysis of patient-level diagnostic and cost data from an administrative database. Objective. To describe complications and cost differentials for hospitalized patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (T-SCI) and nontraumatic spinal cord injury (NT-SCI). Summary of Background Data. Numerous studies have reported costs for T-SCI, but few have involved NT-SCI. Methods. All patients with SCI admitted between June 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004 were identified using coding from the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th edition, Australian modification (ICD-10-AM). Analysis of database from 45 major acute care public hospitals included in the Victorian Cost Weights Study hospitals (n = 1605 episodes with a SCI). Complications were identified using the Victorian Department of Human Services C-prefix, assigned to hospital-acquired ICD-10-AM diagnoses. Results. Most (85.5%) SCI episodes involved NT-SCI. The ratio of acute to chronic admissions was high for T-SCI (1:0.05), but reversed for NT-SCI (1:1.36). Complications were documented in 38% of SCI episodes. T-SCI showed a higher rate of complications (56%) than NT-SCI (35%). SCI admissions with a complication were significantly more costly (mean, $A43,410) compared with those without a complication (mean, $A10,102). Length of stay was extended by an average of 32 days in the presence of a complication. Conclusions. SCI entails costly hospital care and high risk of hospital-acquired illness. Some of these complications are preventable. Better understanding of the financial costs of these episodes can assist healthcare providers and funders to weigh the benefits of interventions to reduce the rates of complications in these vulnerable patients.
Importance of loops of mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier for its transport activity deduced from reactivities of its cysteine residues with the sulfhydryl reagent eosin-5-maleimide.

The effects of various compounds such as the transport substrate ADP and the transport inhibitors carboxyatractyloside (CATR) and bongkrekic acid (BKA) on the labeling of cysteine residues in the ADP/ATP carrier of bovine heart submitochondrial particles by the SH reagent eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) were studied. Of the four cysteine residues in the carrier, the labeling of Cys159 by EMA progressed predominantly and rapidly, and those of Cys56 and Cys256 moderately, but Cys128 was not labeled, as we reported previously [Majima, E. , et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 22181-22187]. ADP inhibited the labelings of Cys56, Cys159, and Cys256 by EMA. BKA markedly inhibited the labeling of Cys159 by EMA, and also the labeling of Cys256, but did not affect the labeling of Cys56, suggesting that it binds from the matrix side to a region close to Cys159 in the second loop facing the matrix space. CATR completely inhibited the labeling by EMA when added on the cytosolic side, but had no effect when added on the matrix side. From these results, the conformational changes of the carrier induced by CATR, BKA, and ADP are discussed. Furthermore, a mechanism of adenine nucleotide transport through the ADP/ATP carrier in association with change in its conformation is proposed.
Xenobiotic Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) Regulates Innate Immunity via Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Vascular Endothelial Cells*

Background: Xenobiotics activate nuclear receptor PXR for detoxification and clearance. However, a role of PXR in regulating innate immunity remains unknown. Results: PXR induced NLRP3 expression and triggered inflammasome activation in vascular ECs. Conclusion: PXR plays an important role in the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in response to xenobiotics. Significance: Our findings revealed a novel mechanism of innate immunity. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a member of nuclear receptor superfamily and responsible for the detoxification of xenobiotics. Our previously study demonstrated that PXR is expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and acts as a master regulator of detoxification genes to protect ECs against xenobiotics. Vascular endothelial cells are key sentinel cells to sense the pathogens and xenobiotics. In this study, we examined the potential function of PXR in the regulation of innate immunity in vasculatures. Treatments with PXR agonists or overexpression of a constitutively active PXR in cultured ECs increased gene expression of the key pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like receptors (TLR-2, -4, -9) and NOD-like receptors (NOD-1 and -2 and NLRP3). In particular, PXR agonism triggered the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the ensuing cleavage and maturation of caspase-1 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Conversely, selective antagonism or gene silencing of PXR abrogated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In addition, we identified NLRP3 as a transcriptional target of PXR by using the promoter-reporter and ChIP assays. In summary, our findings revealed a novel regulatory mechanism of innate immune by PXR, which may act as a master transcription factor controlling the convergence between the detoxification of xenobiotics and the innate immunity against them.
Pediatric Airway Manifestations of Gastroesophageal Reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children may be classified as physiologic or pathologic, depending on its degree and consequences. There are many head and neck complications of GER in pediatric patients, but most numerous are the airway manifestations, including stridor, recurrent croup, exacerbation of subglottic stenosis, laryngeal irritation with or without laryngospasm, chronic cough, and obstructive apnea. Diagnosis may be difficult unless there is a high index of suspicion for GER and awareness of the concept of “silent” GER. We present the common pediatric airway manifestations of GER, illustrated by case reports, and provide a paradigm to assist in the diagnosis and management of children with airway compromise associated with GER.
GaAsP solar cells on GaP/Si grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We demonstrate metamorphic 1.73 eV GaAs0.72P0. 28 solar cells grown by molecular beam epitaxy on high-quality GaP/Si templates and compare them to cells co-grown on bulk GaP. Cascading such a cell with a 1.1 eV Si junction in the substrate could enable a theoretical efficiency of 37% under the AM1.5G spectrum. Electron beam-induced current studies of our cells reveal a threading dislocation density (TDD) of ~1×107 cm-2 for cells on GaP/Si, which is significantly lower than previous reports. We believe that the combination of a highly optimized GaP/Si starting substrate with a well-designed metamorphic buffer enables these relatively low TDDs. Open-circuit voltages as high as 1.10 V were obtained, leading to a bandgap-voltage offset of 0.63 V. This bandgap-voltage offset is also lower than in previous reports, in qualitative agreement with the observation of lower TDD. Direct comparison with cells on bulk GaP confirm the relation between TDD and bandgap-voltage offset, indicating that more investigations to further reduce TDD in GaAsP single-junction cells are required to fulfill the ultimate goal of dual-junction integration on Si.
Hearing in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

In individuals with chronic otitis media, mixed hearing impairments are common but it is unclear whether the raised bone conduction thresholds are a reflection of the pathologic process affecting the inner ear or a combination of the high prevalence of sensorineural hearing impairments in the population along with the artificial elevation of bone conduction thresholds associated with a conductive defect. a total of 395 ears with chronic otitis media but without cholesteatoma were studied. In them, once the artificial elevation (Carhart effect) of the bone conduction thresholds, which occurs whenever there is an abnormality of the sound conduction mechanism, had been taken into account, there was no difference in the bone conduction thresholds compared with those in 920 control ears. In addition, in 100 instances, the contralateral ear was normal and there was no difference in the bone conduction thresholds between the diseased and the normal ears. Raised bone conduction thresholds in chronic otitis media are considerably likely to reflect both the Carhart effect and the high prevalence of sensorineural impairments, rather than disease damage to the inner ear.
The effect of selective phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 isoenzyme inhibitors and established anti‐asthma drugs on inflammatory cell activation

1 This study aimed to evaluate the effects of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors and currently prescribed anti‐asthma drugs for their ability to inhibit inflammatory cell activation in vitro. 2 Alveolar macrophages and eosinophils were isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of ovalbumin (Ovalb)‐sensitized guinea‐pigs. Opsonized zymosan (OZ) and PAF stimulated leukotriene B4(LTB4) release from eosinophils was measured by radioimmunoassay. Ovalb‐induced superoxide generation was measured by reduction of cytochrome C. 3 Monocytes were separated from human peripheral venous blood and mast cells were dispersed from human lung fragments. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) release from monocytes was measured by ELISA and anti‐IgE stimulated histamine release from mast cells was measured by a radioenzymatic method. 4 The β2 agonist, salbutamol inhibited TNF‐α release from monocytes and histamine release from mast cells whilst having no effect on eosinophil‐derived LTB4 release or macrophage superoxide generation. 5 The PDE 3 inhibitor, milrinone produced a concentration‐related inhibition of TNF‐α release from monocytes which achieved statistical significance at 10−5 m but inhibited LTB4 release from eosinophils and superoxide generation from macrophages only at the highest concentration (10−3 m) examined. Milrinone had no effect on histamine release from mast cells. 6 The selective PDE 4 inhibitors, denbufylline and rolipram and the corticosteroid, beclomethasone produced a concentration‐related inhibition of LTB4 release from eosinophils, TNF‐α release from monocytes and superoxide generation from alveolar macrophages whilst having no effect on histamine release from mast cells. 7 The mixed PDE 3/4 inhibitor, benzafentrine produced a concentration‐related inhibition of LTB4release from eosinophils, TNF‐α release from monocytes, superoxide generation from alveolar macrophages and histamine release from mast cells. 8 In conclusion these data clearly show that both established anti‐asthma medication as well as PDE inhibitors have the potential to inhibit inflammatory cell activation in vitro but that the anti‐secretory actions of β2 agonists, corticosteroids and PDE inhibitors are distinct.
Induction of protective cytotoxic T cells with viral proteins

Induction of CD8+, class I‐restricted T cells by non‐infectious, exogenous antigens has been documented for model protein antigens such as ovalbumin and for major histocompatibility complex restricted short peptides in viral and tumor systems. However, the protective capacity of cytotoxic T cells induced by conventional proteins has not been tested in vivo so far. We, therefore, evaluated the induction of protective cytotoxic T cells against three different full‐length recombinant viral proteins derived from a baculovirus expression system, i.e. the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the nucleoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). These viral proteins induced cytotoxic T cells in a T helper cell‐independent fashion which lysed infected target cells in vitro and protected mice from viral replication, immunopathological disease and growth of a tumor expressing the same antigen as a tumor antigen. These results are surprising, since it had been shown earlier for completely inactivated nonreplicating viral vaccines and again here for β‐propiolactone‐inactivated VSV or UV‐light inactivated LCMV that nonreplicating viral vaccines were incapable of inducing protective cytotoxic T cells. Our data show that immunization of mice with as little as 10 μg of non‐infectious viral proteins triggered long‐lasting CD8+ T cell‐mediated antiviral immunity. It was found that the protein alone was only weakly able to induce cytotoxic T cells, and that association with cellular debris functioned as an adjuvant. These findings may be relevant for our understanding of the phenomenon of cross‐priming and have obvious implications for vaccine strategies.
A WEATHER-RESISTANT TRACKING BOARD

Author(s): Shepherd, D. S. ; Greaves, J. H. | Abstract: The main practical limitation of tracking boards for the study of small mammals is that the sensitive surface is very vulnerable to damage by rain or dew. A tracking board is described that is easily prepared for use in the field, is resistant to rain and running water, and is sensitive enough to record the footprints of mice. The literature on tracking board techniques is reviewed briefly.
Hb Southern Italy: coexistence of two missence mutations (the Hb Sun Prairie α2 130 Ala > Pro and Hb Caserta α2 26 Ala > Thr) in a single HBA2 gene

Katell Peoc’h Sandrine Pruvot Céline Gourmel Claire Bal dit Sollier Ludovic Drouet Haematology Laboratory, Lariboisière hospital, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Lariboisière hospital and Paris Descartes University, CREATIF (anticoagulation clinic), and Institut des Vaisseaux et du Sang, Lariboisière hospital, Paris Cedex, France. E-mail: katell.peoch@lrb.aphp. fr *The two first authors contributed equally to the work.
An unusual case of idiopathic gingival fibromatosis

Idiopathic gingival fibromatosisis, a condition of undetermined cause can develop as an isolated disorder, but mostly it is associated with some syndrome. It usually begins at the time of eruption of permanent teeth but can develop with the eruption of deciduous dentition and rarely present at birth. This case report describes an unusual case of non-syndromic generalized idiopathic gingival fibromatosis in a 15-year-old male present since birth. Surgical treatment in the form of ledge and wedge procedure with internal bevel gingivectomy was performed. No recurrence of enlargement was seen after 2 years of follow-up.
Safety Assessment of Potential Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus spp . , Lactococcus spp . , and Pediococcus spp . Strains Isolated from Kefir

In this study, the metabolic activities (in terms of quantities of the produced lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and exopolysaccharides) of 8 strains of Lactobacillus spp. , Lactococcus spp. , and Pediococcus spp. , were determined. Lactic acid levels produced by strains were 8.1 to 17.4 mg/L. The L. acidophilus Z1L strain produced the maximum amount (3.18 μg/mL) of hydrogen peroxide. The exopolysaccharides (EPS) production by the strains was ranged between 173 and 378 mg/L. The susceptibility of 7 different antibiotics against these strains was also tested. All strains were found to be sensitive to ampicillin. The tolerance of the strains to low pH, their resistance to bile salts of strains, and their abilities to autoaggregate and coaggregate with Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 were also evaluated. High EPS-producing strains showed significant autoaggregation and coaggregation ability with test bacteria (P < 0.01). A correlation also was determined between EPS production and acid-bile tolerance (P < 0.05). EPS production possibly affects or is involved in acid-bile tolerance and aggregation of Lactobacillus spp. , Lactococcus spp. , and Pediococcus spp. strains and supports the potential of L. acidophilus Z1L strain as new probiotic.
RAPD Marker Variation among Divergent Selections for Fiber Concentration in Smooth Bromegrass

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is considered the laboratory measure most closely correlated with voluntary intake of forages by ruminant livestock. The objectives of this study were to create smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) populations divergent for NDF concentration in four smooth bromegrass germplasm pools and to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker changes in these divergently selected populations. Two cycles of divergent phenotypic selection led to significant linear responses in NDF among selection cycles for all germplasm pools. Within-population variation for RAPD markers was large, reflecting the outcrossing reproduction and the complex inheritance of smooth bromegrass. However, analysis of molecular variance revealed significant genetic differences among selected populations. Analysis of genetic distances showed that each cycle of selection created additional divergence, both among cycles and among germplasm pools. Up to 15 RAPD markers were associated with selection in each population, but only one marker was consistently associated with selection for NDF across all four germplasm pools (linear, homogeneous slopes, no drift). Some of the RAPD markers appear to have utility for marker selection or marker-assisted selection (MAS) to modify NDF concentration.
Adults' Understanding of Extraordinary Mental, Perceptual, and Physical Capacities

In two studies undergraduates' understanding of extraordinary capabilities was investigated using religious and secular contexts. Six stories assessed participants’ endorsement of anthropomorphic language to describe attention, physical power, perception, and presence of three agents: God, a human, and Qwore, an agent with the same powers as God. Participants attributed human-like limitations to God’s capabilities, and participants anthropomorphized attention and presence more than perception or physical power. Certain religious practices were associated with decreased use of anthropomorphic concepts, such as belief in God’s existence and frequency of reading religious materials. These results indicate that God is treated differently from other agents, some supernatural capacities may be easier to understand than others, and some religious practices may change one’s concept of supernatural abilities.
Occupational Concerns of Women Who Are Homeless and Have Children: An Occupational Justice Critique

SUMMARY The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the occupational goals and concerns of women who are homeless with children. Twenty-seven women with children living in homeless shelters completed interviews using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Occupational issues and concerns were identified for each participant, and then they were pooled. A total of 169 occupational concerns were described and analyzed. The most common occupational issues identified by participants concerned finances, employment, education, transportation, housing, time for self, personal appearance, home management, and parenting. Analysis of identified occupational concerns suggests that the homeless women with children experienced a range of institutional and social barriers to occupational participation: essentially a form of occupational injustice. This study raises questions concerning the most effective roles for occupational therapists to facilitate empowerment so that women who are homeless may fully participate in the communities where they live.
Evidence of pesticide impacts in the Santa Maria River watershed, California, USA

The Santa Maria River provides significant freshwater and coastal habitat in a semiarid region of central California, USA. We conducted a water and sediment quality assessment consisting of chemical analyses, toxicity tests, toxicity identification evaluations, and macroinvertebrate bioassessments of samples from six stations collected during four surveys conducted between July 2002 and May 2003. Santa Maria River water samples collected downstream of Orcutt Creek (Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, CA, USA), which conveys agriculture drain water, were acutely toxic to cladocera (Ceriodaphnia dubia), as were samples from Orcutt Creek. Toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs) suggested that toxicity to C. dubia in Orcutt Creek and the Santa Maria River was due to chlorpyrifos. Sediments from these two stations also were acutely toxic to the amphipod Hyalella azteca, a resident invertebrate. The TIEs conducted on sediment suggested that toxicity to amphipods, in part, was due to organophosphate pesticides. Concentrations of chlorpyrifos in pore water sometimes exceeded the 10‐d median lethal concentration for H. azteca. Additional TIE and chemical evidence suggested sediment toxicity also partly could be due to pyrethroid pesticides. Relative to an upstream reference station, macroinvertebrate community structure was impacted in Orcutt Creek and in the Santa Maria River downstream of the Creek input. This study suggests that pesticide pollution likely is the cause of ecological damage in the Santa Maria River.