Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of conjugated and unconjugated bile acids on the activity of the Vibrio cholerae porin OmpT

Abstract During infection, the enteric pathogen Vibrio cholerae encounters a bile-containing environment. Previous studies have shown that bile and/or bile acids exert several effects on the virulence and physiology of the bacterial cells. These observations have led to the suggestion that bile acids may play a signaling role in infection. We have previously reported that the bile component deoxycholic acid blocks the general diffusion porin OmpT in a dose-dependent manner, presumably as it transits through the pore. V. cholerae colonizes the distal jejunum and ileum, where a mixture of various conjugated and unconjugated bile acids are found. In this work, we have used patch clamp electrophysiology to investigate the effects of six bile acids on OmpT. Two bile acids (deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids) were found to block OmpT at physiological concentrations below 1 mM, while glycodeoxycholic acid was mildly effective and cholic, lithocholic and taurodeoxycholic acids were ineffective in this range. The block was also voltage-dependent. These observations suggest the presence of a specific binding site inside the OmpT pore. Since deconjugation is due to the activity of the endogenous flora, the preferential uptake of some unconjugated bile acids by OmpT may signal the presence of a hospitable environment. The results are also discussed in terms of the possible molecular interactions between the penetrating bile acid molecule and the channel wall.
Pathological Effects of Environmental Pollution on the Ultrastructure of Spermatogenic Stages and the Mature Sperm of Brachydontes variabilis (Krauss, 1848) (Bivalvia-Mytilidae)

The present field study w as conducted to investigate the effect of environmentally-relevant pollutants on the ultrastructure of the spermatogenic stages and the mat ure sperm of the mussel, Brachydontes variabilis. For this purpose, two mussel populations were collect ed from two different sites subjected to different contamination-exposure stresses: a contaminated site (Lake T ims ah) and a reference site from Suez Canal. The spermatogenic cells and sperm structure were compared in both populations using light and electron microscopy. Based on TEM observations, the sperm of the investigated mussels is of the primitive type. It is characterized by a head with an ovoid nucleus and a cup-shaped acrosome, a midpiece with a ring of 5 rounded mit ochondria encircling two centrioles and a long tail flagellum. The sperm of the present species differs in s ome s t ructural details from ot her mytilids. This indicates that sperm morphology is species specific within M ytilidae and t hus may be helpful in resolving the taxonomic or phylogenetic relationships within the family. On the other hand, microscopic examinat ion revealed significant adverse effects on testes of the mussels collected from the polluted sites compared to that of the reference site. The most dramatic toxic effect was the presence of some degenerating male follicles. It was also noticed that pollution induced many malformations in the sperm developmental stages including pathological alteration in spermatogonia, s p ermatocytes and spermatozoa. These results revealed that B. v ari abilis is sensitive to environmentally relevant levels of pollutants. Based on this finding, it is s uggested that this species may be chos en as a model for studying the effects of pollutants on gametogenesis. The adverse toxic effect s induced by the environmentally relevant levels of pollutants on the testis of the investigated species may reflect the extent to which the level of pollut ant s has been reached in Lake Timsah. This may be the main cause of decreasing the success of bivalve communit ies in the lake in recent years.
Medya Okuryazarlığı Araştırmalarında Eğilimler: Lisansüstü Tezlere Yönelik Bir İçerik Analizi

Bu arastirma medya okuryazarligi alaninda tamamlanmis olan lisansustu tezlerin incelenmesini amaclamaktadir. Bu amacla, 2007-2017 yillari arasinda tamamlanmis ve erisime acik olan lisansustu tezler yil, universite, bilim dali, konu, yontem, desen, veri toplama teknigi, veri analiz teknigi, ornekleme yontemi, orneklem buyuklugu ve orneklem turu degiskenleri acisindan incelenmistir. Nitel, betimsel bir literatur taramasi olan bu arastirmada veri toplama yontemi olarak dokuman incelemesine basvurulmustur. 65 lisansustu tezden verilerin toplanmasi icin arastirmaci tarafindan olusturulan bir tez inceleme formu kullanilmistir. Toplanan veriler icerik analizi yoluyla analiz edilmis ve olusturulan her bir kategori icin yuzde ve frekans hesaplamalari yapilmistir. Arastirma sonuclarina gore medya okuryazarligi alaninda en cok sayida tezin 2013 yilinda tamamlandigi, 18 universitede sadece birer tez tamamlandigi, en fazla tezin gazetecilik ve radyo TV ve sinema bolumlerinde yapildigi ancak egitim bilimleri ile ilgili bolumler bir arada degerlendirildiginde en cok tezin bu bolumlerde gerceklestirildigi, tezlerin en cok medya okuryazarligi egitiminin etkisini belirleme ve medya okuryazarligi duzeyi belirleme konularinda gerceklestirildigi, tezlerde en cok nicel yontemlerin kullanildigi, karma yontemlerin ise cok az oranda ise kosuldugu, en sik basvurulan orneklem turunun ortaokul ogrencileri oldugu ve onlari ogretmen adaylarinin takip ettigi gibi bulgulara ulasilmistir. Arastirmada medya okuryazarligi alanindaki arastirma egilimleri belirlenerek yeni yapilacak calismalara yol gosterici olmak hedeflenmistir.
Congener‐specific toxicokinetics of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls in black‐eared kites (Milvus migrans): Cytochrome P4501A—dependent hepatic sequestration

Concentrations of dioxins and related compounds (DRCs), such as polychlorinated dibenzo‐ p‐dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co‐PCBs), were determined in black‐eared kites (BEKs; Milvus migrans) collected from the Kanto district in Japan. Total 2,3,7,8‐tetra‐CDD toxic equivalents (TEQs) were in the range of 99 to 3,800 pg/g lipid weight in the liver and 42 to 760 pg/g lipid weight in the pectoral muscle. Three congeners, including PCB 126, 2,3,4,7,8‐penta‐CDF, and 1,2,3,7,8‐penta‐CDD, made a greater contribution to total TEQs in both tissues. Levels of ethoxy‐resorufin‐O‐deethylase activity and a cross‐reactive protein with anti‐rat cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) polyclonal antibodies showed no significant correlation with hepatic TEQs. This may be attributed to low sensitivity and insufficient TEQ levels to cause CYP1A induction, high metabolic potential of a series of congeners, and influence of CYP1A inducers other than DRCs. Most of the PCDD/Fs and non‐ortho Co‐PCBs exhibited a total TEQ‐ and CYP1A‐dependent increase in the liver to muscle concentration ratios, implying their concentration‐dependent hepatic sequestration in which CYP1A was involved. Comparison of the toxicokinetics in avian species revealed that BEKs possibly have higher potentials than common cormorants for metabolizing and sequestering certain congeners in the liver in terms of hepatic concentration profiles and liver:muscle concentration ratios, respectively. These results clearly indicate that the toxicokinetics of DRCs is congener‐, tissue‐, and species‐specific as well as concentration‐dependent. Therefore, CYP1A expression is one of the critical factors that determine the toxicokinetics in wild avian species.
On the mechanism of hormone action in 7, 12 dimethylbenz(A) anthracene‐induced mammary tumor. I. Prolactin and progesterone effects on estrogen receptor in vitro

The presence of ER in DMBA‐tumors was demonstrated by the use of dextran‐charcoal assay, sephadex chromatography, sucrose gradient sedimentation, and organ culture techniques. It was found that tumors have binding sites ranging from 10−13 to 10−15 moles/mg protein, and a dissociation constant of ER 10−9 to 10−10 M. In experiments with tumor explants, prolactin‐insulin significantly stimulated ER binding capacity, as compared with control without prolactin. This stimulation was tissue‐specific and inhibited by progesterone. Insulin had a synergistic effect on prolactin stimulation of ER. Our results present a plausible explanation for tumor responses to these hormones in vivo. This interaction of prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone may be a common phenomenon for all estrogen‐responsive tissues.
Investigating the Antecedents and Benefits of SOA Implementation: A Multi-Case Study Approach

Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is an emerging IT strategy. It is an architectural style for building loosely coupled distributed systems that deliver application functionality as services. Currently there is little academic research published on SOA. As a result, we know little about what factors affect SOA implementation such that reported benefits can be achieved. To fill this gap, we study multiple cases to investigate factors key to successful SOA implementation. Our preliminary findings suggest that SOA requires extremely high levels of organization-IT alignment to achieve reported benefits. Other factors key to successful SOA implementations include SOA registries, governance, effective pilot projects, top management support, trust among business units, personnel training, and change management. A model is proposed as a basis for future SOA diffusion study; implications for both practice and research are discussed.
Decision-Making in Clinical Medicine

p 0r centuries physicians have been faced daily with difficult problems of decision-making under uncertainty and have found, in the practice of mediae, resolutions of these problems. The science of decision-making under uncertainty? statistical decision theory? is barely twenty years old (Wald, 1950). Have medical practitioners yet considered what advantages might accrue from their taking the younger discipline into partnership? In such a Partnership, what role could the novice best play to ease the burden of medical Practice? It is against the background of such general questions that this artlcle examines one particular aspect of decision-making in medicine? the Pr? blem of treatment allocation. While the application of statistical decision theory to real problems in
When does memory speed-up mixing?

We investigate under which conditions a higher-order Markov chain, or more generally a Markov chain on an extended state space, can mix faster than a standard Markov chain on a graph of interest. We find that, depending on the constraints on the dynamics, two very different scenarios can emerge: under strict invariance of the target marginal and for general initialization of the lifted chain no speedup is possible; on the other hand, if these requirements are both relaxed, the lifted dynamics can achieve mixing in a time that corresponds to the diameter of the graph, which is optimal.
Role of Pulmonary Evaluation in Diagnosis of Neurosarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND Neurosarcoidosis is a serious extra pulmonary manifestation of sarcoidosis. Its presentation ranges from peripheral or cranial neuropathy to central nervous system dysfunction. It can mimic stroke or multiple sclerosis. Due to the variation in clinical presentation, diagnosis is difficult and often delayed. OBJECTIVE Determine the proportion of patients with neurosarcoidosis who have positive findings on chest CT, lung biopsy or lymph node biopsy. METHODS Retrospective study at the Sarcoidosis and Interstitial Lung Disease Center at Wayne State University-Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, MI. Medical records of 424 patients were reviewed and 69 patients with neurosarcoidosis identified. RESULTS We found that most patients diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis had normal PFT values except for reduction in DLCO. However, we also found that 71% of the patients had abnormal findings on chest CT consistent with sarcoidosis. Additionally, 57% of the patients had non-caseating granuloma on hilar lymph node biopsy. CONCLUSION Patients with neurosarcoidosis may not have any pulmonary symptoms. However, they are most likely to have abnormal chest CT, hilar lymphadenopathy and reduction in DLCO. These data suggest that pulmonary evaluation is warranted in patients who are suspected to have neurosarcoidosis.
Hysteroscopy does not increase the risk of microscopic extrauterine spread in endometrial carcinoma

Fluid hysteroscopy has been suspected to cause tumor dissemination in the abdominal cavity in endometrial cancer patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of microscopic extrauterine spread according to diagnostic modality (dilatation & curretage, D&C, hysteroscopy, or both) in patients with endometrial carcinoma. A retrospective study was conducted on 147 patients with histologically proven diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma without macroscopic extrauterine disease. Fluid hysteroscopy was performed by using saline solution irrigated at a final flow of 150 ml/min with a intrauterine pressure ranging between 25 and 50 mmHg. Microscopic intraperitoneal disease and positive peritoneal cytology were considered the primary end-points of this analysis. Fifty-two patients (35%) had diagnosis of endometrial cancer made only by D&C, 56 (39%) underwent D&C and then hysteroscopy, and 39 (26%) had only hysteroscopy. Distribution of the patients in this three groups was casual, and clinicopathologic characteristics of the patients in the three groups were similar. Peritoneal cytology was positive in nine patients, 13 had microscopic ovarian metastases, and eight had microscopic involvement of the pelvic peritoneum or of omentum. Neither the presence of positive peritoneal cytology nor the findings of microscopic intraperitoneal dissemination were significantly associated with the diagnostic procedure employed for primary diagnosis (D&C or D&C plus hysteroscopy or hysteroscopy alone). We conclude that fluid hysteroscopy does not increase the risk of microscopic intraperitoneal spread in endometrial cancer patients as compared to D&C.
Sex‐ and region‐specific pubertal maturation of the corticotropin‐releasing factor receptor system in the rat

One of the most reliable findings in psychiatry is in the incidence of anxiety and depression. Beginning at puberty, women develop mood disorders twice as often as men. Because corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) receptors are implicated, we compared CRF receptor binding in pre‐ and postpubertal rats. In each brain area, CRF receptor binding was sexually dimorphic, but no two areas were alike in the way the sexes differed. In the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle, CRF1 binding was initially the same in juveniles, but became greater in adult females. In piriform cortex, CRF1 binding increased in females and decreased in males, again becoming sexually dimorphic. CRF1 binding in the anterior cingulate was greater in females than in males at both ages. In CA3, CRF1 binding was greater in males before puberty but decreased during puberty, abolishing the sex difference. CRF2 binding in the posterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis was greater in males irrespective of age. In contrast, in each of three subdivisions of the lateral septum, females had greater CRF2 binding than males as juveniles, or, as juveniles and as adults. CRF2 binding in the ventromedial hypothalamus was the same in juveniles, but binding levels increased in males, leading to an adult sex difference. Thus, eight CRF receptor‐expressing areas displayed eight distinct sex differences. These results show that sex differences pervade the CRF receptor system in juvenile and adult rats, and the mechanisms that control them are likely to be sex‐, region‐, and subtype‐specific. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:1284–1298, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Esophageal motor abnormalities induced by acid perfusion in patients with heartburn.

The clinical diagnosis of esophagitis is suggested by the presence of severe heartburn which is aggravated by the recumbent position. The symptom is generally worse after eating and is relieved by antacids. It is generally held that increased reflux of gastric contents leads to the development of esophagitis and that the pain is associated with an inflammatory process. In many patients with symptoms that suggest a diagnosis of esophagitis, however, there is, no endoscopic or histologic evidence of inflammation. The poor correlation between the clinical diagnosis of esophagitis and the endoscopic and histologic observations led to an investigation of esophageal motor function in these patients.
A real time biofeedback using Kinect and Wii to improve gait for post-total knee replacement rehabilitation: a case study report

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to develop a low-cost real-time biofeedback system to assist with rehabilitation for patients following total knee replacement (TKR) and to assess its feasibility of use in a post-TKR patient case study design with a comparison group. Method: The biofeedback system consisted of Microsoft KinectTM and Nintendo Wii balance board with a dedicated software. A six-week inpatient rehabilitation program was augmented by biofeedback and tested in a single patient following TKR. Three patients underwent a six weeks standard rehabilitation with no biofeedback and served as a control group. Gait, function and pain were assessed and compared before and after the rehabilitation. Results: The biofeedback software incorporated real time visual feedback to correct limb alignment, movement pattern and weight distribution. Improvements in pain, function and quality of life were observed in both groups. The strong improvement in the knee moment pattern demonstrated in the case study indicates feasibility of the biofeedback-augmented intervention. Conclusion: This novel biofeedback software has used simple commercially accessible equipment that can be feasibly incorporated to augment a post-TKR rehabilitation program. Our preliminary results indicate the potential of this biofeedback-assisted rehabilitation to improve knee function during gait. Research is required to test this hypothesis. Implications for Rehabilitation The real-time biofeedback system developed integrated custom-made software and simple low-cost commercially accessible equipment such as Kinect and Wii board to provide augmented information during rehabilitation following TKR. The software incorporated key rehabilitation principles and visual feedback to correct alignment of the lower legs, pelvic and trunk as well as providing feedback on limbs weight distribution. The case study patient demonstrated greater improvement in their knee function where a more normal biphasic knee moment was achieved following the six-week biofeedback intervention.
Identification, mapping, and application of polymorphic DNA associated with resistance gene Pm21 of wheat.

A new powdery mildew resistance gene designated Pm21, from Haynaldia villosa, a relative of wheat, has been identified and incorporated into wheat through an alien translocation line. Cytogenetic and biochemical analyses showed that chromosome arms 6VS and 6AL were involved in this translocation. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed on recipient wheat cultivar Yangmai 5, the translocation line, and H. villosa with 180 random primers. Eight of the 180 primers amplified polymorphic DNA in the translocation line, and the same results were obtained in four replications. Furthermore, RAPD analysis was reported for substitution line 6V, seven addition lines (1V-7V), and the F1, as well as F2 plants of (translocation line x 'Yangmai 5'), using two of the eight random primers. One RAPD marker, specific to chromosome arm 6VS, OPH17-1900, could be used as a molecular marker for the detection of gene Pm21 in breeding materials with powdery mildew resistance introduced from H. villosa. Key words : RAPD analysis, 6VS-specific marker, Pm21, Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici, Triticum aestivum - Haynaldia villosa translocation.
Adolescent non‐drinkers: Who are they? Social relations, school performance, lifestyle factors and health behaviours

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Traditionally, non-drinking adults or young adults have been associated with health deficits rather than health benefits. However, as the proportion of Swedish non-drinking adolescents has doubled since 2000, their health profiles are of interest. The aim of the present study is to examine whether social relations, school characteristics, lifestyle factors or health behaviours distinguish adolescent non-drinkers from adolescent drinkers, and if their health profiles have changed from 2004 to 2012. DESIGN AND METHODS Data from the Survey of Adolescent Life in Vestmanland, a health survey biennially distributed to all 9th graders (15-16 years) in a medium-sized Swedish county, was used. In total, 2872 students in 2004 and 2045 students in 2012 were included. RESULTS Non-drinkers were distinguished from drinkers in both 2004 and 2012 by elevated parental supervision, a lower rate of school truancy and lower rates of cannabis use, use of other illicit drugs, daily smoking and lower scores on antisocial behaviour, but more problems of getting new friends. No differences between 2004 and 2012 were found. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Non-drinkers presented more adaptive and healthier behaviours than their drinking peers, but it is difficult to determine whether their health benefits were related to their improved alcohol status or to the more general trend towards adaptation that occurred from 2004 to 2012 among adolescents.
Characterization of induced Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage SAP-26 and its anti-biofilm activity with rifampicin

Lytic bacteriophages (phages) have been investigated as treatments for bacterial infectious diseases. An induced phage, SAP-26, was isolated from a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus. It belongs to the family Siphoviridae and its genome consists of double-stranded 41,207 bp DNA coding for 63 open reading frames. The phage SAP-26 showed a wide spectrum of lytic activity against both methicillin-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-susceptible S.aureus. Furthermore, combined treatment with a phage and antimicrobial agents showed a strong biofilm removal effect which induced structural changes in the biofilm matrix and a substantial decrease in the number of bacteria. Such a broad host range in S. aureus and biofilm removal activity of the phage SAP-26 suggests the possibility of its use as a therapeutic phage in combination with appropriate antimicrobial agent(s). Among the three antimicrobial agents combined with phage, the combination of rifampicin showed the best biofilm removal effect. To the authors' knowledge, this study showed for the first time that S. aureus biofilm could be efficiently eradicated with the mixture of phage and an antimicrobial agent, especially rifampicin.