Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Perception of Family Medicine Residents Regarding Drug Exposure in Pregnancy

Introduction: The family medicine residents (FMR) in Turkey frequently interact with pregnant patients who are in need of information and guidance regarding inadvertent drug exposure during their pregnancy. Risk perception of FMR regarding thepossible teratogenic effects of drugs is substantially important since it may directly affect how they counsel and guide such patientsin countries with limited access to Teratology Information Services (TIS) like Turkey. Methods: This was a survey study. Each questionnaire included demographic questions and visual analogue scales (VAS) to measure the perceived risk level (0% - 100%) for the background risk of pregnancy and exposure tocommonly used drugs. Mean perceived risk scores (MPRS) was calculated and compared with the true risk value (TRV) of eachdrug.Perception of risk regarding whether the drugs may cause malformations at a frequency higher or lower than 5% was also evaluated. Results: Forty-six FMR from two Turkish training and research hospitals were participated. MPRS for the background risk of pregnancy regarding congenital malformations was 3.8 ± 4.1%. Additionally, great majority of the drugs were considered to cause congenital malformations at a frequency higher than 5% by the greatmajority of FMR. Conclusions: Risk of drug exposure in pregnancy are found to be misperceived and overestimated by FMR. This misperception may lead to adverse consequences such as avoidance of giving a necessary treatment to the pregnant patient and provoking unnecessaryanxietyinthe pregnant womenwith inadvertent drug exposure. Integrating relevant courses into FMR training and establishment of TISes in developing countries should be the primary goal to overcome this problem.
‘CBCT – A Positive Amelioration In Periodontics’ -

With the advent in the technology, accurate examination techniques, especially for delicate structures in the oral and maxillofacial regions are required over conventional x-rays, which are mere 2D (2-dimensional) representations of the 3D (3-dimensional) oral structures. Hence, a radiographic tool with a 3D presentation like that of CBCT (Cone beam computed tomography) technology is preferred in pre- and post-treatment assessment of periodontal defects & implant placements.CBCT technology has been used for almost 2 decades, but was previously more expensive to be used in routine dental practice. Recent developments in this field have made its use more practical in routine dentistry.This literature review, emphasizes the invent, development, working, uses, benefits & limitations of dentascan when used in Periodontics. [Shah M et al NJIRM 2013; 4(3) : 144-148]
MOF Thin Film‐Coated Metal Oxide Nanowire Array: Significantly Improved Chemiresistor Sensor Performance

A strategy for combining metal oxides and metal-organic frameworks is proposed to design new materials for sensing volatile organic compounds, for the first time. The prepared ZnO@ZIF-CoZn core-sheath nanowire arrays show greatly enhanced performance not only on its selectivity but also on its response, recovery behavior, and working temperature.
Two glycosylase families diffusively scan DNA using a wedge residue to probe for and identify oxidatively damaged bases

Significance Base excision repair, an evolutionarily conserved process responsible for the repair of most endogenous damage, is initiated by DNA glycosylases. Observation of the motion of single molecules of three bacterial glycosylases in two structural families, Fpg, Nei, and Nth, together with mutational analysis, has demonstrated that both families use a wedge residue to scan DNA for damage. Glycosylases pause during diffusion to interrogate bases and upon encountering a damage stop to evert and excise it. Moreover, we have derived a simple chemomechanical simulation that fits our data and is in agreement with ensemble studies. DNA glycosylases are enzymes that perform the initial steps of base excision repair, the principal repair mechanism that identifies and removes endogenous damages that occur in an organism’s DNA. We characterized the motion of single molecules of three bacterial glycosylases that recognize oxidized bases, Fpg, Nei, and Nth, as they scan for damages on tightropes of λ DNA. We find that all three enzymes use a key “wedge residue” to scan for damage because mutation of this residue to an alanine results in faster diffusion. Moreover, all three enzymes bind longer and diffuse more slowly on DNA that contains the damages they recognize and remove. Using a sliding window approach to measure diffusion constants and a simple chemomechanical simulation, we demonstrate that these enzymes diffuse along DNA, pausing momentarily to interrogate random bases, and when a damaged base is recognized, they stop to evert and excise it.
Strong evidence for protein epistasis, weak evidence against it

A recent paper by Ashenberg et al. (1) reports protein stability measurements and computational simulations that they claim contradict the results of our previous paper describing a “Stokes shift” in protein evolution (2). They make strong assertions that coevolutionary interactions among amino acids due to effects on stability do not significantly modify amino acid preferences or evolutionary patterns and thus are unimportant for phylogenetics. However, on review, we find their experimental results are highly compatible with epistasis and Stokes shift theory. The apparent contradiction arises from their making sparse measurements on closely related strains of influenza, an inappropriate model system, and from ignoring most …
Uremia induces adipose tissue inflammation and muscle mitochondrial dysfunction

Background. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with inflammation and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with several complications of ESRD. The aim of this study was to determine histological characteristics of adipose tissue and muscle mitochondrial function in uremia and its relationship with inflammation. Methods. ESRD patients ( n = 18) and controls ( n = 6) were enrolled for studies of adipose and muscle tissue by immunohistochemistry and western blot. In a uremic muscle cell model, C2C12 cells were exposed to uremic serum and inflammatory cytokines. Mitochondrial function was studied by MitoTracker Orange, translocase of the mitochondrial outer membrane 20 (TOMM20) and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex subunit expression. Results. ESRD patients had increased macrophage infiltration in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue compared with controls, even in nonobese ESRD patients (P < 0.05). Compared with controls, TOMM20 expression in muscle tissue was lower in ESRD, consistent with reduced mitochondrial function (P < 0.05). C2C12 exposed to uremia had decreased mitotracker intensity (P < 0.05) and the reduced mitochondrial function was rescued by N-acetyl cysteine (P < 0.01). Similarly, C2C12 cells exposed to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)/interleukin-6 (IL-6) have decreased mitotracker intensity (P < 0.01) that was rescued with adiponectin (P < 0.05). C2C12 exposed to TNF-α, IL-6 and buthionine sulfoximine had decreased TOMM20 expression and cells exposed to TNF-α showed a decrease in subunits of mitochondrial complexes I and III. Conclusion. Our data indicate that uremia is associated with increased adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and concurrent muscle tissue mitochondrial dysfunction induced by inflammation/ROS. Adipose tissue is a potential source of inflammation in ESRD that is not due to increased adiposity and may contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction in uremia.
Clinical evaluation of the European LeukaemiaNet criteria for clinicohaematological response and resistance/intolerance to hydroxycarbamide in essential thrombocythaemia

Standardized criteria of response to treatment and a unified definition of resistance/intolerance to hydroxycarbamide (HC) in essential thrombocythaemia (ET) have been proposed by the European LeukaemiaNet (ELN). We have retrospectively evaluated such criteria in 166 ET patients treated with HC for a median of 4·5 years. Overall, 134 patients achieved a complete clinicohaematological response (CR) and 25 a partial response. Thirty‐three patients met at least one of the ELN criteria defining resistance (n = 15) or intolerance (n = 21) to HC. Fifteen cases developed anaemia with thrombocytosis, which was associated with a high incidence of myelofibrosis and death from any cause. Other definitions of resistance were less useful. Factors determining the thrombotic risk were a history of prior thrombosis and a baseline leucocyte count >10 × 109/l. Of note, patients achieving a CR, even if sustained during the entire follow‐up, did not benefit from a lower incidence of thrombosis or an improved survival. In conclusion, most ET patients respond to HC, but the achievement of response, as defined by the ELN, does not correlate with the patients’ outcome. The best discriminating ELN criterion of resistance to HC was the detection of anaemia, which also identified a subgroup of patients with poor prognosis.
Ammonia-oxidizing archaea use the most energy-efficient aerobic pathway for CO2 fixation

Significance CO2 fixation is the most important biosynthesis process on Earth, enabling autotrophic organisms to synthesize their entire biomass from inorganic carbon at the expense of energy generated by photo- or chemotrophic processes. In the present study we demonstrate an autotrophy pathway that represents the most energy-efficient mechanism for fixing inorganic carbon in the presence of oxygen. This novel variant of the hydroxypropionate/hydroxybutyrate cycle appears to be common in a ubiquitous and abundant group of microorganisms that can thrive in nutrient-limited environments. This discovery offers a biochemical explanation for the remarkable ecological success of the ammonia-oxidizing archaea in extremely nutrient-limited environments typical of most of the open ocean. Archaea of the phylum Thaumarchaeota are among the most abundant prokaryotes on Earth and are widely distributed in marine, terrestrial, and geothermal environments. All studied Thaumarchaeota couple the oxidation of ammonia at extremely low concentrations with carbon fixation. As the predominant nitrifiers in the ocean and in various soils, ammonia-oxidizing archaea contribute significantly to the global nitrogen and carbon cycles. Here we provide biochemical evidence that thaumarchaeal ammonia oxidizers assimilate inorganic carbon via a modified version of the autotrophic hydroxypropionate/hydroxybutyrate cycle of Crenarchaeota that is far more energy efficient than any other aerobic autotrophic pathway. The identified genes of this cycle were found in the genomes of all sequenced representatives of the phylum Thaumarchaeota, indicating the environmental significance of this efficient CO2-fixation pathway. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of proteins of this pathway suggests that the hydroxypropionate/hydroxybutyrate cycle emerged independently in Crenarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota, thus supporting the hypothesis of an early evolutionary separation of both archaeal phyla. We conclude that high efficiency of anabolism exemplified by this autotrophic cycle perfectly suits the lifestyle of ammonia-oxidizing archaea, which thrive at a constantly low energy supply, thus offering a biochemical explanation for their ecological success in nutrient-limited environments.
A pilot study of the short‐term use of simvastatin in sickle cell disease: effects on markers of vascular dysfunction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by progressive vascular injury and its pathophysiology is strikingly similar to that of atherosclerosis. Statins decrease inflammation and improve endothelial function in cardiovascular disease, but their effect in SCD is not known. In this pilot study, we examined the safety and effect of short‐term simvastatin on biomarkers of vascular dysfunction in SCD. We treated 26 SCD patients with simvastatin, 20 or 40 mg/d, for 21 d. Plasma nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1), tissue factor (TF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analyzed and responses to simvastatin were compared between the two treatment groups. Simvastatin increased NOx levels by 23% in the low‐dose (P = 0·01) and 106% in the moderate‐dose (P = 0·01) groups, and by 52% overall (P = 0·0008). CRP decreased similarly in both dose groups and by 68% overall (P = 0·02). Levels of IL‐6 decreased by 50% (P = 0·04) and 71% (P < 0·05) in the low‐ and moderate‐dose groups, respectively. Simvastatin had no effect on VEGF, VCAM1 or TF. Simvastatin was well‐tolerated and safe. Our preliminary findings showing a dose‐related effect of simvastatin on levels of NOx, CRP and IL‐6 suggest a potential therapeutic role for simvastatin in SCD.
Dietary history contributes to enterotype-like clustering and functional metagenomic content in the intestinal microbiome of wild mice

Significance Recent investigation of several mammalian hosts suggests that their intestinal bacterial communities display evidence of clusters characterized by differences in specific bacterial taxa, a concept referred to as enterotypes. By performing stable isotope analysis of environmental samples, monitoring communities during dietary shifts, and collecting functional metagenomic sequence data, we provide novel insight into the origins and dynamics of enterotype-like community clustering in wild house mice. Two clusters are present in wild mice, one associated with higher plant-derived and another with animal-derived food intake, which can shift within a period of 1 wk. Remarkably, these clusters display shared characteristics with those present in humans, chimpanzees, and laboratory mice, suggesting ancient shared traits among mammalian bacterial communities. Understanding the origins of gut microbial community structure is critical for the identification and interpretation of potential fitness-related traits for the host. The presence of community clusters characterized by differences in the abundance of signature taxa, referred to as enterotypes, is a debated concept first reported in humans and later extended to other mammalian hosts. In this study, we provide a thorough assessment of their existence in wild house mice using a panel of evaluation criteria. We identify support for two clusters that are compositionally similar to clusters identified in humans, chimpanzees, and laboratory mice, characterized by differences in Bacteroides, Robinsoniella, and unclassified genera belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae. To further evaluate these clusters, we (i) monitored community changes associated with moving mice from the natural to a laboratory environment, (ii) performed functional metagenomic sequencing, and (iii) subjected wild-caught samples to stable isotope analysis to reconstruct dietary patterns. This process reveals differences in the proportions of genes involved in carbohydrate versus protein metabolism in the functional metagenome, as well as differences in plant- versus meat-derived food sources between clusters. In conjunction with wild-caught mice quickly changing their enterotype classification upon transfer to a standard laboratory chow diet, these results provide strong evidence that dietary history contributes to the presence of enterotype-like clustering in wild mice.
Evaluating the benefits of distraction on product evaluations: The mindset effect

Past research in consumer behavior typically assumes that distraction during the decision process needs to be avoided. However, a common piece of advice given to consumers who have to make complex decisions is to distract their attention away from the decision problem for some moments. The current research shows that distraction can indeed help consumers to differentiate attractive from unattractive products. Yet this occurs only for consumers with a configural mind-set who tend to form coherent representations of products in their memory. For consumers with a featural mind-set, who typically hold mixed product representations, distraction does not affect product evaluations. This implies that it is the specific processing mind-set of consumers that determines whether distraction leads to more product differentiation or not.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) transcription factor regulates megakaryocytic polyploidization

We propose that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a novel transcriptional regulator of megakaryopoietic polyploidization. Functional evidence was obtained that AHR impacts in vivo megakaryocytic differentiation and maturation; compared to wild‐type mice, AHR‐null mice had lower platelet counts, fewer numbers of newly synthesized platelets, increased bleeding times and lower‐ploidy megakaryocytes (Mks). AHR mRNA increased 3·6‐fold during ex vivo megakaryocytic differentiation, but reduced or remained constant during parallel isogenic granulocytic or erythroid differentiation. We interrogated the role of AHR in megakaryopoiesis using a validated Mk model of megakaryopoiesis, the human megakaryoblastic leukaemia CHRF cell line. Upon CHRF Mk differentiation, AHR mRNA and protein levels increased, AHR protein shifted from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and AHR binding to its consensus DNA binding sequence increased. Protein and mRNA levels of the AHR transcriptional target HES1 also increased. Mk differentiation of CHRF cells where AHR or HES1 was knocked‐down using RNAi resulted in lower ploidy distributions and cells that were incapable of reaching ploidy classes ≥16n. AHR knockdown also resulted in increased DNA synthesis of lower ploidy cells, without impacting apoptosis. Together, these data support a role for AHR in Mk polyploidization and in vivo platelet function, and warrant further detailed investigations.
Body condition score loss, hepatic lipidosis and selected blood metabolites in Holstein cows during transition period

1 Department of Farm Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar. Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 2 Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar. Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 3 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Buevar. Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 4 Department for Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Kragujevac, Cara Dusana 34, 32000, Cacak, Serbia 5Veterinary Station Veterina System Sladojevic, Gradiste, Republic of Srpska Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, D. Obradovica 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Current overview of myasthenia gravis and experience in China

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an acquired autoimmune disease affecting synaptic transmission via the neuromuscular junction mainly due to the presence of auto-antibodies targeting acetylcholine receptors. Ocular or generalized MG is clinically diagnosed when the extra-ocular muscles or other muscle groups beyond the extra-ocular muscles are involved. MG occurs in both sexes at any ages from all races but shows a wide variability in incidence and prevalence. Differences in clinical phenotypes of MG patients between West and East countries have been observed. Herein, we review the current concept on epidemiology, classification, and generalized progression in MG, mainly focusing on the differential features from mainland China.
Study of the phenomenon of visiting friends and relatives of Chinese diaspora

STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF VISITING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF CHINESE DIASPORA by Hao Pan The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of Chinese Diasporas' Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR). Qualitative research methods were employed to capture the lived experience of 16 Chinese Diasporas residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. The findings showed that Chinese Diasporas use VFR to maintain networks with their country of origin, and their desire for accumulation of social capital motivated Chinese Diasporas to take VFR trips, try to maximize the outcomes of their trips, and enhance their current lives in the United States. The findings of this investigation allowed for expanding and clarifying several aspects of the overall VFR experience of Chinese Diasporas. Finally, recommendations for planning effective marketing strategies are suggested to Chinese national and regional tourism organizations/agencies to stimulate VFR among Chinese Diasporas. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my committee chair, Dr. Gonzaga da Gama, for his valuable suggestions and guidance for this research. Without his support and help this thesis would not have been possible. I also want to thank Dr. Ranjan Bandyopadhyay and Dr. Tsu-Hong Yen for their comments and valuable advice as well as for taking time from their busy schedules to provide feedback on my thesis. I would particularly like to thank my husband and daughter for their incredible support. I would also like to thank my parents who encouraged me to continue my further education. Their selfless love empowered me to achieve my goals and arrive at this stage. When times were difficult, I could always count on them. Finally, I would like to say a word of thanks to my peers and friends Stephanie, Venus, and Marianne. We went through this graduate program together, always supporting and encouraging each other. We shared the joys and sorrow during our journey to complete our graduate studies. And now we have achieved our goal. A special expression of thanks goes out to all of my research participants who agreed to participate in my research study. Without your participation this thesis would not become a reality. For your openness to talk about things so personal and meaningful, I am very grateful. Finally, I am very happy that I have so many friends who are always there, willing and ready to help and support me. To all of you a big Thank-You!