Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enteropathogenicity and enterotoxigenicity of human enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

The mechanism of enteropathogenicity of human enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EEC) was studied by ligated gut loop tests in rabbits, keratoconjunctival tests in guinea pig eyes and feeding tests on human volunteers, and by examining for their ability to penetrate into HeLa cells. Strains of invasive EEC (Shigella-like) serotypes produced inflammatory changes and fluid accumulation in the ligated rabbit gut loop, keratoconjunctivitis in guinea pig eyes, and penetration into HeLa cells. With few exceptions, no enterotoxic activity was demonstrated with cell-free filtrates of broth cultures. It was considered that EEC strains of this group may probably cause disease in man by a mechanism similar to that of Shigella organisms, and that enterotoxin production may not be concerned with the pathogenicity of these organisms. When strains of noninvasive EEC including 27 OK group serotypes were studied, 46 of 67 cultures employed produced fluid accumulation and histopathological changes in ligated gut loop tests in rabbits, whereas none of them induced keratoconjunctivitis in guinea pig eyes nor penetration into HeLa cells. In addition, cell-free filtrates from broth cultures of 12 out of 20 strains produced alterations similar to those caused by living culture in the gut loop tests. When R-state cultures derived from three strains of noninvasive EEC serotypes were tested for their activity in rabbit gut loops, it was demonstrated that the mutants no longer had the ability to produce positive gut loop reactions, although filtrates of the R cultures were still able to cause pathological alterations in the loops. Cell cultures killed by acetone, chloroform, or heat failed to give positive gut loop reactions. Positive gut loop reactions were also induced by some strains not belonging to the recognized EEC serotypes originating from sources other than gastroenteritis patients. Nine strains consisting of four of noninvasive EEC and five enterotoxigenic strains not belonging to the recognized EEC serotypes were tested with human volunteers. All the former strains caused acute gastroenteritis in the volunteers, while the latter elicited on response. These results suggest that enterotoxin production is not concerned in the mechanism of enteropathogenicity of noninvasive EEC. On the other hand, it seemed that the ability to multiply in the intestine is essential in the enteropathogenicity of noninvasive EEC strains, although an enterotoxic substance demonstrated in cell-free filtrates may play a role in the development of gastroenteritis.
A Review of Agility: Practical Applications for Strength and Conditioning

summary Agility is an important component of many sports but has not been extensively researched. The various components that contribute to agility performance are discussed and training guidelines are provided. There appears to be limited transfer to agility performance from straight sprint training as well as from general strength training. The principle of training specificity is emphasized to achieve maximum transfer to on-field performance.
The impact of an invasive ambrosia beetle on the riparian habitats of the Tijuana River Valley, California

The Tijuana River Valley is the first natural habitat in California to be substantially invaded by the Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer (KSHB, Euwallacea sp.), an ambrosia beetle native to Southeast Asia. This paper documents the distribution of the KSHB in the riparian vegetation in the valley and assesses the damage done to the vegetation as of early 2016, approximately six months after the beetle was first observed in the valley. I divided the riparian habitats into 29 survey units so that the vegetation within each unit was relatively homogenous in terms of plant species composition, age and density. From a random point within each unit, I examined approximately 60 individuals of the dominant plant species for evidence of KSHB infestation and evidence of major damage such as limb breakage. In the 22 forested units,I examined the dominant arroyo and black willows (Salix lasiolepis Benth. and S. gooddingii C.R. Ball), and in the seven scrub units, I examined mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. ). Evidence of KSHB infestation was found in 25 of the 29 units. In the forest units, infestation rates ranged from 0 to 100% and were high (>60%) in 16 of the units. In the scrub units, infestation rates ranged from 0 to 33%. Infestation rates were significantly correlated with the wetness of a unit; wetter units had higher infestation rates. Evidence of major physical damage was found in 24 units, and dense stands of willows were reduced to broken trunks in several areas. Overall, I estimated that more than 280,000 (70%) of the willows in the valley were infested, and more than 140,000 had suffered major limb damage. In addition, I recorded evidence of KSHB infestation in the other common plant species in the valley; of the 23 species examined, 14 showed evidence of beetle attack. The four species with the highest rates of infestation were native trees in the Salicaceae family. The three species considered to be the worst invasive plants in the valley, Ricinus communis L. , Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. and Arundo donax L. , had low rates of infestation. Several findings from this study have significance for resource managers: (1) the KSHB attack caused extensive mortality of trees soon after being first discovered so, if managers are to control the spread of the beetle, they will need to develop an effective early detection and rapid response program; (2) infestation rates were highest in units that were wet, so resource managers trying to detect the beetle in other areas should thoroughly search trees near water, particularly nutrient-enriched water; (3) the infestation appears to be a novel form of disturbance, and the affected forests may need special management actions in order to recover; and (4) the infestation has altered the structure of the forest canopy, and this is likely to promote the growth of invasive plant species that were relatively inconspicuous in the forests prior to the beetle attack but will now need more attention.
Inversion effects in the perception of the moving human form: A comparison of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing adolescents

The “body inversion effect” refers to superior recognition of upright than inverted images of the human body and indicates typical configural processing. Previous research by Reed et al. using static images of the human body shows that people with autism fail to demonstrate this effect. Using a novel task in which adults, adolescents with autism, and typically developing adolescents judged whether walking stick figures—created from biological motion recordings and shown at seven orientations between 0° and 180°—were normal or distorted, this study shows clear effects of stimulus inversion. Reaction times and “inverse efficiency” increased with orientation for normal but not distorted walkers, and sensitivity declined with rotation from upright for all groups. Notably, the effect of stimulus inversion was equally detrimental to both groups of adolescents suggesting intact configural processing of the body in motion in autism spectrum disorder.
The endocannabinoid system in invertebrates.

What is the role of the cannabinoid system in invertebrates and can it tell us something about the human system? We discuss in this review the possible presence of the cannabinoid system in invertebrates. Endocannabinoid processes, i.e., enzymatic hydrolysis, as well as cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids, have been identified in various species of invertebrates. These signal molecules appear to have multiple roles in invertebrates; diminishing sensory input, control of reproduction, feeding behavior, neurotransmission and antiinflammatory actions. We propose that since this system worked so well, it was retained during evolution, and that invertebrates can serve as a model to study endogenous cannabinoid signaling.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in Southern Africa: Prevalence, Immunity, and Vaccine Prospects

Human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancers are more prevalent in developing countries compared to developed countries. The major cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. The humoral immune response to HPV can be a marker of past infection but may also reflect persistent infection and cervical disease. IgA antibodies to HPV in oral fluid were also found to be markers of cervical disease. Cell mediated immunity is important in clearing HPV infection and for regression of the associated lesions: this means that women infected with HIV have a high prevalence of co‐infection with HPV. Good cervical screening programmes can control HPV associated cervical neoplasia. However, in countries such as South Africa, where these programmes are inadequate, there is a need for an HPV vaccine. The development of HPV vaccines is reviewed. There is a call for an inexpensive vaccine that will be accessible to the women that do not have access to adequate screening programmes and are therefore at the greatest risk of cervical cancer.
Targeting tumors that lack methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) activity

Many solid tumors and hematologic malignancies lack expression of the enzyme methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), due either to deletion of the MTAP gene or to methylation of the MTAP promoter. In cells that have MTAP, its natural substrate, methylthioadenosine (MTA), generated during polyamine biosynthesis, is cleaved to adenine and 5-methylthioribose-1-phosphate. The latter compound is further metabolized to methionine. Adenine and methionine are further metabolized and hence salvaged. In MTAP-deficient cells, however, MTA is not cleaved and the salvage pathway for adenine and methionine is absent. As a result, MTAP-deficient cells are more sensitive than MTAP-positive cells to inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis and to methionine deprivation. The challenge has been to take advantage of MTAP deficiency, and the changes in metabolism that follow, to design a strategy for targeted treatment. In this review, the frequency of MTAP-deficiency is presented and past and recent strategies to target such deficient cells are discussed, including one in which MTA is administered, followed by very high doses of a toxic purine or pyrimidine analog. In normal host cells, adenine, generated from MTA, blocks conversion of the analog to its toxic nucleotide. In MTAP-deficient tumor cells, conversion proceeds and the tumor cells are selectively killed. Successful mouse studies using this novel strategy were recently reported.
The location of white matter lesions and gait—A voxel‐based study

Little is known about the influence of cerebral white matter lesion (WML) location on gait. We applied partial least squares regression in brain magnetic resonance imaging scans (n = 385) to evaluate which WML voxel systems were independently associated with a composite gait score and identified affected tracts using a diffusion tensor imaging template. Bilateral frontal and periventricular WML‐affected voxels corresponding to major anterior projection fibers (thalamic radiations, corticofugal motor tracts) and adjacent association fibers (corpus callosum, superior fronto‐occipital fasciculus, short association fibers) showed the greatest covariance with poorer gait. WMLs probably contribute to age‐related gait decline by disconnecting motor networks served by these tracts. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:265–269
The purification and properties of phospholipase A from human pancreas.

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Marriage patterns and some issues related to adolescent marriage in Bangladesh.

Data from the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey are used to examine marriage patterns among adolescents, factors associated with adolescent marriage, and socioeconomic characteristics of married adolescents. Findings indicate that 100% of females married before the age of 30 years. The proportion of those never married increased after 1974 and among females aged 10-14 years and 15-19 years. The proportion of those never married increased from 73.4% to 95.8% among women aged 10-14 years and from 11.3% to 48.6% among women aged 15-19 years. In 1989 only 4% were married after age 20. 55% of total marriages occurred among women aged 13-15 years. 80% of total marriages occurred under 16 years of age. The highest mean age of marriage was found among women aged 20-29 years at the time of the survey. 63.9% of women who married before the age of 20 years married after menarche, 18.1% married before menarche, and 18.0% married during menarche. The average age at menarche was 13.4 years. 13.9% of marriages were dissolved among women who married before the age of 20 years, and 46% remarried. 8.5% of marriages were dissolved among ever married women who married after the age of 20 years, and only 24.4% remarried. Teenage marriage was more prevalent in rural areas and in Dhaka division, followed by Rajshahi division. About 70% of married adolescents were illiterate or had no formal education, and almost 86% did not work outside the home. Only 26% of married adolescents had husbands with more than a primary education. Marriages took place earlier among families with some land. 92.6% of married adolescents lived in poorly constructed housing. Logistic findings indicate that female education was closely associated with an increased chance of adolescent marriage. Low age at marriage was also influenced strongly by husband's occupation. Regional differences were significant covariates.
Structural Characterization of Vivapain-2 and Vivapain-3, Cysteine Proteases from Plasmodium vivax: Comparative Protein Modeling and Docking Studies

Abstract Malaria remains one of the most important infectious diseases in the world. Plasmodial cysteine proteases are proposed to be promising targets for novel antimalarial drug design. Vivapain-2 and vivapain-3 are cysteine proteases from Plasmodium vivax and apparent orthologs of falcipain-2 and falcipain-3 from Plasmodium falciparum. Model structures of vivapain-2 and vivapain-3 have been derived using the comparative protein modeling approach and validated by various structure/geometry verification tools. Correlation between the interaction energies calculated based on the docking studies of the inhibitors and the corresponding association constants (kass) provide additional validation for the structures. Moreover, some of the biochemical differences observed between the vivapains may be explained by the results of the docking studies. The overall structures of the two vivapains are similar to each other as well as to the falcipains with most of the catalytic residues conserved. At the same time, some important differences are observed between the sizes of the binding pockets as well as some of the residues involved in binding. The study suggests a likelihood of developing common inhibitors for these enzymes provided the interesting differences in the binding pockets of these enzymes are critically considered during such an attempt. The results of the current study can be utilized in de novo drug design for effective treatment of malaria.
Safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of Flublok in the prevention of seasonal influenza in adults

Flublok is the first recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine licensed by the US Food and Drugs Administration for the prevention of influenza in adults aged 18 and older. The HA proteins produced in insect cell culture using the baculovirus expression system technology are exact analogues of wild type circulating influenza virus HAs. The universal HA manufacturing process that has been successfully scaled to the 21,000L contributes to rapid delivery of a substantial number of doses. This review discusses the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety data from five pivotal clinical studies used to support licensure of trivalent Flublok for adults 18 years of age and older in the United States. The trial data demonstrate that the higher antigen content in Flublok results in improved immunogenicity. Data further suggest improved efficacy and a slightly lower local reactogenicity compared with standard inactivated influenza vaccine, despite the presence of more antigen (statistically significant). Flublok influenza vaccine can include HAs designed to mimic ‘drift’ in influenza viruses as the process of predicting antigenic drift advances and, at a minimum, could address late appearing influenza viruses. The implementation of the latter will require support from regulatory authorities.
Electrophysiological characteristics of motor units and muscle fibers in trained and untrained young male subjects

We hypothesized that the amplitudes of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and interference pattern analysis (IPA) would be larger in trained subjects compared with untrained subjects, possibly due to hypertrophy of muscle fibers and/or increased central drive. Moreover, we hypothesized that the untrained muscle is less excitable compared with the trained muscle. An electromyographic (EMG) needle electrode was used to record the IPA at maximal voluntary effort. The CMAP was obtained by stimulating the musculocutaneous nerve and recording the brachial biceps muscle using surface electrodes. CMAPs were obtained by direct muscle stimulation (DMS) with two stainless‐steel subdermal electrodes placed subcutaneously in the distal third of the muscle. Amplitudes of CMAP and IPA were significantly larger in trained subjects compared with untrained subjects. We found no differences between trained and untrained subjects in IPA power spectrum and turns per second or amplitude of the CMAPs obtained by DMS. Muscle fiber hypertrophy and/or altered central drive may account for our results, but there was no indication of changes in muscle fiber excitability. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell aggressiveness by activating the NF‐κB pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, in which the NF‐κB pathway plays an important role and is constitutively activated. Better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of HCC and the NF‐κB pathway are needed to improve patient outcomes. Herein, we identified an unappreciated protein involved in NF‐κB‐induced activation, Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3). The mRNA and protein expression levels of GOLPH3 were frequently up‐regulated in HCC and GOLPH3 expression correlated closely with clinical stage and survival in both the testing and validation cohorts. Ectopic over‐expression of GOLPH3 in PLC/PRF/5 (PLC) and Huh7 HCC cells protected against cisplatin‐induced apoptosis, promoted angiogenesis and proliferation and increased the aggressiveness of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, whereas inhibition of GOLPH3 led to decreased aggressiveness. Through analysis of two published HCC patient profiles, GOLPH3 expression significantly correlated with NF‐κB signalling. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GOLPH3 promoted K63‐linked polyubiquitination of tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 2 (TRAF2), receptor interacting protein (RIP) and NF‐κB essential modulator (NEMO) and substantially sustained the activation of NF‐κB in HCC cells. Taken together, our findings provided evidence that GOLPH3 is a prognostic and/or potential therapeutic biomarker for HCC patients and plays an important role in activation of the NF‐κB pathway during HCC progression. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polypeptide backbone derived from carboxyl terminal of mouse ZP3 inhibits sperm‐zona binding

For mammalian organism, fertilization begins with species‐specific recognition between sperm and egg, a process depending upon egg zona pellucida glycoproteins and putative sperm interacting protein(s). In mouse, zona pellucida glycoprotein ZP3 is believed to be the primary receptor for sperm and inducer of sperm acrosomal reaction, and its function has been attributed to the specific O‐linked oligosaccharides attached to polypeptide backbone. While lots of reports have focused on the role of ZP3's oligosaccharides in fertilization, there are few concerning its polypeptide backbone. To investigate whether mZP3 polypeptide backbone is involved in sperm‐egg recognition, three partially overlapping cDNA fragments, together covering entire mouse ZP3, were cloned, expressed and purified under denaturing condition. Although all three refolded proteins possess native conformation, only one derived from the carboxyl terminal showed inhibitory effect to the sperm‐zona binding during in vitro fertilization. This phenomenon could not be explained by enhanced acrosomal exocytosis rate, in that the acrosomal reaction assay demonstrated its inability to induce the acrosomal reaction. Our results suggest that the carboxyl terminal of mZP3 polypeptide backbone interacts with sperm and such interaction plays a significant role in sperm‐zona binding, ultimately successful fertilization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 1327–1336, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HIV prevalence and factors associated with HIV infection among transgender women in Cambodia: results from a national Integrated Biological and Behavioral Survey

Objective To examine factors associated with HIV infection among transgender women in Cambodia. Design Cross-sectional study. Settings HIV high-burden sites including the capital city and 12 provinces. Participants This study included 1375 sexually active transgender women with a mean age of 25.9 years (SD 7.1), recruited by using respondent-driven sampling for structured questionnaire interviews and rapid finger-prick HIV testing. Primary outcome measure HIV infection detected by using Determine antibody test. Results HIV prevalence among this population was 5.9%. After adjustment for other covariates, participants living in urban areas were twice as likely to be HIV infected as those living in rural areas. Participants with primary education were 1.7 times as likely to be infected compared with those with high school education. HIV infection increased with age; compared with those aged 18–24 years, the odds of being HIV infected were twice as high among transgender women aged 25–34 years and 2.8 times higher among those aged ≥35 years. Self-injection of gender affirming hormones was associated with a fourfold increase in the odds of HIV infection. A history of genital sores over the previous 12 months increased the odds of HIV infection by threefold. Transgender women with stronger feminine identity, dressing as a woman all the time, were twice as likely to be HIV infected compared with those who did not dress as a woman all the time. Having never used online services developed for transgender women in the past six months was also associated with higher odds of being HIV infected. Conclusions Transgender women in Cambodia are at high risk of HIV. To achieve the goal of eliminating HIV in Cambodia, effective combination prevention strategies addressing the above risk factors among transgender women should be strengthened.