Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Autophagy-Related Gene atg22 in Developmental Process and Virulence of Fusarium oxysporum

Autophagy is a universal catabolic process preserved in eukaryotes from yeast to plants and mammals. The main purpose of autophagy is to degrade cytoplasmic materials within the lysosome/vacuole lumen and generate an internal nutrient pool that is recycled back to the cytosol during nutrient stress. Here, Fusarium oxysporum was utilized as a model organism, and we found that autophagy assumes an imperative job in affecting the morphology, development, improvement and pathogenicity of F. oxysporum. The search of autophagy pathway components from the F. oxysporum genome database recognized putative orthologs of 16 core autophagy-related (ATG) genes of yeast, which additionally incorporate the ubiquitin-like protein atg22. Present study elucidates the unreported role of Foatg22 in formation of autophagosomes. The deletion mutant of Foatg22 did not demonstrate positive monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, which exposed that Foatg22 is required for autophagy in F. oxysporum. Moreover, the ∆Foatg22 strains exhibited a decrease in hyphal development and conidiation, and reduction in pathogenicity on potato tubers and leaves of potato plant. The hyphae of ∆Foatg22 mutants were less dense when contrasted with wild-type (WT) and overexpression (OE) mutants. Our perceptions demonstrated that Foatg22 might be a key regulator for the control of dry rot disease in tuber and root crops during postharvest stage.
The risk of developing Crohn’s disease after an appendectomy: a population-based cohort study in Sweden and Denmark

Background: The relationship between appendectomy and Crohn’s disease is controversial. A Swedish–Danish cohort study was conducted to assess the risk of developing Crohn’s disease after an appendectomy. Methods: 709 353 appendectomy patients in Sweden (since 1964) and Denmark (since 1977) were followed for first hospitalisations for Crohn’s disease to 2004. Standardised incidence ratios (SIR) served as relative risks. Results: Overall, 1655 Crohn’s disease cases were observed during 11.1 million person-years of follow-up. Whereas appendectomy before the age of 10 years was not associated with the risk of Crohn’s disease (SIR 1.00; 95% CI 0.80–1.25), the overall SIR of developing Crohn’s disease was 1.52 (95% CI 1.45–1.59), being highest in the first 6 months (SIR 8.69; 95% CI 7.68–9.84). SIR diminished rapidly thereafter, with the risk of Crohn’s disease reaching background levels after 5–10 years for Crohn’s disease overall, as well as for Crohn’s ileitis, ileocolonic Crohn’s disease, Crohn’s colitis and other/unspecified Crohn’s disease. A long-term increased risk of Crohn’s disease up to 20 years after the appendectomy was seen only in appendectomy patients without appendicitis or mesenteric lymphadenitis. Conclusion: The transient increased risk of Crohn’s disease after an appendectomy is probably explained by diagnostic bias.
Nicotine metabolism and addiction among adolescent smokers.

AIMS The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the nicotine metabolic rate and smoking behavior, including addiction, in adolescent smokers. DESIGN Baseline data from a prospective study of adolescent smoking behaviors and nicotine metabolism. SETTING The setting was an out-patient university hospital in San Francisco. PARTICIPANTS Adolescent smokers (n = 164) aged 13-17 years old. MEASUREMENTS Participants completed self-report measures of smoking behavior and nicotine dependence (modified Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire: mFTQ). The nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR), a phenotypic marker of the rate of nicotine metabolism, was calculated using the ratio of concentrations of deuterium-labeled 3'-hydroxycotinine to cotinine-d(4) . FINDINGS Participants reported smoking a mean of 2.86 cigarettes per day (CPD) [median = 1.78, standard deviation (SD) = 3.35] for 1.37 years (median = 1.0, SD = 1.36). Results from multivariate analyses accounting for age, race/ethnicity, gender and duration of smoking indicated that slower metabolizers smoked more CPD than faster metabolizers (the NMR was inversely related to CPD; P = 0.02). Slower metabolizers also showed greater dependence on the mFTQ (NMR was negatively associated with the mFTQ; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS In adolescence, slower clearance of nicotine may be associated with greater levels of addiction, perhaps mediated by a greater number of cigarettes smoked.
Physicians’ Knowledge of Alcohol, Tobacco and Folic Acid in Pregnancy

Objective To assess: (1) physicians’ knowledge and clinical confidence regarding problematic substance use in pregnancy compared to folic acid, and (2) physicians’ desire for education in this area and their preferred learning modalitiestools. Design Self-administered survey. Setting Family Medicine Forum 2004 in Toronto, Canada. Participants Physicians attending Family Medicine Forum2004 in Toronto who provide antenatal care. Main Outcome Measures Knowledge of folic acid, smoking and alcohol in pregnancy. Clinical confidence and interest in resources regarding problematic substance use in pregnancy. Results Sixty-six surveys completed. Physicians answered 92.3% of folic acid questions correctly, compared to 82.0% for nicotine and 57.1% for alcohol. Scores were higher on questions about effects of nicotine and alcohol use in pregnancy than on questions about treatment options. A perceived inability to influence clinical outcomes and a lack of professional resources regarding substance use in pregnancy were also identified. Physicians were interested in learning more about problematic substance use in pregnancy, particularly from continuing medical education events, websites and pocket cards. Conclusion Participants’ level of knowledge regarding substance use in pregnancy was significantly lower than their knowledge of folic acid, as was their clinical confidence. This lack of knowledge was not attributable to disinterest and clearly more educational resources are needed to address this topic.
Characterization of beta‐lactamase and biofilm producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from organized and backyard farm ducks

This study was undertaken to detect the occurrence of beta‐lactamase and biofilm producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy ducks. A total 202 cloacal swabs were collected from ducks kept in organized (n = 92) and backyard (n = 110) farms in West Bengal (India). The ducks had no history of antibiotic intake. Among the 87 phenotypically beta‐lactamase producing Escherichia coli, 19 (17·43%), 6 (5·05%) and 15 (13·76%) isolates possessed blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX‐M respectively. Whereas, 5 (38·46%) Salmonella isolates were found to harbour blaCTX‐M. In K. pneumoniae 10 (33·33%), 3 (13·33%), 4 (13·33%) isolates possessed blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX‐M respectively. The sequences of selected PCR products were found 98% cognate with blaCTX‐M‐9, blaSHV‐12 and blaTEM‐1. Beta‐lactamase producing E. coli isolates belonged to 14 different serogroups such as O1, O2, O3, O5, O7, O8, O35, O83, O84, O88, O119, O128, O145 and O157. Moreover, 87 E. coli (79·82%), six Samonella (46·15%) and 13 K. pneumoniae (43·33%) isolates were detected as AmpC producers possessing blaAmpC. Majority of E. coli (46·79%), Salmonella (46·15%) and K. pneumoniae (70%) isolates were detected as biofilm producers and possessed the associated genes (csgA, sdiA, rcsA, rpoS). Significantly higher occurrence of beta‐lactamase and biofilm producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates was detected in backyard ducks than organized farms.
R E - REPRESENTATION AS W ORK D ESIGN IN O UTSOURCING : A S EMIOTIC V IEW 1

Outsourcing work relies on the supplier’s interpretation of the work delegated by the client. Existing streams of outsourcing literature tend to assume that the supplier should use the same convention as the client to make sense of the work package. In this research, we use a semiotic lens to challenge this assumption by viewing such sensemaking as a process of decoding symbolic representations. This complementary view involves innovative use of digital technology for re-representing the outsourced work through new conventions. We studied a Chinese business process outsourcing supplier in-depth to learn how such re-representation is achieved through the creation of special-purpose languages. Our research contributes to the Information Systems (IS) outsourcing literature by providing a semiotic view on the design of outsourcing work supported by digital technologies. Three re-representation practices (i.e., dissociating the signifiers, signifying through new conventions, and embedding new conventions in the digital infrastructure) constitute the core of this view. The results are highly significant for outsourcing theory and practice, not least since they suggest that the use of semiotics and visuals for re-representation may enable suppliers to reformulate outsourcing work and the expertise needed to deliver services.
N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: current status and future prospects

ABSTRACT Introduction: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely known for its role as a mucolytic and as an antidote to paracetamol overdose. There is increasing interest in the use of NAC in the treatment of several psychiatric disorders. The rationale for the administration of NAC in psychiatric conditions is based on its role as a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione, and its action as a modulating agent of glutamatergic, dopaminergic, neurotropic and inflammatory pathways. Areas covered: This study reviews the available data regarding the use of NAC in different psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders, autism, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder. Promising results were found in trials testing the use of NAC, mainly as an add-on treatment, in cannabis use disorder in young people, depression in bipolar disorder, negative symptoms in schizophrenia, and excoriation (skin-picking) disorder. Despite initial optimism, recent findings regarding NAC efficacy in autism have been disappointing. Expert opinion: These preliminary positive results require further confirmation in larger samples and with longer follow-ups. Given its high tolerability and wide availability, NAC represents an important target to investigate in the field of new adjunctive treatments for psychiatric conditions.
Bacteria‐induced production of the antibacterial sesquiterpene lagopodin B in Coprinopsis cinerea

Fungi defend their ecological niche against antagonists by producing antibiosis molecules. Some of these molecules are only produced upon confrontation with the antagonist. The basidiomycete Coprinopsis cinerea induces the expression of the sesquiterpene synthase‐encoding gene cop6 and its two neighboring genes coding for cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in response to bacteria. We further investigated this regulation of cop6 and examined if the gene product is involved in the production of antibacterials. Cell‐free supernatants of axenic cultures of the Gram‐positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis were sufficient to induce cop6 transcription assessed using a fluorescent reporter strain. Use of this strain in a microfluidic device revealed that the cop6 gene was induced in all hyphae directly exposed to the supernatant and that induction occurred within less than one hour. Targeted replacement of the cop6 gene demonstrated the requirement of the encoded synthase for the biosynthesis of the sesquiterpene lagopodin B, a previously reported antibacterial compound from related species. Accordingly, lagopodin B from C. cinerea inhibited the growth of several Gram‐positive bacteria including B. subtilis but not Gram‐negative bacteria. Our results demonstrate that the C. cinerea vegetative mycelium responds to soluble compounds of a bacterial culture supernatant by local production of an antibacterial secondary metabolite.
Quantitative relationships of exposure to chrysotile asbestos and mesothelioma mortality

Background While asbestos has long been known to cause mesothelioma, quantitative exposure‐response data on the relation of mesothelioma risk and exposure to chrysotile asbestos are sparse. Methods Quantitative relationships of mortality from mesothelioma and pleural cancer were investigated in an established cohort of 5397 asbestos textile manufacturing workers in North Carolina, USA. Eligible workers were those employed between 1950 and 1973 with mortality follow‐up through 2003. Individual exposure to chrysotile fibres was estimated on the basis of 3420 air samples covering the entire study period linked to work history records. Exposure coefficients adjusted for age, race, and time‐related covariates were estimated by Poisson regression. Results Positive, statistically significant associations were observed between mortality from all pleural cancer (including mesothelioma) and time since first exposure (TSFE) to asbestos (rate ratio [RR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06‐1.34 per year), duration of exposure, and cumulative asbestos fibre exposure (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.28 per 100 f‐years/mL; 10‐year lag). Analyses of the shape of exposure‐response functions suggested a linear relationship with TSFE and a less‐than‐linear relationship with cumulative exposure. Restricting the analysis to years when mesothelioma was coded as a unique cause of death yielded stronger but less precise associations. Conclusions These observations support with quantitative data the conclusion that chrysotile causes mesothelioma and encourage exposure‐response analyses of mesothelioma in other cohorts exposed to chrysotile.
Breast cancer‐related lymphedema and sexual experiences: a mixed‐method comparison study

Up to 40% of breast cancer survivors develop lymphedema, a chronic and sometimes disabling condition that manifests as abnormal swelling of the effected arm or hand or upper chest areas. Although the effects of lymphedema on quality of life have been well established, less well documented are the sexual experiences of breast cancer survivors with lymphedema. This study is the first to compare the sexual experiences of women with (n = 243) and without breast cancer‐related lymphedema (n = 109).
A Minimal Physiologically‐Based Pharmacokinetic Model for Tacrolimus in Living‐Donor Liver Transplantation: Perspectives Related to Liver Regeneration and the cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) Genotype

In adult patients after living‐donor liver transplantation, postoperative days and the cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) genotype are known to affect tacrolimus pharmacokinetics. In this study, we constructed a physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic model adapted to the clinical data and evaluated the contribution of liver regeneration as well as hepatic and intestine CYP3A5 genotypes on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics. As a result, liver function recovered immediately and affected the total body clearance of tacrolimus only during a limited period after living‐donor liver transplantation. The clearance was about 1.35‐fold higher in the recipients who had a liver with the CYP3A5*1 allele than in those with the CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype, whereas bioavailability was ~0.7‐fold higher in the recipients who had intestines with the CYP3A5*1 allele than those with CYP3A5*3/*3. In conclusion, the constructed physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic model clarified that the oral clearance of tacrolimus was affected by the CYP3A5 genotypes in both the liver and intestine to the same extent.
Exploring the Intersection Between Disability and Overweightness in Physical Education Among Females With Visual Impairments

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this study was to adopt an explicitly intersectional approach to examine the experiences of women identifying as having a visual impairment and as being overweight or obese in integrated physical education (PE). Method: An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research approach was used, and six women (ages 25–34) with visual impairments who identified as being overweight or obese acted as participants. The sources of data included semistructured audiotaped telephone interviews and reflective interview notes. Data were analyzed thematically using a three-step analytic process informed by IPA. Results: Based on the data analysis, three inter-related themes emerged. The first theme, restricted/reluctant participation, described participants’ experiences with PE activity restrictions and the influence of visual impairment and overweight or obesity on these restrictions. The second theme, teacher discrimination, described participants’ recollection of discriminatory practices by physical educators that were influenced by perceptions of inability. Finally, the third theme, isolation, teasing and surveillance issues, described challenging social instances and how those instances were influenced by body size and disability status. Conclusions: Using an IPA approach, three themes emerged that exposed central experiences that were informed by the participants’ identities as individuals with visual impairments and being overweight or obese. Through the lens of intersectionality, these themes contribute to our understanding of how these identities interacted to contribute to disadvantaging experiences in PE.
Screening candidate microRNA‐mRNA network for predicting the response to chemoresistance in osteosarcoma by bioinformatics analysis

The search for biomarkers is important for providing more targeted treatments for osteosarcoma patients with chemoresistance. In this study, differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) were identified from miRNA expression profiles. And the target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of miRNA were obtained from two websites in public domains. Analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway by these miRNA targets suggests that they may have potential links to osteosarcoma chemoresistance. In the protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network, we screened three subnetworks and 10 hub RNAs, and analyzed through KEGG pathway and searched the PubMed database, indicating that they were significantly associated with drug resistance. Then we found 12 key mRNAs by analyzing the mRNA expression profile. Survival analyses showed that most of the 10 hub mRNAs and 12 key mRNAs had a significant influence on the prognosis of patients with chemoresistance osteosarcoma. A miRNA‐mRNA network is constructed by integrating mRNAs and miRNAs information. The network biomarkers in this study have an advantage over traditional single‐molecule biomarkers in terms of predictive power. And the mRNAs in this network biomarkers are supported by survival analysis or by existing theories. These results will contribute to the choice of chemotherapy before treatment and the prediction of patient prognosis.
A retrospective study of pyometra at five RSPCA hospitals in the UK: 1728 cases from 2006 to 2011

A retrospective cross-sectional study was used to analyse pyometra cases at five RSPCA Animal Hospitals across the UK from 2006 to 2011. A total of 1728 cases of pyometra were recovered from a female dog outpatient caseload of 78,469 animals, giving a total prevalence of 2.2 per cent over the study period. There was an annual increase in the incidence of pyometra within the population, while elective ovariohysterectomy caseload has declined. There were variations in breed and age at presentation. Bullmastiffs (P<0.0001), golden retrievers (P=0.001) and dogue de Bordeaux (P=0.008) were over-represented in the pyometra population when compared with the female dog outpatient caseload. Mean age at presentation was 7.7 years. Some breeds presented at a significantly lower age, including dogue de Bordeaux (mean age 3.3 years) and bullmastiffs (mean age 5.4 years), while others presented as older dogs, including Yorkshire terriers (mean age 9.4 years) and border collies (mean age 10.3 years). Surgical mortality rate at the Greater Manchester Animal Hospital was 3.2 per cent. Pyometra is of significant welfare concern, and also has cost implications, particularly in charity practice. These results serve to highlight this condition so that future change in charity practice caseload can be anticipated and strategies can be directed to improve animal welfare.
The relationship between explicit self-esteem and subjective well-being: The moderating effect of implicit self-esteem

Abstract Explicit self-esteem (ESE) is an important factor influencing subject well-being (SWB). However, the relationship between ESE and SWB is not clear. Due to the complex nature of self-esteem, implicit self-esteem (ISE) might moderate the relationship between ESE and SWB. Furthermore, providing the consistency between ISE and ESE, the interacting effect of ISE and ESE would only be significant for the cognitive component of SWB rather than the emotional component. To examine these assumptions, the present study recruited a total of 134 undergraduate students and measured their ISE, ESE, and SWB using Implicit Association Test (IAT) and self-report measures. The results showed that (a) ESE, rather than ISE, was significantly correlated to SWB; and (b) the interaction between ISE and ESE could significantly predict the cognitive components of SWB rather than the emotional components. Those findings contribute to the further understanding of the relationship between self-esteem and SWB.
Comparison of a new rapid method for the determination of adalimumab serum levels with two established ELISA kits

Abstract Background Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of adalimumab (ADA) in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) has gained increased attention since several studies showed a correlation between drug levels and mucosal healing. The limitations of routine usage of enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) kits for measuring serum ADA concentrations have prompted the development of rapid methods, such as Quantum Blue (QB). We evaluated the interchangeability and agreement between the QB method and two established ELISA kits, Promonitor (PM) and Lisa-Tracker (LT). Methods Fifty samples from patients with IBD were included. Quantitative analysis was performed using the ANOVA test for repeated measures, Deming regression and the Bland-Altman plot. Clinical implications were evaluated by concordance in classifying patients into therapeutic windows according to the proposed cut-off levels for subtherapeutic (either <5 or <7.5 μg/mL) and supratherapeutic (>12 μg/mL) ranges. Results Statistical differences were detected between the QB method and the two ELISA kits, with QB overestimating ADA serum values compared to them. A lack of interchangeability was observed between methods, with greater differences as ADA levels increased. An analysis of a sub-set of samples with ADA values below 9 μg/mL (n = 25) showed that QB fulfilled the criteria to be interchangeable with the LT assay. Concordance for patient classification into ADA therapeutic windows was better for QB vs. LT than for QB vs. PM, with high agreement (>75%) for subtherapeutic levels among the three methods. Conclusions Although quantitative differences existed between the rapid method and ELISA kits that hampered their interchangeability, the agreement for identifying patients with subtherapeutic values of ADA was high.