Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aeration Controls the Reduction and Methylation of Tellurium by the Aerobic, Tellurite-Resistant Marine Yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

ABSTRACT We previously described a marine, tellurite-resistant strain of the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa that both precipitates intracellular Te(0) and volatilizes methylated Te compounds when grown in the presence of the oxyanion tellurite. The uses of microbes as a “green” route for the production of Te(0)-containing nanostructures and for the remediation of Te-oxyanion wastes have great potential, and so a more thorough understanding of this process is required. Here, Te precipitation and volatilization catalyzed by R. mucilaginosa were examined in continuously aerated and sealed (low oxygen concentration) batch cultures. Continuous aeration was found to strongly promote Te volatilization while inhibiting Te(0) precipitation. This differs from the results in sealed batch cultures, for which tellurite reduction to Te(0) was found to be very efficient. We show also that volatile Te species may be degraded rapidly in medium and converted to the particulate form by biological activity. Further experiments revealed that Te(0) precipitates produced by R. mucilaginosa can be further transformed to volatile and dissolved Te species. However, it was not clearly determined whether Te(0) is a required intermediate for Te volatilization. Based on these results, we conclude that low oxygen concentrations will be the most efficient for production of Te(0) nanoparticles while limiting the production of toxic volatile Te species, although the production of these compounds may never be completely eliminated.
Chlorantraniliprole Resistance in the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

ABSTRACT The wide application of chlorantraniliprole, which selectively targets insect ryanodine receptors (RyR), for control of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), has led to increasingly prominent development of resistance to this insecticide. Although much work has been carried out on the structure and function of RyR, the molecular mechanisms of resistance to chlorantraniliprole in diamondback moth still needs further investigation. P. xylostella strains with medium and high resistance to chlorantraniliprole were obtained by laboratory selection and field collection. The biological activity of chlorantraniliprole against the third-instar larvae of susceptible and resistant strains was tested, and resistance development and biological fitness were investigated. The realized heritability (h2) of resistance showed the diamondback moth has a high risk of resistance to chlorantraniliprole. RyR transcript levels were lower in resistant strains than in susceptible strains, indicating that decreased expression of PxRyR may be associated with chlorantraniliprole resistance in P. xylostella. A 4,400 bp fragment of the RyR cDNA, which encodes most of the functional domains of RyR, was cloned and characterized from four strains (S, F18, BY, and ZC). A 14 amino acid (Q4546-S4559) deletion was found in three resistant strains (F18, BY, and ZC). A point mutation resulting in a glycine to glutamate substitution, as reported in a previously published article, was also found in the carboxyl-terminal region of two resistant strains (BY and ZC). These results indicated that decreased transcriptional level of RyR mRNA and combined with the site mutation might be related to chlorantraniliprole resistance in P. xylostella.
Cyclin O Regulates Germinal Vesicle Breakdown in Mouse Oocytes1

ABSTRACT It is well accepted that oocyte meiotic resumption is mainly regulated by the maturation-promoting factor (MPF), which is composed of cyclin B1 (CCNB1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDC2). Maturation-promoting factor activity is regulated by the expression level of CCNB1, phosphorylation of CDC2, and their germinal vesicle (GV) localization. In addition to CCNB1, cyclin O (CCNO) is highly expressed in oocytes, but its biological functions are still not clear. By employing short interfering RNA microinjection of GV-stage oocytes, we found that Ccno knockdown inhibited CDC2 (Tyr15) dephosphorylation and arrested oocytes at the GV stage. To rescue meiotic resumption, cell division cycle 25 B kinase (Cdc25b) and Ccnb1 were overexpressed in the Ccno knockdown oocytes. Unexpectedly, we found that Ccno knockdown did not affect CDC25B entry into the GV, and overexpression of CDC25B was not able to rescue resumption of oocyte meiosis. However, GV breakdown (GVBD) was significantly increased after overexpression of Ccnb1 in Ccno knockdown oocytes, indicating that GVBD block caused by cyclin O knockdown can be rescued by cyclin B1 overexpression. We thus conclude that cyclin O, as an upstream regulator of MPF, plays an important role in oocyte meiotic resumption in mouse oocytes.
Increased neopterin level and chitotriosidase activity in pregnant women with threatened preterm labor

Abstract Objectives: To determine whether the cellular inflammatory markers of activated macrophages, neopterin (NEO), chitotriosidase activity and the acute-phase inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated in pregnancy with threatened preterm labor (TPL). Methods: Thirty-two pregnant women with TPL and 32 women with uncomplicated pregnancy (UP) were included this study. The primary aim was to compare the NEO, chitotriosidase activity and CRP levels between women with TPL and women with UP. Results: NEO levels were all significantly elevated in patients with TPL compared to UP (median 25–75%; 9.61 [8.47–12.29] versus 4.46 [3.59–6.92], respectively; p < 0.001). Chitotriosidase activity was significantly elevated in pregnant women with TPL compared to UP (median 25–75%; 59.00 [38.00–87.25] versus 43.50 [23.25–65.25], respectively; p = 0.036). However, CRP levels were not different in women with TPL compared to UP (p = 0.573). Furthermore, a significant moderate negative correlation was found between delivery week and NEO level (r = −0.557, p = 0.001). However, a significant correlation was not seen between delivery week and chitotriosidase activity (r = −0.042, p = 0.741). Conclusions: Inflammatory markers such as NEO and chitotriosidase activity, which are markers of macrophages, are more elevated in pregnant women with TPL than in women with UP. These data suggest that there are striking increases in inflammation and cellular immune activation in TPL.
ADMISSION ANGIOGRAPHIC CEREBRAL CIRCULATION TIME MAY PREDICT SUBSEQUENT ANGIOGRAPHIC VASOSPASM AFTER ANEURYSMAL SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE

OBJECTIVEAngiographic cerebral vasospasm occurs in approximately 70% of patients hospitalized after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and is associated with poor outcome. In this study, we examined whether or not cerebral circulation time (CCT) measured with digital subtraction angiography was associated with angiographic vasospasm. METHODSPatients who underwent cerebral angiography within 24 hours of SAH were analyzed. Contrast dye transit time from the arterial to the venous phase was measured to obtain CCT (supraclinoid internal carotid artery to parietal cortical veins) and microvascular CCT (cortical middle cerebral artery to parietal cortical veins). Patients with ruptured anterior circulation aneurysms and vasospasm on follow-up angiography (Group A) were compared with patients with SAH without vasospasm (Group B) and with normal control subjects (Group C). RESULTSThere were 20 patients in Group A (mean age, 51 ± 13 yr), 17 patients in Group B (56 ± 12 yr), and 98 patients in Group C (52 ± 12 yr). CCT in patients in Group A (7.7 ± 1.9 s) was significantly longer than those in Groups B (6.6 ± 1.2 s; P = 0.005) and C (5.9 ± 1 s; P < 0.001). Microvascular CCT in patients in Group A (7.1 ± 1.8 s) was significantly longer than those in Groups B (6.1 ± 1.2 s; P = 0.003) and C (5.4 ± 0.9 s; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONProlonged CCT, a measurement of increased small vessel resistance, can be identified within 24 hours after SAH and is associated with subsequent angiographic vasospasm. These results suggest that microcirculation changes may be involved in vasospasm.
Diabetes and Hypertension: Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment

Hypertension occurs in approximately 30% of patients with type 1 diabetes and from 50 to 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes. Although the pathogenesis of hypertension is distinct in each type, hypertension markedly enhances the already high risk of cardiovascular and renal disease in types 1 and 2 and implications for treatment are similar in both. The threshold for blood pressure treatment in diabetic patients is generally agreed to be 140/90 mm/hg with a target BP of < 130/80. So‐called “lifestyle modifications” play an important role in therapy, particularly in type 2 patients, by decreasing blood pressure and improving other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Indeed non‐pharmacologic interventions have been demonstrated to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in patients at high risk to develop the disease. Aggressive anti‐hypertensive drug treatment is warranted given the high risk associated with the combination of diabetes and hypertension and the demonstrated effectiveness of anti‐hypertensive treatment in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are the cornerstones of pharmacologic management, in no small part because of the renoprotective effects of these agents in antagonizing the development and progression of diabetic renal disease. Multiple agents, including diuretics, will usually be required to attain target blood pressure levels.
Alkaline DNA Fragmentation in Vivo: Borderline or Negative Results Obtained Respectively with 7,12-Dimethylbenz[A]Anthracene and Benzo[A]Pyrene 1

Using the in vivo DNA damage alkaline elution assay, a satisfactory correlation with carcinogenicity in the same target organ has been previously shown for a variety of chemical agents. This work was intended to enlarge the exploration of the predictivity of this test. Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) was found negative for damage to liver DNA of mice and rats, and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) negative for damage to liver and bone marrow DNA of mice and slightly positive for damage to mammary gland DNA of young female rats. The results were found to be correlated with the extension of DNA arylation in target organs in similar experimental conditions. From carcinogenicity data reported in the Survey of Compounds Which Have Been Tested for Carcinogenic Activity (vols. 1961-1973) BP and DMBA were both found to be essentially negative as liver carcinogens; however, DMBA was a potent carcinogen in inducing mammary tumors.
Concentration of Transforming Growth Factor Beta in Human Bone Tissue: Relationship to Age, Menopause, Bone Turnover, and Bone Volume

Transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) is thought to play an important role in bone metabolism, but its relationship to human bone turnover and bone mass has not been examined yet. In this study, we measured the concentration of TGF‐β in 811 samples of male and female bone from four representative sites of the human skeleton and in the supernatants of 72 short‐term human bone marrow cultures from the iliac crest. The concentrations of TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β2 in the bone matrix were positively correlated with histomorphometric indices of bone resorption and bone formation and with serum levels of osteocalcin and bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase. We also observed a positive association between the release of TGF‐β in the bone marrow cultures and serum osteocalcin. Changes in the rate of cancellous or cortical bone remodeling with age or menopause were accompanied by corresponding changes in skeletal TGF‐β. In contrast, there was no significant relationship between the concentration of TGF‐β and bone volume at any skeletal site. In conclusion, our study supports the hypothesis that TGF‐β plays an important role in human bone remodeling, but fails to demonstrate an association between the skeletal concentration of TGF‐β and human bone mass.
Ökologische Geflügelproduktion – Struktur, Entwicklung, Probleme, politischer Handlungsbedarf

Es erfolgte eine Fragebogenerhebung bei 918 Biobetrieben und Vor-Ort-Erhebungen bei 92 Betrieben (70 Legehennen, 5 Junghennen, 17 Mastgeflugel). Kenndaten: Von ca. 300 Umfragebetrieben hielten 2/3 unter 50 Hennen, nur 6 % hielten uber 50 Stuck Mastgeflugel. Einige Betriebe halten aber mehrere zehntausend Tiere. Haltung: Die meisten Legehennenbetriebe verfugen bereits uber Grunauslaufe, viele auch uber befestigte Kleinauslaufe. Bodenhaltung im Stall dominierte. Verbesserungsmoglichkeiten bei den Haltungsbedingungen bestehen vor allem hinsichtlich Besatzdichten, dem Stallklima und der Einstreuqualitat. Herkunfte: Die groseren Betriebe setzen ausschlieslich Hybridherkunfte ein (Rassehuhner nur in kleineren Umfragebetrieben). Futterung: Gut die Halfte der Legehennenbetriebe kauft Alleinfutter zu, der Rest mischt Futter selbst (i.d.R. Zukauf Eiweiserganzer). Es uberwiegen Weizen, Erbsen, Mais und Triticale. Nahrstoffanalysen werden nur selten durchgefuhrt. Erst 10 % der Betroebe realisieren die 100 %-Bio-Futterung. Raufutter wird nur auf 1/3 der Betriebe angeboten. Leistungen: Die Legeleistung je Durchschnittshenne lag im Mittel bei etwa 75 %, die Verluste betrugen etwa 10 %. Fur teilweise suboptimale Leistungen konnten Defizite im Futterungsmanagement, der Haltung sowie bei der Krankheitsvorbeugung verantwortlich sein. Ge-fiederbonitierungen ergaben auf einem Teil der Betriebe Probleme mit Federpicken oder Kannibalismus. Viele Betriebe weisen Direktvermarktung auf. Die Erzeugerpreise stiegen vom Gros- uber Einzelhandel zur Direktvermarktung (O 16, 19, 21 Cent/Ei). Die aufgesuchten Betriebe mit Junghennen und Mastgeflugel waren sehr heterogen bzgl. Bestandsgrosen und Haltungsformen. Die Direktvermarktung von Geflugelfleisch uberwiegt (O 7 – 9 €/kg SG). 100 %-Biofutterung wird ebenfalls nur selten realisiert.
Utility of Electronic Medical Records to Assess the Relationship Between Parenteral Nutrition and Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Adult Hospitalized Patients.

BACKGROUND Parenteral nutrition is associated with increased central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Electronic databases are important for identifying independent risk factors for prevention strategies. Our aims were to evaluate the utility of using electronic data sources to identify risk factors for CLABSIs, including parenteral nutrition (PN), and to assess the association between CLABSI and PN administration. METHODS Data were obtained for all discharges of adult patients in whom a central line was inserted between September 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008, in a large, academically affiliated hospital in New York City. CLABSI was defined electronically using a modified definition from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A manual chart review was also undertaken to assess validity/reliability of the electronic database and gather additional information. Risk factors for CLABSI were examined using logistic regression. RESULTS Among 4840 patients, there were 220 CLABSIs, an incidence of 5.4 CLABSIs per 1000 central line days. Risk factors included PN (odds ratio [OR], 4.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.50-7.48), intensive care unit stay (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.58-3.23), renal disease (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 2.00-3.88), and immunodeficiency (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.70-3.00). Diabetes mellitus was associated with reduced CLABSI rates (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45-0.88). CONCLUSIONS The utility of electronic medical records for determining risk factors is limited by such things as free-text data entry. Using a hybrid between fully electronic and manual chart review, reliable data were obtained. PN is associated with a high risk for CLABSI in a population highly selected for indications for PN.
CD154 Variant Lacking Tumor Necrosis Factor Homologous Domain Inhibits Cell Surface Expression of Wild-type Protein*

X-linked hyper-IgM (XHIM) syndrome is an immunological disorder resulting from mutations in the CD154 gene. Some mutations occur in splicing sites and result in transcripts encoding wild-type and mutant proteins. These mutants lack the tumor necrosis factor homologous (TNFH) domain and consequently fail to trimerize. Given that the TNFH domain is responsible for trimerization, one may predict that the TNFH mutant can not participate in the assembly of wild-type CD154. Thus, it was puzzling why these patients exhibit XHIM phenotype, presumably resulting from a lack of functional CD154. One possibility is that the TNFH mutant exhibits a dominant negative effect over the wild-type protein. To investigate this, we coexpressed the wild-type protein and a TNFH mutant and examined the biochemical and functional properties of the resulting CD154 products. We demonstrate that despite the lack of the TNFH domain, the TNFH mutant can associate with the wild-type protein. Furthermore, such an association compromises the ability of the wild-type protein to mature onto the cell surface. These results provide a mechanism for the defect of CD154 in XHIM patients producing both wild-type and TNFH variants and suggest that besides the TNFH domain, the stalk region participates in the assembly of CD154 trimers.
Capillary refill time and cardiac output in children undergoing cardiac catheterization *

Objective: Many pediatric healthcare providers believe that capillary refill time is a measure of perfusion and cardiac output in children. Despite its widespread use, there are no studies examining the relationship of capillary refill time to cardiac output in noncritically ill children. This study examined the inter-rater reliability of capillary refill time and its relationship to hemoglobin and with cardiac output in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Patients: A total of 58 children, ages 0.3–17 yrs, with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization. Interventions: Two clinicians performed two measurements of capillary refill time in a standardized fashion on 58 children undergoing cardiac catheterization. Cardiac output was determined by the Fick method within 15 mins of the first assessment of capillary refill time (time 1). Measurements and Main Results: Capillary refill time and cardiac output measurements were obtained in 44 children, and 108 paired measurements of capillary refill time were obtained to assess inter-rater reliability. The mean capillary refill time was 1.2 secs (±0.5 secs), and the mean cardiac output was 3.6 L/min/m2 (2.2–5.7 L/min/m2). The inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.12 (time 1) (95% confidence interval −0.15 to +0.37) and was 0.32 (95% confidence interval 0.058–0.54) at the end of the catheterization (time 2). A significant association was noted between average capillary refill time at time 1 and hemoglobin, with higher hemoglobin correlating with longer capillary refill time (p = .015). There was no significant correlation between the average capillary refill time taken at the time of cardiac output measurement (time 1) and measured cardiac output (r = .331, 95% confidence interval for r, .066–.552). Conclusions: We found that the inter-rater reliability of capillary refill time was poor and variable under controlled conditions and capillary refill time was not correlated with cardiac output in anesthetized nonacutely ill pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Caution should be used in inferring cardiac output from capillary refill time measurements alone.
Synergism between maggot excretions and antibiotics

Maggots are successfully used to treat severe, infected wounds. This study investigated whether maggot excretions/secretions influence the antibacterial activity of different antibiotics. Minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined of gentamicin and flucloxacillin for Staphylococcus aureus, of penicillin for Streptococcus pyogenes, of amoxicillin and vancomycin for Enterococcus faecalis, of gentamicin for Enterobacter cloacae, and of gentamicin, tobramycin, and ciprofloxacin for Pseudomonas aeruginosa by checkerboard titration. A range of concentrations of antibiotics in combination with excretions/secretions was examined to investigate the potential of maggot excretions/secretions to affect antibacterial activity. The results showed a dose‐dependent increase of the antibacterial effect of gentamicin in the presence of excretions/secretions on S. aureus. Minimal concentrations and MBC of gentamicin decreased, respectively, 64‐ and 32‐fold. The MBC of flucloxacillin and excretions/secretions against S. aureus were also decreased. The other antibiotic and excretions/secretions combinations exerted an indifferent effect. Excretions/secretions alone did not have any antibacterial effect. The synergism between gentamicin and maggot excretions/secretions could be of direct importance in clinical practice, because it could allow the use of lower doses of gentamicin and thus minimize the risk of gentamicin‐related side effects.
Extended family caring for children orphaned by AIDS: balancing essential work and caregiving in a high HIV prevalence nations

Abstract While over 90 per cent of the 15 million children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS are cared for by family members, there is little information about whether adults can meet orphans’ essential caregiving needs while working to economically survive. Using a survey we conducted in Botswana of 1033 working adults, we analyse the experience of adults who are caring for orphans. Over one-third of working adults were caring for orphans and many with few financial resources: 82% were living on household incomes below US$10 purchasing power parity adjusted per person per day. Because of their caregiving responsibilities, they were less able to supplement income with overtime, weekend, evening, or night work. At the same time caregiving responsibilities meant orphan caregivers spent fewer hours caring for their own children and other family members. Nearly half of orphan caregivers had difficulties meeting their children's needs, and nearly 75% weren't able to meet with children's teachers. Pay loss at work compounded the problems: One-quarter of orphan caregivers reported having to take unpaid leave to meet sick childcare needs and nearly half reported being absent from work for children's routine health care. This paper makes clear that if families are to provide adequate care for orphans while economically surviving there needs to be increases in social supports and improvements in working conditions.
Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction in Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19)

Abstract Coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) shows a rapid spread over-the-world. Given scarce resources, non-laboratory diagnostics is crucial. In this cross-sectional study, two-thirds of European patients with polymerase chain reaction confirmed COVID-19 reported olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, indicating the significance of this history in the early diagnostics.