Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Typing of Escherichia coli Strains from Samples Collected before and after Pivmecillinam or Placebo Treatment of Uncomplicated Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection in Women

ABSTRACT The primary infecting Escherichia coli strains from 156 women with community-acquired uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) randomized to pivmecillinam or placebo and the E. coli strains causing UTI at two follow-up visits were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In the pivmecillinam treatment group PFGE showed that among patients having a negative urine culture at the first follow-up 77% (46/60) had a relapse with the primary infecting E. coli strain and 23% (14/60) had reinfection with a new E. coli strain at the second follow-up. Among patients having E. coli at the first follow-up PFGE showed that 80% (32/40) had persistence with the primary infecting E. coli strain, 15% (6/40) had reinfection with a new E. coli strain, and 5% (2/40) had different E. coli strains at the two follow-up visits (one had reinfection followed by relapse, and the other had persistence followed by reinfection). In the placebo group the majority had E. coli at the first follow-up. PFGE showed that among these patients 96% (50/52) had persistence with the primary infecting E. coli strain and 4% (2/50) had different E. coli strains at the two follow-up visits (both had persistence followed by reinfection). The finding that the majority of UTIs at follow-up are caused by the primary infecting E. coli strain supports the theory of a vaginal and rectal reservoir but could also support the recent discovery that E. coli strains are able to persist in the bladder epithelium despite appropriate antibiotic treatment, constituting a reservoir for recurrent UTI.
A Brief Introduction to Classification for Smart Grid

There is no doubt about the potentials of smart grid, for the traditional power grid has been kind of out of date, in terms of not only its infrastructure but also its restrictions on the way information is communicated. To provide better and smarter services via smart grid, the first thing we have to do is to make it more intelligent. Among the technologies that can be applied to smart grid to make it more intelligent, data mining will certainly play a vital role. This paper begins with a brief introduction to smart grid, followed by a discussion on the supervised learning (classification) and the unsupervised learning (clustering). Several open and possible research issues are then given to depict the future trends of smart grid.
Chaperone Properties of Mammalian Mitochondrial Translation Elongation Factor Tu*

The main function of the prokaryotic translation elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and its eukaryotic counterpart eEF1A is to deliver aminoacyl-tRNA to the A-site on the ribosome. In addition to this primary function, it has been reported that EF-Tu from various sources has chaperone activity. At present, little information is available about the chaperone activity of mitochondrial EF-Tu. In the present study, we have examined the chaperone function of mammalian mitochondrial EF-Tu (EF-Tumt). We demonstrate that recombinant EF-Tumt prevents thermal aggregation of proteins and enhances protein refolding in vitro and that this EF-Tumt chaperone activity proceeds in a GTP-independent manner. We also demonstrate that, under heat stress, the newly synthesized peptides from the mitochondrial ribosome specifically co-immunoprecipitate with EF-Tumt and are destabilized in EF-Tumt-overexpressing cells. We show that most of the EF-Tumt localizes on the mitochondrial inner membrane where most mitochondrial ribosomes are found. We discuss the possible role of EF-Tumt chaperone activity in protein quality control in mitochondria, with regard to the recently reported in vivo chaperone function of eEF1A.
A Morphological Study of the Developmentally Regulated Transport of Iron into the Brain

The distribution of transferrin, transferrin receptor, ferritin and ferric iron was studied in the developing rat brain. Transferrin immunoreactivity (IR) was observed diffusely in the brain from E16 until P10 from where it gradually decreased. The subcellular distribution of transferrin-IR in neurons was compatible with receptor-mediated uptake from P21 and onwards. Transferrin receptor-IR was observed prenatally on cells of neuroectodermal origin in the ventricular zone and in brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs). In postnatal rats, transferrin receptor-IR in BCECs was most pronounced in rats aged P10–P21 but thereafter decreased in intensity. The neuronal transferrin-receptor IR in postnatal brains was not consistently expressed on neurons until from P21 and onwards. Transferrin receptor-IR was not observed in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes or ramified microglial cells at any age. Ferric iron and ferritin were present in BCECs already from E16, declined from P3–P5, and was absent by P10. There results are discussed with emphasis on the age-dependent transport of transferrin into the developing brain. The upregulated expression of transferrin receptors on BCECs in the second and third postnatal week is compatible with a high need for iron at this age. The neuronal transferrin receptor expression by P21 coincides with a drop in transferrin-IR and iron transport into the brain at this age, suggesting that neuronal transferrin receptor mRNA is posttranscriptionally regulated by the lowered iron availability from this developmental stage onwards.
Comparison of human papillomavirus in situ hybridization and p16 immunohistochemistry in the detection of human papillomavirus‐associated head and neck cancer based on a prospective clinical experience

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a causative agent in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). These HPV‐related cancers have a clinicopathologic profile that diverges from HPV‐negative HNSCCs. Accordingly, HPV testing may soon become integrated into standard pathologic assessment of HNSCCs.
Role of type 1 pili and effects of phase variation on lower urinary tract infections produced by Escherichia coli

Phase variation of type 1 pili (fimbriae) was studied during the in vivo growth of Escherichia coli in two animal models. In the first, a heavily piliated urinary tract isolate (strain 149) was placed in 1-cm polypropylene chambers sealed with 0.22-micron-pore-size filters. The chambers were surgically implanted intraperitoneally in mice and recovered at various times. Piliation, as determined by electron microscopy and by measuring the minimum number of bacteria needed to produce mannose-sensitive hemagglutination, gradually decreased, and by day 5, most of the organisms were nonpiliated. In the second model, piliated and nonpiliated E. coli phase variants were inoculated into the bladders of BALB/c mice via urinary catheters, and their fate in the lower urinary tract was studied. Viable counts of bladder homogenates revealed that piliated phase variants were significantly more effective in colonizing the bladder urothelium than were their nonpiliated counterparts. Specific antibody to type 1 pili prevented colonization by the piliated organisms. After inoculation of piliated variants, the bladder-associated bacteria gave rise to approximately 80% mannose-sensitive hemagglutination-positive colonies, and immunocytochemistry of bladder lavages revealed large numbers of type 1 piliated bacteria adhering to the bladder transitional cells. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of piliated bacteria in association with the bladder urothelium. The urine of these mice, whose bladders were colonized with piliated bacteria, frequently showed no growth, and when bacteria were present, strain 149 yielded less than 30% hemagglutination-positive colonies. The results suggest that for some E. coli strains, phase variation may be a factor in determining the fate of the E. coli in the urinary tract and that the urine may not necessarily reflect the bacteriologic state of the bladder mucosa.
The relationship between the basal coronary translesional pressure ratio and fractional flow reserve

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) allows for physiological definition of coronary lesion severity but requires induction of maximal coronary circulation hyperemia with administration of adenosine leading to coronary resistive vessel vasodilatation. However, the hyperemic response to adenosine, and therefore the calculation of FFR, may be affected by dysfunction of the coronary microvasculature. The aim was to define the relationship between basal Pd/Pa and FFR and identify lesion‐independent predictors of the change in Pd/Pa with hyperemia.
0.88-THz Optical Clock Distribution on Adhesively Bonded Silicon Nanomembrane

Silicon photonics is a promising solution for on-chip optical clock distribution. We developed an adhesive bonding process to integrate silicon nanomembranes onto silicon chips. The single-mode strip waveguide fabricated on this adhesively bonded silicon membrane has a propagation loss of 4.3 dB/cm. A grating-coupled 1-to-32 H-tree optical distribution is experimentally demonstrated. Each branch includes 1.1-cm long strip waveguides, five Y-splitters, and three 90° bends. This optical distribution has a insertion loss of 13.9 dB, uniformity of 0.72 dB, and 3-dB bandwidth of 880 GHz determined by optical autocorrelation.
Fetal cardiac time intervals in healthy pregnancies – an observational study by fetal ECG (Monica Healthcare System)

Abstract Background: Fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) can detect QRS signals in fetuses from as early as 17 weeks’ gestation; however, the technique is limited by the minute size of the fetal signal relative to noise ratio. The aim of this study was to evaluate precise fetal cardiac time intervals (fCTIs) with the help of a newly developed fetal ECG device (Monica Healthcare System). Methods: In a prospective manner we included 15–18 healthy fetuses per gestational week from 32 weeks onwards. The small and wearable Monica AN24 monitoring system uses standard ECG electrodes placed on the maternal abdomen to monitor fECG, maternal ECG and uterine electromyogram (EMG). Fetal CTIs were estimated on 1000 averaged fetal heart beats. Detection was deemed successful if there was a global signal loss of less than 30% and an analysis loss of the Monica AN24 signal separation analysis of less than 50%. Fetal CTIs were determined visually by three independent measurements. Results: A total of 149 fECGs were performed. After applying the requirements 117 fECGs remained for CTI analysis. While the onset and termination of P-wave and QRS-complex could be easily identified in most ECG patterns (97% for P-wave, PQ and PR interval and 100% for QRS-complex), the T-wave was detectable in only 41% of the datasets. The CTI results were comparable to other available methods such as fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG). Conclusions: Although limited and preclinical in its use, fECG (Monica Healthcare System) could be an additional useful tool to detect precise fCTIs from 32 weeks’ gestational age onwards.
Transformational Leadership In The Special Education Classroom And Its Impact On Student Connectedness

The study of leadership is often relegated to the political or business world. As it pertains to the field of education, often it is thought of as something that happens outside the classroom walls. This study has broken that barrier by focusing on the classroom and the ways leadership skills manifest themselves in that environment. Transformational leadership as defined by Burns (1978) and Bass (1999) was chosen as the leadership style for this study because it is widely accepted in the literature as a leadership style which is adept at increasing connections between leaders and followers. Increasing levels of school connectedness for adolescents is critical because research included in the study strongly suggests that school connectedness is one of the strongest predictors of school violence, substance abuse, and adolescent depression rates. In an age where the nation is beset by unprecedented levels of school violence, an opioid crisis, and increased levels of adolescent mental health problems, school connectedness becomes immensely important for researchers to investigate. This qualitative phenomenological study investigates the classroom leadership behaviors of three special education teachers at a special education collaborative in the state of Massachusetts. The purpose of this study was to identify leadership skills used by these teachers in the classroom and unveil their beliefs about those skills. The data for this study was obtained through classroom observations, 1:1 interviews, and a journal kept by the researcher. Through the process of coding the data themes emerged which were consistent with transformational
Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Safety and Efficacy Trial of Diquafosol Tetrasodium (INS365) Ophthalmic Solution for the Treatment of Dry Eye

Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of diquafosol tetrasodium, a P2Y2 receptor agonist that stimulates fluid and mucin secretion on the ocular surface, as a novel topical treatment of dry eye disease. Methods: Subjects with dry eye (n = 527) were evaluated in a randomized, double-masked, parallel-group trial comparing 24 weeks of treatment with 2 concentrations of diquafosol (1% and 2%) versus placebo instilled 4 times daily. Corneal staining, conjunctival staining, Schirmer tests, and subjective symptoms of dry eye were evaluated. Use of artificial tears was permitted as necessary. Results: Subjects treated with 2% diquafosol had significantly lower corneal staining scores compared with placebo at the 6-week, primary efficacy time point (P < 0.001), and superiority continued throughout the 24-week study. Reductions in corneal staining were observed as early as after 2 weeks of treatment, were maintained throughout the 24-week study, and were observed to worsen slightly (toward baseline) when diquafosol treatment was discontinued (week 25). Results for conjunctival staining were consistent with those observed for corneal staining. Schirmer scores at week 6 were significantly higher with diquafosol treatment than with placebo (P \H 0.030). The percentage of subjects with clearing of foreign body sensation (score of 0) was higher at week 6 in subjects treated with 2% diquafosol (21%) compared with placebo (15%), but the difference did not achieve significance (P = 0.193). Significant differences in favor of diquafosol were observed for clearing of foreign body sensation and for worst symptom in secondary data analyses. Conclusion: Diquafosol tetrasodium was well tolerated and was superior to placebo (vehicle) in reducing corneal staining and in relieving certain patient symptoms. Diquafosol has a favorable risk/benefit profile in a broad spectrum of patients with dry eye disease and is a novel topical treatment of dry eye.
Identification of a novel gene involved in asexual organogenesis in the budding ascidian Botryllus schlosseri

Development via regeneration or budding shares some known genetic pathways with embryogenesis, but no concerted effort has been made to identify genes unique to asexual development. We have identified a novel gene that plays a role in cyclical bud formation and asexual organogenesis in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Athena mRNA is transcribed at high levels during the 24‐ to 36‐hr interval of programmed cell death and new bud initiation at the conclusion of the budding cycle (takeover). Knockdown of Athena by RNAi and antisense morpholinos induced defects in the development of new buds ranging from retardation in growth and abnormal organogenesis to hollow buds lacking organs. As genetic intervention in this organism has not been possible, this study establishes the use of RNAi and morpholinos in Botryllus as well as describing the knockdown phenotype of a new gene. Developmental Dynamics 234:997–1005, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Requirement for Hepatitis A Vaccine in Gurkha Soldiers

This Hepatitis A seroprevalence study aimed to determine the cost effectiveness of Hepatitis A vaccination for Gurkha soldiers. One hundred and sixty Gurkha recruits had serum analysed for Hepatitis A IgG. One hundred and fifty nine (99.4%) were IgG positive. Continuing to vaccinate Gurkha soldiers against Hepatitis A will confer little benefit and is not cost effective.
Cleavage of Transaldolase by Granzyme B Causes the Loss of Enzymatic Activity with Retention of Antigenicity for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the CNS resulting from a progressive loss of oligodendrocytes. Transaldolase (TAL) is expressed at selectively high levels in oligodendrocytes of the brain, and postmortem sections show concurrent loss of myelin basic protein and TAL from sites of demyelination. Infiltrating CD8+ CTLs are thought to play a key role in oligodendrocyte cell death. Cleavage by granzyme B (GrB) is predictive for autoantigenicity of self-proteins, thereby further implicating CTL-induced death in the initiation and propagation of autoimmunity. The precursor frequency and CTL activity of HLA-A2–restricted TAL 168–176–specific CD8+ T cells is increased in MS patients. In this paper, we show that TAL, but not myelin basic protein, is specifically cleaved by human GrB. The recognition site of GrB that resulted in the cleavage of a dominant TAL fragment was mapped to a VVAD motif at aa residue 27 by N-terminal sequencing and confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. The major C-terminal GrB cleavage product, residues 28–337, had no enzymatic activity but retained the antigenicity of full-length TAL, effectively stimulating the proliferation and CTL activity of PBMCs and of CD8+ T cell lines from patients with MS. Sera of MS patients exhibited similar binding affinity to wild-type and GrB-cleaved TAL. Because GrB mediates the killing of target cells and cleavage by GrB is predictive of autoantigen status of self proteins, GrB-cleaved TAL-specific T cell-mediated cytotoxicity may contribute to the progressive destruction of oligodendrocytes in patients with MS.
Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Plasma Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Levels in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: The Alpha Omega Trial

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease. Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid consumption has been inversely associated with FGF23 levels and with cardiovascular risk. We examined the effect of marine n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and plant-derived alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) on plasma FGF23 levels in post-myocardial infarction patients with chronic kidney disease. In the randomized double-blind Alpha Omega Trial, 4837 patients with a history of myocardial infarction aged 60–80 years (81% men) were randomized to one of four trial margarines supplemented with a targeted additional intake of 400 mg/day EPA and DHA, 2 g/day ALA, EPA-DHA plus ALA, or placebo for 41 months. In a subcohort of 336 patients with an eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (creatinine-cystatin C-based CKD-EPI formula), plasma C-terminal FGF23 was measured by ELISA at baseline and end of follow-up. We used analysis of covariance to examine treatment effects on FGF23 levels adjusted for baseline FGF23. Patients consumed 19.8 g margarine/day on average, providing an additional amount of 236 mg/day EPA with 158 mg/day DHA, 1.99 g/day ALA or both, in the active intervention groups. Over 79% of patients were treated with antihypertensive and antithrombotic medication and statins. At baseline, plasma FGF23 was 150 (128 to 172) RU/mL (mean (95% CI)). After 41 months, overall FGF23 levels had increased significantly (p < 0.0001) to 212 (183 to 241) RU/mL. Relative to the placebo, the treatment effect of EPA-DHA was indifferent, with a mean change in FGF23 (95% CI) of −17 (−97, 62) RU/mL (p = 0.7). Results were similar for ALA (36 (−42, 115) RU/mL) and combined EPA-DHA and ALA (34 (−44, 113) RU/mL). Multivariable adjustment, pooled analyses, and subgroup analyses yielded similar non-significant results. Long-term supplementation with modest quantities of EPA-DHA or ALA does not reduce plasma FGF23 levels when added to cardiovascular medication in post-myocardial patients with chronic kidney disease.
The role of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α during the metabolic depression associated with estivation

SUMMARY We have investigated the role of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) in two estivating organisms previously shown to downregulate protein synthesis during metabolic depression, the land snail Helix aspersa Müller and the desert frog Neobatrachus sutor Main 1957. We have developed a method using a single antibody (which binds specifically to the phosphorylated, conserved phosphorylation region) by which the total levels of eIF2α and the ratio of phosphorylated eIF2α [eIF2α(P)] to total (phosphorylated and unphosphorylated) eIF2α can be determined. In H. aspersa, we have shown that the level of eIF2α mRNA expression is unchanged between the awake and estivating states. The amount of total eIF2α is the same in the estivating and awake states, and eIF2α(P) is undetectable and must represent ≤10% of total eIF2α in both states. Conversely, in N. sutor during estivation, the level of total eIF2α increases approximately 1.6-fold and the ratio of eIF2α(P)/eIF2α increases from 0.22±0.11 to 0.52±0.08, implicating eIF2α phosphorylation in the downregulation of protein synthesis during estivation in this animal. The differences in the amounts of eIF2α and the level of its phosphorylation between these two species also suggest possible differences either in the mechanism by which protein synthesis is downregulated during estivation or in the sensitivity of the initiation of translation to eIF2α(P) levels.
Histories of childhood trauma in adult hypochondriacal patients.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the childhood histories of trauma, parental attitudes toward health, and physical illness in hypochondriacal adults. METHOD Sixty outpatients with DSM-III-R hypochondriasis and 60 nonhypochondriacal outpatients from the same general medical clinic were compared. All patients completed the Childhood Traumatic Events Scale and an eight-item questionnaire about childhood illness and health. Medical morbidity was assessed with a medical record audit. RESULTS Significantly more hypochondriacal than nonhypochondriacal patients reported traumatic sexual contact (28.6% versus 7.3%), physical violence (32.1% versus 7.3%), and major parental upheaval (28.6% versus 9.1%) before the age of 17. These differences remained statistically significant after sociodemographic differences between the groups were controlled for with multivariate regression analysis. The two groups did not differ in the age at which these traumas occurred or in the degree of trauma experienced. Significantly more hypochondriacal patients reported being sick as children and missing school for health reasons, but they did not differ in other measures of childhood illness and parental attitudes toward illness. The two groups had similar levels of aggregate medical morbidity. CONCLUSIONS Hypochondriacal adults recall more childhood trauma than do nonhypochondriacal patients, even after sociodemographic differences are controlled for. They also recall more childhood illness, although they are not currently more medically sick.