Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Posttraumatic Stress Two Years after the Oklahoma City Bombing in Youths Geographically Distant from the Explosion

This article describes Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology in 69 sixth-grade youths who resided within 100 miles of Oklahoma City at the time of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. These youths neither had any direct physical exposure nor personally knew anyone killed or injured in the explosion. A survey conducted two years after the bombing assessed exposure, PTSD symptoms, and functioning. PTSD symptom frequency was measured with the Impact of Event Scale--Revised. Our BCD criteria for defining PTSD caseness was modeled after DSM-IV B, C, and D criteria requiring one reexperiencing, three avoidance/numbing, and two arousal symptoms for diagnosis. Those who met our BCD criteria had significantly higher PTSD symptom scores than those who did not. Both increased mean PTSD symptom score and meeting our caseness definition were associated with increased functioning difficulties. Media exposure and indirect interpersonal exposure (having a friend who knew someone killed or injured) were significant predictors of symptomatology. These findings suggest that children geographically distant from disaster who have not directly experienced an interpersonal loss report PTSD symptoms and functional impairment associated with increased media exposure and indirect loss.
Effects of Dietary Low Level of Threonine and Lysine on the Accumulation of Intramuscular Fat in Porcine Muscle

We attempted to determine whether shortage of dietary threonine enhances the accumulation of intramuscular fat (IMF) in porcine muscle. Although dietary low levels of lysine enhanced the concentration of IMF in the longissimus dorsi and rhomboideus muscles, dietary low threonine did not. We conclude that the effect of dietary threonine levels on the accumulation of IMF in porcine muscle is negligible.
Second-Line Levofloxacin-Based Triple Therapy's Efficiency for Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Patients With Peptic Ulcer

Objectives: First-line standard eradication efficacy with lansoprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin regressed over 10 years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a levofloxacin-based regimen in patients with peptic ulcer after failure of the standard first-line H.pylori eradication therapy in a country with a high rate of infection. Methods: A total of 91 peptic ulcer patients who were diagnosed H.pylori positive proven by rapid urease test and histology between November 2005 to March 2008 were given lansoprazole 30 mg bid, amoxicillin 1 g bid and clarithromycin 500 mg bid (LAC) for 14 days. After three months from the first line eradication treatment omeprazole 20 mg bid, levofloxacin 500 mg bid, amoxicillin 1 g bid (OLA) 7 day treatment regimen was recommended as a second-line therapy for 37 patients who failed at first-line standard triple therapy. Results: Eradication rates for LAC regimen were found to be 57.14% (52/91) for intention to treat and 58.42% (52/89) for per protocol analysis. Eradication rates for OLA regimen were found to be 37.83% (14/37) for ITT and 41.17% (14/34) for PP analysis. Conclusion: OLA regimen eradication rate was successful only in 40% of patients who failed in the first-line eradication. New eradication treatment strategies must be performed, at least in Turkey.
Assay of serum tobramycin levels with the Bactec 460

Serum tobramycin levels of synthetic and patient specimens were determined by the Bactec 460. The results were compared with those obtained from the same specimens by radioimmunoassay. These studies suggest that assays performed by either method should be run in duplicate or triplicate to achieve maximum accuracy. The studies also suggest that results obtained by the Bactec method are at least as reliable as those obtained by the radioimmunoassay method.
Role of iso-receptors in receptor-receptor interactions with a focus on dopamine iso-receptor complexes

Abstract Intercellular and intracellular communication processes consist of signals and recognition/decoding apparatuses of these signals. In humans, the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family represents the largest family of cell surface receptors. More than 30 years ago, it has been proposed that GPCR could form dimers or higher-order oligomers (receptor mosaics [RMs] at the plasma membrane level and receptor-receptor interactions [RRIs] have been proposed as a new integrative mechanism for chemical signals impinging on cell plasma membranes). The basic phenomena involved in RRIs are allostery and cooperativity of membrane receptors, and the present paper provides basic information concerning their relevance for the integrative functions of RMs. In this context, the possible role of iso-receptor RM is discussed (with a special focus on dopamine receptor subtypes and on some of the RMs they form with other dopamine iso-receptors), and it is proposed that two types of cooperativity, namely, homotropic and heterotropic cooperativity, could allow distinguishing two types of functionally different RMs. From a general point of view, the presence of iso-receptors and their topological organization within RMs allow the use of a reduced number of signals for the intercellular communication processes, since the target cells can recognize and decode the same signal in different ways. This theoretical aspect is further analyzed here by means of an analogy with artificial information systems. Thus, it is suggested that the ‘multiplexer’ and ‘demultiplexer’ concepts could, at least in part, model the role of RMs formed by iso-receptors in the information handling by the cell.
Methionine to Glutamine Substitutions in the C-terminal Domain of Calmodulin Impair the Activation of Three Protein Kinases*

The 9 methionine residues of vertebrate calmodulin (CaM) were individually changed to glutamine residues in order to investigate their roles in enzyme binding and activation. The mutant proteins showed three classes of effect on the activation of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase, CaM-dependent protein kinase IIα, and CaM-dependent protein kinase IV. First, some mutations had no appreciable effect on the ability of CaM to activate the three protein kinases. Included in this category were glutamine substitutions at residues 36 and 51 in the N-terminal domain, at residue 76 in the domain linker sequence, and at residues 144 and 145 in the C-terminal domain. Second, glutamine substitutions in the N-terminal domain of CaM, particularly those at positions 71 and 72, lowered the maximal activity of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase while having no effect on the other two enzymes. Finally the affinity of CaM for all three enzymes was lowered by glutamine mutations at the neighboring methionines 109 and 124, located on a solvent-accessible surface of the C-terminal domain of Ca2+/CaM. This last result provides the first demonstration of the involvement of the same hydrophobic groups in the high affinity binding of CaM to three different enzymes.
Myoelectric Fatigue Profiles of Three Knee Extensor Muscles

Aims of the present study were to: 1) investigate the differences between the myoelectric fatigue profiles of the vasti muscles of the quadriceps during electrically evoked contractions; 2) compare the myoelectric fatigue profiles of the vasti muscles between sedentary subjects and rowers; 3) analyze motor unit activation order during stimulation of the vasti muscles. In nine sedentary subjects and nine rowers surface EMG signals were detected during electrically elicited contractions of the following three muscles: vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis longus (VML). M-waves were recorded as the muscles were stimulated with both variable (increasing-decreasing) and constant stimulation intensities. Changes in M-wave conduction velocity (CV) during trains with non-constant current were adopted for the study of the motor unit recruitment order. Rates of change of myoelectric signal variables were adopted to assess myoelectric manifestations of fatigue during stimulation trains with constant current. We found that: 1) VL muscle was more fatigable than vastus medialis muscles; 2) VL and VML muscles of rowers resulted less fatigable than sedentary subjects; and 3) in the three muscles, motor units tended to be recruited in order of increasing CV and derecruited in order of decreasing CV with increasing/decreasing stimulation current.
Explorer Genomic analysis of genetic heterogeneity and evolution in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma

Resistance to chemotherapy in ovarian cancer is poorly understood. Evolutionary models of cancer predict that, following treatment, resistance emerges either due to outgrowth of an intrinsically resistant sub-clone, or evolves in residual disease under the selective pressure of treatment. To investigate genetic evolution in high-grade serous (HGS) ovarian cancers we first analysed cell line series derived from three cases of HGS carcinoma before and after platinum resistance had developed (PEO1, PEO4 and PEO6, PEA1 and PEA2, and PEO14 and PEO23). Analysis with 24-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation and SNP array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) showed mutually exclusive endoreduplication and loss of heterozygosity events in clones present at different timepoints in the same individual. This implies that platinum sensitive and resistant disease was not linearly related but shared a common ancestor at an early stage of tumour development. Array CGH analysis of six paired preand post-neoadjuvant treatment HGS samples from the CTCR-OV01 clinical study did not show extensive copy number differences, suggesting that one clone was strongly dominant at presentation. These data show that cisplatin resistance in HGS carcinoma develops from pre-existing minor clones but that enrichment for these clones is not apparent during short-term chemotherapy treatment.
The Burst‐Like Behavior of Aseismic Slip on a Rough Fault: The Creeping Section of the Haiyuan Fault, China

Recent observations suggesting the influence of creep on earthquakes nucleation and arrest are strong incentives to investigate the physical mechanisms controlling how active faults slip. We focus here on deriving generic characteristics of shallow creep along the Haiyuan fault, a major strike‐slip fault in China, by investigating the relationship between fault slip and geometry. We use optical images and time series of Synthetic Aperture Radar data to map the surface fault trace and the spatiotemporal distribution of surface slip along the creeping section of the Haiyuan fault. The fault trace roughness shows a power‐law behavior similar to that of the aseismic slip distribution, with a 0.8 roughness exponent, typical of a self‐affine regime. One possible interpretation is that fault geometry controls to some extent the distribution of aseismic slip, as it has been shown previously for coseismic slip along active faults. Creep is characterized by local fluctuations in rates that we define as creep bursts. The potency of creep bursts follows a power‐law behavior similar to the Gutenberg–Richter earthquake distribution, whereas the distribution of bursts velocity is non‐Gaussian, suggesting an avalanche‐like behavior of these slip events. Such similarities with earthquakes and lab experiments lead us to interpret the rich dynamics of creep bursts observed along the Haiyuan fault as resulting from long‐range elastic interactions within the heterogeneous Earth’s crust.
The biological characteristics and distribution of the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum, and Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in Argentina and Chile

The aphids Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (greenbug) and Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) (Russian wheat aphid, RWA) were collected from several localities in Argentina and Southern Chile. Clones were established from aphids collected at each loca- tion. The host preferences were studied in free choice tests. Biotypes were characterized on the basis of aphid antibiosis and host plant tolerance. The production of sexuals was assessed under natural conditions, from March to November in 1997-2001, at La Plata (34°55' S, 57°57' W). The greenbug distribution ranged from 24°40' to 43°28' S, and was bounded between isothermals 18-20°C and 8-10°C, and isohyets 400-600 mm and greater than 1200 mm. The aphids at all localities were collected from a wide range of cultivated and wild hosts. The biotypes in ten out of thirty-four populations were identified. One population was obligato- rily parthenogenetic, the remainder cyclically parthenogenetic. No correlation was found between the region they came from and the period required for the induction of sexuals. RWA was found between 26°50´ and 43°28´S, bounded by the isothermals 20-22°C and 8-10°C, and isohyets 400-600 mm and 2000 mm. In Chile, this aphid was only found in Osorno County, which lies on isothermal 8-10°C and is bounded by the isohyets 1000 mm and 2000 mm. Only a few RWA genotypes (clones) produced sexuals irrespective of the host they were collected from, period of the year, region, current host, or the day length and average temperature of the rearing conditions. For the first time, RWA was found infesting cultivated as well as wild oats in South America. At low latitudes, popula- tions of both aphid species were found only infesting wild Sorghum halepensis (L).
Metabolic syndrome and elevated C-reactive protein in breast cancer survivors on adjuvant hormone therapy.

AIMS As the efficacy of treatment for breast cancer has improved, particularly with the use of antiestrogenic therapies, there is an increasing population of long-term breast cancer survivors who seeks care with unique health issues. These patients may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) resulting from excess adiposity and treatment effects. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), two predictors of CVD, have not been fully evaluated in overweight breast cancer survivors on hormone-modulating agents. METHODS Anthropometric measures, including weight, height, waist and hip circumferences; clinical laboratory assessments, including lipids, glucose, glycoslyated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, and high sensitivity CRP; and body composition and blood pressure (BP) were collected from overweight breast cancer survivors (n=42). Select measures were used to derive MetS using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) diagnostic criteria. RESULTS Participants had a mean body weight of 83.8 kg and body mass index (BMI) of 31.4 kg/m2. Mean fasting glucose (98+/-12.9 mg/dL), HbA1c (6.0+/-0.5 mg/dL), cholesterol (199+/-33.7 mg/dL), and insulin (16+/-3.2 mg/dL) were all at the upper end of the normal range. MetS was diagnosed in 54.8% of overweight postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. CRP was moderately or severely elevated in 90.5% of the population (mean of 5.1+/-5.3 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS In our sample, overweight breast cancer survivors commonly have MetS and elevated CRP that place them at increased risk for cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases. If replicated in a larger sample, this warrants close medical monitoring to prevent and reduce morbidity and mortality unrelated to breast cancer.
Development of a Computer-Based Format for the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) With University Students

ABSTRACT Background: The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a reliable and valid tool for the early detection of harmful and hazardous drug use in primary care settings when administered by interview in the general population. In university students, substance use is high, so a reliable and feasible screening instrument is needed. Objectives: To compare the computer-based ASSIST (ASSISTc) with the interview format (ASSISTi). Methods: A convenience sample with counterbalanced design was used alternating between the ASSISTi and ASSISTc with 15-day interval. Although this is not a traditional test–retest reliability study, the same statistical analysis was used: intraclass correlations (ICC), kappa (κ), and Cronbach's alpha (α) to compare the two formats. A satisfaction questionnaire was applied immediately after the second session. Results: Both formats were completed by the students (n = 809) over 15 days. The scores of involvement with all substances and with tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine obtained with the two formats demonstrated excellent ICC (> .77). The level of agreement was considered substantial for tobacco (κ = .69) and cannabis (κ = .70) and moderate for alcohol (κ = .58). The consistency of the ASSISTc was considered satisfactory (α: .85 for tobacco, .73 for alcohol, and .87 for cannabis). The analysis of satisfaction and feasibility showed that the ASSISTi was easier to understand, but the two formats were considered similar when considering acceptability, ease of responding, and degree of intimidation. Conclusions/importance: The two formats are acceptable, the scores are comparable, and they can be used interchangeably.
How Asian and Global Economic Crises Prevail in Chinese IPO and Stock Market Efficiency

By considering two time windows of crises, first one is the time period of Asian financial crisis (1997-1999) and the other one is prevailing global economic crisis (2007-2009), the pattern of underpricing and aftermarket performance are studied. A sample of 626 companies and Market adjusted return model are used. Result indicates that in the recent global economic crisis IPO activity is on shrinking trend and there is 10% increase in average underpricing as compared to last Asian financial crisis. There is a fluctuating trend in aftermarket performance of IPO returns. A minimum return of 62% in 2009 is observed. This study also endeavors to examine the efficiency of Chinese stock market and how the Asian and global financial crisis influences the efficiency of Chinese stock market. In order to determine the efficiency of Chinese stock market we apply efficient market hypothesis of random walk. Here we apply ADF, DF-GLS, PP and KPSS tests on stock market returns in order to check the unit root in data series for both Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges separately. The results of the study shows that Chinese stock market is weak form efficient and past data of stock market movements may not be very useable in order to make excess returns. In both periods of crises Chinese stock market is observed weak form efficient.
Impact of machine perfusion after long static cold storage on delayed graft function incidence and duration and time to hospital discharge

Delayed graft function (DGF) is very high in our center (70%‐80%), and we usually receive a kidney for transplant after more than 22 hours of static cold ischemia time (CIT). Also, there is an inadequate care of the donors, contributing to a high rate of DGF. We decided to test whether machine perfusion (MP) after a CIT improved the outcome of our transplant patients. We analyzed the incidence of DGF, its duration, and the length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients who received a kidney preserved with MP after a CIT (hybrid perfusion—HP). We included 54 deceased donors kidneys preserved with HP transplanted from Feb/13 to Jul/14, and compared them to 101 kidney transplants preserved by static cold storage (CS) from Nov/08 to May/12. The median pumping time was 11 hours. DGF incidence was 61.1% vs 79.2% (P = .02), median DGF duration was 5 vs 11 days (P < .001), and median LOS was 13 vs 18 days (P < .011), for the HP compared to CS group. The observed reduction of DGF with machine perfusion did not occur in donors over 50 years old. In the multivariate analysis, risk factors for DGF, adjusted for CIT, were donor age (OR, 1.04; P = .005) and the absence of use of MP (OR, 1.54; P = .051). In conclusion, the use of HP contributed to faster recovery of renal function and to a shorter length of hospital stay.
Oral fecal parasites and personal hygiene of food handlers in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Ingestion of infective eggs and cysts of faecal orally transmissible parasites has been linked with the level of environmental and personal hygiene. The possibility of contamination of food with eggs and cysts by infected food vendors has also been recorded. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of parasites with direct transmission and the level of hygiene among food vendors. Stools of randomly selected food vendors selling in schools and streets in Abeokuta were examined for ova and cysts of parasites using formo-ether concentration method. Questionnaires, interviews, and field observation were also used to assess the activities of food vendors. RESULTS Ninety-seven (97%) percent of the food vendors were infected with one or more faecal-orally transmissible parasites while 3% were free from such parasites; Parasites observed were Entamoeba histolytica with a prevalence of 72% Ascaris lumbricoides (54%), Enterobius vermicularis (27%), Trichuris trichiura (24%) and Giardia duodenalis (13%). School food vendors recorded lower prevalence of infection (92%) than the street food vendors (98.7%) (P>0.05) Fifty-two percent (52%) of the food vendors have dewormed in the last four years; Eighty percent (80%) of this were school food vendors. Infections with helminthes were recorded in 63.5% of the dewormed food vendors. Food vendors involved in child care activities were found to be more infected than those not involved in such activities. Toilet facilities available to the vendors were mainly pit latrine and other related structure (75%) while 25% had access to water system closets. During hawking, dung hills were majorly used for defaecation. Hand washing after defaecation did not include the use of soap in the few vendors that were involved in hand washing. CONCLUSION There is need to enact food handling policies and implementation of such policies ensured in order to reduce transmission of oral faecal parasites.
A negative regulator linking chromosome segregation to developmental transcription in Bacillus subtilis

The Spo0JA and Spo0JB proteins of Bacillus subtilis are similar to the ParA and ParB plasmid‐partitioning proteins, respectively, and mutation of spo0JB prevents the expression of stage II genes of sporulation. This phenotype is a consequence of Spo0JA activity in the absence of Spo0JB, and its basis was unknown. In the studies reported here, Spo0JA was found specifically to dissociate transcription initiation complexes formed in vitro by the phosphorylated sporulation transcription factor Spo0A and RNA polymerase with the spoIIG promoter. This repressor‐like activity is likely to be the basis for preventing the onset of differentiation in vivo. Spo0JB is known to neutralize Spo0JA activity in vivo and also to interact with a mitotic‐like apparatus responsible for chromosome partitioning. These data suggest that Spo0JA and Spo0JB form a regulatory link between chromosome partition and development gene expression.
Columnaris disease of fishes

Abstract : Columnaris disease is a bacterial infection of warm-water fishes, trout, and anadromous fishes (which move from the sea up freshwater streams to spawn). The disease may be mild or severe, and of short or long duration. The causative organism was first isolated in 1944 and named on the basis of its appearance when viewed with a microscope-that is, the bacteria from Columns on a microscope slide. It was later named Flexibacter columnaris.