Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability of habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior monitoring by accelerometry in 6- to 8-year-olds.

BACKGROUND Accelerometry is rapidly becoming the instrument of choice for measuring physical activity in children. However, as limited data exist on the minimum number of days accelerometry required to provide a reliable estimate of habitual physical activity, we aimed to quantify the number of days of recording required to estimate both habitual physical activity and habitual sedentary behavior in primary school children. METHODS We measured physical activity and sedentary behavior over 7 days in 291 6- to 8-year-olds using Actigraph accelerometers. Between-day intraclass reliability coefficients were calculated and averaged across all combinations of days. RESULTS Although reliability increased with time, 3 days of recording provided reliabilities for volume of activity, moderate-vigorous intensity activity, and sedentary behavior of 68%, 71%, and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS For our sample and setting, 3 days accelerometry provided reliable estimates of the main constructs of physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Tracking in vivo dynamics of NK cells transferred in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation

Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haploSCT) offers an alternative treatment option for advanced leukemia patients lacking a HLA‐compatible donor. Transfer of NK cells represents a promising therapeutic option in combination with SCT, as NK cells can promote graft versus leukemia with low risk of GVH disease. In this study, we show results from a phase I/II trial in which 24 acute myeloid leukemia patients underwent haploSCT in combination with early transfer of unmodified NK cells and observed a promising 2‐year overall survival rate of 37%. By performing immunomonitoring and subsequent principal component analysis, we tracked donor NK‐cell dynamics in the patients and distinguished between NK cells reconstituting from CD34+ precursors, giving rise over time to a continuum of multiple differentiation stages, and adoptively transferred NK cells. Transferred NK cells displayed a mature phenotype and proliferated in vivo during the early days after haploSCT even in the absence of exogenous IL‐2 administration. Moreover, we identified the NK‐cell phenotype associated with in vivo expansion. Thus, our study indicates a promising path for adoptive transfer of unmodified NK cells in the treatment of high‐risk acute myeloid leukemia.
Gestational Magnesium Deficiency Is Deleterious to Fetal Outcome

A number of recent epidemiological findings have implicated magnesium as being essential to fetal well-being. Few studies, however, have examined the relationship between maternal requirements for dietary magnesium and subsequent mortality and morbidity in offspring. The present study uses a rodent model of dietary-induced hypomagnesemia to investigate the effects of magnesium deficiency prior to and during gestation on neonatal morbidity and mortality. Magnesium deficiency during gestation significantly increased neonatal mortality and morbidity. Such increases were associated with a reduced free magnesium concentration in both maternal and offspring blood and an increased incidence of periventricular hemorrhage and edema in newborn pups as observed by magnetic resonance imaging and histology. Animals fed a magnesium-deficient diet before mating but given magnesium supplementation during gestation did not demonstrate a significant change in neonatal mortality and morbidity when compared to control animals. The significant improvement in fetal outcome with dietary magnesium supports the concept of magnesium supplementation during pregnancy.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Protein Kinase Wzc fromEscherichia coli K12 Occurs through a Two-step Process*

In bacteria, several proteins have been shown to autophosphorylate on tyrosine residues, but little is known on the molecular mechanism of this modification. To get more information on this matter, we have analyzed in detail the phosphorylation of a particular autokinase, protein Wzc, from Escherichia coliK12. The analysis of the hydropathic profile of this protein indicates that it is composed of two main domains: an N-terminal domain, including two transmembrane α-helices, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. The C-terminal domain alone can undergo autophosphorylation and thus appears to harbor the protein-tyrosine kinase activity. By contrast, the N-terminal domain is not phosphorylated when incubated either alone or in the presence of the C-domain, and does not influence the extent of phosphorylation of the C-domain. The C-domain contains six different sites of phosphorylation. Among these, five are located at the C-terminal end of the molecule in the form of a tyrosine cluster (Tyr708, Tyr710, Tyr711, Tyr713, and Tyr715), and one site is located upstream, at Tyr569. The Tyr569 residue can autophosphorylate through an intramolecular process, whereas the tyrosine cluster cannot. The phosphorylation of Tyr569results in an increased protein kinase activity of Wzc, which can, in turn, phosphorylate the five terminal tyrosines through an intermolecular process. It is concluded that protein Wzc autophosphorylates by using a cooperative two-step mechanism that involves both intra- and interphosphorylation. This mechanism may be of biological significance in the signal transduction mediated by Wzc.
High glucose induces MCP-1 expression partly via tyrosine kinase-AP-1 pathway in peritoneal mesothelial cells.

BACKGROUND High glucose in peritoneal dialysis solutions has been implicated in the pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis in chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. However, the mechanisms are not very clear. Peritoneal macrophages seem to participate in the process of peritoneal fibrosis and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays a key role in the recruitment of monocytes toward the peritoneal cavity. However, little is known about the effect of high glucose on MCP-1 expression and its signal transduction pathway in human peritoneal mesothelial cells. METHODS Mesothelial cells were cultured with glucose (5 to 100 mmol/L) or mannitol chronically for up to seven days. MCP-1 expression of mRNA and protein was measured by Northern blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chemotactic activity of high-glucose-conditioned culture supernatant was measured by chemotactic assay. To examine the roles of the transcription factors activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was performed. RESULTS Glucose induced MCP-1 mRNA expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. MCP-1 protein in cell culture supernant was also increased. Equivalent concentrations of mannitol had no significant effect. High-glucose-conditioned supernatant possessed an increased chemotactic activity for monocytes, which was neutralized by anti-MCP-1 antibody. EMSA revealed that glucose increased the AP-1 binding activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but not NF-kappaB. Curcumin, an inhibitor of AP-1, dose-dependently suppressed the induction of MCP-1 mRNA by high glucose. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein (12.5 to 50 micromol/L) and herbimycin A (0.1 to 1 micromol/L) inhibited the high-glucose-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, and also suppressed the high-glucose-induced AP-1 binding activity. CONCLUSIONS : High glucose induced mesothelial MCP-1 expression partly via the tyrosine kinase-AP-1 pathway.
Gibberella musae (Fusarium musae) sp. nov., a recently discovered species from banana is sister to F. verticillioides

Several strains of Fusarium isolated from banana were identified previously as F. verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg but described as unable to produce fumonisin. Here we report biochemical and morphological evidence, as well as multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on elongation factor (EF-1α), calmodulin, β-tubulin, and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) sequences, indicating that these isolates represent a unique lineage in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex related to but distinct from F. verticillioides. Together with previous results of molecular studies, as well as with results of metabolite analyses, crossing experiments, pathogenicity tests and morphological characterization, these new data indicate that these strains isolated from banana represent a new species, Gibberella musae Van Hove et al. sp. nov. (anamorph: Fusarium musae Van Hove et al. sp. nov.), which is described herein.
High-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging Guidance Increases Efficacy And Safety of Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

High frequency ultrasound (12 MHZ) imaging equipped with a digital linear scanhead offers excellent resolution of superficial structures during brachial plexus block. Ultrasound can be used to identify the brachial plexus before block, guide the block needle to reach the target nerves, and visualize the pattern of local anesthetic spread. In the present study we compared the state-of-the-art ultrasound technology for supraclavicular brachial plexus block with the classical technique that depended on the anatomical landmarks as regard efficacy, quality and safety. We found that ultrasonic guidance decreased the time to perform the block, shortened the onset of block, prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia, increased the proportion of successful blocks, increased patient's satisfaction and reduced the incidence of complications than the classical method of supraclavicular blocks. Conclusion: High resolution ultrasound guided supraclavicular block is easier, more effective, of better quality, and safer than the classical block that depends on the anatomical
Erratum: Yoon M‐S, Puelles L, Redies C. 2000. Formation of cadherin‐expressing brain nuclei in diencephalic alar plate divisions. J. Comp. Neurol. 421:461–480.

During the formation of brain nuclei, the vertebrate neural tube is partitioned into distinct embryonic divisions. In this study, the expression of three members of the cadherin family of adhesion molecules (cadherin-6B, cadherin-7, and R-cadherin) was mapped to study the differentiation of gray matter in the divisions of the diencephalic alar plate of chicken embryos from embryonic day 3 (E3) to E10. At early stages of development (E3–E4), each cadherin is expressed in restricted regions of the diencephalic wall of the neural tube. The borders of some of the expression domains coincide with divisional boundaries. As the mantle layer is formed and increases in thickness from E4 to E8, morphologically discernible aggregates of cells appear that express the three cadherins differentially. These aggregates represent the anlagen of specific diencephalic brain nuclei, e.g., the lateroanterior nucleus, the ventral geniculate nucleus, the nucleus rotundus, the perirotundic area, the principal precommissural nucleus, and the lateral spiriform nucleus. Most of the cadherin-expressing diencephalic nuclei studied in this work apparently derive from a single embryonic division and remain there. The divisional boundaries are replaced gradually by the borders of cadherin-expressing brain nuclei. The current results support the idea that cadherins confer differential adhesiveness to developing structures of gray matter in the diencephalic alar plate. Moreover, they suggest that each cadherin plays a role in the formation of specific brain nuclei within the diencephalic divisions. J. Comp. Neurol. 421: 461–480, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Indexing terms: central nervous system; cell adhesion molecule; diencephalon; thalamus; chick
Expression of B Cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and BAFF-binding Receptors in Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is widely accepted that B cells play an essential role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). B cell involvement is well documented in the presence of detectable autoantibodies in the majority of patients, in particular, rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies against citrullinated proteins (ACPA), which can be detected many years before development of clinical disease, indicating that autoreactive B cell clones are involved in disease induction1. B cell depletion therapy with rituximab (anti-CD20) is effective in treating RA, proving an essential role for B cells in disease persistence2. Although B cell depletion therapy can induce longterm responses in a small number of patients, almost all patients eventually relapse. There is therefore much interest in finding out whether analysis of B cell-related factors can guide the development of treatment strategies and/or prediction of disease flare. The cytokine B cell activating factor (BAFF; also known as BLyS) plays an essential role in B cell survival and homeostasis. BAFF binds to 3 different receptors: BAFF-R, TACI, and BCMA. Expression of the different BAFF-binding receptors varies in distinct subsets of B cells, and their expression is coordinated and intimately related to maturation and activation status3. In the study by Moura, et al in this issue of The Journal 4, gene expression of molecules related to B cell survival and differentiation were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a small group of patients with very early RA (VERA; i.e., 6 weeks and 1 year duration], with patients with other forms of early arthritis (EA), and with healthy controls (HC). Patients with established RA were all taking methotrexate, … Address correspondence to Dr. M.J. Leandro, Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, University College London, Rayne Building, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JF, UK; E-mail: maria.leandro{at}ucl.ac. uk
Les relations entre science et politique dans le régime climatique : à la recherche d’un nouveau modèle d’expertise?

Depuis vingt-cinq ans, le changement climatique anthropogenique est apprehende comme une question d’environnement global. Les sciences du climat jouent un role primordial dans la construction du probleme, qui se veut resume par la formule « science speaks truth to power », science et politique etant supposees separees et etanches. Ce cadrage jusqu’ici dominant est aujourd’hui ebranle par l’echec des negociations internationales : il est devenu manifeste que le consensus scientifique ne suffit pas a engendrer des decisions politiques globales significatives. A l’heure de la COP de Paris, alors que se discute la necessite de changer de paradigme dans la negociation, cet article veut s’interroger sur l’evolution des relations entre science et politique dans le regime climatique, en revenant sur la vision du role de la science et en evoquant les critiques, propositions et perspectives qui se dessinent a propos des modeles d’expertise.
Clinical aspects of pediatric AIDS cases notified in the state of Amazonas, 1991-2009.

1MSc, PhD Student in Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA) and Fundação de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas (FMTAM); Professor, UEA, Brazil 2PhD, Professor, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Center of Infectious Diseases, Brazil 3PhD; Health Surveillance Superintendence, City Secretary of Health and Office of Civil Defense of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4PhD; Professor Universidade Federal do Amazonas/ FMTAM, Brazil 5PhD, Universidade Federal do Amazonas/ FMTAM, Brazil
Liver Function and Structure in Rats Treated Simultaneously with Cadmium and Mercury

The effect of cadmium chloride (150 mg/l) and mercury (II) chloride (80 mg/l) either alone or in combination in drinking water for 4 weeks on function and structure of the liver of male rats was studied. Results indicated that the ratio of liver weight to body weight and the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase noted in rats co-exposed to cadmium and mercury were intermediate between those noted in the individually metal treated rats. The histopathological study showed that the individual metal and the combined metal treatments caused severe liver damage. The degree of these changes noted in rats co-exposed to cadmium and mercury was not higher than those signalized in individual treatment. The biochemical and the histological changes observed in rats co-exposed to cadmium and mercury show that there is not an additive effect between these two metals.
Treatment of dialysis catheter-related Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with an antibiotic lock: a quality improvement report.

BACKGROUND Dialysis catheter-related bacteremia is often treated successfully by instilling an antibiotic-heparin solution into the catheter lumen (an antibiotic lock) in conjunction with systemic antibiotic therapy without removal of the catheter. The efficacy of this therapy is uncertain in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. DESIGN Quality improvement report. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 113 catheter-dependent hemodialysis outpatients with S aureus catheter-related bacteremia treated with a standardized antibiotic lock protocol. Data for all patients with catheter-related bacteremia are recorded in a prospective database. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN In conjunction with systemic antibiotic therapy (vancomycin for methicillin-resistant S aureus or cefazolin for methicillin-sensitive S aureus), an antibiotic lock was instilled into each catheter lumen after each dialysis session for 3 weeks. MEASURES Treatment failure is defined as persistent fever after 48 hours of antibiotic therapy or recurrent S aureus bacteremia within 90 days. Clinical cure is defined as resolution of fever and no recurrence of bacteremia. Major infection-related complications within 6 months were documented. RESULTS The catheter could not be salvaged in 67 patients (59%) because of persistent fever in 40 patients and recurrent bacteremia in 27 patients. A clinical cure was achieved in 46 patients (41%). A serious complication of catheter-related bacteremia occurred in 9.7% of all patients (11 of 113 patients). Serious complications were observed in 25% of patients (10 of 40 patients) with persistent fever, but only 1.4% of all other patients (1 of 73 patients; P < 0.0001). LIMITATIONS This was a single-center study. Serum antibiotic levels were not measured. CONCLUSIONS Routine antibiotic lock therapy is not appropriate for patients with S aureus catheter-related bacteremia. Serious complications occur primarily in patients with persistent fever.
Isolation and sequence analysis of polyketide synthase genes from the daunomycin-producing Streptomyces sp. strain C5

A contiguous region of about 30 kbp of DNA putatively encoding reactions in daunomycin biosynthesis was isolated from Streptomyces sp. strain C5 DNA. The DNA sequence of an 8.1-kbp EcoRI fragment, which hybridized with actI polyketide synthase (PKS) and actIII polyketide reductase (PKR) gene probes, was determined, revealing seven complete open reading frames (ORFs), two in one cluster and five in a divergently transcribed cluster. The former two genes are likely to encode PKR and a bifunctional cyclase/dehydrase. The five latter genes encode: (i) a homolog of TcmH, an oxygenase of the tetracenomycin biosynthesis pathway; (ii) a PKS Orf1 homolog; (iii) a PKS Orf2 homolog (chain length factor); (iv) a product having moderate sequence identity with Escherichia coli beta-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein synthase III but lacking the conserved active site; and (v) a protein highly similar to several acyltransferases. The DNA within the 8.1-kbp EcoRI fragment restored daunomycin production to two dauA non-daunomycin-producing mutants of Streptomyces sp. strain C5 and restored wild-type antibiotic production to Streptomyces coelicolor B40 (act VII; nonfunctional cyclase/dehydrase), and to S. coelicolor B41 (actIII) and Streptomyces galilaeus ATCC 31671, strains defective in PKR activity.
Risk factors and natural history of breast cancer in younger Chinese women.

AIM To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS Seven thousand one hundred and fifty-two women with primary breast cancer from the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry were recruited after receiving patients' consent, they were asked to complete standardized questionnaires which captured their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with breast cancer development. Among them, clinicopathological data and patterns of treatment were further collected from medical records of 5523 patients with invasive breast cancers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age at diagnosis: younger (< 40 years old) vs older patients (≥ 40 years old) for subsequent analyses. RESULTS Analysis on the sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to risk factors were performed on 7152 women with primary breast cancer and the results revealed that younger patients were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles; these include a lack of exercise (85.4% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), having high stress in life (46.1% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), having dairy/meat-rich diets (20.2% vs 12.9%, P < 0.001), having alcohol drinking habit (7.7% vs 5.2%, P = 0.002). Younger patients were also more likely to have hormone-related risk factors including nulliparity (43.3% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001) and an early age at menarche (20.7% vs 13.2%, P < 0.001). Analyses on clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment were performed on 5523 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The invasive tumours in younger patients showed more aggressive pathological features such as having a higher percentage of grade 3 histology (45.7% vs 36.5%, P < 0.001), having a higher proportion of tumours with lymphovascular invasion (39.6% vs 33.2%, P = 0.003), and having multifocal disease (15.7% vs 10.3%, P < 0.001); they received different patterns of treatment than their older counterparts. CONCLUSION Younger patients in Hong Kong are more likely to encounter risk factors associated with breast cancer development and have more aggressive tumours than their older counterparts.
Quantal analysis of synaptic potentials in neurons of the central nervous system.

This review concentrates on the results of quantal analysis at central synapses, particularly where the morphology and the electrophysiology of the same synaptic connection has been investigated. Results from quantal analysis at peripheral synapses are drawn on to help resolve some issues. The major topics covered in this review are the properties of the quantal synaptic potential and the junctional mechanisms involved in its generation
Source mechanisms of volcanic tsunamis

Volcanic tsunamis are generated by a variety of mechanisms, including volcano-tectonic earthquakes, slope instabilities, pyroclastic flows, underwater explosions, shock waves and caldera collapse. In this review, we focus on the lessons that can be learnt from past events and address the influence of parameters such as volume flux of mass flows, explosion energy or duration of caldera collapse on tsunami generation. The diversity of waves in terms of amplitude, period, form, dispersion, etc. poses difficulties for integration and harmonization of sources to be used for numerical models and probabilistic tsunami hazard maps. In many cases, monitoring and warning of volcanic tsunamis remain challenging (further technical and scientific developments being necessary) and must be coupled with policies of population preparedness.