Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bacteroides Bacteriophages Isolated from Human Feces

Studies on the dynamics of phage-bacterium relations in vivo have been restricted to a few facultative anaerobes, such as E. coli in mouse intestine (1), Streptococcus in sheep rumen (9) and in chicken gut (8), and obligate anaerobes in sheep rumen (1 1), and the data were not easily interpreted. Little is known about phages in the human intestine. In the case of coliphages, Dhillon et al (4) found that 77% of 22 human fecal samples contained more than 10 plaque forming units (PFU)/g of feces. Temperate phages were found in most of the fecal samples. Furuse et al (6) reported that feces with low coliphage titers, observed in both healthy subjects and
Career Progression and Comparative Advantage

This paper constructs and estimates a structural dynamic model of occupational choice in which all occupations are characterized in a skill requirement space using data from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and the NLSY79. This skill requirement space approach has its merit in computational simplicity as well as ease of interpretation: it allows the model to include hundreds of occupations at the three-digit census classification level without a large number of parameters. Parameter estimates indicate that wages grow with the skill requirements of an occupation and that educated and experienced individuals are better rewarded in a cognitive and interpersonal skill demanding occupation. They also suggest that ignoring self-selection into occupations and individual heterogeneity may result in counter-intuitive and biased estimates of the returns to skill requirements.
From compliance to concordance in diabetes

Compliance is a key concept in health care and affects all areas of health care including diabetes. Non-compliance has previously been a label attached to many patients without much thought having been given to the causes of poor compliance. Over the last few decades there has been a large volume of research focusing on compliance that has exposed the multitude of factors affecting compliance. Even the definition is not clear cut and so comparability between studies is not without difficulties. A better understanding of the factors affecting compliance, including the doctor/patient relationship, has allowed the evolution of “concordance”. Concordance views the patient as being the equal of the healthcare provider and as having a right to make informed decisions. In a condition such as diabetes, which has many potential long term complications, it is vital that concordance is embraced in the healthcare system in order to improve care.
Self-management of age-related macular degeneration and quality of life: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of an age-related macular degeneration (AMD) self-management program, consisting of health education and enhancement of problem-solving skills, to improve quality of life as shown by measures of mood and function. METHODS Two hundred thirty-one community-dwelling cognitively intact volunteers (mean age, 80.6 years) with advanced macular degeneration were randomly assigned to a 12-hour self-management program (n = 86), a series of 12 hours of tape-recorded health lectures (n = 74), or to a waiting list (n = 72). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was emotional distress (Profile of Mood States). Secondary outcome measures included function (National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire), social support (Duke Social Support Index), outlook on life (Life Optimism Test-Revised), and self-confidence to handle AMD-specific challenges in daily life (AMD Self-Efficacy Questionnaire). Clinical depression was determined in accord with the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Axis I, Fourth Edition, Research Version. RESULTS The self-management group showed significant improvement in measures of mood and function compared with controls. These changes were significantly greater for the depressed than for the nondepressed subjects. Decreased emotional distress was associated with increased self-efficacy, while improvements in function were associated with increases in self-efficacy and perceived social support. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the AMD self-management program was an effective intervention to enhance well-being in older persons with poor eyesight due to AMD, particularly in those who were initially depressed.
Lack of Endotoxin in Borrelia hispanica and Treponema pallidum 1

Abstract Borrelia hispanica from infected guinea pigs and Treponema pallidum from testicular syphilomas of rabbits were assayed for the presence of endotoxin with the Limulus lysate test. A suspension of Borrelia, containing 1.3 × 108 spirochetes/ml, was nonreactive both when it was tested as intact organisms, and when tested after disruption of the spirochetes by sonication. Eight different suspensions of treponemes, ranging from 0.6 × 109 to 3 × 109 treponemes/ml, were negative at a 1:10 dilution and were no more active than control suspensions of normal rabbit testes. Therefore, it was concluded that T. pallidum, as well as the Borrelia, possessed no endotoxin.
Effect of Intrathecal Amino Acid Receptor Antagonists on Basal Blood Pressure and Pressor Responses to Brainstem Stimulation in Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats

The importance of spinal cord amino acid receptors in the regulation of blood pressure was investigated in normotensive (Wistar Kyoto, WKY), spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SPR) rats. Also investigated was the possible role of these spinal cord receptors in mediating pressor changes evoked by electrical stimulation of two separate areas of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) containing different neuronal populations, either the adrenaline-containing Cl area or the serotonincontaining B3 area. Intrathecal administration of the amino acid receptor antagonist kynurenate (KYN), or the selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (2APV), reduced basal blood pressure in anesthetized SHR and SPR in a dose-dependent manner, but were ineffective or elicited only small decreases in WKY. In all three strains, electrical stimulation in RVLM, in either the Cl or B3 area, evoked frequency-dependent pressor responses. Administration of 2APV or KYN was effective in attenuating these pressor responses in all three strains of rats. The effects of stimulation in the RVLM-B3 area were virtually abolished by administration of 2APV followed by the serotonin receptor antagonist methysergide. The results suggest that spinal cord excitatory amino acid receptors are important in blood pressure regulation in rats. Amino acid receptors, perhaps of the NMDA subtype, appeared to mediate pressor responses to stimulation of the RVLM-C1 and RVLM-B3 regions in both normotensive and hypertensive animals. On the other hand, excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists reduced basal blood pressure only in the hypertensive rats. It is possible that the increased activity of bulbospinal excitatory amino acid pathways from Cl and B3 areas of RVLM contributes to the hypertension observed in SHR and SPR.
The Long-Term Effects of Early Life Medicaid Coverage

In this study, we evaluate how an expansion of Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and infants affected the adult outcomes of individuals who gained access to coverage in utero and during the first year of life. We find that cohorts whose mothers gained eligibility for prenatal coverage under Medicaid have lower rates of chronic conditions as adults and fewer hospitalizations related to diabetes and obesity. We also find that the expansions increased high school graduation rates. Our results indicate that expanding Medicaid prenatal coverage had long-term benefits for the next generation.
Inositol polyphosphate‐mediated iron transport in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

It has previously been shown that myo‐inositol hexakisphosphate (myo‐InsP6) mediates iron transport into Pseudomonas aeruginosa and overcomes iron‐dependent growth inhibition. In this study, the iron transport properties of myo‐inositol trisphosphate and tetrakisphosphate regio‐isomers were studied. Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulated iron (III) at similar rates whether complexed with myo‐Ins(1,2,3)P3 or myo‐InsP6. Iron accumulation from other compounds, notably d/lmyo‐Ins(1,2,4,5)P4 and another inositol trisphosphate regio‐isomer, d‐myo‐Ins(1,4,5)P3, was dramatically increased. Iron transport profiles from myo‐InsP6 into mutants lacking the outer membrane porins oprF, oprD and oprP were similar to the wild‐type, indicating that these porins are not involved in the transport process. The rates of reduction of iron (III) to iron (II) complexed to any of the compounds by a Ps. aeruginosa cell lysate were similar, suggesting that a reductive mechanism is not the rate‐determining step.
Effect of vitrification on mitochondrial distribution and membrane potential in mouse two pronuclear (2‐PN) embryos

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of vitrification on mitochondrial distribution, membrane potential (Δψ) and microtubule distribution in mouse 2‐PN embryos, as well as to document the relationship between mitochondrial distribution and developmental ability of those embryos. Mitochondrial distribution was examined by fluorescence microscopy technology. Results indicated that: (1) The rate of mitochondrial ring formation around pronuclei in vitrified 2‐PN embryos was significantly lower than in fresh ones (67.3 ± 3.0% vs. 84.9 ± 3.1%) (P < 0.05). (2) Blastocyst development rate of vitrified 2‐PN embryos without mitochondrial rings (61.7 ± 4.5%) was significantly lower than that of vitrified embryos with mitochondrial rings (82.1 ± 2.8%). (3) Following staining by 5,5′,6,6′‐tetrachloro‐1,1′,3,3′‐tetraethyl‐imidacarbo‐cyanine iodide (JC‐1), most red‐colored mitochondria (high Δψ) were distributed peripherally around pronuclei and along cell membranes of fresh 2‐PN embryos. Conversely, red‐colored mitochondria were greatly diminished in vitrified embryos, with green mitochondria (low Δψ) evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm. The proportion of fresh 2‐PN embryos with obvious aggregation of high Δψ mitochondria (84.2 ± 2.2%) was significantly higher than that of vitrified embryos (26.7 ± 3.0%) (P < 0.05). (4) The proportion of fresh embryos with microtubules distributed around pronuclei (83.5 ± 3.4%) was similar to that of vitrified embryos (74.7 ± 2.5%). In conclusion, vitrification affected mitochondrial distribution and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential in mouse 2‐PN embryos, events which may affect subsequent developmental viability of such embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 1056–1063, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Consumption-portfolio optimization with recursive utility in incomplete markets

In an incomplete market, we study the optimal consumption-portfolio decision of an investor with recursive preferences of Epstein–Zin type. Applying a classical dynamic programming approach, we formulate the associated Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation and provide a suitable verification theorem. The proof of this verification theorem is complicated by the fact that the Epstein–Zin aggregator is non-Lipschitz, so standard verification results (e.g. in Duffie and Epstein, Econometrica 60, 393–394, 1992) are not applicable. We provide new explicit solutions to the Bellman equation with Epstein–Zin preferences in an incomplete market for non-unit elasticity of intertemporal substitution (EIS) and apply our verification result to prove that they solve the consumption-investment problem. We also compare our exact solutions to the Campbell–Shiller approximation and assess its accuracy.
FREEZABILITY AND DNA INTEGRITY OF DROMEDARY CAMEL SPERMATOZOA IN SEMEN COLLECTED BY ARTIFICIAL VAGINA AND ELECTRO-EJACULATOR

Two methods of semen collection from dromedary camel bulls, including electro-ejaculation (EE) versus conventional artificial vagina (AV) were compared in term of their effects on reaction time, physical semen characteristics, sperm biometry, alkaline comet assay of spermatozoa, sperm freezability and concentration of testosterone, some minerals and biochemicals as well as activity of some enzymes in blood serum of camel bulls. Results showed that using EE significantly increased reaction time, total sperm output per ejaculate, head length and tail width of spermatozoa, total percentage of sperm head showing comet and serum asprtate transaminase (AST) activity, while significantly decreased sperm cell concentration, serum cholesterol, magnesium, zinc, inorganic phosphorus and testosterone concentrations. However, ejaculate volume, percentages of total motility, forward motility, dead, abnormality and acrosome damage of spermatozoa, head width, tail length, and total length of spermatozoa, grades of comet assay, sperm freezability, concentration of total proteins and their fraction, serum Na, Ca and K concentrations and activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were not affected by collection method. Electro-ejaculation is considered as a suitable and repeatable technique for semen collection from dromedary camel bulls when semen collection by conventional artificial vagina is impossible.
Pulmonary Hypertension Predicts Mortality and Morbidity in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE To ascertain whether pulmonary hypertension, as assessed noninvasively by continuous-wave Doppler of tricuspid regurgitation, can be an important independent factor in the prognosis of patients with ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. DESIGN Cohort study of consecutive patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in whom follow-up was obtained on all survivors for 28 months. SETTING Outpatient cardiology private practice office in a tertiary care center. PATIENTS Consecutive sample of 108 patients who presented for a scheduled office visit during a 15-month period. MEASUREMENTS M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiographic examinations were done on all patients at entry into the study and on survivors 1 year later. All examinations included extensive pulsed- and continuous-wave Doppler evaluation for tricuspid regurgitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Overall mortality, mortality due to myocardial failure, and hospitalization for congestive heart failure. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients had a high velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (greater than 2.5 m/s), and 80 patients had a low velocity (less than or equal to 2.5 m/s). After 28 months of follow-up, the mortality rate was 57% in patients with a high velocity compared with 17% in patients with a low velocity (difference of 40%, 95% CI, 20% to 60%). Hospitalization for congestive heart failure occurred in 75% and 26% of patients, respectively (difference of 49%, CI, 30% to 68%). Eighty-nine percent of patients with a high velocity either died or were hospitalized compared with only 32% of patients with a low velocity (difference of 57%, CI, 42% to 72%). The peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation was the only prognostic variable selected using stepwise logistic regression models for the three outcome events. CONCLUSION Noninvasive assessment of pulmonary hypertension using continuous-wave Doppler of tricuspid regurgitation can predict morbidity and mortality in patients with ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Effects of ruminal exposure on the amino acid profile of heated and formaldehyde-treated soybean meal.

Rumen cannulated Holstein steers, fed corn silage and a corn-soybean grain mixture twice a day, were used to compare the effectiveness of heat and formaldehyde treatments in preserving the amino acid profile of soybean meal exposed to ruminal fermentation for 12 h. Formaldehyde treatments were 0, . 3, . 6, and . 9 g/100 g soybean meal. Defatted soybean flakes treated at 250, 250, 215, and 180 degrees C for 30, 20, 20, and 25 min, respectively, and unheated soybean meal comprised the heat treatments. The in situ polyester bag technique was used to obtain estimates of ruminal degradation of the treated and untreated soybean meals and to obtain undegraded residues from the soybean meals following 12 h of rumen exposure. Diaminopimelic acid was used to assess the extent of bacterial contamination. Significant amounts of apparent diaminopimelic acid were detected in unexposed samples (2.0 to 7.6% of soybean nitrogen) and in residues (4.8 to 12.7% of residue nitrogen). Significant differences in amino acid contents were detected between untreated and heat-treated soybean meals and their respective residues. Formaldehyde treatment was effective in preserving the original amino acid profile of soybean meal.
Alkaline pH decreases expression of the accessory gene regulator (agr) in Staphylococcus aureus

The effect of alkaline pH on expression of the accessory gene regulator (agr) in Staphylococcus aureus was examined. agr, a global regulator, affects the expression of numerous exoproteins, including alpha-hemolysin, toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, protein A, and staphylococcal enterotoxins types B, C, and D. agr contains two major, divergent transcripts, designated RNAII and RNAIII. In this study, the level of RNAIII was used to monitor agr expression because this transcript and/or its protein product(s) appears to be responsible for altering target gene expression. S. aureus FRI1230 and its Agr- derivative were examined in a fermentor system which allowed batch cultures to be maintained at a constant pH. FRI1230 cultures were grown at pH 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, and 8.0. Northern (RNA blot) analysis of samples revealed that maximal agr expression occurred at pH 7.0, with virtually no RNAIII observed at pH 8.0. The effect of alkaline pH on an agr target gene, sec, was also evaluated. sec expression was reduced at alkaline pH in strain FRI1230 (Agr+) but not in its Agr- derivative, indicating that an intact agr allele is required for the pH effect on sec. Examination of batch cultures under conditions of nonmaintained pH gave results that were also consistent with a role for alkaline pH in repressing agr expression.
Analysis of Energy-Based Blended Quasi-Continuum Approximations

The development of patch test consistent quasi-continuum energies for multidimensional crystalline solids modeled by many-body potentials remains a challenge. The original quasi-continuum energy (QCE) [R. Miller and E. Tadmor, Model. Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng., 17 (2009), 053001] has been implemented for many-body potentials in two and three space dimensions, but it is not patch test consistent. We propose that by blending the atomistic and corresponding Cauchy-Born continuum models of QCE in an interfacial region with thickness of a small number $k$ of blended atoms, a general blended quasi-continuum energy (BQCE) can be developed with the potential to significantly improve the accuracy of QCE near lattice instabilities such as dislocation formation and motion. In this paper, we give an error analysis of the blended quasi-continuum energy (BQCE) for a periodic one-dimensional chain of atoms with next-nearest neighbor interactions. Our analysis includes the optimization of the blending function for an improved convergence rate. We show that the $\ell^2$ strain error for the nonblended QCE energy, which has low order $O(\varepsilon^{1/2})$, where $\varepsilon$ is the atomistic length scale [M. Dobson and M. Luskin, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. , 47 (2009), pp. 2455-2475, P. Ming and J. Z. Yang, Multiscale Model. Simul. , 7 (2009), pp. 1838-1875], can be reduced by a factor of $k^{3/2}$ for an optimized blending function where $k$ is the number of atoms in the blending region. The QCE energy has been further shown to suffer from a $O(1)$ error in the critical strain at which the lattice loses stability [M. Dobson, M. Luskin, and C. Ortner, J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 58 (2010), pp. 1741-1757]. We prove that the error in the critical strain of BQCE can be reduced by a factor of $k^2$ for an optimized blending function, thus demonstrating that the BQCE energy for an optimized blending function has the potential to give an accurate approximation of the deformation near lattice instabilities such as crack growth.
A SURVEY OF TREATMENT PRACTICES FOR F TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN THE NIGERIAN MI

This survey was conducted to investigate the p febrile illnesses among one hundred and eighty five trad Middle belt zone ethnomedicine. Data collection was t questionnaire administered by trained interviewers recru and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas. A total of 1 through the presenting complaints and symptoms and 3 divination. All the respondents indicated their referral p respondents reported that they had once referred clien used in the preparation of the various treatment modalitie this diagnostic practice. Treatment of different febrile illn Afr. J. Traditional, omplementary and lternative Medicines africanethnomedicines.ne EBRILE ILLNESSES AMONG DDLE BELT ZONE a Bolaji, Dora Akinboye, , Omonike Ogbole Joseph , Woquan Sama, Oladimeji e Oduola culty of Public Health, College of Department of Pharmacognosy, Nigeria, Institute of Advanced ne University of Ibadan, Ibadan, ce, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, tics and Environmental Health, ersity of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, e, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo harmacology, Ladoke Akintola aceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, igeria. aiye@yahoo.com – 4. Fax: 234 – 2 – 2411768; attern of treatment practices for itional healers from the Nigerian hrough use of the semi structure ited from the study sites Gboko 76 (95.1%) reportedly diagnosed (1.6%) made diagnoses through ractices, with 100 (54.1%) of the ts. Respondents listed 164 plants s. Institution of treatment follows esses involve the use of
The minimum quantity of light required to elicit the accommodation reflex in man

If an emmetrope views a near object the visual axes of the eyes converge and the refractive power of the crystalline lenses increases, resulting in sharp vision without diplopia. While there is close harmony between the degree of convergence and the extent of accommodation, accurate accommodation can occur in the absence of convergence. Normally the conscious awareness of the distance of an object also assists in the production of the correct degree of accommodation. But accommodation can be elicited even without knowledge of the distance of the object from the eye, by suddenly placing a negative spherical lens of moderate power before the eye. The adjustment to this change in vergence of the light occurs rapidly without conscious effort on the part of the subject. It may justifiably be classed as a reflex. The purpose of this paper is to determine the minimum amount of light required to elicit the accommodation reflex. Some observations on the behaviour of the accommodation mechanism in darkness are also reported.