Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel nerolidol-rich essential oil from Piper claussenianum modulates Candida albicans biofilm.

Candidiasis is a major opportunistic fungal infection in humans, and its incidence has increased steadily over the last two decades. Candida albicans, the main species of the genus, has a large arsenal of virulence attributes that contribute to successful infections, such as dimorphism and biofilm formation. The adverse effects of eukaryotic antimicrobial therapies associated with an increase in resistance to the compounds presently available have boosted efforts to improve the therapeutic arsenal against candidiasis with a newer and cheaper range of drugs. In this study, a novel nerolidol-rich essential oil (EO) derived from Piper claussenianum (Miq.) C. DC. , Piperaceae, was tested on the growth, transition (yeast to hyphae), formation and stability of biofilms produced by C. albicans. Both inflorescence and leaf EOs were evaluated and revealed MIC values ranging from 0.04 to 0.1 % and 0.2 to 1.26 %, respectively. Furthermore, leaf EO managed to downregulate the yeast-to-hyphae transition by 81 %, as well as reducing biofilm formation by about 30 and 50 % after incubation for 24 and 48 h, respectively. The EO was also able to reduce the viability of pre-formed biofilm by 63.9 %. Finally, the association between the leaf EO and fluconazole was evaluated and revealed an interesting synergistic effect. Taken together, these results demonstrate that this novel compound could be a promising agent and could reinforce the arsenal of therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of candidiasis. Furthermore, it may represent a novel and natural source of nerolidol, which could be of interest pharmaceutically.
The feasibility and acceptability of administering a telemedicine objective structured clinical exam as a solution for providing equivalent education to remote and rural learners.

INTRODUCTION Although many medical schools incorporate distance learning into their curricula, assessing students at a distance can be challenging. While some assessments are relatively simple to administer to remote students, other assessments, such as objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs) are not. This article describes a means to more effectively and efficiently assess distance learners and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the assessment. METHODS We developed a teleOSCE, administered online in real time, to two cohorts of students on a rural clerkship rotation and assessed the feasibility and acceptability of using such an approach to assess medical students' clinical skills at rural locations. Project feasibility was defined as having development and implementation costs of less than $5000. Project acceptability was determined by analyzing student interview transcripts. A qualitative case study design framework was chosen due to the novel nature of the activity. RESULTS The implementation cost of the teleOSCE was approximately US$1577.20, making it a feasible educational endeavor. Interview data indicated the teleOSCE was also acceptable to students. CONCLUSIONS The teleOSCE format may be useful to other institutions as a method to centrally administer clinical skills exams for assessment of distance medical students.
Effect of degradable and escape protein and roughage type on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing yearling steers.

We evaluated protein sources for finishing steers in two randomized complete block design experiments. Experiment 1 used 144 steers (334 kg) with 2 x 3 factorially arranged treatments. Basal diets contained . 9% urea or 5.6% soybean meal (SBM) and were either not supplemented or supplemented with additional protein (2%) from blood meal-corn gluten meal (BMCG) or SBM. Steers fed urea-containing diets consumed 4.6% (P < .10) more feed than those fed SBM-supplemented basal diets. On the basis of carcass weights, steers fed diets containing SBM as the basal protein source were 3.8% (P < .10) more efficient than those fed urea-containing diets; supplying additional SBM improved gain efficiency (G/F) 4.3% (P < .10) compared with BMCG. In Exp. 2, 384 steers (367 kg) were fed diets containing 1.0% urea (DM basis) and 10% roughage as either sorghum silage (four diets) or alfalfa hay (two diets). Additional protein was either not provided or provided (2%) as SBM, sunflower meal (SFM), or a 50:50 (N basis) SBM:SFM blend in silage-containing diets; for diets containing alfalfa, additional protein was either not provided or provided (2%) as SBM. Averaged across roughage source, added SBM tended (P = .16) to increase ADG. Dressing percent decreased (P = .09) with added SBM but was higher (P = .04) with alfalfa as roughage source. Feeding alfalfa vs sorghum silage as the roughage source increased carcass adjusted ADG 4.3% (P = .06) and G/F 4.8% (P = .02). Supplementing high-grain diets with SBM enhanced diet utilization, but BMCG was of little value.
Adaptation of Local Muscle Blood Flow and Surface Electromyography to Repeated Bouts of Eccentric Exercise

Abstract Hosseinzadeh, M, Andersen, OK, Arendt-Nielsen, L, Samani, A, Kamavuako, EN, and Madeleine, P. Adaptation of local muscle blood flow and surface electromyography to repeated bouts of eccentric exercise. J Strength Cond Res 29(4): 1017–1026, 2015—The aim of this randomized controlled crossover study was to investigate the effect of a bout of unaccustomed eccentric exercise (ECC) followed by a consecutive bout of the same intensity on local muscle blood flow, amplitude, and frequency of the electromyographic (EMG) signal from the exercised tibialis anterior muscle. Sixteen healthy male participants (age, 25.7 (0.6) years; body mass index 24.8 (1) kg·m−2) participated in this study. Two identical bouts of high-intensity ECC were performed on the tibialis anterior muscle 7 days apart. Control sessions involving no exercise were performed 4 weeks either before or after the exercise sessions. Changes in local total blood flow [&Dgr;tHb], EMG root mean square, and median power frequency were recorded during isometric maximum voluntary contraction of ankle dorsiflexion. Measurements were performed before, immediately after, and the day after both ECCs (ECC1 and ECC2). The participants rested quietly in a chair in the control session. Eccentric exercise 1 led to a significant decrease in [&Dgr;tHb] on the day after (p ⩽ 0.05), whereas ECC2 did not. Median power frequency decreased significantly in ECC2 compared with ECC1 (p < 0.01). Root mean square was unchanged in all the instants. The present study showed that adaptation is depicted in the local muscle blood flow and the frequency contents of the EMG after an unaccustomed ECC inducing muscle soreness. These alterations provide a potential mechanism for a rapid adaptation, which decreases susceptibility of the muscle to develop further soreness in the subsequent ECC bout.
Luminal flow rate regulates proximal tubule H-HCO3 transporters.

In vivo microperfusion was used to examine the mechanism of luminal flow rate dependence of proximal tubule acidification. Luminal flow rate was acutely changed between 5 and 40 nl/min, while luminal and peritubular capillary composition were held constant. With inhibition of basolateral membrane base transport by peritubular 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), cell pH (pHi) provides a sensitive index of apical membrane H secretory activity. At a luminal perfusate [HCO3] of 25 mM, progressive increases in luminal flow rate (5----15----25----40 nl/min) caused progressive increases in pHi. This effect was of a smaller magnitude with a luminal perfusate [HCO3] of 60 mM and was further decreased at a luminal perfusate [HCO3] of 100 mM. This pattern of diminished flow rate dependence at higher luminal [HCO3] is consistent with the presence of a luminal unstirred layer, whose composition can be modified by luminal flow rate. The activity of the apical membrane Na-H antiporter, assayed as the initial rate of pHi recovery from an acid load in the presence of peritubular DIDS, was faster at 40 compared with 5 nl/min. Basolateral membrane Na-3HCO3 symporter activity, assayed as the initial rate of pHi recovery from an alkali load in the absence of luminal and peritubular chloride, was faster at 40 compared with 5 nl/min. This effect was eliminated by luminal amiloride, suggesting an indirect effect of flow mediated by changes in pHi secondary to flow rate-dependent changes in apical membrane Na-H antiporter activity. In summary, increases in luminal flow rate directly increase apical membrane H secretion, possibly by modification of a luminal unstirred layer. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Insurgency and humanitarian crises in Northern Nigeria: The case of Boko Haram

Insurgency has become a threat to global peace and security in the 21st century due to the fact that it constitutes the highest contributor to humanitarian crises in the form of rise in human casualties, internally displaced persons, refugee debacles, food insecurity and the spread of various diseases. The paper sets out to analyse the impact of Boko Haram insurgency on humanitarian crises in Northern Nigeria with Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in focus. It further establishes how the increase in the activities of Boko Haram, continues to generate dire humanitarian consequences to the North East region, the Nigerian society and neighbouring nations at large. This paper adopts the State Fragility theoretical framework as well as the survey method involving the use of questionnaires (the regression technique) and in-depth interview (index matrix and table technique) which focuses on three internally displaced Camps in the region for analysis. The empirical findings indicate that, there is a significant relationship between Boko Haram insurgency and humanitarian crises, when variables such as impact on human casualties (IHC), food insecurity (FI) and internally displaced persons (IDP’s) are held constant, while no significant relationship exists when the variables such as loss of livelihood (LoL) and government response(GR) are held constant. By way of recommendation, the paper advocates the need for the Nigerian government to focus more on reducing human casualties, loss of livelihood, food insecurity and more focus on the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons back to the society, in order to nip the threats emanating from the humanitarian crises and Boko Haram insurgency in the bud in the region. Key words: Boko Haram, insurgency, humanitarian crises, state, security.
Legislative Rape Reforms: Issues In India and the U.S.

On December 16, 2012, Jyoti Singh, a physiotherapy student, was brutally gang raped by six men in New Delhi, India. Since this heinous attack, violence against women in India has become a major focus of the media and of academic discussion. However, much of this attention highlights the brutality of India, while ignoring similar instances of violence against women in the U.S. This presentation focuses on estimated offense and reporting rates, legal responses, and influence on these responses by women's movements and the media. In addition, this presentation investigates potential limitations on the capacity of law to punish and prevent rape, and ultimately to change patriarchal societal standards and beliefs that endorse violence against women.
Insulin metabolism by liver, muscle, and kidneys from spontaneously diabetic rats.

The in vivo metabolism of insulin is a complex process in which liver, kidney, and muscle are major participants. In this study we evaluated the effect of spontaneous hyperglycemic nonketoacidotic diabetes (DH) and ketoacidotic diabetes (DKA) on insulin clearance and degradation by these organs. Livers, hindlimbs, and kidneys from nondiabetic controls and DH and DKA Bio-Breed rats were isolated and perfused with artificial media. Liver clearance of immunoreactive insulin (ml/min) was significantly higher in DH rats, 6.0 +/- 0.2, but significantly lower in DKA rats, 3.4 +/- 0.5, compared with controls, 4.6 +/- 0.2. Acidosis alone induced by ammonium chloride loading, did not impair liver insulin clearance (4.8 +/- 0.4 ml/min). Muscle responded differently to the diabetic state in that insulin clearance was not altered by DH and DKA. Renal (organ) clearance of insulin was significantly depressed in the DKA state when compared with controls (0.52 +/- 0.04 and 0.75 +/- 0.07 ml X min-1 X g-1, respectively). This could largely be explained by a lower glomerular filtration rate. Fractional urinary insulin clearance was increased twofold above control values in DH kidneys and fourfold in DKA kidneys, indicating that tubular luminal absorption of insulin was impaired in both states. By contrast contraluminal uptake (peritubular clearance) did not differ significantly from controls. 125I-insulin degrading activity of the 100,000 g supernate fraction from muscle homogenates was similar in the diabetic and control groups. However in liver and kidney, degrading activity did not correspond to whole organ insulin clearance in a consistent manner. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nitrogenase Complexes: Multiple Docking Sites for a Nucleotide Switch Protein

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis in the nitrogenase complex controls the cycle of association and dissociation between the electron donor adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) (Fe-protein) and its target catalytic protein (MoFe-protein), driving the reduction of dinitrogen into ammonia. Crystal structures in different nucleotide states have been determined that identify conformational changes in the nitrogenase complex during ATP turnover. These structures reveal distinct and mutually exclusive interaction sites on the MoFe-protein surface that are selectively populated, depending on the Fe-protein nucleotide state. A consequence of these different docking geometries is that the distance between redox cofactors, a critical determinant of the intermolecular electron transfer rate, is coupled to the nucleotide state. More generally, stabilization of distinct docking geometries by different nucleotide states, as seen for nitrogenase, could enable nucleotide hydrolysis to drive the relative motion of protein partners in molecular motors and other systems.
Quantitative pH measurements in Plasmodium falciparum‐infected erythrocytes using pHluorin

The digestive vacuole of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is the site of action of several antimalarial drugs, such as chloroquine, which accumulate in this organelle due to their properties as amphiphilic weak bases that inhibit haem detoxification. It has been suggested that changes in the pH of the digestive vacuole, affecting either drug partitioning or haem solubility and/or biomineralization rates, would correlate with reduced intracellular chloroquine accumulation and, hence, would determine the chloroquine‐resistance phenotype. The techniques previously used to quantify digestive vacuolar pH mainly relied on lysed or isolated parasites, with unpredictable consequences on internal pH homeostasis. In this study, we have investigated the baseline steady‐state pH of the cytoplasm and digestive vacuole of a chloroquine‐sensitive (HB3) and a chloroquine‐resistant (Dd2) parasite using a pH‐sensitive green fluorescent protein, termed pHluorin. This non‐invasive technique allows for in vivo pH measurements in intact P. falciparum‐infected erythrocytes under physiological conditions. The data suggest that the pH of the cytoplasm is approximately 7.15 ± 0.07 and that of the digestive vacuole approximately 5.18 ± 0.05. No significant differences in baseline pH values were recorded for the chloroquine‐sensitive and chloroquine‐resistant parasites.
Oceanic barriers promote language diversification in the Japanese Islands

Good barriers make good languages. Scholars have long speculated that geographical barriers impede linguistic contact between speech communities and promote language diversification in a manner similar to the process of allopatric speciation. This hypothesis, however, has seldom been tested systematically and quantitatively. Here, we adopt methods from evolutionary biology and attempt to quantify the influence of oceanic barriers on the degree of lexical diversity in the Japanese Islands. Measuring the degree of beta diversity from basic vocabularies, we find that geographical proximity and, more importantly, isolation by surrounding ocean, independently explains a significant proportion of lexical variation across Japonic languages. Further analyses indicate that our results are neither a by‐product of using a distance matrix derived from a Bayesian language phylogeny nor an epiphenomenon of accelerated evolutionary rates in languages spoken by small communities. Moreover, we find that the effect of oceanic barriers is reproducible with the Ainu languages, indicating that our analytic approach as well as the results can be generalized beyond Japonic language family. The findings we report here are the first quantitative evidence that physical barriers formed by ocean can influence language diversification and points to an intriguing common mechanism between linguistic and biological evolution.
Development of a multiplex allele-specific primer PCR assay for simultaneous detection of QoI and CAA fungicide resistance alleles in Plasmopara viticola populations.

BACKGROUND DNA-based diagnosis has become a common tool for the evaluation of fungicide resistance in obligate phytopathogenic fungus Plasmopara viticola. RESULTS A multiplex allele-specific primer PCR assay has been developed for the rapid detection of fungicide resistance in P. viticola populations. With this assay, a glycine-to-alanine substitution at codon 143 of the P. viticola cytochrome b gene, which conferred QoI fungicide resistance, and a glycine-to-serine substitution at codon 1105 of the P. viticola cellulose synthase gene PvCesA3, which conferred CAA fungicide resistance, were detected simultaneously. CONCLUSION It is suggested that the present assay is a reliable tool for the rapid and simultaneous detection of QoI and CAA fungicide resistance alleles in P. viticola populations. The assay required only 2 h from the sampling of symptoms to the detection of resistance alleles to both fungicides.
Foot Care Knowledge and Practices and the Prevalence of Peripheral Neuropathy Among People with Diabetes Attending a Secondary Care Rural Hospital in Southern India

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multifaceted disease and foot ulceration is one of its most common complications. Poor foot care knowledge and practices are important risk factors for foot problems among people with diabetes. Aims: To assess the knowledge and practices regarding foot care and to estimate the proportion of people with peripheral neuropathy among people with diabetes. Settings and Design: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 212 consecutive diabetes patients attending the out-patient department of a rural secondary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire which included demographic details, knowledge questionnaire, and Nottingham assessment of functional foot care was administered. The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument was used to identify peripheral neuropathy. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive analysis with frequency distribution for knowledge and practice scores, univariate analysis, and multiple logistic regressions to find significant variables associated with good knowledge and practice scores. Results: About 75% had good knowledge score and 67% had good foot care practice score. Male gender (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.16–4.79), poor education status (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.19–4.28), and lesser duration of diabetes (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.15–4.41) were significantly associated with poor knowledge on foot care. Poor knowledge was associated with poor foot care practices (OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.75–6.72). The prevalence of neuropathy was 47% (95% CI 40.14–53.85) and it was associated with longer duration of the disease (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.18–4.04). Conclusion: There exist deficiencies in knowledge and practices regarding foot care. Male gender, low education, and lesser duration of diabetes are associated with poor knowledge scores. The prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is high.
The hydrogen ion equilibria of horseradish peroxidase and apoperoxidase.

1. The reversible proton dissociation equilibria of peroxidase, apoperoxidase and haem-recombined apoperoxidase have been explored in 150mm-potassium chloride at 20 degrees C at pH3-11.5. 2. Complementary heat measurements have been made of the classes of titratable groups to determine their intrinsic DeltaH dissociation. 3. These curves are interpreted as showing that there are two histidine residues capable of titration in peroxidase whereas there are three such in apoperoxidase. 4. Concomitant spectroscopic investigations indicate profound differences in the tyrosine ionizations in the two proteins. In peroxidase one group only of the five residues ionizes up to pH11.5. In apoperoxidase four residues are titratable. 5. Spectroscopic titration in 6m-guanidinium chloride and 150mm-potassium chloride reveal one tyrosine residue fewer in peroxidase than in apoperoxidase. 6. These findings are discussed in terms of the ;side chain' groups responsible for binding the haem group in peroxidase. A proximal imidazole group seems probable as is also the involvement of a distally placed tyrosine. 7. The differences between apo- and holo-peroxidase are stressed, particularly in respect of abnormal carboxyl group titration in the former.
Anti‐cytokine autoantibodies suggest pathogenetic links with autoimmune regulator deficiency in humans and mice

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE). The patients' autoantibodies recognize not only multiple organ‐specific targets, but also many type I interferons (IFNs) and most T helper type 17 (Th17) cell‐associated cytokines, whose biological actions they neutralize in vitro. These anti‐cytokine autoantibodies are highly disease‐specific: otherwise, they have been found only in patients with thymomas, tumours of thymic epithelial cells that fail to express AIRE. Moreover, autoantibodies against Th17 cell‐associated cytokines correlate with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in both syndromes. Here, we demonstrate that the immunoglobulin (Ig)Gs but not the IgAs in APECED sera are responsible for neutralizing IFN‐ω, IFN‐α2a, interleukin (IL)‐17A and IL‐22. Their dominant subclasses proved to be IgG1 and, surprisingly, IgG4 without IgE, possibly implicating regulatory T cell responses and/or epithelia in their initiation in these AIRE‐deficiency states. The epitopes on IL‐22 and IFN‐α2a appeared mainly conformational. We also found mainly IgG1 neutralizing autoantibodies to IL‐17A in aged AIRE‐deficient BALB/c mice – the first report of any target shared by these human and murine AIRE‐deficiency states. We conclude that autoimmunization against cytokines in AIRE deficiency is not simply a mere side effect of chronic mucosal Candida infection, but appears to be related more closely to disease initiation.