Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microarrays Reveal that Each of the Ten Dominant Lineages of Staphylococcus aureus Has a Unique Combination of Surface-Associated and Regulatory Genes

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of hospital-acquired infection. In healthy hosts outside of the health care setting, S. aureus is a frequent colonizer of the human nose but rarely causes severe invasive infection such as bacteremia, endocarditis, or osteomyelitis. To identify genes associated with community-acquired invasive isolates, regions of genomic variability, and the S. aureus population structure, we compared 61 community-acquired invasive isolates of S. aureus and 100 nasal carriage isolates from healthy donors using a microarray spotted with PCR products representing every gene from the seven S. aureus sequencing projects. The core genes common to all strains were identified, and 10 dominant lineages of S. aureus were clearly discriminated. Each lineage carried a unique combination of hundreds of “core variable” (CV) genes scattered throughout the chromosome, suggesting a common ancestor but early evolutionary divergence. Many CV genes are regulators of virulence genes or known or predicted to be expressed on the bacterial surface and to interact with the host during nasal colonization and infection. Within each lineage, isolates showed substantial variation in the carriage of mobile genetic elements and their associated virulence and resistance genes, indicating frequent horizontal transfer. However, we were unable to identify any association between lineage or gene and invasive isolates. We suggest that the S. aureus gene combinations necessary for invasive disease may also be necessary for nasal colonization and that community-acquired invasive disease is strongly dependent on host factors.
Leptin Maintained Zinc Homeostasis Against Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity by Preventing Mitophagy-Mediated Mitochondrial Activation in HT22 Hippocampal Neuronal Cells

Developmental seizure-induced long-term neuronal hyperexcitation is partially mediated by regenerative mossy fiber sprouting in hippocampus. Yet, there are no effective drugs available to block this pathological process. Recently, leptin has been shown to prevent the sprouting of hippocampal mossy fibers and abnormalities in the neurobehavioral parameters. However, their underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of glutamate on the parameters of zinc homeostasis, mitochondrial functions, and mitophagy regulating factors, as well as to investigate the protective effects of leptin against cytotoxicity of glutamate in murine HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. Cells were assigned to one of the four groups as follows: control group, leptin alone group, glutamate injury group, and leptin pretreatment group. Our results demonstrated that glutamate induced a decrease in superoxide dismutase, GSH (glutathione), and mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in GSSG (oxidized glutathione), mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, and supplementation of leptin blocked the toxic effect of glutamate on cell survival. The glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was associated with an increase in mitophagy and intracellular zinc ion levels. Furthermore, glutamate activated the mitophagy markers PINK1, Parkin, and the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I, as well as increased the expression of zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3). Leptin corrected these glutamate-caused alterations. Finally, the mitophagy inhibitor, CsA, significantly reduced intracellular zinc ion content and ZnT3 expression. These results suggest that mitophagy-mediated zinc dyshomeostasis and mitochondrial activation contributed to glutamate-induced HT22 neuronal cell injury and that leptin treatment could counteract these detrimental effects, thus highlighting mitophagy-mediated zinc homeostasis via mitochondrial activation as a potential strategy to counteract neuroexcitotoxicity.
Gene and gene-product variation in the apolipoprotein A-I/C-III/A-IV cluster in the Dogrib Indians of the Northwest Territories.

The Dogrib, an Amerindian tribe residing in the Northwest Territories of Canada, were typed for DNA and protein polymorphism at the apolipoprotein A-I/C-III/A-IV gene cluster. Variation was seen at three previously described RFLPs detected with the enzymes SstI, PstI, and XmnI, though frequencies of these polymorphisms differ significantly from those reported in other populations. They exhibit no variation at two previously reported PvuII sites. No variation was seen in the APO A-I or APO A-IV gene products, with the Dogrib showing the most common isoelectric-focusing/immunoblot patterns of other world populations. Haplotype frequencies computed from inferred haplotypes and by maximum likelihood estimation did not differ significantly. The extent of nonrandom association of these sites is highly significant (P less than .00001), though pairwise analysis shows significance between the SstI and XmnI sites only. Levels of fasting triglyceride and fasting total cholesterol were determined for each individual. Analysis of covariance shows that fasting triglyceride levels in women vary significantly with the XmnI genotype. These results suggest that genetic variation at the APO A-I/C-III/A-IV gene cluster may be a useful tool for the study of quantitative lipoprotein variation in the Dogrib.
Macrophages Induce the Inflammatory Response in the Pulmonary Arthus Reaction through Gαi2 Activation That Controls C5aR and Fc Receptor Cooperation1

Complement and FcγR effector pathways are central triggers of immune inflammation; however, the exact mechanisms for their cooperation with effector cells and their nature remain elusive. In this study we show that in the lung Arthus reaction, the initial contact between immune complexes and alveolar macrophages (AM) results in plasma complement-independent C5a production that causes decreased levels of inhibitory FcγRIIB, increased levels of activating FcγRIII, and highly induced FcγR-mediated TNF-α and CXCR2 ligand production. Blockade of C5aR completely reversed such changes. Strikingly, studies of pertussis toxin inhibition show the essential role of Gi-type G protein signaling in C5aR-mediated control of the regulatory FcγR system in vitro, and analysis of the various C5aR-, FcγR-, and Gi-deficient mice verifies the importance of Gαi2-associated C5aR and the FcγRIII-FcγRIIB receptor pair in lung inflammation in vivo. Moreover, adoptive transfer experiments of C5aR- and FcγRIII-positive cells into C5aR- and FcγRIII-deficient mice establish AM as responsible effector cells. AM lacking either C5aR or FcγRIII do not possess any such inducibility of immune complex disease, whereas reconstitution with FcγRIIB-negative AM results in an enhanced pathology. These data suggest that AM function as a cellular link of C5a production and C5aR activation that uses a Gαi2-dependent signal for modulating the two opposing FcγR, FcγRIIB and FcγRIII, in the initiation of the inflammatory cascade in the lung Arthus reaction.
Endogenous tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and gamma interferon levels during Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice

Mice were infected intravenously with a sublethal dose of Listeria monocytogenes cells and then levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in the bloodstreams, spleens, and livers were monitored. The maximum level of TNF was detected at 72 h in the spleens and livers, but TNF was never detected in the bloodstreams. IL-6 appeared in the bloodstreams and spleens and peaked at 48 h. The maximum level of IFN-gamma could be detected in all three specimens, and the highest titer was shown in the spleens. Endogenous TNF production was suppressed by in vivo administration of anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (MAb) or anti-asialo GM1 antibody but not by anti-CD8 MAb, whereas none of these antibodies suppressed endogenous IL-6 production. Endogenous production of neither IL-6 nor IFN-gamma was inhibited in rabbit anti-recombinant mouse TNF-alpha antibody-treated mice. Similarly, production of TNF and IL-6 did not decrease in anti-mouse IFN-gamma MAb-treated animals, but TNF production was augmented in these animals. These results suggest that the these endogenous cytokines are produced by different mechanisms in L. monocytogenes infection.
The REACH project: Implementing interprofessional practice at Australia′s first student-led clinic

Background: REACH (Realising Education and Access in Collaborative Health) is an initiative of students of the University of Melbourne to improve access to primary health care services. It is driven by the voluntary commitment of over 120 students and is built upon the principles of collaboration, interprofessionalism and client-centered care. Summary of work: The feasibility of student-led clinics has been demonstrated with the operation of over 100 such clinics in North America. Senior students from Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing and Social Work attended a student-run clinics conference in Jacksonville, Florida, USA in 2010. On return, research was conducted to identify a local underserviced community appropriate for a clinic. On review of the literature, it was determined an interprofessional model of care would best serve this community. The student body engaged a local community health service as a project partner. The model of care at the REACH Clinic was developed by senior students from the schools of Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing and Social Work and managed by an interconnected student committee structure. The final consultation model involves a triage process and simultaneous consultation by two disciplines. This model of care was successfully implemented during a 4-week pilot period in October 2011. Results: Several issues were identified during the REACH pilot, with dissonance between the at-times competing principles in health care of interprofessionalism, client-centered care and efficient care. Conclusions: An interprofessional model of care was developed and successfully implemented in a 4-week pilot student-run clinic within an established community health service. While providing a free health service, this model facilitated interprofessional learning at both a clinical and management level and highlighted logistical and ideological challenges that served as the basis for further refinement of this model of community service .
Utility of endogenous creatinine clearance as a measure of renal function in mice.

BACKGROUND The use of endogenous plasma creatinine levels and creatinine clearance as a tool to evaluate renal function in mice has come under scrutiny as prior studies have reported that the Jaffé alkaline picrate method grossly overestimates true plasma creatinine in mice. As members of the NIDDK Animal Models of Diabetic Complications Consortium (AMDCC), we evaluated the performance and feasibility of an alternative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based method for standard determination of plasma creatinine and creatinine clearance in mice. Our purpose was to develop a simple method that provides a reliable, reproducible, and sensitive assay for small volumes (<25 microL) of mouse plasma and sera. METHODS We compared creatinine clearance measured by HPLC with the Jaffé method and HPLC creatinine clearance with inulin clearance [fluoroscein isothiocyanate (FITC) inulin in an osmotic pump implanted in mouse] in C57BL/6J mice. Different groups of mice underwent either one of two protocols. Protocol A included dietary intervention with normal, low salt plus enalapril, or high salt. Protocol B induced diabetes using streptozotocin. RESULTS First, mean plasma creatinine levels were significantly lower (P < 0.0001) by HPLC (0.128 +/- 0.026 mg/dL) vs. Jaffé (0.4 +/- 0.12 mg/dL) for mice on a normal diet. Urine creatinine concentrations measured by HPLC were 10% lower than by Jaffé (P < 0.01). Second, mean creatinine clearance by HPLC for mice on a normal diet was 255 +/- 68 microL/min. Mice on low salt diet plus enalapril had reduced creatinine clearance (72.8 +/- 24.2 microL/min) while mice on high salt diet had an elevated creatinine clearance (355 +/- 105 microL/min). Third, diabetic mice (19 to 24 weeks of diabetes) exhibited hyperfiltration as creatinine clearance was 524 +/- 214 microL/min whereas nondiabetic age/gender-matched mice showed a mean creatinine clearance of 206 +/- 41 microL/min. Finally, significant correlation was demonstrated for creatinine clearance by HPLC vs. inulin clearance (R= 0.643; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION HPLC is highly accurate, much more sensitive and specific than the Jaffé method for plasma creatinine measurements in mice. Creatinine clearance in mice measured by HPLC reflects changes in renal function induced by diet and diabetes.
Lung cancer rates in men and women with comparable histories of smoking.

BACKGROUND Recent case-control studies suggest that, given equal smoking exposure, women may have a higher relative risk of developing lung cancer than men. Despite prospective data that conflict with this hypothesis, mechanistic studies to find a biologic basis for a sex difference continue. METHODS We addressed the hypothesis directly by analyzing prospective data from former and current smokers in two large cohorts--the Nurses' Health Study of women and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study of men. We calculated incidence rates and hazard ratios of lung cancer in women compared with men, adjusting for age, number of cigarettes smoked per day, age at start of smoking, and time since quitting, using Cox proportional hazards models. We also reviewed published results from prospective analyses. RESULTS From 1986 through 2000, 955 and 311 primary lung cancers were identified among 60 296 women and 25 397 men, respectively, who ranged in age from 40 to 79 years. Incidence rates per 100 000 person-years for women and men were 253 and 232, respectively, among current smokers and 81 and 73, respectively, among former smokers. The hazard ratio in women ever smokers compared with men was 1.11 (95% confidence interval = 0.95 to 1.31). Six published prospective cohort studies allowed assessment of comparative susceptibility to lung cancer by sex. None supported an excess risk of lung cancer for women. CONCLUSIONS Women do not appear to have a greater susceptibility to lung cancer than men, given equal smoking exposure. Research should be focused on enhancing preventive interventions for all.
Disinhibition of negative true self for identity reconstructions in cyberspace: Advancing self-discrepancy theory for virtual setting

In face-to-face communications, to avoid sanctions and disapproval from others, people are more likely to hide negative aspects of their true self (such as socially undesirable personalities, minds, beliefs and consciousness) to avoid conflict with social norms and laws. The anonymity of cyberspace provides people a unique environment to behave more freely and openly with less restraint from the real word. Existing research related to online true self expression has mainly explored true self as an independent aspect of self. Regarding true self as a two-dimensional concept, this study investigates true self from the perspective of individuals’ self-guide and identity reconstruction in both online and offline world. Using qualitative research methods, the current study investigates 57 participants through interviews and questionnaires. Content analysis reveals four factors that motivate people to express more true self (especially negative true self) when reconstructing their online identity and involve true self as a part of their self-guide in anonymous environment. By incorporating true self as an important part of individuals' self-guide and identity online, the current study advances self-discrepancy theory, making it more comprehensive for cyberspace. The results are also interpreted based on self-determination theory. The theoretical contributions of this study are discussed and practical implications are also presented.
Development of a Cylindrical Microstrip Phased Array Antenna for a Radio Tracking System

Multipath propagation is a real challenge for radio tracking and RFID systems. The multipath effects that occur under severe propagation conditions (many metal objects) can become crucial for performance of such systems. The transmitted signal and its replicas reach a base station at slightly different times as a result of reflections. These short multi-path reflections can overlap with a line-of-sight signal causing a significant deterioration of range measurement. The use of omni-directional antennas creates the most opportunities for this kind of signal degradation.
The impact on human visual performance when viewing 2-D and 3-D movies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To examine the human visual performance (wavefront aberration) and subjective questionnaire (SQ) of visual fatigue when viewing 2-D and 3-D movies. METHODS: Thirty healthy adults observed 2-D and 3-D movies on the same television from a 3m distances during 2D, 3D-A (with better 3D glasses), and 3D-B (with poorer 3D glasses) viewing conditions. Visual quality index, including modulation transfer function index (MTFI), higher order aberration root mean square (RMS), vertical coma (VC), horizontal coma (HC) and spherical aberration (SA), were assessed before and after each viewing condition. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to assess the changes of each test variable before and after movie viewing. RESULTS: Participants watching movies with 3D-B conditions experienced higher change of MTFI, RMS, VC and HC but smaller SQ, compared with 2D and 3D-A (P< 0.05). Additionally, higher MTFI but smaller SQ was found for 3D-A compared with 2D viewing condition (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While prolonged viewing 2-D and 3-D movies would lead to poorer visual performance, 3-D glasses with better quality can play the major role in reducing visual ability for users. The change of human eye wavefront aberration might be useful for the evaluation of visual fatigue in the future.
An hybrid approach to improve part of speech tagging system

Platforms interacting with data in text format, such as social networks or search engines, face major challenges regarding this flow of texts such as storage, search and information processing. New disciplines have emerged as natural language processing that involve identifying all aspects of language (spoken or written). In this perspective, we focus on the aspect of part-of speech (POS) tagging applied to the Arabic language which consists in marking each word in the text with its good tag. One of the most difficult problems affecting POS tagging is the ambiguity of the text. Ambiguity is the most important problem in the natural language processing. We propose a rule-based hybrid approach with an artificial neural network classifier to determine the appropriate tags of an Arabic text. The first phase consists of extracting all the affixes to identify the nature of the word and its tags according to grammatical rules, the second phase begins by transliterating the Arabic text into text with Roman letters. The transliterated text is then transformed into digital vectors to form the input of the classifier based on the neural networks. The two phases are combined to identify the tag of each word.
Localization of urinary-tract infections by detection of antibody-coated bacteria in urine sediment.

Abstract To evaluate the presence of antibody-coated bacteria in the urinary sediment as a means of localizing the site of urinary-tract infection, the results of examinations for antibody-coated bacteria were correlated with a direct method for localizing the infection site, the bladder washout. In 25 patients, the findings by both technics agreed; in only one case was there disagreement. In three patients the bladder-washout technic gave uninterpretable results. Thus, the presence of antibody-coated bacteria correlates closely with upper-urinary-tract involvement — i.e., renal bacteriuria. The technic appears to be a sensitive, reliable, noninvasive means of differentiating infection of the upper from that of the lower urinary tract. (N Engl J Med 290:591–593, 1974)
Predictors of chances to conceive in ovulatory patients during clomiphene citrate induction of ovulation in normogonadotropic oligoamenorrheic infertility.

The present prospective follow-up study was designed to identify whether clinical, endocrine, or ultrasound characteristics assessed by standardized initial screening of normogonadotropic oligo/amenorrheic infertile patients could predict conception in 160 women who reached ovulation after clomiphene citrate (CC) medication. Additional inclusion criteria were total motile sperm count of the partner above 1 million and a negative history for any tubal disease. Daily CC doses of 50 mg (increasing up to 150 mg in case of absent ovarian response) from cycle days 3-7 were used. First conception (defined as a positive urinary pregnancy test) was the end point for this study. A cumulative conception rate of 73% was reached within 9 CC-induced ovulatory cycles. Patients who did conceive presented more frequently with lower age (P < 0.0001) and amenorrhea (P < 0.05) upon initial screening. In a univariate analysis, patients with elevated initial serum LH concentrations (>7.0 IU/L) had a higher probability of conceiving (P < 0.01). In a multivariate analysis, age and cycle history (oligomenorrhea vs. amenorrhea) were identified as the only significant parameters for prediction of conception. These observations suggest that there is more to be gained from CC ovulation induction in younger women presenting with profound oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea. Screening characteristics involved in the prediction of ovulation after CC medication in normogonadotropic oligo/amenorrheic patients (body weight and hyperandrogenemia, as shown previously) are distinctly different from predictors of conception in ovulatory CC patients (age and the severity of cycle abnormality). This disparity suggests that the FSH threshold (magnitude of FSH required for stimulation of ongoing follicle growth and ovulation) and oocyte quality (chances for conception in ovulatory cycles) may be differentially regulated.
Dual inhibition of the renin–angiotensin system in high-risk diabetes and risk for stroke and other outcomes: results of the ONTARGET trial

Background: A recent study suggested that addition of a direct renin inhibitor to either an angiotension-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (ACEi) or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) may increase stroke risk in people with diabetes and renal disease. Methods: We examined the effects of addition of an ACE inhibitor (ramipril) to an ARB (telmisartan) for a mean follow-up of 56 months in people with diabetes [n = 9628, mean age 66 years, baseline blood pressure 144/82 mmHg, BMI 29 kg/m2, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 73 ml/min, and urine albumin 11 mg/mmol] who participated in the ONTARGET trial, divided by those with (n = 3163) and without (n = 6465) nephropathy. We compared participants on monotherapy with either ramipril or telmisartan with those on dual therapy. Results: SBP decreased more with dual over monotherapy (−7.1 vs. −5.3 mmHg, P < 0.0001) and the same number of strokes occurred (1.19 vs. 1.22 per 100 patient-years; hazard ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.82–1.20). Stroke rate was higher in participants with than those without diabetic nephropathy (1.5 vs. 1.0 per 100 patient-years), but effects of dual-therapy vs. monotherapy were not different in either subgroup (1.59 vs. 1.55 and 1.01 vs. 1.08 per 100 patient-years; P value for interaction = 0.60). Other cardiovascular and kidney outcomes (dialysis or doubling of serum creatinine) did not differ between dual-therapy and monotherapy in subgroups, but adverse events, namely acute dialysis, hyperkalemia and hypotension, tended to be more frequent with dual therapy, Conclusion: A combination of ACEi and ARB does not increase strokes or alter other major cardiovascular or renal events in patients with diabetes, irrespective of the presence of nephropathy.