Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lactobacillus Vaginal Microbiota of Women Attending a Reproductive Health Care Service in Benin City, Nigeria

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether Lactobacillus species found in African women differ substantially to those of white decent, described in previous studies. The vaginal microbiota play an important role in female health, and when the naturally dominant lactobacilli are displaced resulting in bacterial vaginosis (BV), the host is more at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Methods: Vaginal samples were collected from 241 healthy, premenopausal Nigerian women, which were then Gram-stained for Nugent scoring. Microbial DNA was extracted, amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Lactobacillus primers, and processed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Lactobacillus species were identified by DNA sequencing and BLAST algorithm. Results: Of the samples, 207 (85.8%) had PCR products for lactobacilli, whereas 34 (14.2%) showed absence of lactobacilli, which correlated to the BV Nugent scores. On sequencing of amplicons, 149 subjects (72%) had sequence homologies to lactobacilli. Most women (64%) were colonized by L. iners as the predominant strain, similar to previous findings in Canadian and Swedish women. L. gasseri was found in 7.3% samples, followed by L. plantarum, L. suntoryeus, L. crispatus, L. rhamnosus, and other species. Conclusion: The findings indicate that even with geographic, racial, and other differences, the predominant vaginal Lactobacillus species is similar to species in women from Northern countries.
Bus-tie synchronization and load share technique in a ring bus system with multiple power inverters

A novel synchronizing technique is applied to a ring bus configured power system, with multiple solid-state inverters, to allow the bus-tie breaker to be closed at any time. After paralleling, load sharing is magnetically controlled without electronic circuitry or software control. Compared to the traditional one-at-a-time synchronization process, this approach significantly shortens the synchronization time as well as the interconnect-signal wire length, thus improving reliability and lowering the cost. This paper discusses the principles of this synchronization and load share control technique, supported by test results
Evaluation of the effects of the powder of Capsicum frutescens on glycemia in growing rabbits

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate zootechnic parameters and blood sugar in rabbits submitted to diets containing different levels of pepper (Capsicum frutescens). Materials and Methods: To this end, 30 rabbits weighing on average 1252±35 g at the beginning of the experiment were subjected to five rations with three repetitions for 56 days: The food R0 (or control) which is floury provender contains 0% of C. frutescens; R5, R10, R15, and R20 provender containing, respectively, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of C. frutescens fruits’ powder. Rabbits consumed on average from 75.47 to 80.97 g dry matter. Results: Digestibility ranged from 52.39% to 61.01%. The average daily gain and feed consumption index were similar for all diets. Blood glucose was amended by the various servings is 0.98 g/L and 0.88 g/L, respectively, for doses. Conclusion: It appears from this study that rabbits consumed well diets containing C. frutescens. However, C. frutescens’ effect on the growth performances of rabbits is not noticeable. Furthers experiments will be useful to evaluate C. frutescens’ mechanism of action on blood sugar.
Differential Storage of Prolactin, Granins (Chromogranin B and Secretogranin II), and Constitutive Secretory Markers in Rat Pituitary GHC Cells (*)

The rat pituitary cell line GHC secretes granins (chromogranin B and secretogranin II) and prolactin by the regulated secretory pathway. The intracellular storage of prolactin is preferentially induced by hormone treatment with estradiol, insulin, and epidermal growth factor. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of hormone treatment on storage of granins and constitutive secretory markers. The granins were efficiently stored in both hormone-treated and -untreated cells (17% of total secreted in 4 h). Secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP), a truncated membrane protein that would not be expected to enter secretory granules, and glycosaminoglycan, a marker for the constitutive secretory pathway, exhibited 70-80% secretion under both conditions. In comparison, the relative prolactin secretion was 31 and 68% from hormone-treated and -untreated cells, respectively. Phorbol ester and KCl stimulated prolactin secretion 2.3-fold from untreated cells and 5.5-fold from hormone-treated cells. In contrast, SEAP secretion was stimulated 1.5-fold from both treated and untreated cells, consistent with secretion by the constitutive secretory pathway. Stimulated secretion of granins was detected from both hormone-treated and -untreated cells. These results suggest that granin and prolactin storage are differentially regulated and that the constitutive secretory pathway is not affected by hormone treatment.
1/f Noise in Polycrystalline Silicon Thin Film Transistors

A systematic study of the noise performances of polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors is presented. The drain current spectral density of these devices shows an evident 1/f behavior and scales, when operating in the linear regime, with the square of the mean value of the drain current. From the analysis of the results the origin of the noise can be ascribed to carrier number fluctuations related to the dynamic trapping and detrapping of the oxide traps.
[Changes of Peripheral Blood Marrow-Derived Suppressor Cell Level after Chemotherapy Induction Remission by VDLP Regimen and Their Relationship with Immune System in B-ALL Children].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes of peripheral blood marrow-derived suppressor cell level after chemotherapy induction remission by regimen consisting of vincristine, daunorubicin, L-asparaginase and prednisone (VDLP) and to analyze their relationship with immume system in B-ALL children. METHODS Thirty B-ALL children after induction remission by VDLP regimen from August 2015 to August 2016 were selected as B-ALL group and 30 normal healthy children were selected as control group. The peripheral blood in 2 groups was collected and detected by flow cytometry, then the ratios of CD30+ cells and CD33+ HLA-DR- marrow-derived suppressor cells, CD14+CD33+HLA-DR- marrow-derived suppressor cells and CD15+CD33+HLA-DR- marrow-derived suppressor cells were calculated, and their changes after induction remission by VDLP regimen and the relationship with immune system were analyzed. RESULTS After treatment the ratio of CD33+ cells in peripheral blood of B-ALL group and control group was not significantly different (P> 0.05), moreover, the ratio of CD33+ cells in B-ALL group was significantly higher than that before treatment (P<0.05), while the ratios of CD33+ HLA-DR- marrow-derived suppressor cells, CD14+CD33+HLA-DR- marrow-derived suppressor cells and CD15+CD33+HLA-DR- marrow-derived suppressor cells in B-ALL group were significantly lower than those in control group (all P<0.05), but the ratios of these cells in B-ALL group were higher than those before treatment, and yet there was no statistical significance (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The ratios of marrow-derived suppressor cells in peripheral blood of B-ALL children in complete remission after treatment with VDLP regimen are higher than those before treatment, but are significantly lower than normal value, which may be related with non-complese recovery of immune system in B-ALL children after treatment.
Tumor Necrosis Factor- (cid:1) Mediates Cardiac Remodeling and Ventricular Dysfunction After Pressure Overload State Molecular Cardiology

Background —Pressure overload is accompanied by cardiac myocyte apoptosis, hypertrophy, and inflammatory/fibrogenic responses that lead to ventricular remodeling and heart failure. Despite incomplete understanding of how this process is regulated, the upregulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- (cid:1) after aortic banding in the myocardium is known. In the present study, we tested our hypothesis that TNF- (cid:1) regulates the cardiac inflammatory response, extracellular matrix homeostasis, and ventricular hypertrophy in response to mechanical overload and contributes to ventricular dysfunction. Methods and Results —C57/BL wild-type mice and TNF-knockout (TNF (cid:1) / (cid:1) ) mice underwent descending aortic banding or sham operation. Compared with sham-operated mice, wild-type mice with aortic banding showed a significant increase in cardiac TNF- (cid:1) levels, which coincided with myocyte apoptosis, inflammatory response, and cardiac hypertrophy in week 2 and a significant elevation in matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and impaired cardiac function in weeks 2 and 6. Compared with wild-type mice with aortic banding, TNF (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice with aortic banding showed attenuated cardiac apoptosis, hypertrophy, inflammatory response, and reparative fibrosis. These mice also showed reduced cardiac matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and improved cardiac function. Conclusions —Findings from the present study have suggested that TNF- (cid:1) contributes to adverse left ventricular remodeling during pressure overload through regulation of cardiac repair and remodeling, leading to ventricular dysfunction. ( Circulation . 2007;115:1398-1407.)
Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetic Characterization of Children with Short Stature

Abstract Background. The deficiency of SHOX gene (short stature homeobox-containing gene) has been recognized as the most frequent monogenetic cause of short stature. SHOX gene has been associated with short stature in Turner syndrome and Leri Weill dyschondrosteosis as well with non-syndromic idiopathic short stature. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of SHOX deletions and mutations in a cohort of Slovenian children with short stature, and to delineate indications for routine SHOX gene mutation screening. Methods and results. 40 selected subjects with idiopathic short stature were screened for entire SHOX gene deletion and for mutations in the SHOX gene coding region (exon 2 to 6), together with sequences flanking the exon-intron boundaries. FISH analysis on metaphase and interphase spreads revealed no entire gene deletion. Additionally, no pathogenic point mutations or smaller deletion/duplications were identified in this study group. Conclusions. SHOX gene deletions and point mutations are not a common cause of idiopathic short stature in a cohort of Slovenian children with short stature. Therefore, the frequency of SHOX mutations must be much lower as expected based on the reported data. Izvleček Izhodišča. Razlike v številu aktivnih kopij gena SHOX (short stature homeoboxcontaining gen) so najpomembnejši monogenetski vzrok nizke rasti. Vpliv gena SHOX je opredeljen pri razvoju nizke rasti v sklopu Turnerjevega sindroma ali Leri-Weillove dishondrosteoze ter je lahko vzrok nesindromske idiopatske nizke rasti. Namen raziskave je določiti frekvenco delecij in mutacij gena SHOX v skupini slovenskih otrok z nizko rastjo ter opredeliti smernice za presejalno testiranje mutacij v genu SHOX. Metode in rezultati. Izbranih 40 preiskovancev z nizko rastjo smo genetsko testirali za delecijo celotnega gena SHOX ter pojavnost mutacij v celotnem kodirajočem področju gena (eksoni 2 do 6) skupaj z mejami med eksoni in introni. Z analizo FISH na metafaznih in interfaznih kromosomih pri nobenem izmed preiskovancev nismo odkrili delecije. Prav tako pri nobenem izmed 40 preiskovancev nismo odkrili točkovne mutacije ali manjše delecije/duplikcije. Zaključki. Delecije in točkovne mutacije gena SHOX v izbrani skupini slovenskih otrok z nizko rastjo niso pogost razlog za idiopatsko nizko rast. Zato predvidevamo, da je frekvenca mutacij gena SHOX nižja, kot bi pričakovali glede na podatke iz literature.
Comparison of 2 Orthotic Approaches in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Purpose: To compare dynamic ankle-foot orthoses (DAFOs) and adjustable dynamic response (ADR) ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: A total of 10 children with cerebral palsy (4-12 years; 6 at Gross Motor Function Classification System level I, 4 at Gross Motor Function Classification System level III) and crouch and/or equinus gait wore DAFOs and ADR-AFOs, each for 4 weeks, in randomized order. Laboratory-based gait analysis, walking activity monitor, and parent-reported questionnaire outcomes were compared among braces and barefoot conditions. Results: Children demonstrated better stride length (11-12 cm), hip extension (2°-4°), and swing-phase dorsiflexion (9°-17°) in both braces versus barefoot. Push-off power (0.3 W/kg) and knee extension (5°) were better in ADR-AFOs than in DAFOs. Parent satisfaction and walking activity (742 steps per day, 43 minutes per day) were higher for DAFOs. Conclusions: ADR-AFOs produce better knee extension and push-off power; DAFOs produce more normal ankle motion, greater parent satisfaction, and walking activity. Both braces provide improvements over barefoot.
Geometric constraints for porphyrin binding in helical protein binding sites

Helical bundles which bind heme and porphyrin cofactors have been popular targets for cofactor‐containing de novo protein design. By analyzing a highly nonredundant subset of the protein databank we have determined a rotamer distribution for helical histidines bound to heme cofactors. Analysis of the entire nonredundant database for helical sequence preferences near the ligand histidine demonstrated little preference for amino acid side chain identity, size, or charge. Analysis of the database subdivided by ligand histidine rotamer, however, reveals strong preferences in each case, and computational modeling illuminates the structural basis for some of these findings. The majority of the rotamer distribution matches that predicted by molecular simulation of a single porphyrin‐bound histidine residue placed in the center of an all‐alanine helix, and the deviations explain two prominent features of natural heme protein binding sites: heme distortion in the case of the cytochromes C in the m166 histidine rotamer, and a highly prevalent glycine residue in the t73 histidine rotamer. These preferences permit derivation of helical consensus sequence templates which predict optimal side chain‐cofactor packing interactions for each rotamer. These findings thus promise to guide future design endeavors not only in the creation of higher affinity heme and porphyrin binding sites, but also in the direction of bound cofactor geometry. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of Gross Chromosomal Rearrangements by Ubiquitin and SUMO Ligases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs) are frequently observed in many cancers. Previously, we showed that inactivation of Rad5 or Rad18, ubiquitin ligases (E3) targeting for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), increases the de novo telomere addition type of GCR (S. Smith, J. Y. Hwang, S. Banerjee, A. Majeed, A. Gupta, and K. Myung, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:9039-9044, 2004). GCR suppression by Rad5 and Rad18 appears to be exerted by the RAD5-dependent error-free mode of bypass DNA repair. In contrast, Siz1 SUMO ligase and another ubiquitin ligase, Bre1, which target for PCNA and histone H2B, respectively, have GCR-supporting activities. Inactivation of homologous recombination (HR) proteins or the helicase Srs2 reduces GCR rates elevated by the rad5 or rad18 mutation. GCRs are therefore likely to be produced through the restrained recruitment of an HR pathway to stalled DNA replication forks. Since this HR pathway is compatible with Srs2, it is not a conventional form of recombinational pathway. Lastly, we demonstrate that selection of proper DNA repair pathways to stalled DNA replication forks is controlled by the Mec1-dependent checkpoint and is executed by cooperative functions of Siz1 and Srs2. We propose a mechanism for how defects in these proteins could lead to diverse outcomes (proper repair or GCR formation) through different regulation of DNA repair machinery.
Development of the calcium‐binding proteins parvalbumin and calbindin in monkey striate cortex

The development of immunoreactivity for the calcium‐binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin‐D28K (Cal) was studied in Macaca nemestrina striate, cortex from fetal (F) 60 days to postnatal (P) 5 + years. We correlated changes in PV and Cal staining patterns with the well‐documented developmental sequence for primate striate cortex neuron generation and maturation, synaptogenesis, and thalamocortical axon interactions in an attempt to deduce a functional role for these proteins.
A prospective survey on incidence, risk factors and therapy of hepatic veno-occlusive disease in children after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is one of the most frequent complications after stem cell transplantation. We conducted a prospective survey of 244 hematopoietic stem cell transplants in children to determine the incidence of VOD, its main risk factors, treatment and effect on the transplant. DESIGN AND METHODS Two hundred and forty-four hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) performed in 220 pediatric patients from 1993 to 2003 were evaluated. The series included 127 males and 93 females with a median age of 6.7 years at the time of transplantation. RESULTS VOD was diagnosed following 26 of the 244 transplants (cumulative incidence 11%), but a higher incidence was found in patients with at least one known risk factor for VOD (cumulative incidence 20%). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for VOD were age < 6.7 years; type of VOD prophylaxis, and busulphan-containing conditioning regimens. Routine treatment of VOD was based on supportive care and, starting from 1999, defibrotide was used. All patients were monitored with daily Doppler ultrasound-(US) for early diagnosis of inversion of portal blood flow. Twelve patients developed inversion of portal flow (9 had severe VOD; 3 had moderate VOD) and were promptly started on fibrinolytic and anticoagulant therapy with heparin and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Hepatic flow reverted to normal in all 12 patients; only 4 patients ultimately developed multiorgan failure and died. The transplant-related-mortality (TRM) rate in patients with or without inversion of portal flow was 33% vs 7%, (p=0.1). The TRM in patients with or without VOD was 19% vs 8% (p=0.001). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS This study showed that younger age, type of VOD prophylaxis, and busulphan-based conditioning regimens are independent risk factors for VOD. Inversion of portal flow was found in 9 of 10 patients with severe VOD. Doppler US monitoring may be helpful in early identification of the patients with VOD-induced inversion of portal flow who might benefit from therapy with heparin and rt-PA.
The interaction of body temperature and acid-base balance in ectothermic vertebrates.

Sir Joseph Barcroft began his 1934 volume Features in the Architecture 0/ Physiologi­ cal Function (9) with two essays illustrating Claude Bernard's dictum: "La fixite du milieu interieur est la condition de la vie libre," The first essay noted the sensitivity of cellular activities to hydrogen ion concentrations, observing that due to life processes there is " . every opportunity for the hydrogen ion concentration of the internal environment to be inconstant; yet it remains remarkably constant " within narrow limits in man and other mammals. Concerning the application of this principle to "lower animals , " Barcroft stated: "The extreme limits of hydrogen ion concentrations in the blood of sub-mammalian forms are given differently by differ­ ent authors and are quite obscure. " In his second essay Barcroft dealt with tempera­ ture, noting that "the temperature of man is approximately constant," and mused on the remarkable proposition "that at any one temperature all the reactions of the body should progress at velocities suitable to one another. " He went on to ask: "How does the body of the animal of variable temperature so control its reactions as to keep them in step over a great range of temperature? " It has taken many decades since Barcroft wrote to perceive that, for all verte­ brates, a direct relationship exists between the subjects dealt with in these essays, i.e, between regulated hydrogen ion activity and temperature, a relationship only clarified through the study of many "animals of variable temperature. " It is more accurate, as we see later, to substitute for hydrogen ion activity (or pH) that happy phrase of Henderson's (42), the "acid-base balance, " which is preserved upon chang­ ·ing body temperature. More recently it has been recognized that the particular balance achieved is not the constancy of blood pH that Barcroft sought, but is rather
The Use of a Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogue (Octreotide) for Prophylaxis of Acute Pancreatitis after Endoscopic Sphincterotomy

Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). In addition, serum pancreatic enzymes increase without clinical symptoms in about 40-50% of patients undergoing these endoscopic procedures. We evaluated the potential of octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, to prevent these complications in patients who underwent EST for choledocholithiasis. 151 patients were randomly allocated to two groups (A and B). Group A was given 0.1 mg of octreotide subcutaneously 120 and 30 min before EST and four hours after; group B was given a placebo. Serum amylases (normal range 20-220 IU/l) were measured before premedication and 4, 24, and 48 hours after the end of endoscopy. After EST, the increase in the mean serum amylase was greater in the control group, but the difference was statistically significant only at the 48-hour measurement. There were five cases of acute pancreatitis in each group, with a trend (but not statistically significant) toward less severe pancreatitis in the treated group. In the control group, one patient with acute pancreatitis died. In conclusion, octreotide does not seem to prevent acute post-EST pancreatitis.
Effect of joule heating on the performance of a piezoresistive micromechanical oscillator

Piezoresistive sensing has been regarded as an effective transduction method in MEMS resonator researches and piezoresistive micromechanical oscillators are therefore of great interests. The induced joule heating in the piezoresistive sensing, however, has a strong effect on the performance of the device. In this work, a micromechanical double ended tuning fork (DETF) based piezoresistive oscillator is studied. The results show the oscillation frequency drifts and the frequency stability decreases when the resonator body temperature increases due to the Joule heating. A linear trend between the minimum Allan deviation and the piezoresistive current is observed from the experiment.