Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generic Escherichia coli Contamination of Spinach at the Preharvest Stage: Effects of Farm Management and Environmental Factors

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of farm management and environmental factors on preharvest spinach contamination with generic Escherichia coli as an indicator of fecal contamination. A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted by visiting spinach farms up to four times per growing season over a period of 2 years (2010 to 2011). Spinach samples (n = 955) were collected from 12 spinach farms in Colorado and Texas as representative states of the Western and Southwestern United States, respectively. During each farm visit, farmers were surveyed about farm-related management and environmental factors using a questionnaire. Associations between the prevalence of generic E. coli in spinach and farm-related factors were assessed by using a multivariable logistic regression model including random effects for farm and farm visit. Overall, 6.6% of spinach samples were positive for generic E. coli. Significant risk factors for spinach contamination with generic E. coli were the proximity (within 10 miles) of a poultry farm, the use of pond water for irrigation, a >66-day period since the planting of spinach, farming on fields previously used for grazing, the production of hay before spinach planting, and the farm location in the Southwestern United States. Contamination with generic E. coli was significantly reduced with an irrigation lapse time of >5 days as well as by several factors related to field workers, including the use of portable toilets, training to use portable toilets, and the use of hand-washing stations. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between field workers' personal hygiene and produce contamination with generic E. coli at the preharvest level. Collectively, our findings support that practice of good personal hygiene and other good farm management practices may reduce produce contamination with generic E. coli at the preharvest level.
GENEALOGICAL FOOTPRINTS OF SPECIATION PROCESSES IN WILD TOMATOES: DEMOGRAPHY AND EVIDENCE FOR HISTORICAL GENE FLOW

Abstract Multilocus studies assessing patterns of nucleotide polymorphism within and among closely related species provide access to genealogical information bearing on demographic and geographic aspects of their speciation history. However, the technical difficulties in obtaining sufficient sequence data have severely limited this approach thus far, especially in outbred plant taxa. We employ the analytical framework of divergence population genetics in testing the isolation model of speciation in three self-incompatible species of wild tomatoes (clade Lycopersicon), in particular the assumption of divergence without gene flow. Based on DNA sequence data for 13 nuclear loci, average levels of silent polymorphism vary more than three-fold among species. We estimate a large effective population size for the ancestral species, quite similar to that of the highly polymorphic L. peruvianum. The other two species, however, exhibit concordant signatures of population-size reduction. These demographic inferences are biologically plausible and consistent with results obtained from standard neutrality tests. While the isolation model cannot be rejected by goodness-of-fit criteria, patterns of intragenic linkage disequilibrium in L. peruvianum are indicative of historical introgression at least in some regions of the genome. Considered jointly with the geographic pattern of postzygotic reproductive isolation, our results suggest that speciation occurred under residual gene flow, implying natural selection as one of the evolutionary forces driving the diversification of tomato lineages.
Bariatric Surgery Regain and Long-Term Weight Loss among Women: Self-Efficacy, Social Support and Health Promotion Lifestyle Behaviors

Although bariatric surgery appears to produce success in a short period of time immediately after surgery, weight regain over time in this population cannot be ignored. Understanding the relationship between potential psychosocial predicting post-surgical variables influencing bariatric surgery may prevent long-term weight regain. The purpose of this research is to examine self-efficacy, social support, and lifestyle habits and their relationship to long term weight loss and regain in women post bariatric surgery. Weight regain is observed as early as 18 months to 2 years after bariatric surgery. Patients face challenges sustaining the dramatic lifestyle changes required to ensure positive long-term weight loss. A descriptive correlational research design was used to examine relationships among the variables. The demographic data of the women were reviewed for any correlations with reported regain. There were three independent variables explored in this research: self-efficacy, health promotion lifestyle, and social support. The dependent variable in the study was weight regain. The study was advertised for four weeks in a ‘bariatric women only’ Facebook forum and on the Obesity Help website. A solicitation email was placed on these sites containing five inclusion criteria: adult, female, able to read and write English, Internet users, and underwent bariatric surgery with greater than 18 months or more post-operative time. The research was conducted entirely online using the web-based survey platform SurveyMonkey. In total, 123/135 participants (91.1%) reported weight regain and 12/135 (8.8%) reported no weight regain. There was a strong negative correlation between the two variables WELQ and regain p<0.001 with high scores self-efficacy associated with lower reported weight regain. The health promotion lifestyle factors and the perceived social support factors were nonsignificant at the . 001 level of significance for a two-sided tailed test. Participants reporting the ability to resist eating in a variety of situations and settings were more likely to have less weight regain. These results suggest developing and teaching bariatric surgery patients to increase their self-efficacy could play a significant role in decreasing the chances of weight regain over time. © Copyright by Raelene Brooks All Rights Reserved 2018
Stimulation of Lipolysis and Calcium Accumulation by Parathyroid Hormone in Rat Adipose Tissue In Vitro after Adrenalectomy and Administration of High Doses of Cortisone Acetate

Maximal effect was obtained with 0.03 J./gm/ml of the hormone. PTH was dependent on the presence of calc ium for its action. During PTH-stimulated lipolysis there was an enhanced calcium accumulation in the tissue. Per J.Lmole g1ycerol released, it was of the same magnitude as seen with other lipolytic agents such as noradrenaline, di butyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline. The lipolytic effect of PTH was not changed after adrenal ectomy or after injection of high doses of cortisone acetate. The decrease in calcium accumulation, noted after adrenal ectomy. and the increase in calcium uptake, seen after in jection 01" high doses 01" cortisone acetate, were not modi fied by PTH.
Abnormal Micronuclear Telomeres Lead to an Unusual Cell Cycle Checkpoint and Defects in Tetrahymena Oral Morphogenesis

ABSTRACT Telomere mutants have been well studied with respect to telomerase and the role of telomere binding proteins, but they have not been used to explore how a downstream morphogenic event is related to the mutated telomeric DNA. We report that alterations at the telomeres can have profound consequences on organellar morphogenesis. Specifically, a telomerase RNA mutation termed ter1-43AA results in the loss of germ line micronuclear telomeres in the binucleate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. These cells also display a micronuclear mitotic arrest, characterized by an extreme delay in anaphase with an elongated, condensed chromatin and a mitotic spindle apparatus. This anaphase defect suggests telomere fusions and consequently a spindle rather than a DNA damage checkpoint. Most surprisingly, these mutants exhibit unique, dramatic defects in the formation of the cell's oral apparatus. We suggest that micronuclear telomere loss leads to a “dynamic pause” in the program of cortical development, which may reveal an unusual cell cycle checkpoint.
Proteomics in the investigation of HIV‐1 interactions with host proteins

Productive HIV‐1 infection depends on host machinery, including a broad array of cellular proteins. Proteomics has played a significant role in the discovery of HIV‐1 host proteins. In this review, after a brief survey of the HIV‐1 host proteins that were discovered by proteomic analyses, I focus on analyzing the interactions between the virion and host proteins, as well as the technologies and strategies used in those proteomic studies. With the help of proteomics, the identification and characterization of HIV‐1 host proteins can be translated into novel antiretroviral therapeutics.
The impact of empirical management of acute cystitis on unnecessary antibiotic use.

BACKGROUND Guidelines for the management of acute cystitis support empirical antibiotic treatment; however, up to half of symptomatic women have negative urine cultures. OBJECTIVE To determine whether empirical treatment leads to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in women with symptoms of acute cystitis. METHODS A cohort of 231 women (defined as females aged 16 years and older) presenting to family physicians' offices with symptoms of cystitis underwent a standardized clinical assessment, urine dip testing, and culture. Recommendations for urine testing and antibiotic treatment under 3 empirical strategies were compared with observed physician management and a logistic regression model for the outcomes of antibiotic prescriptions, urine culture testing, and unnecessary antibiotics, defined as a prescription where the subsequent urine culture was negative. RESULTS There were 123 positive urine cultures (53.3%). Physicians prescribed antibiotics to 186 women (80.9%), of whom 74 (39.8%) were culture negative. Unnecessary antibiotic use was similar for 2 guidelines recommending empirical antibiotic treatment without testing for pyuria (41.4% and 40.6%). Treating women with classic cystitis symptoms and pyuria would have decreased unnecessary antibiotic use (26.2%; P =.02) but resulted in fewer women with confirmed urinary tract infection receiving immediate antibiotics (66.4% vs 91.8% usual care; P<.001). A derived prediction model incorporating testing for pyuria and nitrites would also have reduced unnecessary antibiotic use (27.5%; P =.03), but more women with confirmed urinary tract infection would have received immediate antibiotics (81.3%; P =.01). CONCLUSIONS Empirical antibiotic treatment of acute cystitis in women without testing for pyuria promotes unnecessary antibiotic use. A simple decision rule provides for prompt treatment of infected women while reducing antibiotic overuse and unnecessary urine testing.
Power System Impacts of Electric Vehicles in Germany: Charging with Coal or Renewables?

We analyze the impacts of future scenarios of electric vehicles (EVs) on the German power system, drawing on different assumptions on the charging mode. We find that the impact on the load duration curve strongly differs between charging modes. In a fully user-driven mode, charging largely occurs during daytime and in the evening, when power demand is already high. User-driven charging may thus have to be restricted because of generation adequacy concerns. In contrast, cost-driven charging is carried out during night-time and at times of high PV availability. Using a novel model formulation that allows for simulating intermediate charging modes, we show that even a slight relaxation of fully user-driven charging results in much smoother load profiles. Further, cost-driven EV charging strongly increases the utilization of hard coal and lignite plants in 2030, whereas additional power in the user-driven mode is predominantly generated from natural gas and hard coal. Specific CO2 emissions of EVs are substantially higher than those of the overall power system, and highest under cost-driven charging. Only in additional model runs, in which we link the introduction of EVs to a respective deployment of additional renewables, electric vehicles become largely CO2-neutral.
EFFECTS OF CHELATION WITH EDTA AND VITAMIN B THERAPY ON NITRIC OXIDE‐RELATED ENDOTHELIAL VASODILATOR FUNCTION

1. ‘Chelation therapy’ with EDTA is being frequently used in patients with cardiovascular disease, despite limited objective evidence of effectiveness. Depressed nitric oxide (•NO)‐related endothelial function accompanies atherosclerosis, and even the vascular risk factors alone, and is improved by numerous interventions that also improve prognosis in vascular disease.
Integrative Temporo-Spatial, Mineralogic, Spectroscopic, and Proteomic Analysis of Postnatal Enamel Development in Teeth with Limited Growth

Tooth amelogenesis is a complex process beginning with enamel organ cell differentiation and enamel matrix secretion, transitioning through changes in ameloblast polarity, cytoskeletal, and matrix organization, that affects crucial biomineralization events such as mineral nucleation, enamel crystal growth, and enamel prism organization. Here we have harvested the enamel organ including the pliable enamel matrix of postnatal first mandibular mouse molars during the first 8 days of tooth enamel development to conduct a step-wise cross-sectional analysis of the changes in the mineral and protein phase. Mineral phase diffraction pattern analysis using single-crystal, powder sample X-ray diffraction analysis indicated conversion of calcium phosphate precursors to partially fluoride substituted hydroxyapatite from postnatal day 4 (4 dpn) onwards. Attenuated total reflectance spectra (ATR) revealed a substantial elevation in phosphate and carbonate incorporation as well as structural reconfiguration between postnatal days 6 and 8. Nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) demonstrated highest protein counts for ECM/cell surface proteins, stress/heat shock proteins, and alkaline phosphatase on postnatal day 2, high counts for ameloblast cytoskeletal proteins such as tubulin β5, tropomyosin, β-actin, and vimentin on postnatal day 4, and elevated levels of cofilin-1, calmodulin, and peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase on day 6. Western blot analysis of hydrophobic enamel proteins illustrated continuously increasing amelogenin levels from 1 dpn until 8 dpn, while enamelin peaked on days 1 and 2 dpn, and ameloblastin on days 1–5 dpn. In summary, these data document the substantial changes in the enamel matrix protein and mineral phase that take place during postnatal mouse molar amelogenesis from a systems biological perspective, including (i) relatively high levels of matrix protein expression during the early secretory stage on postnatal day 2, (ii) conversion of calcium phosphates to apatite, peak protein folding and stress protein counts, and increased cytoskeletal protein levels such as actin and tubulin on day 4, as well as (iii) secondary structure changes, isomerase activity, highest amelogenin levels, and peak phosphate/carbonate incorporation between postnatal days 6 and 8. Together, this study provides a baseline for a comprehensive understanding of the mineralogic and proteomic events that contribute to the complexity of mammalian tooth enamel development.
Rapid Endothelial Turnover in Atherosclerosis-Prone Areas Coincides With Stem Cell Repair in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Background— Recently, it has been shown that stem/progenitor cells may repair damaged/lost endothelial cells in vein grafts and wire-injured arteries. In the present study, we investigated endothelial cell turnover and regeneration in apolipoprotein E (apoE)−/−/transgenic mice carrying LacZ genes driven by an endothelial TIE2 promoter. Methods and Results— To assess cell proliferation on the surface of aortas in apoE−/− mice and wild-type controls, BrdU was injected into the tail vein and labeled on en face preparation. BrdU-positive cells on the aortas were observed occasionally in wild-type mice and frequently at sites prone to lesion development in apoE−/− mice (0.18±0.1% versus 1.12±0.2%; P<0.001). Endothelial integrity tests demonstrated that the areas with high rate of cell turnover displayed Evans blue leakage, low levels of VE-cadherin expression, and increased cell attachment, as evidenced by Evans blue dye injection, immunostaining, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Furthermore, immunostaining for CD34, Sca-1, Flk-1, and CD133 indicated that ≈3% to 5% of total cells on the aorta were positive in apoE−/− mice. En face double labeling using Ki-67 and progenitor markers revealed that 30% to 50% of progenitor+ cells expressed Ki-67, indicating a state of proliferation. To clarify the origin of endothelial progenitor cells participating in endothelial repair in apoE−/− mice, a chimeric mouse model was created by bone marrow transplantation between apoE−/− and LacZ+/+/apoE−/− mice. Ten months after bone marrow transplantation, ≈3% to 4% of total cells in the lesion-prone areas were &bgr;-gal positive in apoE−/− with apoE−/−/TIE2-LacZ bone marrow mice. When cells of aortas from chimeric mice were cultivated on Matrigel-coated plates, a capillary-like structure was found, which showed &bgr;-gal/CD31 or &bgr;-gal/von Willebrand factor double positivity. By a combined analysis of laser dissection microscopy and nest reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, it was found that &bgr;-gal+ cells were mainly expressing CD31 and CD144. Conclusions— Our findings provide the first quantitative data on endothelial turnover and repair by progenitor cells that are, at least in part, derived from bone marrow during development of atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice.
Socio-Technical Systems for Connecting Social Knowledge and the Governance of Urban Action

This paper seeks to expand our focus to understand how communities can assemble and manage knowledge to support more rational decisions regarding government services and actions in the community environment. We focus on the knowledge transfer interface between communities and urban councils, with a view to extending theoretical understanding of such transfers, and the socio-technical knowledge support systems interfacing between action groups and councils.
A time-series analysis of nonseasonal quarterly earnings data

Research on the time-series behavior of quarterly earnings data has resulted in the identification of several different seasonal autoregressiveintegrated-moving-average (ARIMA) models as best fits for all firms.1 In this paper we are concerned about the fit of these models for a sample of firms which do not exhibit seasonal behavior. Specifically, each of the proposed parsimonious ARIMA models imposes seasonal differencing and/or seasonal moving-average parameters on all firms irrespective of whether or not they are seasonal. For nonseasonal firms this has the effect of inducing seasonality when none in fact exists, results in the identification of a needlessly complex model, and, as our results indicate, diminishes predictive ability. The relative ease with which nonseasonal firms may be culled from seasonal ones suggests that our procedure is a cost-effective means to enhance both descriptive validity and predictive ability in a quarterly earnings context.2 We find that the use of a simple, stationary autore-
Floral Transcriptome Sequencing for SSR Marker Development and Linkage Map Construction in the Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

Despite the worldwide consumption and high economic importance of tea, the plant (Camellia sinensis) is not well studied in molecular biology. Under the few circumstances in which the plant is studied, C. sinensis flowers, which are important for reproduction and cross-breeding, receive less emphasis than investigation of its leaves or roots. Using high-throughput Illumina RNA sequencing, we analyzed a C. sinensis floral transcriptome, and 26.9 million clean reads were assembled into 75,531 unigenes averaging 402 bp. Among them, 50,792 (67.2%) unigenes were annotated with a BLAST search against the NCBI Non-Redundant (NR) database and 10,290 (16.67%) were detected that contained one or more simple sequence repeats (SSRs). From these SSR-containing sequences, 2,439 candidate SSR markers were developed and 720 were experimentally tested, validating 431 (59.9%) novel polymorphic SSR markers for C. sinensis. Then, a consensus SSR-based linkage map was constructed that covered 1,156.9 cM with 237 SSR markers distributed in 15 linkage groups. Both transcriptome information and the genetic map of C. sinensis presented here offer a valuable foundation for molecular biology investigations such as functional gene isolation, quantitative trait loci mapping, and marker-assisted selection breeding in this important species.
Course and outcome of eating disorders in a primary care-based cohort.

OBJECTIVE To study the course and outcome of patients with eating disorder detected in primary care. METHOD General practitioners (GP's) provided information on the course and outcome of eating disorders in patients (n = 147) diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) identified during a Dutch nationwide primary care-based incidence study. The research team determined the outcome based on the data provided by the GP's. The mean duration of the follow-up was 4.8 years. RESULTS About 57% of the patients initially diagnosed with AN and 61% of those diagnosed with BN were fully recovered. AN binge/purge subtype (ANBP) demonstrated the most extended median survival time of all diagnostic subgroups (the point at which half of the group has reached full recovery). Diagnostic crossover was low. A younger age at detection predicted recovery at outcome for AN and BN. One patient (AN) died. DISCUSSION The results of this study on differences in outcome and low crossover support the diagnostic distinction between AN and BN in the DSM-IV. Early detection is of major importance for a favorable outcome.
A harmonic suppression antenna for an active integrated antenna

An inset-fed antenna with a shorting pin and slots is presented for harmonic suppression of an active integrated antenna. Its fundamental resonant frequency is 5.8 GHz. At fundamental and harmonic frequencies, return loss and radiation characteristics are measured and compared with those of the conventional microstrip patch antenna. The second and third harmonic return losses of the proposed antenna are suppressed to 6.7 dB and 17.7 dB with respect to the conventional patch antenna, respectively.