Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term persistence of multi-drug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Newport in two dairy herds.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between maintaining joint hospital and maternity pens and persistence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica serovar Newport on 2 dairy farms. DESIGN Observational study. SAMPLE POPULATION Feces and environmental samples from 2 dairy herds. PROCEDURE Herds were monitored for fecal shedding of S enterica Newport after outbreaks of clinical disease. Fecal and environmental samples were collected approximately monthly from pens housing sick cows and calving cows and from pens containing lactating cows. Cattle shedding the organism were tested serially on subsequent visits to determine carrier status. One farm was resampled after initiation of interventional procedures, including separation of hospital and maternity pens. Isolates were characterized via serotyping, determination of antimicrobial resistance phenotype, detection of the CMY-2 gene, and DNA fingerprinting. RESULTS The prevalence (32.4% and 33.3% on farms A and B, respectively) of isolating Salmonella from samples from joint hospital-maternity pens was significantly higher than the prevalence in samples from pens housing preparturient cows (0.8%, both farms) and postparturient cows on Farm B (8.8%). Multi-drug-resistant Salmonella Newport was isolated in high numbers from bedding material, feed refusals, lagoon slurry, and milk filters. One cow excreted the organism for 190 days. Interventional procedures yielded significant reductions in the prevalences of isolating the organism from fecal and environmental samples. Most isolates were of the C2 serogroup and were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Management practices may be effective at reducing the persistence of MDR Salmonella spp in dairy herds, thus mitigating animal and public health risk.
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors 1 and 1A Control Start Codon Recognition*

Start codon selection is a key step in translation initiation as it sets the reading frame for decoding. Two eukaryotic initiation factors, eIF1 and eIF1A, are key actors in this process. Recent work has elucidated many details of the mechanisms these factors use to control start site selection. eIF1 prevents the irreversible GTP hydrolysis that commits the ribosome to initiation at a particular codon. eIF1A both promotes and inhibits commitment through the competing influences of its two unstructured termini. Both factors perform their tasks through a variety of interactions with other components of the initiation machinery, in many cases mediated by the unstructured regions of the two proteins.
Real-time radiation monitoring system for FLASH

During the operation of a linear accelerator gamma and neutron radiation is produced. Radiation poses a potential threat to electronic systems installed in an accelerator tunnel. Therefore, monitoring of radiation in accelerators is especially important for Free Electron Lasers (FELs), like Free Electron Laser in Hamburg (FLASH) or X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), that require sophisticated control systems. The system monitors in real-time gamma and neutron radiation and can be used to generate warning or trigger interlock subsystems when the level of radiation reaches a threshold level. The pilot facility of XFEL, called FLASH, enables to carry out initial tests of the control system, investigate the radiation environment of the linear accelerator and execute first physical experiments. This paper describes the design and experimental results of the radiation monitoring system installed in six various places of FLASH accelerator at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY).
Light-Dark Regulation of Starch Metabolism in Chloroplasts: II. Effect of Chloroplastic Metabolite Levels on the Formation of ADP-Glucose by Chloroplast Extracts.

The rate of ADP-glucose formation from [(14)C]glucose 6-phosphate and ATP by the soluble fraction of lysed chloroplasts is studied as a function of the levels of metabolites (3-phosphoglycerate, orthophosphate, hexose monophosphate, and ATP) as determined in whole chloroplasts of Spinacia oleracea in light and dark.A change in 3-phosphoglycerate concentration (from 4 to 1.4 millimolar, as in whole chloroplasts during light-dark transition) decreases the rate of ADP-glucose formation 6- to 7-fold. An increase in hexose monophosphate concentration from 2 to 6 millimolar, which occurs at the same time in whole chloroplasts, stimulates ADP-glucose formation only slightly.At constant levels of orthophosphate (4 millimolar) and 3-phosphoglycerate (4 millimolar), a change in ATP concentration from 0.2 to 1 millimolar causes an immediate 4- to 5-fold increase in the rate of ADP-glucose formation. Another significant stimulation of ADP-glucose formation (about 4- to 6-fold) is obtained after addition of dithiothreitol at high concentrations (50 millimolar). A simultaneous increase in the concentrations of 3-phosphoglycerate, ATP, and dithiothreitol, with orthophosphate and Mg(2+) being constant at 4 and 5 millimolar, respectively, causes a 130-fold increase in the rate of ADP-glucose formation (from 0.042 to 5.49 microgram atoms carbon per milligram chlorophyll per hour). The role of these and other factors is discussed with respect to light-dark regulation of starch formation in intact chloroplasts.
Preadmission use of statins and outcomes after hospitalization with pneumonia: population-based cohort study of 29,900 patients.

BACKGROUND While some experimental and clinical research suggests that statins improve outcomes after severe infections, the evidence for pneumonia is conflicting. We examined whether preadmission statin use decreased risk of death, bacteremia, and pulmonary complications after pneumonia. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study of 29,900 adults hospitalized with pneumonia for the first time between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2004 in northern Denmark. Data on statin and other medication use, comorbidities, socioeconomic markers, laboratory findings, bacteremia, pulmonary complications, and death were obtained from medical databases. We used regression analyses to compute adjusted mortality rate ratios within 90 days and relative risks of bacteremia and pulmonary complications after hospitalization in both statin users and nonusers. RESULTS Of patients with pneumonia, 1371 (4.6%) were current statin users. Mortality among statin users was lower than among nonusers: 10.3% vs 15.7% after 30 days and 16.8% vs 22.4% after 90 days, corresponding to adjusted 30- and 90-day mortality rate ratios of 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.82) and 0.75 (0.65-0.86). Decreased mortality associated with statin use remained robust in various subanalyses and in a supplementary analysis using propensity score matching. In contrast, former use of statins and current use of other prophylactic cardiovascular drugs were not associated with decreased mortality from pneumonia. In statin users, adjusted relative risk for bacteremia was 1.07 (95% confidence interval, 0.69-1.67) and for pulmonary complications was 0.69 (0.42-1.14). CONCLUSION The use of statins is associated with decreased mortality after hospitalization with pneumonia.
A preliminary efficacy evaluation performed by opto-electronic plethysmography of asymmetric respiratory rehabilitation

The aim of present work is to test an optoelectronic system as diagnostic device to preliminary assess the efficacy of asymmetric respiratory rehabilitation. The respiratory rehabilitation efficacy, in terms of tidal volume variations, has been assessed for 14 patients undergone left or right superior lobectomy. Tidal volume variations of six torso compartments have been measured in pre-surgery, post-surgery and post-rehabilitation phases. Significant difference of total chest wall tidal volume has not been observed between the three phases. Tidal volume differences have been observed between paretic and healthy side. Significant tidal volume increase has been observed for non-operated side between pre-surgery and postrehabilitation phases during quiet breathing, mean tidal volume increases of about 32%. Measurement results indicate that respiratory rehabilitation is more effective on non-operated side which, in turn, compensates the operated one. The optoelectronic plethysmograph appears to be a suitable instrument for evaluation of respiratory rehabilitation in case of respiratory volumes asymmetry.
Exploration of Various Proteins for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible multifaceted neurodegenerative disorder that gradually degrades neuronal cells. It is the most frequent cause of memory loss and dementia in elderly individuals worldwide. The extracellular deposition of beta amyloid (Aβ), intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) retention, neuronal decline and neurotransmitter system derangement are the patho-physiological marker of this devastated disease Objective: In view of limited treatment option and their success rate, there is an urgent need to explore the vast array of proteomes for the management of AD. These proteins could be therapeutically targeted to prevent the progression of this disease. In the present review, we tried to uncover several proteins that could be exploited in AD therapeutics. CONCLUSION Based on our article, we conclude that proteome based AD treatment needs more refinements and approaches to achieve the desired success rate.
The Yersinia enterocolitica type 3 secretion system (T3SS) as toolbox for studying the cell biological effects of bacterial Rho GTPase modulating T3SS effector proteins

The bacterial effector proteins IpgB1 and IpgB2 of Shigella and Map of Escherichia coli activate the Rho GTPases Rac1, RhoA and Cdc42, respectively, whereas YopE and YopT of Yersinia inhibit these Rho family GTPases. We established a Yersinia toolbox which allows to study the cellular effects of these effectors in different combinations in the context of Yersinia type 3 secretion system (Ysc)‐T3SS‐mediated injection into HeLa cells. For this purpose hybrid proteins were constructed by fusion of YopE with the effector protein of interest. As expected, injected hybrid proteins induced membrane ruffles and Yersinia uptake for IpgB1, stress fibres for IpgB2 and microspikes for Map. By co‐infection experiments we could demonstrate (i) IpgB2‐mediated and ROCK‐dependent inhibition of IpgB1‐mediated Rac1 effects, (ii) YopT‐mediated suppression of IpgB1‐induced Yersinia invasion and (iii) failure of YopE‐mediated suppression of IpgB1‐induced Yersinia invasion, presumably due to preferential inhibition of RhoG by YopE GAP function. By infecting polarized MDCK cells we could demonstrate that Map or IpgB1 but not IpgB2 affects cell monolayer integrity. In summary, the Yersinia toolbox is suitable to study cellular effects of effector proteins of diverse bacterial species separately or in combination in the context of bacterial T3SS‐mediated injection.
Long-Term Care Reform and the Labor Supply of Household Members: Evidence from a Quasi-Experiment

Germany introduced a new mandatory insurance for long-term care in 1995 as part of its social security system. It replaced a system based on means tested social welfare. Benefits from the long-term care insurance are not means tested and depend on the required level of care. The insurance provides both benefits in kind and cash benefits. The new scheme improved the situation for households to organize informal care at home. This was one goal of the reform since policymakers view informal care as a cost-saving alternative to formal care. This view however neglects possible opportunity costs of reduced labor supply of carers. We exploit this reform as a quasi-experiment and examine its effect on the labor supply of caregivers who live in the same household as the care recipient. We find strong negative labor market effects for men but not for women. We conduct a series of robustness tests and find results to be stable.
Occupation and pancreatic cancer risk in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND Any association between occupation and pancreatic cancer risk has not been conclusively demonstrated. A population-based case-control study was conducted to examine occupational risks of pancreatic cancer in Shanghai, China. METHODS The study included 451 pancreatic cancer patients newly diagnosed in 1990-1993 and 1,552 controls randomly selected from Shanghai residents. Information on a lifetime job history and other factors was obtained in a face-to-face interview. RESULTS Among men, an increased risk of pancreatic cancer was associated with employment as an electrician (OR = 7.5, CI = 2.6-21.8), and a positive trend in risk with increasing duration of employment was apparent (P for trend = 0.0003). Exposure to electric magnetic fields (EMF) as measured by a job exposure matrix also was associated with an increased risk among electricians. Threefold risks were observed for men with the highest level of intensity and for those with the highest probability of EMF exposure, although women with heavy EMF exposure did not experience increased risk. Among men, elevated risks also were found for metal workers (OR = 2.1, CI = 1.0-4.8); toolmakers (OR = 3.4, CI = 14-7.1); plumbers and welders (OR = 3.0, CI = 1.2-7.5); and glass manufacturers, potters, painters, and construction workers (OR = 2.6, CI = 1.1-6.3). Among women, textile workers experienced an increased risk (OR = 1.4, CI = 0.8-2.6). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that occupations associated with exposures to metal and textile dusts or certain chemicals may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. The elevated risk among electricians may warrant further study to evaluate the possible role of EMF or other exposures.
Antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity: Concise up‐to‐date review

The cornerstone of tuberculosis management is a 6‐month course of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Compliance is crucial for curing tuberculosis. Adverse effects often negatively affect the compliance, because they frequently require a change of treatment, which may have negative consequences for treatment outcome. In this paper we review the incidence, pathology and clinical features of antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity, discuss the metabolism and mechanisms of toxicity of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide, and describe risk factors and management of antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity. The reported incidence of antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity, the most serious and potentially fatal adverse reaction, varies between 2% and 28%. Risk factors are advanced age, female sex, slow acetylator status, malnutrition, HIV and pre‐existent liver disease. Still, it is difficult to predict what patient will develop hepatotoxicity during tuberculosis treatment. The exact mechanism of antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity is unknown, but toxic metabolites are suggested to play a crucial role in the development, at least in the case of isoniazid. Priorities for future studies include basic studies to elucidate the mechanism of antituberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity, genetic risk factor studies and the development of shorter and safer tuberculosis drug regimens.
The prevalence of human herpesvirus 6 in human sensory ganglia and its co-occurrence with alpha-herpesviruses

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) persists in the central nervous system, but its prevalence in the peripheral nervous system, a preferred latency site for herpesviruses, has not been studied. Using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the authors determined the distribution of HHV-6 in human sensory ganglia. HHV-6 was present in 30% of trigeminal, 40% of geniculate, 25% of vestibular, and 55% of dorsal root ganglia. It cooccurred with alphaherpesviruses (herpes simplex virus type 1 or varicellazoster virus) in 91% of the ganglia. As HHV-6 positivity did not depend on the presence of inflammatory cells, known to harbor the virus, HHV-6 probably resides in the ganglia themselves.
Comprehensive clinical sitting balance measures for individuals following stroke: a systematic review on the methodological quality

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the psychometric properties of published clinical sitting measurement scales containing dynamic tasks in individuals following stroke. Method: Databases, including Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, PubMed and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) were searched from inception to December 2015. The search strategy included terms relating to sitting, balance and postural control. Two reviewers independently selected and extracted data from the identified articles and assessed the methodological quality of the papers using the COnsensus-based Standards for selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Results: Fourteen clinical sitting measurement scales (39 papers) containing dynamic tasks met the inclusion criteria and various measurement properties were evaluated. The methodological quality of the majority of the included studies was rated as poor to fair using the COSMIN checklist, with common limitations including small sample size and inappropriate use of statistical methods. Conclusions: This review was unable to identify measures with sufficient psychometric properties to enable recommendation as preferred tools. However, measures were identified that warrant further specific psychometric investigations to fulfil requirements for a high quality measure. Implications for Rehabilitation Fourteen clinical sitting balance scales containing dynamic tasks are available to measure sitting balance with individuals following stroke. No single scale has sufficient psychometric properties to enable recommendation as a preferred tool for measuring sitting balance with stroke survivors. Use of a balance scale or dedicated sitting balance measure containing static and dynamic sitting items should be utilised to monitor progress for individuals following stroke with more severe deficits.
Association of uric acid and carotid artery disease in patients with ischemic stroke

Some previous studies reported an independent association between uric acid and coronary artery disease, while little is known on the association among uric acid and carotid artery disease (CAD). To address this issue, we investigated the association between CAD and higher uric acid level because of the well‐known importance of the carotid artery pathologies for ischemic stroke.
Public participation and community engagement for water resource management in the Pacific

There are several terms representing ways in which governments or other organisations can work with the public. The purpose of this brief is to summarise recent thinking on two of these, public participation and community engagement, as an aid to Pacific government agencies and nongovernment organisations working in water resources management. A companion brief explains options for one of the strongest forms of public participation, collaborative management. Background
Vasopressin-receptor antagonists in heart failure.

PURPOSE The role of arginine vasopressin in heart failure and the use of vasopressin receptor antagonists in the treatment of heart failure are reviewed. SUMMARY Arginine vasopressin (AVP) functions in the regulation of plasma osmolarity and blood pressure. In heart failure, AVP worsens heart failure by causing vasoconstriction of arteries and veins, potentially contributing to remodeling of the left ventricle and causing fluid retention and worsening of hyponatremia. Two V(2)-receptor antagonists, tolvaptan and lixivaptan, and one combined V(1a)- and V(2)-receptor antagonist, conivaptan, have shown promise for use in patients with heart failure. All three agents have been shown to increase free water excretion and increase serum sodium levels while maintaining serum potassium levels. They have not been shown to decrease renal function or the glomerular filtration rate and are well tolerated, with thirst being the major adverse effect during clinical trials. Because of their effects on sodium, vasopressin antagonists need to be carefully monitored to ensure that serum sodium levels do not increase too quickly and put the patient at risk for overcorrection or osmotic demyelination syndrome. In addition, patients need to be monitored for signs of dehydration secondary to increased urine excretion. To date, studies have not consistently shown improvements in patient symptoms or weight reduction. However, early data suggest that at least one agent, tolvaptan, does not alter mortality. CONCLUSION Based on data from available clinical trials, vasopressin antagonists may offer a new treatment option for patients with congestive heart failure. However, these agents do not currently appear to delay the progression of heart failure or decrease mortality.
- 2-Determinants and Effects of Subjectivity in Incentives

This study examines two questions: when do firms make greater use of subjectivity in awarding bonuses, and what are the effects of subjectivity on employee pay satisfaction and firm performance? We examine these questions using data from a sample of 526 department managers in 250 car dealerships. First, the findings suggest that subjective bonuses are used to complement perceived weaknesses in quantitative performance measures and to provide employees insurance against downside risk in their pay. Specifically, use of subjective bonuses is positively related to: (1) the extent of long-term investments in intangibles; (2) the extent of organizational interdependencies; (3) the extent to which the achievability of the formula bonus target is both difficult and leads to significant consequences if not met; and (4) the presence of an operating loss. Second, we find that the effects of subjective bonuses on pay satisfaction, productivity, and profitability are larger the greater the manager’s tenure, consistent with the idea that subjectivity improves incentive contracting when there is greater trust between the subordinate and supervisor.
SIRT3, a human SIR2 homologue, is an NAD- dependent deacetylase localized to mitochondria

The SIR2 (silent information regulator 2) gene family has diverse functions in yeast including gene silencing, DNA repair, cell-cycle progression, and chromosome fidelity in meiosis and aging. Human homologues, termed sirtuins, are highly conserved but are of unknown function. We previously identified a large imprinted gene domain on 11p15.5 and investigated the 11p15.5 sirtuin SIRT3. Although this gene was not imprinted, we found that it is localized to mitochondria, with a mitochondrial targeting signal within a unique N-terminal peptide sequence. The encoded protein was found also to possess NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase activity. These results suggest a previously unrecognized organelle for sirtuin function and that the role of SIRT3 in mitochondria involves protein deacetylation.