Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dominance of Sulfuritalea species in nitrate‐depleted water of a stratified freshwater lake and arsenate respiration ability within the genus

Facultative autotrophs of the genus Sulfuritalea within the class Betaproteobacteria have been predicted to be an important bacterial population in stratified freshwater lakes based on previous PCR-based studies. Here, we designed a new probe specific for the genus Sulfuritalea and performed catalysed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridisation to enumerate cells of Sulfuritalea species throughout the water column in a stratified freshwater lake. The cells stained with the Sulfuritalea-specific probe were detected in all hypoxic water samples collected in different seasons and years. Their abundance ranged from 1.4 × 104 to 2.1 × 105 cells ml-1 , corresponding to 0.5-5.5% of the total DAPI-stained cells and 2.3-15% of the total bacterial cells. A high abundance of Sulfuritalea species was recorded in hypoxic water samples without nitrate, which is the only known anaerobic electron acceptor for Sulfuritalea. Nitrate-independent anaerobic respiration was further investigated using a single cultured representative of this genus, and its growth via arsenate respiration was experimentally demonstrated. In conclusion, Sulfuritalea species were found to be a major component of the planktonic bacterial community in nitrate-depleted hypoxic water, where arsenate respiration is one of the possible energy metabolisms of Sulfuritalea.
MTPGraph: A Data-Driven Approach to Predict Medical Risk Based on Temporal Profile Graph

With the rapid development of information technologies, which facilitates the perfection of healthcare systems, a variety of clinical data is becoming available. The patient Electronic Health Records (EHR) is one of important sources in healthcare data on which conducts personalized medicine. However, it is challenging if the raw EHRs are directly used to conduct related medical prediction due to its heterogeneity, sparsity and the existence of noise. To address this issue, this paper proposes an integrative data driven medical prediction approach called Medical Temporal Profile Graph (MTPGraph). The approach consists of two parts, first of which is a unified representation for each patient raw EHRs, namely patient temporal profile graph. Secondly, based on this representation, an algorithm TRApriori to obtain temporal feature graphs is further developed which is used to reconstruct each patient temporal profiling. The generated coefficient can be efficiently used for executing medical risk prediction. Finally, we validate MTPGraph through two real world clinical scenarios. The experimental results show that the predicted performance of the approach can be improved significantly in both tasks.
Acupuncture attenuates neuronal cell death in middle cerebral artery occlusion model of focal ischemia

Abstract Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture in the middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced ischemia model. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into two experimental groups: middle cerebral artery occlusion group (MCAO, n=8), and middle cerebral artery occlusion plus acupuncture group (MCAO + Acu, n=8). Acupuncture stimulation was given immediately after reperfusion. The effect of its stimulation to both GB34 and GB39 on the size of the brain infarct and the functional status of the brain cells after middle cerebral artery occlusion was examined by nissl staining and neuron-specific nuclear protein immunohistochemistry. Results: The infarction volume was significantly decreased in the MCAO + Acu group (16.4 ± 4.8%), compared with the MCAO group (39.9 ± 10.2%). The number of neuron-specific nuclear protein-positive cells in the MCAO group was significantly decreased by 42.3 ± 12.6% in the striatum and by 45.8 ± 5.8% in the motor cortex, but the neuron-specific nuclear protein-positive cells in the MCAO + Acu group were rescued by 67.0 ± 3.8% in the striatum and by 68.1 ± 4.5% in the motor cortex, compared with the contralateral side (100%). Discussion: This study showed that acupuncture had neuroprotective effects against focal ischemia in the middle cerebral artery occlusion model.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serologic detection of Salmonella dublin carriers on a large dairy.

Cows and calves from a 1,600-cow drylot dairy were screened for IgG antibodies to Salmonella dublin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), using an indirect ELISA. The ELISA was performed on milk samples from lactating cows and on sera from nonlactating cows and calves. Fecal samples were collected from calves and nonlactating cows for culture of Salmonella spp. All seropositive cattle were retested by culture and ELISA 5 times at monthly intervals or until antibody concentration decreased. None of the cattle remained culture-positive and seronegative. Prior to and during the sample collection period, approximately 30% of calves < 8 weeks old died of S dublin infection. Vaccination of cows with a killed S dublin/S typhimurium vaccine at cessation of lactation was a routine management practice. The ELISA-determined IgG response to vaccination had decreased by 50 days after vaccination. Eight cows and 5 calves that maintained a high serologic response to S dublin were purchased and moved to a research facility for 6 months of intensive monitoring. Lactating cows were milked twice daily, and culture of milk and feces for Salmonella spp was performed 5 times/wk. Serum IgG antibodies to S dublin LPS were measured weekly, using ELISA. At the end of 6 months, all 13 cattle were necropsied and tissues were obtained for culture of Salmonella spp. All 8 cows and 5 calves maintained persistently high ELISA titer for the 6 months of testing, and shed S dublin in the milk and/or feces during the same period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[Construction of RNAi targeting TRAF1 gene and effect of TRAF1 on gastric cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE To construct the RNAi targeting tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor (TRAF1) gene, and to explore the effect of interference targeting TRAF1 on the biological behavior of gastric cancer cells. METHODS We detected the expression of TRAF1 in BGC823, SGC7901, and MGC803 gastric cancer cell lines through the real-time PCR and Western blot; then we constructed three pLVXshRNA- TRAF1-shRNAs expression vector targeting TRAF1. When TRAF1 was interfered successfully, we selected the strongest interference efficiency ShRNA by real-time PCR and Western blot. Based on interference targeting TRAF1 on gastric cancer, we tested the cell proliferation activity and apoptosis through MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the cell migration by transwell migration assay. RESULTS The expression of TRAF1 was increased in BGC823, SGC7901, and MGC803 gastric cancer cell lines compared with gastric epithelial cells (P<0.05), and the highest expression was in BGC823 gastric cell line. In the three TRAF1 shRNAs, the strongest interference efficiency shRNA was pLVX-shRNA-TRAF1-shRNA2. When the gene TRAF1 of BGC823 was interfered, the cell growing power was weakened and the apoptosis rate increased, and the cell migration had no difference. CONCLUSION The expression of TRAF1 is up-regulated in gastric cancer cell lines BGC823, SGC7901, and MGC803, and the most obvious one is BGC823. The interference targeting TRAF1 can successfully inhibit the expression of TRAF1 in gastric cancer cell line BGC823. TRAF1 can inhibit the apoptosis of BGC823 cells.
The occurrence of autophagic cell death in the tegument of rabbits pre‐infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus and exposed to selamectin (active principle of acaricide pfizer revolution®)

Ticks of Rhipicephalus sanguineus species have great medical and veterinary importance for being a vector of various diseases. In an attempt to minimize their action on the host, people have resorted to chemical control by using various acaricides, such as selamectin. Although previous studies have demonstrated its toxic action in domestic animals, no studies focused on the detection of cell death when exposed to selamectin. For this reason, the technique for detecting autophagic cell death was used in order to demonstrate the responses of rabbits' skin tissues pre‐infested with R. sanguineus and exposed to different concentrations of selamectin. The obtained results when exposed to 100 and 80% concentrations of selamectin showed a strong mark of acid phosphatase on the cells of the connective tissue of the dermis and hair follicles, whereas the ones exposed to the 50% concentration had a weak mark on the cells of the connective tissue of the dermis and moderate staining in hair follicles. It became clear that, when used at high concentrations (100 and 80%), selamectin is capable to induce a large scale occurrence of the autophagic cell death process. On the other hand, the concentration of 50% causes minor morphophysiological changes in the skin of rabbit hosts when evaluated the cell death process. Therefore, the data confirms that selamectin is a powerful dose‐dependent toxic agent causes increased activity of the enzyme acid phosphatase. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:1171–1176, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Post-reforms training needs of frontline managers in Indian power distribution companies: A top managers’ perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the training needs based on top management view point for the development of frontline managers (FLM) of Indian power distribution companies (DISCOMs). Design/methodology/approach DISCOMs’ top managers were interviewed to develop questionnaire items. A total of ten items were identified; the response from the middle managers and FLM were collected with the help of a questionnaire on a five-point Likert type. The Cronbach’s alpha, face and content validity of instrument were performed. The sample population was 364 based on stratified probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling. The statistical tool used for data analysis was chi square through SPSS package. Findings Top management of DISCOMs for developing training program emphasizes on 10 organizational items. Which when assessed with middle and FLM of DISCOM, the results indicated a disagreement between their opinions suggesting practical implications on training need analysis at these DISCOMs. Research limitations/implications The emphasis of top management for identifying the FLM training needs only acknowledges the work environment and customer requirements, whereas the personal and task related factors (other than customer services) affecting their performance are overlooked. Originality/value Reforms in the Indian power sector have been introduced only 26 years back. This study explicitly focuses on the DISCOMs at the central India. Present viewpoint of top management on the competency and training needs of their FLM. The Cronbach’s alpha and discriminant validity has been performed.
Universal or commodified healthcare? Linking out-of-pocket payments to income-related inequalities in unmet health needs in Europe

This study investigates the outcomes out-of-pocket payments (OOPP) produce in terms of income-related disparities in unmet health needs (UHN) due to inability to pay and highlights the commodifying effect of OOPP in European healthcare systems. It merges micro data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (EU-SILC) for 2005–2012, with macro data from the World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Health Organization (WHO). Our results show that, first, across all European countries and years under study, income determines whether a person reports an occasion within the last year where she needed medical treatment or examination but did not receive it due to inability to pay. Second, the more a country relies on OOPP as a means of healthcare financing, the higher the proportion of respondents who report UHN. Third, the share of OOPP amplifies the effect of income considerably. While the poorest decile has a 2 percentage points higher predicted probability of suffering from financially determined UHN than the richest decile in a country with relatively low OOPP (11% of total health expenditure), this difference soars up to 10 percentage points in a country with relatively high OOPP (25%).
The Prevalence and Validity of EBITDA as a Performance Measure

This study evaluates EBITDA as a financial performance measure and investigates the use of EBITDA in financial reporting. First, we take issue with recent comments that both the SEC and the IASB have levied against non-GAAP earnings numbers, and in particular EBITDA. While EBITDA allegedly provides an accurate reflection of the operations and abstracts from how assets are financed, we argue that (net) operating profit already provides this information without the necessity of making subjective adjustments. Also, our evidence suggests that EBITDA paints a rosy picture of the firm’s profitability and cash-generating ability. Next, using textual analysis, we investigate the prevalence of EBITDA in financial disclosures based on a large sample of 15,895 annual reports and 51,758 earnings releases from S&P 1500 firms between 2005 and 2016. We find that 14.8% of sample firms disclose and emphasize EBITDA numbers. EBITDA disclosures modestly increase over time and tend to be rather sticky in nature. In our cross-sectional analyses, we find that, consistent with our hypotheses, EBITDA-reporting firms are smaller, more leveraged, more capital-intensive, less profitable and have longer operating cycles than non-EBITDA reporting firms. They also exhibit higher forecast errors and a higher likelihood of missing the analyst forecast benchmark. Additional tests further underscore the opportunistic nature of EBITDA disclosures as we find that these firm characteristics are more strongly associated with the disclosure of adjusted EBITDA measures, and less strongly associated with the disclosure of EBITA and EBIT.
A national study of obesity prevalence and trends by type of rural county.

CONTEXT Obesity is epidemic in the United States, but information on this trend by type of rural locale is limited. PURPOSE To estimate the prevalence of and recent trends in obesity among US adults residing in rural locations. METHODS Analysis of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for the years 1994-1996 (n = 342,055) and 2000-2001 (n = 385,384). The main outcome measure was obesity (body mass index [BMI] > or = 30), as determined by calculating BMI from respondents' self-reported height and weight. RESULTS In 2000-2001, the prevalence of obesity was 23.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.6%-23.4%) for rural adults and 20.5% (95% CI 20.2%-20.7%) for their urban counterparts, representing increases of 4.8% (95% CI 4.2%-5.3%) and 5.5% (95% CI 5.1%-5.9%), respectively, since 1994-1996. The highest obesity prevalence occurred in rural counties in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas; obesity prevalence increased for rural residents in all states but Florida over the study period. African Americans had the highest obesity prevalence of any group, up to 31.4% (95% CI 29.1%-33.6) in rural counties adjacent to urban counties. The largest difference in obesity prevalence between those with a college education compared with those without a high school diploma occurred in urban areas (18.4% [95% CI 17.9%-18.9%] vs 23.5% [95% CI 22.5%-24.5%], respectively); the smallest difference occurred in small, remote rural counties (20.3% [95% CI 18.7%-21.9%] versus 22.3% [95% CI 20.7%-24.0%], respectively). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of obesity is higher in rural counties than in urban counties; obesity affects some residents of rural counties disproportionately.
Consumers of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid from agricultural soil and drilosphere harbor cadA, r/sdpA, and tfdA-like gene encoding oxygenases.

Microbial degradation of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) in soil is enhanced by earthworms and initiated by tfdA-like, cadA and r/sdpA gene encoding oxygenases. Copy numbers of such genes increased during MCPA degradation in soil, and MCPA stimulated transcription of tfdA-like and r/sdpA genes up to 4×. Transcription of cadA was detected in the presence of MCPA only. DNA stable isotope probing after consumption of 0.6-0.8 mg 13C-MCPA gdw -1 in oxic microcosms indicated diverse labeled oxygenase genes in bulk soil, burrow walls, and cast. 9, 6, and 3 operational taxonomic units of tfdA-like, cadA, and r/sdpA genes, respectively, were labeled and affiliated with group 2 Alphaproteobacteria including Bradyrhizobia and group 1 class III Betaproteobacteria. New genes encoding putative MCPA degrading oxygenases were identified. Diversity of labeled OTUs tended to be lower for cast than for bulk soil. The collective data indicate (1) hitherto unknown active MCPA degraders and/or oxygenase genes in soil; (2) that multiple oxygenases are associated with MCPA degradation in soil at the same time; (3) that earthworms impact the capability of MCPA degraders in soil to respond to MCPA; and (4) the collective data enable a more in-depth analysis of MCPA degrader communities in soil by future structural gene-based experimental strategies.
Detailed knowledge of cellular expression of G protein‐coupled receptors in the human enteric nervous system is essential for understanding their diverse actions

G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise a large and diverse superfamily of transmembrane receptors that mediate the functions of an extraordinarily large number of extracellular ligands. They control many major physiological processes and are involved in diverse pathological processes, including gastrointestinal diseases. G protein‐coupled receptors are one of the most targeted classes in pharmaceutical drug research. At present, much of our knowledge concerning the expression, distribution and function of GPCRs in the gut has been gleaned from studies performed in experimental models. Data obtained in the human digestive tract, especially in the enteric nervous system, are sparse and incomplete, although enteric neurons have a key position in almost all physiological and pathophysiological processes in the gut. Knowledge of cellular distribution of GPCRs, of regional differences in GPCR expression, and of altered GPCR expression during pathophysiological conditions in the human gut, will lead to a better understanding of GPCR activity, but will also contribute to the development of new drugs. In the current issue of the Journal, Harrington et al. describe the presence and cellular localization of muscarinic receptors in the human colon. Morphologically, orientated studies on the cellular expression of GPCRs in the human gut have to be encouraged, because these studies will yield data that are of therapeutic relevance.
Human disease resulting from exposure to electromagnetic fields1)

Abstract Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) include everything from cosmic rays through visible light to the electric and magnetic fields associated with electricity. While the high frequency fields have sufficient energy to cause cancer, the question of whether there are human health hazards associated with communication radiofrequency (RF) EMFs and those associated with use of electricity remains controversial. The issue is more important than ever given the rapid increase in the use of cell phones and other wireless devices. This review summarizes the evidence stating that excessive exposure to magnetic fields from power lines and other sources of electric current increases the risk of development of some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, and that excessive exposure to RF radiation increases risk of cancer, male infertility, and neurobehavioral abnormalities. The relative impact of various sources of exposure, the great range of standards for EMF exposure, and the costs of doing nothing are also discussed.
Learning Outcomes Associated With Patient Simulation Method in Pharmacotherapy Education: An Integrative Review

Summary Statement The aims of this systematic integrative review were to identify evidence for the use of patient simulation teaching methods in pharmacotherapy education and to explore related learning outcomes. A systematic literature search was conducted using 6 databases as follows: CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS, ERIC, MEDIC, and the Cochrane Library, using the key words relating to patient simulation and pharmacotherapy. The methodological quality of each study was evaluated. Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria. The earliest article was published in 2005. The selected research articles were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Patient simulation has been used in pharmacotherapy education for preregistration nursing, dental, medical, and pharmacy students and for the continuing education of nurses. Learning outcomes reported were summarized as follows: (1) commitment to pharmacotherapy learning, (2) development of pharmacotherapy evaluation skills, (3) improvement in pharmacotherapy application skills, and (4) knowledge and understanding of pharmacotherapy. To develop effective teaching methods and ensure health care professionals’ competence in medication management, further research is needed to determine the educational and clinical effectiveness of simulation teaching methods.
Multiscale ordinal network analysis of human cardiac dynamics

In this study, we propose a new information theoretic measure to quantify the complexity of biological systems based on time-series data. We demonstrate the potential of our method using two distinct applications to human cardiac dynamics. Firstly, we show that the method clearly discriminates between segments of electrocardiogram records characterized by normal sinus rhythm, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Secondly, we investigate the multiscale complexity of cardiac dynamics with respect to age in healthy individuals using interbeat interval time series and compare our findings with a previous study which established a link between age and fractal-like long-range correlations. The method we use is an extension of the symbolic mapping procedure originally proposed for permutation entropy. We build a Markov chain of the dynamics based on order patterns in the time series which we call an ordinal network, and from this model compute an intuitive entropic measure of transitional complexity. A discussion of the model parameter space in terms of traditional time delay embedding provides a theoretical basis for our multiscale approach. As an ancillary discussion, we address the practical issue of node aliasing and how this effects ordinal network models of continuous systems from discrete time sampled data, such as interbeat interval time series. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Mathematical methods in medicine: neuroscience, cardiology and pathology’.