Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prophylactic Antibiotics in Gynecologic Surgery

A 2-year prospective double-blind study of prophylactic antibiotics in 317 patients undergoing elective total abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy was conducted. Patients randomly received placebo, penicillin, or cefazolin 30 minutes prior to surgery and at 6-hour intervals thereafter for 48 hours. Rigid criteria for postoperative morbidity were established. Vaginal hysterectomy patients given either penicillin or cefazolin prophylaxis had fewer postoperative infections (P < 0.01) compared to those given placebo. A similar trend was noted among women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy; however, this trend was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Despite continuous surveillance, no change in nosocomial flora or antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates was noted. Adverse drug effects and antibiotic-resistant secondary infections were encountered with similar frequency in all treatment groups.
ANTIBODY‐FACILITATED CHIMERAS: STEM CELL ALLOTRANSPLANTATION USING ANTIHOST MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES INSTEAD OF LETHAL IRRADIATION FOR HOST CONDITIONING

Complete hemopoietic takeover between semiallogeneic adults can be accomplished by the administration of antihost major histocompatibility complex (MHC) monoclonal antibody (mAb) and donor stem cells. The recipient of such treatment are termed antibody-facilitated chimeras, and they have been produced in (BALB/ cCr (BALB/cCRxC3H/HeJ)F1 and DBA/2J (DBA/ 2JxC3H/HeJ)F1 strain combinations. Donor stem cells can be derived from spleen, bone marrow, or T-cell-depleted bone marrow. Engraftment by donor hemopoietic cells can be facilitated by mAbs directed toward class I (anti-H-2Kk) or class II (anti-H-2I-Ak) MHC antigens of the host. By monitoring isozymes of glucose phosphate isomerase, it can be shown that the establishment of donor hemopoiesis in stable, persisting for more than a year without graft-versus-host disease. The effect of anti-MHC mAb on pluripotential stem cells was evaluated by the (colony-forming units—spleen) (CFU-S) assay. The number of CFU-S in target (H-2k) bone marrow was reduced by in vitro pretreatment with anti-H-2Kk mAb, but not with anti-H-2I-Ak mAb. In contrast, in vivo administration of either anti-H-2Kk or anti-H-2I-Ak mAb resulted in a marked decrease in the CFU-S capacity of relevant strain mice. These observations suggest that the target of the in vivo mAb treatment may be pluripotential stem cells—or perhaps the hemopoietic microenvironment.
Introducing an Agile Process to an Organization

The transition from a plan-driven to an agile software development process affects not only the development team members, but also other teams, departments, and management. Any new process will likely attract developers excited to try it while repelling those opposed to change. Thus, how an agile process is introduced into an organization significantly affects its ultimate success.
Identification and characterization of enolase as a collagen‐binding protein in Lactobacillus plantarum

Collagen is a target of pathogens for adhesion, colonization, and invasion of host tissue. Probiotic bacteria can mimic the same mechanism as used by the pathogens in the colonization process, expressing cell surface proteins that specifically interact with extracellular matrix component proteins. The capability to bind collagen is expressed by several Lactobacillus isolates, including some Lactobacillus plantarum strains. In this study we report the involvement of the L. plantarum EnoA1 alfa‐enolase in type I collagen (CnI) binding. By adhesion assays, we show that the mutant strain LM3‐CC1, carrying a null mutation in the enoA1 gene, binds to immobilized collagen less efficiently than wild type strain. CnI overlay assay and Elisa tests, performed on the purified EnoA1, show that this protein can bind collagen both under denaturing and native conditions. By using truncated recombinant enolase proteins, we also show that the region spanning from 73rd to the 140th amino acid residues is involved in CnI binding.
Molecular mechanism of visual transduction.

Visual transduction covers the sequence of photochemical, biochemical and electrophysiological events through which the absorption of a photon in a pigment molecule in a photoreceptor cell generates an electrical cellular response that will be detectable at the level of the synaptic connection. Our understanding of visual transduction has considerably progressed recently and much of the new developments have been in the field of biochemistry and enzymology (for others recents review, see [1–3]).
Quantifying the Composition of Human Skin for Glucose Sensor Development

Background: Glucose is heterogeneously distributed within human skin. In order to develop a glucose measurement method for human skin, both a good quantification of the different compartments of human skin and an understanding of glucose transport processes are essential. This study focused on the composition of human skin. In addition, the extent to which intersubject variability in skin composition alters glucose dynamics in human skin was investigated. Methods: To quantify the composition of the three layers of human skin—epidermis, dermis, and adipose tissue—cell and blood vessel volumes were calculated from skin biopsies. These results were combined with data from the literature. The composition was applied as input for a previously developed computational model that calculates spatiotemporal glucose dynamics in human skin. The model was used to predict the physiological effects of intersubject variability in skin composition on glucose profiles in human skin. Results: According to the model, the lag time of glucose dynamics in the epidermis was sensitive to variation in the volumes of interstitial fluid, cells, and blood of all layers. Data showed most variation/uncertainty in the volume composition of the adipose tissue. This variability mainly influences the dynamics in the adipose tissue. Conclusions: This study identified the intersubject variability in human skin composition. The study shows that this variability has significant influence on the glucose dynamics in human skin. In addition, it was determined which volumes are most critical for the quantification and interpretation of measurements in the different layers.
Vibrionic enteritis in infants.

Introduction Vibrio comma has long been accepted as the cause of Asiatic cholera. Other morphologically similar Spirillae are widespread in nature, some as natural inhabitants of the oral and urogenital mucous membranes of animals, others as saprophytes isolated from soil and water, from cheese, etc.1Infection with Vibrio fetus is an important cause of abortion in cattle and sheep,2and Vibrio jejuni causes enteritis in cattle.3In the past 15 years occasional reports have appeared implicating animal vibrios as a cause of human disease.4,5King6has collected eight cases of V. fetus infection from the literature and has added seven more. The cases were all in adults and they exhibited such varied clinical pictures as endocarditis, abortion, pleuropneumonia, paralysis, jaundice, and, in three cases, diarrhea. Levy7has reported an outbreak of diarrheal disease in adults due probably to milkborne V. jejuni. King also records
Potential therapeutic agents that raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death in westernised societies. A number of risk factors have been identified that accelerate the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including family history for premature disease (first degree male relative with CVD onset before the age of 55; first degree female relative with CVD onset before the age of 65), hypertension (whether treated or not), age, smoking, diabetes mellitus and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. One of the recent changes in the US Adult Treatment Panel guidelines was to increase the lower limit of desirable HDL-C levels (now raised to 40 mg/dL from 35 mg/dL). There have been a few clinical studies demonstrating the benefit of raising HDL-C levels but there are not many therapeutic options that easily accomplish this goal. Research into the understanding of HDL metabolism has yielded a number of potential therapeutic targets. HDL is thought to exert its cardioprotective effects by a number of mechanisms. The predominant one appears to be its participation in the process of reverse cholesterol transport, whereby excess cholesterol from peripheral cells is transported to the liver for disposal via bile acid production. The newer potential targets, among others, include peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-α, -γ and -δ), ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) and scavenger receptor class B Type I (SR-BI). Among this group, agonists for PPAR-α and PPAR-γ have been shown to increase HDL-C levels and are commonly used in the management of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (fibrates and glitazones, respectively). The precise mechanism by which activation of PPAR-γ leads to increased HDL-C is still not clearly defined but these agents have been shown to increase expression of ABC transporters and scavenger receptors both in animals and in vitro. An investigational agent, JTT-705, is a CETP inhibitor that has been shown to raise HDL-C levels 34% and without major side effects. The effect of the CETP inhibitor on clinical outcomes is unknown.
Clinical and echographic analysis of photodynamic therapy using methylaminolevulinate as sensitizer in the treatment of photodamaged facial skin

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been previously investigated in the treatment of photodamaged skin. The aim was to assess efficacy and tolerability of methylaminolevulinate (MAL) as a substitute for ALA in PDT treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) and photoaging.
Subjective Organization, Verbal Learning, and Forgetting Across the Life Span: From 5 to 89

Background/Study Context: Previous tests of the relationship between subjective organization during encoding, aging, and recall have produced inconsistent findings. The present study investigates subjective organization and the acquisition and recall of verbal material across the life span (from 5 to 89 years of age) using two measures, the intertrial repetition paired frequency (PF) measure and the unidirectional subjective organization (SO) measure. Methods: Participants (N = 2656) were administered a version of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, including a delayed recall trial. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed to examine the relationship between age and subjective organization and between age and recall. Mediation and growth curve analyses were performed to further examine the relationship between age, verbal acquisition, and subjective organization. Results: Subjective organization was not predictive of verbal forgetting. Deficits in verbal acquisition and subjective organization were detected among children and elderly adults. Mediational analyses showed that age affected the number of words recalled as well as subjective organization, and that subjective organization affected the number of words recalled in children, young adults and elderly. Latent growth curve modeling suggests that increases in subjective organization over time are related to increases in recall over time for each age group. Conclusion: Subjective organization is predictive of recall, and both subjective organization and recall are lowest among children and elderly individuals. Age has direct effects on recall but this effect is partially mediated by subjective organization. Brain imaging studies showing increased prefrontal cortex activation during encoding of remembered words bolster our findings that age affects the relationship between verbal learning and organization of material during encoding.
Development and Adsorption Study of Macrofungus Biocomposite for Removal of Metal Pollutants

The identification of toxic metals in Macrofungus species diverted the attention of the researchers for the development of remediation models. Mushrooms represent an important food commodity cultivated in different parts of the world. The present study is designed to exploit the property of metal accumulation in the chitin wall of Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) for the development of biocomposite. A series of novel composites are prepared using calcium alginate, silica and alumina separately and in combination of 10:1 with Macrofungus. Each composite is characterized through FTIR, SEM and EDX to determine the surface and bulk characteristics. The FTIR analysis revealed -CH, C-O-C (sugar), C=O conjugation and -NH functional groups confirming the proteinaceous nature of Macrofungus. SEM and EDX also confirm the successful preparation showing significant elemental composition of Ca, Si, and Al in respective composites. BET analysis indicated higher surface area for inorganic precursors (SiO2 and Al2O3) than organic moiety (calcium alginate). The prepared composites are applied as adsorbents in batch mode for the removal of three selected metals (Lead, Cadmium and Chromium) also known as cumulative poisons. For adsorption experiments, optimization of pH is also attempted. The results are encouraging showing optimum removal of 99% during contact of 45 minutes between the adsorbate and adsorbent. It is also noted that functionalized composites (FMF, FMFSi, FMFAl, FMFSiAl) show relatively less adsorption of metals likely due to stabilizing effect of inorganic precursors (Silica and alumina) and immobilization of Macrofungus by calcium alginate. The metal removal follow the sequence Cr>Cd>Pb in accordance with position of elements in the periodic table. Kinetics and isotherms were applied for each metal and each adsorbent. Freundlich and Temkin isotherms fitted best to the adsorption data. The study recommends that the prepared biocomposites can effectively be applied as remediation model for the removal of metals and other pollutants as well.
Microtiter solid-phase radioimmunoassay for detection of human calicivirus in stools

A microtiter solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed for detection of human calicivirus in stool specimens. Seventy-eight stool specimens were tested by RIA. All 17 specimens positive for human calicivirus by electron microscopy (EM) were also positive by RIA. In addition, of 21 specimens obtained from an outbreak of caliciviral gastroenteritis, 11 were positive by RIA but negative by EM. Of 20 specimens positive for rotavirus by EM and 20 nondiarrheic specimens with no virus, 2 and 1, respectively, were positive by RIA but were subsequently shown to be falsely positive by a blocking test. There was no cross-reaction between human and feline caliciviruses. Thus, the test was more sensitive than EM and, with an appropriate blocking test, was specific for human calicivirus. It might be especially useful for screening large numbers of stool specimens.
Performance Analysis of OFDM Synchronization Using Customized Floating Point for Low Complexity

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is a multi carrier modulation scheme mainly used for digital communications. The performance of OFDM system heavily depends on the synchronization scheme used. In most cases, the accuracy level of synchronization will be worsened by the error caused in fixed point arithmetic involved. In this paper, we analyze the impact of the fixed point arithmetic on the performance of the coarse timing and frequency synchronization. Here with an analytical approach through numerical simulations bit length of IEEE 754 standard single precision format is optimized according to the required degree of accuracy for low complexity. Also, a complete precision level requirement for FFT computations with all possible modulation types is obtained. The proposed precision model is compared with IEEE standard single precision model and its efficiency in OFDM synchronization process is proved through MATLAB simulations. Finally, the complexity reduction of proposed precision model in both addition and subtraction is proved against single precision format using hardware synthesis. Here we proved that more than 50% complexity reduction is achieved as compared to standard precision models without compromising quality. The quality retention of proposed model is proved in both timing and frequency synchronization process.
Oral Immunization with ATP-Dependent Protease-Deficient Mutants Protects Mice against Subsequent Oral Challenge with Virulent Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT We evaluated the efficacy of mutants with a deletion of the stress response protease gene as candidates for live oral vaccine strains against Salmonella infection through infection studies with mice by using a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium mutant with a disruption of the ClpXP or Lon protease. In vitro, the ClpXP protease regulates flagellum synthesis and the ClpXP-deficient mutant strain exhibits hyperflagellated bacterial cells (T. Tomoyasu et al., J. Bacteriol. 184:645-653, 2002). On the other hand, the Lon protease negatively regulates the efficacy of invading epithelial cells and the expression of invasion genes (A. Takaya et al., J. Bacteriol. 184:224-232, 2002). When 5-week-old BALB/c mice were orally administered 5 × 108 CFU of the ClpXP- or Lon-deficient strain, bacteria were detected with 103 to 104 CFU in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, and cecum 1 week after inoculation and the bacteria then decreased gradually in each tissue. Significant increases of lipopolysaccharide-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secretory IgA were detected at week 4 and maintained until at least week 12 after inoculation in serum and bile, respectively. Immunization with the ClpXP- or Lon-deficient strain protected mice against oral challenge with the serovar Typhimurium virulent strain. Both the challenged virulent and immunized avirulent salmonellae were completely cleared from the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, and even cecum 5 days after the challenge. These data indicate that Salmonella with a disruption of the ATP-dependent protease ClpXP or Lon can be useful in developing a live vaccine strain.
FMR1 RNA within the Intranuclear Inclusions of Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a recently identified neurodegenerative disorder affecting older adult males with premutation alleles of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. The principal clinical features of FXTAS include progressive intention tremor, gait ataxia, parkinsonism, and autonomic dysfunction. The disorder affects at least one-third of carrier males over 50 years of age and, with an estimated carrier frequency of ~1/800 males, is likely to be one of the most common heritable forms of tremor and ataxia among older adult males in the general population. Brains from all FXTAS cases examined to date (10/10) possess numerous ubiquitin-positive intranuclear inclusions in broad distribution throughout the cerebrum and brainstem. The absence of either the neurodegenerative disorder or inclusions among adults with fragile X syndrome (who lack the FMR1 protein), coupled with elevated FMR1 mRNA with expanded CGG repeats in premutation carriers, has led us to propose an RNA toxic gain-of-function model for FXTAS. Consistent with this model, we have now identified FMR1 mRNA within the intranuclear inclusions isolated from post-mortem (FXTAS) brain tissue.
On Cultural Teaching

语言是文化的载体，文化影响着语言，二者是密不可分的。 外语教学的目的是使外语学习者具有使用所学外语与其本族人进行交流的能力。 文化知识有助于外语学习者掌握语言知识，提高听与读的理解能力，也有助于提高学习者使用语言的能力及交流能力。 因此，文化教学在外语语言教学中是必不可少的。 文化知识的教授不仅限于外语文化知识，我们也不能忽略中国文化知识的灌输，将中国文化和外国文化进行比较。 这样，外语学习者才能够正确运用所掌握的文化知识与外国人进行得体交流。 所以，文化教学在外语语言教学中起着重要作用。 同时，文章提出了一些文化教学的方法。
A Cluster of Friedreich's Ataxia in Rimouski, Québec

Summary We described a cluster of 8 independent sibships of Friedreich's ataxia in the ShFabien parish of Rimouski and have shown that they are all related within 6 generations. The study of this geographic and genetic isolate permitted the investigation of certain unusual features of the disease such as constant myopia, delayed reaction times to pain, flexor spasms, anda rapid evolution.
Feeding of sugar cane silage to dairy cattle during the dry season

A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding sugar cane silage compared to chopped whole sugar cane or grass silage on performances of lactating dairy cows during the dry season. Twenty four Holstein Friesian crossbred (>87.5% Holstein Friesian) lactating dairy cows in mid lactation; averaging 15.4±3.2 kg of milk, 120±23 days in milk, 50.5±6.5 months old and 432±39 kg live weight, were stratified for milk yield, days in milk, age, stage of lactation and body weight, and then randomly allocated to three treatment groups (8 cows in each group). All cows were fed 7.5 kg/d commercial concentrate plus ad libitum roughage according to treatment groups, which were grass silage, sugar cane silage or chopped whole sugar cane respectively. All cows consumed similar DM and produced similar milk and milk composition yields. However, cows on grass silage lost more weight than the other cows. The present study indicated that, during the dry season, sugar cane silage can be fed to lactating dairy cows, while giving similar milk yield to grass silage or chopped whole sugar cane. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. Vol 18, No. 8 : 1125-1129)
Swimming Marine Synechococcus Strains with Widely Different Photosynthetic Pigment Ratios Form a Monophyletic Group

ABSTRACT Unicellular marine cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in both coastal and oligotrophic regimes. The contribution of these organisms to primary production and nutrient cycling is substantial on a global scale. Natural populations of marine Synechococcus strains include multiple genetic lineages, but the link, if any, between unique phenotypic traits and specific genetic groups is still not understood. We studied the genetic diversity (as determined by the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase rpoC1 gene sequence) of a set of marineSynechococcus isolates that are able to swim. Our results show that these isolates form a monophyletic group. This finding represents the first example of correspondence between a physiological trait and a phylogenetic group in marine Synechococcus. In contrast, the phycourobilin (PUB)/phycoerythrobilin (PEB) pigment ratios of members of the motile clade varied considerably. An isolate obtained from the California Current (strain CC9703) displayed a pigment signature identical to that of nonmotile strain WH7803, which is considered a model for low-PUB/PEB-ratio strains, whereas several motile strains had higher PUB/PEB ratios than strain WH8103, which is considered a model for high-PUB/PEB-ratio strains. These findings indicate that the PUB/PEB pigment ratio is not a useful characteristic for defining phylogenetic groups of marine Synechococcusstrains.