Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pregenomic Comparative Analysis betweenBordetella bronchiseptica RB50 and Bordetella pertussis Tohama I in Murine Models of Respiratory Tract Infection

ABSTRACT We describe here a side-by-side comparison of murine respiratory infection by Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica strains whose genomes are currently being sequenced (Tohama I and RB50, respectively). B. pertussisand B. bronchiseptica are most appropriately classified as subspecies. Their high degree of genotypic and phenotypic relatedness facilitates comparative studies of pathogenesis. RB50 and Tohama I differ in their abilities to grow in the nose, trachea, and lungs of BALB/c mice and to induce apoptosis, lung pathology, and an antibody response. To focus on the interactions between the bacteria and particular aspects of the host immune response, we used mice with specific immune defects. Mice lacking B cells and T cells were highly susceptible to B. bronchiseptica and were killed by intranasal inoculation with doses as low as 500 CFU. These mice were not killed by B. pertussis, even when doses as high as 105 CFU were delivered to the lungs. B. bronchiseptica, which was highly resistant to naive serum in vitro, caused bacteremia in these immunodeficient mice, while B. pertussis, which was highly sensitive to naive serum, did not cause bacteremia. B. bronchiseptica was, however, killed by immune serum in vitro, and adoptive transfer of anti-Bordetella antibodies protected SCID-beige mice fromB. bronchiseptica lethal infection. Neutropenic mice were similarly killed by B. bronchiseptica but not B. pertussis infection, suggesting neutrophils are critical to the early inflammatory response to the former but not the latter. B. bronchiseptica was dramatically more active than B. pertussis in mediating the lysis of J774 cells in vitro and in inducing apoptosis of inflammatory cells in mouse lungs. This side-by-side comparison describes phenotypic differences that may be correlated with genetic differences in the comparative analysis of the genomes of these two highly related organisms.
Plasma corticosteroids in healthy twin pairs.

Three different but related mechanisms influence corticosteroid secretion by the normal human adrenal cortex. Under basal conditions the concentration of plasma cortisol and the secretion of pituitary ACTH constitute a negative feedback system through which fluctuations in plasma cortisol concentration are minimized. Plasma cortisol levels are, however, higher in the morning than at night because of a diurnal rhythm in the rate of ACTH secretion. Both negative feedback and diurnal rhythm may be overcome by the raised steroid secretion mediated in response to stress which causes great increase in ACTH output
Citrobacter koseri (syn. C. diversus): biotype, serogroup and drug resistance patterns of 517 strains

SUMMARY The names Citrobacter koseri and C. diversus are synonyms for a species of enterobacterium with a particular ability to cause neonatal meningitis. 517 strains belonging to this species were examined using biotyping and serotyping techniques. 40 % of the strains belonged to serogroups O2 and O1 and 72 % belonged to biotypes d and a. Strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid belonged to several different serogroups and biotypes but serogroups O2 and O3 and biotypes d and e were the most common. All the strains were resistant to ampicillin, 42 % were resistant to neomycin/kanamycin and 38 % were resistant to cephaloridine. 37 % of the strains were resistant to three or more drugs.
Multi-class motor imagery classification by singular value decomposition and deep boltzmann machine

Motor function rehabilitation is very urgent for patients. Motor imagery is an efficient way for rehabilitation. To achieve the supervision of multiple rehabilitation targets simultaneously, the promotion of multi-class motor imagery classification accuracy is critical. In this paper, a multi-class classification method is proposed by utilizing singular value decomposition and deep boltzmann machine. Singular value decomposition is applied to suppress the artifacts and acquire the channel-individual characteristics. The deep boltzmann machine is employed to extract and model the characteristics and achieve the motor imagery classification. Results demonstrate that the proposed method has achieved a 14.2% higher classification accuracy than the common spatial pattern on average. This results are further validated by the statistical methods, which present a significant difference (p < 0.05). The proposed method is favorable for promoting the multi-class motor imagery classification efficiency.
Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor supports survival of injured midbrain dopaminergic neurons

Glial cell‐lined derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to promote survival of developing mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in vitro. In order to determine if there is a positive effect of GDNF on injured adult midbrain dopaminergic neurons in situ, we have carried out experiments in which a single dose of GDNF was injected into the substantia nigra following a unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal system. Rats were unilaterally lesioned by a single stereotaxic injection of 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA; 9 μg/4 μl normal saline with 0.02% ascorbate) into the medial forebrain bundle and tested weekly for apomorphine‐induced (0.05 mg/kg s. c. ) contralateral rotation behavior, Rats that manifested >300 turns/hour received a nigral injection of 100 μg GDNF, or cytochrome C as a control, 4 weeks following the 6‐OHDA lesion, Rotation behavior was quantified weekly for 5 weeks after GDNF. Rats were subsequently anesthetized, transcardially perfused, and processed for tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. It was found that 100 μg GDNF decreased apomorphine‐induced rotational behavior by more than 85%. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity was equally reduced in the striatum ipsilateral to the lesion in both cytochrome C and GDNF‐injected animals. In contrast, large increments in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity were observed in the substantia nigra of animals treated with 100 μg of GDNF, with a significant increase in numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive cell bodies and neurites as well as a small increase in the cell body area of these neurons. The results suggest that GDNF can maintain the dopaminergic neuronal phenotype in a number of nigral neurons following a unilateral nigrostriatal lesion in the rat.
Vision with controlled movements of the retinal image

Previous work on eye movements (Lord & Wright, 1950; Ratliff & Riggs, 1950; Barlow, 1952; Ditchburn & Ginsborg, 1953; Riggs, 1958) has shown that when a subject fixates as steadily as possible upon a well-defined target, certain involuntary eye-rotations persist. The natural involuntary movements of the eye include (i) a high frequency tremor of amplitude less than 0 5 minute of arc (min . arc) and frequencies up to 150 c/s, (ii) intermittent rapid flicks of up to 50 min. arc occurring at irregular intervals (from 0 03 to 5 sec), and (iii) a slow motion drift at the rate of about 1 min . arc/sec in the interflick periods.
Carbamazepine and Lamotrigine in Healthy Volunteers: Relevance to Early Tolerance and Clinical Trial Dosage

Summary: This study was conducted to examine the effects of acute doses of lamotrigine (LTG) and carbamazepine (CBZ) in healthy subjects and determine whether the low tendency to impairment with LTG observed in animals applied to humans. Twelve healthy men participated in a placebo‐controlled, balanced, doubleblind comparison of the drugs on a series of psychomotor, autonomic, sensory, and subjective variables. Variables were analyzed by analysis of variance, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Adaptive tracking and body sway were impaired by CBZ 600 mg. CBZ 400 and 600 mg impaired smooth pursuit eye movements and also reduced mean peak saccadic velocity. No differences from placebo occurred after LTG. CBZ 600 mg increased heart rate (HR), but no drug‐related changes were noted in pupil size, salivary secretion, visual near point, or subjective effects. During the controlled study, mean plasma CBZ concentrations at 2 and 6.5 h after the 600‐mg dose were 5.28 and 5.36 μg/ml; after LTG 300 mg, they were 3.16 and 3.00 μg/ml. Increased CBZ saliva concentrations were significantly associated (p < 0.01) with impaired adaptive tracking, smooth and saccadic eye movements, and increased HR, and plasma concentrations were associated with impaired eye movements and body sway.
Infrastructures et stratégies de compilation pour parallélisme à grain fin. (Infrastructures and Compilation Strategies for Instruction-Level Parallelism)

La complexite croissante des processeurs a conduit au developpement d'un grand nombre de transformations de code pour adapter l'organisation des calculs a l'architecture materielle. La difficulte majeure a laquelle est confronte un compilateur consiste a determiner la sequence de transformations qui va fournir la meilleure performance. Cette sequence depend de l'application et du processeur consideres. L'interaction profonde entre les diverses transformations de code ne permet pas de trouver une solution statique. Nous proposons une approche iterative de la compilation pour resoudre ce probleme : chaque module d'optimisation peut remettre en cause les decisions prises par un autre module. Ces modules peuvent se communiquer des informations sur les proprietes du code qu'ils ont produit. Cette approche necessite une refonte complete de la structure des compilateurs actuels. La realisation n'a ete rendue possible que grace aux infrastructures logicielles que nous avons developpees : salto et sea. Grace a ces environnements nous avons pu developper rapidement des prototypes de strategies de compilation. Nous montrons aussi que l'analyse et l'optimisation ne doivent pas se contenter d'un comportement local a un fragment de code. Au contraire, le comportement global de l'application doit etre considere, en particulier pour les systemes enfouis.
Distinct Protein Classes Including Novel Merozoite Surface Antigens in Raft-like Membranes of Plasmodium falciparum*

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins coat the surface of extracellular Plasmodium falciparum merozoites, of which several are highly validated candidates for inclusion in a blood-stage malaria vaccine. Here we determined the proteome of gradient-purified detergent-resistant membranes of mature blood-stage parasites and found that these membranes are greatly enriched in GPI-anchored proteins and their putative interacting partners. Also prominent in detergent-resistant membranes are apical organelle (rhoptry), multimembrane-spanning, and proteins destined for export into the host erythrocyte cytosol. Four new GPI-anchored proteins were identified, and a number of other novel proteins that are predicted to localize to the merozoite surface and/or apical organelles were detected. Three of the putative surface proteins possessed six-cysteine (Cys6) motifs, a distinct fold found in adhesive surface proteins expressed in other life stages. All three Cys6 proteins, termed Pf12, Pf38, and Pf41, were validated as merozoite surface antigens recognized strongly by antibodies present in naturally infected individuals. In addition to the merozoite surface, Pf38 was particularly prominent in the secretory apical organelles. A different cysteine-rich putative GPI-anchored protein, Pf92, was also localized to the merozoite surface. This insight into merozoite surfaces provides new opportunities for understanding both erythrocyte invasion and anti-parasite immunity.
Consumer intention and credit card adoption in Vietnam

Purpose There is limited research on consumer intention and credit card adoption in the transitional economies of Southeast Asia. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key elements that influence an individual’s intention of adopting credit cards in the transitional economy Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was developed based on the technology adoption literature. After data cleaning, 595 responses were deemed valid. Factor analysis (EFA and CFA) was utilized on split samples, and a structural equation model developed to identify the influential technology adoption factors. Findings The analysis found strong support for the hypotheses theoretically developed. In the transitional economy of Vietnam, consumer’s intention to adopt credit cards was influenced by “Perceived usefulness (PU),” “Perceived ease of use (PEOU),” “subjective norm (SN),” “perceived self-efficacy (PSE)” and “Anxiety”. However, “perceived financial cost (PFC)” was not a significant factor. Research limitations/implications The use of cross-sectional data does not enable the analysis of time sequence of the determinants of consumer intention. Practical implications This research provides a body of knowledge on modern banking payment systems and credit card utilization factors in the transitional economy of Vietnam which has relevance for other transitional as well as developing economies of Southeast Asia, and is a good reference source for foreign investors, banks and card service companies. Originality/value To date, there are no studies that explore the interaction between “PU,” “PEOU,” “PFC,” “SN,” “PSE,” “Anxiety” and “Behavioral Intention” in the context of the Vietnamese credit card market, nor other transitional markets in Southeast Asia.
Comparison of convolutional neural network models for document image classification

Despite the increase in digitization, the use of documents is still very common today. It is essential that these documents are correctly labeled and classified for their need to be archived in an accessible manner. In this study, we used state-of-the-art convolutional neural network models to satisfy this need. Convolutional Neural Networks achieve high performance compared to alternative methods in the field of classification, due to the strong and rich features they can learn from large data through deep architecture. For the experiments, we have used a dataset containing 400,000 images of 16 different document classes. The state-of-the-art deep learning models have been fine-tuned and compared in detail. VGG-16 architecture has achieved the best performance on this dataset with 90.93% correct classification rate.
Plasmid analyses in clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis and other Bacteroides species

Plasmid analyses were performed on Bacteroides strains isolated from clinical specimens. Of 32 Bacteroides strains, 8 were found to contain plasmids. Seven of these eight strains were B. fragilis, and the other one was B. distasonis. Three of these eight strains harbored only a 3.0-megadalton plasmid. Two strains had only a 2.0-megadalton plasmid, and one had 2.0-, 3.0-megadalton plasmid. Of the remaining two strains, one had 2.0-, 3.0-, and 5.0-megadalton plasmids, and the other had 3.0- and 5.0-megadalton plasmids. Beta-Lactamase was produced by 93% of the clinical isolates. Seven of the eight plasmid-carrying strains were cadmium resistant, five were zinc resistant, four were mercury resistant, and two expressed a brick-red fluorescence under ultraviolet light. None of these traits could be associated with a plasmid after performing either curing experiments or genetic transfer experiments by cell-to-cell contact.
From Drosophila to Humans: Reflections on the Roles of the Prolyl Isomerases and Chaperones, Cyclophilins, in Cell Function and Disease

Abstract: Despite remarkable advances in human genetics and other genetic model systems, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, remains a powerful experimental tool to probe with ease the inner workings of a myriad of biological and pathological processes, even when evolutionary forces impart apparent divergences to some of such processes. The understanding of such evolutionary differences provides mechanistic insights into genotype-phenotype correlations underpinning biological processes across metazoans. The pioneering work developed by the William Pak laboratory for the past four decades, and the work of others, epitomize the notion of how the Drosophila system breaks new fertile ground or complements research fields of high scientific and medical relevance. Among the three major genetic complementation groups produced by the Pak's laboratory and impairing distinct facets of photoreceptor neuronal function, the nina group (ninaA, …., ninaJ) selectively affects the biogenesis of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), mediating the photoconversion and transduction of light stimuli. Among the nina genes identified, ninaA arguably assumes heightened significance for several reasons. First, it presents unique physiological selectivity toward the biogenesis of a subset of GPCRs, a standalone biological manifestation yet to be discerned for most mammalian homologues of NinaA. Second, NinaA belongs to a family of proteins, immunophilins, which are the primary targets for immunosuppressive drugs at the therapeutic forefront of a multitude of medical conditions. Third, NinaA closest homologue, cyclophilin B (CyPB/PPIB), is an immunophilin whose loss-of-function was found recently to cause osteogenesis imperfecta in the human. This report highlights advances made by studies on some members of immunophilins, the cyclophilins. Finally, it reexamines critically data and dogmas derived from past and recent genetic, structural, biological, and pathological studies on NinaA and few other cyclophilins that support some of such paradigms to be less than definite and advance our understanding of the roles of cyclophilins in cell function, disease, and therapeutic interventions.
The Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS-59): A new scale to measure individual responses to living with problems of appearance

Objectives. To develop a reliable and valid self-report scale which (1) will assess the distress and difficulties experienced in living with a problem of appearance; (2) can be used with clinical and non-clinical populations; and (3) facilitates clinical decisionmaking and research through good standardization, sensitivity and discrimination. Design.Cross-sectional survey designs using clinical and non-clinical populations and a pre-post intervention design using plastic surgery patients. Method. A large initial item set was refined through a controlled pre-post surgery study and a cross-sectional study of a plastic surgery waiting list (606). The resulting 59-item scale was administered to 1740 patients with problems of appearance and to a representative general population sample (1001). Results. Principal component and factor analyses identified a stable five-factor structure accounting for 63.5% of the variance, with a primary factor of self-consciousness of appearance. Internal consistency was high (alpha= .98) and test-retest reliabilities (three months) were good (.75 (general population); . 86 (patients)). Correlations with existing tests showed appropriate criterion validity (.74-.62). Good construct validity was evidenced in pre- and post-operative changes, in differences between patients and controls and in convergent and divergent correlation patterns. The general population data reveal widespread concerns about appearance. Conclusions. The DAS-59 provides a widely acceptable, psychometrically robust, factorial self-report scale to assess distress and dysfunction in problems of appearance across the full range of ‘visibility’ and aetiologies. It is sensitive to therapeutic change and discriminates well between patient groups.
A novel model of sensitization and oral tolerance to peanut protein

The prevalence of food allergic diseases is rising and poses an increasing clinical problem. Peanut allergy affects around 1% of the population and is a common food allergy associated with severe clinical manifestations. The exact route of primary sensitization is unknown although the gastrointestinal immune system is likely to play an important role. Exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to soluble antigens normally leads to a state of antigen‐specific systemic hyporesponsiveness (oral tolerance). A deviation from this process is thought to be responsible for food‐allergic diseases. In this study, we have developed a murine model to investigate immunoregulatory processes after ingestion of peanut protein and compared this to a model of oral tolerance to chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA). We demonstrate that oral tolerance induction is highly dose dependent and differs for the allergenic proteins peanut and OVA. Tolerance to peanut requires a significantly higher oral dose than tolerance to OVA. Low doses of peanut are more likely to induce oral sensitization and increased production of interleukin‐4 and specific immunoglobulin E upon challenge. When tolerance is induced both T helper 1 and 2 responses are suppressed. These results show that oral tolerance to peanut can be induced experimentally but that peanut proteins have a potent sensitizing effect. This model can now be used to define regulatory mechanisms following oral exposure to allergenic proteins on local, mucosal and systemic immunity and to investigate the immunomodulating effects of non‐oral routes of allergen exposure on the development of allergic sensitization to peanut and other food allergens.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Practices: A Survey of US Physicians 18 Months After Licensure

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess, in a nationally representative network of pediatricians and family physicians, (1) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination practices, (2) perceived barriers to vaccination, and (3) factors associated with whether physicians strongly recommended HPV vaccine to 11- to 12-year-old female patients. METHODS: In January through March 2008, a survey was administered to 429 pediatricians and 419 family physicians. RESULTS: Response rates were 81% for pediatricians and 79% for family physicians. Ninety-eight percent of pediatricians and 88% of family physicians were administering HPV vaccine in their offices (P < .001). Among those physicians, fewer strongly recommended HPV vaccination for 11- to 12-year-old female patients than for older female patients (pediatricians: 57% for 11- to 12-year-old patients and 90% for 13- to 15-year-old patients; P < .001; family physicians: 50% and 86%, respectively; P < .001). The most-frequently reported barriers to HPV vaccination were financial, including vaccine costs and insurance coverage. Factors associated with not strongly recommending HPV vaccine to 11- to 12-year-old female patients included considering it necessary to discuss sexuality before recommending HPV vaccine (risk ratio: 1.27 [95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.51]) and reporting more vaccine refusals among parents of younger versus older adolescents (risk ratio: 2.09 [95% confidence interval: 1.66–2.81]). CONCLUSIONS: Eighteen months after licensure, the vast majority of pediatricians and family physicians reported offering HPV vaccine. Fewer physicians strongly recommended the vaccine for younger adolescents than for older adolescents, and physicians reported financial obstacles to vaccination.