Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the detection limit of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in bovine and ovine feces using fluorescent activated cell sorting

Food borne diseases cause 76 million illness, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year. The CDC has also reported that 73,480 of these cases are caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157). This serotype of E. coli has been known to cause life threatening hemorrhagic colitis which sometimes leads to hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans. Mammalian reservoirs for this enteric pathogen include cattle and sheep feces. Recently published methods of isolation and detection offer an accurate and sensitive way to measure the prevalence of E. coli O157 in environmental samples such as feces. The goal of this project is to better understand the detection limit of these methods so that sensitivity of the test can be established. Using Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) procedures we were able to quantify the sensitivity of current methods of isolation and detection. This study demonstrates that the probability of detection of E. coli O157 was 66.6% when 1 cell was present and this probability rose to 90% when 5 cells are present. Introduction: Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a ubiquitous bacterium that colonizes the gut of many different species ranging from birds to humans. [7] E. coli was first recognized to be a pathogen in 1982 [4] Certain types of E. coli such as E coli O157:H7 were also found to release specific toxins now called Shiga Toxins or Vero toxins that may result in severe disease, including hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It
Caregivers' perceptions of dementia patients' functional ability

Dementia patients' caregivers often provide information about patients' daily functioning, but little is known about factors influencing caregivers' perceptions. Baseline data from an intervention trial were used to compare caregiver estimates of dementia patients' performance with their actual performance of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and to assess relationships between measures of caregiver responses to caregiving, self-perceived sense of self-efficacy, and depression. We also assessed patient cognition, overall function and behavioral disturbance, and caregivers' perceptions of their patients' behavior as manipulative or deliberate. Disparities between these estimates and actual patient performance on structured IADL tasks were unrelated to any caregiver, patient, or relationship factor that we measured.
Tardive dyskinesia in persons with Gilles de la Tourette's disease.

To the Editor. — The note by Mizrahi et al (Archives1980;37:780) describing tardive dyskinesia in a child with Gilles de la Tourette's disease (TD) prompts us to report three other cases that we have observed, in addition to one that we reported previously.1 Report of Cases. — Case1. —An 8-year-old boy first received treatment with haloperidol after referral for the sudden onset of incessant coprolalia. Prior to that time, he had eye tics that began six months after beginning treatment with methylphenidate for symptoms of hyperactivity. His haloperidol dosage was gradually increased to 5 to 6 mg/day, which provided beneficial (but not complete) suppression of tics. Performance in school was unaffected by this dosage, although his family noted increased appetite and weight gain. He was followed up for two years, with regular monitoring of his TD symptoms as well as repeated dosage reduction to evaluate the possible emergence of drug-induced
Enzymes of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Advances and Insights

Entomopathogenic fungi (EF) are recognized biological control agents of insects. Basically, the entomopathogenic fungi pathogen activity depends on the ability of its enzymatic equipment, consisting of lipases, proteases and chitinases, which are in charge of breaking down the insect’s integument. Lipases are the first enzymes synthesized by the entomopathogenic fungi. Recently, a cytochrome P450 subfamily, referred as CYP52XI and MrCYP52 has been identified in Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium robertsii, respectively. These break down long-chain alkenes and fatty acids to become initial nutrients. Subsequently, subtilisin type (Pr1) proteases sintetize; these enzymes are considered as virulence indicators and they are regulated by a signal transduction mechanism activated by the protein kinase A (PKA) mediated by AMPc. Through the employment of genetic engineering, it has been possible to increase virulence producing Pr1 recombinants with Androctonus australis neurotoxins or with chitinases, reducing the insect’s time of death. In the course of time, the Pr1 protease gene has presented evolutionary adaptations by gene duplication or horizontal transfer infecting different orders of insects. In the same way, the entomopathogenic fungi chitinases have presented a functional diversification. Currently, these have been phylogenetically classified into three subgroups, in accordance to the catalytic site domain and the chitin binding domain. The chitinolytic activity has increased through a directed evolution processes and genetic recombination with Bombyx mori chitinase. Recently, enzymes have been employed as control agents for insects and phytopathogenic fungi (disease originator) opening new potentialities in order to improve the entomopathogenic fungi use. Solid state fermentation is a bioprocess that would produce at great scale enzymes and some other metabolites in grade of increasing the entomopathogenic fungi virulence, in the control of insects and potentially in some diseases affecting plants.
INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE MEASUREMENT ON VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CORNEA

Intraocular pressure measurements on patients with scarred and deformed corneas is often a difficult problem for the ophthalmologist since neither the Schiotz tonometer nor the Goldmann applanation tonometer give accurate readings on irregular surfaces. Using a MacKay-Marg tonometer, Kaufmann et al. (1) measured the intraocular pressure on patients with “scarred edematous and otherwise irregular corneas”, and compared the readings with simultaneous pressure readings obtained by direct cannulation of the anterior chamber with a Sanborn manometer. There was an excellent correlation between these two sets of measurements in the pressure range of 4 to 60 mm Hg. Measurements made with the Schiiitz tonometer showed great variability and gross inaccuracy. On the other hand, Stepanik (2) found that the pressure values indicated by the MacKay-Marg tonometer were higher than those yielded by Coldmann’s applanation tonometer. The difference between the values increased with the level on the intraocular pressure and with the rigidity coefficient. Draeger & Becker ( 3 ) found that the MacKay-Marg readings under 20 mm H g intraocular pressure were too high, and over 20 mm H g too low compared with the Goldmann readings, but the rigidity of the cornea did not affect the measurements. Follmann & Kirpi t i (4) found that the MacKay-Marg readings were much higher than those obtained with the Goldmann tonometer. Opinions of the MacKayMarg tonometer thus seem to be somewhat divergent. There was, therefore, good reason to test whether another tonometer with readings well-correlated to those of the Goldmann tonometer could be used on irregular corneas.
Proliferation Requirements of Cytomegalovirus-Specific, Effector-Type Human CD8+ T Cells1

Two prototypic types of virus-specific CD8+ T cells can be found in latently infected individuals: CD45R0+CD27+CCR7− effector-memory, and CD45RA+CD27−CCR7− effector-type cells. It has recently been implied that CD45RA+CD27−CCR7− T cells are terminally differentiated effector cells and as such have lost all proliferative capacity. We show in this study, however, that stimulation of CMV-specific CD45RA+CD27−CCR7− T cells with their cognate peptide in concert with either CD4+ help or IL-2, IL-15, or IL-21 in fact induces massive clonal expansion. Concurrently, these stimulated effector T cells change cell surface phenotype from CD45RA to CD45R0 and regain CCR7, while effector functions are maintained. Our data imply that CD45RA+CD27−CCR7− effector-type T cells contribute to immunity not only by direct execution of effector functions, but also by yielding progeny in situations of viral reinfection or reactivation.
Anaerobic Biodegradation of Indole to Methane

Methane gas was produced from a laboratory, granular activated carbon, anaerobic filter treating a synthetically prepared mixture of polycyclic N-aromatic compounds. The biodegradability of the individual polycyclic N-aromatic compound present in the mixture was investigated. Experimental results obtained from test bottles containing methanogenic enrichment cultures suggested that indole was degraded to methane and carbon dioxide under strict anaerobic conditions.
Vitamin D as a defensin.

Defensin is a generic name reserved for an endogenously synthesized antimicrobial agent. The purpose of this summary is to describe a series of discoveries that led to the notion that 25-hydroxylated metabolites of vitamin D are naturally occurring, potent mediators of the human innate immune response to bacterial antigens. As such, the following discussion will: 1) highlight the basic elements of human innate immune response; 2) recount early work from our laboratory and others relevant to the extrarenal expression of the vitamin D-1-hydroxlase in the macrophage, the cellular initiator of the innate immune response; 3) review the immunobiolo-gy of the active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-D); and 4) describe the relevance of the vitamin D intracrine-autocrine-paracrine system in a model of a common and devastating human disease, tuberculosis 1. The initiating step in the mammalian innate immune response is a breech in the epithelial barrier between the bacterial-laden outside environment and the relatively sterile internal environment of the host. Once the bacterial products, so-called pathogen-associated molecular patterns or PAMPs, gain access to the host interior, they are recognized by a subclass of pattern recognition receptors embedded in the plasma membrane of macrophages. These are the toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2. There are 11 known receptors and an array of widely varying kinds of antigens, including peptides, lipids and nucleic acids 3. The liganded receptors recruit MyD88 adaptor proteins, which in turn, trip a number of intracellular signalling pathways, many of which terminate in the transaction of NFkappaB. The end result is antigen destruction, initiation of the T-and B-cell adaptive immune response and, in some cases, tissue injury. Data from our lab and many others promote the concept that the active vitamin D hormone, 1,25-D, stimulates the innate immune response in antigen-presenting cells, like macrophages and dendritic cells, while at the same time acts to squelch any overzealous responsivity in the adaptive immune response to the offending antigen. For example, when activated non-specifically with mitogen 4 or specifically with antigen, such as the tuberculous bacillus 5 , the macrophage becomes a target for 1,25-D by expressing the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Once expressed, the VDR promotes antigen processing 6 , phagocytosis 7 , superoxide synthesis 8 , interleukin 1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha production 9,10 , all designed to rid the host of the offending agent. Like the macrophage, mitogen or antigen-activated lympho-cytes also express the VDR 11. However, completely …
Multivariate time series forecasting based on BP-SVR

The characteristics of financial time series: (1)the selection process is random, complex; (2)contain most of the noise; (3)between the data with strong non-linear. The traditional prediction technologies cannot disclose the inherent rule of stock market. In this paper briefly introduces the basic theory of Support Vector Regress (SVR), and applies SVR combined with neural network (BP-SVR) to create a model, which also can be used for forecasting the multivariate time series. The result of simulation shows that the new model is the least in the mean squared error, which demonstrates that the BP-SVR model has a good ability to generalize.
Impact of Reduced Nephron Mass on Cyclosporine- and/or Sirolimus-Induced Nephrotoxicity

Background. We evaluated the impact of reduced nephron mass on nephrotoxicity by cyclosporine A (CsA) and/or sirolimus (SRL). Methods. Renal function was tested in salt-depleted rats bearing two kidneys (2K), one kidney, or half a kidney (1/2K) and treated for 7 or 28 days with CsA (5 mg/kg) and/or SRL (0.8 mg/kg). We also measured the expression of aquaporin-2, sodium/phosphate cotransporter (NaPi)-2, paracellin-1, and kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1 by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results. At 7 days in 2K, serum creatinine clearance (CrCl) was decreased only in CsA/SRL-treated group (P<0.05) compared with controls; in 1/2K, CrCl was decreased in all groups, but most dramatically in CsA/SRL group (P<0.05). Extended 28-day therapy worsened CrCl in all 1/2K groups (P<0.01). Although the expression of aquaporin-2, NaPi-2, and paracellin-1 mRNAs tended to increase in kidneys with a reduced nephron mass, NaPi-2 mRNA levels decreased in 1/2K rats exposed to CsA/SRL for 28 days (P<0.05). In contrast, low KIM-1 mRNA expression in control 2K rats increased fourfold in untreated 1/2K (P<0.05), and 50- to 200-fold in CsA/SRL-treated 1/2K (P=0.01). Conclusions. Nephrotoxicity is significantly worsened by reduced nephron mass, which correlates with increased expression of KIM-1 and inhibited expression of NaPi-2.
The effects of protein, amino acid, and dietary electrolyte balance on broiler chicken performance and blood parameters under heat stress

The effect of crude protein (CP), amino acid (AA), and dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) were evaluated on blood parameters, carcass traits, and broiler performance under heat stress (29-34°C). A total of 540 male chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to 12 diets with factorial arrangement 2 × 2 × 3, using a completely randomized design with three replicates of 15 chickens in grower (13 to 26 days) and finisher (27 to 42 days) periods. and 120, 220, and 320 mEq kg-1 DEB. The level of 21% CP increased body weight gain (BWG) and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) at grower period (p < 0.05). In contrast, 20% CP level decreased BWG and increased FCR at finisher period (p < 0.05). Further, 20% CP level reduced blood sodium and blood electrolyte balance (p < 0.05). The highest blood electrolyte balance was achieved by DEB 320 mEq kg-1 diet (p < 0.05). Broiler response to DEB in heat stress depended on the age of bird, length of exposure to high temperature and CP level of the diet. Under heat stress (29-34°C), the 21% CP level at grower period and 17% CP level at finisher period improved broiler BWG and FCR.
Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI change and mortality in community-dwelling seniors without dementia.

UNLABELLED Recently Canada adopted the World Health Organization's (WHO)Weight Classification system for Body Mass Index (BMI). To date, there has been minimal investigation on the predictive ability of BMI on mortality in seniors. This study investigates the predictive ability of the BMI categories identified in this Weight Classification System and change in BMI on mortality in Canadian seniors. METHODS Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) participants who completed clinical examination (including body weight measurements) in 1991 (CSHA1) and 1996 (CSHA2) were included (n = 539). BMI change (CSHA1 to CSHA2) was categorized as no change/mild increase (0 to < 2.0 units), mild decrease (-0.1 to < -2.0 units), or significant increase/decrease (> or = +/-2.0 units). The outcome was subsequent 5-year-mortality, i.e. death between CSHA2 and CSHA3 (2001). Logistic regression controlled for age, gender, education level, marital status, smoking and cognitive status. RESULTS BMI at CSHA1 was not a significant predictor of all-cause mortality between CSHA2 and CSHA3. A significant decrease in BMI regardless of BMI category predicted death (OR 2.10 95% CI 1.17, 3.80). Other factors predictive of death were age and cognitive impairment without dementia. CONCLUSION A static measure of BMI is a less useful measure of mortality risk than weight change in older adults. Weight change, especially weight loss resulting in a BMI change of at least 2.0 units, is predictive of mortality and should be considered a warning sign.
Structure determination of channel and transport proteins by high-resolution microscopy techniques

Abstract High-resolution microscopy techniques provide a plethora of information on biological structures from the cellular level down to the molecular level. In this review, we present the unique capabilities of transmission electron and atomic force microscopy to assess the structure, oligomeric state, function and dynamics of channel and transport proteins in their native environment, the lipid bilayer. Most importantly, membrane proteins can be visualized in the frozen-hydrated state and in buffer solution by cryo-transmission electron and atomic force microscopy, respectively. We also illustrate the potential of the scintillation proximity assay to study substrate binding of detergent-solubilized transporters prior to crystallization and structural characterization.
Different Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein-1 Isoforms Utilize Distinct Co-regulatory Factors to Activate the Promoter for Fatty Acid Synthase*

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) activate genes of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. In each case, a ubiquitous co-regulatory factor that binds to a neighboring recognition site is also required for efficient promoter activation. It is likely that gene- and pathway-specific regulation by the separate SREBP isoforms is dependent on subtle differences in how the individual proteins function with specific co-regulators to activate gene expression. In the studies reported here we extend these observations significantly by demonstrating that SREBPs are involved in both sterol regulation and carbohydrate activation of the FAS promoter. We also demonstrate that the previously implicated Sp1 site is largely dispensable for sterol regulation in established cultured cells, whereas a CCAAT-binding factor/nuclear factor Y is critically important. In contrast, carbohydrate activation of the FAS promoter in primary hepatocytes is dependent upon SREBP and both the Sp1 and CCAAT-binding factor/nuclear factor Y sites. Because 1c is the predominant SREBP isoform expressed in hepatocytes and 1a is more abundant in sterol depleted established cell lines, this suggests that the different SREBP isoforms utilize distinct co-regulatory factors to activate target gene expression.
Bone marrow involvement in anaplastic small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis, hematologic features, and prognostic implications

The hematologic changes and prognostic implications of bone marrow involvement in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were examined in 133 patients undergoing staging procedures including bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy. Bone marrow involvement was found to be present in 27 of 133 (20%) at diagnosis. In most instances bone marrow involvement was associated with the presence of other metastases but in five patients (4%) the bone marrow was the sole site of metastasis. Bone marrow biopsy proved superior (14%) to bone marrow aspiration (5%) in detecting marrow infiltration. Peripheral blood hematologic changes were infrequent even in patients with positive bone marrow biopsy results. Although patients with bone marrow involvement had a shorter median survival (9 weeks) than bone marrow‐negative patients (33 weeks) the adverse effect on survival appears to have been mainly due to the presence of concomitant metastases at other sites. Intensive chemotherapy was tolerated to the same degree by bone marrow‐positive and bone marrow‐negative patients.
Weather variability, agricultural revenues and internal migration: evidence from Pakistan

Migration is a widely used adaptation response to climate and weather variability. In this paper, we investigate how changes and variability in weather may affect internal migration through the agriculture channel. Using panel data for 50 districts of Pakistan, we estimate an instrumental variables regression model that allows us to analyse the impact of weather-driven changes in the crop revenue per hectare on the inter-district migration. Results show that temperature has a nonlinear effect, i.e. as temperature increases, the crop revenue per hectare initially increases and then declines. Furthermore, temperature variability has a negative effect on the expected crop revenue per hectare. A 1% weather-driven decrease in the crop revenue per hectare induces, on average, around 2% (0.02% point) decrease in the in-migration rate into a district. Predicted increases in temperature and its variability during 2016–2035 (relative to 1971–1998) are likely to decrease crop revenues in relatively warm districts and increase them in cooler districts. These effects would decrease the in-migration rate in 18–32 districts and increase the rate in the remaining districts. Thus, the extent and scope of the impacts of weather on migration in Pakistan depend on a district’s geographic location and the variability of temperature in the future.
Medial Histocompatibility Antigens

Medial histocompatibility (H) antigens are weak H antigens, recognized by unrestricted T cells; they differ thus from both major and minor H antigens. An example, Qed‐1, is described in detail, and other known medial H antigens of the mouse are reviewed. The structural and genetic relationships of major and medial H antigens and their role in T cell recognition are discussed.