Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The virulence gene cluster of Listeria monocytogenes is also present in Listeria ivanovii, an animal pathogen, and Listeria seeligeri, a nonpathogenic species

Most known Listeria monocytogenes virulence genes cluster within a 9.6-kb chromosomal region. This region is flanked on one end by two uncharacterized open reading frames (ORF A and ORF B) and ldh, an ORF presumably encoding the L. monocytogenes lactate dehydrogenase (J.-A. Vazquez-Boland, C. Kocks, S. Dramsi, H. Ohayon, C. Geoffroy, J. Mengaud, and P. Cossart, Infect. Immun. 60:219-230, 1992). We report here that the other end is flanked by prs, and ORF homologous to phosphoribosyl PPi synthetase genes. ORF B and prs were detected in all Listeria species and thus delimit the virulence region. This virulence gene cluster was detected exclusively in hemolytic Listeria species, Listeria ivanovii, an animal pathogen, and Listeria seeligeri, a nonpathogenic species.
Selective medicated (normal saline and exogenous surfactant) bronchoalveolar lavage in severe aspiration syndrome in children*

Objective: To study the ability of volume-controlled ventilation and medicated (normal saline plus surfactant) bronchoalveolar lavage in aspiration to reduce the duration of intubation and improve gas exchange. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit. Patients: Twenty children, 1 month to 16 yrs old, who were intubated and mechanically ventilated, were randomized within 6 hrs of aspiration to receive volume-controlled ventilation plus medicated bronchoalveolar lavage (treatment group) or the same ventilation and bronchosuction (control group). Interventions: Volume-controlled ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure (10–12 cm H2O) were applied. Medicated bronchoalveolar lavage was performed using five aliquots of 5 mL of saline plus 10 mg/mL Curosurf (porcine surfactant, Chiesi Pharmaceutical SpA, Parma, Italy) in infants, five boluses of 10 mL of saline plus 5 mg/mL Curosurf in children, and four boluses of 25 mL of saline with 2.4 mg/mL Curosurf in adolescents for each affected lobe. One hour after bronchoalveolar lavage, 240 mg of Curosurf was administered locally. Measurements and Main Results: All patients survived. In the treatment group, days of intubation were 4.6 (±1.07), oxygenation index and Pao2/Fio2 improved significantly at 24 hrs, and statistical reduction in tidal volume mL/kg was observed from 36 hrs. In the control group, days of intubation were 11.8 (±3.22) (p < .0001), no improvement in oxygenation was noted, and pneumonia was observed in seven children (70%). Conclusions: Even though this was an unblinded small clinical trial and low tidal volume strategy was not employed at an early stage after lung injury, there is some evidence that bronchoalveolar lavage with normal saline and surfactant may have clinical value in treating severe aspiration syndrome in children. More clinical studies are warranted to overcome study limitations and potential bias.
Characterization of neuronal migration disorders in neocortical structures: extracellular in vitro recordings

The majority of patients showing neuronal migration disorders in cortical structures suffer from pharmaco‐resistant epilepsy. In order to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this pronounced hyperexcitability, we used an animal model of focal cortical dysplasia demonstrating structural malformations which resemble the human pathology of microgyria. Neocortical slices prepared from adult rats, which at the day of birth received a cortical freeze lesion, were analysed in vitro with an array of eight extracellular recording electrodes to investigate the pattern and pharmacology of propagating epileptiform activity in microgyric cortex. In cortical slices exhibiting neuronal migration disorders, orthodromic synaptic stimulation elicited late recurrent activity and early epileptiform responses that spread with 0.06 m/s over ≥ 3.5 mm across the cortex. Application of a N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) antagonist blocked the late recurrent activity, but not the propagation of the early epileptiform responses. The latter were blocked by an (±)‐α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid (AMPA) antagonist, indicating that the spread of this activity was predominantly mediated by activation of AMPA receptors. A very similar response pattern could be observed in neocortical slices obtained from untreated age‐matched control rats, when the slice was partially disinhibited by bath‐application of 5 μm bicuculline methiodide. Stimulus‐evoked epileptiform signals recorded in disinhibited slices propagated with 0.08 m/s across the cortex and showed the same sensitivity to ionotropic glutamate antagonists as in dysplastic cortex. Our results indicate that widespread structural and/or functional modifications of the AMPA receptor and possibly also of the γ‐amino‐butyric acid type A receptor contribute to the pronounced hyperexcitability in dysplastic cortex.
Laboratory diagnostics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Owing to the high prevalence and associated complications of liver fibrosis, of any etiology, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), both have become important public health issues. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis, as well as NAFLD. Recent studies have discovered and validated several non-invasive biochemical biomarkers and imaging procedures for the diagnostics of liver fibrosis and NAFLD. In comparison to patented tests (FibroTest ® , Fibrometer ® , and Hepascore ® ), non-patented tests (APRI, ELFG, FIB-4, Forns Index, and MP3) tend to have a lower diagnostic performance, especially for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (METAVIR stage F2). The difference in performance is less pronounced for the diagnosis of cirrhosis (METAVIR stage F4). Elastography is superior to biomarkers in the diagnosis of cirrhosis (F4) but not fibrosis (F2). However, in 20% of patients elastography cannot be performed or evaluated due to anatomical reasons. Cytokeratin 18 (CK-18) is the most promising single biomarker for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Scores and algorithms have been less extensively validated for their diagnostic performance in diagnosing and staging of NAFLD and NASH as compared with fibrosis in chronic hepatitis. Data are promising. Patented scores as well as CK-18 appear slightly superior to freely available scores including the NAFLD fibrosis score, which is recommended by American guidelines. In conclusion, non-invasive biomarkers and elastography appear promising as prescreening tools to limit the number of liver biopsies.
A systematic review of the prevalence of root sensitivity following periodontal therapy.

OBJECTIVES To systematically review the evidence on the prevalence of root sensitivity following periodontal therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical studies were searched for in electronic databases, hand searched journals and through contact with authors directly. The screening and data extraction were conducted by several reviewers independently. The main outcome measure was prevalence of root sensitivity following periodontal therapy. RESULTS The prevalence of root sensitivity was 9-23% before and 54-55% after periodontal therapy. An increase in the intensity of root sensitivity occurred 1-3 weeks following therapy, after which it decreased. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that there are insufficient randomized controlled trials to adequately address the stipulated question. However, based on the scarce evidence from only two studies, root sensitivity occurs in approximately half of the patients following subgingival scaling and root planing. The intensity of root sensitivity increases for a few weeks after therapy, after which it decreases. In clinical practice, it may be recommended that patients should be made aware of the potential for root sensitivity prior to treatment. In research, it may be recommended to conduct randomized controlled and prospective studies with both short and long follow-up periods. Furthermore, to investigate the effects and the relationship of root instrumentation with the aetiology of root sensitivity, the efficacy of preventive and therapeutic regimes for root sensitivity, and the incidence and severity of root sensitivity by subjective patient-reporting, and the response to different modes of stimuli. Protocols should follow the criteria used in dentine hypersensitivity studies.
Analysing the effects of a wide field of view augmented reality display on search performance in divided attention tasks

A wide field of view augmented reality display is a special type of head-worn device that enables users to view augmentations in the peripheral visual field. However, the actual effects of a wide field of view display on the perception of augmentations have not been widely studied. To improve our understanding of this type of display when conducting divided attention search tasks, we conducted an in depth experiment testing two view management methods, in-view and in-situ labelling. With in-view labelling, search target annotations appear on the display border with a corresponding leader line, whereas in-situ annotations appear without a leader line, as if they are affixed to the referenced objects in the environment. Results show that target discovery rates consistently drop with in-view labelling and increase with in-situ labelling as display angle approaches 100 degrees of field of view. Past this point, the performances of the two view management methods begin to converge, suggesting equivalent discovery rates at approximately 130 degrees of field of view. Results also indicate that users exhibited lower discovery rates for targets appearing in peripheral vision, and that there is little impact of field of view on response time and mental workload.
Cytokine Kinetics and Other Host Factors in Response to Pneumococcal Pulmonary Infection in Mice

ABSTRACT There is a need for more insight into the pathogenesis ofStreptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, as the fatality rate associated with this disease remains high despite appropriate antibiotherapy. The host response to pneumococci was investigated after intranasal inoculation of CD1 mice with 107 log-phase CFU of bacteria. We identified five major pathogenesis steps from initial infection to death. In step 1 (0 to 4 h), there was ineffective phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages, with concurrent release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, TNF, IL-6, and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1) in lung tissues, and IL-6 in serum, which were associated with tachypnea and hemoconcentration. In step 2 (4 to 24 h), bacterial growth in alveoli and polymorphonuclear cell recruitment from bloodstream to lung tissue (high myeloperoxidase levels) to alveoli were associated with high release of all three cytokines and leukotriene B4(LTB4) in tissue and BAL fluid, as well as transient spillover of IL-1 in serum. In step 3 (24 to 48 h), despite downregulation of TNF and IL-1 in BAL fluid and lungs, there was appearance of injury to alveolar ultrastructure, edema to interstitium, and increase in lung weight as well as regeneration of type II pneumocytes and increased secretion of surfactant; bacteria progressed from alveoli to tissue to blood, and body weight loss occurred. In step 4 (48 to 72 h), strong monocyte recruitment from blood to alveoli was associated with high NO release in tissue and BAL fluid, but there was also noticeable lymphocyte recruitment and leukopenia; bacteremia was associated with TNF and IL-6 release in blood and thrombocytopenia. In step 5 (72 to 96 h), severe airspace disorganization, lipid peroxidation (high malondialdehyde release in BAL fluid), and diffuse tissue damage coincided with high NO levels; there was further increase in lung weight and bacterial growth, loss in body weight, and high mortality rate. Delineation of the sequential steps that contribute to the pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia may generate markers of evolution of disease and lead to better targeted intervention.
Stabilization and positiveness of 2-D systems by local state-feedback: An LMI approach

This paper investigates the stabilization of 2-D systems, described by the Second Fornasini-Marchesini Model, when the closed-loop is required to be positive. More precisely, a necessary and sufficient condition, expressed in terms of LMIs, is derived for the existence of controllers guaranteeing that the closed-loop system is asymptotically stable and positive, using static feedback of the local state. A numerical example is provided to illustrate that this condition makes possible to synthesize practical controllers.
Sustained Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) and Cytoplasmic Phospholipase A2 Activation by Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important pro-inflammatory mediator with the unique ability to counter-regulate the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on immune cell activation. MIF is released from cells in response to glucocorticoids, certain pro-inflammatory stimuli, and mitogens and acts to regulate glucocorticoid action on the ensuing inflammatory response. To gain insight into the molecular mechanism of MIF action, we have examined the role of MIF in the proliferation and intracellular signaling events of the well characterized, NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell line. Both endogenously secreted and exogenously added MIFs stimulate the proliferation of NIH/3T3 cells, and this response is associated with the activation of the p44/p42 extracellular signal-regulated (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP). The MIF-induced activation of these kinases was sustained for a period of at least 24 h and was dependent upon protein kinase A activity. We further show that MIF regulates cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity via a protein kinase A and ERK dependent pathway and that the glucocorticoid suppression of cytokine-induced cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release can be reversed by the addition of recombinant MIF. These studies indicate that the sustained activation of p44/p42 MAP kinase and subsequent arachidonate release by cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 are important features of the immunoregulatory and intracellular signaling events initiated by MIF and provide the first insight into the mechanisms that underlie the pro-proliferative and inflammatory properties of this mediator.
Rapid asymmetrical evolution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeasts

Genetic instability causes very rapid asymmetrical loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the cyh2 locus and loss of killer K2 phenotype in some wine yeasts under the usual laboratory propagation conditions or after long freeze‐storage. The direction of this asymmetrical evolution in heterozygous cyh2R/CYH2S hybrids is determined by the mechanism of asymmetrical LOH. However, the speed of the process is affected by the differences in cell viability between the new homozygous yeasts and the original heterozygous hybrid cells. The concomitant loss of ScV‐M2 virus in the LOH process may increase cell viability of cyh2R/cyh2R yeasts and so favour asymmetrical evolution. The presence of active killer K2 toxin, however, abolishes the asymmetrical evolution of the hybrid populations. This phenomenon may cause important sudden phenotype changes in industrial and pathogenic yeasts. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ECOGEM: A European Framework-7 Project

In this article, we describe a new European Framework 7-funded research project, EcoGem, and introduce a new concept of experience sharing and intelligent optimization of route planning via machine-learning approaches. EcoGem combines machine-learning techniques with communication technologies to produce an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), which has a range of novel functionalities, including: 1) automatic generation of code-based traffic indication to allow other EcoGem-enabled fully electric vehicles (FEVs) to share the experience for every section of route (journey) traveled, 2) automatic learning from the past and online experience to intelligently optimize route planning and energy consumption, and 3) automatic and instant update of the route planning and optimisation process via ongoing experience shared by EcoGem-eneabled FEVs.
Autonomic Functions in Patients with Gastrointestinal and Dermatological Disorders

&NA; This is the first report of a study designed to test the hypothesis that patients with different psychosomatic disorders demonstrate different response patterns for variables innervated by the autonomic nervous system. The subjects were 100 hospitalized males whose diagnostic groupings were: ulcer of stomach or duodenum, 31; nonulcerative gastrointestinal disorders (mainly gastritis), 36; neurodermatitis, 17; and other skin disorders (mainly psoriasis and urticaria), 16. All were tested by a standard procedure involving 15 min. of rest and the insertion of the right foot into iced water for 1 min. Heart rate, respiration rate, palmar conductance, finger pulse volume, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and finger, face, and axillary temperatures were recorded. Most patients underwent additional initial measurements for determinations of scores of autonomic balance and patterns of resting autonomic function. The mean composite score of autonomic balance of each patient group differed significantly from that of a normative sample of 93 university students and custodians and indicated an apparent relative dominance of sympathetic nervous system activity. Additionally, both gastrointestinal and dermatological patients tended to demonstrate most frequently a particular form of mixed physiological pattern, previously reported for other psychosomatic groups, in which certain variables show relative sympathetic dominance and others relative parasympathetic dominance. In reactivity to cold pressor stimulation, there were no significant differences among the patient groups, but the neurodermatitis and nonulcerative gastrointestinal patients showed significantly less increase in diastolic blood pressure and greater increase in heart rate than the normative subjects. Before cold pressor stimulation, these two patient groups showed significantly higher axillary temperatures, and all patient groups showed significantly higher face and finger temperatures in comparison to the normative group.
Staphylococcal infection under a LASIK flap.

PURPOSE To report a staphylococcal infection under a laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap and to discuss the management of this rare and potentially devastating complication. METHODS A patient was referred to our practice having had bilateral LASIK. She was found to have abscesses under the left corneal flap. Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the infecting organism by corneal scrape and treated with appropriate antibiotics. The cornea improved, and then the abscess recurred. The abscess was again scraped and intensive treatment reinstituted. RESULTS After successful treatment, the patient recovered excellent visual acuity with only a minimal astigmatic error. CONCLUSION The possible reasons for the apparent improvement and then recurrence of the abscess are discussed. The management of this case including the need for corneal scrape and antibiotic prophylaxis is discussed in relation to previously reported cases.
Optical Coherence Tomography Studies Provides New Insights into Diagnosis and Prognosis of Infantile Nystagmus: A Review

Infantile nystagmus is commonly associated with afferent abnormalities that can be detected using a range of investigative modalities. Optical coherence tomography allows high-resolution in vivo imaging of the retina. Recent studies have shown characteristic foveal abnormalities in patients with albinism, PAX6 mutations, and isolated foveal hypoplasia. Arrested development of the fovea leads to foveal hypoplasia, which causes reduction in visual acuity. Previous studies have shown correlations between visual acuity and the degree of foveal hypoplasia. Furthermore, in achromatopsia a characteristic lesion has been described that is associated with cone photoreceptor degeneration. Patients with achromatopsia also have foveal hypoplasia, however with atypical features. The signs of photoreceptor degeneration were progressive, which suggests that gene therapy is likely to be most beneficial if given within the first few years of life. With the advent of high speed and ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography it is now possible to document reliably the stages of foveal development and cone photoreceptor degeneration. This will aid clinicians in diagnosis and predicting prognosis in patients with infantile nystagmus.
cDNA cloning of a novel heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein gene homologue in Caenorhabditis elegans using hamster prion protein cDNA as a hybridization probe.

The mammalian prion protein (PrPc) is a cellular protein of unknown function, an altered isoform of which (PrPsc) is a component of the infectious particle (prion) thought to be responsible for spongiform encephalopathies in humans and animals. The evolutionary conservation of the PrP gene has been reported in the genomes of many vertebrates as well as certain invertebrates. In the genome of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the sequence capable of hybridizing with the mammalian PrP cDNA probe has been demonstrated, predicting the presence of the PrP gene homologue in C.elegans. In this study, Southern analysis with the hamster PrP cDNA (HaPrP) probe confirmed the previous observation. Moreover, Northern analysis revealed that the sequence is actively transcribed in adult worms. Thus, we screened C.elegans cDNA libraries with the HaPrP probe and isolated a cDNA that hybridizes to the same sequence in C.elegans that hybridized with the HaPrP probe in the Southern and Northern analyses. The deduced amino acid sequence of this cDNA, however, is substantially homologous with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) core proteins rather than mammalian PrPc. The hnRNPs contain the glycine-rich domain in the C-terminal half of the molecule, which also seemed to be in PrPc at the N-terminal half of the molecule. Both of the glycine-rich domains are composed of tracts with high G + C content, indicating that these tracts may due to the hybridizing signals. These results suggest that this cDNA clone is derived from a novel hnRNP gene homologue in C.elegans but not from a predicted PrP gene homologue.
NATURAL TANNIN-BASED RIGID FOAMS AS INSULATION FOR DOORS AND WALL PANELS

Tannin-based rigid foams were shown to be good thermal insulating materials for use in the cavity of hollow-core wooden doors and other wooden cavities. Their thermal insulation capacity is comparable to that of totally synthetic, oil-derived foams, such as polyurethanes, but with the advantage that they do not burn and thus do not emit toxic gases on burning. Exposure to the weather of wooden hollow core structures filled with tannin-based foams confirm that the wood in contact with the foam is not affected by the acidity of the foam due to the already previously demonstrated incorporation of the acid hardener used by coreaction with the hardened polymer network.