Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of IS1016 with the hia Adhesin Gene and Biotypes V and I in Invasive Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

ABSTRACT A subset of invasive nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) strains has evidence of IS1016, an insertion element associated with division I H. influenzae capsule serotypes. We examined IS1016-positive invasive NTHI isolates collected as part of Active Bacterial Core Surveillance within the Georgia Emerging Infections Program for the presence or absence of hmw1 and hmw2 (two related adhesin genes that are common in NTHI but absent in encapsulated H. influenzae) and hia (homologue of hsf, an encapsulated H. influenzae adhesin gene). Isolates were serotyped using slide agglutination, confirmed as NTHI strains using PCR capsule typing, and biotyped. Two hundred twenty-nine invasive NTHI isolates collected between August 1998 and December 2006 were screened for IS1016; 22/229 (9.6%) were positive. Nineteen of 201 previously identified IS1016-positive invasive NTHI isolates collected between January 1989 and July 1998 were also examined. Forty-one IS1016-positive and 56 randomly selected IS1016-negative invasive NTHI strains were examined. The hia adhesin was present in 39 of 41 (95%) IS1016-positive NTHI strains and 1 of 56 (1.8%) IS1016-negative NTHI strains tested; hmw (hmw1, hmw2, or both) was present in 50 of 56 (89%) IS1016-negative NTHI isolates but in only 5 of 41 (12%; all hmw2) IS1016-positive NTHI isolates. IS1016-positive NTHI strains were more often biotype V (P < 0.001) or biotype I (P = 0.04) than IS1016-negative NTHI strains, which were most often biotype II. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed the expected genetic diversity of NTHI with some clustering based on IS1016, hmw or hia, and biotypes. A significant association of IS1016 with biotypes V and I and the presence of hia adhesins was found among invasive NTHI. IS1016-positive NTHI strains may represent a unique subset of NTHI strains, with characteristics more closely resembling those of encapsulated H. influenzae.
Abelson tyrosine kinase is required for Drosophila photoreceptor morphogenesis and retinal epithelial patterning

Coordinated differentiation and morphogenesis transform the Drosophila retina from a layer of epithelial cells into a complex three‐dimensional organ. In this study we show that the Abelson (Abl) tyrosine kinase localizes to the dynamically remodeling apical‐junctional membrane domains of the developing photoreceptor cells. Analyses of abl mutant clone phenotypes demonstrate that abl is required for enriched localization of adherens junction and apical polarity complex proteins at photoreceptor–photoreceptor cell junctions and apical membrane domains, respectively, for rhabdomere generation and for spatial organization of ommatidial cells along the apical–basal axis of the epithelium. Loss of abl does not alter expression or localization of Enabled (Ena) nor does heterozygosity for ena dominantly suppress the abl phenotypes, suggesting the downstream effector mechanisms used by Abl in the eye may differ from those used in the embryo. Together our results reveal a prominent role for Abl in coordinating multiple aspects of photoreceptor morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 240:1745–1755, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Arterial hypertension in elderly patients

Why do we need a review specifically addressing arterial hypertension in elderly patients? First, arterial hypertension prevalence increases with age and, therefore, a large proportion of hypertensive patients are elderly patients. Despite this fact, the specific issues of arterial hypertension in elderly patients are only marginally debated in current guidelines. Second, there are physiological changes (e.g., increasing arterial stiffness, reduced body water content, decreased function of several organ systems) and pathophysiological changes (e.g. increasing prevalence of comorbidities) with increasing age, making diagnosis and therapy of arterial hypertension in elderly patients more demanding. Third, for some recommendations (e.g., appropriate target blood pressure) levels of evidence are lower than in younger hypertensive patients, leading to conflicting recommendations between guidelines. This review intends to discuss some of the specific issues in elderly patients with arterial hypertension.
Mechanism of nucleotide release from Rho by the GDP dissociation stimulator protein.

Guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator (GDS) promotes the release of tightly bound GDP from various Ras superfamily proteins, including RhoA, Rac1, K-Ras, Rap1A, and Rap1B. It displays no significant sequence homology to other known exchange factors for small G-proteins. Studies are reported here of the mechanism of GDS-mediated nucleotide release from RhoA using a combination of equilibrium and stopped-flow kinetic measurements, employing fluorescent N-methylanthraniloyl (mant) derivatives of GDP and 2'-deoxyGDP. It is proposed that GDS operates by an associative displacement mechanism where stimulated nucleotide release from the Rho.mantGDP complex occurs via a transiently populated ternary complex (Rho.GDS.mantGDP). In kinetic experiments where excess GDS was mixed with the Rho.mantGDP complex, stimulated mantGDP dissociation rates of 1 s(-)(1) were measured during a single turnover, representing a 5000-fold enhancement over the intrinsic rate of mantGDP dissociation from Rho. The stable, nucleotide-free binary complex Rho.GDS was isolated. When the Rho.GDS complex was mixed with excess mantGDP, a biphasic increase in fluorescence occurred, the observed rate constants of which both reached saturating values at high mantGDP concentrations. This is compelling evidence that an isomerization of the Rho.GDS. mantGDP ternary complex is an important feature of the mechanism of nucleotide release.
Upper-body fat distribution and endometrial cancer risk.

STUDY OBJECTIVE --To determine if body fat distribution affected endometrial cancer risk. DESIGN --Case-control study. SETTING --This study was carried out at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida, Tampa, where all patients in the case group received their diagnoses and histological confirmations. PATIENTS --Forty consecutive women newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 40 controls matched for age and Quetelet index. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES --Anthropometric measurements were taken for the abdomen, thigh, suprailiac, subscapular, biceps, and triceps skin fold thicknesses; waist and hip circumferences, weight, and height. Relative risks for endometrial cancer were calculated according to these anthropometric measurements. RESULTS --Case patients with endometrial cancer had significantly greater waist-to-hip circumference ratios (P less than .001), abdomen-to-thigh skin fold ratios (P less than .01), and suprailiac-to-thigh skin fold ratios (P = .02) compared with control subjects matched for age and Quetelet index. The relative risk for endometrial cancer increased with an increasing waist-to-hip circumference ratio (less than or equal to 1.14 = 1.0; greater than 1.14 = 15.0), with an increasing abdomen-to-thigh skin fold ratio (less than or equal to 0.82 = 1.0; greater than 0.82 = 5.0), and with an increasing suprailiac to-thigh skin fold thickness ratio (less than or equal to 0.67 = 1.0; greater than 0.67 = 3.50). CONCLUSION --Upper-body fat localization is a significant risk factor for endometrial cancer in women matched for age and Quetelet index.
Prenatal stress diminishes gender differences in behavior and in expression of hippocampal synaptic genes and proteins in rats

The study determined whether there were gender differences in the expression of hippocampal genes in adult rats in association with dissimilarity in their behavior, and how these were affected by prenatal stress. Pregnant Wistar rats were subjected to varied stress once daily on days 14–20 of gestation. Adult female offspring of control rats showed significantly less anxiogenic behavior in the elevated plus maze and better discrimination between a novel and familiar object than males in the object recognition test. These gender differences in behavior were markedly attenuated by prenatal stress. Using Affymetrix DNA chip technology on hippocampal extracts prepared from littermates of the offspring used for behavioral tests, we found that 1,680 genes were differentially expressed in control males and females. The gender difference in gene expression was decreased to 11% (191 genes) by prenatal stress. In both sexes, processes like the translational machinery, mitochondrial activity, and cation transport were downregulated compared to controls, but there was a greater suppression of genes involved in vesicle trafficking, regulation of synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis in females than in males. This was compensated by a higher expression of other components of vesicle trafficking, microtubule‐based processes, and neurite development. Prenatal stress decreased the expression of 19 Rab proteins in females and five Rabs in males, but a compensatory increase of Rab partner proteins and effectors only occurred in females. Exposure to stress decreased the expression of synaptic proteins, synaptophysin, and synaptopodin in prenatally stressed males and females and increased those of PSD‐95 and NR1 subunit of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) glutamate receptor only in females. The study provides an unbiased view of key genes and proteins that act as gender dependent molecular sensors. The disruption of their expression by adverse early life stress may explain the alterations that occur in behavior. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation, crystal structure and thermoelectric properties of La2−2xCa1+2xMn2O7

We have prepared polycrystalline samples of the Ruddlesden-Popper La2-2xCa1+2xMn2O7 phase and determined their crystal structure and thermoelectric properties above room temperature. Single-phase samples with tetragonal I4/mmm space group are obtained for the samples with 0.50 les x les 1.00; the corresponding valence state of Mn is from 3.5 to 4.0. With increasing x, the a-axis length gradually decreases from 3.8268(4) Aring (x = 0.5) to 3.7078(2) Aring (x = 1.0), while the c-axis length increases from 19.197(3) Aring(x = 0.5) to 19.438(1) Aring(x = 1.0). As expected, all the samples exhibit negative Seebeck coefficients, S. The absolute value of S increases with increasing x, and the phases become electrically conductive at high temperatures. For example, the sample with x = 0.50 exhibits the electrical conductivity, sigma = 35 S/cm and S = -40muV/K at 1123 K, compared with those of the sample with x = 0.95 of sigma = 18 S/cm and S = -175 muV/K. The highest ZT ~0.03 with the power factor of 5.5 x 10-5 W/mK2, has been obtained for the x = 0.95 sample at 1123 K.
Plasma metabolic profiling of normal and dysmenorrhea syndrome rats and the effects of Xiang–Fu–Si–Wu Decoction intervention

Abstract Context: Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM), a common, clinically heterogeneous endocrine disorder affecting young women, is associated with endocrinopathy and metabolic abnormalities. The Xiang–Fu–Si–Wu Decoction (XFSWD) is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation used to treat PDM. Objective: In the current study, a plasma metabonomics method based on the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quantitative time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) system was employed to examine the mechanism of XFSWD action in PDM. Materials and methods: Estradiol benzoate (0.01 g/kg/d) and oxytocin (5 mL/kg) were used to create the dysmenorrhea rat model. Based on the chromatographic data of plasma samples at different time-points following oral administration of XFSWD mixed in water (37.8 g crude herbs/kg) on day 7, partial least square (PLS) and discriminate analysis (DA) were applied to visualize group differentiation and marker selection. Results: Systemic changes occurring in PDM reflect alterations in not only uterus function but also whole-body metabolism. The XFSWD was effective as a therapeutic agent for PDM by reflect metabolic pathway. Prostaglandins and lysophospholipids were identified as two marker types for oxytocin-induced dysmenorrhea syndrome, including LysoPC(18:4), LysoPE(22:2/0:0), LysoPC(17:0), PGJ2, 11-deoxy-11-methylene-PGD2, 15-deoxy-δ-12,14-PGJ2, LysoPC(20:3), etc. Specifically, the concentrations of prostaglandins compounds (PGJ2, 11-deoxy-11-methylene-PGD2, 15-deoxy-δ-12,14-PGJ2) were increased while those of lysophospholipid compounds [lysoPC(18:4), LysoPE(22:2/0:0), LysoPC(17:0)] were decreased to a significant extent (p < 0.05) in dysmenorrheal rats. Upon treatment with the XFSWD at 12 h, the concentrations of lysophospholipids showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the model and normal groups. The lysophospholipid levels were restored. Lysophospholipids were the key factors in phospholipid metabolism. Thus, disruption of phospholipids metabolism appears critical for the development of dysmenorrhea. The XFSWD exerted its effects by interfering with the sphingolipid metabolic pathway. Discussion and conclusions: The metabonomics method presents a promising tool to treat PDM in animal models, and may be applicable for clinical treatment of the human disease in the future.
Individual Pain History and Familial Pain Tolerance Models: Relationships to Post‐Surgical Pain

Abstract: Objectives:(a) To investigate the influence of previous pain experience and familial pain tolerance models on postsurgical pain; (b) to investigate the effect of personality traits on vicarious learning. Design: Before surgery, the patients completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) personality tests. They also underwent a semi-structured interview to collect information on familial pain tolerance models and their own pain history. Postthoracotomy pain was assessed by measuring its latency (h), intensity (VAS 0–10), and duration (days). Setting: A unique protocol to minimize the use of pain killers and encourage the adoption of coping strategies to face postsurgical pain was in use in the Thoracic Department. Patients: A total of 126 patients who were free from chronic pain and undergoing thoracic surgery entered the study. Outcome: Most patients recalled a history of surgical or medical pain and good pain tolerance models in their original family. An almost equal number denied pain or had good pain tolerance models in their present family. Only a few patients reported poor tolerance models. Results:Patients who had previously been subjected to medical pain experienced a greater intensity of pain. In addition, those who had reported poor tolerance in the original family experienced both earlier and more severe pain. Some patients' personality traits were related to familial pain tolerance models. Conclusions:We conclude that knowledge of an individual's pain history and familial pain tolerance models can be useful in predicting and managing post-surgical pain.
Integrins and tumor invasion

Cell–extracellular matrix interactions are important in the process of tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In particular, the interactions of tumor cells with basement membranes of tissue epithelial, as well as vascular endothelial, cells are likely to represent key steps in the metastatic process. The interactions between cells and the connective tissue matrix are mediated by a large family of cell surface receptors, the integrins, which represent multiple receptors the integrins, which represent multiple receptors for extracellular matrix and basement membrane components. Here, I review recent progress in elucidating the roles of integrins in tumor cell invasion. Altered expression of this large family of receptors on invasive tumor cells, as compared with non‐invasive cells, may represent a fundamental step in the progressive expression of the invasive phenotype.
METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION FOR THE GC ASSAY OF á-PINENE IN TEA TREE OIL FORMULATION

The present study was oriented towards the development and validation of Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) method for pure Tea tree oil (TTO). Separation was achieved by Stationary phase ECTMWAX, coated with polyimide that gives notorious flexibility of the capillary column, Film thickness (0.25μm), length 30m x0.25mm i.d and the o Injector and detector temperature, 230 and 240 C. The data was acquired by data processing system, Nuchrom GC Software. 2 The samples and standard were prepared with dichloromethane. The calibration curve for ápinenewas linear (r = 0.998) from 0.1% to 0.5% range of the analytical concentration of pureápinene oil. The optimal separation was achieved at 9.69 minute. % R.S. D for the intra-day and inter-day precisions was found to be 0.949 and 0.781 respectively. The limits of detection and quantitation were determined to be 0.0003 % and 0.001 % respectively. Analytical performance demonstrated that the proposed method is highly sensitive, precise and accurate and hence was successfully applied for the quantification ofápinenein formulation of TTO.
The Angiosperm Gibberellin-GID1-DELLA Growth Regulatory Mechanism: How an “Inhibitor of an Inhibitor” Enables Flexible Response to Fluctuating Environments

The phytohormone gibberellin (GA) has long been known to regulate the growth, development, and life cycle progression of flowering plants. However, the molecular GA-GID1-DELLA mechanism that enables plants to respond to GA has only recently been discovered. In addition, studies published in the last few years have highlighted previously unsuspected roles for the GA-GID1-DELLA mechanism in regulating growth response to environmental variables. Here, we review these advances within a general plant biology context and speculate on the answers to some remaining questions. We also discuss the hypothesis that the GA-GID1-DELLA mechanism enables flowering plants to maintain transient growth arrest, giving them the flexibility to survive periods of adversity.
Extraction of Definitions for Bulgarian

We participated at the Monolingual Bulgarian QA task at CLEF-2006 with a deflnition extraction system based on linguistic templates and keywords. Our system uses a partial syntactic parser for Bulgarian to detect noun phrases as candidates for deflnitions. Our system answered correctly to 28% of the deflnition questions.
Self-rated general and oral health in New York City adults: assessing the effect of individual and neighborhood social factors.

UNLABELLED This study investigates the independent and joint effects of individual and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics on self-rated general and oral health before and after controlling for selected characteristics in adults aged 18 years and older in New York City. OBJECTIVE Data for 1168 individuals who participated in the 2004 Social Indicators Survey were linked to neighborhood data from the 2000 US Census. Log-binomial regression models fitted using generalized estimating equations were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). sudaan was used to accommodate the complex sampling design of the survey and the intra-neighborhood correlation of outcomes of individuals residing within the same neighborhoods. METHODS After adjusting for selected characteristics, survey participants with 12 years of education or less were almost twice more likely to rate their general health as fair/poor than counterparts with more than 12 years of education [PRs 1.86 (95%CI: 1.16, 3.00) and 1.82 (95%CI: 1.18, 2.82)]. Participants earning <$20,000 (PR: 2.29; 95%CI: 1.23, 4.29) or between $20,000 to $39,999 yearly (PR: 2.24; 95%CI: 1.11, 4.53) were more than twice as likely to rate their general health as fair/poor compared to their counterparts earning over $40,000 yearly. When compared to participants with more than 12 years of education and those reporting an annual income ≥$40,000, the probability of rating oral health as fair/poor was at least 50% greater in participants with <12 years of education (PR: 1.58; 95%CI: 1.11, 2.26) and in participants earning an annual income of <$20,000 (PR: 1.55; 95%CI: 1.10, 2.19). No association was found between neighborhood characteristics for either self-rated general or oral health. RESULTS Individual socioeconomic characteristics may be important for both self-rated general and oral health by affecting individuals' behaviors and access to resources.
Incidence and Clinical Features of Diabetic Ketoacidosis After Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

Bariatric surgery is considered an effective (1,2) and relatively safe (3) option for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of diabetes, which mainly occurs in patients with type 1 diabetes but can present in patients with type 2 diabetes under stressful conditions (4,5). The characteristics of early postoperative DKA following bariatric surgery are largely unknown. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence and clinical circumstances underlying DKA after bariatric surgery. From January 2005 to December 2015, a total of 12 patients who developed DKA within 90 days following bariatric surgery at an academic center were identified in a database approved by an institutional review board. All patients met the American Diabetes Association criteria for the diagnosis of DKA (4,5). Two endocrinologists independently verified the diagnosis of DKA in the included patients. Baseline characteristics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes were assessed. Of the 12 patients who developed …
National Water Footprint: Toward a Comprehensive Approach for the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Water Use in Italy

The aim of this study is to monitor the water use over the national territory and evaluate water flows by economic sectors across regional boundaries. The sustainability level is evaluated in terms of water scarcity (the ratio between water consumption and water availability). Publicly-available geo-referenced maps containing the annual average volume of available and consumed water for different economic activities, pollution loads, and land cover are elaborated with geographic information system (GIS) software. Different administrative and geographic boundaries (regional, river basin, and hydrogeological complex) are used to produce a statistical overview of the sustainability level in water use over the Italian territory. Water footprint indicators are set up for the blue and grey components, while the sustainability of the green component is preliminarily evaluated from land use. The effective impact on the water resource is assessed in terms of water scarcity for all the three components. Water availability data refer to annual average computed between 1990 and 2010. Water consumption and land cover refer to reference year 2006. Results are shown as annual averages and they are used to establish a baseline of the national water use that is expected to be particularly relevant for next-coming analyses, including virtual water flows associated to import/export activities and trending reports for future periods.
Red cell transfusion and the immune system

Understanding the complex immunological consequences of red cell transfusion is essential if we are to use this valuable resource wisely and safely. The decision to transfuse red cells should be made after serious considerations of the associated risks and benefits. Immunological risks of transfusion include major incompatibility reactions and transfusion‐related acute lung injury, while other immunological insults such as transfusion‐related immunomodulation are relatively underappreciated. Red cell transfusions should be acknowledged as immunological exposures, with consequences weighed against expected benefits. This article reviews immunological consequences and the emerging evidence that may inform risk‐benefit considerations in clinical practice.