Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extended serogrouping scheme for motile, mesophilic Aeromonas species

A total of 1,255 strains of motile, mesophilic Aeromonas species isolated from clinical and environmental specimens in the United Kingdom and 258 strains isolated in Australia, Brazil, Peru, and the United States were examined by using antisera for serogroups O1 to O44 (R. Sakazaki and T. Shimada, Jpn. J. Med. Sci. 37:247-255, 1984) and for unpublished serogroup O45 (R. Sakazaki). The typeability rate for strains isolated in the United Kingdom was 35%; the strains isolated in other countries had typeability rates of between 14 and 43%. A total of 52 provisional new serogroups were identified, and the strains with unidentified O groups were examined by using antisera for these provisional new serogroups. The typeability rate for strains isolated in the United Kingdom was increased to 66% (70% of smooth strains). The typeability rates were 76% for A. hydrophila and 63% for both A. caviae and A. sobria. The 52 antisera for the provisional new serogroups increased the typeability rate for strains isolated outside the United Kingdom to between 43 and 68%. This extended serogrouping scheme would be of value in determining the importance of Aeromonas strains as human intestinal pathogens and in investigating the pathogenic mechanisms that may be involved in the production of diarrheal disease.
Verbal Cognition in Deaf Children Using Cochlear Implants: Effect of Unilateral and Bilateral Stimulation

The aim of this study is to assess the role of bilateral/bimodal device use in auditory speech perception in complex listening situations and long-term verbal cognition in deaf children using cochlear implants (CIs). Two groups of children are compared (unilateral and bilateral device users) concerning vocabulary, speech perception at conversational level and in complex listening situations, and verbal cognition. In this retrospective study, we collected data of 37 deaf children with normal learning potential of whom 16 were unilateral CI users and 21 were bilateral device users (9 with a bimodal fitting and 12 with bilateral CIs). We came to the conclusion that deaf children who use bilateral devices have the opportunity to develop good speech perception skills in complex listening conditions. These abilities enable at least some of the children to develop age-equivalent verbal cognition skills.
The Impact of Transportation Costs on Spatial Competition of Grain Buyers: An Iowa Case Study

Hotelling's classic model of spatial competition is adapted to estimate the impacts on grain price of the closure of one of three grain buyers on the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Scott County, Iowa. The customers of the buyer who is closing (River Gulf Grain Company) in Davenport, Iowa, are assumed to deliver their grain to a buyer in either Buffalo, Iowa, to the south or to a buyer in Clinton, Iowa, to the north. Calibration of Hotelling's framework to this situation leads to an estimated decline in grain bids of 1.5¢ per bushel for the buyer located in Clinton and by 2.5¢ per bushel for the buyer located in Buffalo. These estimates are based on an incremental transportation cost of 0.15¢ per mile between the seller's farm and the buyer. This price decline would reduce gross receipts of the farmers who currently deliver to Davenport by approximately $264,000 per year. The effect of lower price bids on gross receipts of all area farmers would be approximately $750,000 per year. Transportation costs would increase by an estimated $75,000 for those farmers who would have to haul their grain farther because of the closure.
Techniques for following the movement of single RNAs in living cells

The ability to investigate gene expression has evolved from static approaches that analyze a population of cells to dynamic approaches that analyze individual living cells. During the last decade, a number of different fluorescent methods have been developed for monitoring the dynamics of single RNAs in living cells. Spatial–temporal analyses of single RNAs in living cells have provided novel insight into nuclear transport, RNA localization, and decay. Technical advances with these approaches allow for single molecule detection, providing an unprecedented view of RNA movement. In this article, we discuss the methods for observing single RNAs in living cells, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each method. WIREs RNA 2011 2 601–609 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.83
Relative utilization of glucose and acetate carbon for lipogenesis by mammary gland slices, studies with tritium, 13C and 14C.

Respiration and isotope-incorporation results, previously obtained in our laboratory, indicate that lactating mammary-gland slices actively effect net synthesis of fatty acids from small molecules in vitro, though there are marked species differences. Thus, udder slices from lactating ruminants actively respirewithR.Q. > 1 inamediumcontaining acetate as sole substrate (Folley & French, 1950), and under these conditions will incorporate carbon from the carboxyl group of acetate into fatty acids, though the rate of this incorporation of acetate is considerably increased in the presence of glucose (Balmain, Folley & Glascock, 1952). On the other hand, mammary slices from lactating rats, in common with mammary tissue from other nonruminants (mouse, rabbit, guinea pig), will utilize glucose as sole substrate with R.Q. > 1 (Folley & French, 1949), but will only incorporate carboxyl carbon of acetate into the fatty acids in the presence of glucose (Balmain et al. 1952). Mammary tissue from the rat and sheep also differ
Marx's Line of the Upper Lid is Visible in Upgaze Without Lid Eversion

Objective: To determine whether Marx's line of the upper lid is visible in upgaze without lid eversion, thus raising the possibility that the line may not be the contact area for the upper lid wiping of the ocular surfaces. Methods: Consecutive patients in a broad-spectrum practice were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included patients of Asian descent, active anterior segment pathology, obvious lid alterations or deformities, strabismus more than 20&Dgr;. A 20-&mgr;L drop of 2% fluorescein was instilled into the lower eyelid conjunctival sac. The complete length of the upper lid margin, in upward fixation (∼45°, with the eyes open), was examined for Marx's line. Results: Sixty-eight males and 131 females were enrolled. The age range was 18 to 80 years; mean age = 51.7 ± 14.3 years. Before eyelid eversion, Marx's line was visible in 99.0% of eyes and was visibly continuous for the entire eyelid margin length in 93.2% of eyes. Conclusions: Marx's line of the upper lid is visible in upgaze, without lid eversion, suggesting that is not the contact area for the upper lid wiping of the ocular surfaces in that position of gaze. Further research is required to determine the position and visibility of the line through all other lid positions during blinking.
Evaluation of substrate noise in CMOS and low-noise logic cells

The substrate noise generated by conventional CMOS and by different low-noise logic families is investigated by computer simulation of the circuits extracted from the layouts including the resistive substrate model. A widely used 0.8 /spl mu/m CMOS technology is considered. It is found that, in small cells, the noise reduction with respect to CMOS is only significant in cells with complementary outputs. In large driver cells, considerable noise reduction can be obtained (without complementary outputs). One of the low-noise families, however, exhibits large noise for high supply wire inductance (in the examples here, with 2 V supply voltage, the noise is even higher than for CMOS cells, for inductance above 10 nH).
Observational Study of Appearance of Streamer and Spark Discharges to Design Chemical Reactor Using Nanosecond Pulsed Power

Nanosecond pulsed powers produce streamer discharges which are suitable for chemical reactions. The discharges in wire-plate electrodes and wire-cylinder electrodes are observed. The dense area where streamers exist should be utilized as a high-performance reactor. Widely distributed streamer discharges were observed. On the other hand, spark discharges, which would decrease in reactor performance, were observed when shorter gap separation was adopted.
Uremic toxins of organic anions up-regulate PAI-1 expression by induction of NF-kappaB and free radical in proximal tubular cells.

BACKGROUND Uremic toxins have been suggested to promote progression of chronic renal failure. We have shown that organic anion transporter-mediated uptake of uremic toxins induces oxidative stress in opossum kidney renal tubular cells overexpressing the transporter. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) are major factors known to promote tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The present study examined the signaling pathway that is activated by uremic toxins to induce PAI-1 and activate NF-kappaB in human renal proximal tubular cells (HK-2). METHODS Uremic toxins in the form of organic anion were examined their ability to induce oxidative stress, PAI-1 gene expression, and NF-kappaB activation in HK-2. PAI-1 expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Northern blotting. Human PAI-1 promoter activity was estimated by luciferase reporter gene (NKkappaB-luc) assay. NF-kappaB activation was measured by the pNFkappaB-luc reporter gene and electrophretic gel mobility shift assay. RESULTS Among organic anion species tested, indoxyl sulfate and indoleacetic acid induced free radical production in HK-2. A nonspecific transporter inhibitor (probenecid) suppressed the IS-stimulated radical production. Indoxyl sulfate and indoleacetic acid dose dependently increased the expressions of PAI-1 mRNA and protein in these cells. The luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that indoxyl sulfate and indoleacetic acid dose dependently activated NF-kappaB and PAI-1 promoter. Activation of NF-kappaB was also confirmed by an electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay. Both antioxidant and NF-kappaB inhibitors dose dependently inhibited the activation of PAI-1 promoter by indoxyl sulfate. CONCLUSION Uremic toxins induce free radical production by renal tubular cells and activate NF-kappaB which, in turn, up-regulates PAI-1 expression. Thus, progression of chronic renal failure may be promoted by PAI-1 up-regulation induced by uremic toxins.
Fighting the Obesity Epidemic: Challenges and Ethics

Background In recent decades, a double burden of disease has emerged that requires public health workers to fight both hunger and obesity. The obesity epidemic is unlike other epidemics in that it is largely man-made and dependent on social factors and industry influences, making it difficult to fight. The high global prevalence of obesity is partially a result of globalization, which has encouraged development and the liberalizing of economies all around the world, which in turn has increased the marketing and consumption of obesogenic products. Policy solutions have been proposed and implemented in some countries, but an international solution has yet to be found. Purpose When addressing the obesity epidemic, there are a number of different interests to keep in mind. This paper will address the interests and perspectives of the food industry, consumers, and the government when it comes to fighting the prevalence of global obesity. By understanding what each interest has to gain and/or lose by regulating obesogenic products, a viable solution can be found to address the costs obesity has on human health and on the greater health care system. Method Scholarly articles and factsheets from national and international organizations were consulted for information. Formal and informal interviews supplemented background research by allowing knowledgeable experts to share their opinions and perspectives on the topic. Results The study found that the most promising way to fight the obesity epidemic is to decrease the number of unhealthy food options and make the easiest choices the healthiest ones. This could mean changing food standards and requiring food manufacturers to include fewer obesogenic products to protect consumers. Conclusions These results suggest more should be done to change international nutrition standards in processed foods. Although current national and local efforts are admirable, obesity is an international problem that will require an international response. Fighting the obesity epidemic: Challenges and ethics 2
Systematic review and meta-analysis of mortality and digoxin use in atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND There is growing controversy regarding the association between digoxin and mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this analysis was to systematically review digoxin use and risk of mortality in patients with AF. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, GoogleScholar, CINAHL, meeting abstracts, presentations, and Cochrane central databases were searched from inception through December 2014, without language restrictions. For a study to be selected, it had to report the risk of mortality associated with digoxin use in AF patients as an outcome measure. Data were extracted by 2 independent authors. Evidence tables were created. RESULTS A total of 16 studies (6 post hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials) with 111,978 digoxin users and 389,643 non-digoxin users were included. In a random effects model, patients treated with digoxin had a 27% increased risk of all-cause mortality (pooled HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.19-1.36) and 21% increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (pooled HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.12-1.30) compared with those who did not use digoxin. In a random effects model, the association of digoxin with all-cause mortality was stronger for AF patients without heart failure (pooled HR 1.47; 95% CI 1.25-1.73) than AF patients with heart failure (pooled HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.07-1.36, interaction p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS Digoxin use in AF is associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. The effect size was larger for AF patients without heart failure than AF patients with heart failure. The study suggests further directed analyses to study the effect that is suggested by this meta-analysis, especially in AF without heart failure.
Adaptation d'ontologies avec les grammaires de graphes typés : évolution et fusion. (Ontologies adaptation with typed graph grammars : evolution and merging)

Etant une representation formelle et explicite des connaissances d'un domaine, les ontologies font regulierement l'objet de nombreux changements et ont ainsi besoin d'etre constamment adaptees pour notamment pouvoir etre reutilisees et repondre aux nouveaux besoins. Leur reutilisation peut prendre differentes formes (evolution, alignement, fusion, etc.), et presente plusieurs verrous scientifiques. L'un des plus importants est la preservation de la consistance de l'ontologie lors de son changement. Afin d'y repondre, nous nous interessons dans cette these a etudier les changements ontologiques et proposons un cadre formel capable de faire evoluer et de fusionner des ontologies sans affecter leur consistance. Premierement, nous proposons TGGOnto (Typed Graph Grammars for Ontologies), un nouveau formalisme permettant la representation des ontologies et leurs changements par les grammaires de graphes types. Un couplage entre ces deux formalismes est defini afin de profiter des concepts des grammaires de graphes, notamment les NAC (Negative Application Conditions), pour la preservation de la consistance de l'ontologie adaptee.Deuxiemement, nous proposons EvOGG (Evolving Ontologies with Graph Grammars), une approche d'evolution d'ontologies qui se base sur le formalisme GGTOnto et traite les inconsistances d'une maniere a priori. Nous nous interessons aux ontologies OWL et nous traitons a la fois : (1) l'enrichissement d'ontologies en etudiant leur niveau structurel et (2) le peuplement d'ontologies en etudiant les changements qui affectent les individus et leurs assertions. L'approche EvOGG definit des changements ontologiques de differents types (elementaires, composees et complexes) et assure leur implementation par l'approche algebrique de transformation de graphes, SPO (Simple PushOut). Troisiemement, nous proposons GROM (Graph Rewriting for Ontology Merging), une approche de fusion d'ontologies capable d'eviter les redondances de donnees et de diminuer les conflits dans le resultat de fusion. L'approche proposee se decompose en trois etapes : (1) la recherche de similarite entre concepts en se basant sur des techniques syntaxiques, structurelles et semantiques ; (2) la fusion d'ontologies par l'approche algebrique SPO ; (3) l'adaptation de l'ontologie globale resultante par le biais des regles de reecriture de graphes.Afin de valider les travaux menes dans cette these, nous avons developpe plusieurs outils open source bases sur l'outil AGG (Attributed Graph Grammar). Ces outils ont ete appliques sur un ensemble d'ontologies, essentiellement sur celles developpees dans le cadre du projet europeen CCAlps (Creatives Companies in Alpine Space) qui a finance les travaux de cette these.
Ximelagatran: Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics

Thromboembolism is the largest cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world, yet oral anticoagulation is currently available only with vitamin K antagonists—most often, warfarin. Warfarin has been used for treatment of thrombotic disease for about 50 years. However, despite its widespread use, it is associated with several limitations, such as varied patient response, a narrow therapeutic window, numerous drug and food interactions, and need for frequent therapeutic monitoring. In addition, its full anticoagulant effect usually takes at least 4–5 days after the start of therapy or any dosage change, and it has a slow offset of therapy. A new oral anticoagulant, ximelagatran, has considerable advantages compared with warfarin. The agent requires no therapeutic monitoring, has a wide therapeutic window, and is not known to interact with food or drugs. The advantages ximelagatran brings to clinical practice should be a welcome addition to the options for management of thrombotic disease.
Mothers' experiences raising young children with type 1 diabetes.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE To examine the day-to-day experiences of mothers raising children 4 years of age and younger with type 1 diabetes. DESIGN AND METHODS The descriptive design compared mothers of children with (n = 25) and without diabetes (n = 25). Mother-child observations were completed for children with diabetes. RESULTS Mothers of children with diabetes are very skilled in reading their children's behavioral cues. Mothers' concerns included the fear of hypoglycemia and seizure activity, access to daycare centers, and babysitting services capable of caring for their children's condition. These responses significantly differed from the control group mothers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Nurses can affirm that hypoglycemia-related fears are normal and help mothers identify community resources that might ease the burden of care required, especially during the early postdiagnosis period.
SPAD-based 3D sensors for high ambient illumination

With the possibility of fabricating single-photon avalanche diodes in standard CMOS processes, arrays for range imaging applications have been developed. Proper operation in high ambient illumination environments is one of the major issues of scannerless sensors published so far. In this paper a theoretical study of the direct and indirect working principle regarding high ambient illumination is shown. Further, new concepts based on these principles to reduce the sensitivity to ambient light are presented.
Acute changes in murine hippocampus and olfactory bulb after nasal instillation of varying size cerium dioxide particles

ABSTRACT Cerium (Ce)-containing compounds are now widely applied in medicine, agriculture, and animal breeding. However, the effects of Ce on humans, especially on the central nervous system (CNS), remain to be determined. In order to investigate whether Ce exposure affected the CNS, the aim of this study was to expose female ICR mice to varying nanoparticle sizes of 35 nm and 300 nm, and to a mixture of 1–5 µM cerium dioxide (CeO2) particles through intranasal (i.n.) instillation at daily dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. Immunohistochemical data showed that glial fibrillary acidic protein expression (GFAP) increased significantly in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb in all Ce-administered groups. The ultrastructure of olfactory bulb cells displayed chromatin reduction. In the hippocampus decreased chromatin was associated with ribosome shedding as evidenced from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). No significant differences in immunohistochemistry were noted between varying sizes of CeO2 groups. The results of inductively coupled plasma–mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis group exposed to 1–5 µM demonstrated that Ce levels were significantly higher in whole brain (0.17 ng/mg) than for the control (0.04 ng/mg). Data thus demonstrated that i.n. instillation of different sized CeO2 particles induced damage in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus and that CeO2 particle size did not appear to play a role in the observed adverse responses.
CHIP and gp78-mediated ubiquitination of CYP3A4

The autocrine motility factor receptor or glycoprotein-78 (gp78) and C-terminus of Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP) are E3-ligases required for ubiquitination of cytochrome P450s of the 3A subfamily (CYP3A) in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). The CYP isozyme 3A4 (CYP3A4) is responsible for the metabolism of the majority of xenobiotics including anticancer agents. Much variability in clinical response to chemotherapy is observed and it has been suggested that variability in CYP3A4 expression could be a factor. The study reviewed in this journal club comments on the importance of further characterizing gp78 and CHIP as relevant proteins in ERAD of CYP3A4. This study demonstrated how both gp78 and CHIP play direct roles in reducing CYP3A4 protein content as well as CYP3A4 ubiquitination. Interestingly, when gp78 and CHIP were knocked down by siRNAs directed towards each protein, the stabilized CYP3A4 remained functional. This has implications for drug-drug interactions for agents metabolized by CYP3A4, which can influence drug exposure levels. This is relevant because most anticancer agents have very narrow therapeutic windows, thus even slight changes in CYP3A4 levels could alter the exposure of that drug and result in either insufficient efficacy or toxicity. Future studies must explore genetic variability in the ERAD pathway and identify new factors that influence CYP3A ERAD in order to better characterize how CYP3A variability affects anticancer drug pharmacology.
N-Acylated Derivatives of Sulfamethoxazole and Sulfafurazole Inhibit Intracellular Growth of Chlamydia trachomatis

ABSTRACT Antibacterial compounds with novel modes of action are needed for management of bacterial infections. Here we describe a high-content screen of 9,800 compounds identifying acylated sulfonamides as novel growth inhibitors of the sexually transmitted pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. The effect was bactericidal and distinct from that of sulfonamide antibiotics, as para-aminobenzoic acid did not reduce efficacy. Chemical inhibitors play an important role in Chlamydia research as probes of potential targets and as drug development starting points.