Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macrophage-inducible expression of a model antigen in Salmonella typhimurium enhances immunogenicity.

Attenuated Salmonella are useful oral vaccine vectors capable of carrying multiple heterologous antigen genes, but optimal expression of foreign antigens has not yet been achieved. We hypothesized that Salmonella phoP-activated genes, which are transcriptionally activated within antigen-processing macrophages, could prove useful for delivery of heterologous antigens to the immune system. We have created a suicide vector that allows the stable chromosomal insertion of heterologous antigen genes within the phoP-activated gene C (pagC) of Salmonella and permits the expression of heterologous antigens as fusion proteins between the first 84 amino acids of PagC and the chosen antigen. The Escherichia coli phoA gene encoding alkaline phosphatase was cloned into this vector; the resultant plasmid was used to construct Salmonella typhimurium strains that express PagC-alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins from a single chromosomal gene copy. Such strains were administered orally and i.p. as vaccines to BALB/c mice and compared with control strains expressing alkaline phosphatase constitutively. After 3 weeks, mouse sera were analyzed for IgG responses to S. typhimurium lipopolysaccharide and alkaline phosphatase. Remarkably, though all mice had comparable antibody responses to lipopolysaccharide, only mice immunized with strains bearing phoP-activated fusion genes had antibody responses to the heterologous antigen. We conclude that expression of a heterologous antigen from an S. typhimurium in vivo-induced promoter that is activated within macrophages markedly enhances the immunogenicity of a model antigen expressed from a single chromosomal gene copy.
From necessity to choice: dietary revolutions in west China in the second millennium BC

Abstract This article explores the context of the long-distance translocation of crops in prehistory. We draw upon contrasts in the isotopic signatures of Southwest Asian crops, including wheat and barley – C3 plants, compared to Asian millets – C4 plants, to investigate a key region of trans-Eurasian exchange, the Chinese province of Gansu. The isotopic results demonstrate that in Gansu province prior to 2000 cal. bc, the staples were millets. Between 2000 and 1800 cal. bc, there was a significant shift in staple foods towards the Southwest Asian crops. In the broader regional context, however, it would seem that these novel crops were not consumed in large quantities in many parts of China during the second millennium bc. This suggests that, while the Southwest Asian crops were adopted and became a staple food source in Gansu province in the second millennium bc, they were disregarded as staple foods elsewhere in the same millennium.
Life cycle assessment of seawater neutralised red mud for treatment of acid mine drainage

One feature that has not been analysed in the re-use of bauxite residue (or “red mud”) is the comparison of its environmental benefits with competing products. The life cycle assessment (LCA) described in this article compares the use of seawater neutralised red mud to treat acid mine drainage (AMD) at Mount Morgan in Queensland, Australia with that of lime. The aim of the LCA is to evaluate the environmental merits of each neutralant by comparing the carbon dioxide emissions and the net energy use over their respective life cycles. Both life cycles involve the collection and processing of raw materials from Gladstone in Central Queensland, their transportation to Mount Morgan (about 150 km away) and finally their application in a wastewater treatment plant. This plant, which currently uses lime as its treatment media, increases the pH of the acidic open cut pit water to acceptable levels for discharge. The results of the analysis revealed that seawater neutralised red mud would, over the entire life cycle, generate 20% of the carbon dioxide emissions and use 44% of the electricity compared with that of lime. This amounts to a saving of about 3500 kg of carbon dioxide for every 1000 m3 of pit water treated. However, as red mud is a much weaker neutralant compared with lime on a weight basis, significantly more red mud is required to perform the same duty; as a result the fuel usage in the red mud scenario is 12 times that compared with lime, which is primarily due to increased transportation requirements for red mud. The results of a sensitivity analysis demonstrated that even if the seawater neutralised red mud neutralisation capability was half the expected value, seawater neutralised red mud would still generate only 35% of the carbon dioxide and use 44% of the electricity compared with that of lime. The fuel usage for seawater neutralised be ne
Relation between obesity from childhood to adulthood and the metabolic syndrome: population based study

Most researchers agree that obesity is an important modulator of the metabolic syndrome, 1 2 which is a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance —such as hypertension,hypertriglyceridaemia,a low concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, abnormal glucose metabolism, and hyperinsulinaemia.3Little is known, however, about the association between relative weight change from childhood to adulthood and the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. We recently published data of a population study for the metabolic syndrome, performed during 1993-4 in Pieksamaki, Finland. All subjects (n=1008) born in the years 1947, 1952, and 1957 were examined according to a protocol described elsewhere.4Data on both weight and height at age 7 years (the start of primary school) were also collected. Altogether, 712/1008 (70.6%) subjects participated in the study. Weights and heights at age 7 were traced for 439/712 (61.7%) participants. Obesity was defined both in childhood and in adulthood as a …
Complement factor I: a susceptibility gene for atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), the most frequent cause of acute renal failure in childhood, is characterised by the association of acute renal failure, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, and thrombocytopenia.1,2 The majority of HUS cases occur after an episode of infectious diarrhoea, and are associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection. However, atypical cases of HUS occur in the absence of infectious diarrhoea, although less commonly. Some are inherited in either an autosomal dominant or a recessive pattern and these patients often experience relapse and progress to hypertension and chronic renal disease. Sporadic forms can occur with many of the same signs and symptoms. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is poorly understood. However, after the first association with a low antigenic level of C3 was identified, two complement alternative pathway proteins, factor H (FH) and recently membrane cofactor protein (CD46; MCP) have been identified as fostering the development of atypical HUS.3–7 The human complement cascade can be activated through three different pathways: the classical pathway, the lectin pathway, and the alternative pathway. Factor H and MCP are regulatory proteins of the alternative pathway.8 Since the description of a genetic association of the disease with the cluster of complement related genes on chromosome 1, several mutations have been reported on the exons coding for the C-terminal domains of FH, which are important for C3b binding.5,9–12 Recently, two groups presented evidence that CD46 mutations may also predispose to HUS.7,13 Considering the major role of FH in complement alternative pathway regulation, we speculated that other complement regulators might be involved in the disease process. Human complement factor I (factor I) is a serine proteinase that cleaves the α chain of C3b and plays a key role in inhibition of the alternative pathway amplification loop which generates …
Agent-Based Modeling and Historical Simulation

This essay discusses agent-based modeling (ABM) and its potential as a technique for studying history, including literary history. How can a computer simulation tell us anything about the past? This essay has three distinct goals. The first is simply to introduce agent-based modeling as a computational practice to an audience of digital humanists, for whom it remains largely unfamiliar despite signs of increasing interest. Second, to introduce one possible application for social simulation by comparing it to conventional, print-based models of the history of book publishing. Third, and most importantly, I’ll sketch out a theory and preliminary method for incorporating social simulation into an on-going program of humanities research.
Isocinetisme et sport de haut niveau : Applications à la traumatologie du sport

Le sport de haut niveau par la pratique reguliere de l’activite, la repetition de gestes stereotypes a haute intensite et la specificite de l’entrainement, expose les sportifs au risque de traumatismes. Risque qui a considerablement augmente avec les exigences du haut niveau, la frequence de plus en plus grande des competitions, la pression du resultat et l’emergence du sport business. Face a ce risque, l’isocinetisme s’inscrit comme une technique de reference dans l’evaluation des performances musculaires. Le dynamometre isocinetique permet une mesure precise et reproductible de la force musculaire dynamique, a condition de respecter une methodologie rigoureuse. L’utilisation de l’isocinetisme dans le sport de haut niveau s’est nettement developpee afin d’identifier les profils musculaires a risque, et corriger les desequilibres musculaires, en prevention de blessures. En therapeutique, nous utilisons l’isocinetisme pour la reeducation des pathologies musculaires, tendineuses et ligamentaires (rupture du LCAE). Aujourd’hui, le travail musculaire excentrique doit s’imposer dans les pathologies citees ci-dessus. Les modalites d’application du protocole conditionnent son efficacite. Nous pronons, depuis des annees, une prise en charge precoce de la blessure par un travail isocinetique excentrique a vitesse lente, dans un but cicatriciel du tissu lese. L’outil isocinetique permet de realiser ce travail excentrique precocement de maniere securise. Il est complementaire aux autres techniques kinesitherapiques. Il nous semble indispensable dans la prise en charge des sportifs de haut niveau pour le suivi de la reeducation et la complete recuperation fonctionnelle. Il quantifie l’un des criteres de reprise du sport permettant de reduire le risque de recidive tant redoute. Apres chirurgie du ligament croise anterieur, objectiver precisement le niveau de recuperation musculaire permet de mieux individualiser la reeducation et la phase de reathletisation.
Frequency-domain photon migration measurements of normal and malignant tissue optical properties in a human subject.

A 1-GHz multifrequency, multiwavelength frequency-domain photon migration instrument is used to measure quantitatively the optical absorption (mu(a)) and effective optical scattering (mu(s) ? ) of normal and malignant tissues in a human subject. Large ellipsoidal (~10-cm major axis, ~6-cm minor axes) subcutaneous malignant lesions were compared with adjacent normal sites in the abdomen and back. Absorption coefficients recorded at 674, 811, 849, and 956 nm were used to calculate tissue hemoglobin concentration (oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total), water concentration, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and blood volume fraction in vivo. Our results show that the normal and the malignant tissues measured in the patient have clearly resolvable optical and physiological property differences that may be broadly useful in identifying and characterizing tumors.
200 Gchip/s, 16-label simultaneous multiple-optical encoder/decoder and its application to optical packet switching

A 200 Gchip/s, 16-label simultaneous multiple-optical encoder/decoder has been fabricated; it generates and recognizes simultaneously multiple codes in a parallel manner. 10 Gbit/s optical packet switching with the test encoder/decoder was demonstrated experimentally. Optical packets with different labels were switched according to their own destination label based on multiple label processing.
WomenÃ¢ÂÂs Performance of Breast Cancer Screening (Breast Self-Examination, Clinical Breast Exam and Mammography)

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in Saudi Arabia. Despite the availability of early detection methods to diagnose breast cancer, a huge number of women are still unaware about these methods. This study was conducted to identify the attitude of women in Medina toward breast cancer screening methods, including breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. Materials and methods: A cross sectional survey has been conducted on 124 women aged from 39 and older, who attended Taibah Medical Center for cancer screening either by doctor’s recommendation, family or friends advice, or by herself. Face to face questionnaire was used to collect data. All data were analyzed by statistical analysis system software. Results: The results showed only 35.5%, 27.4% and 37.8% of participants reported that they practiced BSE, CBE and annual mammography, respectively. Only 27.3% of women practiced BSE once per month, and 8.8% visited doctor annually for CBE. Both educational level and family history were significantly related to BSE. 57.7% of the participants who had positive family history practiced BSE, and 56.0% of the participants who practiced BSE were highly educated. Lacking awareness about BSE is the most important barrier in not practicing BSE, while not having a breast lump was the reason for not undergoing either clinical breast examination (38.7%) or periodic mammography (54.9%). Conclusion: This study emphasized the need for massive health education program to increase awareness, and improve the attitude of women toward breast cancer screening methods.
Outcomes and Complications of Intracranial Pressure Monitoring in Acute Liver Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study*

Objective:To determine if intracranial pressure monitor placement in patients with acute liver failure is associated with significant clinical outcomes. Design:Retrospective multicenter cohort study. Setting:Academic liver transplant centers comprising the U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group. Patients:Adult critically ill patients with acute liver failure presenting with grade III/IV hepatic encephalopathy (n = 629) prospectively enrolled between March 2004 and August 2011. Intervention:Intracranial pressure monitored (n = 140) versus nonmonitored controls (n = 489). Measurements and Main Results:Intracranial pressure monitored patients were younger than controls (35 vs 43 yr, p < 0.001) and more likely to be on renal replacement therapy (52% vs 38%, p = 0.003). Of 87 intracranial pressure monitored patients with detailed information, 44 (51%) had evidence of intracranial hypertension (intracranial pressure > 25 mm Hg) and overall 21-day mortality was higher in patients with intracranial hypertension (43% vs 23%, p = 0.05). During the first 7 days, intracranial pressure monitored patients received more intracranial hypertension–directed therapies (mannitol, 56% vs 21%; hypertonic saline, 14% vs 7%; hypothermia, 24% vs 10%; p < 0.03 for each). Forty-one percent of intracranial pressure monitored patients received liver transplant (vs 18% controls; p < 0.001). Overall 21-day mortality was similar (intracranial pressure monitored 33% vs controls 38%, p = 0.24). Where data were available, hemorrhagic complications were rare in intracranial pressure monitored patients (4 of 56 [7%]; three died). When stratifying by acetaminophen status and adjusting for confounders, intracranial pressure monitor placement did not impact 21-day mortality in acetaminophen patients (p = 0.89). However, intracranial pressure monitor was associated with increased 21-day mortality in nonacetaminophen patients (odds ratio, ~ 3.04; p = 0.014). Conclusions:In intracranial pressure monitored patients with acute liver failure, intracranial hypertension is commonly observed. The use of intracranial pressure monitor in acetaminophen acute liver failure did not confer a significant 21-day mortality benefit, whereas in nonacetaminophen acute liver failure, it may be associated with worse outcomes. Hemorrhagic complications from intracranial pressure monitor placement were uncommon and cannot account for mortality trends. Although our results cannot conclusively confirm or refute the utility of intracranial pressure monitoring in patients with acute liver failure, patient selection and ancillary assessments of cerebral blood flow likely have a significant role. Prospective studies would be required to conclusively account for confounding by illness severity and transplant.
Optimal FES parameters based on mechanomyographic efficiency index

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can artificially elicit movements in spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects. FES control strategies involve monitoring muscle features and setting FES profiles so as to postpone the installation of muscle fatigue or nerve cell adaptation. Mechanomyography (MMG) sensors register the lateral oscillations of contracting muscles. This paper presents an MMG efficiency index (EI) that may indicate most efficient FES electrical parameters to control functional movements. Ten healthy and three SCI volunteers participated in the study. Four FES profiles with two FES sessions were applied with in-between 15min rest interval. MMG RMS and median frequency were inserted into the EI equation. EI increased along the test. FES profile set to 1kHz pulse frequency, 200εs active pulse duration and burst frequency of 50Hz was the most efficient.
Examining the implementation of collaborative competencies in a critical care setting: Key challenges for enacting competency-based education

ABSTRACT Interprofessional collaboration is recognised as an important factor in improving patient care in intensive care units (ICUs). Competency frameworks, and more specifically interprofessional competency frameworks, are a key strategy being used to support the development of attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed for an interprofessional approach to care. However, evidence for the application of competencies is limited. This study aimed to extend our empirically based understanding of the significance of interprofessional competencies to actual clinical practice in an ICU. An ethnographic approach was employed to obtain an in-depth insight into healthcare providers’ perspectives, behaviours, and interactions of interprofessional collaboration in a medical surgical ICU in a community teaching hospital in Canada. Approximately 160 hours of observations were undertaken and 24 semi-structured interviews with healthcare workers were conducted over a period of 6 months. Data were analysed using a directed content approach where two national competency frameworks were used to help generate an understanding of the practice of interprofessional collaboration. Healthcare professionals demonstrated numerous instances of interprofessional communication, role understandings, and teamwork in the ICU setting, which supported a number of key collaborative competencies. However, organisational factors such as pressures for discharge and patient flow, staffing, and lack of prioritisation for interprofessional learning undermined competencies designed to improve collaboration and teamwork. The findings demonstrate that interprofessional competencies can play an important role in promoting knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviours needed. However, competencies that promote interprofessional collaboration are dependent on a range of contextual factors that enable (or impede) individuals to actually enact these competencies.
Research on small genomes: implications for synthetic biology

Synthetic genomics is a new field of research in which small DNA pieces are assembled in a series of steps into whole genomes. The highly reduced genomes of host‐associated bacteria are now being used as models for de novo synthesis of small genomes in the laboratory. Bacteria with the smallest genomes identified in nature provide nutrients to their hosts, such as amino acids, co‐factors and vitamins. Comparative genomics of these bacteria enables predictions to be made about the gene sets required for core cellular functions and the associated metabolic network for the biosynthesis of host‐selected compounds. Synthetic biology may ultimately enable researchers to make customized cell‐specific organelles for the production and delivery of drugs to humans and domestic animals. Synthetic genomics may also become the method of choice for functional analyses of genes and genomes from bacteria that cannot be cultivated in the laboratory.
Electrospun hemoglobin microbelts based biosensor for sensitive detection of hydrogen peroxide

Hemoglobin (Hb) microbelts based biosensor was developed by directly electrospinning Hb onto the glassy carbon electrode surface without using any other immobilization matrix, offering an excellent electrochemical sensing platform. UV-vis spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy were performed to demonstrate that Hb still kept its native structure in the as-electrospun microbelts. The electrocatalytic property of Hb microbelts modified electrode was investigated using H2O2 as a model compound and the as-prepared biosensor showed fast response to H2O2, together with good dynamic response ranges, high sensitivity and excellent detection limits. These results indicated that Hb microbelts have great potential in the application of H2O2 detection.
The immunologic characterization of 40 extranodal lymphoid infiltrates: Usefulness in distinguishing between benign pseudolymphoma and malignant lymphoma

In the studies described here, 40 extranodal lymphoid tumors obtained from 38 patients were evaluated by cell‐marker analysis and the results correlated with the light microscopic features. These infiltrates were investigated for the percent composition of cells expressing la antigens, surface immunoglobulin (SIg), including K and λ light chains, sheep erythrocyte (E) rosette formation, and acid a‐naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity. Fifteen biopsy specimens consisted of variable proportions of benign T and polyclonal B cells; these 15 lesions had the histopathologic features of benign pseudolymphomas. The remaining biopsy specimens consisted almost entirely of B cells bearing monoclonal SIg (18 cases) or a great preponderance of T cells (five cases) or non‐B, non‐T (null) cells (two cases); these 25 lesions were classified histopathologically as malignant lymphomas. Thus, the extranodal lymphoid infiltrates were divisible, according to their cell‐marker characteristics, into two categories: lesions that are immunologically polyclonal and lesions that are immunologically monoclonal B‐cell proliferations or consist of a great preponderance of T or null cells. In each case, polyclonality correlated with benign cytomorphologic features and monoclonality correlated with malignant histopathology. Cell‐marker analysis appears to represent an important adjunct to light microscopy in distinguishing histologically problematic benign pseudolymphomas from malignant lymphomas that arise in the extranodal tissues. Cell marker analysis will undoubtedly provide insights into the histogenesis, natural history, and biologic behavior of the extranodal lymphoid neoplasms not attainable using light microscopy alone.