Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nod1 Is an Essential Signal Transducer in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Infected with Bacteria That Avoid Recognition by Toll-Like Receptors

ABSTRACT The transcription factor NF-κB in human intestinal epithelial cells plays a central role in regulating genes that govern the onset of mucosal inflammatory responses following intestinal microbial infection. Nod1 is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor in mammalian cells that senses components of microbial peptidoglycans and signals the activation of NF-κB. The aim of these studies was to assess the functional importance of Nod1 in activating NF-κB and NF-κB proinflammatory target genes in human intestinal epithelium. Human colon epithelial cells that constitutively express Nod1 were used as a model intestinal epithelium. These cells do not signal through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) or respond to bacterial lipopolysaccharide, but they express functional TLR5 and interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptors that signal the activation of NF-κB in response to bacterial flagellin or IL-1 stimulation. Stable expression of dominant negative (DN) Nod1 in colon epithelial cells prevented IκB kinase and NF-κB activation in response to infection with enteroinvasive Escherichia coli. In contrast, DN Nod1 did not eliminate IL-1 or flagellin-stimulated NF-κB activation. Inhibition of NF-κB was accompanied by inhibition of NF-κB target genes that provide signals for the mucosal influx of neutrophils during intestinal infection. We conclude that signaling through Nod1 is required for activating NF-κB in human intestinal epithelial cells infected with gram-negative enteric bacteria that can bypass TLR activation. Signaling through Nod1 provides the intestinal epithelium with a backup mechanism for rapidly activating innate immunity during infection with a group of highly invasive pathogenic gram-negative bacteria.
Factors Affecting Sexual Life during Pregnancy in Eastern Turkey

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study aiming to determine the factors affecting sexual life in pregnant women. The study was carried out in 238 women in Malatya, Turkey. It was found that 61.4% regarded coitus as a risk during pregnancy, 31.9% did not have any knowledge about this matter. In 81.5% sexual life was affected during pregnancy. The mean frequency of intercourse was 2.02 ± 0.7/week before pregnancy and decreased to 1.51 ± 0.6/week during pregnancy. The reasons for this decline are: exhaustion and fatigue (64.3%); waning of sexual desire (55.9%); harmful to the fetus (49.2%); causing abortions in early pregnancy (45%), and inducing preterm labor (34%). There was a significant relationship between changes in sexual life during pregnancy and the duration of marriage (χ2 = 10.8, p < 0.05), education level (χ2 = 18.1, p < 0.05), parity (χ2 = 11.1, p < 0.05), and gravidity (χ2 = 6.8, p < 0.05). The variables such as age, employment status, and number of abortions did not affect sexual life during pregnancy.
An environmentally‐relevant mixture of organochlorines and its vehicle control, dimethylsulfoxide, induce ultrastructural alterations in porcine oocytes

Organochlorine chemicals accumulate in the environment, particularly in the Arctic, and constitute potential developmental hazards to wildlife and human health. Although some of their harmful effects are recognized, their mechanisms of action within the target cells need to be better understood. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that an environmentally‐relevant organochlorine mixture alters oocyte ultrastructure in the porcine model. Immature cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), partially cultured (18 hr) COCs without treatment or exposed to the organochlorine mixture or its vehicle (0.1% dimethysulfoxide; DMSO) during culture were processed for light and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). The organochlorines induced major ultrastructural changes in the COCs: decreased density of the lipid droplets, increased smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) volume and increased interactions among SER, mitochondria, lipid droplets and vesicles. We suggest that these ultrastructural changes facilitate energy formation necessary to produce metabolizing enzymes. Other ultrastructural changes may reflect some degree of organochlorine toxicity: fewer gap junctions and decreased electron density of the cortical granules. Unexpectedly, the DMSO control treatment also induced similar ultrastructural changes, but to a lesser degree than the organochlorine mixture. This study is the first to demonstrate the effect of environmental contaminants on mammalian oocyte ultrastructure. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brain infarction and the clinical expression of Alzheimer disease.

To the Editor. —We were intrigued by the findings of Dr Snowdon and colleagues1in the prospective study of elderly nuns that fewer neuropathologic lesions of Alzheimer disease (AD), especially neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), apparently resulted in dementia in individuals with concomitant lacunar infarcts than in individuals with pure AD. These observations prompted us to examine the frequency of neocortical NFTs in AD cases with and without concomitant infarcts. We reviewed data on 201 autopsy cases derived from dementia subjects clinically diagnosed as having AD enrolled in the longitudinal multicenter study, CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease). The cases, contributed by 20 participating medical centers, were assessed using standard clinical and neuropathologic batteries. Neuropathologic assessment included semiquantitative ratings of senile plaques and NFTs in multiple regions of neocortex; levels of certainty of the neuropathologic diagnosis of AD were determined using an algorithm based on age-related neocortical plaque
Rapid Quantitative Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in Meat Products by Real-Time PCR

ABSTRACT We describe a quick and simple method for the quantitative detection of Listeria monocytogenes in meat products. This method is based on filtration, Chelex-100-based DNA purification, and real-time PCR. It can detect as few as 100 CFU/g and quantify as few as 1,000 CFU/g, with excellent accuracy compared to that of the plate count method. Therefore, it is a promising alternative for the detection of L. monocytogenes in meat products.
Rapid method for the determination of diaminopimelic acid using ion exchange chromatography.

A new method for the determination diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) from rumen ∞uid was developed. The concentration of DAPA is used as an indicator for the estimation of protein content of bacte- rial origin. Due to the performic acid oxidation preceding hydrolysis of proteins, the neighbouring amino acids do not interfere in the determi- nation of DAPA. As a result, even trace concentrations of DAPA may be accurately determined. Since, following the performic acid oxidation the sample does not contain methionine, the bufiers developed for rapid determination of methionine may be used to advantage. As a result of this, DAPA may be determined by ion exchange column chromatography in ca. 18 minutes.
Molecular dynamics study of liquid water under high compression

The technique of computer simulation by molecular dynamics has been used to investigate highly compressed water at mass density 1.346 g/cm3. The calculations involve 216 rigid molecules, subject to an additive interaction (the ``ST2 potential'') whose strong anisotropic character has been shown to describe the hydrogen bond phenomenon. In the light of previous calculations on the same model at ordinary pressures, substantial restructuring of the liquid in response to compression is obvious. No evidence arises to support description of the liquid in terms of crystal structures of ices VI and VII, the solid forms that might be expected to be relevant at the chosen density. The calculations indicate that the initial effect of pressure increase (at 1 atm) leads to increased fluidity, as is known to be the case for real water.
The Hemileia vastatrix effector HvEC‐016 suppresses bacterial blight symptoms in coffee genotypes with the SH1 rust resistance gene

Summary A number of genes that confer resistance to coffee leaf rust (SH1–SH9) have been identified within the genus Coffea, but despite many years of research on this pathosystem, the complementary avirulence genes of Hemileia vastatrix have not been reported. After identification of H. vastatrix effector candidate genes (HvECs) expressed at different stages of its lifecycle, we established an assay to characterize HvEC proteins by delivering them into coffee cells via the type‐three secretion system (T3SS) of Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae (Psgc). Employing a calmodulin‐dependent adenylate cyclase assay, we demonstrate that Psgc recognizes a heterologous P. syringae T3SS secretion signal which enables us to translocate HvECs into the cytoplasm of coffee cells. Using this Psgc‐adapted effector detector vector (EDV) system, we found that HvEC‐016 suppresses the growth of Psgc on coffee genotypes with the SH1 resistance gene. Suppression of bacterial blight symptoms in SH1 plants was associated with reduced bacterial multiplication. By contrast, HvEC‐016 enhanced bacterial multiplication in SH1‐lacking plants. Our findings suggest that HvEC‐016 may be recognized by the plant immune system in a SH1‐dependent manner. Thus, our experimental approach is an effective tool for the characterization of effector/avirulence proteins of this important pathogen.
Visual metacontrast masking in migraine

Background: In visual metacontrast masking, the visibility of a brief target stimulus can be reduced substantially if it is preceded (forward masking) or followed (backward masking) by a non-overlapping mask. These effects have been attributed to inhibitory processes within the visual system. Two previous studies have used metacontrast masking to assess inhibitory function in migraine and control groups, however, each used different types of masking and obtained different results. Subjects and Methods: Forward, backward and combined forward and backward masking were compared in migraine (15 with visual aura, 15 without) and control (n = 15) groups. Baseline trials were also included (target only). Results: For all types of masking, both migraine groups were more accurate than the control group. When performance for the masking trials was expressed relative to baseline, however, there were no significant group differences. Performance in certain conditions nevertheless correlated significantly with migraine frequency and with the recency of the last attack. Conclusions: The inhibitory processes involved in the masking tasks employed in this study do not appear to be impaired in migraine. Their better overall performance may reflect a sensitivity difference, perhaps as a consequence of a heightened neuronal response, which varies with the migraine cycle.
Performance Model for Orthogonal Sub Channel in Noise-Limited Environment

Orthogonal Sub Channel (OSC) is a voice enhancement for the GSM evolution. It allows in principle a double capacity with the same hardware compared to the previous GSM Half Rate (HR) mode. This paper investigates the effects of OSC on the radio performance as function of the OSC capable handset penetration compared to the GSM HR mode. A set of test cases was carried out in GSM network in order to evaluate the radio performance of OSC in terms of the carrier per noise level. The tests were performed in noise-limited indoor environment, and the quality and received power level distributions were analyzed. As a main achievement, a generic model for estimating the effect of OSC on the GSM radio performance was developed. The model is based on the network statistics and performance indicators of GSM.
Distortion and Convolutional Theorems for Operators of Generalized Fractional Calculus Involving Wright Function

Abstract Using the Wright's generalized hypergeometric function, we investigate a class W(q, s; A, B, λ) of analytic functions with negative coefficients. We derive many results for the modified Hadamard product of functions belonging to the class W(q, s; A, B, λ). Moreover, we generalize some of the distortion theorems to the classical fractional integrals and derivatives and the Saigo (hypergeometric) operators of fractional calculus.
Failure to Rescue after Infectious Complications in a Statewide Trauma System.

BACKGROUND The failure to rescue (FTR) rate, the rate of death after a complication, measures a center's ability to identify and manage complications by "rescuing" vulnerable patients. Infectious complications are common after trauma, but risk factors for death after infection are not established. We hypothesized that risk factors would differ for FTR after infectious complications, development of infections, and for development of and death after non-infectious complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed trauma registry data for adult patients admitted to all 30 level I and II Pennsylvania trauma centers, 2011-2014. We used multivariable regression to identify risk factors for infection, non-infectious complications, failure to rescue after infection (FTR-I), failure to rescue after non-infectious complications (FTR-N), and death. We compared secondary complication patterns among patients with an index infection. RESULTS Of 95,806 admitted patients, at least one complication developed in 11.2%. Among these, 33.6% had an infection as the first complication. Mortality rates were 3.7% overall, 2.8% in patients with no complications, 7.2% after infection, and 13.5% after non-infectious complications. Urinary tract infection was the most common infection (41.7%), followed by pneumonia (37.5%) and wound infection (6.9%). Risk factors for infection included higher injury severity score (ISS), poor admitting physiology, female gender, cirrhosis, dementia, history of stroke, and drug abuse. Factors associated with FTR-I included male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1-1.2), older age (OR 1.04, 1.03-1.05), increased ISS, cirrhosis, chronic renal insufficiency, and use of anticoagulation or steroids. CONCLUSIONS Infectious complications are common in trauma patients and are an important component of FTR. Risk factors for infection and FTR-I differ and may help identify patients who may benefit from close surveillance and early intervention. Half of all FTR deaths were preceded by only a single complication, highlighting that management of this index complication, along with any secondary complications, may be a fruitful area for intervention.
Intraoperative Facial Nerve Monitoring in Posterior Fossa Surgery: Prognostic Value

A retrospective study was done of 43 patients operated on for acoustic neuroma by a translabyrinthine approach with intraoperative facial nerve monitoring. Direct stimulation of the facial nerve at the level of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and the internal auditory canal (IAC) permits the calculation of a R ratio that has a predictive value for postoperative facial function: R = R'/R'', where R' is the ratio of the minimal intensity (I) of stimulation capable of inducing a response after direct stimulation of the facial nerve at the level of the CPA over the electromyographic response amplitude (A): R' = I(CPA)/A(CPA), R'' being equal to the ratio of these same measurements after stimulation at the IAC: R'' = I(IAC)/A(IAC). Statistical analysis has shown that an R ratio </= 2 has a favorable prognostic value on facial mobility whereas an R ratio > 2 permits the supposition of an alteration of facial function. This prognostic value is more precise if the R ratio is co-related to the macroscopic aspect of the facial nerve at the end of surgery.
Sentiment miner: A prototype for sentiment analysis of unstructured data and text

This paper presents a method to apply opinion mining on unstructured text for polarity extraction and classification at sentence level within a document. The generation of massive unstructured information about individuals makes the task of progress tracking and monitoring almost impracticable which results in the quest to find some way for automated text analysis and tagging. The proposed solution in this work is the development of a System (Sentiment Miner). It will provide features to process and classify text files (reviews and appraisals) for opinion mining at sentence level using Natural language Processing techniques and Opinion Mining algorithms. The prototype of a final product; a Semantic Search Engine will facilitate in document retrieval for analysis whenever required.
Clopidogrel‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome associated with febrile pancytopenia

References 1 Fukuda E. In: Fukuda E, ed. Yakusinjyoho (Drug Eruption Information) , 10th edn. Fukuoka: Fukuda Clinic, 2003: 230 (in Japanese). 2 Iino S, Tango T, Matsushima T, et al. Therapeutic effects of stronger neo-minophagen C at different doses on chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Hepatol Res 2001; 19 : 31–40. 3 Sfar Z, Belkahia CH, Kamoun MR. Severe bullous forms of drug eruption. Tunis Med 1989; 67 : 805–808 (in French). 4 Velez A, Moreno J-C. Toxic epidermal necrolysis treated with N -acetylcysteine. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002; 46 : 469–470. 5 Popova O, Safronov BN. Action of cysteine hydrochloride in the body on the immune response and the formation of antigen–antibody complexes. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1984; 1 : 60–62.
Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Bacteriocins: A Promising Approach to Seafood Biopreservation

© 2013 Ghanbari and Jami, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Bacteriocins: A Promising Approach to Seafood Biopreservation
Lipoprotein(a) levels and risk of future coronary heart disease: large-scale prospective data.

BACKGROUND Large-scale prospective data are needed to determine whether associations between lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk are independent of established risk factors, to characterize the shape of this relationship, and to quantify associations in relevant subgroups. METHODS Levels of Lp(a) were measured in samples obtained at baseline from 2047 patients who had first-ever nonfatal myocardial infarction or who died of CHD during the study and from 3921 control participants in the Reykjavik Study (n=18 569), as well as in paired samples obtained 12 years apart from 372 participants to quantify within-person fluctuations. RESULTS Baseline Lp(a) levels had little or no correlation with known cardiovascular risk factors, such as age, sex, total cholesterol level, and blood pressure. The Lp(a) values were highly consistent from decade to decade, with a regression dilution ratio (calculated on the log scale) of 0.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.99). The odds ratio for CHD, unaltered after adjustment for several established risk factors (age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides level, diabetes mellitus, and body mass index), was 1.60 (95% confidence interval, 1.38-1.85) in a comparison of extreme thirds of baseline Lp(a) levels. Odds ratios were progressively higher with increasing Lp(a) levels and did not vary materially by several individual- or study-level characteristics. CONCLUSIONS There are independent, continuous associations between Lp(a) levels and risk of future CHD in a broad range of individuals. Levels of Lp(a) are highly stable within individuals across many years and are only weakly correlated with known risk factors. Further assessment of their possible role in CHD prevention is warranted.
Exposure Assessment for Retrospective Follow-Up Studies of Semiconductor- and Storage Device-Manufacturing Workers

Objective: This exposure assessment was conducted in the first large study of mortality and cancer incidence in semiconductor and storage device manufacturing. Methods: Unique combinations of division, department and job codes and names (DDJ) from work history records were assigned to work groups and exposure categories. Agent exposure matrices assessed differences in potential exposures between groups. Changes in exposure over time were tracked by dividing the production history into manufacturing eras. Results: Nineteen work groups were developed to capture 310,351 unique DDJs from 1965–1999. Agent exposure matrices contrasted exposure potential to solvents, metals, and work in cleanrooms between groups, and three manufacturing eras were identified for each site. Conclusions: The work groups, manufacturing eras and agent matrices have been used to classify workers in the study of cancer incidence and mortality.
Splenectomy for Gaucher's Disease

The records of ten patients who underwent splenectomy for Gaucher's disease were reviewed. All patients had the adult type of the disease. The indications for splenectomy were hypersplenism8 and mechanical problems.2 The hematological picture returned to normal in all cases and has remained so throughout the follow-up period. The different forms Gaucher's disease and specific diagnostic tests are discussed. Even though splenectomy is indicated when hematological and mechanical problems exist, selective enzymatic replacement therapy seems to be the preferred future mode of treatment.
Benchmarking and valuation issues in measuring depreciation for European office markets

Purpose – The paper addresses the practical problems which emerge when attempting to apply longitudinal approaches to the assessment of property depreciation using valuation‐based data. These problems relate to inconsistent valuation regimes and the difficulties in finding appropriate benchmarks.Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a case study of seven major office locations around Europe and attempts to determine ten‐year rental value depreciation rates based on a longitudinal approach using IPD, CBRE and BNP Paribas datasets.Findings – The depreciation rates range from a 5 per cent PA depreciation rate in Frankfurt to a 2 per cent appreciation rate in Stockholm. The results are discussed in the context of the difficulties in applying this method with inconsistent data.Research limitations/implications – The paper has methodological implications for measuring property investment depreciation and provides an example of the problems in adopting theoretically sound approaches with inconsistent in.
Cognitive brain potential components in adolescents.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in a cross-sectional study from 70 adolescents ranging in age from 11 to 18. A paradigm was used in which background, standard auditory events (66 percent occurrence) were randomly replaced by either a change in pitch, or a missing stimulus, each occurring 17 percent of the time. Subjects were instructed to respond to one of the infrequent events, with each designated as relevant (i.e., a target) on alternate blocks of trials. Factor score analyses showed that P300 and frontal negative slow wave were larger to relevant than irrelevant events, whereas parietal positive slow wave was not. Both N200 and frontal negative slow wave showed modest age effects. Significant effects of sex, mainly for the exogenous components, were also found. These data highlight the importance of the negative task-related potentials as correlates of development. They also point to the functional independence of P300 and slow wave and add to the evidence for the functional distinction between the frontal negative and parietal positive aspects of slow wave.
Changes in peripheral nerve tissue after irradiation with high energy protons.

An investigation of the effect of proton irradiation on the sciatic nerve of the rat with reference to the time of appearance of paresis for different doses and beam widths, the histologic alterations in the nerves before and during the development of paresis, and the stages of healing is reported. The changes at intervals following the irradiation are described in detail. The findings are discussed against the background of earlier experiments on the effect of high energy protons on the central nervous system in the rabbit.