Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eco-Epidemiology and Control of Waterborne Gastroenteritis: A Review

Viral and bacterial pathogens appear to be the causative agents of water-borne gastroenteritis globally. Waterborne gastroenteritis is the primary cause of loss of productivity and morbidity in developed and underdeveloped nations. Lack of extensive epidemiological surveillance and data analysis of viral and bacterial waterborne gastroenteritis is a major hindrance in the control of this disease. The burden of gastroenteritis is highest in the children and immunocompromised persons as compared to the elderly population. Essentially, Rotavirus, Norovirus, Pestivirus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenese, Yersinia pestis, Clostridium difficile, Vibrio cholerae, Aeromonashydrophila are primary causative organisms of waterborne gastroenteritis globally. This review highlights the current knowledge of waterborne pathogens and their significance, epidemiological factors like worldwide prevalence, hosts, causative agents, associated risk factors, clinical signs and symptoms, conventional as well as molecular diagnostic tools to combat the disease and recent approaches to effective treatments and new innovative methods of controlling these infectious agents that cause gastroenteritis will be discussed.
The Effects of Movement Pattern Modification on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Pain in Females with Patellofemoral Pain

Study Design— Controlled laboratory study Objectives— To compare hip and knee kinematics and pain during a single limb squat between 3 movement conditions (‘usual’, ‘exaggerated’ dynamic knee valgus, ‘corrected’ dynamic knee valgus) in females with patellofemoral pain. Background— Altered kinematics (increased hip adduction, hip medial rotation, knee abduction, and knee lateral rotation, collectively termed “dynamic knee valgus”) have been proposed to contribute to patellofemoral pain, however cross-sectional study designs prevent interpreting a causal link between kinematics and pain. Methods— Twenty females with patellofemoral pain who demonstrated observable dynamic knee valgus performed single limb squats under ‘usual’, ‘exaggerated’, and ‘corrected’ movement conditions. Pain during each condition was assessed using a 0-100 mm visual analog scale. Hip and knee frontal and transverse plane angles at peak knee flexion and pain levels were compared using repeated measures, 1-way ANOVAs. Within condition associations between kinematic variables and pain were determined using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results— In the ‘exaggerated’ compared to the ‘usual’ condition, increases were detected in hip medial rotation (mean +/-SD, 5.8±3.2°, P<.001), knee lateral rotation (5.5±4.9°, P<.001), and pain (8.5±10.8mm, P=.007). In the ‘corrected’ compared to the ‘usual’ condition, decreases were detected in hip adduction (3.5±3.7°, P=.001) and knee lateral rotation (1.6±2.8°, P=.06; however, average pain was not decreased (1.2±14.8mm, P=1.0). Pain was correlated with knee lateral rotation in the ‘usual’ (r=−0.47, P=.04) and ‘exaggerated’ (r=−0.49, P=.03) conditions. In the ‘corrected’ condition, pain was correlated with hip medial rotation (r=0.44, P=.05) and knee adduction (r=0.52, P=.02). Conclusion— Avoiding dynamic knee valgus may be an important component of rehabilitation programs in females with patellofemoral pain, as this movement pattern is associated with increased pain.
The faecal tumour M2-PK screening test for invasive & pre-invasive colorectal cancer: estimated specificity & results as a function of age for a study population of 4854 volunteers

Faecal tumour M2-Pyruvate kinase levels were measured in a large, unselected, asymptomatic screening population to determine its specificity and to demonstrate the distribution in different age groups. Faecal tumour M2-Pyruvate kinase levels were measured with a sandwich ELISA in stool samples of 4854 screened volunteers. The levels were below the cutoff value of 4.0 kU/L in 4425 of the population. This means that 91.2% of all the people we screened had faecal tumour M2-Pruvate kinase levels within the normal, non-pathological range. The percentage of individuals with elevated tumour M2-Pruvate kinase concentrations increased from 6.9% in the age group of 30–39 years to 16.0% in the age group of 70–79 years. The estimated specificity range of the test, using prevalence data and our study results was 0.93-0.96. These results underline the usefulness of the tumour M2-Pruvate kinase stool test as a non-invasive, easy, fast, and economical method for colorectal cancer screening.
Digestive System of the Sacoglossan Plakobranchus ocellatus (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia): Light- and Electron-Microscopic Observations with Remarks on Chloroplast Retention

Abstract The sacoglossan Plakobranchus ocellatus feeds by sucking the cytoplasmic contents from algae and retains intact algal chloroplasts within the cells of the digestive gland. Morphology of the entire digestive system of this species was firstly described by means of a combination of histology and electron microscopy (both SEM and TEM). The short alimentary canal is confined to the head, and the anus opens at the anterior right corner of the pericardial swelling, as is the case in many non-shelled sacoglossans. The alimentary canal of the specimens examined rarely contained ingesta, suggesting that the retained chloroplasts provide sufficient nourishment to the sacoglossan hosts and that sea slugs with empty stomachs survive well in the field. The digestive gland, with the retained chloroplasts, branches from the stomach and is sparsely distributed throughout the body, including the head region, but is aggregated mainly in the dorsal lamellae. Chloroplasts were occasionally found in the epithelial cells in the transitional region from the stomach wall to the digestive gland, which may be a site at which chloroplasts are incorporated into the animal cells by endocytosis. Numerous microvilli filling the lumen of the digestive gland suggest that molecules are actively transferred within the gland. The sea slug thus apparently provides a favorable environment to support the long-term retention and function of chloroplasts.
SPEECH RECOGNITION for VOICE BASED CONTROL

Packing material and method in which a sheet of paper stock is folded in opposite directions along alternate parallel lines to form a series of ridges and valleys, cuts are made in the stock at intervals spaced along the ridges, and sections of the stock adjacent to the cuts are folded in a reverse direction along the fold lines at the ridges to form downwardly extending pleats beneath the ridges. The material can be crumpled for use as a dunnage material or wrapped about an item to be protected. In one disclosed embodiment, the material can be compressed for shipping and storage and expanded for use. In another, which is particularly suitable for use as a protective wrap, the folded stock is affixed to a backing sheet.
Mutations in the Pore Region Modify Epithelial Sodium Channel Gating by Shear Stress*

Previous studies have shown that epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs) are activated by laminar shear stress (LSS). ENaCs with a high intrinsic open probability because of a mutation (βS518K) or covalent modification of an introduced Cys residue (αS580C) in the pre-second transmembrane domain (pre-M2) were not activated by LSS, suggesting that the pre-M2 region participates in conformational rearrangements during channel activation. We examined the role of the pore region of the α-subunit in channel gating by studying the kinetics of activation by LSS of wild-type ENaC and channels with Cys mutations in the tract Ser576–Ser592. Whole cell Na+ currents were monitored in oocytes expressing wild-type or mutant ENaCs prior to and following application of LSS. Following a 2.2-s delay, a monoexponential increase in Na+ currents was observed with a time constant (τ) of 8.1 s in oocytes expressing wild-type ENaC. Cys substitutions within the α-subunit in the tract Ser580–Ser589 resulted in: (i) a reduction (Ser580–Trp585, Gly587) or increase (Ser589) in delay times preceding channel activation by LSS, (ii) an increase (Gln581, Leu584, Trp585, Phe586, Ser588) or decrease (Ser589) in the rate of channel activation, or (iii) a decrease in the magnitude of the response (Ser583, Gly587, Leu584). Cys substitutions at a putative amiloride-binding site (αSer583 or βGly525) or within the selectivity filter (αGly587) resulted in a reduction in the LSS response, and exhibited a multiexponential time course of activation. The corresponding γ-subunit mutant (αβγG542C) had a minimal response to LSS and exhibited a high intrinsic open probability. These data suggest that residues in the pore region participate in the sensing and/or transduction of the mechanical stimulus that results in channel activation and are consistent with the hypothesis that the ENaC pore region has a key role in modulating channel gating.
Regulation of the Bacillus subtilis Extracytoplasmic Function Protein σY and Its Target Promoters

ABSTRACT The Bacillus subtilis extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σY is of unknown function. We demonstrate that the sigY operon is expressed from an autoregulatory promoter site, PY. We selected for transposon-induced mutations that upregulate PY transcription in an attempt to identify genes involved in σY regulation. The resulting insertions disrupted yxlC, the gene immediately downstream of sigY. However, the phenotype of the yxlC::Tn10 insertion was due to polarity on the downstream genes of the sigY operon; a nonpolar insertion in yxlC did not lead to derepression of PY. Further analyses revealed that both yxlD and yxlE encoded proteins important for the negative regulation of σY activity. A comparison of the transcriptomes of wild-type and yxlC::Tn10 mutant strains revealed elevated expression of several operons. However, only one additional gene, ybgB, was unambiguously identified as a direct target for σY. This was supported by analysis of direct targets for σY transcription with whole-genome runoff transcription followed by macroarray analysis.
Syphilitic cerebral gumma with HIV infection

We describe two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with syphilitic cerebral gummas. Both patients presented with a seizure disorder associated with an isolated, peripherally located, contrast-enhancing lesion of the brain on CT. Cranial MRI performed on one patient revealed dural thickening in the region of the lesion. A brain biopsy in that patient revealed a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with extensive perivascular inflammation. Clinical manifestations, radiographic resolution of the lesions, and a decline in nonreponemal serologic tests for syphilis followed high-dose aqueous penicillin therapy in both patients. These patients illustrate that (1) cerebral mass lesions occuring with HIV infection may result from syphilis; (2) seizures may be the presenting manifestation of this form of neurosyphilis; and (3) high-dose, intravenous, aqueous penicillin is effective in treating these lesions.
Dose-Dependent and Preterm- Accentuated Diaplacental Transport of Nutritive Allergens in vitro

Objective: The mechanisms by which nutritive allergens are transported from mother to fetus and the ensuing immunological response are incompletely understood. We investigated the role of different allergen concentrations in influencing the diaplacental allergen transport in preterm and term placentas. Method: Twenty-seven human term placentas and 12 preterm placentas were dually perfused in vitrofor up to 4 h by adding alternately two different nutritive allergens, β-lactoglobulin (BLG) or ovalbumin (OVA), at four different allergen concentrations (0.02, 0.2, 2 and 20 mg/ml) to the maternal perfusate medium. Allergen concentrations in fetal venous outflow samples collected during perfusion were measured by using specific ELISAs. Results: Perfusion of increasing allergen concentrations via the maternal circulation resulted in a concentration-dependent increase of fetal allergen uptake in all term and preterm placentas. A mean maternal-to-fetal ratio of 20,000/1 and 3,000/1 for BLG, and 40,000/1 and 5,000/1 for OVA was found in term and preterm placentas, respectively. Preterm placentas (27–36 weeks of gestation) were found to favor the diaplacental passage of nutritive allergens compared with placentas at term (>36 weeks of gestation). Conclusion: Maternal-to-fetal allergen transport occurs in a dose-dependent and molecular weight-dependent manner with clear accentuation in preterm placentas.
Electroacoustic Music: Overcoming Analysis Paralysis

This paper tries to bring attention to a specific part of electroacoustic music that is often overlooked both by more technical aspects and seemingly more creative concepts analysis. The field is indeed complex, in that it requires both technical competencies and musicological proficiency, and that’s perhaps why few papers address the complex issue of analysis. We begin by reviewing the different technical concepts that are available to the musicologist. Then classical conceptual tools are examined, and the particular problems of electroacoustic music are discussed. Finally, several research strategies are outlined, taking into account musicological needs as well as technical possibilities.
Antioxidants and cancers of the esophagus and gastric cardia

Antioxidant vitamins have attracted considerable attention in previous studies of esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma, but dietary studies of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia remain sparse. Treating these tumors as distinct diseases, we studied intakes of vitamin C, beta‐carotene and alpha‐tocopherol in a nationwide population‐based case‐control study in Sweden, with 185, 165, and 258 cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma, and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, respectively, and 815 controls. Subjects with a high parallel intake of vitamin C, beta‐carotene, and alpha‐tocopherol showed a 40–50% decreased risk of both histological types of esophageal cancer compared with subjects with a low parallel intake. Antioxidant intake was not associated with the risk of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. Separately, vitamin C and beta‐carotene reduced the risk of esophageal cancers more than alpha‐tocopherol. We found that antioxidant intake is associated with similar risk reductions for both main histological types of esophageal cancer. Our findings indicate that antioxidants do not explain the diverging incidence rates of the 2 histological types of esophageal cancer. Moreover, our data suggest that inverse associations with esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma may be stronger among subjects under presumed higher oxidative stress due to smoking or gastroesophageal reflux, respectively. Our results may be relevant for the implementation of focused, cost‐effective preventive measures. Int. J. Cancer 87:750–754, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Can serum asymmetric dimethyl-arginine and homocysteine levels be a new activity parameter of disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis ?

In this study, we evaluated serum asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) level, homocysteine level and its clinical significance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study included 40 patients with RA and 30 controls. Serum ADMA and homocysteine levels were measured using High Performance Liquid Chromatography system. Patients with DAS 28 scores ≤ 3.2, and > 3.2 were allocated into lower and high/moderate disease activity groups, respectively. Additionally patients were divided into 2 groups as early RA (disease duration ≤ 2 years) and established RA (duration of the disease ≥ 2 years). Functional disability was evaluated using Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Radiographs were scored using the modified Larsen score. Serum ADMA level was significantly higher than controls (P=0.008) in RA patients, while homocysteine level was comparable (P=0.059). Serum ADMA and homocysteine levels did not correlate with clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28 and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). These outcomes demonstrate that ADMA and homocysteine levels cannot be used as a parameter for disease activity in RA.
Oxidation of bilirubin by rat brain mitochondrial membranes-genetic variability.

Bilirubin is oxidized by brain mitochondrial membranes at a rate which may contribute significantly to clearance of bilirubin from brain. Different strains of congenitally jaundiced rats (Gunn rats) vary widely as far as the mortality rate of the homozygous (jaundiced) pups. Because the ability to oxidize bilirubin in brain may protect against toxicity, we hypothesized that the ability to oxidize bilirubin would be lower in Gunn rat strains (ACI/N-j) with a high mortality rate in the homozygous pups. Mitochondria were obtained from young rat brains by differential centrifugation in sucrose gradients. The mitochondria were ruptured by sonication. The change in optical density of a bilirubin solution at 440 nm was measured over time following addition of the membrane suspension. The rate of bilirubin oxidation was significantly lower in rats of the RHA/N-j strain both at 7-8 days of age and in adults, compared to rats of the ACI/N-j and the Sprague-Dawley strains at the same age points. Differences in mortality rates between the RHA/N-j and the ACI/N-j strains of Gunn rats could not be explained on the basis of differences in the ability of brain mitochondrial membranes to oxidize bilirubin, as these activities were lower in the RHA/N-j rats, which also have lower mortality rates, but higher in the ACI/N-j rats, which have remarkably high mortality rates. This study also confirmed previous findings relative to age maturation of the enzyme activity.
Effect of sleep on respiratory muscle activity during mechanical ventilation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether consciousness was critical for the expression of neuromechanical inhibition of breathing during mechanical ventilation. This same mechanical ventilation model also was used to evaluate the relative importance of sleep state in causing CO2 retention during sleep. Positive pressure ventilation was used to suppress respiratory muscle activity; CO2 was then added until a reappearance of inspiratory effort, which defined the recruitment threshold (PCO2RT). Keeping the mechanics of the respiratory system constant through the use of passive mechanical ventilation allowed us to measure the output of the respiratory controller, independent of these parameters. Eight normal subjects were mechanically hyperventilated with a nasal mask during wakefulness and sleep with matched flow rates, frequencies, and tidal volumes. When inspiratory muscle activity was undetectable and end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) fell below 30 mm Hg, inspired CO2 was added in stepped increments until inspiration reoccurred. The sleeping state increased both eupneic PETCO2 (42 +/- 4 versus 38 +/- 3 mm Hg) and PCO2RT (48 +/- 3 versus 46 +/- 2 mm Hg) compared with that during wakefulness. Neuromechanical inhibition of inspiratory muscle activity during mechanical ventilation was present during both wakefulness and sleep, as evidenced by the mean difference between PCO2RT and eupneic PETCO2 of 8 and 6 mm Hg, respectively. Recruitment thresholds during wakefulness and sleep were compared to evaluate the effect of sleep on respiratory motor output independent of changes in load, i.e., respiratory mechanics held constant. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Crystal Structure of Human DJ-1, a Protein Associated with Early Onset Parkinson's Disease*

We report the crystal structure at 1.8-Å resolution of human DJ-1, which has been linked to early onset Parkinson's disease. The monomer of DJ-1 contains the α/β-fold that is conserved among members of the DJ-1/ThiJ/PfpI superfamily. However, the structure also contains an extra helix at the C terminus, which mediates a novel mode of dimerization for the DJ-1 proteins. A putative active site has been identified near the dimer interface, and the residues Cys-106, His-126, and Glu-18 may play important roles in the catalysis by this protein. Studies with the disease-causing L166P mutant suggest that the mutation has disrupted the C-terminal region and the dimerization of the protein. The DJ-1 proteins may function only as dimers. The Lys to Arg mutation at residue 130, the site of sumoylation of DJ-1, has minimal impact on the structure of the protein.
Competitive exclusion of salmonellas from the chick caecum using a defined mixture of bacterial isolates from the caecal microflora of an adult bird

Summary Colonization of the caeca of newly hatched chicks by Salmonella typhimurium was prevented by oral administration of a mixture of cultures comprising 48 different bacterial strains originating from an adult bird known to be free from salmonellas. The treatment conferred protection to the same degree as that obtained previously with a suspension of adult caecal contents or an undefined anaerobic culture from the same source and was demonstrated in four separate laboratory trials. Examination of the caecal microflora of chicks one day after being given the protective treatment showed that the presence of high levels of lactobacilli and Bacteroides spp. which are not found usually at two days of age in chicks produced under commercial conditions was indicative of the successful establishment of an adult-type microflora. Although the usual method of administering the protective organisms was to dose the chicks directly into the crop, it was also found possible to incorporate the organisms in the drinking water given to the birds at dilutions up to one in five, the maximum tested. When chicks were given the bacterial mixture via the crop and fed on a diet containing 10 mg kg−1 nitrovin and 100 mg kg−1 monensin, the bacteroides failed to establish in the caeca and the birds were not protected against salmonella colonization. However, when the bacterial cultures were incorporated in the drinking water and the chicks given the same feed, normal protection was obtained; possible reasons for these observations are discussed.
Performance Evaluation and Comparison of Two Cascaded Configurations of PV Generators-Five Levels Inverter for a Stand-Alone Application in South Algeria

In this paper two configurations of solar photovoltaic energy conversion using the NPC five levels inverter for stand-alone application in south Algeria are proposed and their performances compared. The first cascade uses four separate PV sources and the second configuration use only one PV generator. In these two cases and without DC/DC converter introduced between PV source and inverter and to get a stable AC voltage, authors in propose a proportional regulator of inverter modulation index. The SVPWM technique is used in order to get the best voltage waveform. For the second configuration proposed, we introduce in the control loops another algorithm which uses the redundant vectors of space vector diagram of inverter to stabilise the DC bus voltages. A real data of temperature and solar irradiation obtained by radiometric station in Ghardaia city in south Algeria are used to test the performance of proposed controls. The simulation results show that the inverter output voltage is stable for the two configurations proposed despite the variation of solar irradiation, temperature and load. Also, the THD obtained is in the limits of international standards. Then, the PV cascade with separate PV sources is the best solution, seeing that we do not need to use another algorithm in the control loops.