Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic construction of nisin-producing Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris and analysis of a rapid method for conjugation

Conjugation was used to construct nisin-producing Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris strains. Recipients were obtained by electroporation of L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains with the drug resistance plasmid pGK13 or pGB301. A method, direct-plate conjugation, was developed in which donor and recipient cells were concentrated and then combined directly on selective media. This method facilitated transfer of the nisin-sucrose (Nip+ Suc+) phenotype from the donor strain, L. lactis subsp. lactis 11454, to three L. lactis subsp. cremoris recipient strains. Nip+ Suc+ L. lactis subsp. cremoris transconjugants were obtained at frequencies which ranged from 10(-7) to 10(-8) per donor CFU. DNA-DNA hybridization to transconjugant DNAs, performed with an oligonucleotide probe synthesized to detect the nisin precursor gene, showed that this gene was transferred during conjugation but was not associated with detectable plasmid DNA. Further investigation indicated that L. lactis subsp. cremoris Nip+ Suc+ transconjugants retained the recipient strain phenotype with respect to bacteriophage resistance and acid production in milk. Results suggested that it would be feasible to construct nisin-producing L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains for application as mixed and multiple starter systems. Additionally, the direct-plate conjugation method required less time than filter or milk agar matings and may also be useful for investigations of conjugal mechanisms in these organisms.
Characteristics of Global ThunderstormExtracted from Schumann Resonance at Agra

Schumann resonance (SR) data obtained by employing a set of 3-component search coil magnetometer at tropical station Agra (geographic lat.27.2oN, long.78oE) are analysed for a period of 12 months between 01 April, 2007 and 31 March, 2008. By giving special attention to the study of first mode SR frequency corresponding to Xcomponent (north-south), various properties of global thunderstorm activities are deduced and interpreted. We show that global thunderstorm activities are concentrated in summer months with peak activity in July, 2007. This result is correlated with optical transient detector (OTD) data and a cross-correlation coefficient of 0.81 is found. The peak activity occurring in the month of July, 2007 is supported by a study of monthly variation of frequency range dF (dF=fn max-fn min) which shows a significant drop in the month of July. We further show that the general decrease in the first mode SR frequency observed at Agra and other Indian stations is due to minimum solar cycle period of 2008-09 (now increasing).
An Overview of Reservoir Systems Operation Techniques

-A review of application of various optimization techniques to operation of multi-reservoir systems has been presented. Operation of reservoirs, often for conflicting purposes, is a daunting task. The solution to the problem is difficult because of the large number of variables involved, the non-linearity of system dynamics, the stochastic nature of future inflows, and other uncertainties of the system. The uncertainty associated with reservoir operations is further increased due to the ongoing hydrological impacts of climate change. Traditionally, reservoir systems operation has been carried out using optimization techniques such as linear programming and dynamic programming. Linear programming cannot be applied when either the objective function or the constraints become non-linear. Dynamic programming, however, becomes computationally bounded on problems of moderate size and complexity. Therefore, various artificial intelligence techniques such as genetic algorithms, ant-colony optimization, and fuzzy logic are increasingly being employed to solve multi-reservoir operation problems. A large number of application of traditional as well as artificial intelligence techniques have been described in the present paper.
Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction Do Matter

Such opinions about service, in fact, are irrelevant. The only thing that matters is the customers' opinions, because without users there is no need for libraries except to serve as warehouses. After all, customers (present, potential, and former ones) believe that the library's reason for being open is to meet their needs. Each customer evaluates the quality of service received and decides when (or if) there will be further interaction with that organization. That some librarians reject the idea of users as customers is equally irrelevant. Most people do not focus on a label-customer, patron, or user; rather, they concentrate on their information needs and preferences, the services offered, and how the staff treats them. They also evaluate the service in terms of time and effort expended, and foregone opportunity to do something else. Service quality encompasses the relation ship between the library and the people whom it is supposed to serve. How the library perceives those people clearly affects the nature of the service rendered. When
Selective and divided attention modulates auditory–vocal integration in the processing of pitch feedback errors

Speakers rapidly adjust their ongoing vocal productions to compensate for errors they hear in their auditory feedback. It is currently unclear what role attention plays in these vocal compensations. This event‐related potential (ERP) study examined the influence of selective and divided attention on the vocal and cortical responses to pitch errors heard in auditory feedback regarding ongoing vocalisations. During the production of a sustained vowel, participants briefly heard their vocal pitch shifted up two semitones while they actively attended to auditory or visual events (selective attention), or both auditory and visual events (divided attention), or were not told to attend to either modality (control condition). The behavioral results showed that attending to the pitch perturbations elicited larger vocal compensations than attending to the visual stimuli. Moreover, ERPs were likewise sensitive to the attentional manipulations: P2 responses to pitch perturbations were larger when participants attended to the auditory stimuli compared to when they attended to the visual stimuli, and compared to when they were not explicitly told to attend to either the visual or auditory stimuli. By contrast, dividing attention between the auditory and visual modalities caused suppressed P2 responses relative to all the other conditions and caused enhanced N1 responses relative to the control condition. These findings provide strong evidence for the influence of attention on the mechanisms underlying the auditory–vocal integration in the processing of pitch feedback errors. In addition, selective attention and divided attention appear to modulate the neurobehavioral processing of pitch feedback errors in different ways.
Financial Development and Intersectoral Allocation: A New Approach

This paper uses a new methodology based on industry comovement to examine the role of financial market development in intersectoral allocation. Based on the assumption that there exist common global shocks to growth opportunities, we hypothesize that country pairs should have correlated patterns of sectoral growth if they are able to respond to these shocks. Consistent with financial markets promoting responsiveness to shocks, countries have more highly correlated growth rates across sectors when both countries have well-developed financial markets. This effect is stronger between country pairs at similar levels of economic development, which are more likely to experience similar growth shocks. Copyright 2004 by The American Finance Association.
Bromodomain Protein Brd4 Associated with Acetylated Chromatin Is Important for Maintenance of Higher-order Chromatin Structure*

Background: Brd4 plays a central role in cellular growth control and cancer development. Results: Brd4 depletion leads to chromatin decondensation, while dissociation of Brd4 from chromatin triggers severely fragmented chromatin morphology. Conclusion: Brd4 is crucial for maintaining normal chromatin structure. Significance: The mechanistic insight into Brd4 function will contribute to understanding how perturbing this bromodomain protein function can lead to oncogenic progression. Chromatin structure organization is crucial for regulating many fundamental cellular processes. However, the molecular mechanism that regulates the assembly of higher-order chromatin structure remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Brd4 (bromodomain-containing protein 4) protein participates in the maintenance of the higher-order chromatin structure. Brd4, a member of the BET family of proteins, has been shown to play important roles in cellular growth control, cell cycle progression, and cancer development. We apply in situ single cell chromatin imaging and micrococcal nuclease (MNase) assay to show that Brd4 depletion leads to a large scale chromatin unfolding. A dominant-negative inhibitor encoding the double bromodomains (BDI/II) of Brd4 can competitively dissociate endogenous Brd4 from chromatin to trigger severely fragmented chromatin morphology. Mechanistic studies using Brd4 truncation mutants reveal that the Brd4 C-terminal domain is crucial for maintaining normal chromatin structure. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation technology, we demonstrate that Brd4 molecules interact intermolecularly on chromatin and that replacing Brd4 molecules by BDI/II causes abnormal nucleosome aggregation and chromatin fragmentation. These studies establish a novel structural role of Brd4 in supporting the higher chromatin architecture.
Investor recognition and stock returns

It is well established that investment fundamentals, such as earnings and cash flows, can explain only a small proportion of the variation in stock returns. We find that investor recognition of a firm’s stock can explain relatively more of the variation in stock returns. Consistent with Merton’s (J Finance 42(3):483–510, 1987) theoretical analysis, we show that (i) contemporaneous stock returns are positively related to changes in investor recognition, (ii) future stock returns are negatively related to changes in investor recognition, (iii) the above relations are stronger for stocks with greater idiosyncratic risk and (iv) corporate investment and financing activities are both positively related to changes in investor recognition. Our research suggests that investors and managers who are concerned with firm valuation should consider investor recognition in addition to accounting information and related investment fundamentals.
Some effects of the peritoneal insufflation of carbon dioxide at laparoscopy

The pCO2 pH and minute volume in women undergoing general anesthesia and laparoscopy with and without controlled breathing are compared. CO2 was introduced at 2 liters per min initially then 400 ml per min to hold intra-abdominal pCO2 at 15-20 mm Hg. Anesthesia included 0.6 mg atropine iv sleep dose of sodium thiopentone and 50-75 mg suxamethonium. Endotracheal intubation was performed. Eight patients breathed freely with 2 to 1 NO2-O2 and 1-2% halothane. Minute volume in 10 patients was controlled to keep PaCO2 at 30-40 mm Hg and they were given 25-35 mg d-tubocurarine instead of NO2 and halothane. There was a significant increase of 7 mm Hg in the controlled group within 15 minutes and a greater increase of 10.1 in the freely breathing group. pH decreased in both. Central venous blood pressure increased about 7 cm H2O in the controlled group. Cardiac arrhythmia was observed by EKG in the uncontrolled group in which the pCO2 had also risen but below the threshold of the controlled group.
Predictors of Raised Viral Load during Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients with and without Prior Antiretroviral Use: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives In Lagos, Nigeria, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) commenced free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in a hospital-based clinic. We performed a cross-sectional study to compare factors associated with raised viral load between patients with (“experienced”) and without (“naïve”) prior antiretroviral (ARV) exposure at commencement of ART at the clinic. We also examined factors influencing ARV adherence in experienced patients prior to clinic entry. Methods We included adult patients receiving ART from MSF who answered a questionnaire about previous antiretroviral use. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for raised viral load (≥1000 copies/mL). Results 1246 (96%) patients answered: 1075 (86%) reported no, and 171 (14%) some, prior ARV exposure. ARV-naïve patients were more immunosuppressed at baseline: 65% vs 37% (p<0.001) had CD4<200; 17% vs 9% (p = 0.013) were WHO stage 4. Proportionately more experienced than naïve patients had raised viral loads (20% vs 9%, p<0.001) on ART in the MSF/MoH clinic. Raised viral load was associated with prior ARV experience (adjusted OR = 3.74, 95%CI 2.09–6.70, p<0.001) and complete interruption of current ART (adjusted OR = 3.71, 95%CI 2.06–6.68, p<0.001). Higher CD4 at time of VL and a higher self-rated score of recent adherence were associated with lower OR of a raised viral load. Among experienced patients who missed pills before joining MSF/MoH, most common reasons were because ARVS were not affordable (58%) or available (33%), with raised viral load associated with being unsure how to take them (OR = 3.16, 95%CI 1.10–9.12, p = 0.033). Conclusions Patients previously exposed to ARVs had increased OR of raised viral load. The cost and availability of ARVs were common reasons for missing ARVs before joining the MSF/MoH clinic, and inadequate patient knowledge was associated with raised viral load.
Correlation of clinical response in apomorphine test with D2‐receptor status as demonstrated by 123I IBZM‐SPECT

The knowledge of functional capacities of postsynaptic dopaminergic receptors in parkinsonian syndromes is important for differential diagnosis and for planning therapeutic approaches. Subcutaneous apomorphine challenges serve as a pharmacological tool in testing dopaminergic responsiveness, but discrepancies between results of the apomorphine test and long‐term levodopa treatment remain. 123I IBZM (I‐123 labeled iodobenzamide) as a dopaminergic receptor ligand allows depiction of D2‐receptors by means of SPECT methods. The correlation between dopaminergic responsiveness and D2‐receptor status as demonstrated by 123I IBZM‐SPECT imaging was assessed by applying an apomorphine test to 41 patients with parkinsonian syndromes. All subsequently underwent an 123I IBZM‐SPECT. Apomorphine responders showed a significantly higher binding of 123I IBZM than nonresponders, and patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) had higher D2‐receptor density as visualized by SPECT than patients with other parkinsonian syndromes. The marked overlap between the groups allowed a reliable prediction only in patients with an abnormally low basal ganglia/frontal cortex ratio of 123I IBZM binding.
Carbon Monoxide Promotes Proliferation of Uterine Natural Killer Cells and Remodeling of Spiral Arteries in Pregnant Hypertensive Heme Oxygenase-1 Mutant Mice

Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and its metabolite carbon monoxide (CO) promote implantation and placentation. Pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction are linked to both HO-1 diminution and impaired remodeling of maternal spiral arteries (SAs). Here, we investigated whether CO is able to prevent preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction through the modulation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells that are necessary for initiation of SA remodeling. Hmox1+/− or Hmox1−/− implantations presented fewer uNK cell numbers and lower expression of uNK-related angiogeneic factors compared with Hmox1+/+ sites. Quantitative histology revealed that Hmox1+/− and Hmox1−/− implantations had shallow SA development that was accompanied by intrauterine growth restriction and gestational hypertension. Application of CO at low dose during early to midgestation prevented intrauterine growth restriction in Hmox1+/− mothers, this being associated with enhanced in situ proliferation of uNK cells and normalization of angiogenic parameters. Most importantly, CO improved SA remodeling and normalized blood pressure, ensuring a proper fetal growth. Thus, CO emerges as a key molecular player in pregnancy success by modulating uNK cells, which results in promotion of SA remodeling, adequate fetal support/growth, and prevention of hypertension.
In Major Depression, Increased Serum Dynorphin and Kappa Opioid Receptor Levels are Positively Associated with Mu Opioid Receptor Levels and Immune Activation and Are Attenuated by Nicotine Dependence

Background: There is now evidence that immune and opioid systems show functional reciprocal relationships and that both systems may participate in the pathophysiology of major depression (MDD). Objective: The present study was carried out to delineate differences between MDD patients and healthy controls in dynorphin and kappa opioid receptor (KORs) in association with levels of β-endorphins and mu opioid receptors (MORs), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10. Method: The present study recruited 60 drug-free male participants with MDD aged 24-70 year and 30 age-matched healthy males as control group and measured serum levels of dynorphin, KOR, β-endorphin, MOR, IL-6 and IL-10. Results: Serum dynorphin, KOR, β-endorphin and MOR are significantly increased in MDD as compared with controls. The increases in the dynorphin/KOR system and β-endorhin/MOR system are significantly intercorrelated and are both strongly associated with increased IL-6 and IL-10 levels. Dynorphin, β-endorphin, KOR and both cytokines showed a good diagnostic performance for MDD versus controls, whereby both opioid peptides and cytokines show a bootstrapped (n=2000) area under the receiver operating curve of 0.972. KOR and the dynorphin/KOR system are both significantly decreased in depressed subjects with comorbid nicotine dependence. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in MDD, immune activation is associated with a simultaneous activation of dynorphin/KOR and β-endorhin/MOR signaling and that these opioid systems may participate in the pathophysiology of depression by a) exerting immune regulatory activities attenuating the primary immune response; and b) modulating reward responses and mood as well as emotional and behavioral responses to stress.
Fault localization with nearest neighbor queries

We present a method for performing fault localization using similar program spectra. Our method assumes the existence of a faulty run and a larger number of correct runs. It then selects according to a distance criterion the correct run that most resembles the faulty run, compares the spectra corresponding to these two runs, and produces a report of "suspicious" parts of the program. Our method is widely applicable because it does not require any knowledge of the program input and no more information from the user than a classification of the runs as either "correct" or "faulty". To experimentally validate the viability of the method, we implemented it in a tool, Whither, using basic block profiling spectra. We experimented with two different similarity measures and the Siemens suite of 132 programs with injected bugs. To measure the success of the tool, we developed a generic method for establishing the quality of a report. The method is based on the way an "ideal user" would navigate the program using the report to save effort during debugging. The best results obtained were, on average, above 50%, meaning that our ideal user would avoid looking half of the program.
Pelvic congestion syndrome presenting as persistent genital arousal: a case report.

INTRODUCTION Persistent sexual arousal is defined as an intrusive and unwanted genital arousal unrelated to sexual desire and typically unrelieved by one or more orgasms. AIM We report a patient presented with persistent sexual or genital arousal. METHODS A 62-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of persistent genital arousal. The symptoms were unrelated to sexual stimuli but were relieved incompletely and temporarily by orgasm. RESULTS Doppler ultrasound demonstrated multiple pelvic varices. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated varices in the pelvis, the vaginal wall, perineum, inguinal region, and anterior abdominal wall. Coil embolization of the dilated incompetent left ovarian vein was performed with marked reduction of symptoms. CONCLUSION We proposed that the syndrome of persistent genital or sexual arousal in women warrants a careful and systematic examination for pelvic venous incompetence by Doppler ultrasound and MRI or computerized tomography, with appropriate tilt positioning and Valsalva maneuver, before assigning it to a central neurologic or psychologic etiology.
Chimpanzees prey on army ants with specialized tool set

Several populations of chimpanzees have been reported to prey upon Dorylus army ants. The most common tool‐using technique to gather these ants is with “dipping” probes, which vary in length with regard to aggressiveness and lifestyle of the prey species. We report the use of a tool set in army ant predation by chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. We recovered 1,060 tools used in this context and collected 25 video recordings of chimpanzee tool‐using behavior at ant nests. Two different types of tools were distinguished based on their form and function. The chimpanzees use a woody sapling to perforate the ant nest, and then a herb stem as a dipping tool to harvest the ants. All of the species of ants preyed upon in Goualougo are present and consumed by chimpanzees at other sites, but there are no other reports of such a regular or widespread use of more than one type of tool to prey upon Dorylus ants. Furthermore, this tool set differs from other types of tool combinations used by chimpanzees at this site for preying upon termites or gathering honey. Therefore, we conclude that these chimpanzees have developed a specialized method for preying upon army ants, which involves the use of an additional tool for opening nests. Further research is needed to determine which specific ecological and social factors may have shaped the emergence and maintenance of this technology. Am. J. Primatol. 72:17–24, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Overexpression of HTRA1 Leads to Ultrastructural Changes in the Elastic Layer of Bruch's Membrane via Cleavage of Extracellular Matrix Components

Variants in the chromosomal region 10q26 are strongly associated with an increased risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Two potential AMD genes are located in this region: ARMS2 and HTRA1 (high-temperature requirement A1). Previous studies have suggested that polymorphisms in the promotor region of HTRA1 result in overexpression of HTRA1 protein. This study investigated the role of HTRA1 overexpression in the pathogenesis of AMD. Transgenic Htra1 mice overexpressing the murine protein in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer of the retina were generated and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining and Western Blot analysis. The elastic layer of Bruch's membrane (BM) in the Htra1 transgenic mice was fragmented and less continuous than in wild type (WT) controls. Recombinant HTRA1 lacking the N-terminal domain cleaved various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Subsequent Western Blot analysis revealed an overexpression of fibronectin fragments and a reduction of fibulin 5 and tropoelastin in the RPE/choroid layer in transgenic mice compared to WT. Fibulin 5 is essential for elastogenesis by promoting elastic fiber assembly and maturation. Taken together, our data implicate that HTRA1 overexpression leads to an altered elastogenesis in BM through fibulin 5 cleavage. It highlights the importance of ECM related proteins in the development of AMD and links HTRA1 to other AMD risk genes such as fibulin 5, fibulin 6, ARMS2 and TIMP3.