Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure, function, and fate of the BlaR signal transducer involved in induction of beta-lactamase in Bacillus licheniformis

The membrane-spanning protein BlaR is essential for the induction of beta-lactamase in Bacillus licheniformis. Its nature and location were confirmed by the use of an antiserum specific for its carboxy-terminal penicillin sensor, its function was studied by genetic dissection, and the structure of the penicillin sensor was derived from hydrophobic cluster analysis of the amino acid sequence by using, as a reference, the class A beta-lactamases with known three-dimensional structures. During the first 2 h after the addition of the beta-lactam inducer, full-size BlaR, bound to the plasma membrane, is produced, and then beta-lactamase is produced. By 2 h after induction, BlaR is present in various (membrane-bound and cytosolic) forms, and there is a gradual decrease in beta-lactamase production. The penicillin sensors of BlaR and the class D beta-lactamases show strong similarities in primary structures. They appear to have the same basic spatial disposition of secondary structures as that of the class A beta-lactamases, except that they lack several alpha helices and, therefore, have a partially uncovered five-stranded beta sheet and a more readily accessible active site. Alterations of BlaR affecting conserved secondary structures of the penicillin sensor and specific sites of the transducer annihilate beta-lactamase inducibility.
Headache and backache after lumbar puncture in children and adolescents: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE After lumbar puncture, many adults develop headaches or backaches. Postpuncture complaints are believed to be rare in children and adolescents, but their exact incidence is unclear because there is a paucity of data derived from general pediatric patients. In a prospective study of general pediatric and neuropediatric patients, we investigated the frequency of postlumbar puncture headaches or backaches and factors that might influence their occurrence. METHODS Conducted over 12 months, the prospective study included 112 patients aged 2 to 16 years. We evaluated them for factors that might influence the rate of postpuncture complaints: age, gender, use of local anesthesia, cannula gauge, bevel orientation, number of puncture attempts, volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) aspirated, and cell count in CSF. RESULTS Twenty-seven percent of the patients experienced headaches (positional headache in 9%), and 40% developed backache. Frequency of complaints increased in relation to patients' age. In older children, girls reported complaints more frequently than did boys. Patients with higher cell counts in CSF had more frequent headaches than did patients without pleocytosis. Cannula gauge or bevel orientation did not influence outcome. CONCLUSION The frequency of positional and nonpositional headaches after lumbar puncture is lower in children than in adults. Backaches contribute significantly to postpuncture morbidity. With puberty, the incidences of postpuncture complaints increase, and girls start to become more prone to develop postpuncture headaches. Recommendations regarding cannula gauge or bevel orientation that derive from studies in adults are not confirmed for children.
QoS-aware service selection in virtualization-based Cloud computing

Cloud computing is one of the most significant latest efforts in the field of information technology, which may change the way how information services are provisioned. In a Cloud environment, different types of resources need to be virtualized as a collection of Cloud services using virtualization technology. End-users in the Cloud are usually provided with customized Cloud services that involve not only different kinds of computing services but also the networks interconnecting those computing services. Therefore, a set of Cloud computing services and the networking services should be modeled as a composite customized Cloud service. In this paper, we present an improved model for Cloud service provisioning based on our previous Network-Cloud proposal, and propose a procedure with several QoS-aware service selection algorithms for composing different services offered by a Cloud. Our analysis with numerical experiments show that the presented algorithms can select services appropriately that deal with different requirements of service provisioning.
Retention of women accountants: The interaction of job demands and job resources

Orientation: Most CEOs in South Africa are chartered accountants (CAs). Retaining women CAs might therefore lead to an increase in women in leadership. The Job Demands-Resources model presents a framework to investigate organisational job-related factors that promote or deter voluntary turnover of women CAs. Research purpose: The primary objective was to investigate which organisational factors promote or reduce the risk of turnover intentions for South African women CAs. The secondary objective was to investigate the moderating potential of job resources on the relationship between job demands and turnover intentions. Motivation for the study: There is a fair amount of research on the problems associated with the retention of women CAs in public practice but very little is known about how those problems interact with each other, and whether there are factors that could buffer them. Research design, approach, and method: The study consisted of a sample ( n = 851) of women CAs in public practice firms nationally in South Africa. We used structural equation modelling together with moderated regression analysis. Main findings: Job demands promote turnover intentions, whereas job resources have a negative effect on turnover intentions. Counter-intuitively a negative direct effect was found between job insecurity and turnover intentions. Statistical support was found for the moderating role of all job resources, except financial advancement, on the relationship between work–family conflict and turnover intentions; and growth opportunities, on the relationship between job insecurity and turnover intentions. Practical/managerial implications: No job resource measured could buffer the impact of job overload on turnover intentions. Contribution: This is the first study to investigate factors that may retain women CAs in public practice audit, tax, and advisory firms (Big Four Accountancy Firms) using the JD-R model. Few studies have investigated the buffering effect of job resources on the relationship between job demands and turnover intentions in general. Keywords: gender; auditing; voluntary turnover; female; moderate; JD-R model
Chief Nursing Officer Turnover: Chief Nursing Officers and Healthcare Recruiters Tell Their Stories

Chief nursing officers (CNOs) develop environments in which quality patient care is delivered and nurses enjoy professional practice. Because of the growing turbulence in this vital role, the American Organization of Nurse Executives conducted a study to examine CNO turnover as described in interviews with CNOs and healthcare recruiters to inform the development of strategies to improve CNO recruitment and retention and ease transition for those who turn over. The authors present the findings from this research and describe American Organization of Nurse Executives' initiatives to address the identified needs.
Measuring the Contribution of Roman Catholic Secondary Schools to Students' Religious, Personal and Social Values.

Roman Catholic schools have been part of the state-funded system of education in England and Wales since the 1850s. Currently, Roman Catholic schools provide places for around 10% of students attending state-maintained primary and secondary schools. The present study employed data collected during the 1990s to compare a range of religious, social and personal values among 1,948 year-nine and year-ten students from 10 Catholic schools (between 13 and 15 years of age) with those of 20,348 students from 93 schools without a religious foundation. It builds on earlier analyses of the same database by comparing the effect of school foundation after controlling for the individual religiosity of pupils using multilevel linear modelling. The data showed that students attending Catholic schools were significantly different from students attending schools without a religious foundation, after controlling for personal, contextual, psychological and religious factors, in respect of five of the 11 dependent variables tested. Students in Catholic schools were less likely to oppose drug use, more likely to support age-related illegal behaviours, had a poorer attitude toward school, and were more likely to oppose abortion or contraception. Some of these differences were related to the greater disaffection of non-religious pupils at Catholic schools compared with their counterparts in schools without a religious foundation. These findings suggest the value of conducting a comparable study during the 2010s.
PCSK9 SNP rs11591147 is associated with low cholesterol levels but not with cognitive performance or noncardiovascular clinical events in an elderly population[S]

Proprotein convertase subtilisin-like/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a protein involved in LDL-cholesterol metabolism. The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11591147 has been associated with lower LDL-cholesterol and a lower risk of coronary heart disease. Because PCSK9 has high affinity to the LDL receptor, inhibiting PCSK9 is a testable therapeutic target for lipid-lowering therapy. Currently, several approaches to inhibit PCSK9 are under development, but it is unknown what the effects of those inhibitors will be on cognition or noncardiovascular clinical events. In this study, we assessed the association between rs11591147 and cognitive performance, activities of daily living (ADL), and noncardiovascular clinical events within 5,777 participants of the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). Rs11591147 was associated with 10% to 16% lower LDL cholesterol levels (P = 3.62 × 10−12), but was not associated with cognitive performance, ADL, or noncardiovascular clinical events in the PROSPER study. Our findings suggest that lower cholesterol levels due to genetic variation in the PCSK9 gene are not associated with cognitive performance, functional status, or noncardiovascular clinical events.
Comparison of milk and plasma pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in postpartum versus mid‐lactation Holstein cows

The objective of this study reported here was determine whether differences occurred in meloxicam pharmacokinetics between postpartum cows and mid-lactation cows. Preliminary data from a separate study (P. J. Gorden, unpublished data) in postpartum cows demonstrated elevated plasma and milk concentration profiles compared to previously published data (Malreddy, Coetzee, KuKanich, & Gehring, ). Two different groups were enrolled, each with 10 cows. The treatment group (TRT) was postpartum cows treated with meloxicam, and the positive control (PC) group was cows in mid-lactation treated with meloxicam. Plasma and milk meloxicam concentrations between the TRT and PC group were compared. Significant differences in meloxicam concentration in plasma were determined at all time points from 8 hr to 120 hr post-treatment. In milk, there was a treatment (p = .003), time (p < .001), and treatment by time interaction (p < .001). Significant differences in milk meloxicam concentration were determined at all time points from 8 hr to 96 hr post-treatment, except for the 16-hr time point. The time needed for meloxicam to no longer be detected in milk of the TRT group was longer compared to the PC group, indicating that a longer milk withdrawal is needed. These data suggest higher bioavailability as the underlying mechanism. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying differences this outcome.
Are risk factors for atherothrombotic disease associated with back pain sickness absence? The Whitehall II Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To explore the previously stated hypothesis that risk factors for atherothrombotic disease are associated with back pain. DESIGN: Prospective (mean of four years of follow up) and retrospective analyses using two main outcome measures: (a) short (< or = 7 days) and long (> 7 days) spells of sickness absence because of back pain reported separately in men and women; (b) consistency of effect across the resulting four duration of spell and sex cells. SETTING: 14 civil service departments in London. PARTICIPANTS: 3506 male and 1380 female white office-based civil servants, aged 35-55 years at baseline. MAIN RESULTS: In age adjusted models, low apo AI was associated with back pain across all four duration-sex cells and smoking was associated across three cells. Six factors were associated with back pain in two cells: low exercise and high BMI, waist-hip ratio, triglycerides, insulin and Lp(a). On full adjustment (for age, BMI, employment grade and back pain at baseline), each of these factors retained a statistically significant effect in at least one duration-sex cell. Triglycerides were associated with short and long spells of sickness absence because of back pain in men in fully adjusted models with rate ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.53 (1.1, 2.1) and 1.75 (1.0, 3.2) respectively. There was little or no evidence of association in age adjusted models with: fibrinogen, glucose tolerance, total cholesterol, apoB, hypertension, factor VII, von Willebrand factor, electrocardiographic evidence of coronary heart disease and reported angina. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of office workers, only modest support was found for an atherothrombotic component to back pain sickness absence. However, the young age of participants at baseline and the lack of distinction between different types of back pain are likely to bias the findings toward null. Further research is required to ascertain whether a population sub-group of atherothrombotic back pain can be identified.
Comparison of Regression Methods for Modeling Intensive Care Length of Stay

Intensive care units (ICUs) are increasingly interested in assessing and improving their performance. ICU Length of Stay (LoS) could be seen as an indicator for efficiency of care. However, little consensus exists on which prognostic method should be used to adjust ICU LoS for case-mix factors. This study compared the performance of different regression models when predicting ICU LoS. We included data from 32,667 unplanned ICU admissions to ICUs participating in the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) in the year 2011. We predicted ICU LoS using eight regression models: ordinary least squares regression on untransformed ICU LoS,LoS truncated at 30 days and log-transformed LoS; a generalized linear model with a Gaussian distribution and a logarithmic link function; Poisson regression; negative binomial regression; Gamma regression with a logarithmic link function; and the original and recalibrated APACHE IV model, for all patients together and for survivors and non-survivors separately. We assessed the predictive performance of the models using bootstrapping and the squared Pearson correlation coefficient (R2), root mean squared prediction error (RMSPE), mean absolute prediction error (MAPE) and bias. The distribution of ICU LoS was skewed to the right with a median of 1.7 days (interquartile range 0.8 to 4.0) and a mean of 4.2 days (standard deviation 7.9). The predictive performance of the models was between 0.09 and 0.20 for R2, between 7.28 and 8.74 days for RMSPE, between 3.00 and 4.42 days for MAPE and between −2.99 and 1.64 days for bias. The predictive performance was slightly better for survivors than for non-survivors. We were disappointed in the predictive performance of the regression models and conclude that it is difficult to predict LoS of unplanned ICU admissions using patient characteristics at admission time only.
Investigation on mental health state of university students from countryside

Objective To understand the mental health state of university students from countryside to provide scientific basis for mental health education.Methods 1 214 college students were tested with symptom check list 90(SCL-90) and the differences existed between city university students and countryside university students were compared.Results The countryside university students had higher scores in anxiety,depression,interpersonal sensitivity,paranoia,and compulsion than the city university students.More countryside university students had high scores in depression,fear,interpersonal sensitivity,and psychotic than the city students.The male had higher score in body symptom and lower score in fear than the female.The only-child students had lower scores in body symptom and compulsion than the non-only-child.Conclusion The countryside college students'psychological health level was worse than that of the city students and more psychological problems existed in the rural students.The countryside college students' mental health education should be improved.
Involvement of Beta Interferon in Enhancing Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Production and Antimicrobial Activity of Burkholderiapseudomallei-Infected Macrophages

ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a life-threatening disease that affects both humans and animals. This bacterium is able to survive and multiply inside both phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells. We recently reported that mouse macrophages infected with B. pseudomallei fail to produce a significant level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a crucial enzyme needed for the cells to control the intracellular growth of this bacterium. In the present study, we extended our investigation to demonstrate that, unlike other gram-negative bacteria that have been investigated, B. pseudomallei only minimally activates beta interferon (IFN-β) production; this minimal activation leads to a low level of interferon regulating factor 1 (IRF-1) in the macrophages, in parallel with poor iNOS expression. Adding exogenous IFN-β to the system could upregulate IRF-1 production, which in turn could enhance iNOS expression in the B. pseudomallei-infected macrophages and lead to suppression of the intracellular growth of this bacterium. Taken together, these results imply that the failure of macrophages to successfully control the growth and survival of intracellular B. pseudomallei is related, at least in part, to the defective production of IFN-β, which modulates the ability of macrophages to synthesize iNOS.
Do long-term tongue piercings affect speech quality?

Abstract Purpose: To explore possible effects of tongue piercing on perceived speech quality. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, we analyzed the effect of tongue piercing on speech in a perception experiment. Samples of spontaneous speech and read speech were recorded from 20 long-term pierced and 20 non-pierced individuals (10 males, 10 females each). The individuals having a tongue piercing were recorded with attached and removed piercing. The audio samples were blindly rated by 26 female and 20 male laypersons and by 5 female speech-language pathologists with regard to perceived speech quality along 5 dimensions: speech clarity, speech rate, prosody, rhythm and fluency. Results: We found no statistically significant differences for any of the speech quality dimensions between the pierced and non-pierced individuals, neither for the read nor for the spontaneous speech. In addition, neither length nor position of piercing had a significant effect on speech quality. The removal of tongue piercings had no effects on speech performance either. Rating differences between laypersons and speech-language pathologists were not dependent on the presence of a tongue piercing. Conclusions: People are able to perfectly adapt their articulation to long-term tongue piercings such that their speech quality is not perceptually affected.
Fetal Hypercapnia and Cerebral Tissue Oxygenation: Studies in Near-Term Sheep

The precise role of CO2 in cerebral oxygenation is not as well defined as O2, especially in the immature brain. In the ovine fetus, we tested the hypotheses that arterial Pco2 (Paco2) plays a critical role not only in the regulation of cerebral blood flow but also in the regulation of cerebral tissue oxygenation. By use of a fluorescent O2 probe with a laser Doppler flowmeter and the placement of sagittal sinus catheter in six near-term fetal sheep, we measured values of cortical tissue O2 tension (tPo2), sagittal sinus oxyhemoglobin saturation ([HbO2]), and laser Doppler cerebral blood flow (LD-CBF) in response to 20 min hypercapnia induced by having the ewe breathe CO2. In response to moderate to severe hypercapnia, LD-CBF increased above baseline in a curvilinear fashion, cortical tPo2 increased linearly (1 torr per 3.2 torr Paco2), and sagittal sinus [HbO2] increased significantly in a curvilinear manner. Hypercapnia favored cerebral tissue oxygenation of the fetal brain; and cortical tPo2 and sagittal sinus [HbO2] complement or support one another as indices of cerebral oxygenation under hypercapnic conditions.
Proof of homologous blood transfusion through quantification of blood group antigens.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Athletes may illegally enhance endurance performance by transfusing homologous red blood cells (RBCs) and thereby increasing the oxygen carrying capacity of their blood. Detecting this dangerous practice is difficult by currently used methods. The aim of this work was to develop tests capable of detecting a mixed red cell population by flow cytometry, utilizing the likelihood of differences in minor blood group antigens. DESIGN AND METHODS Twelve antisera directed against blood group antigens, derived from donor plasma, were used in conjunction with a secondary antibody directly conjugated with fluorescein to label IgG-coated RBCs. Optimal concentrations of RBCs and antibodies were determined on panel cells used in blood banking for the identification of specific antibodies. Blood samples from 25 patients purportedly transfused with 1-3 units of RBCs were screened for evidence of transfusion, and the percentages of antigen-positive and antigen-negative red cells were automatically calculated by the software installed in the flow cytometer after setting gates around these populations on histograms of fluorescence. RESULTS Mixed RBC populations were identified in 22 of 25 patients tested. The three patients with antigenically homogeneous populations of RBCs were subsequently found not to have received their scheduled transfusions. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS This technique can detect small (<5%) populations of cells that are antigenically distinct from an individual's own RBCs. These results show the potential for flow cytometry to identify illicit homologous blood transfusion in athletes, and suggest the risk of false positives may be low.