Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation of reusable bioreactors using reversible immobilization of enzyme on monolithic porous polymer support with attached gold nanoparticles

Porcine lipase has been reversibly immobilized on a monolithic polymer support containing thiol functionalities prepared within confines of a fused silica capillary and functionalized with gold nanoparticles. Use of gold nanoparticles enabled rejuvenation of the activity of the deactivated reactor simply by stripping the inactive enzyme from the nanoparticles using 2‐mercaptoethanol and subsequent immobilization of fresh lipase. This flow through enzymatic reactor was then used to catalyze the hydrolysis of glyceryl tributyrate (tributyrin). The highest activity was found within a temperature range of 37–40°C. The reaction kinetics is characterized by Michaelis–Menten constant, Km = 10.9 mmol/L, and maximum reaction rate, Vmax = 5.0 mmol/L min. The maximum reaction rate for the immobilized enzyme is 1,000 times faster compared to lipase in solution. The fast reaction rate enabled to achieve 86.7% conversion of tributyrin in mere 2.5 min and an almost complete conversion in 10 min. The reactor lost only less than 10% of its activity even after continuous pumping through it a solution of substrate equaling 1,760 reactor volumes. Finally, potential application of this enzymatic reactor was demonstrated with the transesterification of triacylglycerides from kitchen oil to fatty acid methyl esters thus demonstrating the ability of the reactor to produce biodiesel. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 50–58. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Somatostatin discriminates between the intracellular pathways of secretory and membrane proteins

Somatostatin is a14-amino acid peptide hormone that inhibits the secretion of a variety of other polypeptide hormones, including growth hormone. Here we describe an experimental system used to determine whether somatostatin can discriminate in its inhibition between secretory and plasma membrane proteins. Growth hormone-secreting cells (GH3) were infected with vesicular stomatitis virus and pulse-chased with [35S]methionine to follow the simultaneous intracellular transit of growth hormone and the viral membrane glycoprotein, G protein. Secretion of growth hormone was monitored by immunoprecipitation of chase media, while appearance of G protein on the plasma membrane was detected by cell surface labeling and virus purification. In the presence of somatostatin (10 micrograms/ml), the secretion of growth hormone was inhibited by 80%. In contrast, G protein appeared on the plasma membrane with slightly enhanced kinetics. When cells were treated with the ionophore monensin (0.2 microM), there was a dramatic inhibition of both the secretion of growth hormone and the incorporation of G protein into plasma membranes. Our results on the differential effect of somatostatin provide evidence for sorting of secretory and membrane proteins into distinct compartments in the secretory pathway. The data further suggest that this sorting event occurs late in the Golgi complex or after proteins exit from that organelle.
Diaries, Dunnies and Discipline: Resistance and Accommodation to Monitoring in Call Centres

Abstract Management's use of technology has fuelled debate about employee resistance. This paper explores the interplay of resistance and accommodation. It does this by developing the concepts of dignity and self-preservation. Findings from the study of three call centres suggest that, although the technology in use has potentially augmented management's control over the labour process, this development has not gone unchallenged. Employees found ways to manipulate the technology and exploit its weaknesses, thereby gaining a measure of control over what was often seen as unfair managerial practice. Employee responses to technology were complex and contradictory. Some welcomed performance monitoring, not out of unquestioning acquiescence, but in an attempt to control the use of performance statistics and the activities that were monitored Employees utilised accommodation and resistance both separately and concurrently as circumstances dictated. An explanation of these seemingly contradictory responses may lie in notions of self worth and self preservation.
Improved recognition of contact names in voice commands

The recognition of contact names in mobile-device voice commands is a challenging problem. Some of the difficulties include potentially infinite vocabularies, low probability of contact tokens in the language model (LM), increased false triggering of contact voice commands when none are spoken, and very large and noisy contact name lists. In this paper we suggest solutions for each of these difficulties. We address low prior probability and out-of-vocabulary contact name problems by using class-based language models, and creating on-the-fly user dependent small language models containing only relevant names. These models are compiled dynamically based on analysis of the mobile device state. Since these solutions can increase biasing towards contact names during recognition, it is crucial to monitor false triggering. To properly balance this bias we introduce the concept of a contacts insertion reward. This reward is tuned using both positive and negative test sets. We show significant recognition performance improvements on data sets in three languages, without negatively impacting the overall system performance. The improvements are obtained in both offline evaluations as well as on live traffic experiments.
Added Value of Combined Semi-Quantitative and Visual [123I]FP-CIT SPECT Analyses for the Diagnosis of Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Purpose of the Report To assess the validity of a semi-quantitative 123I-FP-CIT SPECT method, compared to the commonly used visual analysis, in patients with probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We also studied DLB specific uptake impairment pattern and correlation of uptake in the presence or absence of parkinsonism. Materials and Methods Among 1202 scans performed at our center from 2003 to 2015, we identified 93 subjects with probable DLB (mean age 76.9 ± 6.8 years, 37% women) and 18 with AD (mean age 76.9 ± 8.1 years, 50% women). Independent visual and semi-quantitative assessments based on previously established on-site reference values (including volumes-of-interest uptake, caudate-to-putamen ratio and striatal asymmetry index) were performed and compared between both groups. Results Visual staging was considered abnormal in 96.8% of DLB patients, whereas 97.8% of subjects had an abnormal semi-quantitative assessment. Combining both methods yielded a 100% sensitivity. Patients with DLB exhibited a more pronounced impairment of putaminal uptake when associated with parkinsonism, whereas a more diffuse pattern and significantly higher uptake values were observed in the subgroup of DLB patients without parkinsonism (resp. striatal uptake 1.61 ± 0.66 vs. 2.28 ± 0.52, P = 0.01). A minority of AD subjects show minimal alterations of presynaptic dopaminergic transport (striatal uptake 3.07 ± 0.41), values being always significantly higher than those from DLB patients, irrespective of the presence of parkinsonism (P < 0.0001) or not (P = 0.002). Conclusions Additional use of semi-quantitative analysis allows a higher discrimination of DLB from AD and demonstrates a specific pattern of degeneration in DLB patients according to their motor phenotype.
Male-Female Delinquency in the Philippines

Self-report data were obtained from male and female students in a coastal city in the southern Philippines. Analyses reveal higher rates of delinquency among males. Delinquency is regressed on several independent variables, including peer relations, social bond measures, age, and father's occupation. Peer relations and attitudinal constructs are significantly associated with delinquency, particularly among males. Interestingly, sons of higher-status fathers are more delinquent than are juveniles from lower-status backgrounds. Among girls, the collective influence of the independent variables is negligible. The results of the study are discussed relative to various theoretical explanations but with an emphasis on Philippine social structure and values. Attention is given to the family context and to the influence of peer groups, or the barkada, on delinquency, especially among middle-class males. The lack of explanation of female delinquency in this data set is addressed relative to the status of women in Philippine society and the need to focus on the contextual factors that affect the lives of juvenile females.
How we do it: A combined method of traditional curette and power-assisted endoscopic adenoidectomy

Conclusion. After conventional curette adenoidectomy, a significant mass of residual adenoid tissue is observed in about 50% of the cases. The combined approach of conventional curette and endoscopic adenoidectomy with microdebrider assures a complete and accurate removal of the mass. It is an effective and safe method without significantly prolonging the operative time. Objectives. To describe the surgical technique of conventional curette adenoidectomy completed with the microdebrider under endoscopic vision in case of residual adenoid tissue. Patients and methods. This was a retrospective review of 143 consecutive patients (age range 2–16 years, mean 6.2) who underwent endoscopic adenoidectomy for adenoid hypertrophy at an academic hospital-based institution. A classic transoral curette adenoidectomy was performed initially. Then a rigid fibre-optic endoscope was used transnasally to assess the completeness of surgery. Residual adenoid tissue was removed using a microdebrider under endoscopic vision. Results. After conventional curette adenoidectomy 70 children (48.9%) underwent residual adenoid tissue transnasal removal. Mean curette adenoidectomy time with endoscopic visualization of the nasopharynx was 9.1 min and, in the case of completion with the microdebrider, 14.6 min. No significant intraoperative bleeding, postoperative haemorrhage or other complications have occurred. After a mean follow-up of 24.4 months, no patients have been readmitted for symptoms of adenoid regrowth.
Explaining intention to use mobile chat services: moderating effects of gender

Purpose – In this article the authors aim to investigate the moderating effects of gender in explaining intention to use mobile chat services.Design/methodology/approach – An extended adoption model based on the technology acceptance model and theory of reasoned action is applied for pin‐pointing the antecedents of intention to use mobile chat services and for revealing cross‐gender differences. The hypotheses are tested on data from a survey of 684 users of mobile chat services.Findings – The study results suggest that social norms and intrinsic motives such as enjoyment are important determinants of intention to use among female users, whereas extrinsic motives such as usefulness and – somewhat surprisingly – expressiveness are key drivers among men.Research limitations/implications – The findings put renewed focus on non‐utilitarian motives and illuminate the role of gender in technology adoption.Practical implications – The cross‐gender differences observed give several guidelines for mobile service d.
Effects of psychotherapy and other behavioral interventions on clinically depressed older adults: A meta-analysis

Objectives: The goal of the present study was to assess the effects of psychotherapy and other behavioral interventions on depressive symptoms in clinically depressed older patients. Methods: We used meta-analysis to examine the effects of 57 controlled intervention studies. Results: On average, self-rated depression improved by d=0.84 standard deviation units and clinician-rated depression improved by d=0.93. Effect sizes were large for cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT) and reminiscence; and medium for psychodynamic therapy, psychoeducation, physical exercise and supportive interventions. Age differences in treatment effects were not observed. Weaker effects were found in studies that used an active control group and in studies of physically ill or cognitively impaired patients. Studies of samples comprised exclusively of patients suffering from major depression (versus other mood disorders) also yielded weaker intervention effects. On average, 18.9% of participants did not complete the intervention, with higher dropout rates reported in group (versus individual) interventions and in longer interventions. Conclusions: We conclude that cognitive-behavioral therapy and reminiscence are particularly well-established and acceptable forms of depression treatment. Interventions with 7–12 sessions may optimize effectiveness while minimizing dropout rates. For physically and cognitively impaired patients, modifications in treatment format and/or content might be useful, such as combining psychotherapy with social work interventions and pharmacotherapy.
Grandparents’ and young adult grandchildren’s identity gaps and perceived caregiving intentions

Utilizing communication theory of identity, this study examined identity gaps in relation to grandparents’ (GPs') and their young adult grandchildren's (GC's) communication satisfaction and, in turn, perceptions of GC’s caregiving intentions. Actor–partner interdependence models were examined with path analyses, using self-reported, cross-sectional survey data from GPs and GC (200 dyads). In regard to actor effects, as GPs and GC experienced identity gaps, they were less likely to report communication satisfaction. With lower levels of communication satisfaction, GPs were less likely to believe their GC would provide care for them in the future and GC had weaker intentions to provide care in the future. For partner effects, GP identity gaps were indirectly associated with grandchild caregiving intentions through either GP or GC communication satisfaction. By contrast, GC identity gaps were not significantly indirectly associated with GP perceptions of GC caregiving intentions through either GP or GC communication satisfaction.
Synthesis and immunologic properties in mice of vaccines composed of Staphylococcus aureus type 5 and type 8 capsular polysaccharides conjugated to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A

Epidemiological, serological and in vitro phagocytosis experiments provide evidence that the newly discovered type 5 and type 8 capsular polysaccharides (CPs) are both virulence factors and protective antigens for bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Neither type 5 nor type 8 CP elicited serum antibodies when injected into mice. These two CPs were bound to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA) to form conjugates by using the synthetic scheme devised for the CP (Vi) of Salmonella typhi and of pneumococcus type 12F (A. Fattom, W. F. Vann, S. C. Szu, A. Sutton, X. Li, D. Bryla, G. Schiffman, J. B. Robbins, and R. Schneerson, Infect. Immun. 56:2292-2298, 1988; S. C. Szu, A. L. Stone, J. D. Robbins, R. Schneerson, and J. B. Robbins, J. Exp. Med. 166:1510-1524, 1987). Both S. aureus CP-ETA conjugates elicited a rise in CP antibodies. As components of conjugates, both S. aureus CPs acquired T-cell-dependent properties, as shown by their ability to respond to carrier priming and to stimulate booster responses. The conjugate-induced antibodies facilitated type-specific opsonization of S. aureus by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The conjugates also induced ETA antibodies which neutralized the native toxin in vitro. Clinical studies of these two conjugates for active or passive immunization of patients at risk for S. aureus bacteremia are planned.
Physician-patient agreement on symptoms as a predictor of retention in outpatient care.

The results of our study demonstrate the importance of symptom perception and medication in understanding which patients are likely to drop out of treatment. In situations where physician and patient agree about the symptoms, or where the patient perceives the symptoms to be more frequent than the physician does, prescribing medications reduces the dropout risk. However, in cases where the physician considers the symptoms to be more frequent than the patient does, the fact that medication is prescribed has no impact on dropout risk.
Reducing the Impact of Stereotypical Knowledge During Reading

Four experiments were designed to assess the presence and impact of stereotypical knowledge through an implicit measure of reading comprehension. In Experiments 1 and 3, participants read passages about protagonists in scenarios in which stereotypical knowledge was likely to become activated in memory. Following the descriptions, reading times for target sentences were slowed when they were inconsistent with stereotypical knowledge. In Experiments 2 and 4, a qualification sentence that served to explain why the protagonist would behave in a stereotypically inconsistent manner was added. With this additional information, the slowdown demonstrated in Experiments 1 and 3 for stereotypically inconsistent target sentences was eliminated. Prior research has shown it is very difficult to override activated stereotypical knowledge. The present results are important because this is the first demonstration that an appropriate qualification can at least eliminate any disruption in reading caused by stereotypical knowledge.
Complementary assays reveal a relationship between HIV-1 uncoating and reverse transcription

During the early stages of HIV-1 replication the conical capsid composed of p24CA protein dissociates from the rest of the cytoplasmic viral complex by a process called uncoating. Although proper uncoating is known to be required for HIV-1 infection, many questions remain about the timing and factors involved in the process. Here we have used two complementary assays to study the process of uncoating in HIV-1–infected cells, specifically looking at the timing of uncoating and its relationship to reverse transcription. We developed a fluorescent microscopy-based uncoating assay that detects the association of p24CA with HIV-1 viral complexes in cells. We also used an owl monkey kidney (OMK) cell assay that is based on timed TRIM-CypA–mediated restriction of HIV-1 replication. Results from both assays indicate that uncoating is initiated within 1 h of viral fusion. In addition, treatment with the reverse transcriptase inhibitor nevirapine delayed uncoating in both assays. Analysis of reverse transcription products in OMK cells revealed that the generation of early reverse transcription products coincides with the timing of uncoating in these assays. Collectively, these results suggest that some aspect of reverse transcription has the ability to influence the kinetics of uncoating.
DEX: Query Execution in a Delta-based Storage System

The increasing reliance on robust data-driven decision-making across many domains has made it necessary for data management systems to manage many thousands to millions of versions of datasets, acquired or constructed at various stages of analysis pipelines over time. Delta encoding is an effective and widely-used solution to compactly store a large number of datasets, that simultaneously exploits redundancies across them and keeps the average retrieval cost of reconstructing any dataset low. However, supporting any kind of rich retrieval or querying functionality, beyond single dataset checkout, is challenging in such storage engines. In this paper, we initiate a systematic study of this problem, and present DEX, a novel stand-alone delta-oriented execution engine, whose goal is to take advantage of the already computed deltas between the datasets for efficient query processing. In this work, we study how to execute checkout, intersection, union and t-threshold queries over record-based files; we show that processing of even these basic queries leads to many new and unexplored challenges and trade-offs. Starting from a query plan that confines query execution to a small set of deltas, we introduce new transformation rules based on the algebraic properties of the deltas, that allow us to explore the search space of alternative plans. For the case of checkout, we present a dynamic programming algorithm to efficiently select the optimal query plan under our cost model, while we design efficient heuristics to select effective plans that vastly outperform the base checkout-then-query approach for other queries. A key characteristic of our query execution methods is that the computational cost is primarily dependent on the size and the number of deltas in the expression (typically small), and not the input dataset versions (which can be very large). We have implemented DEX prototype on top of git, a widely used version control system. We present an extensive experimental evaluation on synthetic data with diverse characteristics, that shows that our methods perform exceedingly well compared to the baseline.
From the Environment to the Host: Re-Wiring of the Transcriptome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 22°C to 37°C

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly versatile opportunistic pathogen capable of colonizing multiple ecological niches. This bacterium is responsible for a wide range of both acute and chronic infections in a variety of hosts. The success of this microorganism relies on its ability to adapt to environmental changes and re-program its regulatory and metabolic networks. The study of P. aeruginosa adaptation to temperature is crucial to understanding the pathogenesis upon infection of its mammalian host. We examined the effects of growth temperature on the transcriptome of the P. aeruginosa PAO1. Microarray analysis of PAO1 grown in Lysogeny broth at mid-exponential phase at 22°C and 37°C revealed that temperature changes are responsible for the differential transcriptional regulation of 6.4% of the genome. Major alterations were observed in bacterial metabolism, replication, and nutrient acquisition. Quorum-sensing and exoproteins secreted by type I, II, and III secretion systems, involved in the adaptation of P. aeruginosa to the mammalian host during infection, were up-regulated at 37°C compared to 22°C. Genes encoding arginine degradation enzymes were highly up-regulated at 22°C, together with the genes involved in the synthesis of pyoverdine. However, genes involved in pyochelin biosynthesis were up-regulated at 37°C. We observed that the changes in expression of P. aeruginosa siderophores correlated to an overall increase in Fe2+ extracellular concentration at 37°C and a peak in Fe3+ extracellular concentration at 22°C. This suggests a distinct change in iron acquisition strategies when the bacterium switches from the external environment to the host. Our work identifies global changes in bacterial metabolism and nutrient acquisition induced by growth at different temperatures. Overall, this study identifies factors that are regulated in genome-wide adaptation processes and discusses how this life-threatening pathogen responds to temperature.