Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Way of Sensing: Need-Based Activation of Antibiotic Resistance by a Flux-Sensing Mechanism

ABSTRACT Sensing of and responding to environmental changes are of vital importance for microbial cells. Consequently, bacteria have evolved a plethora of signaling systems that usually sense biochemical cues either via direct ligand binding, thereby acting as “concentration sensors,” or by responding to downstream effects on bacterial physiology, such as structural damage to the cell. Here, we describe a novel, alternative signaling mechanism that effectively implements a “flux sensor” to regulate antibiotic resistance. It relies on a sensory complex consisting of a histidine kinase and an ABC transporter, in which the transporter fulfills the dual role of both the sensor of the antibiotic and the mediator of resistance against it. Combining systems biological modeling with in vivo experimentation, we show that these systems in fact respond to changes in activity of individual resistance transporters rather than to changes in the antibiotic concentration. Our model shows that the cell thereby adjusts the rate of de novo transporter synthesis to precisely the level needed for protection. Such a flux-sensing mechanism may serve as a cost-efficient produce-to-demand strategy, controlling a widely conserved class of antibiotic resistance systems. IMPORTANCE Bacteria have to be able to accurately perceive their environment to allow adaptation to changing conditions. This is usually accomplished by sensing the concentrations of beneficial or harmful substances or by measuring the effect of the prevailing conditions on the cell. Here we show the existence of a new way of sensing the environment, where the bacteria monitor the activity of an antibiotic resistance transporter. Such a “flux-sensing” mechanism allows the cell to detect its current capacity to deal with the antibiotic challenge and thus precisely respond to the need for more transporters. We propose that this is a cost-efficient way of regulating antibiotic resistance on demand. Bacteria have to be able to accurately perceive their environment to allow adaptation to changing conditions. This is usually accomplished by sensing the concentrations of beneficial or harmful substances or by measuring the effect of the prevailing conditions on the cell. Here we show the existence of a new way of sensing the environment, where the bacteria monitor the activity of an antibiotic resistance transporter. Such a “flux-sensing” mechanism allows the cell to detect its current capacity to deal with the antibiotic challenge and thus precisely respond to the need for more transporters. We propose that this is a cost-efficient way of regulating antibiotic resistance on demand.
Cultures of Learning in Effective High Schools

Purpose: Research indicates that a culture of learning is a key factor in building high schools that foster academic achievement in all students. Yet less is known about which elements of a culture of learning differentiate schools with higher levels of academic performance. To fill this gap, this comparative case study examined the cultures of learning among adults and students in two highly effective high schools and two less effective high schools with similar demographics in a single large, urban school district. Research Method: Using 135 interviews and focus groups with administrators, teachers, and students across four case study schools, the authors analyzed the extent to which various elements of a culture of learning was present within and across schools. Findings: Effective high schools had stronger cultures of learning with distinct structures and practices that distinguished them from the less effective schools. These included frequent opportunities for formal collaboration, shared goals centered on universal high expectations, structured opportunities for participatory leadership, and deliberate supports to help students engage and achieve in academics. Findings further revealed that certain structures were necessary though not sufficient in fostering effective cultures of learning, the active role of school leaders in reinforcing a culture of learning, and high leverage practices that addressed multiple elements of a culture of learning. Implications: This study provides implications for how school leaders can begin to create and improve on school-wide cultures of learning by drawing on the high leverage practices that distinguished the highly effective case study schools.
Cognitive dysfunctions in recreational and dependent cocaine users: role of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, craving and early age at onset

Background Dependent cocaine users consistently display cognitive deficits but cognitive performance of recreational cocaine users has rarely been investigated. Aims To examine whether cognitive performance is impaired in relatively pure recreational and dependent cocaine users. Method The cognitive performance of recreational (n = 68) and dependent cocaine users (n = 30) was compared with the performance of stimulant-naive controls (n = 68) employing an extensive neuropsychological test battery. Moreover, the impact of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, craving and early age at onset was analysed. Results Dependent cocaine users display broad cognitive impairments in the domains of attention, working memory, declarative memory and executive functions. The performance of recreational cocaine users in all four domains was intermediate between that of controls and dependent users and they displayed significant deficits foremost in the domains of attention and working memory. In addition, ADHD symptoms, craving and age at onset were important modulators of cognitive function in cocaine users. Conclusions Cognitive deficits occur at a recreational and non-dependent level of cocaine use. Cocaine use and ADHD seem to have mutually aggravating effects on cognitive impairment.
Microencapsulation of sacha inchi ( Plukenetia volubilis L . ) oil with zein

Microencapsulation of sacha inchi oil was investigated using zein as coating material. Factorial design was employed to study the effect of zein (x1) and sacha inchi oil (x2) concentrations on the microencapsulation by spray drying. The quality of microcapsules was evaluated by determination of particle yield, microencapsulation efficiency, flowing properties, particle size distribution, and morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Response surface model for particle yield, microencapsulation efficiency, and flowing properties showed a high coefficient of determination (R > 90%) and a non-significant lack of fit (p > 0.05). The maximum particle yield and microencapsulation efficiency were 92.73% and 90.41 ± 0.74 %, respectively. Sacha inchi oil microcapsules have very poor handling properties based on the Hausner Ratio. Particle mean diameter decreases with the increasing of zein concentration. The morphology of sacha inchi oil microcapsules depends on the zein:sacha inchi oil ratios. Sacha inchi oil microcapsules appear to be composed of heterogeneous spheres of various diameters.
Corynebacterium in ancient Egypt.

Recent molecular analysis of pathogenic bacterial DNA recovered from a dental abscess in the mummified head of a woman more than sixty years old, buried in K95 in Dra Abu el Naga in the necropolis of western Thebes, has identified Corynebacteria as one of the pathogens present in the New Kingdom, c. 1550-1080 BC, either in the original inhabitant of the tomb or in a later, intrusive New Kingdom burial following tomb robbing. ' The amplification of Corynebacterial DNA, although it cannot be specifically identified as Corynebacterium diphtheriae, may perhaps be complemented by magical texts dating from between about 1850 and 1550 BC, which describe the treatment for a childhood disease, here tentatively (and perhaps tenuously) identified with diphtheria. Such research underlines the value of seeking to combine textual, clinical, epidemiological and molecular biological evidence to reconstruct medical history. Only the head of this female mummy was found. The treatment of this part of the body is typical of New Kingdom mummification techniques, but we had no internal organs and no evidence for other diseases from this individual. The tomb itself originated in the Middle Kingdom, but the chamber from which the sample came was used in the New Kingdom, and only artefacts from this period were found in it. There was no evidence of later burials. We also found the remains of about 40 individuals, mostly incomplete and partially skeletonized, probably as a result of disturbance by contemporary tomb robbers. Looting would explain the absence of Canopic jars in this chamber.
Peptidergic drugs for the treatment of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating medical condition that has an enormous socioeconomic impact because it affects more than 10 million people annually worldwide and is associated with high rates of hospitalization, mortality and disability. Although TBI survival has improved continuously for decades, particularly in developing countries, implementation of an effective drug therapy for TBI represents an unmet clinical need. All confirmatory trials conducted to date with drugs targeting a single TBI pathological pathway failed to show clinical efficacy, probably because TBI pathophysiology involves multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms of secondary brain damage. According to current scientific evidence of the participation of peptide-mediated mechanisms in the processes of brain injury and repair after TBI, peptidergic drugs represent a multimodal therapy alternative to improve acute outcome and long-term recovery in TBI patients. Preliminary randomized-controlled clinical trials and open-la.
ElasticSwitch: practical work-conserving bandwidth guarantees for cloud computing

While cloud computing providers offer guaranteed allocations for resources such as CPU and memory, they do not offer any guarantees for network resources. The lack of network guarantees prevents tenants from predicting lower bounds on the performance of their applications. The research community has recognized this limitation but, unfortunately, prior solutions have significant limitations: either they are inefficient, because they are not work-conserving, or they are impractical, because they require expensive switch support or congestion-free network cores. In this paper, we propose ElasticSwitch, an efficient and practical approach for providing bandwidth guarantees. ElasticSwitch is efficient because it utilizes the spare bandwidth from unreserved capacity or underutilized reservations. ElasticSwitch is practical because it can be fully implemented in hypervisors, without requiring a specific topology or any support from switches. Because hypervisors operate mostly independently, there is no need for complex coordination between them or with a central controller. Our experiments, with a prototype implementation on a 100-server testbed, demonstrate that ElasticSwitch provides bandwidth guarantees and is work-conserving, even in challenging situations.
Study of pruritus in psoriasis vulgaris : Role of tachykinins

Pruritus has not been considered as the most important symptom of psoriasis. In the present thesis various methodologies have been used to investigate this symptom in psoriasis. The focus groups created a proper atmosphere for discussion on different aspects of pruritus in psoriasis. Pruritus was most common on the lower back and legs. Stress, cold weather and skin dryness were considered as the most common worsening factors for the condition. Sunbath and application of emollients with or without corticosteroids and calcipotriol cream were suggested as factors that relieved pruritus. Quality of life was affected in some patients. A comprehensive questionnaire was used to investigate in detail about pruritus in psoriasis. The frequency and intensity of pruritus were higher in women. Lower leg and scalp were reported as being the most commonly affected sites. Major aggravating factors were stress and dryness of skin. Sun, sleep and vacation could relieve to the condition. The most common anti-pruritic treatments used by the patients were topical glucocorticoids, vitamin D and emollients, while antihistamines were used by a small number of patients. Mood, concentration and sleep were negatively affected by pruritus. Substance P, neurokinins A (NKA), B (NKB) and NK-2 receptor (R), reactive nerves and substance P, NKA, NKB and their respective receptors NK-1, NK-2 NK-3 reactive inflammatory cells were more numerous in lesional than non-lesional psoriasis and healthy control skin, respectively. The pruritus intensity and number of NK-2R positive cells in lesional psoriatic skin were significantly correlated. Intradermally injected substance P induced pruritus, flare and wheal in psoriasis patients. Substance P (10 mol/L) induced a tendency to larger intensity of pruritus in lesional than non-lesional psoriatic skin. Histamine produced a shorter itch latency period in lesional and smaller wheal in non-lesional psoriasis skin compared to healthy individuals. In conclusion, pruritus is one of the common symptoms of psoriasis. Members of the tachykinin family might play an important role in the pathogenesis of pruritus in this disease.
Evaluation of bovine viral diarrhea virus interactions with its host proteome during the course of infection

Identifying viral-host interactions is central in understanding the pathogenesis of intracellular agents, such as bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDVs). A high expression level of BVDV NS3 protein is associated with its cytopathic (CP) biotype and is essential in viral replication and viral-induced apoptosis. Although the differences between CP and non-cytopathic BVDV biotypes are well established, especially the importance of the BVDV NS3 viral protein in giving rise to different biotypes, only a few studies identified BVDV-cellular partners. In this study, using a proteomics approach, we identified 71 bovine proteins that interact with the CP NS3 protein at three different time-points post-infection. Our results show that BVDV-host interaction dynamic network involves simultaneously and sequentially interacting proteins in different compartments of the host cells. System analysis of targeted proteins shows that CP BVDVs manipulate multiple and different pathways, primarily the ribosome/translation pathway, specifically at early stages of infection. At later stages of infection, when high levels of NS3 are present, apoptosis can be detected in infected cells. In addition, combining results from this study with previously identified protein interactions adds an extra dimension and higher connectivity to the BVDV strain NADL-host interaction network. Overall, our results indicate correlations among an increase in viral RNA translation, free NS3 level, and cytopathic effect associated with CP biotype infection. Finally, our approach highlights the dynamic interplay between BVDVs and host cells and identifies specific CP BVDV-host interactions that can be used as specific targets for further investigation as BVDV antiviral therapies. Correspondence to: Lesya M. Pinchuk, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 6100, 240 Wise Center Drive, Mississippi State, MS 39762-6100, USA, Tel: (662)325-1130; Fax: (662)325-1031; E-mail: l.pinchuk@msstate.edu
Incentives Versus Transaction Costs: A Theory of Procurement Contracts

Inspired by facts from the private-sector construction industry, we develop a model that explains many stylized facts of procurement contracts. The buyer in our model incurs a cost of providing a comprehensive design and is faced with a tradeoff between providing incentives and reducing ex post transaction costs due to costly renegotiation. We show that cost-plus contracts are preferred to fixed-price contracts when a project is more complex. We briefly discuss how fixed-price or cost-plus contracts might be preferred to other incentive contracts. Finally, our model provides some microfoundations for ideas from Transaction Cost Economics. Copyright 2001 by the RAND Corporation.
Gr upSM The Potential of Nanotechnology for Tuberculosis Treatment

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health threat and is the second leading cause of death from infectious diseases. The inappropriate prescription of anti-tuberculosis drug, the poor compliance due to extended treatment period and the emergence of multi-drug resistance TB result in failure of conventional pharmacotherapy. Besides drug resistant issues, long-term and multiple drugs administration are associated with severe side effects such as organ toxicity. A more effective treatment regimen involving lower dose frequencies, higher residency at infected site and reduced drug-induced toxicities is needed. In this context, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems offer a promising solution as their nanostructured systems are highly effective in encapsulating considerable amount of TB drugs, highly stable, feasible for various administration routes (i.e. oral, intravenous and inhalation) and could be designed to prevent systemic clearance
Cancer prevention awareness among young adult Polish females on the basis of the assessment of knowledge and health behaviours

Introduction: The accelerating rate of incidence of malignant cancers in Polish women as compared to men and the higher mortality due to these diseases as compared to other regions in Europe is an important medical and social problem. Aim of the research: To attempt an assessment of cancer prevention awareness among young adult Polish females on the basis of the analysis of their knowledge as well as of the prevalence of negative health behaviours. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 270 young Polish females: students of nursing and pedagogy. The study was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire, the Inventory of Health Behaviour, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, and Nina Schenider’s Motivation for Quitting Smoking Test. Results: The highest percentages of negative behaviours included low intake of fruit and vegetables (76.3%), whole-grain products (78.9%), and fish (93.3%), as well as tanning (56.7%) and smoking (37%) and health check behaviours (breast selfexams 60.7%, cervical cytological screening 36%). Conclusions: Despite the relatively high level of knowledge, cancer risk-related lifestyles and behaviours unfavourable for the possibility of early diagnosis were observed among the subjects. The less favourable model of cognitive and behavioural competence in health and cancer prevention was observed at bachelor-level students of pedagogy at the ages below 24 years. Development of skills and motivation for pro-health behaviours and the awareness of behaviour models presented by educators are, along with appropriate knowledge, the most desirable strategies for the success of health education in the area of cancer prevention.
Appropriate Use Criteria for Somatostatin Receptor PET Imaging in Neuroendocrine Tumors

Somatostatin receptor positron emission tomography (SSTR-PET) is an imaging modality for patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that has demonstrated a significant improvement over conventional imaging (CI). SSTR-PET should replace In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy (OctreoScan) in all indications in which SSTR scintigraphy is currently being used. These appropriate use criteria (AUC) are intended to aid referring medical practitioners in the appropriate use of SSTR-PET for imaging of patients with NETs, and the indications were evaluated in well-differentiated NETs. Of the 12 clinical scenarios evaluated, nine were graded as appropriate: initial staging after the histologic diagnosis of NET, evaluation of an unknown primary, evaluation of a mass suggestive of NET not amenable to endoscopic or percutaneous biopsy, staging of NET prior to planned surgery, monitoring of NET seen predominantly on SSTR-PET, evaluation of patients with biochemical evidence and symptoms of a NET, evaluation of patients with biochemical evidence of a NET without evidence on CI or a prior histologic diagnosis, restaging at time of clinical or laboratory progression without progression on CI, and new indeterminate lesion on CI with unclear progression. Representatives from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS), the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the Endocrine Society, the Society of Surgical Oncology, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American College of Physicians (ACP), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the World Conference on Interventional Oncology (WCIO) assembled under the auspices of an autonomous workgroup to develop the following AUC.
Predicting Job Strain with Psychological Hardiness, Organizational Support, Job Control and Work Overload: An Evaluation of Karasek’s DCS Model

This study focused on the investigation of how personal and situational factors and work related outcomes are associated. The study was built on “Karasek's Model of Job Strain” called as DCS Model (Demand-Control-Support). It is aimed to assess how psychological hardiness, organizational support, job control and work overload are related with perceived job strain. In order to test the propositions of the study, an empirical study was performed in Turkey among the employees working in banking & finance organizations. According to the findings, psychological hardiness had moderate negative relationship with job strain, organizational support had strong negative relationship with job strain, job Control had strong negative relationship and work overload had strong positive relationship with job strain. The research findings were evaluated with their conceptual and practical implications.
Aberrant DNA Methylation Is Associated with a Poor Outcome in Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), an overlap of myelodysplastic / myeloproliferative neoplasm, is an intractable pediatric myeloid neoplasm. Epigenetic regulation of transcription, particularly by CpG methylation, plays an important role in tumor progression, mainly by repressing tumor-suppressor genes. To clarify the clinical importance of aberrant DNA methylation, we studied the hypermethylation status of 16 target genes in the genomes of 92 patients with JMML by bisulfite conversion and the pryosequencing technique. Among 16 candidate genes, BMP4, CALCA, CDKN2A, and RARB exhibited significant hypermethylation in 72% (67/92) of patients. Based on the number of hypermethylated genes, patients were stratified into three cohorts based on an aberrant methylation score (AMS) of 0, 1–2, or 3–4. In the AMS 0 cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and transplantation-free survival (TFS) were good (69% and 76%, respectively). In the AMS 1–2 cohort, the 5-year OS was comparable to that in the AMS 0 cohort (68%), whereas TFS was poor (6%). In the AMS 3–4 cohort, 5-year OS and TFS were markedly low (8% and 0%, respectively). Epigenetic analysis provides helpful information for clinicians to select treatment strategies for patients with JMML. For patients with AMS 3–4 in whom hematopoietic stem cell transplantation does not improve the prognosis, alternative therapies, including DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and new molecular-targeting agents, should be established as treatment options.
Profil psychopharmacologique de la venlafaxine

La venlafaxine est un antidepresseur qui bloque le recaptage de la noradrenaline, de la serotonine et, d'une maniere moins importante, de la dopamine. Ces donnees ont ete confirmees par des tests comportementaux. Il a, en effet, ete montre que, meme en diminuant la quantite cerebrale globale de 5-HT aussi bien que celle de NA, la venlafaxine continuait a avoir une action « antidepressive » sur les modeles animaux. Parailleurs, ila ete precise que cette molecule agissait plus particulierement sur les recepteurs 5-HT1A et 5-HT1B.