Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From essential to beneficial: glycoprotein D loses importance for replication of bovine herpesvirus 1 in cell culture

Glycoprotein D (gD) of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) has been shown to be an essential component of virions involved in virus entry. gD expression in infected cells is also required for direct cell-to-cell spread. Therefore, BHV-1 gD functions are identical in these aspects to those of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) gD. In contrast, the gD homolog of pseudorabies virus (PrV), although essential for penetration, is not necessary for direct cell-to-cell spread. Cocultivation of cells infected with phenotypically gD-complemented gD- mutant BHV-1/80-221 with noncomplementing cells resulted in the isolation of the cell-to-cell-spreading gD-negative mutant ctcs+BHV-1/80-221, which was present in the gD-null BIV-1 stocks. ctcs+BHV-1/80-221 could be propagated only by mixing infected with uninfected cells, and virions released into the culture medium were noninfectious. Marker rescue experiments revealed that a single point mutation in the first position of codon 450 of the glycoprotein H open reading frame, resulting in a glycine-to-tryptophan exchange, enabled complementation of the gD function for cell-to-cell spread. After about 40 continuous passages of ctcs+BHV-1/80-221-infected cells with noninfected cells, the plaque morphology in the cultures started to change from roundish to comet shaped. Cells from such plaques produced infectious gD- virus, named gD-infBHV-1, which entered cells much more slowly than wild-type BHV-1. In contrast, integration of the gD gene into the genomes of gD-infBHV-1 and ctcs+BHV-1/80-221 resulted in recombinants with accelerated penetration in comparison to wild-type virions. In summary, our results demonstrate that under selective conditions, the function of BHV-1 gD for direct cell-to-cell spread and entry into cells can be compensated for by mutations in other viral (glyco)proteins, leading to the hypothesis that gD is involved in formation of penetration-mediating complexes in the viral envelope of which gH is a component. Together with results for PrV, varicella-zoster virus, which lacks a gD homolog, and Marek's disease virus, whose gD homolog is not essential for infectivity, our data may open new insights into the evolution of alphaherpesviruses.
A survey of TB services in hospitals in seven large cities in Asia and North Africa.

SETTING Hospitals in Bangkok, Cairo, Dhaka, Jakarta, Karachi, Kathmandu and Manila. OBJECTIVES To evaluate tuberculosis (TB) services provided in public and private hospitals in big cities. DESIGN A survey on TB services in hospitals was carried out in 2005 by visiting hospitals and face-to-face interviews. Selection criteria were determined for each city. All hospitals were included if feasible. RESULTS The number of hospitals included in the survey ranged from 52 in Bangkok to 106 in Jakarta. The proportion of private hospitals with access to a National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) manual ranged from 8% in Jakarta to 89% in Bangkok. Private hospitals rarely functioned as a basic management unit (BMU) of the NTP, except in Bangkok. TB treatment was not always free of charge in BMU hospitals. The proportion of non-BMU hospitals that never referred/reported TB patients to the NTP was substantial in Bangkok, Dhaka, Jakarta, Karachi and Manila. Non-BMU hospitals did not routinely use standard NTP regimens, especially in Jakarta, Karachi and Manila. In non-BMU hospitals, patient tracing mechanisms were generally lacking and treatment outcome was not known. CONCLUSION TB services provided in non-BMU hospitals were not satisfactory. NTPs need to involve non-BMU hospitals in TB control.
Share Prices and Macroeconomic Factors

The APT with macroeconomic factors put forward by Chen, Roll and Ross (1986) was tested using monthly Australian sectoral share-price indexes for 1980-1994. The inflation rate was found to be consistently priced. The significance of other factors was found to depend on the choice of sample period and estimation method. The model was compared to both an APT with artificial factors and the CAPM. Both versions of the APT were found to clearly out-perform the CAPM but neither version of the APT was clearly superior to the other in terms of both within- and out-of-sample explanatory power. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1997.
Multiple Lines of Evidence Shed Light on the Occurrence of Paramecium (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) in Bromeliad Tank Water

Phytotelmata are vegetal structures that hold water from the rain, and organic matter from the forest and the soil, resulting in small, compartmentalized bodies of water, which provide an essential environment for the establishment and development of many organisms. These microenvironments generally harbor endemic species, but many organisms that are found in lakes and rivers, are also present. Here, we report, for the first time, the occurrence of the ciliate genus Paramecium in the tank of the bromeliad species Aechmaea distichantha. The identification of the Paramecium species was performed based on live observations, protargol impregnation, scanning electronic microscopy, and sequencing of the 18s rRNA. The absence of Paramecium from bromeliad tank water was highlighted in several earlier investigations, and may be due to the fact that this species is unable to make cysts. The occurrence of Paramecium multimicronucleatum in our samples may be explained by the proximity between the bromeliads and the river, a potential source of the species. Further, we also believe that the counting methodology used in our study provides a more accurate analysis of the species diversity, since we investigated all samples within a maximum period of 6 h after sampling, allowing minimum loss of specimens.
Hybrid electrokinetics for separation, mixing, and concentration of colloidal particles

The advent of nanotechnology has facilitated the preparation of colloidal particles with adjustable sizes and the control of their size-dependent properties. Physical manipulation, such as separation, mixing, and concentration, of these colloidal particles represents an essential step for fully utilizing their potential in a wide spectrum of nanotechnology applications. In this study, we investigate hybrid electrokinetics, the combination of dielectrophoresis and electrohydrodynamics, for active manipulation of colloidal particles ranging from nanometers to micrometers in size. A concentric electrode configuration, which is optimized for generating electrohydrodynamic flow, has been designed to elucidate the effectiveness of hybrid electrokinetics and define the operating regimes for different microfluidic operations. The results indicate that the relative importance of electrohydrodynamics increases with decreasing particle size as predicted by a scaling analysis and that electrohydrodynamics is pivotal for manipulating nanoscale particles. Using the concentric electrodes, we demonstrate separation, mixing, and concentration of colloidal particles by adjusting the relative strengths of different electrokinetic phenomena. The effectiveness of hybrid electrokinetics indicates its potential to serve as a generic technique for active manipulation of colloidal particles in various nanotechnology applications.
Distinctive expression and function of four GSDM family genes (GSDMA‐D) in normal and malignant upper gastrointestinal epithelium

Gasdermin (GSDM or GSDMA), expressed in the upper gastrointestinal tract but frequently silenced in gastric cancers (GCs), regulates apoptosis of the gastric epithelium. It has three human homologs, GSDMB, GSDMC, and GSDMD (GSDM family) and they are considered to be involved in the regulation of epithelial apoptosis but not yet known. We investigated the expression pattern of the family genes in the upper gastrointestinal epithelium and cancers. Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction revealed that, unlike GSDMA expressed in differentiated cells, GSDMB is expressed in proliferating cells and GSDMD in differentiating cells. GSDMC, meanwhile, is expressed in both differentiating and differentiated cells. Colony formation assay showed that GSDMB, closely related to GSDMA, has no cell‐growth inhibition activity in gastric cancer cells, and that GSDMC and GSDMD, respectively, exhibit the activity with different strengths from that of GSDMA. Expression analyses of the four family genes in esophageal and GCs suggested that GSDMC and GSDMD as well as GSDMA are tumor suppressors and that GSDMB, which was amplified and overexpressed in some GCs, could be an oncogene. The results of the expression analysis and colony formation assay suggest that each family gene may have a distinct function in the upper gastrointestinal epithelium. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New insights into the neural basis of functional movement disorders

Functional movement disorders (FMDs) encompass a broad range of abnormal movements (e.g., tremor, dystonia, myoclonus, and parkinsonism) that are clinically inconsistent with known neurologic diseases. Although they account for 16% of new referrals to neurology clinics,1 the pathophysiology of FMDs is poorly understood. In addition, FMDs represent a serious challenge for clinicians in terms of diagnosis and management. One of the key clinical features of FMDs is that the abnormal movements can be eliminated by distraction maneuvers.2 Susceptibility to distraction is typical of voluntary movements, and yet patients with FMDs report that the movements are not under their control. This discrepancy between behavioral findings and patient reports may indicate that the symptoms are feigned or that there is a disruption in the brain processes related to self-agency, the subjective sense of controlling one's actions. A behavioral analogue of self-agency may be alexithymia (impaired ability to read one's own emotional state), which is also found among those with FMDs.3
Physical CAD model for high-voltage IGBTs based on lumped-charge approach

A new insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) model developed on a physical basis is presented. The Lumped-Charge method has been revised in order to point out a more general methodology for implementing the model into a circuit form. As an example, a version of the model for the popular PSPICE simulator is presented. The N-channel IGBT structure is described by means of an evolution of the PSPICE level-1 metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor model. An accurate mobility model has been included to precisely predict the voltage drop in the ON state. Simulation results agree well with the experiments both in static and in switching operations. The comparison between the proposed and the native IGBT PSPICE model shows the better behavior of the former. The reasons for this result have been verified by means of two-dimensional MEDICI simulations. Moreover, the proposed model is able to predict the device behavior also in critical operations like its latchup during a turn-off under short-circuit conditions.
Experimental evolution of Candida albicans under hypoxia and heat shock reveals nuclear genome variants and mitochondrial methylome alterations

Infection by Candida albicans requires its adaption to physical constraints in the human body, such as low oxygen tension (hypoxia), increased temperature (37°C) and different carbon sources. Previous studies demonstrated that the genetic variability of C. albicans isolates is an important adaptive mechanism, although little is known about the dynamics of this genetic diversity, and the influence of these environmental conditions on its mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). To test the synergistic effect of these stress conditions on C. albicans genome, reference strain SC5314 was subjected to an in vitro evolution scheme under hypoxia and 37°C, with two different carbon sources (glycerol and dextrose) for up to 48 weeks (approximately 4,000 generations). Experimental evolution results showed no sequence or copy number changes in the mtDNA, although sequence variants were detected on its nuclear genome by Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). After 12 weeks of experimental evolution, sample GTH12, grown under hypoxia at 37°C in glycerol, showed inferior growth and respiratory rates as compared to other conditions tested. Although WGS of GTH12 revealed no variants in its mtDNA, WGS with sodium bisulfite showed a significant reduction in mtDNA methylation in GTH12 in both non-coding and coding regions. Our results provide the first whole mitochondrial genome methylation map of C. albicans and show that environmental conditions promote the selective growth of specific variants and affect the methylation patterns of the mtDNA in a strain-specific manner.
Invasion of rabbit ileal tissue by Enterobacter cloacae varies with the concentration of OmpX in the outer membrane

The outer membrane protein OmpX of Enterobacter cloacae shows high amino acid homology with virulence proteins PagC and Rck from Salmonella typhimurium and with Ail from Yersinia enterocolitica. Here we demonstrate a role for OmpX in the invasion of rabbit ileal tissue by E. cloacae. An organ culture system was used for maintenance of rabbit gut tissue during the experiments. The invasiveness of three E. cloacae strains, which differed in OmpX content, were compared with each other and with that of Salmonella typhimurium TML (a highly invasive strain) and S. typhimurium LT7 (a noninvasive strain). There was no significant difference between the invasiveness of the wild type and that of an ompX deletion mutant strain of E. cloacae; they were equally as invasive or less invasive than S. typhimurium LT7. The invasiveness of an OmpX overproducer strain of E. cloacae was 10-fold higher than that of its immediate parent carrying only the multicopy plasmid, higher than that of S. typhimurium LT7, but lower than that of S. typhimurium TML. The invasiveness of E. cloacae thus varied directly with the level of OmpX in the outer membrane in rabbit ileal enterocytes challenged in situ.
Turnaround user acceptance in the context of HR self-service technology adoption: an action research approach

Growing advancement in electronic human resource management (e-HRM) in general, and human resource (HR) self-service technology in particular, has afforded transformational opportunities in changing the design and delivery of HR services. Despite their importance, our understanding of how acceptance of these technologies can be improved remains limited. To address this shortfall, this study utilises the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to consider how HR can drive and influence the adoption of HR self-service technology in an organisation. Utilising an action research approach, this study documents and reflects on the experience of a UK building society in introducing a new version of HR self-service technology, and analyses how interventions can be used to reshape users' perceptions. Our findings show how HR can play a more proactive role in shaping and reshaping users' perceptions towards accepting such a technology by better understanding how systematic interventions can be developed, used and evaluated. Our contributions are not only limited to the theorisation of HR self-service technology based on TAM, but also lie in demonstrating how action research, although currently underused, can be a valid and valuable approach for HR research and practice.
Lithium increases nerve growth factor levels in the rat hippocampus in an animal model of mania

Pharmacological studies suggest that neurotrophins may play a role in the effects of lithium and valproate on mood regulation. In this study, we tested the hypotheses that lithium and valproate would reverse and prevent the behavioral and biochemical effects of amphetamine, using a rat model of mania. In the reversal treatment, male Wistar rats were first administered D-amphetamine or saline for 14 days, and then, between days 8–14, rats were treated with lithium, valproate or saline. In the prevention treatment, rats were pretreated with lithium, valproate or saline, and then, between days 8–14, rats were administered D-amphetamine or saline. Locomotor behavior was assessed using the open-field task and hippocampal nerve growth factor levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both lithium and valproate reversed and prevented D-amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. Lithium increased nerve growth factor content in rat hippocampus in both experiments, but this effect was blocked with the co-administration of D-amphetamine. No significant effects on nerve growth factor levels were observed with valproate or D-amphetamine alone. These findings suggest that nerve growth factor may play a role in the neurotrophic effects of lithium but do not support the hypotheses that the nerve growth factor/TrkA pathway is involved in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder.
DNA supercoiling allows enhancer action over a large distance

Enhancers are regulatory DNA elements that can activate their genomic targets over a large distance. The mechanism of enhancer action over large distance is unknown. Activation of the glnAp2 promoter by NtrC-dependent enhancer in Escherichia coli was analyzed by using a purified system supporting multiple-round transcription in vitro. The data suggest that DNA supercoiling is an essential requirement for enhancer action over a large distance (2,500 bp) but not over a short distance (110 bp). DNA supercoiling facilitates functional enhancer–promoter communication over a large distance, probably by bringing the enhancer and promoter into close proximity.
[The prevalence of angina and cardiovascular risk factors in the different autonomous communities of Spain: the PANES Study. Prevalencia de Angina en España].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE The study of angina prevalence has received little attention in the analysis of the dimension of coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of angina and cardiovascular risk factors in the 45- to 74-year-old population of the different autonomous regions of Spain. METHODS A sample of 10,248 subjects was recruited. Sampling was stratified by gender and age groups (45-54, 55-64 and 65 to 74 years), and proportional to the population distribution of the different autonomous regions. A multistage sampling was performed, firstly 200 villages were randomly selected, secondly three different socio-economic household were chosen. Sample unit was neighbouring households. Rose questionnaire of angina and a structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and risk factor variables were administered. RESULTS Angina prevalence in the 45- to 74-year-old Spanish population was 7.5%. The autonomous regions with the higher and lower prevalence were Baleares (11.4%) and Basque Country (3.1%), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between angina prevalence and ischemic heart disease or cardiovascular disease mortality in men and women was 0.52 and 0.55, and 0.31 and 0.44, respectively. The self reported prevalence of hypertension, dyslipemia, diabetes and smoking was 31.1%, 24.2%, 14.3% and 34.6% respectively. CONCLUSIONS Angina prevalence in Spain is similar to that of developed countries although significant differences were observed among the autonomous regions of Spain. These differences correlate with those observed in ischemic heart disease or cardiovascular mortality among them and are associated with the cardiovascular risk factors prevalence which also varies among communities.
AhpC, oxidative stress and drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis AhpC is similar to a family of bacterial and eukaryotic antioxidant proteins with alkylhydroperoxidase (Ahp) and thioredoxin‐dependent peroxidase (TPx) activities. AhpC expression is associated with resistance to the front‐line antitubercular drug isoniazid in the naturally resistant organisms E. coli and M. smegmatis. We identified several isoniazid‐resistant M. tuberculosis isolates with ahpC promoter mutations resulting in AhpC overexpression. These strains were more resistant to cumene hydroperoxide than were wild‐type strains. However, these strains were unchanged in their sensitivity to isoniazid, refuting a role for AhpC in detoxification of this drug. All the isoniazid‐resistant, AhpC‐overexpressing strains were also deficient in activity of the mycobacterial catalase‐peroxidase KatG. KatG, the only known catalase in M. tuberculosis, is required for activation of isoniazid. We propose that compensatory ahpC promoter mutations are selected from KatG‐deficient, isoniazid‐resistant M. tuberculosis during infections, to mitigate the added burden imposed by organic peroxides on these strains.
Stopping the Drain: Third-Party Responses to California's Water Market

Concerns over potential adverse effects of a state-sponsored water market have prompted many rural California counties to adopt ordinances restricting groundwater exports since the early 1990 s. Results from panel regressions that rely on original water market and institutional data indicate that these local restrictions have significantly reduced water exports. The optimality of this policy is assessed. In the presence of a water market, export restrictions appear as a low-cost management alternative to common property within source regions. The substantial statewide benefits of a market weigh in favor of broader public support to more comprehensive, non-discriminatory groundwater management initiatives. (JEL Q25, Q21)
The potassium paradox: Implications for soil fertility, crop production and human health

Abstract Intensive fertilizer usage of KCl has been inculcated as a prerequisite for maximizing crop yield and quality, and relies on a soil test for exchangeable K in the plow layer to ensure that soil productivity will not be limited by nutrient depletion. The interpretive value of this soil test was rigorously evaluated by: (1) field sampling to quantify biweekly changes and seasonal trends, (2) characterizing the variability induced by air drying and the dynamic nature of soil K reserves and (3) calculating the K balance in numerous cropping experiments. These evaluations leave no alternative but to question the practical utility of soil K testing because test values cannot account for the highly dynamic interchange between exchangeable and non-exchangeable K, exhibit serious temporal instability with or without air drying and do not differentiate soil K buildup from depletion. The need for routine K fertilization should also be questioned, considering the magnitude and inorganic occurrence of profile reserves, the recycling of K in crop residues and the preferential nature of K uptake. An extensive survey of more than 2100 yield response trials confirmed that KCl fertilization is unlikely to increase crop yield. Contrary to the inculcated perception of KCl as a qualitative commodity, more than 1400 field trials predominately documented a detrimental effect of this fertilizer on the quality of major food, feed and fiber crops, with serious implications for soil productivity and human health.
Regional Liberalisation of Trade in Services

This paper investigates quantitatively the trade‐enhancing effect of regional trade agreements (RTAs) under the General Agreement on Trade in Services Article V (services RTAs) by applying a gravity regression analysis to four major services sectors – financial, business, communication and transportation services – while controlling for both country‐specific and time‐varying importer and exporter fixed effects. The regression analysis covers bilateral imports in services consisting of 20,986 country‐pairs in total over six years (2000–05). Our results indicate that sector‐specific trade‐creating effects of services RTAs are significantly positive without incurring trade‐diverting effects, excluding transportation services. Moreover, we find that there is a significant cumulative effect of services RTAs, excluding communication services and a complementary relationship between goods and services imports. In addition, the trade‐creating effect of services RTAs is stronger between developed members compared with between developed and developing countries.