Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variable assortment of prophages provides a transferable repertoire of pathogenic determinants in Salmonella

Gene transfer between separate lineages of a bacterial pathogen can promote recombinational divergence and the emergence of new pathogenic variants. Temperate bacteriophages, by virtue of their ability to carry foreign DNA, are potential key players in this process. Our previous work has shown that representative strains of Salmonella typhimurium (LT2, ATCC14028 and SL1344) are lysogenic for two temperate bacteriophages: Gifsy‐1 and Gifsy‐2. Several lines of evidence suggested that both elements carry genes that contribute to Salmonella virulence. One such gene, on the Gifsy‐2 prophage, codes for the [Cu, Zn] superoxide dismutase SodCI. Other putative pathogenicity determinants were uncovered more recently. These include genes for known or presumptive type III‐translocated proteins and a locus, duplicated on both prophages, showing sequence similarity to a gene involved in Salmonella enteropathogenesis (pipA). In addition to Gifsy‐1 and Gifsy‐2, each of the above strains was found to harbour a specific set of prophages also carrying putative pathogenicity determinants. A phage released from strain LT2 and identified as phage Fels‐1 carries the nanH gene and a novel sodC gene, which was named sodCIII. Strain ATCC14028 releases a lambdoid phage, named Gifsy‐3, which contains the phoP/phoQ‐activated pagJ gene and the gene for the secreted leucine‐rich repeat protein SspH1. Finally, a phage specifically released from strain SL1344 was identified as SopEΦ. Most phage‐associated loci transferred efficiently between Salmonella strains of the same or different serovars. Overall, these results suggest that lysogenic conversion is a major mechanism driving the evolution of Salmonella bacteria.
Diagnosis of acute ischemia using dual energy CT after mechanical thrombectomy

Background and purpose To assess the performance of dual energy unenhanced CT in the detection of acute ischemia after mechanical thrombectomy. Methods Retrospective study, approved by the local institutional review board, including all patients that underwent intra-arterial thrombectomy in our institution over a period of 2 years. The presence of acute ischemia and hemorrhage was evaluated by three readers. Sensitivity and specificity of the non-contrast CT weighted sum image (NCCT) and the virtual non-contrast reconstructed image (VNC) were estimated and compared using generalized estimating equations to account for the non-independence of regions in each patient. Results 58 patients (27 women and 31 men; mean age 70.4 years) were included in the study, yielding 580 regions of interest. Sensitivity and specificity in detecting acute ischemia were higher for all readers when using VNC, with a significant increase in sensitivity for two readers (p<0.001 and 0.01) and a significant increase in specificity in one reader (p<0.001). Specificity in detecting hemorrhage was excellent for all readers. Conclusions Dual energy unenhanced CT VNC images were superior in the identification of acute ischemia in comparison with NCCT.
COMPARATIVE MICROBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF ROOTS AND AERIAL PARTS OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN

Ethanolic extract of roots and aerial parts of Achyranthes aspera was investigated for its antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, and Proteus vulgaris and anti fungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus flavus at 100 mg/disc using diffusion method. The comparative studies shown that ethanolic extract of roots and aerial parts of Achyranthes aspera have exhibited moderately equal action when compared to Cotrimoxazole (30 mg/disc) for antibacterial and Clotrimazole (30 mg/disc) for antifungal activity. Our findings confirm the traditional therapeutic claims for this herb.
Specific Recognition of the C-rich Strand of Human Telomeric DNA and the RNA Template of Human Telomerase by the First KH Domain of Human Poly(C)-binding Protein-2*

Poly(C)-binding proteins (PCBPs) constitute a family of nucleic acid-binding proteins that play important roles in a wide spectrum of regulatory mechanisms. The diverse functions of PCBPs are dependent on the ability of the PCBPs to recognize poly(C) sequences with high affinity and specificity. PCBPs contain three copies of KH (hnRNP K homology) domains, which are responsible for binding nucleic acids. We have determined the NMR structure of the first KH domain (KH1) from PCBP2. The PCBP2 KH1 domain adopts a structure with three α-helices packed against one side of a three-stranded antiparallel β-sheet. Specific binding of PCBP2 KH1 to a number of poly(C) RNA and DNA sequences, including the C-rich strand of the human telomeric DNA repeat, the RNA template region of human telomerase, and regulatory recognition motifs in the poliovirus-1 5′-untranslated region, was established by monitoring chemical shift changes in protein 15N-HSQC spectra. The nucleic acid binding groove was further mapped by chemical shift perturbation upon binding to a six-nucleotide human telomeric DNA. The binding groove is an α/β platform formed by the juxtaposition of two α-helices, one β-strand, and two flanking loops. Whereas there is a groove in common with all of the DNA and RNA binders with a hydrophobic floor accommodating a three-residue stretch of C residues, nuances in recognizing flanking residues are provided by hydrogen bonding partners in the KH domain. Specific interactions of PCBP2 KH1 with telomeric DNA and telomerase RNA suggest that PCBPs may participate in mechanisms involved in the regulation of telomere/telomerase functions.
Patient participation in the cancer consultation: evaluation of a question prompt sheet.

BACKGROUND Active participation and asking questions are important ways in which patients can ensure they understand what the doctor has said. This study evaluated a question prompt sheet designed to encourage patients to ask questions in the cancer consultation. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients (n = 142) were randomised to receive (i) a question prompt sheet or (ii) a general sheet informing patients of services available through the regional Cancer Council. Recall of information was assessed in a structured interview 4-20 days after the consultation. Questionnaires to assess patient satisfaction and adjustment to cancer were sent by mail. RESULTS The question prompt sheet had a significant effect in one content area: prognosis. Thirty-five percent of patients who received the question handout asked questions about prognosis compared to 16% of those receiving the information handout. The prompt sheet did not increase the mean number of questions asked overall. Age, in/out-patient status, gender and involvement preference were predictive of both number and duration of patient questions. CONCLUSIONS A question prompt sheet has a limited but important effect on patient question asking behaviour in the cancer consultation.
Lifelong physical activity preserves functional sympatholysis and purinergic signalling in the ageing human leg

• Ageing is associated with a reduced exercise hyperaemia and impaired ability to override sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity (functional sympatholysis). • We find that sedentary elderly have a lower vasodilator response to ACh and ATP in the leg compared to young, but also that this age‐related reduction is partially (ACh) or completely (ATP) offset in lifelong physically active elderly subjects. • An increase in sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity induced by tyramine reduces exercise hyperaemia in sedentary elderly, but not active elderly and young subjects. • Interstitial ATP levels during exercise and P2Y2 receptor content are more related to the physical activity level than age. • Physical activity can prevent the age‐related impairment in functional sympatholysis and maintain a sufficient O2 delivery during moderate intensity exercise despite a loss of endothelial function.
A comparison of molecular and enzyme‐based assays for the detection of thiopurine methyltransferase mutations

S‐Methylation by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is an important route of metabolism for the thiopurine drugs. About one in 300 individuals are homozygous for a TPMT mutation associated with very low enzyme activity and severe myelosuppression if treated with standard doses of drug. To validate the use of molecular genetic techniques for the detection of TPMT deficiency, we have determined red blood cell TPMT activity in 240 adult blood donors and 55 normal children. Genotype was determined by restriction fragment length analysis of polymerase chain reaction products in a cohort of 79 of the blood donors and five cases of azathioprine‐induced myelosupression, and this confirmed a close relationship between genotype and phenotype. In 17 of the 24 cases in which mutations were found, DNA was also available from remission bone marrow. In one of these cases, DNA from the remission marrow sample indicated the presence of a non‐mutated allele that had not been seen in the blast DNA sample obtained at presentation. These results indicate that polymerase chain reaction‐based assays give reliable and robust results for the detection of TPMT deficiency, but that caution should be exercised in relying exclusively on DNA obtained from lymphoblasts in childhood leukaemia.
Twitter Usage of German Online Retailers

In this paper, we investigate the role of Twitter for German online retailers based on an empirical study. We analyze Tweets of the best selling German online retailers with qualitative and quantitative methods. Based on our results, we derive a conceptual model that can be used to classify different interaction strategies for online retailers. We identify four different interaction strategies. Three strategies are based on social interactions either on Twitter or by redirecting users to other social networks. The fourth strategy is applied to promote products of the retailers’ online store. Another result is that accounts which apply a user interaction focused strategy inside of Twitter through User Mentions, have a significantly higher number of followers compared to the accounts that use other strategies. Keywords–E-commerce; Twitter; Study; Social Web.
Analysis of the Factors for the Successful E-Learning Services Adoption from Education Providers’ and Students’ Perspectives: A case study of Private Universities in Northern Iraq

Electronic learning (e-learning) adoption has always been a challenge for developing countries which is often stunted by the facilitating conditions as well as the resistance of both the professionals and students. Two-step research methodology is applied in private Universities of Northern Iraq by utilizing a hypothesized model of technology acceptance model (TAM). First, the readiness factors were investigated through University staff by analysing 516 participants. As the second research objective, the intention of students is explored with 256 valid respondents in these Universities. Data were obtained from seven private Universities’ staff and students via a paper based quantitative survey. Respondents were selected based on the convenience sampling method, where researchers visited Universities during the semester with permission of their administration bodies. The findings reveal that the lowest value was for human resource readiness factor. Cultural acceptance, both from education providers’ and students’ perspective, is quite crucial in order to have a sustainable e-learning applications. From a technical point of view, our findings also confirm the importance of the technological readiness and the main TAM constructs of perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU). Therefore, management of the Universities need to ensure that selected systems adequately address these issues.
U.S.-Canada Trade Liberalization and MNC Production Location

Using confidential firm-level panel data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, we examine how the bilateral trade flows of U.S. multinational corporations (MNCs) and their Canadian affiliates responded to U.S.-Canadian tariff reductions from 1983 to 1992. We find that Canadian affiliate sales to the United States are negatively correlated with Canadian tariffs, but U.S. parent sales to Canadian affiliates have little association with Canadian tariffs. These results contradict the notion that Canadian tariff reductions would lead to a hollowing out of Canadian manufacturing. We also find substantial heterogeneity in MNC responses to tariff changes within narrowly defined manufacturing industries. Overall, bilateral trade liberalization is trade-creating, as U.S. MNCs integrated their North American production such that Canadian affiliates increased sales to the United States and reduced domestic sales.
Allergen penetration through the skinFrédéric

Article accepted on 21/1/2003 The skin is directly in contact with environmental molecules which are present in the air or directly in contact with the epidermis. Despite the assumption that it has a barrier role which could prevent the penetration of molecules, the skin is permeable to all substances from the low molecular weight xenobiotics to the high molecular weight proteins. Only the degree of permeability varies depending on the physiological state of the skin and the chemical properties of molecules. Recent insights into the pathophysiology of allergic skin diseases have shown that allergen penetration is not the major factor in explaining why some patients become allergic while others maintain an immunological tolerance to the penetrating molecules. Indeed, the functional properties of some allergenic molecules able to induce activation of innate immunity appear to be far more important in the development of allergy than their ability to penetrate the skin easily.
How Information Is Transmitted Across the Nations? An Empirical Investigation of the US and Chinese Commodity Markets

This paper studies how information is transmitted across nations by focusing on three types of commodities: copper, soybean and wheat. The paper utilizes Johansen cointegration model, vector error correction model (VECM) and the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic model (GARCH) to investigate the price discovery and volatility spillover process of informationally-linked futures markets. The empirical results indicate that the models provide evidence to support the long-term equilibrium relationships and significant bidirectional information flows between copper futures markets in China and in the United States. Although innovations in one market can predict the futures volatility in another market, the volatility spillovers from U.S. futures to Chinese futures are more significant than the other way around. As for the soybean futures, there is a one-lag price transmission across markets, while no volatility spillover has been detected. As for the wheat futures, no information transmission is found across markets.
Exercise training improves outcomes of a dyspnea self-management program.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to determine whether exercise training adds to the benefit of a dyspnea self-management (DM) program; and (2) to determine if there is a "dose response" to supervised exercise training (0, 4, or 24 sessions) in dyspnea, exercise performance, and health-related quality of life. METHODS Subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 103, 46 men, 57 women; age 66 +/- 8 years; forced expiratory volume in 1 second 44.8 +/- 14% predicted) were randomized to DM, DM-exposure, or DM-training. Dyspnea self-management included individualized education about dyspnea management strategies, a home-walking prescription, and daily logs. Outcomes were measured at baseline and 2 months as part of a 1-year longitudinal randomized clinical trial. Outcomes included dyspnea during laboratory exercise and with activities of daily living (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire [CRQ]), Shortness of Breath Questionnaire, Baseline/Transitional Dyspnea Index), exercise performance (incremental treadmill tests (ITTs) and endurance treadmill tests (ETTs), 6-minute walk (6MW), and health-related quality of life (SF-36). RESULTS The DM-training group had significantly greater improvements than the DM-exposure and the DM groups in dyspnea at isotime during ITT (P =.006); exercise performance during ITT (P =.005), ETT (P =.003), and 6MW (P =.01); SF-36 Vitality (P =.031); and CRQ mastery (P =.007). There was a dose-dependent improvement in CRQ dyspnea scores (P <.05) with significant improvements only in the DM-training and DM-exposure groups. CONCLUSION Exercise training substantially improved the impact of a dyspnea self-management program with a home walking prescription (DM). This impact tended to be dependent on the "dose" of exercise.
Effect of Water Supply on Growth and Polyphenols of Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis L.) and Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris L.)

A pot experiment was carried out with lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis L.) and thyme ( Thymus vulgaris L.). Different water supply was applied: 25%, 40% and 70% saturation of soil water capacity (SWC). Morphological traits, biomass and phenolic type active ingredients were investigated. Among the two species, main differences were registered in biomass and TPC. Lower SWC resulted in reduced biomass production of lemon balm, while the applied stress treatments did not effect the biomass of thyme. In lemon balm, highest TPC contents were measured in control plants both in shoots and roots but in thyme, the shoots showed a significantly increased TPC at the 25% SWC conditions. Neither the content of total flavonoids nor that of the rosmarinic acid was affected by the treatments. The antioxidant capacity proved to be in tight connection with the TPC in both species (r = 0.766–0.883). The rosmarinic acid content of lemon balm plants contributed to the antioxidant capacity, as well (r = 0.679–0.869).
Advances in High Frequency Strategies

SEC and CFTC reports estimate that High Frequency strategies are responsible for about 60% of all transactions on U.S. shares. In Europe, this percentage is around 40% and growing. High Frequency strategies are those characterized by a brief holding period, which can range from a split second to a few hours. This enables traders to place numerous independent bets per day on an instrument or portfolio, profiting from the multiplicative effect postulated by the Fundamental Law of Active Management. The goal is to exploit inefficiencies derived from the market’s microstructure (rigidities, agents’ idiosyncrasies, asymmetric information, etc.). The generalization of electronic markets and ubiquitous automation of financial transactions has rendered many established models and theories obsolete. The objective of this work is to present a new scientific framework for the study of some of the most relevant questions concerning High Frequency.
[Clinical analysis of 60 cases with radiative nasopharyngeal necrosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognostic factors of patients with postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis (PRNN) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS Sixty patients with PRNN were studied retrospectively, 50 males and 10 females, age ranging from 30 - 70 years of (median 51.5 years). All patients were treated with endoscopic debridement and systemic or local anti-inflammatory treatment. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to assess the interval time between irradiation completion and necrosis onset and related factors of treatment outcome. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression survival analysis was performed to analyze risk factors. RESULTS The latent period between the last irradiation and the onset of the symptom ranged from 1 to 156 months, with a median of 5 months. The median interval time was 7.0 months in 1 course group and 4.5 months in ≥2 courses group (χ2=5.527, P=0.031), and 7.5 months in T2 group and 5.0 months in ≥T3 group (χ2=4.330, P=0.037), respectively. Forty-one patients of them had nasopharyngeal infection, and the difference in curative effect between infection group and non-infection group was significantly (χ2=14.775, P<0.001). Symptoms were alleviated in all patients after endoscopic debridement and systemic or local anti-inflammatory treatment. Follow-up for all patients ranged from 2 to 46 months (median 12.5 months). Seven patients with internal carotid artery exposure died of sudden nasopharyngeal massive bleeding and fifteen patients died of tumor or systemic exhaustion; five cases were lost, and the rest were all in survival. Inter carotid artery erosion was an independent prognostic risk factor according to multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression survival analysis (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic debridement is effective in treating irradiation-related nasopharyngeal necrosis. The occurrence of nasopharyngeal necrosis is related to infection, irradiation dose and course, and T stage. Internal carotid artery erosion is a severe situation and also an independent prognostic factor for the patients. The most common causes of death were nasopharyngeal bleeding and systemic exhaustion.
Surrender Risk in Life Insurance Policies

Life insurance often embeds a surrender option that gives the policyholders a right to exchange an existing contract for its cash surrender value. Similar to mortgage prepayment option that imposes a cash-flow risk to MBS investors, this surrender option is a source of concern for life insurers. While prior studies have attempted to quantify this surrender risk by pricing the surrender option, a common theoretical assumption imposed is a fully rational response of policyholders to only interest rates. However, actual surrender experience indicates that interest rates are just one of the multiple factors that drive the surrender decision and policyholders' response is not necessarily optimal. This paper integrates an empirical surrender function into the option pricing framework by employing a novel data set from a large life insurance industry experience study. It shows, for the first time in the literature, that policy vintage is a particularly significant and meaningful factor in addition to macroeconomic variables that impact surrender activity. Using these empirics, I find that the experience-based value of the surrender option is substantially less than its fully rational counterpart. In addition, the competitive landscape of the life insurance industry and the interest rate environment both play an important role in assessing the surrender risk exposure of life insurers.
Unrecognized catatonia as a cause for delayed weaning in Intensive Care Unit

The cause of altered sensorium in critical care settings includes metabolic derangements, drug and toxin overdose, central nervous system infections, neurodegenerative disorders, vascular events, hypo-perfusion states, and septic encephalopathy. Here, we present a case of an elderly woman who presented to us with altered sensorium with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Her metabolic parameters, imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid study were all normal despite that she continued to remain in altered sensorium and had an unrecognized behavioral state that delayed her weaning.