Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of protective agents, rehydration media and initial cell concentration on viability of Pantoea agglomerans strain CPA‐2 subjected to freeze‐drying

The effect of initial cell density, protective agents and rehydration media on the viability of biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA‐2 when subjected to freeze‐drying was studied. Several additives were tested as protective agents against freeze‐drying injury. Maximum viability of the bacterial cells was obtained with disaccharides (survival levels >60%). Freeze‐dried samples were rehydrated with several media; the highest percentage viability was obtained with 10% non‐fat skim milk (100%+). The effect of initial bacterial load on the final recovery was dependent on protectant but not on rehydration media. Sucrose was an effective protectant when a high initial concentration (1010 cfu ml−1) was used; the opposite occurred with non‐fat skim milk. The use of 1010 cfu ml−1 as an initial concentration, sucrose as a protectant and non‐fat skim milk as a rehydration medium enabled 100% of P. agglomerans viability to be conserved after freeze‐drying. Results suggest the possibility of achieving a good formulation system for the studied biocontrol agent with a high number of viable cells to be used toward pathogens, which is desirable for the industrial development of the product.
The Genuine Saving Indicator: Estimates at the Subnational Level in Italy

In this paper we estimate the Genuine Saving (GS) of Italian regions in the period 1996-2005. The GS is a macroeconomic indicator of sustainability able to shed light on the future implications of current welfare levels, jointly considering the management of economic and natural assets. Despite the good performance of Italy as a whole during the considered period, our results show an uneven regional distribution of sustainability burdens, with the Basilicata region on an unsustainable development path, showing decreasing and negative value of GS. This results are mainly due to mismanagement of un-renewable natural resources (oil and gas). Failing this test of â€œweakâ€ sustainability, the Basilicata region is likely to incur a decline of welfare levels in the future.
Putrescine producing Lactococcus lactis : Sequencing and 1 transcriptional analysis of the biosynthesis gene cluster

25 Lactococcus lactis is a prokaryotic microorganism with great importance as a starter 26 culture and has become the model species among the lactic acid bacteria. The long and 27 safe history of use of L. lactis in dairy fermentations has resulted in the classification of 28 this species as GRAS (General Regarded As Safe) or QPS (Qualified Presumption of 29 Safety). However, our group has identified several strains of L. lactis subsp. lactis and 30 L. lactis subsp. cremoris which are able to produce putrescine from agmatine via the 31 agmatine deiminase (AGDI) pathway. Putrescine is a biogenic amine that confers 32 undesirable flavor characteristics and may even have toxic effects. The AGDI cluster of L. 33 lactis is composed of a putative regulatory gene, aguR, followed by the genes encoding 34 the catabolic enzymesaguB, aguD, aguA and aguC. These genes are transcribed as an 35 operon, which is induced in the presence of agmatine. In some strains, an IS element 36 interrupts the transcription of the cluster, which results in a non-putrescine producing 37 phenotype. Based on this knowledge, a PCR-based test was developed in order to 38 differentiate non-producing L. lactis strains from those with a functional AGDI cluster. 39 The analysis of the AGDI cluster and their flanking regions revealed that the capacity to 40 produce putrescine via the AGDI pathway could be a specific characteristic that has 41 been lost during the adaptation to the milk environment by a process of reductive 42 genome evolution. 43
Comparison of root canals obturated with ProTaper gutta-percha master point using the active lateral condensation and the single-cone techniques: a bacterial leakage study

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the recontamination time of root canals filled with ProTaper gutta-percha master point using the active lateral condensation and the single-cone techniques. Methods: Fifty premolars, after biomechanical preparation, were randomly divided into six groups according to the obturation technique and the diameter of the gutta-percha point. For leakage evaluation, the roots were mounted in a dual-chamber leakage model system using Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The Kaplan-Meier and Long-Rank tests were employed at the . 05 level of significance. Results: The recontamination was detected between the 13th and 80th days. The active lateral condensation produced less infiltration than the single cone technique, though without statistically significant differences between them. Conclusions: It may be concluded that there was no difference in bacterial penetration between the two root canal filling techniques. The mean root canal contamination time was 67 days.
Trends in relative weight over 1 year in low‐income urban youth

Recent cross‐sectional data indicate the rates of childhood obesity are plateauing. Few large‐scale longitudinal data sets exist, particularly in low‐income and minority youth. The purpose of this study was to describe longitudinal changes in relative weight among a large sample of low‐income, minority youth over 1 year.
GATA2 mutations in sporadic and familial acute myeloid leukaemia patients with CEBPA mutations

GATA2 mutations have recently been reported in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients with CEBPA‐double mutations. To explore their impact on this favourable‐risk disease, we determined GATA2 status in 153 sporadic AML patients and three members of a germ‐line CEBPA‐mutant family at AML presentation. Overall, 27% (15/55) CEBPA‐double, 16% (7/43) CEBPA‐single and 0% (0/55) normal karyotype/CEBPA‐wild‐type patients were GATA2‐mutant. All familial AML patients acquired both a second CEBPA and a GATA2 mutation. CEBPA and GATA2 mutant levels indicated that both mutations were likely to be early events in leukaemogenesis. GATA2 status did not impact on the favourable outcome of CEBPA‐double/FLT3‐inernal tandem duplication‐negative patients.
Galvanic vestibular stimulation for analysis of postural adaptation and stability

Human postural dynamics was investigated in 12 normal subjects by means of a force platform recording body sway, induced by bipolar transmastoid galvanic stimulation of the vestibular nerve and labyrinth. The model adopted was that of an inverted segmented pendulum, the dynamics of postural control being assumed to be reflected in the stabilizing forces actuated by the feet as a result of complex muscular activity subject to state feedback of body sway and position. Time-series analysis demonstrates that a transfer function from stimulus to sway-force response with specific parameters can be identified. In addition, adaptation to the vestibular stimulus is demonstrated to exist, and the authors describe this phenomenon using quantification in terms of a postural adaptation time constant in the range of 40-50 s. The results suggest means to evaluate adaptive behavior and postural control in the erect human being which may be useful in the rehabilitation of individuals striving to regain upright stance. <<ETX>>
Auditors’ Joint Engagements and Audit Quality: Evidence from Italian Private Companies

This study examines the effect of auditors’ collaboration in engagements on knowledge transfer, auditor expertise and the resulting audit outcomes. I invoke insights from the network literature to analyze a sample of individual auditors who are appointed to multiple shared engagements with other auditors. My results suggest that auditors develop knowledge, expertise and contacts through collaboration with other auditors and this leads to both higher audit quality and fees. Overall, my findings suggest that shared engagements facilitate knowledge transfer and increase auditor expertise.
Kazakhstan - The Real Currency and Growth Challenge for Commodity Producing Countries

Kazakhstan possesses extensive natural resources and relies heavily on revenues from the export of primary commodities, in particular petroleum and natural gas. Kazakhstan’s dependence on revenues from the oil sector raises the possibility that the economy is vulnerable to external commodity price fluctuations. The goal of this paper is to examine the relationship between real GDP, real exchange rate and oil prices using time series data for the period 2000–2010. Multivariate VAR analysis and Granger causality tests were carried out using both linear and non-linear specifications of oil price changes. The paper finds evidence of both linear and non-linear impact of oil price shocks on real GDP and real exchange rate. It is found that one of the key channels playing a role in the effect of oil prices on real activity is related to the real effective exchange rate. Though, oil price changes do not have a direct impact on real GDP of Kazakhstan, they indirectly affect it through their effect on real exchange rate. Indeed, results of the Wald, the Granger multivariate causality, and Likelihood Ratio tests indicate that linear price change and all the other oil price transformations are significant for the system as a whole. In particular, asymmetric oil price increases in the non-linear models are found to have positive impact on real GDP growth of a larger magnitude than asymmetric oil price decreases adversely affects real GDP.
The role of 18 F-FDG PET and 18 F-FDG PET / CT in the evaluation of pediatric Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma

Pediatric lymphomas (PL) are the third most common malignancy and account for 10% to 15% of all cancers in the pediatric age group. Accurate classification and staging are important for appropriate prognosis and treatment of pediatric Hodgkin’s lymphoma (PHL) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (PNHL) and impact patient prognosis significantly. The role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and 18F-FDG PET/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in diagnosis, staging, localization of tumor radiotherapy, evaluation of treatment response and detection of recurrent tumors of PHL and PNHL is reviewed in this paper. The results of published 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/ CT studies in pediatric patients with HL and NHL were promising for initial diagnosis, for the localization of tumors, for radiation treatment and for early assessment of treatment response. However, as the sample size of these original articles was often small and a unified study design standard is lacking, more data are needed to better specify the role of 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the management of PHL and PNHL. In conclusion, the 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/CT appear superior to other imaging methods such as X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound, other nuclear medicine methods and bone marrow biopsy for the evaluation of pediatric lymphomas.
Anaerobic growth of a "strict aerobe" (Bacillus subtilis).

There was a long-held belief that the gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis is a strict aerobe. But recent studies have shown that B. subtilis will grow anaerobically, either by using nitrate or nitrite as a terminal electron acceptor, or by fermentation. How B. subtilis alters its metabolic activity according to the availability of oxygen and alternative electron acceptors is but one focus of study. A two-component signal transduction system composed of a sensor kinase, ResE, and a response regulator, ResD, occupies an early stage in the regulatory pathway governing anaerobic respiration. One of the essential roles of ResD and ResE in anaerobic gene regulation is induction of fnr transcription upon oxygen limitation. FNR is a transcriptional activator for anaerobically induced genes, including those for respiratory nitrate reductase, narGHJI.B. subtilis has two distinct nitrate reductases, one for the assimilation of nitrate nitrogen and the other for nitrate respiration. In contrast, one nitrite reductase functions both in nitrite nitrogen assimilation and nitrite respiration. Unlike many anaerobes, which use pyruvate formate lyase, B. subtilis can carry out fermentation in the absence of external electron acceptors wherein pyruvate dehydrogenase is utilized to metabolize pyruvate.
Down-regulation of 14-3-3ζ suppresses anchorage-independent growth of lung cancer cells through anoikis activation

The family of 14-3-3 proteins has emerged as critical regulators of diverse cellular responses under both physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we report an important role of 14-3-3ζ in tumorigenesis through a mechanism that involves anoikis resistance. 14-3-3ζ is up-regulated in a number of cancer types, including lung cancer. Through an RNAi approach using human lung adenocarcinoma-derived A549 cells as a model system, we have found that knockdown of a single ζ isoform of 14-3-3 is sufficient to restore the sensitivity of cancer cells to anoikis and impair their anchorage-independent growth. Enhanced anoikis appears to be mediated in part by up-regulated BH3-only proteins, Bad and Bim, coupled with decreased Mcl-1, resulting in the subsequent activation of Bax. This study suggests a model in which anchorage-independent growth of lung cancer cells requires the presence of 14-3-3ζ. This work not only reveals a critical role of 14-3-3ζ in anoikis suppression in lung cancer cells, but also identifies and validates 14-3-3ζ as a potential molecular target for anticancer therapeutic development.
Impairment of diastolic function during short-term anthracycline chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the early changes in left ventricular diastolic and systolic function due to anthracycline treatment. DESIGN--A prospective study of cardiac function by radionuclide angiography in adults before and one month after the end of anthracycline treatment. PATIENTS--60 patients without cardiac disease treated with chemotherapy containing anthracycline. METHODS--Cardiac function was assessed by radionuclide measurement throughout treatment. Ejection fraction, peak ejection rate, time to peak ejection rate, filling rate, and time to peak filling rate were measured before and after treatment. To normalise radionuclide measurements of the left ventricular diastolic function the ratio of the filling rate to the ejection fraction and the ratio of the filling rate to the peak ejection rate were calculated. RESULTS--No patient developed symptomatic congestive cardiac failure. The ejection fraction decreased from 58% (5%) to 55% (6%) (P < 0.001), the peak ejection rate fell from 2.99 (0.41) to 2.77 (0.41) of the end diastolic volume per second (P < 0.001), and the peak filling rate from 2.71 (0.47) to 2.55 (0.44) of the end diastolic volume per second (P < 0.01) after treatment. No difference was observed in the normalised ratios. CONCLUSIONS--This report shows simultaneous impairment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic radionuclide parameters. The absence of variation in normalised measurements suggests similar changes in ejection fraction, peak ejection rate, and peak filling rate throughout treatment.
A review of eating disorders in males

Purpose of review Research in eating disorders in males has been active lately compared to the past. This review aims to provide an overview of the recently published studies of eating disorders in males. Recent findings Publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition has outlined more sex-neutral diagnostic criteria for eating disorders. Data of socioeconomic factors, prenatal influences, clinical characteristics, assessment, and mortality for eating disorders have been reported independently for males. Unlike in females, higher parental education showed no association with eating disorders in males, but twin or triplet status and lower gestational age at birth had an independent association with anorexia nervosa in males. Contrary to earlier suggestions, no differences in eating disorder symptoms such as binging, vomiting, or laxative abuse were observed between the sexes. Yet, males tended to score lower on eating disorder symptom measures than females. High rates of premorbid overweight and higher BMIs at various stages of eating disorders have been confirmed repeatedly. Higher age and lower BMI at admission, and restrictive anorexia nervosa subtype predicted fatal outcome for anorexia nervosa in males. Summary Contemporary research provides grounds for improved recognition, diagnosis, and treatment for males suffering from eating disorders.
Psychosocial Factors and Sleep Efficiency: Discrepancies Between Subjective and Objective Evaluations of Sleep

Objectives: Self-reported sleep efficiency may not precisely reflect objective sleep patterns. We assessed whether psychosocial factors and affective responses are associated with discrepancies between subjective reports and objective measures of sleep efficiency. Methods: Participants were 199 working women aged 20 to 61 years. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess psychosocial characteristics and affect that included work stress, social support, happiness, and depressive symptoms. Objective measures of sleep were assessed on one week and one leisure night with an Actiheart monitor. Self-reported sleep efficiency was derived from the Jenkins Sleep Problems Scale. Discrepancies between self-reported and objective measures of sleep efficiency were computed by contrasting standardized measures of sleep problems with objectively measured sleep efficiency. Results: Participants varied markedly in the discrepancies between self-reported and objective sleep measures. After adjustment for personal income, age, having children, marital status, body mass index, and negative affect, overcommitment (p = .002), low level of social support (p = .049), and poor self-rated heath (p = .02) were associated with overreporting of sleep difficulties and underestimation of sleep efficiency. Self-reported poor sleep efficiency was more prevalent among those more overcommitted at work (p = .009) and less happy (p = .02), as well as among those with lower level of social support (p = .03) and more depressive symptoms (p = .048), independently of covariates. Objective sleep efficiency was unrelated to psychosocial characteristics or affect. Conclusions: The extent to which self-reported evaluations of sleep efficiency reflect objective experience may be influenced by psychosocial characteristics and affect. Unless potential moderators of self-reported sleep efficiency are taken into account, associations between sleep and psychosocial factors relevant to health may be overestimated.BMI = body mass index; CVD = cardiovascular disease; PSG = polysomnography
Membrane-Anchored Inhibitory Peptides Capture Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp41 Conformations That Engage the Target Membrane prior to Fusion

ABSTRACT Soluble peptides derived from the C-terminal heptad repeat domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 are potent inhibitors of HIV-1 entry and gp41-induced fusion. Target membrane-anchored variants of these peptides have been shown to retain inhibitory activity. Both soluble and membrane-anchored C peptides (MACs) are thought to block fusion by binding to the N-terminal coiled coil domain of gp41 and preventing formation of the final six-helix bundle structure. However, interactions of target MACs with gp41 must be restricted to a subset of trimers that have their hydrophobic fusion peptides inserted into the target membrane. This unique feature of MACs was used to identify the intermediate step of fusion at which gp41 engaged the target membrane. Fusion between HIV envelope-expressing effector cells and target cells was measured by fluorescence microscopy. Expression of MACs in target cells led to less than twofold reduction in the extent of fusion. However, when reaction was first arrested by adding lysolipids that disfavored membrane merger, and the lipids were subsequently removed by washing, control cells supported fusion, whereas those that expressed MACs did not. The drastically improved potency of MACs implies that, at lipid-arrested stage, gp41 bridges the viral and target cell membranes and therefore more optimally binds the membrane-anchored peptides. Experimental demonstration of this intermediate shows that, similar to fusion induced by many other viral glycoproteins, engaging the target membrane by HIV-1 gp41 permits coupling between six-helix bundle formation and membrane merger.
Nurses can play an active role in the early diagnosis of exposure keratopathy in intensive care patients

AIM This study was conducted in order to determine nurses' ability to diagnose exposure keratopathy reliably in the early stage in intensive care patients. METHODS This methodological and descriptive study was carried out between 2011 and 2012 in the Neurology and Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Units of a teaching hospital in western Turkey. The sample consisted of 4354 ocular assessments in 156 corneas of 78 patients. A patient identification form and a fluorescein test patient tracking chart were used in the data collection. The corneas of the patients were checked by a fluorescein dye test by the same nurse and ophthalmologist. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 59 ± 15.5 years and 47.4% of them were female. The consistency between the nurse and the ophthalmologist was almost perfect in terms of determining the presence of exposure keratopathy, characteristics, and the grade of corneal staining. Exposure keratopathy was detected at a rate of 2% by the ophthalmologist. A significant relationship was found between the presence of lagophthalmos and the development of exposure keratopathy. A positive correlation was found between the grade of corneal staining and the degree of the eyelid position of the patients and the duration of mechanical ventilation therapy. CONCLUSION After eye care and assessment training, intensive care nurses can play an effective role in detecting early-stage exposure keratopathy in intensive care patients.
3-D-MIMO With Massive Antennas Paves the Way to 5G Enhanced Mobile Broadband: From System Design to Field Trials

Three-dimensional (3D) multiple input and multiple output (3D-MIMO) with massive antennas is a key technology to achieve high spectral efficiency and user experienced data rate for the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system. To implement 3D-MIMO in 5G system, practical constraints on the product design should be considered. This paper proposes a systematic design for the 3D-MIMO product by considering the restrictions of both base band and the hardware, including cost, size, weight, and heat dissipation. The design has been implemented for 2.6-GHz time-division duplex band, and field trials have been conducted for performance validation with practical intercell interference in commercial network. The trial results show that this 3D-MIMO design can meet the spectral efficiency requirement of the 5G enhanced mobile broadband services. The performance gain of 3D-MIMO varies with the traffic load. When the traffic load is heavy, 3D-MIMO can enhance the cell throughput by 4~6.7 times. When the traffic load is low, the performance gain of this 3D-MIMO design decreases. The results from field trial also show that the performance of 3D-MIMO degrades in mobility scenarios, where further enhancement on acquiring instant channel status information are necessary to improve the robustness of 3D-MIMO to mobility.
Guidelines for the Management of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Japan: 2009 Revised Edition

Background: Over the past few years, the profile of Helicobacter pylori infection has changed in Japan. In particular, the relationship between H. pylori and gastric cancer has been demonstrated more clearly. Accordingly, the committee of the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research has revised the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection in Japan.