Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ancestral Divergence of Rickettsia beZlii from the Spotted Fever and Typhus Groups of Rickettsia and Antiquity of the Genus Rickettsia

The eubacterial genus Rickettsia belongs to the cu subgroup of the phylum Proteobacteriu. This genus is usually divided into three biotypes on the basis of vector host and antigenic cross-reactivity characteristics. However, the species Rickettsia bellii does not fit into this classification scheme; this organism has characteristics common to both the spotted fever group and the typhus group biotypes and also exhibits some unique features. Sequences of the 16s rRNA and 23s rRNA genes from Rickettsia rickettsii (spotted fever group), Rickettsia prowazekii (typhus group), and R. bellii were studied to determine the position of R. bellii in the rickettsia1 classification scheme. The 23s rRNA gene sequences described in this paper are the first 23s rRNA sequences reported for any member of the Rickettsiuceue. The 23s rRNA gene contains substantially more phylogenetic information than is contained in the 16s rRNA sequences, and the 23s rRNA gene sequence has diverged about 1.9 times faster in the three Rickettsia species which we studied. Taken together, the molecular data obtained from the two genes indicate that R. bellii is not a member of either the spotted fever group or the typhus group; rather, this organism appears to be the product of a divergence which predates the separation of the genus into the spotted fever group and the typhus group. Consequently, different combinations of the ancestral characteristics retained by R. bellii have been retained in the more derived lineages of the genus. A comparison of the 16s rRNA and 23s rRNA gene sequences of Rickettsia strains with other proteobacterial sequences confirmed that the genus Rickettsia is a unique deeply
Dual mode of energy coupling by the oxyanion-translocating ArsB protein

The arsA and arsB genes of the ars operon of R-factor R773 confer arsenite resistance in Escherichia coli by coding for an anion-translocating ATPase. Arsenite resistance and the in vivo energetics of arsenite transport were compared in cells expressing the arsA and arsB genes and those expressing just the arsB gene. Cells expressing the arsB gene exhibited intermediate arsenite resistance compared with cells expressing both the arsA and arsB genes. Both types of cells exhibited energy-dependent arsenite exclusion. Exclusion of 73AsO2- from cells expressing only the arsB gene was coupled to electrochemical energy, while in cells expressing both genes, transport was coupled to chemical energy, most likely ATP. These results suggest that the Ars anion transport system can be either an obligatory ATP-coupled primary pump or a secondary carrier coupled to the proton motive force, depending on the subunit composition of the transport complex.
Elevated angiogenin levels in chronic heart failure

Background. Abnormal indices of angiogenesis have been reported in chronic heart failure (CHF). We tested the hypothesis that circulating angiogenin (a potent inducer of neovascularization in vivo) is higher in CHF patients compared with controls and associated with indices of CHF severity: brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), Simpson's left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Methods. Using a cross-sectional approach, we measured serum angiogenin and BNP levels in 109 consecutive patients with CHF (85 males; mean age 60 (standard deviation (SD) 10 yrs) and 112 asymptomatic controls with normal cardiac function and related levels to echocardiographic parameters. Results. Angiogenin was significantly higher in CHF patients compared to controls (P<0.001). On univariate analysis, angiogenin was positively associated with age, plasma glucose, insulin, and BNP (all P<0.001); and negatively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (P=0.04) and EF (P=0.002). Angiogenin levels increased in an ordinal fashion with NYHA class, exaggerated by the presence of diabetes mellitus (pseudo R2=0.15, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, angiogenin levels were only associated with deteriorating NYHA classification (beta=0.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09–0.19), P<0.001). Angiogenin was also a modest discriminator for the presence of CHF (area under the curve 0.72; 95% CI 0.62–0.82), P<0.001). Conclusion. Angiogenin is related to worsening heart failure severity (NYHA classification), with the highest levels in NYHA class III. Further research is warranted to determine the validity of angiogenin in a diagnostic and prognostic capacity in CHF.
Acute antibody responses to Giardia lamblia are depressed in patients with AIDS.

We investigated the ability of patients with AIDS to develop antibody responses to a naturally encountered antigenic stimulus, Giardia lamblia. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect IgG, IgM, and IgA to G. lamblia trophozoites, we tested sera from 29 patients with AIDS (15 without and 14 with G. lamblia infection); 20 healthy homosexual men; and 91 immunocompetent heterosexual subjects, 25 of whom were infected with G. lamblia. Heterosexual subjects infected with G. lamblia had significantly higher levels of all three classes of specific antibody than did the uninfected subjects (P less than .0001). Patients with AIDS who had acute symptomatic giardiasis had significantly lower levels of all antibodies than did the heterosexual subjects who had giardiasis; specific IgM was absent in all but one patient with AIDS. The symptomatically infected patients with AIDS had low levels of G. lamblia-specific antibodies that were similar to those of the uninfected patients with AIDS. Patients with AIDS do not have to suffer from prolonged symptomatic G. lamblia infections, however, because available therapy is effective against the parasite, independent of a patient's immune status.
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: Gaining experience by graded approach

Introduction: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) has become a gold standard in management of most of the adrenal disorders. Though report on the first laparoscopic adrenalectomy dates back to 1992, there is no series of LA reported from India. Starting Feb 2001, a graded approach to LA was undertaken in our center. Till March 2006, a total of 34 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed with success. Materials and Methods: The endocrinology department primarily evaluated all patients. Patients were divided into Group A - unilateral LA and Group B - bilateral LA (BLA). The indications in Group A were pheochromocytoma (n=7), Conn's syndrome (n=3), Cushing's adenoma (n=2), incidentaloma (n=2); and in Group B, Cushing's disease (CD) following failed trans-sphenoid pituitary surgery (n = 8); ectopic ACTH- producing Cushing's syndrome (n=1) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (n=1). The lateral transabdominal route was used. Results: The age group varied from 12–54 years, with mean age of 28.21 years. Average duration of surgery in Group A was 166.43 min (40–270 min) and 190 min (150–310 min) in Group B. Average blood loss was 136.93 cc (20–400 cc) in Group A and 92.5 cc (40–260 cc) in Group B. There was one conversion in each group. Mean duration of surgical stay was 1.8 days (1–3 days) in Group A and 2.6 days (2–4 days) in Group B. All the patients in both groups were cured of their illness. Three patients in Group B developed Nelson's syndrome. The mean follow up was of 24.16 months (4–61 months). Conclusion: LA though technically demanding, is feasible and safe. Graded approach to LA is the key to success.
A Case of Generalized Bovine Tuberculosis in a Sheep

The present report describes a rare case of generalized bovine-type tuberculosis in a slaughtered 4-year-old ewe discovered during routine surveillance at an abattoir. A postmortem examination revealed lesions in the ewe's thoracic and abdominal cavities, ranging from encapsulated, mineralized foci to extensive, soft, caseous tissue. Lesions in the lungs, liver, and lymph nodes were consistent with mycobacterial infection. A histopathological examination detected granulomatous lesions in all tissue samples. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex genome was confirmed through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of tissues, using IS6110 primers, followed by a nucleotide sequence analysis of PCR products. Acid-fast bacteria, characterized as Mycobacterium bovis, were isolated from lesions following 38 days of incubation.
Effect of traY amber mutations on F-plasmid traY promoter activity in vivo

We have examined the effect of the F plasmid TraY protein on tra gene expression in vivo. Expression was assayed as alkaline phosphatase activity in cells containing a traY phi(traA'-'phoA)hyb operon under traY promoter control. Amber mutations in traY significantly reduced alkaline phosphatase activity. Since nonsense polarity effects were minimal, if they occurred at all, these data provide the first direct evidence that TraY regulates tra gene expression.
Targeted nanomedicine for prostate cancer therapy: docetaxel and curcumin co-encapsulated lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles for the enhanced anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo

Abstract Objective: Docetaxel (DTX) remains the only effective drug for prolonging survival and improving quality of life of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. Combination anticancer therapy encapsulating DTX and another extract of traditional Chinese medicine is one nano-sized drug delivery system promising to generate synergistic anticancer effects, to maximize the treatment effect, and to overcome multi-drug resistance. The purpose of this study is to construct lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) as nanomedicine for co-encapsulation of DTX and curcumin (CUR). Methods: DTX and CUR co-encapsulated LPNs (DTX-CUR-LPNs) were constructed. DTX-CUR-LPNs were evaluated in terms of particles size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation, and drug delivery. The cytotoxicity of the LPNs was evaluated on PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells (PC3 cells) by MTT assays. In vivo anti-tumor effects were observed on the PC3 tumor xenografts in mice. Results: The particle size of DTX-CUR-LPNs was 169.6 nm with a positive zeta potential of 35.7 mV. DTX-CUR-LPNs showed highest cytotoxicity and synergistic effect of two drugs in tumor cells in vitro. In mice-bearing PC-3 tumor xenografts, the DTX-CUR-LPNs inhibited tumor growth to a greater extent than other contrast groups, without inducing any obvious side effects. Conclusion: According to these results, the novel nanomedicine offers great promise for the dual drugs delivery to the prostate cancer cells, showing the potential of synergistic combination therapy for prostate cancer.
Distribution of Local Thermal Residual Stress in Thin Chips Stacked by Flip Chip Structures

Mechanical reliability issues such as cracking of LSI chips and shift or deterioration of electronic performance of them caused by mechanical stress and strain in multi devices sub-assembly (MDS) structures were discussed analytically and experimentally. Local thermal deformation due to thinning of the LSI chips for mobile application causes large distribution of residual stress from -300 MPa to +150 MPa in the chips. The values of the maximum and the minimum stresses are strong functions of the thickness of the LSI chips and period of area-arrayed small bumps. In flip chip assembly structures, periodic stress or strain distribution appears in the thinned chips depending on the period of the area-arrayed bumps. The amplitude of the stress often exceeds 100 MPa, and it may cause the change of electronic performance and reliability of devices. In addition, both the amplitude and the average stress vary among the three-dimensionally stacked thin chips due to macroscopic bending of the assembled structure. Therefore, it is very important to optimize the MDS structures to minimize the stress and thus, to improve the reliability of products
European guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis. First Edition – Executive summary

Multidisciplinary, evidence-based guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis have been developed by experts in a project coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The full guideline document covers the entire process of population-based screening. It consists of 10 chapters and over 250 recommendations, graded according to the strength of the recommendation and the supporting evidence. The 450-page guidelines and the extensive evidence base have been published by the European Commission. The content of the executive summary is presented here to promote international discussion and collaboration by making the principles and standards recommended in the new EU Guidelines known to a wider professional and scientific community. Following these recommendations has the potential to enhance the control of colorectal cancer through improvement in the quality and effectiveness of screening programmes and services.
Line-of-Sight Spatial Modulation for Indoor mmWave Communication at 60 GHz

In this paper, we propose to use spatial modulation (SM) and the generalized spatial modulation (GSM) MIMO schemes in indoor line-of-sight (LOS) millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication at 60GHz. SM/GSM are known but only at low-GHz frequencies where the channels are typically rich scattered and characterized by Rayleigh or Rician distribution. However, 60-GHz indoor channels are typically not rich but rather sparsely scattered and dominated by the LOS component, thus making them different from low-GHz fading channels and our work novel. We first seek to optimize SM in LOS by finding the channel conditions that minimize its symbol error probability (SEP). Then, we extend our studies to LOS GSM and derive its channel capacity and SEP. Furthermore, we present numerical studies on the behavior and performance of SM/GSM in LOS. LOS spatial multiplexing and beamforming MIMO schemes are used as benchmarks for comparison. At last, we propose novel TX and RX hardware architectures, both of which use only a single RF chain, for implementation of SM/GSM at mmWave frequencies. Both simplicity and good performance are exhibited by LOS SM/GSM thus making them very attractive techniques for short-range indoor mmWave communications at 60GHz.
Use of a Nonmedicated Dietary Supplement Correlates with Increased Prevalence of Streptomycin-Sulfa-Tetracycline-Resistant Escherichia coli on a Dairy Farm

ABSTRACT We examined how a dietary supplement affects the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli on a dairy farm in Washington State. Between 2001 and 2004 the prevalence of fecal E. coli strains resistant to streptomycin, sulfadiazine, and tetracycline (SSuT strains) declined from 59.2% to 26.1% in the calf population. In 2003 the dairy discontinued use of a dietary supplement, and we hypothesized that the decline in prevalence of SSuT strains was related to this change in management. To test this we established three treatments in which calves received no supplement, the dietary supplement with oxytetracycline, or the dietary supplement without oxytetracycline. Calves receiving either dietary supplement had a significantly higher prevalence of SSuT E. coli than the no-supplement control group (≈37% versus 20%, respectively; P = 0.03). Importantly, there was no evidence that oxytetracycline contributed to an increased prevalence of fecal SSuT E. coli. We compared the growth characteristics of SSuT and non-SSuT E. coli in LB broth enriched with either the complete dietary supplement or its individual constituents. Both the complete dietary supplement and its vitamin D component supported a significantly higher cell density of SSuT strains (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). The dry milk and vitamin A components of the dietary supplement did not support different cell densities. These results were consistent with selection and maintenance of SSuT E. coli due to environmental components independent of antibiotic selection.
Government Regulation of International Corporate Social Responsibility in the US and the UK: How Domestic Institutions Shape Mandatory and Supportive Initiatives

While most scholarship on corporate social responsibility (CSR) focuses on companyâ€ level CSR initiatives, it increasingly also examines government programs for CSR. However, research on how governments contribute to CSR has mainly focused on domestic and not international CSR challenges. This literature also does not specify whether governments shape CSR through mandatory regulation or supportive initiatives. This article adopts a processâ€ tracing approach to determine how governments regulate international CSR. It demonstrates that the legal and political systems in the liberal market economies of the UK and the US lead to different forms of public CSR regulation â€” notably in the areas of labour standards in apparel and tax transparency in extractives. The UK government has been more likely to support bottomâ€ up collaborative multiâ€ stakeholder initiatives, whereas the US government has favoured topâ€ down mandatory regulation.
The Mismatch Repair Protein MLH1 Marks a Subset of Strongly Interfering Crossovers in Tomato[W][OA]

In most eukaryotes, the prospective chromosomal positions of meiotic crossovers are marked during meiotic prophase by protein complexes called late recombination nodules (LNs). In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a cytological recombination map has been constructed based on LN positions. We demonstrate that the mismatch repair protein MLH1 occurs in LNs. We determined the positions of MLH1 foci along the 12 tomato chromosome pairs (bivalents) during meiotic prophase and compared the map of MLH1 focus positions with that of LN positions. On all 12 bivalents, the number of MLH1 foci was ∼70% of the number of LNs. Bivalents with zero MLH1 foci were rare, which argues against random failure of detecting MLH1 in the LNs. We inferred that there are two types of LNs, MLH1-positive and MLH1-negative LNs, and that each bivalent gets an obligate MLH1-positive LN. The two LN types are differently distributed along the bivalents. Furthermore, cytological interference among MLH1 foci was much stronger than interference among LNs, implying that MLH1 marks the positions of a subset of strongly interfering crossovers. Based on the distances between MLH1 foci or LNs, we propose that MLH1-positive and MLH1-negative LNs stem from the same population of weakly interfering precursors.
Growth and Division of Filamentous Forms of Escherichia coli

Adler, Howard I. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.), and Alice A. Hardigree. Growth and division of filamentous forms of Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 90:223–226. 1965. —Cells of certain mutant strains of Escherichia coli grow into long multinucleate filaments after exposure to radiation. Deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein synthesis proceed, but cytokinesis does not occur. Cytokinesis (cross-septation) can be initiated by exposure of the filaments to pantoyl lactone or a temperature of 42 C. If growing filaments are treated with mitomycin C, nuclear division does not occur, and nuclear material is confined to the central region of the filament. Cytokinesis cannot be induced in mitomycin C-treated filaments by pantoyl lactone or treatment at 42 C.
RESPONSIVENESS OF INCOME TO LOCAL INCOME TAXES: EVIDENCE FROM INDIANA

This paper examines the extent to which incomes respond to changes in county level income taxes, using data from the Indiana Department of Revenue on county-level taxable incomes that span 1997–2013, matched to data on local income tax rates and other county characteristics. Fixed effects models show that county income tax rates have little impact on the county level aggregate taxable income. Changes in competitor tax rates, with competitors identified based on contiguity, similarity in population size, and migration patterns, do not affect county taxable income either. Overall, taxpayers are unresponsive to small changes in local income tax rates.
Childhood-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: clinical presentation and prognosis in 31 patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical features at onset, the disease course, and prognostic factors in children with SLE. METHODS The medical records of 31 patients with childhood-onset SLE were reviewed. Signs and symptoms at onset and during the course of the disease were documented as well as survival and SLICC/ACR damage index. The disease course was compared to 135 consecutive adult-onset SLE patients. RESULTS Childhood-onset SLE most frequently presented with fatigue, arthritis, fever, weight loss, and malar rash. During follow-up, the frequency of the presence of malar rash, anemia, leukocytopenia, and anti-dsDNA antibodies was significantly higher in childhood-onset than in adult-onset patients. Mean SLICC/ACR damage index was 2.6 after 4.7 years of follow-up. The presence of arthritis, anemia, and seizures at the onset of disease resulted in a 2.6 to 3.9 times higher chance of a severe disease course. CONCLUSION Patients with childhood-onset SLE suffer from substantial morbidity. Arthritis, anemia, and seizures at onset may be indicators of poor prognosis.
On the relevance of psychological motives, values, and norms for socially responsible investments: An econometric analysis

Based on unique data from a representative computer-based survey among financial decision makers in Germany, this paper empirically examines the determinants of socially responsible investments (SRI). Our econometric analysis implies that the perceived financial performance of SRI matters for the shares of investments in SRI among all investments. However, our main result is that psychological motives, values, and norms like warm glow motives and expectations of the social environment are even more relevant and thus have strong significant effects on SRI. This suggests that SRI investors gain strong non-financial utility from sustainable investments. While the membership in Christian churches and the strength of Christian religiosity also seem to be positively correlated with SRI, these correlations become insignificant if other psychological motives, values, and norms are included in the econometric analysis. Furthermore, a left-wing political orientation rather has significant negative effects on SRI. An explanation for this surprising result is the general aversion of a left-wing identification to the participation in stock markets, which is dominant in SRI.
Decreased single‐photon emission computed tomographic {123I}β‐CIT striatal uptake correlates with symptom severity in parkinson's disease

Previous studies have utilized single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to demonstrate decreased {123I}β‐CIT striatal uptake in idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) patients. The present study extendss this work by examining SPECT outcome measures in a larger group of PD patients with varying disease severity. Twenty‐eight l‐dopa‐responsive PD patients (Hoehn‐Yahr stages 1–4) and 27 healthy controls had SPECT scans at 18 to 24 hours after injection of {123I}β‐CIT. Specific to nondisplaceable striatal uptake ratios (designated V3″) were correlated with Hoehn‐Yahr stage and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) subscores. Linear discriminant function analyses utilizing striatal uptakes, putamen‐to‐caudate ratios, and ipsilateral‐contralateral asymmetry indices were performed. Decreased striatal tracer uptake (V3″) was correlated with total UPDRS score for both contralateral and ipsilateral striatum. Putamen uptake was relatively more reduced than caudate with mean putamen:caudate ratios of 0.50 ± 0.17 and 0.82 ± 0.09 for PD patients and controls, respectively. Ipsilateral:contralateral asymmetry was significantly greater in PD patients than controls. Discriminant function analysis utilizing V3″ for ipsilateral and contralateral caudate and putamen correctly classified all 55 cases. These data demonstrate Marchked differences in {123I}β‐CIT SPECT measures in healthy controls and PD patients. The significant correlation of SPECT measures with motor severity suggests {123I}β‐CIT may be a useful Marchker of disease severity in PD.