Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbon and energy balances in cell‐recycle cultures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

A strain of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was aerobically grown in a cell‐recycle fermentor under various operating conditions, i.e., different bleeding rates and various separate feed rates of glucose and basal medium. Carbon and energy balances were analyzed during steady‐state culture regimes, allowing growth yields and maintenance coefficients to be determined under glucose‐limited and glucose‐excess environments. Special attention was given to the metabolic shift from purely oxidative to respirofermentative glucose catabolism resulting from a change in the growth‐limiting factor. No maintenance requirements for the carbon source and for energy were observed during glucose‐limited culture regimes and oxidative catabolism. Under glucose excess and respirofermentative metabolism, the mG coefficient was shown to be growth‐linked, whereas the enhancement of the apparent me coefficient observed for increased residual glucose concentrations could be assigned to a decline in the ATP yield. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Ecology and Context of Public Administration: A Comparative Perspective

Whether the reasons are linguistic or cultural I do not know, but the fact is that we sometimes have words for one side of a coin but not for the other-a fact that pre-conditions the way we think about some problems. For example, the word, "outline," which we use when drawing a profile around something, delimits the same thing as an "inline" of whatever surrounds the subject, but English dictionaries do not recognize the latter word. Yet, clearly administrative performance is as much conditioned by the external environment and context in which it is carried out as by the preferences and choices of the immediate actors concerned. Indeed, analysis of what is inside any system typically tells us how it works but not why-by contrast, it is only when something is inclined " that we can discover why it is the way it is. Any subject, in short, needs to be both outlined and inclined. One consequence of our persistent efforts to "outline" problems is that we focus ever more deeply on smaller and smaller subjects. No doubt this enables us to dissect, with considerable precision, the intricacies of a very concrete and specific problem-as we typically do in our published research. Occasionally, however, we need to pull back and take a broader view, thereby achieving an explanatory perspective on the interrelatedness, at higher levels, of many of our problems. We can only achieve this broader perspective when we attempt not only to outline but also to inline the problems at hand. Another one-sided term is "environment"; whatever has an environment is molded by it, yet we feel tongue-tied when we try to speak of whatever is "environed," using a non-existent word again. Discussions of the "environment" frequently note how difficult it is to define the concept, yet, obviously, the environment of one thing is different from the environment of something else. Until you identify the "environed," you cannot determine its environment. The environment of Hawaii, to take a simple example, is quite different from the environment of Arizona-or of Afghanistan or the moon. The same paradox affects our use of the word, "context," since we lack obvious terms for whatever it is that is "contextualized," if we may use this cumbersome coinage. Indeed, if we are permitted to use such unorthodox words as "inline," "environed," and "contextualized," we can think more clearly about some of
Baculovirus‐mediated gene transfer is attenuated by sodium bicarbonate

Baculovirus transduction of cultured mammalian cells is typically performed by incubating the cells with virus using culture medium (e.g. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)) as the surrounding solution. However, we previously uncovered that DMEM hinders the baculovirus‐mediated gene transfer.
Children's coping with pain during dental care.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was (i) to assess the coping strategies of 11-year-old children when dealing with pain at the dentist, (ii) to determine the extent to which the level of the children's dental fear and their experience with pain at the dentist are related to their ability to cope and their choice of strategies, and (iii) to analyse the possible differences between subsamples concerning dental caries. METHODS The coping strategies were investigated using the Dental Cope Questionnaire (n = 597); the level of dental fear was assessed using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS); a question is asked whether a child had experienced pain at the dentist in the past and dental caries was assessed using the DMFS index. RESULTS The results show that 11-year olds use a variety of coping strategies. Internal strategies are used most frequently, external coping strategies are used less frequently, and destructive strategies are hardly used. The subjects rate internal and external strategies as effective. Children with pain experience and fearful children use more coping strategies, with fearful children using more internal strategies. Reported pain and anxiety were related to the dental status. CONCLUSIONS The use and choice of coping strategies seems to be at least partly determined by the level of dental fear and the child's experience with pain.
When do firms and unions agree on a monopoly union or an efficient bargaining arrangement

In this paper we investigate the effects of two popular labour market institutions - namely, Monopoly Union (MU) and Efficient Bargaining (EB) - in a Cournot duopoly, in particular as regards the issue of the bargaining agenda. We show that, while when EB and Right-to- Manage arrangements are considered no agreement on the scope of bargaining may occur, when exogenously given MU and EB arrangements are compared both firms and unions may find more convenient the MU institution. This occurs in particular when the value of the union's bargaining power is included in a "medium-high" range. However this result is not robust to the endogeneization of the scope of bargaining: indeed in the latter case both firms and unions agree with the choice of the EB arrangement for a sizable range of the union's power. Therefore the detection of a set of union bargaining power values for which there exists an agreement between firms and unions eitheron the MU institution in the case of exogenously given arrang ements or on the EB institution in the case of endogenously determined arrangement may be interesting also for policy purposes.
Atacicept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy: results of a phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-finding trial.

OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy, safety, and biologic activity of atacicept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in whom the response to treatment with tumor necrosis factor antagonists was inadequate. METHODS The Atacicept for Reduction of Signs and Symptoms in Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial (AUGUST I) was a multicenter, phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding study involving 256 patients randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive atacicept (25 mg, 75 mg, or 150 mg) or placebo twice weekly for 4 weeks, then weekly for 21 weeks, with a 13-week treatment-free followup period (week 38). The primary end point was a response at week 26 according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria for 20% improvement in disease severity, using the C-reactive protein level. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were observed in the efficacy end points at week 26 (P = 0.410 for overall treatment effect). However, atacicept significantly reduced immunoglobulin and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels, but not anti-citrullinated protein antibody levels, in a dose-dependent manner, with levels returning toward baseline values during followup. The effects of treatment on IgG-RF and IgA-RF were more pronounced than the effects on total IgG and IgA. Adverse events (AEs), including serious AEs, leading to withdrawal were more common among patients treated with atacicept compared with placebo. AEs were variable in nature, and no dose-dependent trends were observed. The frequency of infection-related AEs was similar across treatments. No notable effect of treatment on immunization status (protective versus nonprotective titer) was observed after initiation of treatment. CONCLUSION This study did not meet the primary efficacy end point. However, clear biologic activity consistent with the proposed mechanism of action was observed. The results suggest that decreasing the expression of RF may not be sufficient to induce clinical improvement in RA. The safety of atacicept was considered acceptable in this patient population.
Deficits in Complex Visual Perception Following Unilateral Temporal Lobectomy

Although human temporal cortex is known to be important for short- and long-term memory, its role in visual perception is not well understood. In this study, we compared the performance of three patients with unilateral temporal lobectomies to that of normal controls on both fisimplefl and ficomplexfl visual discriminations that did not involve explicit memory components. Two types of complex tasks were tested that involved discriminations secondary to texture segmentation. These were contrasted with simple discriminations using luminance-defined stimuli. Patients showed impaired thresholds only on tasks involving texture segmentation, performing as well as controls when the targets were defined by luminance rather than texture. The minimum stimulus presentation times for threshold performance were also measured for all tasks and found to be elevated in temporal lobectomy patients relative to controls. Although the magnitude of the deficits observed was substantial, loss was equivalent in ipsi- and contra-lesional regions of the visual field. Additional control experiments showed that the patients' perceptual deficits were not due, even in part, to disturbances of basic visual capacities such as acuity and contrast sensitivity. Our results indicate that temporal lobe damage disrupts complex, but not simple, visual discriminations throughout the visual field.
Assessment of Goblet Cell Orifice Distribution Across the Rabbit Bulbar Conjunctiva Based on Numerical Density and Nearest Neighbors Analysis

Abstract Purpose: To assess density and spatial distribution of the goblet cell orifices at the surface of the rabbit bulbar conjunctiva as an indicator of functional activity. Methods: Specimens of the superior or inferior bulbar conjunctiva from six healthy young adult (2 kg) pigmented rabbits were obtained using a special preparation technique by which the conjunctiva was carefully stretched out during fixation with buffered glutaraldehyde. The apical surface of the specimens was examined by scanning electron microscopy. From high magnification prints, the areas and dimensions of 32–49 orifices/image were measured. In addition, the centre-to-centre spacing and spatial distribution of the orifices were assessed using a nearest neighbors principle. Results: The bulbar conjunctival surface is composed of polygonal cells decorated with surface microplicae and in between which are individual goblet cell orifices. The goblet cell orifices are characterized by tending to be oval in shape (long:short dimensions ratio of 1.57 +/− 0.23) and usually having a distinct line of microvilli around the perimeter. The orifices had a wide range of areas (from 13 to 188 μm2; group mean +/− SD of 54 +/− 36 μm2), and distribution of orifice areas was skewed or even bimodal. The overall orifice density was 387 +/− 68/mm2, with the group-averaged nearest neighbors distance being 34 +/− 3 μm. Comparisons of the measured nearest neighbors distances to that for an optimum spacing based on numerical density reveals the goblet cell orifices to be slightly further apart and that they were not obviously in groups or clustered. Conclusions: Goblet cell orifices at the bulbar conjunctival surface, a presumed indicator of functional secretory activity, appear to have reproducible density and a discrete and reasonably predictable spatial distribution.
High Levels of Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S in Brazilian Thermal Paper Receipts and Estimation of Daily Exposure

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine and metabolic disruptor commonly employed as a color developer in thermal papers. Consequently, BPA derived from thermal papers has been considered an important source of exposure for humans, since this chemical may migrate from paper to skin upon contact. Further, due to recent restrictions on BPA use in some countries, it has been replaced by a new analogue, bisphenol S (BPS). The aim of the present study was to determine levels of BPA and BPS in 190 different thermal receipts, randomly collected from different locations in São Paulo State, Brazil, including receipts from supermarkets, general and fast-food restaurants, gas stations, bus and airplane tickets, and credit card and bank accounts. BPA and/or BPS were detected in 98% of samples at concentrations ranging from below the quantification limit to 4.3% (mg/100 mg paper). The obtained values were higher than amounts previously reported in other countries. The estimated daily intake through dermal absorption from handling of thermal receipt papers was estimated on the basis of concentrations and frequencies of handling of papers by humans in both the general population and occupationally exposed individuals. Fifth percentile, median, and 95th percentile daily intakes by the general population were 0.44, 1.42, and 2 μg/d, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for occupationally exposed population are 21.8, 71 and 101 μg/d. The potential adverse consequences of elevated occupational exposure are currently being examined.
Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio predicts survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

AIM To investigate the prognostic value of preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing curative hepatectomy. METHODS Clinicopathological data of 210 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated HCC patients who were treated by radical hepatic resection between 2003 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. None of the patients received any preoperative anticancer therapy or intraoperative radiofrequency ablation. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination after surgery. Absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte and monocyte counts were derived from serum complete blood cell count before surgery, and LMR was calculated by dividing lymphocyte count by monocyte count. The best cutoff was determined by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Correlations between LMR levels and clinicopathological features were assessed using the χ(2) test. Survival outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic impact of LMR and other clinicopathological factors on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS The optimal cutoff value of LMR for survival analysis was 3.23, which resulted in the most appropriate sensitivity of 55.3% and specificity of 74.7%, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.66 (95%CI: 0.593-0.725). All patients were dichotomized into either a low (≤ 3.23) LMR group (n = 66) or a high (> 3.23) LMR group (n = 144). A low preoperative LMR level was significantly correlated with the presence of cirrhosis, elevated levels of total bilirubin and larger tumor size. Patients with a low LMR level had significantly reduced 5-year OS (61.9% vs 83.2%, P < 0.001) and RFS (27.8% vs 47.6%, P = 0.009) compared to those with a high LMR level. Multivariate analyses indicated that a lower LMR level was a significantly independent predictor of inferior OS (P = 0.003) and RFS (P = 0.006). Subgroup analysis indicated that survival outcome was significantly more favorable in cirrhotic patients with LMR > 3.23. However, there were no differences between low and high LMR groups for OS and RFS in non-cirrhotic patients. CONCLUSION Preoperative LMR was demonstrated for the first time to serve as an independent prognostic factor in HBV-associated HCC patients after curative resection. Prospective studies with larger cohorts for validation are warranted.
Riding the green wave in the European agricultural sector? A discourse analysis of the new cross compliance mechanism

This paper analyses the integration of environmental standards into the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It focuses on the negotiation of the new environmental cross compliance rules, which were incorporated in the CAP’s 2003 mid-term review and which now define a baseline level of environmental protection that a farm needs to adhere to in order to receive agricultural subsidies. Cross compliance has been lauded as an important new mechanism for greening agriculture, a policy sector which is under increasing pressure to mitigate its environmental impact. Using a discourse oriented approach this paper sheds further light on this assertion by assessing how far cross compliance actually represents a shift in policy goals and priorities. It does so by outlining the premises of decision-making and the range of policy problems that cross compliance was perceived to address in the agricultural sector. The discourse approach highlights the critical importance of agenda setting in policy design, an area that has received little attention in literature on environmental policy integration. The analysis reveals that instead of conforming to a single dominant policy agenda which raises the status of environmental protection requirements, a number of conflicting agendas have influenced the design of the new mechanism. The results show how persisting agrarian as well as market oriented aspirations ride the wave created by pressure to green the sector. This raises doubts about the ability of cross compliance to deliver environmental outputs in practice.
A clinical profile of patients with Parkinson's disease and psychosis

Aims: The aim of the study was to study the clinical profile of the patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and psychosis. Settings and Design: This was a prospective, cross sectional, hospital-based study done at the Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India from September 2009 to January 2011. All patients with PD, diagnosed by United Kingdom PD Society Brain Bank criteria, having with features of psychosis as diagnosed by the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) were included. Patients without a caregiver who could validate the patient's symptoms were excluded. Results: A total of 40 patients (5 women, 35 men) with PD with psychosis (mean age: 54.2 ± 11.5 years, mean duration of illness: 6.5 ± 4.5 years, and mean duration of psychosis: 4.3 ± 4.3 years) were included in the study. The Global NPI score was 19.1 ± 11.5. Majority of the patients had pure hallucinations (85%), while the rest had either pure delusions (7.5%) or a combination of delusions and hallucinations (7.5%). In those with hallucinations, visual hallucinations were the commonest (60%) (pure only in 22.5%), followed by auditory (45%), minor hallucinations (45%), and tactile (20%). Only one person reported having olfactory hallucinations (2.5%). Loss of insight was most often observed during the visual hallucinations (52%), followed by tactile (44.4%), auditory (38.9 %), and minor hallucinations (33.3%). Conclusions: In patients with PD and psychosis, pure hallucinations are common and visual hallucinations are the commonest among the hallucinations. A large proportion of patients have minor hallucinations, which need to be recognized early for effective and early management. The limitations of the study were small sample size, use of a single scale to assess psychosis and subjective assessment of insight.
Task‐related changes in propriospinal excitation from hand muscles to human flexor carpi radialis motoneurones

This study addresses whether there is excitation from human hand muscles to flexor carpi radialis (FCR) motoneurones mediated through propriospinal circuits and, if so, whether it is used in specific motor tasks. Electrical stimuli to the ulnar nerve at wrist level produced an excitation in FCR motoneurones with characteristics typical of a propriospinally mediated effect: low threshold (0.6 × motor threshold (MT)), a group I effect that was not reproduced by purely cutaneous stimuli, long central delay (4.1 ± 0.4 ms in single units), suppression when the stimulus intensity was increased, and facilitation of the corticospinal excitation at the premotoneuronal level. Ulnar‐induced propriospinally mediated excitation was compared during selective voluntary contractions of the FCR and, at equivalent level of FCR EMG, during tasks in which the FCR was activated automatically in postural contractions rather than voluntarily (grip, pinching and pointing). The excitation was significantly greater during grip (and pinching) than during voluntary FCR contractions and pointing, whether measured in single motor units or tonic EMG activity, or whether the response to motor cortex stimulation was assessed as the compound motor‐evoked potential or the corticospinal peak in single units. The discrepancy between the tasks appeared with ulnar intensities above 0.8 × MT and was then present across a wide range of stimulus intensities. This suggests a reduction in the corticospinal control of ‘feedback inhibitory interneurones’ mediating peripheral inhibition to propriospinal neurones during grip and pinching. The resulting more effective background excitation of propriospinal neurones by the peripheral input from hand muscles could contribute to stabilizing the wrist during grip.
A mechanism-based binding model for the population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of omalizumab.

AIM Omalizumab, a humanized IgG monoclonal antibody that binds to human immunoglobulin E (IgE), interrupts the allergic cascade in asthmatic patients. The aim was to compare simultaneously drug exposure and IgE biomarker responses in Japanese and White patient populations. METHODS An instantaneous equilibrium drug-ligand binding and turnover population model was built from 202 Japanese patients. A posterior predictive evaluation for the steady-state distributions of omalizumab and IgE was then carried out against 531 White patients. RESULTS The mean parameters estimated from the Japanese patients were as follows: omalizumab clearance 7.32 +/- 0.153 ml h(-1), IgE clearance 71.0 +/- 4.68 ml h(-1) and the difference between that for omalizumab and the complex 5.86 +/- 0.920 ml h(-1), the volume of distribution for omalizumab and IgE 5900 +/- 107 ml, and that for the complex 3630 +/- 223 ml, the rate of IgE production 30.3 +/- 2.04 microg h(-1). Half-lives of IgG (23 days) and IgE (2.4 days) were close to previous reports. The dissociation constant for binding, 1.07 nM, was similar to in vitro values. Clearance and volume of distribution for omalizumab varied with bodyweight, whereas the clearance and rate of production of IgE were predicted accurately by baseline IgE. Overall, these covariates explained much of the interindividual variability. CONCLUSIONS The predictiveness of the Japanese model was confirmed by Monte-Carlo simulations for a White population, also providing evidence that the pharmacokinetics of omalizumab and IgE were similar in these two populations. Furthermore, the model enabled the estimation of not only omalizumab disposition parameters, but also the binding with and the rate of production, distribution and elimination of its target, IgE.