Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SpeB–Spi: a novel protease–inhibitor pair from Streptococcus pyogenes

This study presents evidence for a novel protease–protease inhibitor couple, SpeB–Spi, in the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. The gene for the inhibitor Spi is located directly downstream of the gene for the streptococcal cysteine protease SpeB. Spi is 37% identical and 70% similar to the sequence of the SpeB propeptide, suggesting that Spi and the SpeB propeptide might bind to SpeB in an analogous manner. Secondary structure predictions and molecular modelling suggested that Spi would adopt a structure similar to the SpeB propeptide. The spi gene was co‐transcribed with speB on the 1.7 knt and 2.2 knt transcripts previously identified for speB. The Spi protein was purified by SpeB‐affinity chromatography from the S. pyogenes cytoplasm. Recombinant Spi was produced and purified, and shown to bind to SpeB and to inhibit its protease activity. Although a similar genetic arrangement of protease and inhibitor is present in staphylococci, this is the first example of an inhibitor molecule that is a structural homologue of the cognate propeptide, and which is genetically linked to the protease gene. Thus, this represents a novel system whereby bacteria may control the intracellular activity of their proteases.
How Firm Characteristics Affect Dividend Policy: An Empirical Study of Listed Beverage Food and Tobacco Companies in Sri Lanka

Dividend policy remains one of the most controversial issues in corporate finance. For more than half a century, financial economists have engaged in modeling and examining corporate dividend policy. This research aims to examine the firm's characteristics which affect dividend policy for listed Beverage food and Tobacco companies in Sri Lanka. In particular, the research investigates the extent to which firm's characteristics such as firm size, profitability; leverage and tangibility affect corporate dividend policy for the period from 2008 to 2011. Pearson's correlation and multiple regression models are used to analyze the data. Based on the sample of 10 listed Beverage food and Tobacco companies, it is found that some of the firm characteristics have influenced more on the dividend policy decision among listed Beverage food and Tobacco companies in Sri Lanka. The results reveal that firm size and profitability have the positive impact on dividend policy. Further Leverage has the negative impact on dividend policy.
Mechanisms of inhibition by heparin of PDGF stimulated MAP kinase activation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Heparin and heparan are potent inhibitors of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. To investigate the mechanisms by which heparin suppresses growth factor stimulated mitogenesis, the present experiments investigated the effects of heparin on platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulated signal transduction pathways. Heparin treatment substantially inhibited PDGF‐BB stimulated rat VSMC growth. Western analysis showed a 30 min PDGF‐BB treatment of VSMC induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple protein bands; cotreatment with heparin inhibited mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase tyrosine phosphorylation but had little effect on PDGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. In‐gel kinase assays demonstrated that heparin inhibited PDGF‐BB stimulated MAP kinase activity at late (25 min) but not early (10 min) time points. These data indicate that heparin does not inhibit the initial signalling events after PDGF‐BB binding but instead acts through an alternate mechanism to inhibit MAP kinase. To investigate if heparin directly stimulates tyrosine phosphatase‐mediated suppression of MAP kinase, we treated VSMC with orthovanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. Heparin inhibited MAP kinase tyrosine phosphorylation after orthovanadate treatment, indicating that heparin does not suppress MAP kinase by enlistment of a tyrosine phosphatase. Experiments were performed to investigate signalling pathways upstream of MAP kinase. To determine if protein kinase C (PKC) mediates PDGF‐BB, serum, and EGF stimulation of MAP kinase, we treated VSMC overnight with phorbol ester (PMA) to downregulate PKC. Abolition of conventional and novel PKC activity significantly suppressed both serum and PDGF‐BB induced MAP kinase activation, indicating protein kinase C is an important mediator for these mitogens. In contrast, downregulation of these PKC isoforms had little effect on EGF stimulation of MAP kinase. As heparin inhibits PDGF and serum but not EGF stimulation of MAP kinase, these data precisely correlate heparin inhibition of MAP kinase with activation through PKC‐dependent pathways. Immunoprecipitation analysis found that heparin inhibited serum, PMA, and PDGF but not EGF induced raf‐1 phosphorylation. These studies demonstrate that heparin did not block PDGF‐BB receptor activation, which initiates the mitogenic signalling cascade. Heparin did inhibit specific postreceptor second messenger signals, such as the late phase activation of MAP kinase, which may be mediated by suppression of PKC‐dependent pathways. J. Cell. Physiol. 172:69–78, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effect of Exercise on Leptin, Insulin, Cortisol and Lipid Profiles in Obese Children

This prospective, randomized study investigated the effect of exercise on leptin, insulin, cortisol and lipid profiles in obese children. A total of 40 obese boys aged 10-12 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 were randomly separated into an exercise group (n = 20) that underwent a 12-week aerobic exercise programme and a non-exercise (control) group (n = 20). The BMI, low-density lipoprotein, cortisol, leptin and insulin levels were significantly lower in the exercise group after 12 weeks compared with baseline values, whereas high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher. In contrast, in the control group, low-density lipoprotein, cortisol and leptin levels were significantly higher after 12 weeks compared with baseline values while high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly lower. These findings indicate the importance of regular exercise in the regulation of body weight and protection against cardiovascular risk factors in obese children.
Novel therapeutics for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD remain the major barriers to successful haematopoietic cell transplantation. The induction of GVHD may be divided into three phases: recipient conditioning, donor T cell activation and effector cells mediating GVHD. This review examines GVHD prevention and treatment using this conceptual model as framework. The various pharmacological agents discussed impact on different phases of the GVHD cascade. For example, keratinocyte growth factor and IL-11 are cytokines that may be useful in disrupting Phase I of the GVHD cascade by blocking gastrointestinal tract damage and lowering serum levels of lipopolysaccharide and TNF-alpha. Cyclosporin, FK506 and sirolimus are some of the main agents that disrupt Phase II (donor T cell activation). Mycophenolate mofetil likely acts on this phase as well. Other novel drugs that affect Phase II are tolerance-induction agents such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4 Ig and anti-CD40 ligand, and preliminary results using CTLA-4 Ig in GVHD prevention are encouraging. Two exciting agents that appear to affect only activated lymphocytes are ABX-CBL and visilizumab. Examples of agents that disrupt Phase III are the IL-2 receptor antagonist daclizumab and the anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody infliximab. These anticytokine antibodies have shown promising results in early studies. The most effective approach to GVHD prevention will likely be a combination regimen where the three phases of the GVHD cascade are disrupted. Once GVHD has occurred, all three phases of the cascade are activated. Developments of combination therapy for treatment of both acute and chronic GVHD will likely yield better results than monotherapy. The numerous new treatment modalities presented should improve the outlook for acute and chronic GVHD.
Comparison of Pelvic Fixation Techniques in Neuromuscular Spinal Deformity Correction: Galveston Rod Versus Iliac and Lumbosacral Screws

Study Design. Retrospective radiographic and clinical review. Objective. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of iliac screws as a method of pelvic fixation in neuromuscular spinal deformity correction using the Galveston rod technique as a comparison group. Summary of Background Data. Sacropelvic fixation in patients with neuromuscular spinal deformity has traditionally used Galveston rods placed into the iliac wing. Difficulties with radiographic halos around the rods (loosening), rod contouring, and attaching to lumbar spine anchors have prompted their replacement with iliac screws. Methods. A minimum 2-year radiographic and clinical follow-up compared 20 patients with the Galveston technique to 20 patients with an iliac screw undergoing posterior spinal fusion (T2/T3-pelvis) for neuromuscular spinal deformity. All patients with the Galveston technique had sublaminar wires for their lumbar anchors, while the majority of patients with an iliac screw technique had at least 2 lumbar and/or sacral screws placed in addition to the iliac screws. Results. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in preoperative, postoperative, and latest follow-up (mean 3.1 years) measurements for coronal Cobb measures, coronal and sagittal C7 plumblines, and T1 offset. Pelvic obliquity was similar in both groups preoperatively (22°) but at latest follow-up was statistically improved in the patients with an iliac screw (4.4°) versus those with the Galveston technique (7.3°) (P = 0.04). There were 13 patients with the Galveston technique versus 6 with an iliac screw who had radiolucent halos more than 2 mm around the pelvic anchor devices at latest follow-up (P < 0.05). The Galveston technique group had 4 broken rods and 2 reoperations, while the iliac screw group had 1 broken screw and no reoperations. Conclusions. Using iliac screws for pelvic fixation in neuromuscular spinal deformity affords equivalent maintenance of pelvic obliquity and scoliosis correction compared to the Galveston technique. Furthermore, the iliac screw technique avoids complex, lumbosacral 3-dimensional rod bends and yields minimal implant complications.
Comparison of two different formulations of botulinum toxin A for the treatment of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm.

AIM To confirm and compare the therapeutic efficacies and adverse effects of Chinese botulinum toxin type A (CBTX-A, Lanzhou Biological Products Institute, China) and current Botox (Allergan Inc., CA, USA) in the treatment of blepharospasm (BS) and hemifacial spasm (HFS). MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed an open, prospective, comparative trial comparing CBTX-A and Botox for the treatment of BS and HFS in 273 patients since 2006. 107 patients were treated with current Botox and 166 with CBTX-A, with the age, disease durations and severity of spasm matched. The patients enrolled were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the clinical effects of the two preparations, including the onset of response, peaked effect time and duration of effects (p > 0.05). The Cohen scores showed a significant reduction after BTX-A injections. Considerable improvement of symptoms for the BS and HFS patients was observed 7 days, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks after the injection with either current Botox or CBTX-A (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the effectiveness rate for both HFS patients and BS patients between CBTX-A group and Botox group (p > 0.05). No statistical differences were noted in adverse reactions between them (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The two preparations were both simple and effective for the patients with blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm.
Credit Risk and Dividend Irrelevance

We show how, in a Merton-type model with bankruptcy, the dividend policy impacts the values of equity and debt as well as credit risk. The recent financial crisis has emphasized the fact that excessive dividends can lead to financial distress. There is a strong need to set qualitative and quantitative restrictions on dividends taking into account the potential conflict between equityholders and debtholders. The model that we develop allows for a quantitative setting of restrictions on dividends and gives a useful tool to support dividend payments that may be opposed by debtholders or preclude a distribution when such could otherwise jeopardize the firm. We show the implications of our approach compared to the implications of the Signaling Approach, and the Smoothing Approach. It is shown that the Miller-Modigliani irrelevance of dividends theorem must rely on more assumptions than in the original paper. In this paper, we highlight the role of dividends (and stock repurchases) to possibly mitigate the potential conflict of interests between shareholders and debtholders. The emphasis is on the credibility of the dividend policy.
The creative brain

From the neurobiological point of view, the creative processes are generated by an enormous and complex variety of cortical and subcortical activity, concentrated primarily in the ventral striatum (for the emergency of novelty) and then in the prefrontal cortex (for their processing). If the basal ganglia, with their implicit procedures and their memory processes, produce continuous novelty; the prefrontal cortex, with its dorsolateral areas, transforms the latest news in creative behaviors explicit. In this workspace, countless expressions of harmony and disharmony neural accompany the emergence of phenomena of thought and behavior original. A multitude of intra-cognitive process scattered competing for access to a conscious workspace for filtering, communicate and exchange information.
Expression and plasticity of glutamate receptors in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus

Magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) of the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SON) produce and release the hormones vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) in response to a variety of stimuli to regulate body water and salt, parturition and lactation. Hormone release is influenced by the pattern of neuronal firing of these MNCs, which, in turn, is governed by intrinsic conductances and synaptic inputs, including those mediated by the neurotransmitter glutamate. Functional and molecular evidence has confirmed the expression of AMPA‐, NMDA‐, and metabotropic‐type glutamate receptors in the SON, that together may orchestrate the effects of glutamatergic transmission on neuroendocrine function. However, the specific roles of the different subtypes of glutamate receptors is not yet clear. As with other central neurons, the subunit composition of glutamate receptors on MNCs will likely determine their properties and may potentially help define the differential properties of VP‐ and OT‐producing MNCs. Possible functions of glutamate receptors on SON MNCs include altering excitatory synaptic transmission of osmotic information, neuronal firing, hormone production and release, and calcium signaling. Of interest are the anatomical, molecular, and functional changes at glutamatergic synapses in the SON that occur in response to pertinent physiological stimuli or development. These types of plasticity may include changes in glutamatergic synaptic density, glutamate receptor levels, or glutamate receptor subunit expression, all of which can affect the efficiency of synaptic transmission. Microsc. Res. Tech. 56:92–100, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Measuring the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) in Ghana

The focus of this paper is on how important the definitions and measurement of the concepts of real exchange rates are in analytical and empirical work. This paper seeks to identify, define and review measures of the real exchange rate for Ghana. We discuss methodological issues surrounding the measurement of real exchange rates, including choosing price and cost indices. The choice of trading partners to include, base year and the weighting scheme used are not very important; alternative measures with different trading partners and weights move very closely and share a common trend in the long run. However, the choice of price indices matters. Ghana seems highly competitive more recently based on the GDP-deflator index but much less so when the CPI index is used in the computation of the real exchange rate. JEL Classification: F31, O55
Watch your language! Analyzing active ingredients of client speech in a motivational interviewing intervention for environmental behavior change

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a communication style that aims to motivate a conversational partner for behavior change by enhancing change talk (e.g., “I want to change”) and reducing counter change talk (“I will not change”). The effectiveness of MI has not been evaluated within the domain of environmental behavior change. This experimental field study examines the effects of Motivational Interviewing on environmental behavior within an input-process-output framework. Recorded conversations of MI trained participants (n = 49) were compared to conversations with untrained participants (n = 28). We compared communication skills, client language, and environmental behavior immediately after the intervention and at a three-month follow-up between groups. Trained interviewers showed higher proficiency in MI than untrained interviewers did. Change talk was higher in the MI group, whereas counter change talk showed no difference between intervention groups. Environmental behavior did not differ between groups. Client language — particularly commitment talk — was related with shortand long-term environmental behavior. Our results suggest that MI can foster long-term environmental behavior changes if interviewers succeed to decrease counter change talk, specifically negative commitments.
A BRIEF COMMUNICATION

To determine whether there is an airway IFN response in infants with acute bronchiolitis and to establish whether the rate of such a response is related to the severity of illness, the expression of some IFN-induced genes was measured in nasopharyngeal washes from 39 infants with acute bronchiolitis. The results indicate that in infants with a virus-associated acute bronchiolitis there is a strong activation of IFN system and that the severity of illness is inversely related to the level of expression of IFN-induced genes. This suggests that the IFN response plays an important role in determining virus–associated respiratory disease in early life.
An amino-terminal domain of the Sendai virus nucleocapsid protein is required for template function in viral RNA synthesis

The nucleocapsid protein (NP) of Sendai virus encapsidates the genome RNA, forming a helical nucleocapsid which is the template for RNA synthesis by the viral RNA polymerase. The NP protein is thought to have both structural and functional roles, since it is an essential component of the NP0-P (P, phosphoprotein), NP-NP, nucleocapsid-polymerase, and RNA-NP complexes required during viral RNA replication. To identify domains in the NP protein, mutants were constructed by using clustered charge-to-alanine mutagenesis in a highly charged region from amino acids 107 to 129. Each of the mutants supported RNA encapsidation in vitro. The product nucleocapsids formed with three mutants, NP114, NP121, and NP126, however, did not serve as templates for further amplification in vivo, while NP107, NP108, and NP111 were nearly like wild-type NP in vivo. This template defect in the NP mutants from amino acids 114 to 129 was not due to a lack of NP0-P, NP-NP, or nucleocapsid-polymerase complex formation, since these interactions were normal in these mutants. We propose that amino acids 114 to 129 of the NP protein are required for the nucleocapsid to function as a template in viral genome replication.
Use of Carbamazepine in Acute Psychosis: A Controlled Study

A randomized double-blind study was performed to compare the therapeutic effects of lithium and carbamazepine (CBZ) each administered in combination with chlorpromazine (CPZ) for 3 weeks in women with acute psychosis. Thirty patients were studied. The initial dose was 1200 mg/day for CBZ and 900 mg/day for lithium, and it was subsequently modified according to plasma levels and clinical indications. The dose of CPZ was free and depended on the severity of symptomatology. Both treatments produced a significant improvement in psychotic symptoms without significant differences between the treatment groups. Also, as regards tolerability no clinically relevant differences were found between the two groups. During the first week of treatment the CPZ dose required in the CBZ group was significantly lower than that administered to the lithium group, indicating that CBZ had a greater sedative action; however, this difference decreased as treatment continued. These results confirm that CBZ is a valid alternative to lithium in the treatment of acute psychosis.
Evaluation effect of microwave irradiation on the amount of volatile compounds, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenoids from Thymus kotschyanus Boiss with four methods

This article investigates the effect of microwaves on the amount of volatile compounds from Thymus kotschyanus Boiss with four methods, headspace single-drop microextraction, microwave-assisted headspace single-drop microextraction, microwave distillation extraction and hydrodistillation, for the analysis of essential oil. Solvent selection, solvent volume, microwave power, irradiation time and sample mass were optimised by simplex method.
PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE WITH ALEMTUZUMAB (CAMPATH-1H) AND LOW-DOSE TACROLIMUS IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN ADULT LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

Background. The administration of alemtuzumab (Campath-1H [C1H]; Berlex Laboratories, Montville, NJ) at transplantation prevents a vigorous immune response and is believed to allow a gradual engagement of the host immune system. We report our preliminary experience with C1H and tacrolimus (Tac) immunosuppression in adult liver transplantation. Methods. We administered C1H and low-dose Tac to 40 adult recipients of cadaveric liver allografts between December 2001 and April 2003. A control group who met the same eligibility criteria consisted of 50 liver transplant recipients treated with our standard Tac and steroids protocol. Results. Baseline characteristics and patient and graft survival were similar (P >0.15). The incidence of acute rejection was significantly lower during the first 2 months posttransplantation (P =0.002) and slightly lower overall in the study group versus the control group at 12 months (46% vs. 55%, P =0.12, log-rank test). Median time to rejection among those experiencing rejection was significantly longer in the study group versus control group (2.76 vs. 0.34 months, P =0.0007). The mean Tac dose, 12-hr trough level, and percentage of patients receiving maintenance steroids were significantly lower in the group receiving C1H and Tac (P <0.0001 during the first 3 months, P <0.05 thereafter), as were the mean creatinine levels (P <0.05) and incidence of nephrotoxicity (P =0.004, conversion from Tac to other agents). Finally, in the group receiving C1H/Tac, patients with an average Tac trough level less than 6.5 ng/mL during the first 2 months post-transplantation demonstrated a significantly higher rejection rate beyond that time (P =0.02). Conclusion. C1H and low-dose Tac seems to be at least as effective as our standard Tac and steroids regimen in preventing acute rejection in adult liver allotransplantation with less renal toxicity and less use of maintenance steroids.