Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bipartite structure and functional independence of adenovirus type 5 packaging elements

Selectivity and polarity of adenovirus type 5 DNA packaging are believed to be directed by an interaction of putative packaging factors with the cis-acting adenovirus packaging domain located within the genomic left end (nucleotides 194 to 380). In previous studies, this packaging domain was mutationally dissected into at least seven functional elements called A repeats. These elements, albeit redundant in function, exhibit differences in the ability to support viral packaging, with elements I, II, V, and VI as the most critical repeats. Viral packaging was shown to be sensitive to spatial changes between individual A repeats. To study the importance of spatial constraints in more detail, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of the 21-bp linker regions separating A repeats I and II, as well as A repeats V and VI. The results of our mutational analysis reveal previously unrecognized sequences that are critical for DNA encapsidation in vivo. On the basis of these results, we present a more complex consensus motif for the adenovirus packaging elements which is bipartite in structure. DNA encapsidation is compromised by changes in spacing between the two conserved parts of the consensus motif, rather than between different A repeats. Genetic evidence implicating packaging elements as independent units in viral DNA packaging is derived from the selection of revertants from a packaging-deficient adenovirus: multimerization of packaging repeats is sufficient for the evolution of packaging-competent viruses. Finally, we identify minimally sized segments of the adenovirus packaging domain that can confer viability and packaging activity to viruses carrying gross truncations within their left-end sequences. Coinfection experiments using the revertant as well as the minimal-packaging-domain mutant viruses strengthen existing arguments for the involvement of limiting, trans-acting components in viral DNA packaging.
Validation of the Practice Environment Scale to the Brazilian culture

AIM To validate the Brazilian version of the Practice Environment Scale. BACKGROUND The Practice Environment Scale is a tool that evaluates the presence of characteristics that are favourable for professional nursing practice because a better work environment contributes to positive results for patients, professionals and institutions. METHOD Methodological study including 209 nurses. Validity was assessed via a confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modelling, in which the correlations between the instrument and the following variables were tested: burnout, job satisfaction, safety climate, perception of quality of care and intention to leave the job. Subgroups were compared and the reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and the composite reliability. RESULTS Factor analysis resulted in exclusion of seven items. Significant correlations were obtained between the subscales and all variables in the study. The reliability was considered acceptable. CONCLUSION The Brazilian version of the Practice Environment Scale is a valid and reliable tool used to assess the characteristics that promote professional nursing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Use of this tool in Brazilian culture should allow managers to implement changes that contribute to the achievement of better results, in addition to identifying and comparing the environments of health institutions.
Racial discrepancies in the outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

HYPOTHESIS There is a marked variation in the outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with respect to race and ethnicity. Rates among African American and Hispanic individuals are elevated as compared with those among white individuals. DESIGN Retrospective review of a prospective database. Demographic information, clinical staging, and other defining factors, including the absence or presence of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and alcohol abuse, were analyzed by patient interviews and review of the medical record. SETTING Urban tertiary referral teaching hospital. PATIENTS Patients diagnosed as having hepatocellular carcinoma between July 1997 and June 2003 (N = 264). Main Outcome Measure Overall survival rates. RESULTS Based on multivariate analysis, race was identified as an independent predictor of survival. While there was no difference in the distribution of patient or tumor characteristics between the 2 groups, African American/Hispanic patients had a 5-year survival rate of 12%, which was significantly lower than that of white patients (50%; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a significant discrepancy in overall survival of African American/Hispanic patients as compared with that of white patients. The reason for this difference cannot be explained by patient or tumor characteristics or completely by treatment allocation. These data suggest that there may be socioeconomic, biological, and/or cultural determinants contributing to this observed difference in outcome.
Modulation of Illusory Auditory Perception by Transcranial Electrical Stimulation

The aim of the present study was to test whether transcranial electrical stimulation can modulate illusory perception in the auditory domain. In two separate experiments we applied transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (anodal/cathodal tDCS, 2 mA; N = 60) and high-frequency transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (hf-tRNS, 1.5 mA, offset 0; N = 45) on the temporal cortex during the presentation of the stimuli eliciting the Deutsch's illusion. The illusion arises when two sine tones spaced one octave apart (400 and 800 Hz) are presented dichotically in alternation, one in the left and the other in the right ear, so that when the right ear receives the high tone, the left ear receives the low tone, and vice versa. The majority of the population perceives one high-pitched tone in one ear alternating with one low-pitched tone in the other ear. The results revealed that neither anodal nor cathodal tDCS applied over the left/right temporal cortex modulated the perception of the illusion, whereas hf-tRNS applied bilaterally on the temporal cortex reduced the number of times the sequence of sounds is perceived as the Deutsch's illusion with respect to the sham control condition. The stimulation time before the beginning of the task (5 or 15 min) did not influence the perceptual outcome. In accordance with previous findings, we conclude that hf-tRNS can modulate auditory perception more efficiently than tDCS.
Affective theory of mind in patients with Parkinson's disease: Comment

WE HAVE READ with interest the study in which Poletti et al. investigated the affective component of theory of mind (ToM) in patients at early or moderate/advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and in a group of healthy subjects (HC). Poletti et al. found impaired affective ToM in PD patients in comparison to HC, while no significant difference between early and moderate patients was found after covarying for all variables significantly different in the PD groups (age, motor disability, general cognitive abilities). Previous studies have produced contrasting findings on impairment of the affective ToM in early PD. Two studies did not report significant differences between PD and HC, whereas Tsuruya et al. found impaired affective ToM. In line with the latter findings, we recently reported dysfunction of both the affective and the cognitive ToM in early PD patients; moreover, altered affective ToM was significantly associated with apathy, a behavioral disturbance associated with dysfunction of non-motor fronto-subcortical circuits in PD. These observations would suggest that a dysfunction of orbitofrontal–limbic circuits may contribute to an impairment of the affective ToM in early PD. There are several methodological differences between the Poletti et al. study and ours: Poletti et al. assessed affective ToM using a non-verbal task mainly based on visual emotion recognition (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task), whereas we used two verbal tasks (the Emotion Attribution Task, and the Advanced Test of ToM) more specifically tapping the ability to attribute emotions or intentions to others. Moreover, we closely matched early PD patients and HC for demographic and cognitive variables, so that we could directly compare these two groups without relying on the same problematic statistical procedure that Poletti et al. had to adopt. In conclusion, the Poletti et al. results confirmed the impairment of affective ToM in PD, but it is important to note that sensitive tasks may identify such a defect in the early stage of the disease.
Phenotypical features of a Moroccan family with autosomal recessive Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease associated with the S194X mutation in the GDAP1 gene.

BACKGROUND The first locus for demyelinating autosomal recessive Charcot-Marie-Tooth (ARCMT) disease was identified in 8q13, where mutations in GDAP1 have been found. Mutations in the same gene have been detected in families with axonal ARCMT disease. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical, electrophysiologic, and morphologic characteristics of a consanguineous Moroccan family with ARCMT disease associated with the S194X mutation in the GDAP1 gene. METHODS Four patients from a consanguineous Moroccan family were examined clinically and electrophysiologically. In one patient, a morphometric and ultrastructural study of a peroneal nerve biopsy sample was performed. Mutation in the coding region of the GDAP1 gene was identified by direct sequencing. RESULTS Neuropathy was evident early in childhood, walking was delayed in one patient, and onset of symptoms occurred before 18 months in the others. The phenotype was severe: foot deformities and disabilities involving the hands and feet developed toward the end of the first decade, followed by involvement of proximal muscles in the lower limbs, leading to loss of autonomy. Electrophysiologic findings were consistent with an axonal form of CMT disease: motor nerve conduction velocities, recordable in one patient only, were greater than 40 m/sec. Sensory nerve action potentials were either abolished or substantially reduced in amplitude. The morphologic data supported the diagnosis of axonal neuropathy, showing a marked reduction in myelinated fibers and signs of axonal regeneration, including frequent pseudo-onion bulb formations. The 4 patients in this family were homozygous for the S194X mutation in the GDAP1 gene. CONCLUSION Electrophysiologic and pathological findings support the hypothesis of an axonal disorder in this ARCMT family with the S194X mutation in the GDAP1 gene.
Healthy life expectancy: evaluation of global indicator of change in population health.

OBJECTIVE--To review and evaluate the usefulness of healthy life expectancy as a global indicator of changes in a population's health. DESIGN--Review of all known studies to date from the United States, mainland Europe, Canada, and the United Kingdom that have used Sullivan's method of calculating disability free life expectancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Life expectancy and disability free life expectancy. RESULTS--Over the past decade the average healthy life expectancy was 60 years for men and 64 for women, with the proportion of years of disability ranging from 11% to 21% in men and from 14% to 24% in women. At the age of 65 men could expect eight years of disability free life and women 10, with the life expectancy being respectively 14 and 19 years. The difference between the wealthiest and poorest income quintiles was 6.3 years in life expectancy and 14.3 in disability free life expectancy for men and 2.8 and 7.6 respectively for women. These results suggest that disparities in health are greater between social groups than between the sexes. Diseases affect mortality and morbidity differently. The order of importance for affecting life expectancy was circulatory disease, cancer, and accidents and for disability free life expectancy, circulatory disease, locomotor disorders, and respiratory disorders. CONCLUSIONS--Healthy life expectancy is a valuable index for the appreciation of changes in both the physical and the mental health states of the general population, for allocating resources, and for measuring the success of political programmes. Future calculations should also take into account the probability of recovery and thus extend the applicability of the indicator to populations in poor health rather than focusing on the well population.
Effects of propofol and isoflurane on haemodynamics and the inflammatory response in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

ABSTRACT Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes reperfusion injury that when most severe is clinically manifested as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The anaesthetic propofol may have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce such a response. We hypothesised differing effects of propofol and isoflurane on inflammatory markers in patients having CBP. Forty patients undergoing elective CPB were randomised to receive either propofol or isoflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia. CRP IL-6, IL-8, HIF-1α (ELISA), CD11 and CD18 expression (flow cytometry), and haemoxygenase (HO-1) promoter polymorphisms (PCR/electrophoresis) were measured before anaesthetic induction, 4 hours post-CPB, and 24 hours later. There were no differences in the 4 hours changes in CRP IL-6, IL-8 or CD18 between the two groups, but those in the propofol group had higher HIF-1α (P=0.016) and lower CD11 expression (P=0.026). After 24 hours, compared to the isoflurane group, the propofol group had significantly lower levels of CRP (P<0.001), IL-6 (P<0.001) and IL-8 (P<0.001), with higher levels CD11 (P=0.009) and CD18 (P=0.002) expression. After 24 hours, patients on propofol had increased expression of shorter HO-1 GT(n) repeats than patients on isoflurane (P=0.001). Use of propofol in CPB is associated with a less adverse inflammatory profile than is isofluorane, and an increased up-regulation of HO-1. This supports the hypothesis that propofol has anti-inflammatory activity.
Testicular structure in three viviparous species of teleosts in the genus Jenynsia (Anablepidae)

Histological structure of the testes and development of spermatozoa in Jenynsia species is described using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The testis type is restricted spermatogonial, wherein spermatogonia are restricted to the distal ends of lobules, typical of the Atherinomorpha, and spermatogenesis is continuous throughout the year in wild-caught fish. Within the testicular lobes there are lobular germinal compartments wherein the functional units are spermatocysts, whose borders are formed by Sertoli cells. Spermatocysts may contain meiotic primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids, undergoing spermiogenesis, or spermatozoa. Spermatocysts with later stages of developing sperm are located proximal to the testicular ducts. During spermiogenesis, spermatid nuclei become elongated. As this occurs, the nucleus develops a deep, central fossa that contains the centriolar complex. As the flagellum grows, enlarging spermatid mitochondria migrate posteriorly alongside the flagellum but remain separated from it by the cytoplasmatic canal, an indentation of the plasma membrane. Between the enlarged mitochondria and plasma membrane, a sub-mitochondrial net develops. In longitudinal sections, the enlarged mitochondria are stacked in a zig-zag fashion, and in transverse sections they appear as a ring surrounding the flagellum, but separated from it by the cytoplasmic canal. Spermatozoa of the 3 jenynsiid species have an introsperm complex composed of a long mid-piece whose flagellum has a single “wing. ” Within the efferent ducts and the tubular gonopodium, sperm are lightly packed in a side by side fashion which facilitates their transfer into the female reproductive tract. This study presents detailed descriptions of testicular organization and cytological characterization of the stages of spermatozoa differentiation in 3 species of Jenynsia from northwestern Argentina (J. alternimaculata, J. multidentata and J. maculata), in order to contribute to the understanding of testicular structure and development of spermatozoa in the context of evolution of viviparity in this fish lineage.
Gemmobacter megaterium sp. nov., isolated from coastal planktonic seaweeds.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and aerobic bacterium, designated CF17(T), was isolated from coastal planktonic seaweeds, East China Sea. The isolate grew at 18-37 °C (optimum 25-28 °C), pH 6.5-9.0 (optimum 7.0-8.0) and with 0-5 % NaCl (optimum 1-2 %, w/v) and 0.5-10 % sea salts (optimum 2-3 %, w/v). Growth of strain CF17(T) could be stimulated prominently by supplementing the growth medium with the autoclaved supernatant of a culture of strain CF5, which was isolated from the same sample along with strain CF17(T). The cell morphology of strain CF17(T) was a bean-shaped rod consisting of a swollen end and a long prostheca. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CF17(T) clustered with Gemmobacter nectariphilus DSM 15620(T) within the genus Gemmobacter. The DNA G+C content of strain CF17(T) was 61.4 mol%. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The major fatty acids included C18 : 1ω7c and C18 : 0. The polar lipids of strain CF17(T) consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two uncharacterized phospholipids, one uncharacterized aminolipid, three uncharacterized glycolipids and one uncharacterized lipid. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, strain CF17(T) ( = CGMCC 1.11024(T) = JCM 18498(T)) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Gemmobacter, for which the name Gemmobacter megaterium sp. nov. is proposed.
Media effects: Do terrorist organizations launch foreign attacks in response to levels of press freedom or press attention?

Terrorists are supposed to be influenced by opportunities for news coverage, but does this mean that groups initiate foreign attacks in response to the absence of press freedom in their country or inattention to that state by foreign media organizations? Using Asal and Rethmeyer’s BAAD1 data on terrorist organizations, we find that increasing levels of attention by the international press reduce the odds of groups launching cross-border attacks. The propensity of groups to launch foreign attacks appears unrelated to press freedom. These results suggest that the protections that states provide for the press motivate foreign terrorism less than the way the media determines newsworthiness.
The effects of cyclosporin A on the chicken immune system

Some aspects of the effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on the chicken immune system are described. High serum levels of CsA could be maintained by i.m. administration of the drug in a neutral oil (Miglyol 812) every three days. After a transient decrease in peripheral blood T lymphocytes, the blood picture remained normal over a dosage period of three weeks. Mitogenic stimulation of the peripheral blood lymphocytes was strongly depressed, however.
Duration and Frequency Characteristics of Tracheoesophageal Speech

Selected characteristics were compared in the speech of five tracheoesophageal, five esophageal, and 15 normal laryngeal adult speakers. Tape-recorded speech samples were measured for durational features with a stopwatch. Frequency features were analyzed with a Visi-Pitch/Apple IIE computer interface with statistical subroutines. Tracheoesophageal speech proved comparable to normal speech in maximum phonation time, speech rate, pitch pertubation (jitter), average fundamental frequency, and fundamental frequency range, but less efficient than normal speech in phrase grouping. Tracheoesophageal speech was superior to esophageal speech in maximum phonation time, speech rate, and phrase grouping, but not significantly different in pitch perturbation, average fundamental frequency, and fundamental frequency range. Explanations and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Indigenous Learning Preferences and Interactive Technologies

This three-year research study examined the influence of interactive technologies on the math achievement of Indigenous students in Years 4, 5, 6 and 7 technology — equipped classrooms in a rural elementary school in British Columbia, Canada. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews and collected math achievement data (reported elsewhere) over a three-year span, and distributed a survey to the teachers in the second year of the study. All data sources revealed that interactive technologies such as SMARTBoards, student response systems and document cameras influence positively Indigenous students’ math achievement over a three-year period.
SIMULATING BERMUDAN INTEREST RATE DERIVATIVES

AbstractWe use simulation to develop a Markov chain approximation for the value of caplets and Bermudan interest rate derivatives in the Market Model developed by Brace, Gatarek, and Musiela (1995) and Jamshidian (1996a, b). One and two factor versions of the Market Model were numerically studied. Our approach yields numerical values for caplets which are in close agreement with analytical solutions. We also provide numerical solutions for several Bermudan swaptions.
Effect of Doxazosin Gastrointestinal Therapeutic System on Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension: The ASOCIA Study

Objective: To evaluate extended-release doxazosin gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) as add-on therapy in patients with treated, but uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: A 16-week, open, noncomparative, multicenter, prospective study of patients with hypertension (≥140/≥90 mm Hg). Doxazosin GITS 4 mg/d was added to entry medication and increased to 8 mg/d at Week 4 in cases of inadequate blood pressure (BP) control. Results: A total of 3631 patients (40% women) with mean age of 62.4 ± 0.2 years were included. Proportion of patients reaching goal (<140/<90 mm Hg) after 4 weeks of add-on therapy with doxazosin GITS was 39% and increased to 61% at Week 16. Systolic and diastolic BP (mean ± SEM) decreased, respectively, from 161.6 ± 0.2 and 95.1 ± 0.1 mm Hg at baseline to 142.2 ± 0.2 and 84.1 ± 0.1 mm Hg at Week 4 (P < 0.0001) and 136.8 ± 0.2 and 80.6 ± 0.2 mm Hg at Week 16 (P < 0.0001). Adverse events occurred in 108 patients (3.0%), with 57 (1.6%) related to the study treatment. In 17 patients (0.5%), serious adverse events were described, but only one was related to the study drug. Conclusions: Doxazosin GITS as add-on therapy achieved target blood pressure and was well tolerated in patients with hypertension uncontrolled by previous regimens. Doxazosin GITS efficacy and tolerability was achieved in combination with all classes of antihypertensives tested.