Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transport and phosphorylation of disaccharides by the ruminal bacterium Streptococcus bovis

Toluene-treated cells of Streptococcus bovis JB1 phosphorylated cellobiose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose by the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. Glucose phosphorylation was constitutive, while all three disaccharide systems were inducible. Competition experiments indicated that separate phosphotransferase systems (enzymes II) existed for glucose, maltose, and sucrose. [14C]maltose transport was inhibited by excess (10 mM) glucose and to a lesser extent by sucrose (90 and 46%, respectively). [14C]glucose and [14C]sucrose transports were not inhibited by an excess of maltose. Since [14C]maltose phosphorylation in triethanolamine buffer was increased 160-fold as the concentration of Pi was increased from 0 to 100 mM, a maltose phosphorylase (Km for Pi, 9.5 mM) was present, and this activity was inducible. Maltose was also hydrolyzed by an inducible maltase. Glucose 1-phosphate arising from the maltose phosphorylase was metabolized by a constitutive phosphoglucomutase that was specific for alpha-glucose 1-phosphate (Km, 0.8 mM). Only sucrose-grown cells possessed sucrose hydrolase activity (Km, 3.1 mM), and this activity was much lower than the sucrose phosphotransferase system and sucrose-phosphate hydrolase activities.
Genetic Influence on Blood Pressure and Underlying Hemodynamics Measured at Rest and During Stress

Objective This study examined the genetic and environmental contributions to the individual differences in blood pressure (BP) levels and underlying hemodynamic characteristics at rest and during mental challenge tasks in a large twin cohort of youth. Including both European American and African American twins further allowed examination of potential ethnic differences. Methods We studied cardiovascular reactivity to two stressors (car-driving simulation and a social stressor interview) in 308 European American and 223 African American twin pairs including monozygotic twin pairs and same-sex as well as opposite-sex dizygotic twin pairs (mean [standard deviation] age = 14.7 [3.1]). Variables included systolic and diastolic BP, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance. Results Heritability indices for levels at rest and during stress were high (31%–73%) and comparable between ethnic groups. A common genetic factor accounted for both resting and stress levels explaining 23% to 58% of the total variance. The increases in heritability indices for BP and heart rate from rest to stress are mostly explained by newly emerging genetic influences on the added stress component. Indices for hemodynamic variables remained stable from rest to stress owing to a simultaneous decrease in genetic and environmental variances. Conclusions Cardiovascular measures obtained during rest and stress show substantial heritability that is comparable between individuals of African and European descent. Most of the variance in both resting and stress levels is explained by common genetic factors, although other genetic factors that only contribute to cardiovascular levels during stress are also important.
Response Parameters for SMS Text Message Assessments Among Pregnant and General Smokers Participating in SMS Cessation Trials

Introduction: Despite a substantial increase in use of SMS text messages for collecting smoking-related data, there is limited knowledge on the parameters of response. This study assessed response rates, response speed, impact of reminders and predictors of response to text message assessments among smokers. Methods: Data were from two SMS cessation intervention trials using clinical samples of pregnant (n = 198) and general smokers (n = 293) sent text message assessments during 3-month cessation programs. Response rates were calculated using data from the host web-server. Changes in response over time, impact of reminders and potential demographic (age, gender, ethnicity, parity, and deprivation) and smoking (nicotine dependence, determination to quit, prenatal smoking history, smoking status at follow-up) predictors of response were analyzed. Results: Mean response rates were 61.9% (pregnant) and 67.8% (general) with aggregated median response times of 0.35 (pregnant) and 0.64 (general) hours. Response rate reduced over time (P = .003) for general smokers only. Text message reminders had a significant effect on response (Ps < .001), with observed mean increases of 13.8% (pregnant) and 17.7% (general). Age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90–1.00) and deprivation (OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–1.00) weakly predicted response among pregnant smokers and nonsmoking status at 4 weeks follow-up (OR = 8.63, 95% CI 3.03–24.58) predicted response among general smokers. Conclusions: Text message assessments within trial-based cessation programs yield rapid responses from a sizable proportion of smokers, which can be increased using text reminders. While few sources of nonresponse bias were identified for general smokers, older and more deprived pregnant women were less likely to respond. Implications: This study demonstrates that most pregnant and general smokers enrolled in a cessation trial will respond to a small number of questions about their smoking sent by text message, mostly within 1 hour of being sent the assessment text message. For those who do not initially respond, our findings suggest that 24- and 48-hour text message reminders are likely to increase response a small but meaningful amount. However, older age and higher deprivation among pregnant smokers and relapse among general smokers is likely to reduce the chance of response.
No relation between body mass and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in a Swedish population based study

BACKGROUND There is a widespread notion that obesity leads to gastro-oesophageal reflux but scientific evidence of an association is limited and inconsistent. AIMS To estimate the strength of the association between body mass and reflux symptoms, we performed a population based cross sectional interview study. SUBJECTS Population based, randomly selected, middle aged or elderly persons in Sweden in 1995–1997. METHODS At face-to-face interviews we asked a stratified sample of Swedes about body measures and occurrence of reflux symptoms. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), calculated by logistic regression with multivariate adjustments for covariates, were the measures of association. RESULTS Reflux symptoms occurring at least once a week more than five years before the interview were reported by 135 (16%) of the 820 interviewees. Among those who had ever been overweight during adulthood (body mass index (BMI) ⩾25 kg/m2), the OR of having recurrent reflux symptoms was 0.99 (95% CI 0.66–1.47) compared with those who were never overweight. There was no association between BMI at age 20, BMI 20 years before the interview, or maximum adult BMI and occurrence of reflux symptoms: ORs per unit increase in BMI were 1.00 (95% CI 0.93–1.09), 1.03 (95% CI 0.96–1.10), and 1.01 (95% CI=0.95 1.07), respectively. There was no association between BMI and severity or duration of reflux symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms occur independently of body mass index. Weight reduction may not be justifiable as an antireflux therapy.
Optimal Transmission of Progressive Sources Based on the Error Probability Analysis of SM and OSTBC

This paper studies the optimal design of multimedia progressive communication systems that are combined with low-complex open-loop multiple-input multiple-output techniques. First, we analyze the behavior of the crossover point of the error probability curves for orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBC) and spatial multiplexing (SM) with a zero-forcing linear receiver. We mathematically prove that, in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, for both the information outage probability and the uncoded bit error rate, as data rate increases, the crossover point for the error probability monotonically decreases, and the crossover point for the SNR monotonically increases. We prove that this holds, regardless of the numbers of transmit and receive antennas and the spatial multiplexing rate of OSTBC. We next show how those results can be exploited for the optimal transmission of progressive sources, such as embedded image, which require unequal target error rates in their bitstream. That is, the computational complexity involved with the optimal space-time coding of progressive bitstream can be decreased.
Taxodione and Extracts from Salvia austriaca Roots as Human Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Taxodione, an abietane diterpenoid, was isolated from Salvia austriaca transformed roots grown in in vitro conditions. The compound is known to have antibacterial, cytotoxic and anti‐tumour properties. This study evaluates the ability of pure taxodione and extracts obtained from the S. austriaca hairy roots and roots from field‐grown plants to inhibit human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Both extracts were found to have similar actions against acetylcholinesterase. The IC50 for extracts from transformed and untransformed roots were 142.5 and 139.5 µg ml−1, respectively. The highest activity towards human acetylcholinesterase was demonstrated by taxodione (IC50 = 54.84 µg ml−1). With respect to BChE inhibition, the root extracts demonstrated stronger activity (IC50 = 23.6 µg ml−1: field‐grown plants and 41.6 µg ml−1: transformed roots) than taxodione (IC50 = 195.9 µg ml−1). Taxodione showed significant cytotoxicity against A549 cell line (IC50 = 9.1 µg ml−1), whereas the activities for the extracts from S. austriaca roots of field‐grown plants (IC50 = 75.7 µg ml−1) and hairy roots (IC50 = 86.2 µg ml−1) were lower. Computer modelling suggests that taxodione should not demonstrate cardiotoxic or genotoxic activity. It also indicates that taxodione should demonstrate very rapid transport from the body with very good blood–brain barrier penetration, but with no cumulative effect on the human body. The obtained results indicate that taxodione is a safe compound and may be used for further investigations in pharmacological activities. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Academic Failure in Higher Education: Socio-Cultural Analysis from the Perspectives of Students and Teachers in Mexico

This research is part of an inter-institutional project interested in analyzing the perceptions of students and teachers about the factors that affect academic failure. In this paper, academic failure is seen, form the sociocultural approach as a complex phenomenon in which different educational actors take place and are related to personal, social, economic and institutional factors. Socio-cultural studies have paid attention to the understanding of educational problems by pointing out as an important mediator the social and cultural context from which students come and the divergences between home/social and academic cultures that are played within the microsocial contexts of the schools and classrooms. Thus, in this work, academic failure is seen as the interplay between personal, social, economic and institutional factors that enable or not the student to integrate into the academic community, build a sense of belonging/commitment to it and perform with success in their university studies.
Length‐Dependent Activation: Its Effect on the Length‐Tension Relation in Cat Ventricular Muscle

In cat papillary muscles at 30°C, bathed with Ty-rode's solution containing 2.25 mM Ca2+, the effect of various inotropic interventions (varying the stimulus frequency and continual paired stimulation) on the shape of the steady state length-tension relation was examined at lengths from Lmax, where tension production is maximal, to 0.87 Lmax. The relative steepness of the length-tension curves for peak tension developed (DT) and for maximum rate of tension development (dT/dt) varied inversely with the degree of potentiation. Thus, during paired pulse stimulation the relative decline in DT and dT/dt for a given change in muscle length was significantly less than the decline observed during stimulation at 5 min1. When a muscle was stretched DT did not reach its final steady level for several minutes, and this slow increase in DT contributed significantly to the steepness of the steady state length-tension relation. The half-time of the slow increase in DT exhibited beat-dependency, and conditions that reduce the transsarcolemmal influx of calcium (reduction in bathing [Ca2+] or the presence of verapamil) significantly prolonged the time course of the slow increase and reduced its magnitude. These results support the hypothesis (1) that there is length-dependence of the excitation-contraction coupling process, such that an increase in muscle length is accompanied by greater activation of the contractile system; and (2) that this is due at least in part to an increased influx of calcium into the muscle cells. The implication of this hypothesis is that the influence of muscle length on myocardial performance (the Frank-Starling relation) should not be regarded as fundamentally different in character from other inotropic interventions.
On commodity trading strategies: momentum, term structure, maturity, indexation

The thesis investigates the presence of idiosyncratic characteristics in commodity futures markets that lead to profitable trading strategies, effectively testing the efficiency of commodity markets. First, short-term continuation and long-term reversal in commodity futures prices are examined. While contrarian strategies do not work, 13 profitable momentum strategies have been identified that generate 9.38% average return a year. On average the momentum strategies buy backwardated contracts and sell contangoed contracts. Testing the direct implication of this behavior, the strategy of buying the most backwardated and selling the most contangoed commodities is examined. With significant annualized alphas of 10.14% and 12.66% respectively the momentum and term structure strategies appear profitable when implemented individually. The thesis continues by investigating the combined role of momentum and term structure signals. With an abnormal return of 21.02%, our double-sort strategy that exploits both momentum and term structure signals clearly outperforms the single-sort strategies. The thesis continues by examining the role of momentum, term structure and time to maturity/expiry factors in the design of enhanced commodity indices. In a long-only framework the momentum parameterized Standard & Poor's Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (S&P- GSCI former GSCI) and Dow-Jones UBS Commodity Index (DJ-UBSCI former DJ-AIGCI) yield 0.46 and 0.9 times higher returns than the traditional S&P-GSCI and DJ-UBSCI respectively. The term structure parameterized S&P-GSCI and DJ-UBSCI exhibit 0.63 and 0.68 times higher returns respectively. The combined parameterized indices increase the outperformance by 0.65 and 1.02 times and the longer maturity indices yield on average 1.37 and 1.97 times higher returns than the traditional indices respectively. These findings can be exploited for diversification purposes in a long-only commodity world or deployed as a framework to facilitate choosing among commodity indices. Keywords: Commodity futures, Momentum, Term Structure, Backwardation, Contango, Diversification, Commodity indices
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Use of Preemptive Hemodynamic Intervention to Improve Postoperative Outcomes in Moderate and High-Risk Surgical Patients

BACKGROUND: Complications from major surgery are undesirable, common, and potentially avoidable. The long-term consequences of short-term surgical complications have recently been recognized to have a profound influence on longevity and quality of life in survivors. In the past 30 years, there have been a number of studies conducted attempting to reduce surgical mortality and morbidity by deliberately and preemptively manipulating perioperative hemodynamics. Early studies had a high control-group mortality rate and were criticized for this as being unrepresentative of current practice and raised opposition to its implementation as routine care. We performed this review to update this body of literature and to examine the effect of changes in current practice and quality of care to see whether the conclusions from previous quantitative analyses of this field remain valid. METHODS: Randomized clinical trials evaluating the use of preemptive hemodynamic intervention to improve surgical outcome were identified using multiple methods. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials register) were screened for potential trials, reference lists of identified trials were examined, and additional sources were sought from experts and industry representatives. Identified studies that fulfilled the entry criteria were examined in full and subjected to quantifiable analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis where possible. RESULTS: There were 29 studies identified, 23 of which reported surgical complications. In total, the 29 trials involved 4805 patients with an overall mortality of 7.6%. The use of preemptive hemodynamic intervention significantly reduced mortality (pooled odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 0.48 [0.33–0.78]; P = 0.0002) and surgical complications (odds ratio 0.43 [0.34–0.53]; P < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis showed significant reductions in mortality for studies using a pulmonary artery catheter, supranormal resuscitation targets, studies using cardiac index or oxygen delivery as goals, and the use of fluids and inotropes as opposed to fluids alone. By contrast, there was a significant reduction in morbidity for each of the 4 subgroups analyzed. CONCLUSION: The use of a preemptive strategy of hemodynamic monitoring and coupled therapy reduces surgical mortality and morbidity.
Finance, income inequality and income redistribution

ABSTRACT Using a panel fixed effects model for a large sample of countries covering 1975–2005, we test the hypothesis that income inequality caused by finance (financial development, financial liberalization and banking crises) is related to more income redistribution than inequality caused by other factors. Our results provide evidence in support of this hypothesis. We also find that the impact of inequality on redistribution is conditioned by ethno-linguistic fractionalization. Our findings are robust to the inclusion of several control variables suggested by previous studies.
Role of mucins in inflammatory bowel disease: important lessons from experimental models

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by a chronically inflamed mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, caused by an underlying immune imbalance and triggered by luminal substances, including bacteria. Mucus forms a gel layer covering the gastrointestinal tract, acting as a semi-permeable barrier between the lumen and the epithelium. Mucins, the building blocks of the mucus gel, determine the thickness and properties of mucus. In IBD in humans, alterations in both membrane-bound and secretory mucins have been described involving genetic mutations in mucin genes, changes in mucin mRNA and protein levels, degree of glycosylation, sulphation, and degradation of mucins. As mucins are strategically positioned between the vulnerable mucosa and the bacterial contents of the bowel, changes in mucin structure and/or quantity probably influence their protective functions and therefore constitute possible aetiological factors in the pathogenesis of IBD. This hypothesis, however, is difficult to prove in humans. Animal models for IBD permit detailed analysis of those aspects of mucins necessary for protection against disease. These models revealed pertinent data as for how changes in mucins, in particular in MUC2, imposed by immunological or microbial factors, may contribute to the development and/or perpetuation of chronic IBD, and shed some light on possible strategies to counteract disease.
Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in neonatal kittens.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in neonatal kittens and compare the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in young and adult cats. ANIMALS 7 adult cats and 111 kittens (2 to 8 weeks old). PROCEDURE A single dose of 5 mg of enrofloxacin/kg was administered to adults (i.v.) and kittens (i.v., s.c., or p.o.). Plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite, ciprofloxacin, were determined. RESULTS The half-life of enrofloxacin administered i.v. in 2-, 6-, and 8-week-old kittens was significantly shorter and its elimination rate significantly greater than that detected in adults. The apparent volumes of distribution were lower at 2 to 4 weeks and greater at 6 to 8 weeks. This resulted in lower peak plasma concentration (Cmax) at 6 to 8 weeks; however, initial plasma concentration was within the therapeutic range after i.v. administration at all ages. Compared with i.v. administration, s.c. injection of enrofloxacin in 2-week-old kittens resulted in similar Cmax, half-life, clearance, and area under the curve values. Enrofloxacin administered via s.c. injection was well absorbed in 6- and 8-week-old kittens, but greater clearance and apparent volume of distribution resulted in lower plasma concentrations. Oral administration of enrofloxacin resulted in poor bioavailability. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In neonatal kittens, i.v. and s.c. administration of enrofloxacin provided an effective route of administration. Oral administration of enrofloxacin in kittens did not result in therapeutic drug concentrations. Doses may need to be increased to achieve therapeutic drug concentrations in 6- to 8-week-old kittens.
Circulating subsets and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell function in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an inflammatory disease of the peripheral nervous system that is probably autoimmune in origin. Different components of the adaptive and innate immunity may be responsible for the aberrant response towards nerve antigens. To investigate this, we examined lymphocyte subsets and regulatory T cell (Treg) function in the blood of CIDP patients, healthy controls (HC) and subjects with non-immune mediated neuropathies (other neuropathies, ON). We used flow cytometry to determine the frequency of monocytes, B cells, natural killer (NK) and NK-T cells, total and activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, effector memory and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ Tregs. Treg function was studied after polyclonal stimulation and antigen specific stimulation with myelin protein peptides in CIDP and HC. There was an increased frequency of monocytes (p = 0.02) and decreased frequency of NK cells (p = 0.02) in CIDP compared with HC but not ON. There were no significant differences in other populations. Treg function was impaired in CIDP compared to HC (p = 0.02), whilst T cell proliferation to myelin protein peptides before and after depletion of Tregs was not different between patients and controls. This study shows increased circulating monocytes and reduced NK cells in CIDP. Although Treg frequency was not altered, we confirm that Tregs display a defect of suppressive function. Myelin protein peptides were not the target of the altered peripheral regulation of the immune response. The mechanisms of peripheral immune tolerance in CIDP and their relevance to the pathogenesis deserve further exploration.