Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deletion of hypothetical wall teichoic acid ligases in Staphylococcus aureus activates the cell wall stress response.

The Staphylococcus aureus cell wall stress stimulon (CWSS) is activated by cell envelope-targeting antibiotics or depletion of essential cell wall biosynthesis enzymes. The functionally uncharacterized S. aureus LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) proteins, MsrR, SA0908 and SA2103, all belong to the CWSS. Although not essential, deletion of all three LCP proteins severely impairs cell division. We show here that VraSR-dependent CWSS expression was up to 250-fold higher in single, double and triple LCP mutants than in wild type S. aureus in the absence of external stress. The LCP triple mutant was virtually depleted of wall teichoic acids (WTA), which could be restored to different degrees by any of the single LCP proteins. Subinhibitory concentrations of tunicamycin, which inhibits the first WTA synthesis enzyme TarO (TagO), could partially complement the severe growth defect of the LCP triple mutant. Both of the latter findings support a role for S. aureus LCP proteins in late WTA synthesis, as in Bacillus subtilis where LCP proteins were recently proposed to transfer WTA from lipid carriers to the cell wall peptidoglycan. Intrinsic activation of the CWSS upon LCP deletion and the fact that LCP proteins were essential for WTA-loading of the cell wall, highlight their important role(s) in S. aureus cell envelope biogenesis.
Abnormal urothelial HLA‐DR expression in interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the urinary bladder that predominantly afflicts middle‐age women. The end stage of the disease is ulceration of the urothelium, the so‐called Hunner's ulcer. The aetiology of interstitial cystitis remains obscure. We have studied bladder biopsies from 22 cases of interstitial cystitis and control groups consisting of six cases of bacterial cystitis and eight healthy women. Indirect immunofluorescence was performed on the biopsies using murine MoAbs to human HLA class I molecules, and class II molecules, HLA‐DP, HLA‐DQ and HLA‐DR. In interstitial cystitis, bacterial cystitis and normal controls most cells expressed HLA class I products. In six cases of interstitial cystitis and one case of bacterial cystitis there was evidence of HLA class I hyperexpression. In normal bladder and bacterial cystitis HLA class II expression was restricted to submucosal dendritic cells. Langerhans cells macrophages, vascular endothelial cells and activated lymphocytes. All but two cases of interstitial cystitis showed surface expression of HLA‐DR (but not HLA‐DP or DQ). In all cases of interstitial cystitis there was an increase in the numbers of macrophages, activated lymphocytes and vascular endothelial cells expressing HLA class II molecules within the submucosa. These findings provide further evidence fofthe importance of inappropriate HLA molecule expression in a disease suspected of having an autoimmune pathogenesis and where cellular autoimmune mechanisms play a decisive role in the destruction of the target cells ‐ the bladder urothelium.
Phytochemistry, Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Actvities of Methanolic Leaves Extract of Lannea schimperi (Hoschst. Ex Rich) ENG.

BACKGROUND Pain whether acute or chronic, peripheral or central is believed to originate from inflammation and inflammatory response. The potential toxicity of antinociceptive and antiinflammatory agents such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) necessitates sourcing for less toxic alternative drugs. Many natural substances have been used for the management of pain and inflammation with success traditionally. METHODS The present study sought to investigate phytochemistry, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials of the methanolic leaves extract of Lannea schimperi. Preliminary phytochemical test was conducted on the extract. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials of the extract at doses of 12 and 24 mg/kg were evaluated using acetic acid induced writhing model in mice and egg albumin induced acute inflammation model in rats' respectively. Aspirin at dose of 80 mg/kg was used as the standard drug given to the positive control group, while the drug vehicle was given to the negative control group. RESULT Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrate, glycoside, reducing sugars, triterpene, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, condensed tannins and saponins. The data obtained showed that at both doses the extract significantly (P< 0.05) decreased the acetic acid induced writhing reflex in mice when compared to the negative control group. The result also demonstrated significant (P< 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity of the extract at both doses. However, there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the extract treated groups and the group treated with the standard drug (positive control). CONCLUSION The patent data revealed the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials of the methanolic leaves extract of Lannea schimperi which could be beneficial in alleviating painful inflammatory conditions.
Dried papaya skin as a dietary ingredient for broiler chickens

1. The chemical composition of dried papaya (Carica papaya) skin (DPS) was determined and its potential as a dietary ingredient for broiler chickens was investigated at dietary concentrations of 0, 40, 80 and 120 g/kg. 2. DPS was found to give similar food consumption, food conversion efficiency, survivability and meat yields (except male liver weight) to a control diet when used up to 120 g/kg of diet. 3. Weight gain tended to increase with dietary concentration of DPS up to 80 g/kg. 4. It was concluded that DPS could safely be used up to 120 g/kg in the diet of broiler chickens.
Sexual Changes in Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Control Comparison

Background:Previous research has suggested that sexuality is compromised following traumatic brain injury (TBI), but there has been limited comparison with healthy samples. Objectives:The aim of the current study was to compare sexuality in individuals with TBI with that in healthy controls matched for age and gender. In doing this, the current study aimed to characterize those individuals who reported a decrease in sexuality relative to those reporting an increase according to certain demographic and injury variables. Method:A total of 865 participants with predominantly moderate to severe TBI and 142 controls completed the Brain Injury Questionnaire of Sexuality (BIQS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale on one occasion. Results:The results indicated that there was a significant difference between participants with TBI and controls on all the BIQS subscales as well as the total score. Age, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem levels significantly differentiated participants with TBI who reported decreased sexuality from those who reported increased sexuality. Participants with TBI attributed sexual changes to various causes—most commonly, fatigue, low confidence, pain, decreased mobility, and feeling unattractive. Conclusions:Further research examining the factors contributing to sexual changes is warranted.
Integration of REDD into the international carbon market: Implications for future commitments and market regulation

Integrating reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) into a post-Kyoto intergovernmental carbon market could significantly decrease global carbon prices and the costs of mitigating climate change. We investigate this impact by simulating the impact of the supply of REDD units on the international carbon market in 2020 under unlimited and restricted exchange conditions. We find restricting supply or demand of REDD credits reduces such price impacts, but comes at the cost of economic efficiency. The introduction of deeper Annex I emissions reduction commitments reduces the impact on global carbon prices, but entails substantial compliance costs and wealth transfers. While REDD provides large economic benefits for tropical rainforest regions, any REDD fungibility scenario which results in a reduction in the international price of carbon also reduces transfers to the CDM host countries. Our modelling indicates unrestricted exchange of REDD units reduces the international carbon price by half and cuts Annex I compliance costs by roughly one third if projected emissions reduction commitments are unchanged. Alternatively, Annex I reduction commitments could be increased by around 60 percent at constant carbon prices. The findings of this research have relevance for policy makers and academics seeking to understand carbon market implications of supply variability and policymakers considering the introduction of REDD market mechanisms.
Strength reduction and the effects of treatment of long bones with diaphyseal defects involving 50% of the cortex

Currently, three criteria are accepted as indications for prophylactic internal fixation of metastatic disease in long bone, including lesions (a) destroying 50% or more of the cortex; (b) 2.5 cm or greater in diameter; or (c) with pain unrelieved by radiation therapy. Using an oblong defect configuration in which one half of the cross‐sectional area was destroyed, canine femora were torsion‐tested at high speed to determine (a) the actual strength reduction incurred by a lesion destroying 50% of the cortical circumference, and (b) the effects and benefits of internal fixation using polymethylmethacrylate and/or a six‐hole compression plate on such a defect. The femurs with a 50% circumferential cortical defect demonstrated only 12.7 ± 3.8% of intact strength. Defects treated with a combination of plating (all screws bicortical) and polymethylmethacrylate (torque to failure 4.39 ± 0.90 times greater than the defect alone or TE/TD = 4.39 ± 0.90) were statistically stronger than defects treated with polymethylmethacrylate alone (TE/TD = 2.48 ± 0.66; p < 0.025) or by plating alone (TE/TD = 2.61 ± 0.91; p < 0.025), but torque‐to‐failure was only increased to approximately 56% of an intact bone. Plated intact bones (TE/TD = 5.33 ± 0.41) were significantly weaker than intact bones (TE/TD = 8.50 ± 2.52; p < 0.001). Our results substantiate the need for using polymethylmethacrylate and internal fixation in combination when prophylactically fixing pathologic lesions of this proportion.
The Laminin-α1 Chain-Derived Peptide, AG73, Binds to Syndecans on MDA-231 Breast Cancer Cells and Alters Filopodium Formation

Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer affecting women in the United States, second only to skin cancers. Although treatments have been developed to combat primary breast cancer, metastasis remains a leading cause of death. An early step of metastasis is cancer cell invasion through the basement membrane. However, this process is not yet well understood. AG73, a synthetic laminin-α1 chain peptide, plays an important role in cell adhesion and has previously been linked to migration, invasion, and metastasis. Thus, we aimed to identify the binding partner of AG73 on breast cancer cells that could mediate cancer progression. We performed adhesion assays using MCF10A, T47D, SUM1315, and MDA-231 breast cell lines and found that AG73 binds to syndecans (Sdcs) 1, 2, and 4. This interaction was inhibited when we silenced Sdcs 1 and/or 4 in MDA-231 cells, indicating the importance of these receptors in this relationship. Through actin staining, we found that silencing of Sdc 1, 2, and 4 expression in MDA-231 cells exhibits a decrease in the length and number of filopodia bound to AG73. Expression of mouse Sdcs 1, 2, and 4 in MDA-231 cells provides rescue in filopodia, and overexpression of Sdcs 1 and 2 leads to increased filopodium length and number. Our findings demonstrate an intrinsic interaction between AG73 in the tumor environment and the Sdcs on breast cancer cells in supporting tumor cell adhesion and invasion through filopodia, an important step in cancer metastasis.
Evidence for absence of the MPB64 gene in some substrains of Mycobacterium bovis BCG

Substrains of Mycobacterium bovis BCG have been divided in two major groups, high producers and low producers of the secreted proteins MPB64 and MPB70. Of these, Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretes only the analog MPT64 during growth on Sauton medium. It has been confirmed that high-producer and low-producer substrains of BCG as well as M. tuberculosis contain the gene for the MPB/MPT70 protein. By contrast, polymerase chain reaction and hybridization experiments are reported here which indicate that the MPB64 gene is absent in the BCG substrains Copenhagen, Pasteur, Glaxo, and Tice, in which previous methods did not permit distinction between secretion of small amounts or absence of the protein in culture fluids.
Differentiation, labor market and globalization

We consider two countries with initially one firm in each country and the possibility for each firm to invest in the other country or commercialize its products, and for workers to immigrate (Common Labor Market; CLM). Interestingly, when firms compete on the product market with no competition on the labor market (Goods’ Mobility; GM), they do not differentiate their qualities. However, when competition is introduced in both markets (Foreign Investment; FI) firms differentiate their products. We compare the globalization scenarii and prove that they improve the global social welfare relative to autarky and that a cooperative choice by countries of a globalization scenario would lead to GM.
“Strong beats skinny every time”: Disordered eating and compulsive exercise in women who post fitspiration on Instagram

OBJECTIVE Fitspiration is a recent Internet trend designed to motivate people to eat healthily and to exercise. The aim of the study was to investigate disordered eating and exercise in women who post fitspiration on Instagram. METHOD Participants were 101 women who post fitspiration images on Instagram and a comparison group of 102 women who post travel images. Both groups completed measures of disordered eating and compulsive exercise. RESULTS Women who post fitspiration images scored significantly higher on drive for thinness, bulimia, drive for muscularity, and compulsive exercise. Almost a fifth (17.5%) of these women were at risk for diagnosis of a clinical eating disorder, compared to 4.3% of the travel group. Compulsive exercise was related to disordered eating in both groups, but the relationship was significantly stronger for women who post fitspiration images. DISCUSSION For some women, posting fitspiration images on Instagram may signify maladaptive eating and exercise behaviors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:76-79).
Pediatric laparoscopic pyeloplasty: 4-year experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty for correction of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in the pediatric population is comparable to open dismembered pyeloplasty in success rates. Experience with this procedure however remains limited. We review our experience with this technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS The hospital records of consecutive patients undergoing surgery for UPJO between May 2001 and May 2005 were reviewed. Only those who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty for single system UPJO were included in the study. Indications for surgical correction were T(1/2) > or = 20 minutes by diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid Lasix renography or symptomatology with hydronephrosis seen on renal ultrasonography (US). RESULTS Fifty-nine patients were identified, all of whom were treated surgically for salvageable UPJO. Four underwent percutaneous endopyelotomy for concomitant urolithiasis, 27 underwent open dismembered pyeloplasty (parent choice or under 18 months of age), and 28 underwent laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty. One patient had bilateral laparoscopic repairs at different times, resulting in 29 renal units that were reconstructed laparoscopically. Of these, 28 were completed. Eighteen procedures were performed on boys and 11 on girls. The mean age was 8.1 (1.6-18.9) years. The mean operating room time was 255 (157-396) minutes. Estimated blood loss was <10 mL in every patient. One patient required hospitalization longer than 23 hours because of postoperative ileus. A retroperitoneal urinoma developed in another patient, despite having a ureteral stent; it resolved with urethral catheter drainage. The first laparoscopic pyeloplasty resulted in open conversion because of failure of progression of the ureteropelvic anastomosis. At a mean follow-up of 27.9 (7.6-58.0) months, all patients demonstrated improvement of symptoms and drainage on nuclear renography or a decrease in the grade of hydronephrosis on renal US. CONCLUSION Our series of patients undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty had excellent results with low morbidity. We consider this our primary technique for surgical correction of UPJO in patients older than 18 months.
Breakdown of the FLT3-ITD/STAT5 Axis and Synergistic Apoptosis Induction by the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Panobinostat and FLT3-Specific Inhibitors

Activating mutations of the class III receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 are the most frequent molecular aberration in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mutant FLT3 accelerates proliferation, suppresses apoptosis, and correlates with poor prognosis. Therefore, it is a promising therapeutic target. Here, we show that RNA interference against FLT3 with an internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) potentiates the efficacy of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) panobinostat (LBH589) against AML cells expressing FLT3-ITD. Similar to RNA interference, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI; AC220/cpd.102/PKC412) in combination with LBH589 exhibit superior activity against AML cells. Median dose–effect analyses of drug-induced apoptosis rates of AML cells (MV4-11 and MOLM-13) revealed combination index (CI) values indicating strong synergism. AC220, the most potent and FLT3-specific TKI, shows highest synergism with LBH589 in the low nanomolar range. A 4-hour exposure to LBH589 + AC220 already generates more than 50% apoptosis after 24 hours. Different cell lines lacking FLT3-ITD as well as normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells are not significantly affected by LBH589 + TKI, showing the specificity of this treatment regimen. Immunoblot analyses show that LBH589 + TKI induce apoptosis via degradation of FLT3-ITD and its prosurvival target STAT5. Previously, we showed the LBH589-induced proteasomal degradation of FLT3-ITD. Here, we show that activated caspase-3 also contributes to the degradation of FLT3-ITD and that STAT5 is a direct target of this protease. Our data strongly emphasize HDACi/TKI drug combinations as promising modality for the treatment of FLT3-ITD–positive AMLs. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(11); 2373–83. ©2012 AACR.
Sectoral Re-Composition, Inflation and Productivity Growth in the OECD

This paper examines the changing composition of OECD economies, between large sectors such as manufacturing and services. It presents several stylised facts on how these changes relate to inflation, labour productivity and real wage growth. First, manufacturing has fallen and services have risen, in terms of output shares. Second, differences between sectors can be marked. For example, inflation is lower in manufacturing than in services, and productivity and real wage growth is higher. Third, despite inter-sectoral variations, the changing structures of economies have no significant impact on productivity growth, and no apparent impact on inflation. Over our thirty year sample, structural change has slowed at the same time as productivity growth has held up. However, there is evidence of a dynamic relationship between structural change and productivity growth, and tentative signs of adjustment costs in downturns, consistent with flexible economies being quicker to recover following negative shocks.
Genetic diversity of Chilean and Brazilian Alstroemeria species assessed by AFLP analysis

One to three accessions of 22 Alstroemeria species, an interspecific hybrid (A. aurea × A. inodora), and single accessions of Bomarea salsilla and Leontochir ovallei were evaluated using the AFLP-marker technique to estimate the genetic diversity within the genus Alstroemeria. Three primer combinations generated 716 markers and discriminated all Alstroemeria species. The dendrogram inferred from the AFLP fingerprints supported the conjecture of the generic separation of the Chilean and Brazilian Alstroemeria species. The principal co-ordinate plot showed the separate allocation of the A. ligtu group and the allocation of A. aurea, which has a wide range of geographical distribution and genetic variation, in the middle of other Alstroemeria species. The genetic distances, based on AFLP markers, determined the genomic contribution of the parents to the interspecific hybrid.
Dynamics of Carbon-Concentrating Mechanism Induction and Protein Relocalization during the Dark-to-Light Transition in Synchronized Chlamydomonas reinhardtii1[W][OPEN]

In synchronized Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells, the carbon-concentrating mechanism is induced prior to dawn, which coincides with the relocalization of key proteins to the chloroplast pyrenoid. In the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) is induced under low CO2 in the light and comprises active inorganic carbon transport components, carbonic anhydrases, and aggregation of Rubisco in the chloroplast pyrenoid. Previous studies have focused predominantly on asynchronous cultures of cells grown under low versus high CO2. Here, we have investigated the dynamics of CCM activation in synchronized cells grown in dark/light cycles compared with induction under low CO2. The specific focus was to undertake detailed time course experiments comparing physiology and gene expression during the dark-to-light transition. First, the CCM could be fully induced 1 h before dawn, as measured by the photosynthetic affinity for inorganic carbon. This occurred in advance of maximum gene transcription and protein accumulation and contrasted with the coordinated induction observed under low CO2. Between 2 and 1 h before dawn, the proportion of Rubisco and the thylakoid lumen carbonic anhydrase in the pyrenoid rose substantially, coincident with increased CCM activity. Thus, other mechanisms are likely to activate the CCM before dawn, independent of gene transcription of known CCM components. Furthermore, this study highlights the value of using synchronized cells during the dark-to-light transition as an alternative means of investigating CCM induction.