Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunomagnetic purification to facilitate DNA diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum

The detection of pathogens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in clinical samples, such as blood, urine, or feces, requires initial sample preparation to remove polymerase inhibitors and to concentrate the target DNA. Here we show for the first time that immunomagnetic separation can be used to recover pathogens from whole blood and then used for PCR analysis. With antibodies to the merozoite surface protein (MSP1), the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum was purified and concentrated from clinical samples. The recovered parasites were used directly for in vitro DNA amplification. The PCR product was subsequently analyzed by a colorimetric 96-well microtiter plate assay. The results from examining 117 patients attending a clinic in the Borai district, Thailand, demonstrate that the combined method with immunomagnetic separation followed by PCR increases the group of positively diagnosed patients compared with microscopic examination of stained blood films. Analysis of 1 microliter of whole blood resulted in a 12% (14 of 117) increase in positively diagnosed patients while a 10-microliters sample volume increased the positives diagnosed to 20.5% (24 of 117).
Overexpression of PLK1 is associated with poor survival by inhibiting apoptosis via enhancement of survivin level in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

PLK1 is essential for the maintenance of genomic stability during mitosis. In our study, we found that overexpression of PLK1 was an independent prognostic factor (RR = 4.253, p = 0.020) and significantly correlated with survivin, an antiapoptotic protein, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed upregulation of PLK1 mRNA and amplification of PLK1 gene, respectively. Depletion of PLK1 activated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, which was substantiated by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, reduction of Mcl‐1 and Bcl‐2 as well as activation of caspase‐9. Coimmunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy displayed that PLK1 was associated with survivin and PLK1 depletion led to downregulation of survivin. Cotransfection of survivin constructs could partially reverse PLK1‐depletion‐induced apoptosis. These data suggest that PLK1 might be a useful prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for ESCC. Survivin is probably involved in antiapoptotic function of PLK1. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Supercapacitor state of charge control based on changeover finite state controller for metro-train applications

The paper deals with the control of onboard storage devices with supercapacitors for urban railway trains. The practical utilization of supercapacitors requires suitable power converters for the regulation of power flows between the catenary and the electrical drives of the power-train. These converters operate in DC current and have to be bi-directional in order to allow the charge and discharge of supercapacitors. The mathematical model of the whole electrical drive has been developed and the main features of the control strategy have been presented. The control is capable of limiting the peak currents of the contact line and recovering partially the kinetic energy of the train during the braking periods. Simulations prove that the suggested control strategy is very effective for both purposes. Experimental tests made on a scaled prototype, representing the translating masses of a train, fully confirm the results of the simulations.
The performance effects of board heterogeneity: what works for EU banks?

ABSTRACT We examine the impact of board heterogeneity on the performance of EU-listed banks in the wake of the global financial crisis. In a comprehensive set-up, we consider standard board features (type, tenure, size, and age of board members) as well as board diversity features (gender diversity, employee representation, internationalisation, and age diversity). We propose a diversity index, which summarises the different dimensions of diversity, and control for unobserved heterogeneity and reverse causality. Our analysis uncovers a complex relationship between board heterogeneity and bank performance, which is influenced by market conditions and by national culture. Overall board diversity does not seem to affect bank performance, but it does decrease performance variability during the Eurozone crisis and in countries culturally more open to diversity. Different board and diversity features have a positive impact on bank performance (size, tenure, and employee representation); the relationship is non-linear, with the effect of diversity being more relevant when there is a significant proportion of minority representatives. While substantial board internationalisation has a negative impact on bank performance, the presence of foreign directors appears to be less detrimental during the Eurozone crisis and in countries that are more welcoming towards diversity.
Distributions of Sensitivities to Three Sterol Demethylation Inhibitor Fungicides Among Populations of Uncinula necator Sensitive and Resistant to Triadimefon.

ABSTRACT Single-conidial isolates of Uncinula necator from (i) a population representing two vineyards with no previous exposure to sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides ("unexposed," n = 77) and (ii) a population representing two vineyards in which powdery mildew was poorly controlled by triadimefon after prolonged DMI use ("selected," n = 82) were assayed to determine distributions of sensitivities to the DMI fungicides triadimenol (the active form of triadimefon), myclobutanil, and fenarimol. Median 50% effective dose (ED(50)) values (micrograms per milliliter) in the selected versus unexposed populations were 0.06 versus 1.9 for triadimenol, 0.03 versus 0.23 for myclobutanil, and 0.03 versus 0.07 for fenarimol, respectively. Isolates were grouped into sensitivity classes according to their ED(50) values, and those from the selected population were categorized as resistant if the frequency of their sensitivity class had increased significantly relative to levels found in the unexposed population (ED(50) values exceeding 0.56, 0.18, and 0.18 mug/ml for triadimenol, myclobutanil, and fenarimol, respectively). Of the 76 isolates defined as resistant to triadimenol, 64% were classified as cross-resistant to myclobutanil, 18% were classified as cross-resistant to fenarimol, and 17% were classified as resistant to all three fungicides; 25% of the isolates classified as resistant to myclobutanil also were classified as resistant to fenarimol. Similar cross-resistance relationships were revealed when all isolates were examined by regressing log ED(50) values for each fungicide against those for the remaining two fungicides to determine the correlation coefficients (e.g., r = 0.85 for triadimenol versus myclobutanil and 0.56 for triadimenol versus fenarimol). The restricted levels of cross-resistance indicated by these data, particularly between fenarimol and the other two fungicides, is in sharp contrast to the high levels of cross-resistance among DMIs reported for some other pathogens and has significant implications with respect to programs for managing grapevine powdery mildew and DMI resistance.
Case Study: Body Composition Periodization in an Olympic-Level Female Middle-Distance Runner Over a 9-Year Career.

This case study features an Olympic-level female middle-distance runner implementing a science-based approach to body composition periodization. Data are emerging to suggest that it is not sustainable from a health and/or performance perspective to be at peak body composition year-round, so body composition needs to be strategically periodized. Anthropometric (n = 44), hematological, other health measures, and 1,500-m race performances (n = 83) were periodically assessed throughout a 9-year career. General preparation phase (September to April) featured the athlete at ∼2-4% over ideal competition phase body weight (BW) and body fat (%), with optimal energy availability being prioritized. The competition body composition optimization phase (May to August) included creating an individualized time frame and caloric deficit with various feedback metrics (BW, performance, and hunger) to guide the process. There were significant seasonal fluctuations in anthropometric outcomes between phases (47.3 ± 0.8 vs. 48.3 ± 0.9 kg BW; 53.6 ± 7.8 vs. 61.6 ± 9.7 mm International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry sum of 8 [So8] skinfolds; p < .01), and a significant correlation of decreasing So8 during the peak competition period over her career (r = -.838; p = .018). The range of body composition during the competition period was 46.0-48.0 kg BW and a So8 range was 42.0-55.9 mm. There were also significant positive correlations between slower 1,500-m race times and increasing So8 (r = .437; p < .01), estimated fat mass (r = .445; p < .01), and BW (r = .511; p < .0001). The athlete only had two career injuries. This case study demonstrates a body composition periodization approach that allowed for targeted peak yearly performances, which improved throughout her career, while maximizing training adaptation and long-term athlete health through optimal energy availability.
Monetary policy trilemma, inflation targeting and global financial crisis

We empirically investigate the validity of the monetary policy trilemma postulation for emerging market (EME) and advanced (AE) economies under different exchange rate and monetary policy regimes before and after the recent global financial crisis (GFC). Consistent with the dilemma proposition, domestic interest rates are determined by global financial conditions and the FED rate even under floating exchange rate regimes (ERR) in the long-run. The impact of the FED rates is higher in EME than AE and EME are much more sensitive to global financial cycle under managed than floating ERR. The spillover from the FED rate substantially increases after the GFC in EME with floating ERR and AE. The results from the monetary policy reaction functions based on equilibrium correction mechanism specifications suggest that domestic interest rates respond to inflation and output gaps especially under inflation targeting (IT) in the short-run. The response to inflation gap tends to be smaller in IT AE after the GFC.
Carboxyl-terminal Splicing of the Rat μ Opioid Receptor Modulates Agonist-mediated Internalization and Receptor Resensitization*

The rat μ opioid receptor is alternatively spliced into two isoforms (MOR1 and MOR1B) which differ in length and amino acid composition at the carboxyl terminus. When stably expressed in HEK 293 cells, both splice variants bind the μ receptor agonist [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,-Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO) with similar affinity and exhibit functional coupling to adenylyl cyclase with similar efficiency. However, the shorter isoform, MOR1B, desensitized at a slower rate during prolonged DAMGO exposure (4 h) but resensitized at a faster rate than MOR1 during agonist withdrawal (20 min). Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that DAMGO-induced internalization of MOR1B proceeded much faster than that of MOR1 followed by rapid recycling of the receptor to the cell surface. In addition, the greater resistance of MOR1B to homologous desensitization compared with MOR1 as well as MOR1B resensitization was abolished when receptor reactivation/recycling was blocked with monensin, an inhibitor of endosomal acidification. It is concluded that the sequence at the cytoplasmic tail of MOR1B facilitates clathrin-coated vesicle-mediated endocytosis which, in turn, promotes accelerated receptor reactivation. Taken together, our findings suggest that carboxyl-terminal splicing of the rat μ opioid receptor modulates agonist-induced internalization and receptor resensitization.
Characteristic and sensitivity of Quantum Tunneling Composite (QTC) material for tactile device applications

This paper investigates the used of Quantum Tunneling Composite (QTC) Pill as a tactile sensor material for general tactile device application. The QTC Pill can be considered as soft, flexible material and has extraordinary electrical properties. It has capability of turning into a remarkable material for new era sensor. The piezoresistive experimental test of QTC Pill was performed to determine their resistivity characteristics and to evaluate the suitability of QTC Pills as tactile sensors. The experiments were conducted based on the sensitivity of the QTC Pill. The shows that, the QTC Pill was a perfect insulator as well as an extremely good conductor. This has been observed through resistance versus force (R vs F) investigation in which an exponential curve was obtained. This is coherent with the hypothesis of quantum tunneling charge transport within the polymer ‘assisted’ quantum tunneling. The hypothesis is further supported by comparing and contrasting current versus voltage (I vs V) curves. At intermediate pressure, QTC Pill exhibits a clearly not linear hysteric behaviour and current fluctuations. These characteristic features can be related to QTC Pill specific structure and electron quantum tunneling. Based on this investigation, QTC pill are suitable to be used as a material for general tactile device application and can be used as a guideline when designing a tactile sensor with this material.
Biochemical and pharmacological activities of SSR 146977, a new potent nonpeptide tachykinin NK3 receptor antagonist.

SSR 146977 is a potent and selective antagonist of the tachykinin NK3 receptor. In Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human tachykinin NK3 receptor, SSR 146977 inhibited the binding of radioactive neurokinin B to NK3 receptors (Ki = 0.26 nM), senktide (10 nM) induced inositol monophosphate formation (IC50 = 7.8-13 nM), and intracellular calcium mobilization (IC50 = 10 nM). It antagonized [MePhe7]neurokinin B induced contractions of guinea pig ileum (pA2 = 9.07). Senktide (30 nM) induced firing rate increase of noradrenergic neurons in the guinea pig locus coeruleus and dopaminergic neurons in the guinea pig substantia nigra was also blocked by SSR 146977 (50 and 100 nM, respectively). In vivo, in the respiratory system, SSR 146977 inhibited bronchial hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine, bronchial microvascular permeability hypersensitivity to histamine (doses of 0.1-1 mg/kg i.p.), and cough (doses of 0.03-1 mg/kg i.p.) provoked by citric acid in guinea pigs. In the central nervous system, SSR 146977 inhibited turning behaviour (ID50 = 0.2 mg/kg i.p. and 0.4 mg/kg p.o.) and prevented the decrease of locomotor activity (10 and 30 mg/kg i.p) mediated by the stimulation of NK3 receptors in gerbils. In guinea pigs, SSR 146977 antagonized senktide-induced acetylcholine release in the hippocampus (0.3 and 1 mg/kg i.p) and norepinephrine release in the prefrontal cortex (0.3 mg/kg i.p.). It also prevented haloperidol-induced increase of the number of spontaneously active dopamine A10 neurons (1 and 3 mg/kg i.p.).
Fiscal policy and optimal tax in a small-open economy

The thesis studies the effect of fiscal policy on a small-open economy by estimating the DSGE Model calibrated for Thailand. The considered fiscal policies are composed of an increase in government spending and a decrease in tax rates, namely, a sales tax, a payroll tax, and a capital income tax. The model foundation is adopted from The Bank of Thailand Structural Model which is introduced by Tanboon (2008). This thesis extends the model and introduces a rich fiscal block for analysis of the effect of fiscal policy. The important findings are that the impact of fiscal policy on a small-open economy is smaller than the one on a closed economy. An increase in government expenditures has a positive impact on the domestic firms' output, whereas exporting firms respond by lowering their production. The impact multiplier of government spending on the national output is 0.25 and the impact multipliers of sales tax, payroll tax, and capital tax are 0.08, 0.37 and 0.09, respectively. The second paper studies the optimal capital income tax and optimal labour income tax in a small-open economy with an imperfectly competitive market and habit formation preferences. This paper uses numerical estimates and analytical investigation. The numerical approach solves the Ramsey problem, by parameterizing to Thailand data. The numerical finding indicates that the optimal capital income tax appeared to be negative. The analytical investigation simplifies the models in order to explain factors that influence the numerical results. The analytical results highlight that i) the optimal capital income tax in a small-open economy with a perfectly competitive market is not different with optimal capital income tax in a closed economy and equals to zero, ii) the optimal capital income tax in small open-economy with an imperfectly competitive market is negative and negatively related to price markup, iii) the deep habit preferences create a volatile and countercyclical markup, hence, the capital income tax is not smooth over the horizon. It should be increased during an economic boom period and lower in recessions. The third paper examines the impact of the government spending on health on the economic growth by analyzing the improvement in national health condition. The research questions are i) what is the effect of the government spending on health on the improvement in national health indicators, such as life expectancy, infant mortality, and under-five mortality, ii) does an improvement in human capital on health leads to an economic growth. Three panel estimations are implemented: fixed-effect model, random-effect model, and the mean group estimator. The main findings show that the government spending on health has a significantly positive effect on the health status. An increase in life expectancy has a positive effect on output in developing countries but does not have a significant effect on output in developed countries. In addition, non-medical determinants of health, such as tobacco consumption and alcohol consumption have a significant effect on economic growth of OECD countries.
Miliary brain metastases presenting as rapidly progressive dementia

We report the case of a 79‐year‐old woman who developed a rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) with severe memory impairment, early visual hallucinations and extrapyramidal signs. Symptoms started suddenly after hip replacement surgery following an accidental fall. Motor epileptic seizures appeared at the end of the illness. Dementia worsened gradually leading to akinetic mutism. She died five and a half months after the onset of symptoms. MRI showed cerebral atrophy but failed to detect any other lesion. Results of all laboratory tests performed were negative. After the most frequent treatable diseases were excluded, the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies was initially considered. CJD was also suggested based on the rapid evolution of the disease and the positivity of 14‐3‐3 protein in CSF. Neuropathological examination revealed an extensive miliary metastatic dissemination from an unknown primary adenocarcinoma. Pulmonary origin was suggested according to the immunohistochemical profile. Histopathological changes of Alzheimer's disease were also observed in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Neither Lewy bodies nor PrP deposits were found. The sudden onset of the dementia just after the hip replacement surgery raises the possibility of a pathological fracture with secondary tumoral microembolic dissemination. Despite its rarity, this entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of RPD. This case illustrates the definite importance of neuropathological post‐mortem examination in order to elucidate the different types of dementia.
Exercise‐induced TBC1D1 Ser237 phosphorylation and 14‐3‐3 protein binding capacity in human skeletal muscle

TBC1D1 is a Rab‐GTPase activating protein involved in regulation of GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle. We here evaluated exercise‐induced regulation of TBC1D1 Ser237 phosphorylation and 14‐3‐3 protein binding capacity in human skeletal muscle. In separate experiments healthy men performed all‐out cycle exercise lasting either 30 s, 2 min or 20 min. After all exercise protocols, TBC1D1 Ser237 phosphorylation increased (∼70–230%, P < 0.005), with the greatest response observed after 20 min of cycling. Interestingly, capacity of TBC1D1 to bind 14‐3‐3 protein showed a similar pattern of regulation, increasing 60–250% (P < 0.001). Furthermore, recombinant 5′AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) induced both Ser237 phosphorylation and 14‐3‐3 binding properties on human TBC1D1 when evaluated in vitro. To further characterize the role of AMPK as an upstream kinase regulating TBC1D1, extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) from whole body α1 or α2 AMPK knock‐out and wild‐type mice were stimulated to contract in vitro. In wild‐type and α1 knock‐out mice, contractions resulted in a similar ∼100% increase (P < 0.001) in Ser237 phosphorylation. Interestingly, muscle of α2 knock‐out mice were characterized by reduced protein content of TBC1D1 (∼50%, P < 0.001) as well as in basal and contraction‐stimulated (∼60%, P < 0.001) Ser237 phosphorylation, even after correction for the reduced TBC1D1 protein content. This study shows that TBC1D1 is Ser237 phosphorylated and 14‐3‐3 protein binding capacity is increased in response to exercise in human skeletal muscle. Furthermore, we show that the catalytic α2 AMPK subunit is the main (but probably not the only) donor of AMPK activity regulating TBC1D1 Ser237 phosphorylation in mouse EDL muscle.
Pre‐adapting parasitic phages to a pathogen leads to increased pathogen clearance and lowered resistance evolution with Pseudomonas aeruginosa cystic fibrosis bacterial isolates

Recent years have seen renewed interest in phage therapy – the use of viruses to specifically kill disease‐causing bacteria – because of the alarming rise in antibiotic resistance. However, a major limitation of phage therapy is the ease at with bacteria can evolve resistance to phages. Here, we determined whether in vitro experimental coevolution can increase the efficiency of phage therapy by limiting the resistance evolution of intermittent and chronic cystic fibrosis Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung isolates to four different phages. We first pre‐adapted all phage strains against all bacterial strains and then compared the efficacy of pre‐adapted and nonadapted phages against ancestral bacterial strains. We found that evolved phages were more efficient in reducing bacterial densities than ancestral phages. This was primarily because only 50% of bacterial strains were able to evolve resistance to evolved phages, whereas all bacteria were able to evolve some level of resistance to ancestral phages. Although the rate of resistance evolution did not differ between intermittent and chronic isolates, it incurred a relatively higher growth cost for chronic isolates when measured in the absence of phages. This is likely to explain why evolved phages were more effective in reducing the densities of chronic isolates. Our data show that pathogen genotypes respond differently to phage pre‐adaptation, and as a result, phage therapies might need to be individually adjusted for different patients.