Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for the Involvement of Proton Motive Force in the Transport of Glucose by a Mutant of Streptococcus mutans Strain DR0001 Defective in Glucose-Phosphoenolpyruvate Phosphotransferase Activity

Streptococcus mutans DR0001 and a glucose-phosphotransferase (PTS)-defective mutant, DR0001/6, were grown anaerobically in a chemostat with a glucose limitation at dilution rates (D) of 0.04 to 0.6 h−1 (mean generation time, 17 to 1.2 h). The mutant possessed only 15% of glucose-PTS activity of the wild type and gave cell yields (19%) less than those of the wild type. Glucose-PTS activity in strains DR0001 was maximum at D = 0.1 h−1 and was adequate to account for transport in the chemostat at all dilution rates except D = 0.6 h−1, at which it was 80% of the actual glucose uptake activity. The mutant DR0001/6, on the other hand, possessed only sufficient glucose-PTS activity to sustain growth at below D = 0.1 h−1, indicating the presence of an alternate transport activity. This was confirmed in glycolytic rate experiments with washed cells, which demonstrated that the mutant showed rates 11- to 27-fold higher than that accountable via glucose-PTS activity alone. The wild-type organism contained both a high (Ks, 6.7 to 8.0 μM)- and a low (Ks, 57 to 125 μM)-affinity transport system, whereas the glucose-PTS-defective mutant contained only the low-affinity system (Ks, 62 to 133 μM). The glucose-PTS was shown to be the high-affinity system. Glucose uptake by the mutant was unaffected by 8 mM sodium arsenate, 10 mM azide, and 10 mM dinitrophenol but was completely inhibited by 0.05 mM sodium iodoacetate. Glycolysis in the organism was almost completely inhibited by 0.25 mM N′,N′ -dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), indicating the involvement of an ATPase in glucose uptake. The ionophores carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone and tetrachlorosali-cylanilide were inhibitory at concentrations of 10 μM, suggesting that a proton gradient was important in the transport process. Higher levels of DCCD and the ionophores were required to inhibit the wild-type organism to the same degree. A mechanism is proposed for the alternative transport system whereby proton motive force is created by the extrusion of protons by the DCCD-sensitive ATPase and glucose is transported down a proton gradient in a symport with protons.
Kinetics Modelling of the Biodegradation of Benzene, Toluene and Phenol as Single Substrate and Mixed Substrate by Using Pseudomonas putida

In the present work, kinetics of the biodegradation of benzene, toluene and phenol by using a pure culture of Pseudomonas putida (MTCC 1194) was determined by measuring the specific growth rate and degradation rate with substrate concentration as a function of time in a batch reactor. In general, the degradation rate of benzene, toluene and phenol increased with the increase in the initial substrate concentration and then decreased after reaching a maximum, showing substrate inhibition kinetics. The degradation rates of benzene, toluene and phenol were highest, 0.108, 0.133, and 0.0705 mg L 1 h 1 at 148.2, 202.6, and 97.8 mg L 1 initial substrate concentration, respectively. Toluene degradation rate was highest, followed by benzene and phenol at the optimum temperature and pH. In the mixtures of benzene, toluene and phenol, toluene was the preferred substrate, but degradation of each compound was competitively inhibited by other compounds. This paper also deals with the study of Haldane, Andrews and Noack, and Han and Levenspiel model equations for substrate inhibition. An attempt has been made to study the applicability of three model equations for substrate inhibition systems by fitting their experimental data. It was found that the Han and Levenspiel model is best suited to the system.
The impact of knowledge diversity on inventive performance at European universities

The diversity of knowledge and skills is considered to be good for scientific inquiry. We challenge this general statement by analyzing to what extent the diversity in knowledge background of research teams affects their inventive performance. Using patent data assigned to 60 European universities in the fields of chemistry and pharmaceuticals, a research team is defined as a group of inventors on a patent application. Team's scientific knowledge is assessed with their publication records and inventive performance with the number of forward patent citations. Two types of diversity are considered :(i) diversity in joint research experience (i.e. share of publications co-authored among team members in the total publication output of the team) and (ii) diversity in scientific disciplines (i.e. dispersion of team's knowledge across scientific disciplines). Results reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between the diversity in joint research experience and team's inventive performance. Results confirm that diversity in scientific disciplines improves inventing performance of the team. However, teams composed of a generalist researchers with an overlap in their disciplinary background outperform teams composed of specialists.
HOTAIR rs920778 polymorphism is associated with ovarian cancer susceptibility and poor prognosis in a Chinese population.

AIM The aim of this study was to determine if HOTAIR rs920778 polymorphism is associated with ovarian cancer susceptibility and prognosis. MATERIALS & METHODS The data were obtained from two independent groups including 329 ovarian cancer patients and 680 cancer-free, age-matched women. Blood samples were collected and genomic DNA was extracted for genotyping. RESULTS TT genotype and T allele of HOTAIR rs920778 were significantly associated with a decreased ovarian cancer risk (p = 0.0004 and p < 0.0001, respectively), which associated with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Moreover, TT and TC carriers obtained a much shorter survival (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION These findings propose that HOTAIR rs920778 polymorphism influences ovarian cancer susceptibility and prognosis, and further studies are warranted in other populations.
Analysis of sports data by using bivariate Poisson models

Summary. Models based on the bivariate Poisson distribution are used for modelling sports data. Independent Poisson distributions are usually adopted to model the number of goals of two competing teams. We replace the independence assumption by considering a bivariate Poisson model and its extensions. The models proposed allow for correlation between the two scores, which is a plausible assumption in sports with two opposing teams competing against each other. The effect of introducing even slight correlation is discussed. Using just a bivariate Poisson distribution can improve model fit and prediction of the number of draws in football games. The model is extended by considering an inflation factor for diagonal terms in the bivariate joint distribution. This inflation improves in precision the estimation of draws and, at the same time, allows for overdispersed, relative to the simple Poisson distribution, marginal distributions. The properties of the models proposed as well as interpretation and estimation procedures are provided. An illustration of the models is presented by using data sets from football and water-polo.
S-Nitrosylation of DRP 1 Does Not Affect Enzymatic Activity and is Not Specific to Alzheimer ’ s Disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction and synaptic loss are among the earliest events linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and might play a causative role in disease onset and progression. The underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction in AD remain unclear. We previously reported that nitric oxide (NO) triggers persistent mitochondrial fission and causes neuronal cell death. A recent article claimed that S-nitrosylation of dynamin related protein 1 (DRP1) at cysteine 644 causes protein dimerization and increased GTPase activity and is the mechanism responsible for NO-induced mitochondrial fission and neuronal injury in AD, but not in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, this report remains controversial. To resolve the controversy, we investigated the effects of S-nitrosylation on DRP1 structure and function. Contrary to the previous report, S-nitrosylation of DRP1 does not increase GTPase activity or cause dimerization. In fact, DRP1 does not exist as a dimer under native conditions, but rather as a tetramer capable of self-assembly into higher order spiraland ring-like oligomeric structures after nucleotide binding. S-nitrosylation, as confirmed by the biotin-switch assay, has no impact on DRP1 oligomerization. Importantly, we found no significant difference in S-nitrosylated DRP1 (SNO-DRP1) levels in brains of age-matched normal, AD, or PD patients. We also found that S-nitrosylation is not specific to DRP1 because S-nitrosylated optic atrophy 1 (SNO-OPA1) is present at comparable levels in all human brain samples. Finally, we show that NO triggers DRP1 phosphorylation at serine 616, which results in its activation and recruitment to mitochondria. Our data indicate the mechanism underlying nitrosative stress-induced mitochondrial fragmentation in AD is not DRP1 S-nitrosylation.
Efficacy of radioimmunotherapy with (90Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan is superior as consolidation in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma: Results of two phase II trials of the European MCL Network and the PLRG.

7533 Background: Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) has demonstrated high clinical efficacy in follicular lymphoma but varying results in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). METHODS We performed a comparative analysis of two phase II studies with similar inclusion criteria to identify potential predictors of response. 32 patients with relapsed or refractory MCL, WHO performance status ≤2, appropriate hematopoesis (ANC > 1,500/mm3, platelets > 100,000/mm3) and adequate function of liver and kidneys were treated with RIT upfront (Arm A, n = 16) or as consolidation after initial cytoreduction (Arm B, n = 16). 28 patients (88%) had been previously treated with rituximab. Patients with >25% bone marrow involvement, known CNS lymphoma, HIV infection or other severe concurrent disease were excluded. Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) was applied at a dose of 15 MBq 90Y/kg, whereas patients with reduced platelet counts (<150,000/mm3) received 11 MBq 90Y/kg. RESULTS The median age was 66.9 years (range 58-72) in Arm A and 63.1 years (range 45-79) in Arm B. The median number of prior regimens was 4 (range 2-6) in Arm A and 1 (1-5) in Arm B. RIT treatment was generally well tolerated with the most common toxicities being hematologic. Thrombocytopenia grade 3 and 4 was observed in 69% of patients, one patient died of hemorrhagic stroke. Granulocytopenia grade 4 occurred in 34% of patients, one patient developed a grade 4 infectious complication. Currently 22 patients are evaluable for response rate and duration of remission (DR). In Arm A a partial response (PR) was observed in 2 of 6 evaluable patients (33.3%) with a median DR of 3.9 months only. In Arm B chemoinduction achieved 2 complete responses (CR) and 14 PR. Following RIT seven of 14 PR patients (50%) converted to CR. Currently, 13 of 16 patients (81%) are still in remission. As expected the most important adverse risk factor was bulky disease before RIT with no responses seen in this patient population. Patients with less prior therapeutic lines (< 2) had significantly higher response rates. CONCLUSIONS In future trials, RIT should be applied earlier in the treatment algorithm of MCL after a debulking strategy with combined immuno-chemotherapy. [Table: see text].
An empirical comparison of different implicit measures to predict consumer choice

While past research has found that implicit measures are good predictors of affectively driven, but not cognitively driven, behavior it has not yet been tested which implicit measures best predict behavior. By implementing a consumer context, in the present experiment, we assessed two explicit measures (i.e. self-reported habit and tastiness) and three implicit measures (i.e. manikin task, affective priming, ID-EAST) in order to test the predictive validity of affectively versus cognitively driven choices. The results indicate that irrespective of whether participants chose affectively or cognitively, both explicit measures, but not the implicit measures, predicted consumer choice very strongly. Likewise, when comparing the predictive validity among all measures, the explicit measures were the best predictors of consumer choice. Theoretical implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
Neuronal CTGF/CCN2 negatively regulates myelination in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex

Disruption of myelination during development has been implicated in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders including tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). TSC patients with autism display impairments in white matter integrity. Similarly, mice lacking neuronal Tsc1 have a hypomyelination phenotype. However, the mechanisms that underlie these phenotypes remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that neuronal TSC1/2 orchestrates a program of oligodendrocyte maturation through the regulated secretion of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). We characterize oligodendrocyte maturation both in vitro and in vivo. We find that neuron-specific Tsc1 deletion results in an increase in CTGF secretion that non–cell autonomously stunts oligodendrocyte development and decreases the total number of oligodendrocytes. Genetic deletion of CTGF from neurons, in turn, mitigates the TSC-dependent hypomyelination phenotype. These results show that the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in neurons regulates CTGF production and secretion, revealing a paracrine mechanism by which neuronal signaling regulates oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination in TSC. This study highlights the role of mTOR-dependent signaling between neuronal and nonneuronal cells in the regulation of myelin and identifies an additional therapeutic avenue for this disease.
The role of post-mortem investigations in determining the cause of sudden unexpected death in infancy

Introduction: Several autopsy protocols have been suggested for investigating sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI). The aim of this study is to provide data on the utility of such post-mortem investigations from a large paediatric autopsy series to inform future policy. Methods: Retrospective analysis of >1500 consecutive post-mortem examinations carried out by specialist paediatric pathologists at a single centre during a 10-year period according to a common autopsy protocol that included the use of detailed ancillary investigations. SUDI was defined as the sudden unexpected death of an infant aged from 7 to 365 days. All data capture and cause of death classification were carried out according to defined criteria. Results: Of 1516 paediatric post-mortem examinations, 546 presented as SUDI. In 202 infants (37%), death was explained by the autopsy findings. The other 344 cases (63%) remained unexplained. Of the explained deaths, over half (58%) were infective, most commonly due to pneumonia (22%). The component of the post-mortem examination that primarily determined the final cause of death was histological examination in 92 infants (46%), macroscopic examination in 61 (30%), microbiological investigations in 38 (19%) and clinical history in 10 (5%). Conclusion: This constitutes the largest single-institution autopsy study of SUDI. Ten years on from the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy (CESDI) SUDI studies, the ascertainment of a cause of death at autopsy has improved. However, with almost two thirds of SUDI remaining unexplained, alternative and/or additional diagnostic techniques are required to improve detection rates of identifiable causes of death at autopsy.
Sororin loads to the synaptonemal complex central region independently of meiotic cohesin complexes

The distribution and regulation of the cohesin complexes have been extensively studied during mitosis. However, the dynamics of their different regulators in vertebrate meiosis is largely unknown. In this work, we have analyzed the distribution of the regulatory factor Sororin during male mouse meiosis. Sororin is detected at the central region of the synaptonemal complex during prophase I, in contrast with the previously reported localization of other cohesin components in the lateral elements. This localization of Sororin depends on the transverse filaments protein SYCP1, but not on meiosis‐specific cohesin subunits REC8 and SMC1β. By late prophase I, Sororin accumulates at centromeres and remains there up to anaphase II. The phosphatase activity of PP2A seems to be required for this accumulation. We hypothesize that Sororin function at the central region of the synaptonemal complex could be independent on meiotic cohesin complexes. In addition, we suggest that Sororin participates in the regulation of centromeric cohesion during meiosis in collaboration with SGO2‐PP2A.
[A clinical analysis 30 cases of lupus mesenteric vasculitis].

OBJECTIVE To characterize the clinical characteristics of lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV). METHODS Analyzing the clinical, laboratory and treatment data of LMV patients hospitalized from 2002.1. 1 to 2007.12. 31 retrospectively. RESULTS (1) The three common manifestations were abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit with the prevalence rate of 77%, 70% and 67% respectively. (2) The majority of LMV cases were active vital organ (28/30), kidney (24/30) and hematological system (18/30) were the main organs of involvement. Ten patients had hydroureteronephrosis, and 8 patients had intestinal pseudo-obstruction at the same time. (3) Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score was > or = 10 in 80% (24/30) of patients. The progression of LMV was accompanied with new-onset leucopenia or worsening leucopenia or hypocomplementemia in 10 cases. (4) Blood antinuclear antibodies were positive in 27 patients detected, and anti-SSA antibody was positive in 15 (56%), anti-U(1)RNP antibody was positive in 14 (52%). (5) Fourteen cases had bowel wall thickening with target sign or mesenteric vessels with palisade or comb sign in contrast CT scan of abdomen. (6) Twenty-seven cases were treated with orally or intravenous medium to high dose steroid therapy and recovered from LMV. CONCLUSIONS (1) Abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit were frequent manifestations of LMV patients. (2) LMV was one of the serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and usually accompanied by active SLE in other organs. (3) A drop in the white blood cell count or complement C(3) titer might be correlate with the occurrence of LMV. It needs to further investigate the relationship between LMV and the high positive rate of anti-SSA and anti-U(1)RNP antibody. (4) LMV patients responded well to intravenous high dose methylprednisolone.
The serological identification of cultures of Clostridium sporogenes.

A study of agglutination of strains of Clostridum sporogenes showed that members of this species can be grouped and typed by means of the heat-labile antigens. Of the 25 strains studied 18 formed one serological group consisting of three antigenic types. Seven strains formed two serologically unrelated groups and one strain was type specific. Three of the seven strains formed a homogeneous serological group with C. parabotulinum; three other strains formed a homogeneous sub-group related to the main serological group of 18 strains. The seventh strain showed a reciprocal agglutinative relationship to C. histolyticum. Antigenic formulas were assigned to the strains of the main serological group of C. sporogenes.
Deep Learning Approach to Accent Classification

Despite the progress of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems that have led to assistants 2 like Alexa and Siri, accent is still an issue in developing robust ASR systems that deliver high 3 performance across diverse user groups [1]. Statistical analysis has identified gender and accent 4 to be most important factors of speaker variability affecting the fluency of ASR systems [2]. Our 5 motivation stems from the fact that both team members are Singaporeans, who are known to have a 6 unique, strong and distinctive accent very unlike the American and British accents. ASR systems like 7 Google Now and Siri are usually trained on and perform best for these accents [3], and our experience 8 has shown that speaking in our native accent with these ASR systems typically end up with not much 9 success. We then usually resort to a forced accent in order to get the ASR to recognize the speech 10 correctly, which is unnatural and proof that ASR systems can still be improved. Since accent is such 11 a crucial aspect in ASR, we were inspired to build an accent classification machine learning model 12 which could be used as a preliminary step in the ASR pipeline, allowing it to adopt a more suitable 13 speech recognition model adapted to the identified accent for better performance. Other possible 14 applications of accent classification include immigration screening [3]. In this project, our goal is to 15 develop a deep learning model that is able to identify and classify a speaker by his or her predicted 16 native language. The input to our algorithm is an utterance of a word by a speaker. 17
Learnable pooling with Context Gating for video classification

Common video representations often deploy an average or maximum pooling of pre-extracted frame features over time. Such an approach provides a simple means to encode feature distributions, but is likely to be suboptimal. As an alternative, we here explore combinations of learnable pooling techniques such as Soft Bag-of-words, Fisher Vectors , NetVLAD, GRU and LSTM to aggregate video features over time. We also introduce a learnable non-linear network unit, named Context Gating, aiming at modeling in-terdependencies between features. We evaluate the method on the multi-modal Youtube-8M Large-Scale Video Understanding dataset using pre-extracted visual and audio features. We demonstrate improvements provided by the Context Gating as well as by the combination of learnable pooling methods. We finally show how this leads to the best performance, out of more than 600 teams, in the Kaggle Youtube-8M Large-Scale Video Understanding challenge.
Use of Influenza Vaccine in Nursing Homes

The organization and outcome of influenza immunization programs were studied in 67 randomly or systematically selected nursing homes (8354 residents) in six states during the autumn of 1982 and/or 1983. In each home, influenza vaccine was usually offered to all residents on a voluntary basis, independent of their age, level of required nursing care, or underlying medical conditions. However, the proportion of residents who were vaccinated ranged from 8 to 98% (mean, 62% overall), with significantly lower rates in homes that also required consent from relatives (usually by return mail) than in homes that did not (P < .00001; median, 57 versus 90%, respectively). These observations suggest that distribution of educational materials about the risks and benefits of influenza vaccine and systematic follow‐up of relatives who fail to return the consent form may be useful strategies to further increase the number of nursing home residents who are immunized.