Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the human immunodeficiency virus matrix protein, p17gag: identification of epitopes exposed at the surfaces of infected cells

Eight monoclonal antibodies reactive with the matrix protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), p17gag, were isolated from rats which had been immunized with solubilized HIV-1 lysate. The epitope specificities of these antibodies were determined with a series of synthetic peptides representing overlapping regions of p17. Six of the antibodies were mapped to three distinct regions of p17, while two antibodies (G11g1 and G11h3) reacted only with intact recombinant p17, suggesting that they were directed against conformational or discontinuous epitopes. All the antibodies bound to HIV-infected cells which had been permeabilized with acetone, but only G11g1 and G11h3 reacted with live HIV-infected cells. Specificity studies with diverse virus strains demonstrated that these two antibodies recognized distinct epitopes, one which was group specific for HIV-1, and one which was shared with HIV type 2 and simian immunodeficiency virus. Binding competition studies indicated that these epitopes were proximal in native p17. Despite their reactivity with intact cells, these two antibodies did not possess appreciable virus-neutralizing activity. These results indicate that a form of p17 is expressed on the surfaces of live HIV-infected cells which is accessible to some, but not all, antibodies against p17. These cell surface molecules may play a role in the generation of antibodies against p17gag that are characteristic of early stages of HIV infection, and they may act as natural targets for the immune system and as potential targets for immunotherapy of HIV-infected cells.
Isolation of Antifungal Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) from “Kunu” against Toxigenic Aspergillus flavus

The antifungal activity of isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from a locally fermented cereal, “Kunu”, was tested against toxigenic Aspergillus flavus. The liquid refreshment, “Kunu”, was prepared under hygienic condition using millet, sorghum, and the combination of the two grains. The antifungal potential of isolated LAB against toxigenic A. flavus was carried out using both in vitro and in vivo antifungal assays. The LAB count from prepared “Kunu” ranged from 2.80 ×104 CFU/mL to 4.10×104 CFU/mL and Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus fermentum, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were the isolated bacteria. Inhibitory zones exhibited by LAB against toxigenic A. flavus ranged from 5.0 mm to 20.0 mm. The albino mice infected with toxigenic A. flavus showed sluggishness, decrease in body weight, distortion of hair, and presence of blood in their stool, while those treated with LAB after infection were recovered and active like those in control groups. Except for the white blood cell that was increased in the infected mice as 6.73 mm3, the packed cell volume, hemoglobin, and red blood cell in infected animals were significantly reduced (P<0.05) to 29.28%, 10.06%, and 4.28%, respectively, when compared to the treated mice with LAB and control groups. The antifungal activity of LAB against toxigenic A. flavus can be attributed to the antimicrobial metabolites. These metabolites can be extracted and used as biopreservatives in food products to substitute the use of chemical preservatives that is not appealing to consumers due to several side effects.
Monolithic 0.35-μm CMOS Cantilever for Mass Sensing in the Attogram Range with Self-Excitation

A monolithic mass sensor with attogram resolution in air conditions has been fabricated using a conventional 0.35-μm CMOS process. The mass sensor is based on an electrostatically excited resonating sub-micrometer scale cantilever integrated with full custom designed CMOS electronics for sensing purposes and to self-excite the cantilever allowing its use in system-on-chip applications. The devices have been calibrated obtaining an experimental sensitivity of around 6 × 10-11 g/cm2 Hz equivalent to 0.9 ag/Hz for locally deposited mass. The results reported in this paper represent an improvement from previous works in terms of sensitivity, resolution and fabrication process complexity.
The clinical characteristics and impact of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease on health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Although it is accepted that reflux of stomach acid causes gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it is less well understood that it also contributes to the clinical signs and symptoms of laryngitis in the form of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Study objectives were to identify what is known about the impact of LPR on health-related quality of life (HRQL) compared with the impact of GERD on HRQL and to assess whether currently available HRQL instruments adequately measure this impact or if a new disease-specific instrument should be recommended. METHODS The authors combined a systematic literature review with prospective patient evaluation via focus groups. The review, using MEDLINE, focused on clinical characteristics and HRQL measurement and impact. Focus groups involving a total of 30 patients with LPR provided input on clinical manifestations of the disease and its HRQL impact. RESULTS Information gleaned from the literature indicates that less than 40% of patients presenting with symptoms of laryngitis directly attributable to reflux also report experiencing the classic symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation associated with GERD. Reflux laryngitis is thus a distinct clinical entity from GERD and may have a unique impact on HRQL. Although multiple instruments are available to assess the impact of GERD on HRQL, no specific instruments are available for LPR. Focus group discussions identified voice problems, chronic cough, throat clearing, and swallowing difficulties to be key concerns of patients with LPR. These manifestations negatively impact HRQL as described by the focus group participants, notably in role functioning, physical well-being, and emotional well-being. CONCLUSIONS A disease-specific instrument to assess the impact of LPR on HRQL would contribute to clinical care and the evaluation of new therapies. This instrument would ideally be sensitive to the variety of LPR's symptomatic presentations.
Evaluating the Relative Importance of Influencing Factors on Cruise Vacations: A Conjoint Analysis

v Chapter I: Introduction . 1 Limitations . 3 Delimitations . 4 Assumptions . 4 Significance of the Study . 4 Chapter II: Literature Review . 6 Cruise Customers’ Decision-Making Process . 6 Factors Influencing Cruise Customers’ Decision . 9 Cruise Vacation Price . 14 Cruise Itinerary . 15 Duration of Cruise Vacation . 16 Distance from Cruise Port . 18 Environmental Friendliness of Cruise Line . 19 Cruise Online Reviews . 20 Summary of Literature . 22 Research Question . 23 Chapter III: Methods: . 25 Research Design . 25 Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis . 28 Establishing the Attributes and the Level of Attributes . 29 Sample Size . 32 Data Collection . 33 Validity and Reliability . 34 Pilot Test . 35 Data Analysis . 36 Chapter IV: Findings . 38 Demographic Characteristics . 38 Respondents’ Cruise Behavior . 40 Conjoint Analysis Results . 44 Further Findings about Online Reviews and Environmental Friendliness in Cruise Industry . 48 Cruise Online Reviews . 48 Environmental Friendliness of Cruise Line . 49 Environmental concerns (EC) scale. 51 ii Environmentally friendly tourism behaviors (EFTB) scale. 52 Chapter V: Conclusions . 54 U.S. Cruise Customers’ Profile . 57 Implications and Limitations . 59 Future Suggestions for Research . 60 References . 62 Appendices . 75 Appendix A: Survey Instrument . 76 Appendix B: IRB Approval Letter . 83
Involvement of brainstem serotonergic interneurons in the development of a vertebrate spinal locomotor circuit

Brainstem neurons modulate the rhythmic output of spinal locomotor circuitry in adult vertebrates, but how these influences develop is largely unknown. We demonstrate that the ingrowth of serotonergic axons to the spinal cord of Xenopus tadpoles plays a critical role in locomotor burst development by transforming the output of embryonic amphibian swimming circuitry into a more mature and flexible form. Our experiments show that exposure to a monoamine neurotoxin (5,7 dihydroxytryptamine) deletes serotonergic raphespinal projections and prevents the normal maturation of larval swimming. Furthermore, the mature larval rhythm resumes an embryo-like form following either a pharmacological blockade of serotonin receptors or when receptor activation is prevented by acute spinalization.
Serum and saliva levels of sialic acid are elevated in alcoholics.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Recently, sialic acid has been suggested as a potential marker for alcohol abuse. In this study, social drinkers and alcoholics were analyzed with a modified version of Warren's method for sialic acid and traditional markers of alcohol abuse in serum (n = 38; n = 87), saliva (n = 36; n = 29), and urine (n = 37; n = 83), respectively. The alcoholics were participating in an alcohol dependency treatment program and were followed in this study for 5 weeks. RESULTS The sialic acid concentrations in female and male alcoholics were significantly higher in serum (p < 0.001;p < 0.001 respectively) and saliva (p < 0.05; p < 0.05) but not in urine, compared with social drinkers. The diagnostic efficiency of serum sialic acid was higher than that for traditional markers: 77% for female subjects and 64% for male subjects. The corresponding results for saliva were 72% and 53%. The sialic acid concentrations were significantly decreased during the alcohol dependency treatment program (after 5 weeks of treatment) in both females and males. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that serum sialic acid is a valuable marker for detecting and monitoring alcohol abuse. This work also indicates that sialic acid in saliva could be used possibly as a noninvasive marker for alcohol abuse.
Appropriate Standards of Evidence for Education Policy Decision Making

Education policy makers must make decisions under uncertainty. Thus, how they think about risks has important implications for resource allocation, interventions, innovation, and the information that is provided to the public. In this policy brief we illustrate how the standard of evidence for making decisions can be quite inconsistently applied, in part because of how research findings are reported and contextualized. We argue that inconsistencies in evaluating the probabilities of risks and rewards can lead to suboptimal decisions for students. We offer suggestions for how policy makers might think about the level of confidence they need to make different types of decisions and how researchers can provide more useful information so that research might appropriately affect decision making.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis: Risk Factor Analysis and Role of Gastric Residuals in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Objective: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) usually occurs in very low birth weight infants and is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal intensive care unit. Inasmuch as NEC mortality and morbidity are extremely high, early diagnosis becomes essential. Increased gastric residuals are used to define NEC stage, but studies on qualitative and quantitative residual features as markers of NEC risk are still lacking. The primary goal of this analysis was evaluation of the role of gastric residuals in early identification of patients at risk for NEC. The secondary goal was investigation of NEC risk factors, besides prematurity and birth weight. Methods: In a case-control study, NEC patients were matched with control infants by gestational age and birth weight. Feeding tolerance was assessed by maximum gastric residual volume, maximum residual as percentage of previous feeding, and residual appearance. Mortality and NEC risk factors were also evaluated. Results: In all, 844 very low birth weight infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during the study period, with an overall mortality before discharge of 14.6%. NEC frequency was 2%. Patent ductus arteriosus was significantly associated with NEC. Mean maximum residual from birth to NEC onset and maximum residual as percentage of the corresponding feed volume were significantly higher in patients than in control infants, as was the percentage of infants with hemorrhagic residuals. Conclusions: Gastric residuals are a marker of feeding intolerance, and bloody residuals seem to be the best predictor for NEC. For early detection of very low birth weight infants at risk for NEC, both gastric residual volumes and bloody residuals represent an early relevant marker.
Prediction of Outcome in Senile Dementia—A Computed Tomography Study

Summary Forty patients suffering from senile dementia who had been subjected to detailed clinical and psychological assessment and computed tomography (CT) were followed up for a mean period of 28.78 months. All but one were traced. The deceased (27) were compared with the survivors (12). All males had died at follow-up. The mean age was not statistically significant but the survivors differed significantly from the deceased in having performed better on a number of clinical and psychological tests, particularly those involving speech functions and constructoinal ability. Measures of ventricular size and cortical atrophy were not of predictive value, but a new technique of measuring radiological density showed that this was significantly lower in the right parietal region in the original CT scans of those who subsequently died. The study confirms that clinical involvement of the parietal lobes is an indication of poor prognosis and reports the first radiological support for this view. It also suggests that a more directly quantitative approach to computed tomography may yield results which are more useful than those obtained from visual reconstructions.
The role of audit committee attributes in corporate sustainability reporting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the extent to which sustainability reporting by banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is affected by the attributes of audit committees. Design/methodology/approach The research is positivist and quantitative, based on a cross-sectional and time series analysis of 59 banks from 2013 to 2017. A multivariate model is used to investigate the impact of selected audit committee attributes (financial expertise, size, members’ independence and meeting frequency) on sustainability reporting. The model is built on agency, legitimacy, resources and stakeholders theories. Findings In contrast to the hypothesis, the authors report a negative association between financial expertise and sustainability reporting. Members’ independence and meeting frequency play a positive role in determining the extent of disclosure. The control variables (bank size, age and auditor type) are positively associated with corporate sustainability reporting. Research limitations/implications The main limitations of this study are related to the chosen attributes of audit committee and do not consider the board’s attributes. However, the authors believe these limitations do not affect the findings. Future research that includes more attributes when they became available will offer more insights into the role of audit committees on sustainability disclosure of financial institutions. Overcoming these limitations may make the results more generalizable. Practical implications The results of this study have important implications for regulators, bank management, investors and creditors. For regulators, in the countries of the GCC and in countries like them, the findings reveal the importance of disclosure requirements. The development of disclosure requirements is likely to improve corporate sustainability reporting and reduce variations in the extent of disclosure among banks. Banks could use these results to improve their reporting to outsiders. For creditors and investors, the study improves their awareness of the importance of corporate social responsibility, corporate governance and environmental information on credit and investment decisions and encourages banks to improve their disclosures of non-financial information. Originality/value This research makes a contribution to the scarce literature on sustainability reporting by banks, especially in an environment where capital markets lack active institutional investors, where regulators play the dominant role in determining the extent of disclosure and where banks are the main source of external finance for the corporate sector.
Prevalence of hepatitis G virus RNA in the sera of patients with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE The routes of transmission of the hepatitis G virus (HGV) are similar to those responsible for infection with HIV. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of HGV RNA in the sera of HIV-infected patients. METHODS The sera of 157 HIV-infected patients were assayed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using established primers for HGV. Patients were divided into group 1 (positive circulating hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]), group 2 (positive anti-hepatitis C virus [HCV] antibody) and group 3 (without markers for HBV or HCV). RESULTS The overall prevalence of HGV RNA was 22%; prevalence was higher in group 1 (49%) than in groups 2 (16%) or 3 (7%). Patients with positive HGV RNA had laboratory values similar to HGV RNA-negative patients except for higher CD4 counts. Patients with an estimated risk duration of < or = 14 years were more likely to be HGV RNA-positive than patients at risk for >15 years. HGV RNA was found as frequently in patients with a homosexual lifestyle as in injection drug users (IDU). Multivariable analysis showed that the presence of HBsAg was the strongest factor associated with the presence of HGV RNA in serum. CONCLUSIONS Patients with HIV and HBV coinfection are significantly more likely to be HGV RNA-positive. Patients with a risk factor duration for >15 years were less likely to be HGV RNA-positive, pointing to a decrease in HGV RNA prevalence over time. This study supports the notion that homosexual lifestyle, in addition to injection drug usage and blood product transfusion, is a risk factor for HGV infection.
Promoting EFL elementary students' speaking skills through the use of storytelling

Este trabajo de investigacion es el resultado de un proyecto de investigacion de accion desarrollado en un grupo de estudiantes de quinto grado en una escuela primaria publica en Xalapa, Veracruz, donde el ingles no es oficial; a saber, el grado no esta incluido en la libreta de calificaciones. Una de las habilidades mas debiles de estos estudiantes es hablar, debido a que han tenido pocas clases en anos academicos anteriores. Este proyecto de investigacion de accion se desarrollo durante cinco semanas. Se aplicaron diferentes metodos de recoleccion de datos con el proposito de recopilar informacion antes, durante y despues de la implementacion del plan de accion y tambien como una forma de evaluacion.
Platelet concentrates produced from whole blood using the Atreus processing system

Background The Atreus 2C+ system automates whole blood (WB) processing into a red cell concentrate, plasma and buffy coat (BC) suitable for platelet concentrate (PC) manufacture. This study compared the quality of PC made from BC using the Atreus, with those made by a manual method.
Construct Validity of Locker’s Global Oral Health Item

With clinical oral examinations not always possible in health surveys, researchers may instead be invited to add questions to a wider health survey. In such situations, an item is needed which adequately represents both clinical and self-reported oral health. This study investigated the clinical validity of Locker’s global self-reported oral health item among young middle-aged adults in populations in New Zealand and Australia. Clinical examination and self-report data (including the OHIP-14) were obtained from recent national dental surveys in NZ and Australia, and from age-38 assessments in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. National dataset analyses involved 35- to 44-year-olds. Caries and tooth-loss experience showed mostly consistent, statistically significant gradients across the Locker item responses; those responding ‘Excellent’ had the lowest scores, and those responding ‘Poor’ the highest. Periodontitis experience gradients in the NZ national sample were mainly as hypothesized; those rating their oral health as ‘Poor’ had the highest disease experience. OHIP-14 gradients across the Locker item responses were consistent and as hypothesized. The proportion of disease in the population borne by those ‘Fair’ or ‘Poor’ ranged from 26% to 72%. These findings provide preliminary support for the measure’s validity as a global self-reported oral health measure in young middle-aged adults.
Molecular arrangement between multivalent glycocluster and Pseudomonas aeruginosa LecA (PA‐IL) by atomic force microscopy: influence of the glycocluster concentration

New therapeutics strategy against cystic fibrosis seeks to prevent the adhesion of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) on the epithelial cells in the lungs. One of the factors that induces the adhesion is the interaction between natural glycocluster present on the cells and lectins such as the PA lectin LecA (PA‐IL) present on the bacterium. By introducing synthetic glycoclusters with a great affinity with the lectin PA‐IL, the adhesion can be prevented. In this study, we characterized, by atomic force microscopy, the interaction between a tetra‐galactosylated glycocluster and the PA‐IL lectin for high concentration of lectins (2.5 μM). We showed that the strong lectin/lectin interaction is reduced even for low concentration of glycoclusters (1 for 20 000 lectins). We assumed that it is due to the tensioactive behavior of the glycoclusters. It was shown that the arrangement of the created complexes induced different structures evolving from one‐dimensional elongated aggregates to two‐dimensional compact islands when increasing the glycocluster concentration. This evolution can be interpreted as the predominance of the glycocluster/lectin interaction. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhaled methoxyflurane and intranasal fentanyl for prehospital management of visceral pain in an Australian ambulance service

Objective This study analysed the analgesic effect and changes in vital signs associated with administration of inhaled Methoxyflurane (MTX) and/or intranasal Fentanyl (INF) for prehospital management of visceral pain. Method A retrospective, observational study reviewing 1024 randomly selected records of patients with presumed visceral pain administered MTX (465), INF (397) or both (162) by the Western Australian Ambulance Service between January 2004 and February 2006. Clinical variables assessed included systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate and Glasgow Coma Scale score. Pain was assessed utilising Visual/Verbal Analogue Scale pain scores. Results Overall effects on vital signs appeared favourable 5 min after use and at hospital arrival with either agent alone or in combination. As sole agents, MTX produced the greatest initial pain scores reduction (2.0 (1.7 to 2.2) vs 1.6 (1.4 to 1.8)) (mean (95% CI), and INF provided greater pain reduction by hospital arrival (3.2 (2.9 to 3.5) vs 2.5 (2.1 to 2.9)). While both agents were effective, INF provided a greater pain score reduction for cardiac (3.0 (2.6 to 3.4) vs 2.3 (1.8 to 2.8)), female (3.4 (2.9 to 4.0) v 2.5 (2.0 to 3.0)) and age 75+ patients (3.2 (2.5 to 3.8) vs 1.8 (1.0 to 2.5)). Combined use of agents was not advantageous. Conclusions MTX and INF are effective agents for providing visceral pain analgesia in the prehospital setting. While MTX provided a more rapid onset of pain relief, INF provided superior analgesia after subsequent doses and in female, cardiac and older patients.