Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulation of NF-kappaB activity by exchange of dimers.

Transcription factors within a family usually share the ability to recognize similar or identical consensus sites. For example, the five mammalian NF-kappaB/Rel proteins generate more than 12 dimers recognizing 9-11 nucleotide kappaB sites. Each dimer selectively regulates a few target promoters; however, several genes are redundantly induced by more than one dimer. Whether this property simply generates redundancy in target gene activation or underlies more complex regulatory mechanisms is an open issue. We show here that during dendritic cell maturation, rapidly activated dimers (e.g., p50/RelA) bound to a subset of target promoters are gradually replaced by slowly activated dimers (e.g., p52/RelB). Since the dimers have different transcriptional activity at each promoter, the dimer exchange allows fine tuning of the response over time. Further, due to the insensitivity of p52/RelB to the NF-kappaB inhibitors, the IkappaBs, dimer exchange contributes to sustained activation of selected NF-kappaB targets in spite of the resynthesis of IkappaBalpha.
Effect of antimicrobial locks for tunneled hemodialysis catheters on bloodstream infection and bacterial resistance: a quality improvement report.

BACKGROUND Catheter-restricted antimicrobial lock (AML) use reduces catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CA-BSI) in clinical trial settings, but may not be as effective in clinical settings and may increase bacterial resistance. DESIGN Quality improvement report analyzed using a cross-sectional time series (unbalanced panel) design. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS The study cohort comprised all prevalent adults treated with hemodialysis through a tunneled catheter for any, but not necessarily all, of the time from January 1, 2003, to June 30, 2006, in Manukau City, New Zealand (135,346 catheter-days, 404 tunneled catheters, 320 patients). QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN Catheter-restricted AMLs (heparin plus gentamicin) for all tunneled catheters from July 1, 2004. MEASURES Repeated observations of CA-BSI, hospitalization, tunneled catheter removal, and death from CA-BSI analyzed by using generalized estimating equations with a single level of clustering for each tunneled catheter and patterns of bacterial resistance analyzed by using simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS AML use was associated with reductions in rates of CA-BSI and hospitalization for CA-BSI by 52% and 69% for patients with tunneled catheters locked continuously with AMLs since their insertion compared with those with tunneled catheters that were not, respectively. AML exposure also was associated with a trend to increased gentamicin resistance amongst coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates, a pattern similar to that observed for BSIs in our general hemodialysis population in which tunneled catheters were not the source of BSI, but different from that in the general non-end-stage renal disease population in the region. LIMITATIONS This is an uncontrolled observational study and cannot prove causality. The follow-up period of 18 months is longer than for other studies, but still too short to definitely answer whether AML use drives bacterial resistance. CONCLUSIONS A change to use of AMLs may improve clinical outcomes; however, additional study of associated bacterial resistance is needed before AML use becomes standard care.
The flypaper effect in Mexican local government

In this paper we present evidence of the flypaper effect on unconditional transfers in the Mexican municipalities during the 1990 to 2007 period. Using panel data, we also confirm an asymmetric effect. That is, authorities increase expenditures by a greater amount in response to an increase in transfers than the amount by which they reduce expenditures in response to a decrease in transfers (Gamkhar, 2000). These results are particularly relevant in light of the discussion that has developed in recent years about the need for a reform on the fiscal federalism in the country.
Multiplex PCR-based strategy to detect contamination with mycotoxigenic Fusarium species in rice and fingermillet collected from southern India.

BACKGROUND The genus Fusarium comprises a diverse group of fungi including several species that produce mycotoxins in food commodities. In the present study, a multiplex PCR was standardised for the group-specific detection of fumonisin-producing and trichothecene-producing strains of Fusarium species. Primers for genus-level recognition of Fusarium spp. were designed from the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 of rDNA. Primers for group-specific detection were designed from the tri5 and tri6 genes involved in trichothecene biosynthesis and the fum1 and fum13 genes involved in fumonisin biosynthesis. RESULTS Among the various genera and their strains tested, all the 85 confirmed Fusarium strains were positive for rDNA gene and the rest stayed negative. From among the Fusarium strains, 15 had amplification for trichothecene- and 20 for fumonisin-encoding genes. All PCR positive trichothecene chemotypes of Fusarium species tested were positive for chemical analysis but in the case of fumonisins, of the 20 PCR positive cultures, only 13 showed positive for chemical analysis by HPTLC. CONCLUSION The assay described here provided a rapid and reliable detection of trichothecene- and fumonisin-producing Fusarium directly from natural food grains and the results were always comparable with a conventional HPTLC detection method. It can, therefore, be used by the food industry to monitor quality and safety.
Sampling of diffusion processes for real-time estimation

This paper addresses the causal sampling of observations of a diffusion process that results in a good quality continuous estimator based upon these samples. The optimal sampling scheme with a fixed number of samples is found by solving an optimal (multiple) stopping problem. This is solved explicitly in a special case. A class of threshold approximations is also described.
Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary heart disease in the North Glasgow MONICA population.

AIM Recent evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with coronary heart disease. We investigated whether H. Pylori infection is related to prevalent coronary heart disease, in a random sample of 1428 men and women aged 25-74 years. METHODS AND RESULTS Coronary heart disease was assessed by questionnaire and electrocardiography (ECG). Standard risk factors for coronary heart disease, fibrinogen concentration and serum concentrations of H. pylori-specific IgG antibody were measured. H. pylori seropositivity increased with age (P < or = 0.001) and was significantly more prevalent in men than women. H. pylori infection was associated with current smoking and a higher systolic blood pressure in men but not in women. There was no significant increase in the odds ratio in those seropositive for H. pylori with regard to any manifestation of coronary heart disease, after adjustment for age, standard cardiovascular risk factors and social class. Likewise, age-adjusted plasma fibrinogen was no higher in seropositives. CONCLUSION Seropositivity to H. pylori is associated with a trend towards a greater prevalence of coronary heart disease. However, that association is likely to be spurious and can be adequately explained by the much stronger association of H. pylori infection with age and social class, both of which are linked with coronary heart disease.
Comparative morphology of the head of selected sporophagous and non‐sporophagous aleocharinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): Musculature and hypopharynx‐prementum complex

To investigate whether specialization to spore‐ (or pollen‐) feeding in advanced Aleocharinae is mirrored by their head anatomy, we compiled and compared synchrotron X‐ray micro‐tomography datasets for 11 Aleocharinae in conjunction with previous data for two aleocharine and six outgroup species (two nonstaphylinids, four staphylinids). We describe the presence/absence of head muscles and investigate the variability of points of origin by character mapping analyses. Monophyly of Aleocharinae is supported by the absence of M. 48 (M. tentoriobuccalis anterior), and by changes in the origins of Mm. 1, 2, 17, 18, 28, 29, 30. Within Aleocharinae the origins of the labial muscles (Mm. 28–30) have shifted posteriorly to the gula, which might enhance the movement posterad of the hypopharynx and partly compensate for the loss of M. 48. We also analyzed the general organization of the hypopharynx‐prementum complex and the fine structure of the mandibles through SEM studies. In the absence of grinding mandibular molae like those of most mycophagous Coleoptera, seven aleocharine species studied have evolved “pseudomolae” at the ventral side of the mandibles that replace true molae as secondary grinding surfaces. In these species, the hypopharynx is elevated and displaced anteriorly, bearing a bowl‐like depression on its surface that functions as a mortar where spores are ground between the hypopharynx and the mandibles. Two of these species are not yet known to feed on spores or pollen. Another species (Oxypoda alternans) is thought to feed on fungus material but bears no pseudomolae on its mandibles. J. Morphol. 271:910–931, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heuristic evaluation on Augmented Reality courseware for the deaf

In this paper, we describe the heuristic evaluation of PekAR-Mikroorganisma; a courseware for the deaf in learning science by using Augmented Technology. This study employs heuristic evaluation, which is one of the inspection methods. Heuristic evaluation was chosen because it does not involve the end user. Previous studies have shown that more problems can be identified using this kind of evaluation. Several experts from different fields were involved in this evaluation. Based on the evaluation made, several disadvantages of PekAR-Mikroorganisma have been identified. In addition, experts have provided some feedbacks to further improve the courseware.
Alcohol‐Impaired Driving and Perceived Risks of Legal Consequences

BACKGROUND Driving while impaired (DWI) is a threat to public health. Codified legal sanctions are a widely implemented strategy to reduce DWI. However, it is unclear that sanctioning affects individual risk perceptions so as to deter alcohol-impaired driving. METHODS Using survey data collected from individual drivers, police, and defense attorneys specializing in DWI in 8 U.S. cities, we investigated whether risk perceptions about legal consequences for alcohol-impaired driving, both the risk of being stopped if driving while alcohol-impaired and receiving specific penalties following a DWI, deter alcohol-impaired driving. First, we analyzed how different drivers' risk perceptions about being pulled over and facing criminal sanctions related to their self-reported alcohol-impaired driving in the year following the interview at which risk perceptions were elicited. Second, using data from an experimental module in which individual's risk perceptions were randomly updated by the interview, we analyzed how each driver's beliefs about his or her own future alcohol-impaired driving responded to randomly generated increases in the apprehension probability and sanction magnitude. RESULTS Higher probabilities as estimated by the individuals of being pulled over corresponded to less alcohol-impaired driving in both analyses. Conversely, there was no statistical relationship between perceptions of criminal sanctions for DWI and alcohol-impaired driving with 1 exception-a small significant negative relationship between duration of jail time following a DWI conviction and alcohol-impaired driving. CONCLUSIONS Perceptions regarding the threat of being apprehended for alcohol-impaired driving were related to actual self-reported driving, while perceived sanctions following a DWI conviction for DWI generally were unrelated to either actual self-reported alcohol-impaired driving or the person's estimate of probability that he or she would drive while alcohol-impaired in the following year. Increasing certainty of apprehension by increasing police staffing and/or conducting sobriety checks is a more effective strategy for reducing alcohol-impaired driving than legislating increased penalties for DWI.
Impact of probiotics on the course of indirect hyperbilirubinemia and phototherapy duration in very low birth weight infants

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of orally administered Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) on the course of hyperbilirubinemia and duration of treatment in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: Infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks and birth weight of ≤1500 g were enrolled. The infants in the study group were given S. boulardii with a dose of 250 mg once a day and the infants in the control group were fed without S. boulardii supplementation. The primary outcome measurements were duration of phototherapy and levels of total bilirubin at the end of phototherapy. Results: A total of 179 infants (81 in the study group and 98 in the control group) were enrolled. The duration of phototherapy was shorter in the study group [1.9 ± 0.86 vs. 2.6 ± 0.9 days, p = 0.000)]. Feeding intolerance was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (20.9% vs. 47.9%; p = 0.00). Conclusion: S. boulardii supplementation at a dose of 250 mg/day is safe for VLBW infants in the short term and effective in reducing the duration of phototherapy in VLBW infants. We suggest that it provides this effect by improving the feeding intolerance and suppressing the reabsorption of bilirubin into the enterohepatic circulation.
Influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the MMP1 promoter region on cutaneous melanoma progression

Recently, we reported on the associations of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of MMP1 gene with susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma (CM). Considering the reported correlation between MMP1 expression and melanoma progression, we hypothesized that these promoter SNPs might affect CM progression and prognosis. In this study, we examined the associations of seven SNPs with overall survival, as well as six clinicopathological factors in 754 patients with CM. After adjustment for 11 covariates, we observed significant associations of the SNP −422A>T (rs475007) with ulceration status (P=0.012), primary tumor thickness (P=0.040), and anatomic site (P=0.030). We also observed significant associations of the SNP −755T>G (rs498186) with ulceration status (P=0.038) and anatomic site (P=0.003). Two SNPs, −839G>A and −519A>G, were marginally associated with primary tumor thickness, ulceration status, and anatomic site. Furthermore, the frequency of haplotype 2G-G-G-A-A-G-T was higher in patients with ulceration (odds ratio=2.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.08–4.40, P=0.030) compared with those without ulceration. However, we did not find significant associations of these SNPs with overall survival and other clinical factors. As primary tumor thickness and ulceration status are two important indicators of tumor progression and have significant associations with melanoma prognosis, our results suggested that these promoter SNPs in MMP1 might have potential effects on melanoma progression and prognosis by influencing related clinical factors.
Coordinated Active Power-Dependent Voltage Regulation in Distribution Grids With PV Systems

High penetrations of photovoltaic (PV) systems in distribution grids have brought about new challenges such as reverse power flow and voltage rise. One of the proposed remedies for voltage rise is reactive power contribution by PV systems. Recent German Grid Codes (GGC) introduce an active power dependent (APD) standard characteristic curve, Q(P), for inverter-coupled distributed generators. This study utilizes the voltage sensitivity matrix and quasi-static analysis in order to locally and systematically develop a coordinated Q(P) characteristic for each PV system along a feeder. The main aim of this paper is to evaluate the technical performance of different aspects of proposed Q(P) characteristics. In fact, the proposed method is a systematic approach to set parameters in the GGC Q(P) characteristic. In the proposed APD method the reactive power is determined based on the local feed-in active power of each PV system. However, the local voltage is also indirectly taken into account. Therefore, this method regulates the voltage in order to keep it under the upper steady-state voltage limit. Moreover, several variants of the proposed method are considered and implemented in a simple grid and a complex utility grid. The results demonstrate the voltage-regulation advantages of the proposed method in contrast to the GGC standard characteristic.
Excitability of human motor cortex inputs prior to grasp

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to investigate corticospinal excitability during the preparation period preceding visually guided self‐paced grasping. Previously we have shown that while subjects prepare to grasp a visible object, paired‐pulse TMS at a specific interval facilitates motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) in hand muscles in a manner that varies with the role of the muscle in shaping the hand for the upcoming grasp. This anticipatory modulation may reflect transmission of inputs to human primary motor cortex (M1) for visuomotor guidance of hand shape. Conversely, single‐pulse TMS is known to suppress MEPs during movement preparation. Here we investigate the time course of single‐ and paired‐pulse MEP modulation. TMS was delivered over M1, at different time intervals after visual presentation of either a handle or a disc to healthy subjects. Participants were instructed to view the object, and later to grasp it when given a cue. During grasp there was a specific pattern of hand muscle activity according to the object grasped. MEPs were evoked in these muscles by TMS delivered prior to grasp. Paired‐pulse MEPs were facilitated, whilst single‐pulse MEPs were suppressed. The pattern of facilitation matched the object‐specific pattern of muscle activity for TMS pulses delivered 150 ms or more after object presentation. However, this effect was not present when TMS was delivered immediately after object presentation, or if the delivery of TMS was given separately from the cue to perform the grasp action. These results suggest that object‐related information for preparation of appropriate hand shapes reaches M1 only immediately preceding execution of the grasp.
Activities of complete and truncated forms of pertussis toxin subunits S1 and S2 synthesized by Escherichia coli

The genes encoding the S1 and S2 subunits of pertussis toxin were expressed in Escherichia coli under lac operon transcription and translation control with pUC8 and pUC18 as the expression vectors. Various versions of the subunits were detected with anti-S1 or anti-S2 monoclonal antibodies. Recombinant S1, but not S2, subunit contained the enzymatic NAD-glycohydrolase and NAD:Gi ADP-ribosyltransferase activities. Both activities were also expressed by a truncated version of the S1 subunit in which the 48 carboxy-terminal amino acid residues, including a predicted Rossman structure and one of the two cysteines, had been deleted. The epitope for an anti-S2 monoclonal antibody was localized to the N-terminal 40-amino-acid region of the S2 subunit. Both the S1 and S2 subunits expressed in E. coli reacted with human hyperimmune serum. The full length and the truncated recombinant S1 subunit also reacted in Western blots with a neutralizing and protective monoclonal anti-S1 antibody. The different versions of S1 and S2 subunits expressed in E. coli are useful for mapping active sites, epitopes, and regions that interact with receptors or the other subunits in the holotoxin. These recombinant subunits will also facilitate the development of a safer, new-generation vaccine against whooping cough.
International Expansion of SMEs: The Inducascos Case

ABSTRACT While small and medium enterprises contribute to gross domestic product, generate crucial employment, and improve socio-economic development, unfortunately the literature on the internationalization processes of these companies remains timid and inconsistent. The following study seeks to analyze the international expansion of the Colombian company Inducascos. The research follows the structure of a case study including literature analysis and secondary data of the Colombian industrial market and Inducascos. Challenges, opportunities and learning process of the organization related to its international expansion and set out, seeking to contribute to the existing studies in international business. RESUMEN Mientras las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES) contribuyen al PIB, que generan importantes tasas de empleo y mejorando el desarrollo socioeconómico, lamentablemente, la literatura sobre los procesos de internacionalización de dichas empresas sigue siendo modesta e inconsecuente. Este estudio pretende analizar la expansión de la internalización de la empresa colombiana Inducascos. La investigación se realizó en la modalidad estudio de caso, incluyendo un análisis de la literatura y datos secundarios del mercado industrial colombiano, e ilustrando también un proceso de aprendizaje de la organización, resultante de su expansión internacional, con el propósito de contribuir con los estudios sobre los negocios internacionales. RESUMO As pequenas e médias empresas contribuem com o PIB, geram índices de emprego cruciais e melhoram o desenvolvimento socioeconômico. Infelizmente, a literatura sobre os processos de internacionalização dessas empresas permanece tímida e inconsistente. O presente trabalho busca analisar a expansão por internacionalização da empresa colombiana Inducascos. A pesquisa foi realizada com a estrutura de um estudo de caso e inclui análise da literatura e dados secundários do mercado industrial colombiano e da Inducascos. São apresentados os desafios, as oportunidades e os processos de aprendizado da organização, que foram obtidos de sua expansão internacional, com a intenção de contribuir com os estudos existentes sobre negócios internacionais.
Musical Contention and Contentious Music; or, the Drums of Occupy Wall Street

This paper addresses music’s role in social movements, using work in mediation, assemblage, and actor-network theories to address the complex, contradictory, and contentious status that music often assumes within political protest. Three premises guide the discussion. First, if music is multiply mediated, then it follows that music’s mediation of other activities (including protest) is likewise multiple. Second, this constellation of mediations may be productively conceptualised as an assemblage, with music forming part of movement-assemblages, and movements forming part of musical assemblages. Third, this mutual imbrication of musical and political assemblages—and the reversibility of positions it entails—introduces a source of potential friction. To illustrate these points, the second part of the article examines the controversies surrounding the drum circle that animated Liberty Park during the Occupy Wall Street protests of 2011.