Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AlgX Is a Periplasmic Protein Required for Alginate Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Alginate, an exopolysaccharide produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, provides the bacterium with a selective advantage that makes it difficult to eradicate from the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Previous studies identified a gene, algX, within the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster on the P. aeruginosa chromosome. By probing cell fractions with anti-AlgX antibodies in a Western blot, AlgX was localized within the periplasm. Consistent with these results is the presence of a 26-amino-acid signal sequence. To examine the requirement for AlgX in alginate biosynthesis, part of algX in P. aeruginosa strain FRD1::pJLS3 was replaced with a nonpolar gentamicin resistance cassette. The resulting algXΔ::Gm mutant was verified by PCR and Western blot analysis and was phenotypically nonmucoid (non-alginate producing). The algXΔ::Gm mutant was restored to the mucoid phenotype with wild-type P. aeruginosa algX provided on a plasmid. The algXΔ::Gm mutant was found to secrete dialyzable oligouronic acids of various lengths. Mass spectroscopy and Dionex chromatography indicated that the dialyzable uronic acids are mainly mannuronic acid dimers resulting from alginate lyase (AlgL) degradation of polymannuronic acid. These studies suggest that AlgX is part of a protein scaffold that surrounds and protects newly formed polymers from AlgL degradation as they are transported within the periplasm for further modification and eventual transport out of the cell.
Evaluation of trophoblast invasion in placental bed biopsies of the baboon, with immunohistochemical localisation of cytokeratin, fibronectin, and laminin

Abstract: Biopsies of placentas (n = 21), placental bed (n = 17) and decidua (n = 26) of various gestation periods (30 to 140 days) were used to study trophoblast invasion in the baboon. Application of immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin allowed proper identification of trophoblast. Earlier reports showing restricted trophoblast invasion in this species were confirmed by the finding that endovascular trophoblast was present in only one third of biopsies containing spiral arteries. Moreover, immunostaining for cytokeratin revealed that in several arteries only a few isolated trophoblastic cells were present, while the vessel had not undergone the normal physiological change. Trophoblast invasion could only be detected within decidual, but not in myometrial, segments of spiral arteries. Interstitial trophoblast invasion was very limited and multinuclear giant cells were absent. Immunohistochemical staining suggested a contribution of laminin to the fibrinoid deposition within the physiologically changed spiral arteries, while fibronectin was present intracellularly in the invaded trophoblast. Because of differences in the trophoblast invasion pattern, the baboon cannot be regarded as a satisfactory experimental model to explore results of inadequate endovascular trophoblast invasion which, in the human, leads to pregnancy complications such a preeclampsia.
Dynamic Volume-Return Relation, Information Asymmetry, and Trade Size: An Analysis of Australian Market

This study investigates the influence of information asymmetry on the cross-sectional variation of volume-return relation in the context of Australian stock market. In particular, this paper extends current research by incorporating informed traders’ trade-size preference as well as its impact on the relation between information asymmetry and volume-return dynamics into analysis. After classifying trading volume according to the size of trade, we find that the dynamic volume-return relation within medium-size trades has the most significant response to the degree of information asymmetry. Our findings are consistent with the notion that informed traders concentrate in the trades of medium-size.
Newer diagnostics for tuberculosis and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis

Purpose of review This article will review some of the recent developments for the rapid diagnosis and detection of drug resistance in tuberculosis. Recent findings Tuberculosis remains one of the major causes of death from a single infectious agent worldwide. Of great concern for tuberculosis control is the emergence of drug resistance since there is no cure for some multidrug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis, and there is concern that they may spread around the world, stressing the need for additional control measures such as new diagnostics and better drugs for treatment. Recent advances in molecular biology and a better understanding of the molecular basis of drug resistance have provided new tools for rapid tuberculosis diagnosis. Other non-conventional diagnostic approaches have also been proposed. Nucleic acid amplification techniques, both commercial and in-house, and non-molecular methods are being evaluated. The overall accuracy of most of these tests is promising and some of them can be easily implemented in clinical mycobacteriology laboratories. Summary New genotypic and phenotypic methods for rapid diagnosis and detection of drug resistance have been developed and tested both in M. tuberculosis strains as well as in clinical samples. Further controlled evaluations are necessary in high-endemic countries for their eventual implementation in the routine diagnostic systems.
Evaluation of two imaging techniques: near-infrared transillumination and dental radiographs for the detection of early approximal enamel caries.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this paper was to evaluate a transillumination (TI) system using near-infrared (NIR) light and bitewing radiographs for the detection of early approximal enamel caries lesions. METHODS Mesiodistal sections of teeth (n = 14) were cut with various thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 4.75 mm. Both sides of each section were included, 17 approximal surfaces with natural enamel caries and 11 surfaces considered intact. The approximal surfaces were illuminated by NIR light and X-ray. Captured images were analysed by two calibrated specialists in radiology, and re-analysed after 6 months using stereomicroscope images as a gold standard. RESULTS The interexaminer reliability (Kappa test statistic) for the NIR TI technique showed moderate agreement on first (0.55) and second (0.48) evaluation, and low agreement for bitewing radiographs on first (0.26) and second (0.32) evaluation. In terms of accuracy, the sensitivity for the NIR TI system was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.72. For the bitewing radiographs the sensitivity ranged from 0.35 to 0.53 and the specificity ranged from 0.50 to 0.72. CONCLUSION In the same samples and conditions tested, NIR TI images showed reliability and the enamel caries surfaces were better identified than on dental radiographs.
Innovativeness along the Business Cycle: The Case of Uruguay

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the dynamics of knowledge-capital accumulation along the different stages of the business cycle within the benchmark proposed by Crépon, Duguet, and Mairesse (1998) using a balanced panel of Uruguayan firms. Findings reveal that the intensity of innovation evolves procyclically, while the propensity of innovation and the degree of novelty embedded in innovations follow a countercyclical path. They also show that product innovations during economic recessions are only pursued by companies that are able to divert their sales to world markets; otherwise, they tend to innovate in processes. Results further suggest that productivity gains driven by knowledge-capital accumulation are magnified by systematically engaging in innovation activities.
Evaluation of improved management technologies and linseed (Linum usitatissimum) cultivars in salt-affected soils under rainfed condition

Eight and twelve on farm trials were conducted during the winter (rabl) season of 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, respectively, to evaluate the improved management technologies and promising linseed (Linum usistatissimum L.) cultivars in salt-affected soils under rainfed condition. lmproved management technologies consisting of line or seed drill sowing, application of FYM @ 2 tonneslha a month before sowing and use of straw mulch after sowing proved superior to traditional practices adopted by the farmers. 'Padmini' variety followed by 'SWeta' and vice-versa proved superior to 'Bijuri Local' with improved management technology in comparison to farmers' practices. 'Padmini' having markedly higher dry matter, number of branches and capsuleslplant with dwarf plants utilized soil moisture more efficiently under rainfed condition and showed better tolerance to salts compared to 'Sweta' and 'Bijuri Local'.
The Effects of Delayed Tracking: Evidence from German States

Germany's education system stands out among OECD countries for early tracking: students are tracked into different secondary school types at the age of ten in most German states. In this paper we estimate the effects on educational outcomes of a reform that delayed tracking by two years. While our findings suggest that the reform had no effect on educational outcomes on average, we find a positive effect on male students with uneducated parents and a negative effect on males with educated parents. The reform thus increased equality of opportunity among males, yet not among females. We argue that the gendered pattern is best explained by developmental differences between boys and girls at the relevant age.
Dinosaur Energetics: Setting the Bounds on Feasible Physiologies and Ecologies

The metabolic status of dinosaurs has long been debated but remains unresolved as no consistent picture has emerged from a range of anatomical and isotopic evidence. Quantitative analysis of dinosaur energetics, based on general principles applicable to all vertebrates, shows that many features of dinosaur lifestyle are compatible with a physiology similar to that of extant lizards, scaled up to dinosaur body masses and temperatures. The analysis suggests that sufficient metabolic scope would have been available to support observed dinosaur growth rates and allow considerable locomotor activity, perhaps even migration. Since at least one dinosaur lineage evolved true endothermy, this study emphasizes there was no single dinosaur physiology. Many small theropods were insulated with feathers and appear to have been partial or full endotherms. Uninsulated small taxa, and all juveniles, presumably would have been ectothermic, with consequent diurnal and seasonal variations in body temperature. In larger taxa, inertial homeothermy would have resulted in warm and stable body temperatures but with a basal metabolism significantly below that of extant mammals or birds of the same size. It would appear that dinosaurs exhibited a range of metabolic levels to match the broad spectrum of ecological niches they occupied.
Slab Horizontal Subduction and Slab Tearing Beneath East Asia

The present‐day architecture of subducted slabs in the mantle as inferred from seismic tomography is a record of plate tectonics through geological time. The unusually large slab that lies nearly horizontally above the 660‐km mantle discontinuity beneath East Asia is presumably from subduction of the Pacific plate. Numerical models have been used to explore the mechanical and geophysical factors that contribute to slab stagnation, but the evolution of this horizontal structure is not fully understood because of uncertainties in the plate‐tectonic history and mantle heterogeneity. Here we show that forward mantle‐flow models constrained by updated tectonic reconstructions can essentially fit major features in the seismic tomography beneath East Asia. Specifically, significant tearing propagated through the subducted western Pacific slab as the Philippine Sea plate rotated clockwise during the Miocene, leading to internal slab segmentation. We believe this tearing associated with Philippine Sea plate rotation also affects the horizontal configuration of slabs.
Implementation of Cooperatives' Principles on Ranked-Cooperatives, East Java 2012

The purposes of this research to identify of values and cooperatives’ principles on the field, to identify roles and member participation to improving cooperatives, to identify cooperatives’ performance based on cooperatives’ principles, and to identify problems in order to implementing the cooperatives’ principles. Samples were collected amount 52 cooperatives have been assessed as the accredited cooperatives by Small Medium Enterprise and Cooperatives Office East Java. Methodology supported this research were inventory, field survey, and data analysis. Data have been analyzed and evaluated on 2 steps: grading the defined instrument and checking the supported documents given by respondents. The research findings: Cooperatives’ Principles is an abstract vision which has to spell out how these Principles are to be practiced. The Success programmes as a way to implementing Cooperatives’ Principles that guiding the operation of organization. The product of all cooperatives surveyed was not specific products and need innovation products. Better service for members to survive among other cooperatives. To implement Cooperatives’ Principles, there were correlations between: Management Control and Members’ Satisfaction, Boards’ Performance and Members’ Satisfaction, Well-controlled Administration and Members’ Satisfaction, Capital Structure and Members’ Satisfaction, Unit Business and Members’ Satisfaction, Training & Education and Members’ Satisfaction, Cohesiveness and Members’ Satisfaction.
Amino-Terminal β-Amyloid Antibody Blocks β-Amyloid-Mediated Inhibition of the High-Affinity Choline Transporter CHT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by progressive cognitive decline. The deficits in cognition and attentional processing that are observed clinically in AD are linked to impaired function of cholinergic neurons that release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). The high-affinity choline transporter (CHT) is present at the presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminal and is responsible for the reuptake of choline produced by hydrolysis of ACh following its release. Disruption of CHT function leads to decreased choline uptake and ACh synthesis, leading to impaired cholinergic neurotransmission. We report here that cell-derived β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) decrease choline uptake activity and cell surface CHT protein levels in SH-SY5Y neural cells. Moreover, we make the novel observation that the amount of CHT protein localizing to early endosomes and lysosomes is decreased significantly in cells that have been treated with cell culture medium that contains Aβ peptides released from neural cells. The Aβ-mediated loss of CHT proteins from lysosomes is prevented by blocking lysosomal degradation of CHT with the lysosome inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (BafA1). BafA1 also attenuated the Aβ-mediated decrease in CHT cell surface expression. Interestingly, however, lysosome inhibition did not block the effect of Aβ on CHT activity. Importantly, neutralizing Aβ using an anti-Aβ antibody directed at the N-terminal amino acids 1–16 of Aβ, but not by an antibody directed at the mid-region amino acids 22–35 of Aβ, attenuates the effect of Aβ on CHT activity and trafficking. This indicates that a specific N-terminal Aβ epitope, or specific conformation of soluble Aβ, may impair CHT activity. Therefore, Aβ immunotherapy may be a more effective therapeutic strategy for slowing the progression of cognitive decline in AD than therapies designed to promote CHT cell surface levels.
Perception vs. Experience: Explaining Differences in Corruption Measures Using Microdata

Understanding corruption is at the heart of treating the dysfunctionality of many countries’ public sectors. Yet, most corruption research suffers from one common problem: There is no “objective” measure of public-sector corruption for a cross-section of countries. Most studies on the determinants or the effects of corruption rely on indicators of corruption perception. In more recent years, a second type of indicator reflecting stated experiences with bribery has become available. If corruption perception is primarily informed by experience with corruption, these two types of indicators should be very highly correlated. In fact, they are not. This paper deals with the divergence between these two types of corruption indicators. We examine the variation in individual corruption perception that cannot be explained by individual corruption experiences alone. We find that both respondent characteristics and country characteristics can bias corruption perception. This may force us to reevaluate results of corruption research that makes use of perception indicators and anti-corruption policies that have been designed based on these results.
Injuries to pitchers in women's collegiate fast-pitch softball

An injury survey of eight college softball teams ranked among the top 15 during the 1989 women's NCAA tournament championship by their athletic trainers found 26 injuries and complaints in 20 of 24 players. There were 15 grade I (nontime-loss) injuries, all mus culotendinous except for a leg contusion and an ankle sprain. The 6 grade II injuries (altered play) were also musculotendinous except for 2 sprains to the hand and wrist. The 5 grade III (stopped play) injuries were some what more varied in type and resulted in an average of almost 7 weeks of time lost per injured player. Eighty- two percent of the time-loss injuries (grades II and III) involved the upper extremity. This survey suggests that there are likely to be a significant number of injuries involving loss of time from practice or games among elite women's fast-pitch softball pitchers.
Outcome of hospital care of liver disease associated with hepatitis C in the United States

We describe mortality and resource utilization for inpatient care of hepatitis C (HCV) in comparison to alcohol‐induced liver disease (ALD) in the United States and identify factors that affect outcomes. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database, a national inpatient sample was used to identify hospitalization records with diagnoses related to liver disease from HCV and ALD. Outcome of hospitalizations was analyzed in terms of in‐hospital deaths and health care resource utilization. For 1995, we estimate that there were 26,700 hospitalizations and 2,600 deaths in acute, nonfederal hospitals in the United States for liver diseases caused by HCV. Total charges for these hospitalizations were $514 million. In comparison, ALD was associated with 101,200 hospitalizations, 13,400 deaths, and $1.8 billion in charges. Simultaneous HCV and alcohol abuse was associated with younger ages at the time of hospitalization and death compared with HCV or ALD alone. In a logistic regression analysis, alcohol abuse (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2‐1.5) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 4.0‐4.9) were associated with an increased risk of death among those with HCV. Liver transplantation and patient death were associated with the largest increase in hospitalization charges. Major complications of cirrhosis, such as variceal bleeding, encephalopathy, and hepatorenal syndrome, and sociodemographic factors, such as race and health insurance, were also significantly associated with the risk of death and hospitalization charges, which were similar in HCV and ALD. This study provides new estimates regarding the public health impact of HCV, for use in health policy decisions and cost‐effectiveness analyses of preventive and therapeutic interventions.
Is Circumferential Injection Advantageous for Ultrasound-Guided Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Block?: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Background: Ultrasound (US) guidance, in some instances, can increase the success rate and reduce the onset and procedure times for peripheral nerve blockade compared with traditional nerve localization techniques. The presumptive mechanism for these benefits is the ability to accurately inject local anesthetic circumferentially around the target nerve. We aimed to determine whether ensuring circumferential spread of local anesthetic is advantageous for US-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block. Methods: Sixty-four adult patients undergoing US-guided popliteal sciatic block for elective foot and ankle surgery were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups, circumferential or single-location injection. Using a short-axis nerve view and out-of-plane needle approach, the needle tip was advanced to the posterior external surface of the sciatic nerve. A 30-mL local anesthetic admixture (1:1 lidocaine 2%/bupivacaine 0.5% with 1:200,000 epinephrine) was injected either entirely at this location (single location) or incrementally at multiple locations to ensure circumferential spread around the sciatic nerve (circumferential). Sensory and motor functions were assessed by a blinded observer at predetermined intervals. The primary outcome was sensory block defined as loss of sensation to pinprick in the distribution of both tibial and common peroneal nerves at 30 mins after injection. Results: Sensory block was achieved in 94% of patients in the circumferential injection group compared with 69% in the single-location injection group (P = 0.010). There were no differences detected in block performance time, pain during block performance, or block-related complications between groups. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided circumferential injection of local anesthetic around the sciatic nerve at the popliteal fossa can improve the rate of sensory block without an increase in block procedure time or block-related complications compared with a single-location injection technique.
A Comparative Study of Perforated and Non-Perforated Appendicitis With Respect to Clinical and Laboratory Findings .

Introduction:The vermiform appendix is considered by most to be a vestigial organ, its importance in surgery is only due to its tendency for inflammation resulting in the syndrome called acute appendicitis. Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of an “acute abdomen” in young adults. Appendectomy is the most frequently performed emergency abdominal operation. Present study was undertaken to study the clinical pattern of presentation and to analyze the difference in the anatomical, biochemical, microbiological, histological determinants in patients of perforated and non-perforated acute appendicitis. Materials and Methods:Present study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital over a period of two years. All patients were admitted in the emergency care unit as per hospital protocols. Patients were divided into two groups (Perforated and non-perforated). Patients found eligible as per inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. Results: 150 cases were studied with median age being 35 years. Male preponderance was noted. Symptom duration was higher in perforated appendicitis. Patients with perforated appendix had high Alvarado score. Appendicectomy was the most common surgical procedure. 81.33% had acute inflamed appendicitis. Incidence of gangrenous and suppurative appendicitis was higher in cases of perforated appendicitis. Conclusion: Patients with longer duration of pain have higher incidence of perforation. Alvarado score can predict the likelihood of perforation. Hospital stay is more in cases of perforated appendix. Antibiotic sensitivity should be considered when change of antibiotic is contemplated.