Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macrophage-Mediated Germination of Bacillus anthracis Endospores Requires the gerH Operon

ABSTRACT The gerHabc operon of Bacillus anthracis, encoding a gerA-like family member of germinant sensors, was shown to be required for endospore germination in the presence of macrophages and in macrophage-conditioned media. The loss of the germination phenotype in macrophage cultures of B. anthracis gerH-null endospores was restored by complementation in trans with a wild-type copy of gerH expressed under the control of its own promoter. Using endospores from both the parental strain B. anthracis Sterne and an isogenic gerH-null strain, we partially characterized germinants secreted by macrophages into the extracellular medium.
A reappraisal of the benefit‐risk profile of hydroxyurea in polycythemia vera: A propensity‐matched study

The use of hydroxyurea (HU) as first line therapy in polycythemia vera (PV) has been criticized because no solid demonstration that this drug prevents thrombosis or prolongs survival has been so far produced. Here we present the outcomes of a large cohort of patients with PV included in the European Collaborative Low‐dose Aspirin (ECLAP) study. We selected 1,042 patients who, during the follow‐up, had received only phlebotomy (PHL) or HU to maintain the hematocrit level < 45%. To assure comparability, we conducted a propensity score matching analysis. The two groups (PHL n = 342 and HU n = 681) were well balanced for the parameters included in the propensity score (overall balance: χ2 = 2.44, P = 0.964). Over a comparable period of follow‐up (PHL = 29.9 vs. HU = 34.7 months), we documented an advantage of HU over PHL consistently significant with respect to the incidence of fatal/non‐fatal cardiovascular (CV) events (5.8 vs. 3.0 per 100 person‐years in PHL vs. HU group, P = 0.002) and myelofibrosis transformation that was only experienced by patients of PHL group. Evolution to acute leukemia was registered in three patients (two in PHL and one in HU group). The excess of mortality and total CV events in the PHL patients was restricted to the high‐risk group, and, compared with HU cases, was significant higher in the PHL patients who failed to reach the hematocrit target < 0.45% (P = 0.000). In conclusion, this analysis provides reliable and qualified estimates of the therapeutic profile of HU and PHL treatments for future experimental studies and for the management of PV in clinical practice.
The Abrasive Wear Resistance of the Segmented Linear Polyurethane Elastomers Based on a Variety of Polyols as Soft Segments

The presented results make an original contribution to the development of knowledge on the prediction and/or modeling of the abrasive wear properties of polyurethanes. A series of segmented linear polyurethane elastomers (PUR)—In which the hard segments consist of 4,4′-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) and 1,4-butanodiol, whilst polyether, polycarbonate, or polyester polyols constitute the soft segments—Were synthesized and characterized. The hardness and wear performance as functions of the variable chemical composition of polyurethane elastomers were evaluated in order to define the relationship between studied factors. The microstructure was characterized in detail, including analysis of the hydrogen bonding by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and the phase structure by X-ray scattering (WAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The presented studies provide the key features of the polymer composition affecting the abrasive resistance as well as attempts to explain the origin of the differences in the polyurethane elastomers’ performance.
Introduction of a new hepatitis agent in retrospect: genetic studies of Swedish hepatitis D virus strains

The supposedly first outbreak of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in Sweden occurred among intravenous drug addicts in the Malmö area in the mid-1970s. Stored sera from this outbreak were used for viral RNA extraction and analysis. By sequence comparisons, the HDV genomes from those Swedish patients fell into two separate clusters, within which the RNA sequences were closely related. These two HDV groups genetically resembled the French and US-1 isolates of genotype I, respectively, indicating that there had been at least two separate sources of HDV infection. The genetic alterations of the HDV RNA were investigated by sequence analysis of nine annually drawn serum samples from one patient and paired samples collected between 2 and more than 10 years apart from six patients with chronic HDV infection. Only mutational changes were observed, and no insertion or deletion appeared throughout the periods observed. It was found that the Swedish HDV isolates mutationally evolved at an average rate of 1.1 x 10(-3) substitutions per nucleotide per year over a long time course of chronic HDV infection, which is of the same magnitude as that of other RNA viruses.
Do Spanish Children Use the Syllable in Visual Word Recognition in Learning to Read?

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Spanish children that are learning to read use the syllable unit in word reading. We used a visual version of the syllable monitoring technique (Mehler, Dommerges, Freavenfelder & Seguí, 1981). For Experiment I, we selected first grade readers at the end of the first year of reading instruction. In the Experiment II we selected second grade readers at the middle of the second year of reading instruction. Participants responded whenever the structure of the target string (e.g., bal) appeared at the beginning of a subsequently presented printed word (e.g., bala). The target was either a consonant-vowel (CV) or consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) structure and either did or did not correspond to the initial syllable of the target-bearing word. At the end of the first year of reading instruction, children showed significant effects of syllable compatibility (faster detection times when the targets correspond to the initial syllable of target-bearing words than when they did not). When we tested children of the second year of reading instruction, they also showed a syllable compatibility effect. These results suggest that Spanish children use syllabic units at the beginning of reading instruction in the visual word recognition. El principal objetivo de este estudio fue analizar si los niños españoles que aprenden a leer se apoyan en la sílaba para el reconocimiento visual de palabras. Usamos una versión visual de la técnica de monitorización de sílaba (Mehler, Dommerges, Freavenfelder y Seguí, 1981). En un primer experimento seleccionamos a niños que estaban finalizando el primer año de instrucción lectora, y en un segundo experimento seleccionamos a niños que estaban en el segundo año de instrucción lectora. Los niños tenían que responder si la sílaba que se presentaba como target (v.gr., bal) aparecía al principio de una palabra que se presentaba posteriormente en la pantalla del ordenador (v.gr., bala). La sílaba target era una sílaba con estructura consonante-vocal (CV) o con estructura consonante-vocal-consonante (CVC) que podía corresponder o no con la sílaba inicial de la palabra que se presentaba. Al final del primer año de instrucción lectora, se encontró un efecto significativo de compatibilidad silábica (i.e., los tiempos de reacción fueron más rápidos cuando la estructura de la sílaba target correspondía a la estructura de la sílaba inicial de la palabra presentada). Cuando analizamos las respuestas de los niños en el segundo año de instrucción de la lectura, se encontró también un efecto significativo de compatibilidad silábica. Estos resultados sugieren que los niños españoles que aprenden a leer se apoyan en la sílaba para el reconocimiento visual de las palabras.
Use of uterine electromyography to diagnose term and preterm labor

Current methodologies to assess the process of labor, such as tocodynamometry or intrauterine pressure catheters, fetal fibronectin, cervical length measurement and digital cervical examination, have several major drawbacks. They only measure the onset of labor indirectly and do not detect cellular changes characteristic of true labor. Consequently, their predictive values for term or preterm delivery are poor. Uterine contractions are a result of the electrical activity within the myometrium. Measurement of uterine electromyography (EMG) has been shown to detect contractions as accurately as the currently used methods. In addition, changes in cell excitability and coupling required for effective contractions that lead to delivery are reflected in changes of several EMG parameters. Use of uterine EMG can help to identify patients in true labor better than any other method presently employed in the clinic.
Product versus Process Innovation and the Global Engagement of Firms

How can product innovation and process innovation have different effects on firms’ internationalization strategies? Recent literature on the relationship between innovation and firms’ participation in foreign markets is dominated by models of innovation and export behavior. However, foreign direct investment by multinational enterprises may also be associated with firms’ innovative activities. In order to assess the role of innovation in firms’ international engagement strategies, we develop a theoretical model and present new empirical evidence on firms’ choice of entry – exports and FDI – based on firm-level data. Empirical results suggest that process innovation is more strongly positively correlated with transition from exporting to FDI, while product innovation is more strongly correlated with transition from being a domestic firm to exporting.
Determination of Effort Level, Exaggeration, and Malingering in Neurocognitive Assessment

Objectives:This article presents a review of the field of effort level determination in TBI assessment as well as how to determine which effort level measure is most appropriate for common assessment situations. The importance of effort level assessment in forensic settings, and also in assessments conducted in both diagnostic and rehabilitation programs, which rely on test performances to develop treatment plans or to measure progress and outcome, is discussed. Methods:Historical review and summaries of specific measures designed to characterize effort level in assessment of persons suffering TBI. Results:There are several effort level measures that have withstood the scrutiny of cross-validation research. These include the Computerized Assessment of Response Bias (CARB), Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT), Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), Validity Indicator Profile (VIP), Victoria Symptom Validity Test (VSVT), and Word Memory Test (WMT). Conclusions:Depending on the neurocognitive test performances(s) evidencing suboptimal effort or complaints that may be questionable, it is recommended that at least 2 of the above-listed measures be employed for proper assessment of effort level.
Multi-Weight Nuclear Norm Minimization for Low-Rank Matrix Recovery in Presence of Subspace Prior Information

Weighted nuclear norm minimization has been recently recognized as a technique for reconstruction of a low-rank matrix from compressively sampled measurements when some prior information about the column and row subspaces of the matrix is available. We derive the conditions and the associated recovery guarantees of weighted nuclear norm minimization when multiple weights are allowed. This setup could be used when one has access to prior subspaces forming multiple angles with the column and row subspaces of the ground-truth matrix. While existing works in this field use a single weight to penalize all the angles, we propose a multi-weight problem which is designed to penalize each angle independently using a distinct weight. Specifically, we prove that our proposed multi-weight problem is robust under weaker conditions for the measurement operator than the analogous conditions for single-weight scenario and standard nuclear norm minimization. Moreover, it provides better reconstruction error than the state- of-the-art methods. We illustrate our results with extensive numerical experiments that demonstrate the advantages of allowing multiple weights in the recovery procedure. Our work has beneficial implications for channel estimation in multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communications based on Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD). The existing methods for channel estimation in this application require a huge number of pilot (training) signals to estimate the downlink channel which greatly wastes the spectrum resources in massive MIMO systems. We provide a dynamic channel estimation scenario for FDD massive MIMO systems and show how our method could be applied to enhance the spectral efficiency.
Social Networking Site Usage among University Students: Differences of Educational Level/ Uporaba društvenih mreža među studentskom populacijom: razlike s obzirom na obrazovnu razinu

AbstractThis study examined the social networking site usage profiles, usage purposes and frequency of activity among university students. Using the survey method the study was conducted among 1818 university students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. It focused on the use of Facebook as a social networking site. The study established that the frequency with which students visit Facebook, the time spent on Facebook while using the internet, the number of Facebook friends and their educational usage purposes vary significantly with respect to the level of education. According to the results, undergraduate students use Facebook to maintain their existing relationships instead of establishing new ones and they are active on Facebook for communication and entertainment purposes; postgraduate students use Facebook for educational purposes and to follow up on their friends. What is more, unlike other studies mentioned in the literature, this study concluded that postgraduate students use Facebook frequently. Key words: Facebook usage; social networking site; university students. ---SažetakU ovom radu istraživani su profili uporabe društvenih mreža, svrhe korištenja i učestalost aktivnosti studentske populacije. Služeći se metodom upitnika, istraživanje je provedeno na 1818 studenata na preddiplomskoj i poslijediplomskoj razini. Težište je bilo na uporabi Facebooka kao društvene mreže. Studija je ustanovila da je učestalost posjećivanja Facebooka, vrijeme provedeno na Facebooku tijekom korištenja interneta, broj prijatelja na Facebooku i uporaba u obrazovne svrhe značajno varira s obzirom na razinu obrazovanja. Prema rezultatima, studenti dodiplomske razine služe se Faceboookom da bi održali postojeće odnose s prijateljima umjesto uspostavljanja novih, na Facebooku su aktivni zbog komuniciranja i zabave, kao i da bi pratili što im prijatelji rade. Studenti poslijediplomske razine služe se Facebookom u obrazovne svrhe i da bi pratili prijatelje. Štoviše, za razliku od drugih istraživanja spomenutih u literaturi, u ovom radu došlo se do zaključka da se poslijediplomanti Facebookom učestalo služe. Ključne riječi: društvene mreže; sveučilište; studenti; uporaba Facebooka
Adsorption of Copper and Chromium by Aspergillus carbonarius

Aspergillus carbonarius NRC 401121 adsorbs some copper and chromium from their solutions. The amount of the adsorbed metal per unit of biomass increased with a decrease in the biomass concentration. The increases in the initial concentrations of metals and pH of the solutions resulted in an increase in copper and chromium uptake. The optimum temperature for copper uptake was 25 °C. Heating of the biomass prior to utilizing it in the adsorption tests decreased its metal adsorption capacity. Preincubation of the biomass with glucose enhanced the metal adsorption. The optimum glucose concentration in this process was 0.1%.
Simultaneous monitoring of peptide aggregate distributions, structure, and kinetics using amide hydrogen exchange: Application to Aβ(1‐40) fibrillogenesis

Increasing evidence indicates that soluble aggregates of amyloid beta protein (Aβ) are neurotoxic. However, difficulty in isolating these unstable, dynamic species impedes studies of Aβ and other aggregating peptides and proteins. In this study, hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HX) detected by mass spectrometry (MS) was used to measure Aβ(1‐40) aggregate distributions without purification or modification that might alter the aggregate structure or distribution. Different peaks in the mass spectra were assigned to monomer, low molecular weight oligomer, intermediate, and fibril based on HX labeling behavior and complementary assays. After 1 h labeling, the intermediates incorporated approximately ten more deuterons relative to fibrils, indicating a more solvent exposed structure of such intermediates. HX‐MS also showed that the intermediate species dissociated much more slowly to monomer than did the very low molecular weight oligomers that were formed at very early times in Aβ aggregation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements revealed the intermediates were roughly spherical with relatively homogenous diameters of 30–50 nm. Quantitative analysis of the HX mass spectra showed that the amount of intermediate species was correlated with Aβ toxicity patterns reported in a previous study under the same conditions. This study also demonstrates the potential of the HX‐MS approach to characterizing complex, multi‐component oligomer distributions of aggregating peptides and proteins. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 1214–1227. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chlorhexidine-induced changes to human gingival fibroblast collagen and non-collagen protein production.

BACKGROUND Chlorhexidine (CHX) has been used extensively as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of periodontal disease. It is well known that chlorhexidine is toxic to bacteria, but recent evidence has suggested that chlorhexidine may also have deleterious effects on gingival fibroblast proliferation as well as collagen and non-collagen protein production in cell culture. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of chlorhexidine on gingival fibroblast proliferation as well as collagen and non-collagen protein production in cell culture. METHODS Human gingival fibroblasts were incubated in MEM containing chlorhexidine concentrations ranging from 1 microM to 1300 microM at 37 degrees C for 1, 5, or 15 minutes. Control cells received an equal volume of MEM without chlorhexidine for similar times at 37 degrees C. Following incubation, the media were removed, cells washed twice with MEM supplemented with 10% FBS, and fibroblasts in treatment and control groups were allowed to recover in the same media for 24 hours. RESULTS In all strains, cellular proliferation was dependent on the concentration of solubilized chlorhexidine in cell culture but independent of the duration of chlorhexidine exposure. The average inhibitory concentration necessary to reduce cellular proliferation by 50% (ID50) was 222.1 microM. In regard to collagen and non-collagen protein production, fibroblasts exposed to chlorhexidine concentrations (1 microM) well below the ID50 had a 65% reduction in collagen production and a 57% reduction in noncollagen protein production. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that chlorhexidine will induce a dose dependent reduction in cellular proliferation and that concentrations of chlorhexidine that have little effect on cellular proliferation can significantly reduce both collagen and noncollagen protein production of human gingival fibroblasts in vitro. Hence, the introduction of commercially available concentrations (0.12%) or diluted commercial concentrations (as low as 0.00009%) of chlorhexidine to surgical sites for short periods of time prior to wound closure can conceivably have serious toxic effects on gingival fibroblasts and may negatively affect wound healing.
Inflammatory choroidal neovascularization in Indian eyes: Etiology, clinical features, and outcomes to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor

Background and Objectives: The aim was to study the clinical profile of inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and its treatment response to intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab on pro re nata (PRN) basis in Indian eyes. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective case series of consecutive patients with inflammatory CNV treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in a tertiary eye care center in Eastern India between 2009 and 2014. The data about clinical features, investigations, treatment, and outcomes were obtained from the medical records. We included patients with active inflammatory CNV but with no evidence of inflammation and were treated with anti-VEGF alone, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Main outcome measures were a clinical and etiological profile of inflammatory CNV in Indian eyes and their response to treatment. Results: Thirty eyes of 28 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up was 17.93 ± 14.28 months (range 6–53 months). In our cohort, seven (23.33%) eyes had inflammatory CNV secondary to idiopathic choroiditis, four (13.33%) eyes had toxoplasmosis, idiopathic panuveitis, and Vogt Koyanaki Harada's disease each. Three (10%) eyes had geographic helicoid peripapillary choroidopathy and tubercular choroiditis each. Remaining two (6.66%) eyes had punctate inner choroidopathy, while multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis, resolved endogenous endophthalmitis and Hansen's diseases were the etiology in one (3.33%) case of inflammatory CNV each. The mean number of injections were 2.76 (range 1–5). Among thirty eyes of inflammatory CNV, 16 (53.3%) eyes showed improvement, eight (26.6%) maintained the same vision, whereas six (20%) eyes showed deterioration of vision. Interpretations and Conclusion: Idiopathic choroiditis was the most common cause of inflammatory CNV and PRN intravitreal anti-VEGF (ranibizumab or bevacizumab) appears to have effective treatment response.
Behavior-Based Interventions to Improve Hand Hygiene Adherence Among Intensive Care Unit Healthcare Workers in Thailand

OBJECTIVE To evaluate behavioral-based interventions to improve hand hygiene (HH) among healthcare workers (HCWs) at a Thai tertiary care center. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was performed in 6 intensive care units with computer-generated allocation. Baseline demographic characteristics, self-reported stage of HH behavioral commitment, and observed HH adherence were examined from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012 (preintervention), and from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013 (postintervention). Self-reported HH was categorized by the stages construct from the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change. The intensive care unit group randomization was to either standard-of-care HH education every 3 months (S1), intensified HH interventions (S2), or intensified HH interventions plus increased availability of alcohol-based handrub throughout the unit (S3). RESULTS Among125 HCWs from 6 intensive care units (42 in S1, 41 in S2, 42 in S3) there were 1,936 total HH observations; most HCWs (100 [ 80%]) were nurses or nurse assistants. Compared with preintervention, overall postintervention HH adherence improved in HCWs assigned to S2 (65% vs 85%; P=.02) and S3 (66% vs 95%; P=.005) but not S1 (68% vs 71%; P=.84). Improvement in HH adherence was demonstrated among HCWs who reported lower stages of HH commitment in S2 (21% vs 84%; P<.001) and S3 (24% vs 89%; P<.001) and in HCWs who self-reported higher stages of commitment in S3 (78% vs 96%; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS HCW HH programs may benefit from stage-based tailored strategies to promote sustained HH adherence. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0): 1–5