Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of site-directed mutagenesis of conserved Lys606 residue on catalytic and regulatory functions of maize C4-form phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase.

Lys606, one of the two highly conserved lysine residues in maize C4-form phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), was converted to Asn, Glu or Arg by site-directed mutagenesis. Resulted mutant enzymes expressed using pET system [Dong, L. -Y. et al. (1997) Biosci. Biotech, Biochem. 61:545] were purified by one step procedure through nickel-chelate affinity chromatography to a purity of about 95%. The replacement of Lys606 by Arg had little effect on the kinetic and allosteric properties of the resulting mutant enzyme. In contrast, the maximum velocities (Vmax) were decreased to 22% and 2% of that of wild-type PEPC upon the substitution of Lys606 by Asn and Glu, respectively. The value of S0.5(HCO3-) was increased 21-25 fold by the replacements, whereas the S0.5(Mg2+) and S0.5(PEP) values were increased only 5-8 fold. The extents of activation of mutant enzymes by glucose 6-phosphate and glycine were 2 to 3-fold higher than those of wild-type enzyme. The mutant enzymes showed less sensitivity to malate inhibition, compared with the wild-type enzyme. The results suggested that the Lys606 is not obligatory for the enzyme activity, but may be involved in the bicarbonate-binding and contribute somehow to the allosteric regulatory properties.
Independent Effects of Orthographic and Phonological Facilitation on Spoken Word Production in Mandarin

A picture—word interference paradigm with visually presented distractors was used to investigate the independent effects of orthographic and phonological facilitation on Mandarin monosyllabic word production. Both the stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) and the picture—word relationship along different lexical dimensions were varied. We observed a pure orthographic facilitation effect and a pure phonological facilitation effect, and found that the patterns of orthographic and phonological facilitation were different. Of most interest, the additive effects of orthographic and phonological facilitation at —150-ms and 0-ms SOAs indicated that the orthographic effect was largely independent of the phonological effect on spoken picture naming. We argue that the present findings are useful for constraining theoretical models of language production and contend that theoretical models of word production need to consider independent effects of orthography and phonology on picture naming, at least in Chinese.
Candidate Stable Voting Rules for Separable Orderings

We consider the election model in which voters choose a subset from the set of candidates. Both voters and candidates are assumed to possess preferences with separable strict orderings. We investigate a rule satisfying candidate stability, which is the requirement to deter any candidate from strategic withdrawal. We show that a rule satisfies candidate stability if and only if it satisfies independence of the selection for each candidate.
The National Science Foundation National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Abstract The National Science Foundation will soon establish a National Center devoted to geographical research and education based on geographical information systems (GIS). The Center will be located at a university chosen on the basis of competitive proposals that will be evaluated primarily on the quality of their research agendas. The winning institution will be expected to involve government agencies and private firms in Center operations and programmes, and it will be expected to serve the national GIS community. The Center arose from a suggestion made by a member of the GIS research community. A large-scale database initiative and a Foundation commitment to Science and Technology Centers provided an institutional environment hospitable to the Center. There are similarities and differences in the approach taken toward GIS research, policy and applications in the United Kingdom (UK) and in the United States (US). Those similarities and differences offer promising topics for collaborative research on.
Surface discharges in silicone gel on AlN substrate

AlN substrate is widely used along with silicone gel to encapsulate power electronic circuits. It is known that the weakness of the insulation system is surface discharges propagating at the gel-substrate interface. In this research, the nature of surface discharges in gel, on various substrates was investigated. The results are as follows: the maximum stopping length of cavities on AlN substrate was more than twice than that on other substrates, and light emission due to discharges in cavities on AlN substrate was different from that on other substrates; for AlN substrate, tip of the cavity emitted light while other part did not emit light, and for other substrates, all the path along the cavity emitted light. These results indicated that the surface of the AlN substrate is degraded by discharges and becomes conductive. We have confirmed this assumption by measuring the conductivity of the cavity path: 5 kΩ/100 μm for that on AlN and above 1 MΩ/100 μm for Al2O3 and glass substrates. The high electric field at the tip of conductive path elongates the cavity stopping length on AlN substrate compared with others. In order to investigate the degradation process of AlN substrate surface, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis was carried out. Reduction of nitrogen component on the cavity path was seen, indicating that generation of Al increases the conductivity of cavity path. We have experimentally shown that oxidation treatment of the AlN substrate significantly reduces the cavity stopping length.
Multiple stenotic arteriopathy in a 72-year-old female with Williams syndrome

In 1961 and 1962, Williams et al and Beuren et al reported a combination of cardiovascular lesions including supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) and pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) as features of mental and growth retardation in infants or children (Williams–Beuren syndrome (WBS) or Williams syndrome (WS)). 1 2 Adult WS has subsequently become well known, but there is still little information on the long-term course. More than half of adults with WS are reported to be obese and 63% over the age of 18 years are hypertensive. Sudden death related to coronary sclerosis with ventricular outflow obstruction has been reported in children3 but not in adults. The haploinsufficiency of the elastin gene at 7q11.23 has been implicated in vascular abnormalities in WS.4 The disruption of the elastin gene in adult WS is accompanied by a paradoxical reduction in arterial stiffness with wall thickening and fragmented elastic laminae,5 and the reduced elastin in arterial walls leads to increased proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells.6 Here, we report an autopsy case of a 72-year-old woman with WS showing segmental stenosis downstream of the bifurcations of the multiple large arteries. To our knowledge, this patient is the oldest person with WS to have undergone autopsy with unique findings of short stature, small brain and …
Tonopen XL Assessment of Intraocular Pressure Through Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of Tonopen XL measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) through low-power (−0.25 to −3.00) and high power (−3.25 to −6.00) silicone hydrogel lenses of 3 different materials (galyfilcon A, senofilcon A, and lotrafilcon B). Methods: Seventy-eight patients were recruited for participation in this study. All were habitual wearers of silicone hydrogel contact lenses, and none had been diagnosed with glaucoma, ocular hypertension, or anterior surface disease. IOP was measured with and without lenses in place in the right eye only. Patients were randomized to initial measurement either with or without the lens in place. A single examiner collected all data. Results: No statistically significant differences were noted between IOP measured without lenses and IOP measured through low-power lotrafilcon B lenses or high-power or low-power galyfilcon A and senofilcon A lenses. However, we did find a statistically significant difference between IOP measured without lenses and IOP measured through high-power lotrafilcon B lenses. Conclusion: In general, Tonopen XL measurement of IOP through silicone hydrogel lenses may be sufficiently accurate for clinical purposes. However, Tonopen XL may overestimate IOP if performed through a silicone hydrogel lens of relatively high modulus.
The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in blood donors in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among blood donors and to determine the possible risk of transmission of malaria parasite to recipients of blood in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State. METHODS Four hundred and forty-four subjects were selected randomly and EDTA added blood was collected for screening malaria parasites using Giemsa stain. The data were subjected to chi2 analysis. RESULTS Prevalence of malaria was 30.2% among blood donors and showed bimodal distribution with significant variation in different months. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Due to high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia in this region, all blood samples should be screened for malaria parasites (post-donor screening) and administered with a curative dose of antimalarials prophylactically to all patients transfused with malaria parasite positive blood.
Wideband characterization of RF propagation for TOA localization of Wireless video Capsule Endoscope inside small intestine

Localization of Wireless Capsule Endoscope (WCE) inside the small intestine is a very challenging problem, which is very important for the diagnosis of certain diseases. Previous studies have shown that Time-of-Arrival (TOA) localization can be more effective than Received Signal Strength (RSS) based localization. Performance evaluation of TOA-based localization techniques for WCE requires understanding of wideband RF propagation characteristics from the internals of small intestines. Since these measurements are difficult, we need to resort to simulation techniques and validating the results of simulations with empirical measurements. In this paper, we first validate the measurements of wideband characteristics of RF signals pertinent to TOA in homogeneous tissues using a SEMCAD X simulation software platform. Then we use the software for simulation of TOA from inside the human body and the small intestine. Finally, we analyze and assess TOA techniques regarding the nonhomogeneous environment inside the human body.
Association between Helicobacter Pylori infection and autoimmune hypothyroidism in Egyptian population

Autoimmune hypothyroidism commonly affecting females is one of the commonest causes of thyroid disease in adults. Among the various autoantibody tests applied in research and clinical practice, the determination of thyroid microsomal antibodies (TPO) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TG Ab) still retains its strong value in the screening for thyroid autoimmunity. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, MALT (Mucosa Associated lymphocyte T) Lymphoma and gastric cancer. Aim of the work: The aim of this work was to study the relationship between H.pylori infection and autoimmune hypothyroidism in Egyptian population. Subjects and Methods: This study was carried out on 147 Egyptian persons divided into 3 groups: Hypothyroid Group: Included 49 patients with autoimmune hypothyroidsm and positive antithyroid antibodies with no history of dyspeptic symptoms or peptic ulcer. H.pylori positive Group: Included 50 patients with dyspeptic symptoms or peptic ulcer with H.pylori positive antibodies with no history of any thyroid disease. Control Group: Included 48 apparently healthy persons serving as control. Serum Free T3, Free T4 and TSH were done for all subjects together with Antimicrosomal antibodies (TPO-Ab), Antithyroglobulin antibodies (TG-Ab) and Helicobacter Pylori antibodies (H. pylori Ab). Result There was no significant difference between all groups as regards age. Also there was significant difference between Hypothyroid and H.pylori positive groups as regarding TSH and Free T3, TG-Ab, TPO-Ab and H. pylori Ab. There is also significant difference between Hypothyroid and control groups regarding TSH, free T3, TG-Ab, TPO-Ab, and H. pylori Ab. There is significant difference between H.pylori positive and control groups regarding FT3 and H. pylori AB. Hypothyroid Group was divided according to the presence of H. pylori Ab into –ve &+ve H. pylori Ab subgroups. There was significant difference between the –ve and +ve subgroups as regard TSH, free T4 and TG-Ab. H.pylori positive Group was divided according to the presence of TG Ab & TPO Ab into–ve and +ve subgroups. There was significant difference between the –ve and +ve cases in TSH, free T4, Free T3, and H.Pylori Antibody. Positive correlation was found between H pylori Ab titer and age, TSH, TG-Ab and TPO-Ab titers. There was also negative correlation between H. pylori Ab titer and free T4. There is no correlation between H. pylori Ab titer and free T3. (Correlation is referred to all subjects of the study = 147). Conclusion This study revealed that patients with positive TG & TPO antibodies, showed (+ve) H. pylori Ab, with significant high titer in their sera. The patients with positive H. Pylori Ab showed high serum titer of TG-Ab. In our study H. pylori-Ab correlates to thyroid function tests and thyroid antibodies.
Significant improvement in survival after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation during a period of significantly increased use, older recipient age, and use of unrelated donors.

PURPOSE Over the past four decades, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) has evolved as a curative modality for patients with hematologic diseases. This study describes changes in use, technique, and survival in a population-based cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 38,060 patients with hematologic malignancies or disorders who underwent first alloHCT in a US or Canadian center from 1994 to 2005 and were reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. RESULTS AlloHCT as treatment for acute lymphoblastic (ALL) and myeloid leukemias (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas increased by 45%, from 2,520 to 3,668 patients annually. From 1994 to 2005, use of both peripheral (7% to 63%) [corrected] and cord blood increased (2% to 10%), whereas use of marrow decreased (90% to 27%). Despite a median age increase from 33 to 40 years and 165% [corrected] increase in unrelated donors for alloHCT, overall survival (OS) at day 100 significantly improved for patients with AML in first complete remission after myeloablative sibling alloHCT (85% to 94%; P < .001) and unrelated alloHCT (63% to 86%; P < .001); 1-year OS improved among those undergoing unrelated alloHCT (48% to 63%; P = .003) but not among those undergoing sibling alloHCT. Similar results were seen for ALL and MDS. Day-100 OS after cord blood alloHCT improved significantly from 60% to 78% (P < .001) for AML, ALL, MDS, and chronic myeloid leukemia. Use of reduced-intensity regimens increased, yielding OS rates similar to those of myeloablative regimens. CONCLUSION Survival for those undergoing alloHCT has significantly improved over time. However, new approaches are needed to further improve 1-year OS.
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and adult asthma

The relationship between the respiratory system and the environment involves a complex, dynamic interaction of genetic susceptibility, host defense, and toxicity. The problems of tobacco addiction have evolved over centuries. The possible relationship between smoking and oral cancer was recognized as early as the 19th century. The use of tobacco results in an estimated 4 million deaths each year worldwide. Approximately 3000 adolescents start smoking every day; 4.5 million children and adolescents smoke cigarettes; 1 million use smokeless tobacco (1). ‘‘Environmental tobacco smoke’’ (ETS) is a term widely used to refer to the mixture of side-stream smoke and exhaled mainstream smoke that pollutes air in locations where tobacco smoking takes place (2). ETS contaminates the indoor air in homes and workplaces. The adverse effects of ETS on the respiratory tract have been extensively characterized (3, 4). Among children, ETS causes lower respiratory infections, middle-ear disease, sudden infant death syndrome, and asthma (5). Half of the world’s children may be exposed to ETS, exacerbating symptoms in 20% of children with asthma. Recent reports have reinforced previous conclusions that exposure to ETS causes the onset of childhood asthma and exacerbation of symptoms throughout life (6–10). However, the effects of ETS exposure on adult asthma have not yet been investigated extensively, and the available data are limited (11). Specific questions which have to be answered to understand the effects of ETS in asthma in adults include
Effects of two different low-dose oral contraceptives on plasma homocysteine levels

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two currently used low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs) (20μg ethinyl estradiol [EE]/150μg desogestrel [DSG] vs. 20μg EE/100μg levonorgestrel [LNG]) on plasma homocysteine levels. Methods. A total of 90 participants were enrolled in the study; 30 of them had not been using COC for at least 12 months prior to their enrollment, while 60 were on regular treatment within 12–18 months. Therefore, the control group consisted of 30 participants. Group DSG/EE consisted of 30 women and group LNG/EE consisted of 30 women. Serum samples of homocysteine profile were obtained during the early follicular phase. Results. Significantly lower serum homocysteine concentrations (Group DSG/EE: 7.2 ± 1.3; Group LNG/EE: 9.1 ± 3.2; Control group: 8.2 ± 2.2; p < 0.05) were observed in DSG/EE group compared to LNG/EE and control groups. Conclusion. Although the decrease in homocsyteine levels with 20μg EE/150μg DSG containing COC was statistically significant, the clinical relevance of our findings needs to be further investigated.
Relationships among nutritional self-efficacy, health locus of control and nutritional status in older Taiwanese adults.

AIM The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among selected demographic characteristics, nutrition self-efficacy, health locus of control and nutritional status in older Taiwanese adults. BACKGROUND The number of older adults in Taiwan is increasing, and they have been shown to have poor nutritional status. However, little is known about the factors that lead to poor nutritional status in this population. DESIGN Correlational, cross-sectional study. METHODS Participants were randomly selected from two district public health centres in Yilan County, Taiwan. Of 162 individuals who met the study criteria, 156 agreed to participate and provided data on demographic information, nutrition self-efficacy (Cardiac Diet Self-Efficacy scale), health locus of control (Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale) and nutritional status (Mini-Nutritional Assessment and serum albumin levels). RESULTS The majority of this sample was healthy men (60.9%) with a mean age of 72.29 years. The results indicated that age, educational level, current chronic diseases and chance health locus of control all affected nutritional status in terms of Mini-Nutritional Assessment scores, but only current chronic diseases explained significant variance in nutritional status in terms of albumin levels. CONCLUSIONS The current study integrated self-efficacy theory and Health Locus of Control theory to better understand how background characteristics, nutrition self-efficacy and Health Locus of Control relate to nutritional status in older Taiwanese adults. However, the overall predicted variance accounted for by predictors was small, further research is therefore necessary to gain a deeper understanding of nutritional status and its factors among older Taiwanese adults. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses can help older persons identify factors that relate to their nutritional status and plan effective interventions to maintain healthy nutrition behaviours with the following risk characteristics: (1) lower level of education, (2) more chronic diseases and (3) external control orientation.
Studies on fungal nephrotoxicity. 2. Isolation of two nephrotoxic compounds from Penicillium viridicatum Westling: citrinin and oxalic acid.

Nephrotoxic compounds were isolated from a strain of Penicillium viridicatum Westling. This strain was isolated from a batch of barley which by feeding caused a chronic kidney degeneration in pigs and rats. Liquid corn steep medium was inoculated and incubated as stationary culture. After fractionation of the liquid medium fractions and isolated compounds were perorally administered to rats during a period of 2–3 weeks. Two compounds were found nephrotoxic: Citrinin and oxalic acid. Oxalates cause in rats during a long-term experiment a chronic kidney damage, characterized by dilated tubules, formation of cysts and connective tissue and crystals of calcium oxalate in the tubules. No nuclear alterations were observed. Citrinin-induced kidney damage is characterized by enlarged kidneys. Degeneration of the proximal tubules in the form of hydropic degeneration, loss of brush border, and pyknotic nuclei are observed. These lesions are accompanied by thickening of the tubular basement membranes, activation of interstitial cells and formation of collagen. Some tubules are dilated into cysts. This kidney degeneration is comparable to the kidney damage in rats and pigs caused by feeding barley inoculated with P. viridicatum as well as by feeding the batch of barley from which the fungus was isolated. The kidney damage in pigs is comparable to the chronic kidney degeneration observed among Danish pigs fed mouldy feed. Thus it is assumed that the kidney degeneration naturally occurring among Danish pigs is a mycotoxicosis caused by citrinin, although a synergistic effect with other compounds may exist.
BLURRED VISUAL STIMULI

The results of several investigations have shown that the human visual system has the capacity of detecting a vernier off-set or a stereoscopic disparity subtending a few seconds of arc. That means that the accurac'y of vernier and stereo performances is high enough to locate a break in a contour within a small fraction of a cone's diameter, since the diameter of the finest foveal cones subtends about 12-20 sec arc (for ref. see Luduigh 1953 a). This well known fact, that the dimensions of the receptors in the retinal conecell mosaic do not limit the capacity of the vernier and stereo acuity, was a puzzling mystery for many investigators some decades ago. Even with modern knowledge about the integrative processes of the visual system it is difficult to explain how the central visual apparatus can be able to interpret the luminance distribution of the retinal image more or less degraded by the diffraction and defects of the optical system of the eye with this degree of precision. One line of attack upon this problem has been to investigate the relative importance for vernier and stereo acuity of the different factors which define the quality of the retinal image. By changing the properties of the visual stimulus, these various factors can be studied. It is known from earlier investigations that the accuracy of vernier and stereo performances is highly dependent on such factors as the size, intensity, configuration, and contour-sharpness of the stimulus pattern.