Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why did Cornwall vote for Brexit? Assessing the implications for EU structural funding programmes

In the 2016 referendum on UK EU membership, regions which benefitted from high levels of structural funds voted to leave the EU. This was unexpected given the Europeanisation processes expected of the funds in terms of identity and loyalty. Within this case study of Cornwall, we use qualitative methods to assess why this happened and the implications for future structural funding programmes. We find that the rationale behind the Brexit vote was less about the EU as an institution, but was a reflection of the deep levels of uncertainty, insecurity and frustration that people felt about governance decisions, scarce resources and the future for themselves and their children. This created a situation where people looked to the nation state for support and security, and were fearful of post-national forms of identification and governance. Consequently, EU support is imagined as being organised by ‘elites’, for elites, rather than benefitting local communities. We suggest breaking down some of the barriers that have arisen through a participatory approach to development decision-making, greater flexibility to regional priorities, and forms of funding that individuals might apply to – such as a skills pot to facilitate easier access to further education and training.
Virulence and Prodigiosin Antibiotic Biosynthesis in Serratia Are Regulated Pleiotropically by the GGDEF/EAL Domain Protein, PigX

ABSTRACT Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Serratia are opportunistic human, plant, and insect pathogens. Serratia sp. strain ATCC 39006 secretes pectinases and cellulases and produces the secondary metabolites carbapenem and prodigiosin. Mutation of a gene (pigX) resulted in an extremely pleiotropic phenotype: prodigiosin antibiotic biosynthesis, plant virulence, and pectinase production were all elevated. PigX controlled secondary metabolism by repressing the transcription of the target prodigiosin biosynthetic operon (pigA-pigO). The transcriptional start site of pigX was determined, and pigX expression occurred in parallel with Pig production. Detailed quantitative intracellular proteome analyses enabled the identification of numerous downstream targets of PigX, including OpgG, mutation of which reduced the production of the plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and virulence. The highly pleiotropic PigX regulator contains GGDEF and EAL domains with noncanonical motifs and is predicted to be membrane associated. Genetic evidence suggests that PigX might function as a cyclic dimeric GMP phosphodiesterase. This is the first characterization of a GGDEF and EAL domain protein in Serratia and the first example of the regulation of antibiotic production by a GGDEF/EAL domain protein.
Nonlocal laser annealing to improve thermal contacts between multi-layer graphene and metals

The accuracy of thermal conductivity measurements by the micro-Raman technique for suspended multi-layer graphene flakes has been shown to depend critically on the quality of the thermal contacts between the flakes and the metal electrodes used as the heat sink. The quality of the contacts can be improved by nonlocal laser annealing at increased power. The improvement of the thermal contacts to initially rough metal electrodes is attributed to local melting of the metal surface under laser heating, and increased area of real metal–graphene contact. Improvement of the thermal contacts between multi-layer graphene and a silicon oxide surface was also observed, with more efficient heat transfer from graphene as compared with the graphene–metal case.
Lower extremity muscle activation and knee flexion during a jump-landing task.

CONTEXT Decreased sagittal-plane motion at the knee during dynamic tasks has been reported to increase impact forces during landing, potentially leading to knee injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament rupture. OBJECTIVE To describe the relationship between lower extremity muscle activity and knee-flexion angle during a jump-landing task. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Thirty recreationally active volunteers (15 men, 15 women: age = 21.63 ± 2.01 years, height = 173.95 ± 11.88 cm, mass = 72.57 ± 14.25 kg). INTERVENTION(S) Knee-flexion angle and lower extremity muscle activity were collected during 10 trials of a jump-landing task. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Simple correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship between each knee-flexion variable (initial contact, peak, and displacement) and electromyographic amplitude of the gluteus maximus (GMAX), quadriceps (VMO and VL), hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and quadriceps : hamstring (Q : H) ratio. Separate forward stepwise multiple regressions were conducted to determine which combination of muscle activity variables predicted each knee-flexion variable. RESULTS During preactivation, VMO and GMAX activity and the Q : H ratio were negatively correlated with knee-flexion angle at initial contact (VMO: r = 0.382, P = .045; GMAX: r = 0.385, P = .043; Q : H ratio: r = 0.442, P = .018). The VMO, VL, and GMAX deceleration values were negatively correlated with peak knee-flexion angle (VMO: r = 0.687, P = .001; VL: r = 0.467, P = .011; GMAX: r = 0.386, P = .043). The VMO and VL deceleration values were negatively correlated with knee-flexion displacement (VMO: r = 0.631, P = .001; VL: r = 0.453, P = .014). The Q : H ratio and GM activity predicted 34.7% of the variance in knee-flexion angle at initial contact (P = .006). The VMO activity predicted 47.1% of the variance in peak knee-flexion angle (P = .001). The VMO and VL activity predicted 49.5% of the variance in knee-flexion displacement (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS Greater quadriceps and GMAX activation and less hamstrings and gastrocnemius activation were correlated with smaller knee-flexion angles. This landing strategy may predispose an individual to increased impact forces due to the negative influence on knee-flexion position.
ColE1-Like Plasmid pIP843 of Klebsiella pneumoniae Encoding Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase CTX-M-17

ABSTRACT The resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae BM4493, isolated in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to cefotaxime and aztreonam was due to production of a novel β-lactamase, CTX-M-17. The blaCTX-M-17 gene was borne by 7,086-bp plasmid pIP843, which was entirely sequenced and which was found to belong to the ColE1 family. The 876-bp blaCTX-M-17 gene differed from blaCTX-M-14 by 2 nucleotides, which led to the single amino acid substitution Glu289→Lys. blaCTX-M-17 was flanked upstream by an ISEcp1-like element and downstream by an insertion sequence (IS) IS903 variant designated IS903-C. The transcriptional start site of blaCTX-M-17 was located 109 nucleotides upstream from the initiation codon in the ISEcp1-like element, which also provided the promoter sequences. Plasmid pIP843, which was non-self-transferable and nonmobilizable, contained five open reading frames transcribed in the same orientation. Regions homologous to sequences coding for putative RNA II and RNA I transcripts, a rom gene, which is involved in initiation of replication, and a cer-like gene, which is responsible for the stability of ColE1-like plasmids, were identified. Consensus sequences for putative replication (oriV) and transfer (oriT) origins were present. Results of primer extension experiments indicated that ISEcp1 provides the promoter for expression of blaCTX-M-17 and may contribute to dissemination of this gene.
Nutritional and clinical efficacy of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in severe burn patients.

UNLABELLED Ornithine alpha-Ketoglutarate (OKG) displays anabolic and anticatabolic properties in situations of stress. However, studies including both biological and clinical end points are scarce. In this prospective, randomized and double-blind study, 60 patients who had undergone severe burns (20-60% of body surface area) received either ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (20 g/day) or an isocaloric placebo, for 21 days, starting mean 4 days after injury. In the OKG group, nitrogen balance reached positive values at d5 and stabilized at higher levels vs controls (P< 0.05 or less from day 3 to day 21), resulting in a strongly positive cumulated nitrogen balance at day 21 (mean +/- SEM, OKG group: +127 +/- 13; CONTROL GROUP -63 +/- 18g nitrogen). As measured at day 21, transthyretin and RBP levels were higher in the OKG group (respectively 259 +/- 9 vs 161 +/- 10, and 45 +/- 1 vs 33 +/- 1 mg/l, P< 0.001). Body weight loss was counteracted at d21 in the OKG group (-2.6% vs -6.3%, P< 0.001). Assessment of the quality of wound healing using objective scoring showed better performances in the OKG group (P< 0.05). The results suggest that improvement in nutritional parameters observed during the treatment of burn-injured patients with ornithine a-ketoglutarate allows better clinical recovery.
Teaching Methodologies for End-of-Life Care in Undergraduate Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this literature review was to explore methodologies for teaching end-of-life (EOL) care to undergraduate nursing students. METHOD Articles were retrieved by searching CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, and MEDLINE databases using the terms terminal care, palliative care, end of life care, undergraduate nurs*, hospice care, baccalaureate nurs*, prelicensure nurs*, palliative nurs*, training, and undergraduate education. A total of 728 articles were preliminarily evaluated for inclusion, with 22 relevant to this literature review. RESULTS A variety of teaching methods have been studied for efficacy in undergraduate nursing education. CONCLUSION Comparisons are limited by inconsistencies in instrumentation and the use of multiple teaching strategies in individual studies. More information is needed regarding the effect of interventions on clinical practice. Educational activities should be integrated throughout the learning experience and include elements of didactic teaching, clinical experiences, and application in simulation, including a focus on interprofessional education. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(2):96-100. ].
A‐waves increase the risk of developing neuropathy

A‐waves, which are observed following the M‐wave during motor nerve conduction studies (NCS), are late responses that are frequently found in many types of neurogenic disorders. However, A‐waves are also common in healthy individuals, where their significance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine whether the occurrence of A‐waves does in fact represent an increased risk for the future development of changes upon NCS or needle electromyography (EMG) in the corresponding nerve.
DETECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIOUS HEMATOPOIETIC NECROSIS VIRUS IN RAINBOW TROUT

Detection and transmission of Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) was studied at a commercial trout hatchery. Transmission of virus was demonstrated via water, feed and contaminated eggs. If eggs from carrier females were incubated several weeks in virus-free water, the resulting fry did not become infected. However, if fry subsequently became infected they were lifetime carriers. Infectious virus was readily detectable in most tissues of moribund fish; in carriers it was detected in sex products of spawning fish, and in samples from the intestine of post-spawning fish, but not in samples from blood, feces, kidney, or liver. The carrier rate was not significantly different between sexes. It was concluded that adult carriers are the reservoir of infection and that transmission occurs primarily when carriers shed virus and expose susceptible fish or eggs.
Product-service innovation and performance: Unveiling the complexities

The purpose of this paper is to unveil the existing complexities in the relationship between product-service innovation (PSI) - or servitisation - and firm performance that arise from the mismatch between theoretical predictions and empirical evidence. Whilst theoretical work suggests that there are a number of advantages for implementing PSI, quantitative firm-level evidence is not conclusive about the positive effects of this type of innovation on firm performance. By reviewing the relevant publications dealing with the PSI-performance relationship, their methodological approach, the novel constructs validated and the role of mediators/moderators found in the servitisation literature, we argue that further contextualisation is needed to solve this puzzle. Additionally, this work systematically organises the different methods and variables used to assess the PSI-performance link, guiding scholars on the choice between different methods and measures. This work enumerates various streams of future research to discover unexplored fields to better ground this relationship, including the development of solid configurational theories, appropriate fit between theory and measurement techniques and new sampling strategies for performing longitudinal studies.
Modulatory Effect of Fermented Papaya Extracts on Mammary Gland Hyperplasia Induced by Estrogen and Progestin in Female Rats

Fermented papaya extracts (FPEs) are obtained by fermentation of papaya by Aspergillus oryzae and yeasts. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of FPEs on mammary gland hyperplasia induced by estrogen and progestogen. Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, including a control group, an FPE-alone group, a model group, and three FPE treatment groups (each receiving 30, 15, or 5 ml/kg FPEs). Severe mammary gland hyperplasia was induced upon estradiol benzoate and progestin administration. FPEs could improve the pathological features of the animal model and reduce estrogen levels in the serum. Analysis of oxidant indices revealed that FPEs could increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the mammary glands and serum of the animal models, and decrease the proportion of cells positive for the oxidative DNA damage marker 8-oxo-dG in the mammary glands. Additionally, estradiol benzoate and progestin altered the levels of serum biochemical compounds such as aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), and alanine transaminase (ALT), as well as hepatic oxidant indices such as SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, and 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). These indices reverted to normal levels upon oral administration of a high dose of FPEs. Taken together, our results indicate that FPEs can protect the mammary glands and other visceral organs from oxidative damage.
Dosimetric characterization of the iBEAM evo carbon fiber couch for radiotherapy.

PURPOSE This study characterizes the dosimetric properties of the iBEAM evo carbon fiber couch manufactured by Medical Intelligence and examines the accuracy of the CMS XiO and Nucletron Oncentra Masterplan (OMP) treatment planning systems for calculating beam attenuation due to the presence of the couch. METHODS To assess the homogeneity of the couch, it was CT scanned at isocentric height and a number of signal intensity profiles were generated and analyzed. To simplify experimental procedures, surface dose and central axis depth dose measurements were performed in a solid water slab phantom using Gafchromic film for 6 and 10 MV photon beams at gantry angles of 0 degree (normal incidence), 30 degrees, and 60 degrees with an inverted iBEAM couch placed on top of the phantom. Attenuation measurements were performed in a cylindrical solid water phantom with an ionization chamber positioned at the isocenter. Measurements were taken for gantry angles from 0 degree to 90 degrees in 10 degrees increments for both 6 and 10 MV photon beams. This setup was replicated in the XiO and OMP treatment planning systems. Dose was calculated using the pencil beam, collapsed cone, convolution, and superposition algorithms. RESULTS The CT scan of the couch showed that it was uniformly constructed. Surface dose increased by (510 +/-0)% for a 6 MV beam and (600 +/- 20)% for a 10 MV beam passing through the couch at normal incidence. Obliquely incident beams resulted in a higher surface dose compared to normally incident beams for both open fields and fields with the couch present. Depth dose curves showed that the presence of the couch resulted in an increase in dose in the build up region. For 6 and 10 MV beams incident at 60 degrees, nearly all skin sparing was lost. Attenuation measurements derived using the ionization chamber varied from 2.7% (0 degree) to a maximum of 4.6% (50 degrees) for a 6 MV beam and from 1.9% (0 degree) to a maximum of 4.0% (50 degrees) for a 10 MV beam. The pencil beam and convolution algorithms failed to accurately calculate couch attenuation. The collapsed cone and superposition algorithms calculated attenuation within an absolute error of +/- 1.2% for 6 MV and +/- 0.8% for 10 MV for gantry angles from 0 degree to 40 degrees. Some differences in attenuation were observed dependent on how the couch was contoured. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that the presence of the iBEAM evo carbon fiber couch increases the surface dose and dose in the build up region. The inclusion of the couch in the planning scan is limited by the field of view employed and the couch height at the time of CT scanning.
The thyroid hormone receptors as tumor suppressors

Abstract In addition to the well-known role of the thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) in growth, development and metabolism, there is increasing evidence that they have profound effects on cell proliferation and malignant transformation. TRs repress transcriptional induction of cyclin D1 by the ras oncogene and block transformation and tumor formation by Ras-transformed fibroblasts in nude mice. Mutant receptors that do not bind coactivators are able to display these actions, whereas receptors defective in corepressors binding are unable to antagonize the responses to the ras oncogene. Furthermore, expression of TRβ1 in hepatocarcinoma and breast cancer cells abolishes anchorage-independent growth and migration, blocks responses to growth factors and represses expression of prometastatic genes, reducing tumor growth and strongly inhibiting invasiveness, extravasation and metastasis formation in euthyroid mice. By contrast, when cells are inoculated into hypothyroid host, tumor growth is retarded, but tumors are more invasive and metastatic growth is enhanced. Increased aggressiveness and tumor growth retardation was also observed with parental cells that do not express TRs, showing that changes secondary to hypothyroidism can modulate tumor progression and metastatic growth independently of the presence of TRs on the tumor cells. Finally, increased malignancy of skin tumors is found in mice lacking TRs, further demonstrating the role of these receptors as inhibitors of tumor progression and suggesting that they represent a potential therapeutic target in cancer.
Effect of hamstring stretching on hamstring muscle performance.

The relationship between hamstring flexibility and hamstring muscle performance has not been reported. The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the most effective stretching method for increasing hamstring flexibility and 2) to determine the effects of increasing hamstring flexibility on isokinetic peak torque. Nineteen subjects participated in this study. A two-way analysis of variance was used to compare two stretching techniques: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretch and static stretch. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare hamstring isokinetic values pre- and poststretching. No significant increase occurred (p < .05) in hamstring flexibility even though increases occurred with each technique: static stretch (+21.3%) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (+25.7%). Significant increases occurred in peak torque eccentrically at 60 degrees/sec (p < .05, +8.5%) and 120 degrees/sec (p < .05, +13.5%) and concentrically at 120 degrees/sec (p < .05, +11.2%). No significant increase occurred at 60 degrees/sec (p > .05, +2.5%). We concluded that increasing hamstring flexibility was an effective method for increasing hamstring muscle performance at selective isokinetic conditions. Further study is needed to determine if increasing hamstring flexibility will increase performance in closed kinetic chain activities.
Glycosylation profile and biological activity of Remicade® compared with Flixabi® and Remsima®

ABSTRACT As biosimilars enter the market, comparisons of product quality are needed. Manufacturing differences may lead to differences in critical quality attributes, which affect efficacy. Therefore, critical quality attributes (structure and biological activity) of Remicade® and of 2 biosimilar products (Flixabi®/Renflexis® and Remsima®/Inflectra®) were determined. We assessed binding to tumor necrosis factor in a fluorescence competitive binding assay; potency in a luciferase reporter gene assay; percentages of galactosylated glycan, afucose plus high mannosylated glycans, and charged glycan; FcγRIIIa (CD16) binding (assessed by 3 methods); and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in the NK92-CD16a cell line and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The results of Fab-related activity were similar for all products. Compared with Remicade®, Flixabi® had a lower percentage of charged glycan, and Remsima® had a higher percentage of galactosylated glycan and a lower percentage of afucose plus high mannosylated glycans. Whereas Remsima® and Remicade® are expressed in a Sp2/0 cell line, Flixabi® is expressed in a CHO cell line. Despite this difference, galactosylated glycans from the 3 products were not correlated with the expression system. The results of all 3 methods used in this study indicated that FcγRIIIa binding was lower with Remsima® than with Remicade®. The percentage of ADCC in NK92-CD16a cells was lower with Remsima® and higher with Flixabi® compared with Remicade®, but was similar for all 3 products in PBMC. Surface expression of CD16 was 5.7-fold greater on NK92-CD16a cells than on PBMC. Combined percentages of afucosylated and high mannosylated glycans were positively correlated with FcγRIIIa binding and ADCC in NK92-CD16 cells, while no correlation was observed in PBMC.
AMC and channel-awareness for QoS-based scheduler design in WiMAX networks

Quality of service (QoS) differentiation is one of the keys to success for WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) networks. Although the IEEE 802.16 standard issued some guidelines to design a QoS architecture, for the most part implementation details are left to manufacturers. Focus in this paper is on channel-aware scheduling policies to be implemented in the WiMAX Base Station for the delivery of downlink data traffic to fixed subscriber stations in a point-to-multipoint topology. This paper investigates on the effect of adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) schemes on the performance of the designed schedulers. Evaluation of the scheduling techniques will be based on their ability to provide QoS differentiation among traffic classes and fairness in the treatment of data flows in the same class. We expect that although AMC can be effectively used to dynamically adapt to variable channel conditions, it is not sufficient to guarantee inter-class traffic differentiation and intra-class fairness unless the scheduler also accounts for compensation of lost transmission opportunities of each single data flow.