Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of inhibition of the B subunit of DNA gyrase on conjugation in Escherichia coli

Antagonism of the DNA gyrase B subunit in the donor bacterium by coumermycin or thermal inactivation inhibited transfer of plasmid R64drd-11. Coumermycin also inhibited Hfr transfer, with kinetics after drug removal suggesting that transfer resumed from the point of inhibition, in contrast to inhibition with nalidixic acid, after which transfer reinitiated from the origin of transfer.
Aflatoxin in pistachio nuts used as ingredients in Gaz sweets produced in Isfahan, Iran

In Isfahan province of Iran, pistachio and almond are used specifically as ingredients to produce Gaz sweets, which are a typical product of Isfahan and exported to many countries. In this survey, 112 samples were gathered from different corresponding Gaz producers from 2007 to 2012 to evaluate the occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) in these products. Samples were analysed for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 using immunoaffinity column clean-up (IC) and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Among the samples analysed, AFB1 was detected in 13.4% of the samples above the maximum limit (ML) as set in Iran (5 µg/kg). Total AF (AFT) was above the ML in 9.8% of the samples. This study showed that full consideration is equally essential for nuts used as ingredients in special food products such as the Gaz sweets as for nuts for direct human consumption. It suggests a need for modifying the current trend of supervision.
Properties of approximate inverses and adaptive control concepts for preconditioning

In this work, we consider projection methods { a class of methods for calculating approximate inverses of general Hermitian and non-Hermitian matrices { and we consider the properties of these approximate inverses applied as explicit preconditioners of Krylov subspace methods. We develop a theoretical framework for general projection methods. This framework includes an explicit representation of approximate inverses given by projection methods for given sparsity patterns, and, importantly, a statement on the quality of the approximation of such an approximate inverse to the exact inverse in form of a minimization property. We introduce two strategies for the adaptive generation of sparsity patterns for general projection methods. Since these strategies depend on parameters, they are tunable with regards to the available computer architecture and to the characteristics of the considered linear system. Further, with the adaptive pattern derivation, projection methods can be considered as iterative methods for approximating the exact inverse. Thus, if necessary, a once calculated approximate inverse can be improved easily. Based on the general de nition of projection methods, we derive three new explicit preconditioning techniques { namely LL-projection, LU-projection and Plain projection { that include the adaptive generation of the sparsity pattern for the corresponding approximate inverses. Importantly, these new preconditioning techniques are inherently parallel, and hence well suited for today's supercomputers. We compare the performance of our new preconditioning techniques to both implicit and explicit state-of-the-art preconditioning methods. The results of these numerical experiments indicate that our new preconditioning techniques are competitive to the state-of-theart preconditioning techniques as regards convergence rates. Since the three new preconditioning techniques can be parallelized easily, they will perform better on parallel computers. However, this investigation is beyond the scope of this thesis.
VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR, NOW CLONED

Von Willebrand factor (vWf) was, for many years, a somewhat mysterious component of the haemostatic system. In the early 1970s several groups succeeded in purifying a protein which corrected the clotting defect in haemophilic plasma (Legaz et al, 1973: Shapiro et al, 19 73). However, when antibodies raised against this ‘antihaemophilic factor’ became available, most individuals with classically defined haemophilia turned out to have normal levels of this protein (Zimmerman et al., 1971). Over the succeeding several years it became apparent that the initial preparations consisted of a high affinity complex between vWf and factor VIII (the antihaemophilic factor) (Weiss & Hoyer, 1973; Zimmerman et al, 1983). This complex was > 99% vWf by mass and, aside from correction of the clotting defect, all the properties attributed to this ‘antihaemophilic factor,’ were those of vWf. In this interval a number of inappropriate terms for vWf, such as factor VIII-related antigen, were introduced into the literature, and still persist in some textbooks. It is now clear that factor VIII and vWf are wholly different molecules with distinct physical properties. For both, molecular cloning has now been accomplished and amino acid sequences of each are available. These studies and others have helped to identify increasingly well the respective roles of factor VIII and vWf in haemostasis. vWF is active in primary haemostasis (Weiss et al, 1974): indeed, it mediates the attachment of platelets at sites of vascular injury by interacting, on the one hand, with components of the vascular wall, including collagen (Morton et al, 1983) and other undefined structures (Fauvel et al. 1983; Wagner et al, 1984), and, on the other hand, with the plateIet membrane glycoprotein Ib (Coller et al., 1983; Ruggeri et al, 1983). vWF also binds to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex (Ruggeri e t al, 1982. 1983), which serves as a receptor for adhesive proteins, like fibrinogen. vWF may play a role in stabilizing the initial platelet plug. vWf also prolongs the plasma half life of factor VIII, by virtue of the noncovalent but strong binding between the two proteins (Weiss et al, 1977). This role of vWf explains the decreased factor VIII activity in patients severely deficient in vWF; and conversely, the exaggerated increase of factor VIII levels seen after infusion of cryoprecipitate into these patients. vWf circulates in plasma as a set of multimers, ranging from dimers of the 2 50 000 molecular weight subunit to very large structures containing upwards of 50 subunits (Hoyer & Shainoff, 1980: Ruggeri & Zimmerman, 1980). Several lines of evidence indicate that the largest multimers are most important for the intrinsic haemostatic role of vWf. On the other hand, multimers of all sizes appear to be effective in binding factor VIII (Davies et al, 1981). vWf is synthesized in megakaryocytes (Nachman et al, 1975), which are presumably
[Genetic susceptibility in children with incomplete Kawasaki disease].

OBJECTIVE To study the frequency distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two genes associated with incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) (rs1569723 in CD40 gene and rs2736340 in BLK gene), and to investigate its association with the genetic susceptibility and clinical phenotypes of incomplete KD. METHODS A total of 184 children with incomplete KD and 203 normal children were recruited to carry out a case-control study. The genotypes of SNPs in CD40 gene and BLK gene were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The frequency distribution of genotypes was compared between the KD and control groups. The association between gene polymorphisms and clinical features of incomplete KD was analyzed. RESULTS There were no significant differences in genotype (AA, AC, CC) and allele frequencies in CD40 SNP rs1569723 between the KD and control groups. There were significant differences in the frequency distribution of three genotypes (TT, CT, CC) in BLK SNP rs2736340 between the KD and control groups (P=0.031), and the KD group had a significantly higher frequency of T allele than the control group (P=0.007). There were significant differences in the incidence of conjunctival hyperaemia among the patients with different genotypes (rs1569723 in CD40 gene) (P=0.036). The SNP rs2736340 in BLK gene was associated with the extremity changes in KD patients (P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS The SNP rs2736340 in BLK gene is associated with the susceptibility to incomplete KD, and the SNP rs1569723 in CD40 gene and SNP rs2736340 in BLK gene are associated with some of clinical phenotypes of incomplete KD.
Signaling through focal adhesion kinase

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor protein‐tyrosine kinase implicated in controlling cellular responses to the engagement of cell‐surface integrins, including cell spreading and migration, survival and proliferation. Aberrant FAK signaling may contribute to the process of cell transformation by certain oncoproteins, including v‐Src. Progress toward elucidating the events leading to FAK activation following integrin‐mediated cell adhesion, as well as events downstream of FAK, has come through the identification of FAK phosphorylation sites and interacting proteins. A signaling partnership is formed between FAK and Src‐family kinases, leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and associated ‘docking’ proteins Cas and paxillin. Subsequent recruitment of proteins containing Src homology 2 domains, including Grb2 and c‐Crk, to the complex is likely to trigger adhesion‐induced cellular responses, including changes to the actin cytoskeleton and activation of the Ras‐MAP kinase pathway.
Evidence for differential induction of helper T cell subsets during Trichinella spiralis infection.

The H-2-compatible mouse strains, AKR and B10.BR, exhibit disparate responses to infection with the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis. The resistant AKR mice expel intestinal adult worms faster than susceptible B10.BR mice. We tested antibody and lymphokine responses in these strains. With respect to antibody responses, the B10.BR mice had 3- to 10-fold more serum IgE and T. spiralis-specific IgG1 and IgA than AKR mice. The B10.BR mice also had greater numbers of IgG and IgA plaque-forming cells than AKR mice. In contrast, AKR mice produced T. spiralis-specific IgG2a, whereas the B10.BR mice did not. The antibody response kinetics of these strains were similar. We also analyzed lymphokine secretion after restimulating lymphocytes in vitro with T. spiralis Ag. The AKR mesenteric lymph node cells produced more IFN-gamma and less IL-4 than the B10.BR mesenteric lymph node cells. The B10.BR splenocytes produced more IL-4 than the AKR splenocytes, although splenocyte IFN-gamma production was not different. The kinetics of IL-4 production also differed between the two strains. In summary, resistant AKR mice produced more IFN-gamma and T. spiralis-specific IgG2a than susceptible B10.BR mice, which produced more IL-4, IgE, and T. spiralis-specific IgG1. Our results are consistent with differential activation of Th cell subsets in T. spiralis-infected AKR and B10.BR mice.
Efficacy, safety, and immunosuppressant adherence in stable liver transplant patients converted from a twice‐daily tacrolimus‐based regimen to once‐daily tacrolimus extended‐release formulation

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy, safety, and immunosuppressant adherence in 125 stable liver transplant (LT) patients converted from twice‐daily tacrolimus (TAC BID) to once‐daily TAC (TAC OD). Tacrolimus trough levels, laboratory parameters, metabolic disorders, selected patient reported outcomes, and adverse events were assessed. Mean TAC trough level concentration was 6.1 ± 2.3 ng/ml at study entry, decreased to 5.5 ± 2.1 ng/ml (P = 0.016) and 5.5 ± 2.2 ng/ml (P = 0.019) after 1 and 2 weeks, respectively, and tended to equal the baseline value during further follow‐up. At week 1, TAC concentrations were lower in 62.4% of patients and higher in 36.0% when compared with baseline. Renal and cardiovascular risk factors remained stable and no rejection episodes occurred over 12 months. Adverse events were consistent with the safety profile known from previous studies with TAC BID. Nonadherence measured by the “Basel Assessment of Adherence Scale to Immunosuppressives” was evident in 66.4% at study entry and decreased to 30.9% postconversion (P < 0.0001). Prevalence of nonadherence at baseline was significantly higher in patients converted >2 years after LT and in those ≤60 years of age. Conversion to TAC OD is safe, enhances immunosuppressant adherence and should be accompanied by a close TAC level monitoring during the initial period.
Homocysteine and antiphospholipid antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients: relationships with thrombotic events.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible relationships between plasma homocysteine levels and thrombotic events in a select population of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with or without antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody positivity. METHODS 168 female RA patients attending the Extra-articular Involvement RA Clinic of University of Genova and 72 female subjects matched for age and vascular diseases as controls were included in the study. 30 of the RA patients showed aPL antibody positivity and 138 aPL antibody negativity on the basis of the concomitant presence or absence of high concentrations of anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies or the presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA). All subjects were evaluated for plasma homocysteine concentrations and for the occurrence of thrombotic events. RESULTS Twenty-five RA patients and 5 controls reported a history of thrombotic events. Eleven and 5 of RA patients were found to have been previously affected by venous or arterial thrombosis, respectively. Plasma levels of homocysteine in aPL antibody positive patients with thrombosis were found to be significantly higher than in aPL antibody positive RA patients without thrombosis (p < 0.001). When RA patients with thromboses were analyzed, a significant increase of plasma homocysteine levels was found in aPL antibody-positive RA patients versus aPL antibody-negative RA patients (p < 0.04) and versus related controls (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS The association observed between aPL antibody positivity and high levels of plasma homocysteine in RA patients may represent a possible risk factor for thrombotic events. Therefore, it is suggested that hyperhomocysteinemia might be involved in the vascular-related mortality observed in RA patients with a history of thrombosis.
Septicemia and Septic Shock in Pediatric Patients: 140 Consecutive Cases on a Pediatric Hematology‐Oncology Service

Purpose This report describes the incidence of septic shock in pediatric hematology-oncology patients with positive blood cultures and investigates parameters of potential use in early diagnosis of gram-negative (GN) bacteremia and septic shock. Patients In a 12-month period, 140 consecutive episodes of septicemia (135 bacterial and 5 fungal) were seen in 100 patients. The absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was > 500/μl in 89 episodes (65%). Results Septic shock developed in patients with positive blood cultures with an overall incidence of approximately 19%. Of the 12 bacteremic patients who required transfer to the intensive care unit, 83% had a GN isolate recovered. The incidence of septic shock was not significantly lower in the group of patients with ANC > 500/μl. Low serum bicarbonate correlated with GN infection in patients with bacteremia. Conclusions GN organisms were the major cause of septic shock in a group of pediatric hematology-oncology patients with positive blood cultures although they were recovered less frequently than gram-positive organisms. In our study, non-neutropenic patients with indwelling catheters were at approximately the same risk for GN shock as neutropenic patients. Monitoring blood carbon dioxide content may be useful in the early diagnosis of GN infection.
Employment Protection Legislation and Corporate Performance

Exploiting intertemporal variations in employment protection across OECD countries, we show that laws increasing employee protection (EPL) positively impact operating profits over the 1985-2013 period. This result does not seem to be driven by pre-treatment differences between treatment and control firms and is robust to a long list of sensitivity checks and alternative design choices. Consistent with the EPL effect being due to changes in employment protection laws, the evidence also indicates that the effect is largely driven by the labor-intensive firms. While firms reduce employment and capital expenditures after an increase in employee protection, we find little evidence that they reduce their sales volumes, consistent with EPL increasing labor productivity. The positive EPL effect disappears as the level of unionization in a country increases, consistent the notion that very high levels of employee protection reduce firms’ operating flexibility and can result in lower operating profitability.
New Information Systems Leaders: A Changing Role in a Changing World

It is widely argued that the information systems (IS) leadership function has undergone fundamental changes over the past decade. TO better understand the changes, this study compares the backgrounds, responsibilities, reporting relationships, and power of newly appointed IS executives (who had been in their position for two years or less) with established IS executives (who had been in their position for five years or more). The study found that approximately half of the new IS executives were external hires, whereas almost all of the established IS executives were promoted from within the company. More than two-thirds of the new IS executives had more than five years' experience managing a non-IS function within the past 15 years. Established IS executives had spent the majority of their career within the IS function. The activities receiving the most attention from new IS executives were information technology (IT) strategic planning and control, IT architecture management and standards development, and human resource management. For established IS executives, the activities receiving the most attention were IT architecture management and standards development, human resource management, and operations. An increasing number of new IS executives reported directly to the CEO, and almost half were members of the senior management/strategic policy committee. These findings have several important implications. First, the senior IS executive must be able to bring a broader business perspective to the position. Current senior IS executives who have not broadened their own knowledge, skills, and experiences in business strategy, management, and operations should immediately develop a personal career development program to gain these valuable perspectives. Second, senior IS executives should implement career development strategies within their own organizations that ensure that IS professionals have the opportunity to acquire the business management experience necessary to advance to higher IS management levels. Third, graduate and executive programs designed to prepare future IS managers and leaders must provide both a business and IT perspective throughout the curriculum.
A contribution for a correct vision of health impact from municipal solid waste treatments

In agreement with the European Union Directives concerning health risks targets, in the present paper data regarding the health risk from different strategies of waste treatment, in particular concerning dioxin emissions, are presented. Three options are considered for municipal solid waste treatment: incineration (with best available technologies (BATs)), an anaerobic/aerobic treatment and an aerobic treatment before landfilling. The process of biostabilization varies case by case but differences between simplified approaches and BAT solutions have been pointed out. In the paper it is also pointed out how important the local context for the health risk from PCDD/F release is: the height of gas release into the atmosphere, the emitted gas velocity and the temperature of release become the most important parameters (apart from the overall amount released) in areas where the population may be close to the plant or where there is agricultural activity in the proximity. However, all the three solutions give an acceptable risk.
Effects of Behavioral Contingencies on Adolescent Active Videogame Play and Overall Activity: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the effect of four active videogames (AVGs) varying in behavioral contingencies (behavior-consequence relations) on adolescent AVG play and overall activity levels over 4 weeks. MATERIALS AND METHODS Each AVG, manufactured by SSD/Xavix(®) (Shiseido Co. of Japan, Tokyo, Japan), was coded and scored for the number of positive and aversive behavioral contingencies within the games. "Bowling" and "Tennis" were classified as having "higher contingency scores," and "Boxing" and aerobic fitness training were classified as having "lower contingency scores. " Adolescents (n=63; 11-15 years old; 62% male; 38% Hispanic; 44% overweight or obese) were randomized to play one of the four AVGs at home and recorded game play sessions in a paper log. Baseline and week 4 assessments were completed at home; week 1, 2, and 3 assessments were completed by telephone. Accelerometers were worn during baseline and weeks 1 and 4. RESULTS Accelerometer-measured sedentary and light activity hours/day were stable over time, whereas moderate-vigorous physical activity minutes/day increased in the higher contingency group and decreased in the lower contingency group (interaction effect, 6.43, P=0.024). Reported game play minutes decreased in both groups from week 1 to week 4 (-29.42 minutes, P=0.001). DISCUSSION There was some support for the hypothesis that AVGs with more behavioral contingencies, compared with AVGs with fewer behavioral contingencies, result in more physical activity. However, overall AVG play decreased substantially after the first week. Further study is needed to better understand how behavioral contingencies can be used in AVGs to enhance their potential to provide health benefits to game players.
Adipogenesis in a myeloid supporting bone marrow stromal cell line

The bone marrow stroma contains pre‐adipocyte cells which are part of the hemopoietic microenvironment. Cloned stromal cell lines differ both in their ability to support myeloid and lymphoid development and in their ability to undergo adipocyte differentiation in vitro. These processes have been examined in the +/+2.4 murine stromal cell line and compared to other stromal and pre‐adipocyte cell lines. In long term cultures, the +/+2.4 stromal cells support myeloid cell growth, consistent with their expression of macrophage‐colony stimulating factor mRNA. However, despite the presence of mRNA for the lymphoid supportive cytokines interleukins 6 and 7, +/+2.4 cells failed to support stromal cell dependent B lineage lymphoid cells in vitro, suggesting that these stromal cells exhibit only a myelopoietic support function. The +/+2.4 cells differentiate into adipocyte spontaneously when cultured in 10% fetal bovine serum. The process of adipogenesis can be accelerated by a number of a agonists based on morphologic and gene maker criteria. Following induction with hydrocortisone, methylisobutylxanthine, indomethacin, and insulin in combination a time dependent increase in the steady state mRNA and enzymes activity levels of the following adipocyte specific genes was observed: adipocyte P2, adipsin, CAAT/enhancer binding protein, and lipoprotein lipase. In contrast, adipogenesis were accompanied by a slight decrease in the signal intensity of the macrophage‐colony stimulating factor mRNA level, similar to that which has been reported in other bone marrow stromal cell lines. These data demonstrate that although the lympho‐hematopoietic support fuction of pre‐adipocyte bone marrow stormal cell lines is heterogeneous, they share a common mechanism of adipognensis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pre‐hospital transfusion of red blood cells in civilian trauma patients

The current management of severely injured patients includes damage control resuscitation strategies that minimise the use of crystalloids and emphasise earlier transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) to prevent coagulopathy. In 2012, London's air ambulance (LAA) became the first UK civilian pre‐hospital service to routinely carry RBC to the trauma scene.