Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strand breaks induced in plasmid DNA by ultrasoft X-rays: Influence of hydration and packing

Purpose: To study the effect of hydration level and plasmid packing on strand break induction in DNA by ultrasoft X-ray. Materials and methods: Bluescript (pBS, tight packing) and pSP189 (pSP, loose packing) plasmids were irradiated by 250, 380, and 760 eV ultrasoft X-rays at the Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation du Rayonnement Electromagnétique synchrotron facility (Orsay, France). Single and double strand breaks (SSB and DSB) were quantified by gel electrophoresis. Results: The number of DSB per Gray and per Dalton in pBS plasmids were (5.6 ± 0.1), (6.3 ± 0.1) and (8.5 ± 0.4)×10−12 at 250, 380 and 760 eV, respectively. They were respectively 1.4 ± 0.1, 1.1 ± 0.1 and 1.9 ± 0.2 times larger for pSP plasmids. SSB/DSB ratios varied between 4.4 and 6.4. Conclusion: The observed dependency of strand break induction by ultrasoft X-rays on the hydration level of DNA in plasmids films may be associated with: (i) Damage transfer from the water shell to the DNA and/or (ii) change in packing. 760 eV photons which are more often absorbed in the hydration shell and yield longer range electrons than 250 and 380 eV photons, induce more DSB per Gray and per Dalton, especially for the looser plasmid (pSP).
Pathways to immunity: temporal dynamics of the bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) immune response against a trypanosomal gut parasite

Immune response dynamics in insects from natural host−parasite associations are poorly understood, despite accumulating evidence of ecological immune phenomena in these systems. Using a gene discovery approach, we have identified genes relating to signalling, enzymatic processes and respiration that were up‐regulated in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, during infection with the trypanosomatid parasite, Crithidia bombi. In addition, we have mapped dynamic changes in the temporal expression of these genes and three candidate antimicrobial peptide (AMP) immune genes, Abaecin, Defensin and Hymenoptaecin, from 1 to 24 h after C. bombi infection. We show that dynamic changes in expression occur for individual genes at distinct phases of the immune response to C. bombi that correspond to early, intermediate and late stages of infection.
Is the Real In Vivo Nitric Oxide Concentration Pico or Nano Molar? Influence of Electrode Size on Unstirred Layers and NO Consumption

There is a debate if the [NO] required to influence vascular smooth muscle is below 50 nM or much higher. Electrodes with 30 μm and larger diameter report [NO] below 50 nM, whereas those with diameters of <10–12 μm report hundreds of nM. This study examined how size of electrodes influenced [NO] measurement due to NO consumption and unstirred layer issues.
The development of the Arrhenius equation

where now A' is temperature independent. Recently Gardiner ( 2 ) has shown that eqn. (3) applies satisfactorily, and better than eqn. (I), to a number of reactions; he has also discussed reasons for the failure of eqn. (1). In modern compilations (3) the procedure often employed is to use eqn. (1) for data of lower precision or where the temperature rawe is limited, and to andyze more precise data in terms of eqi. (3). Although the temperature dependence of rates is now almost universally interpreted in terms of these equations, for a period of over 60 years (ca. 1850 to ca. 1910), in spite of mnsiderahle exnerimental effort. there was much uncertaintv ~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~
Underuse of controller medications among children with persistent asthma in the Ohio medicaid population: evolving differences with new medications.

BACKGROUND Despite innovations in asthma care, morbidity and mortality have increased significantly. Underuse of controller medications is a major contributor to increased morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE To determine the extent of underuse of asthma controller medications among Ohio Medicaid children and to determine if there are racial differences in controller medication claims. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of Ohio Medicaid claims data. The source data included all institutional, medical service, and pharmacy claims for fee-for-service patients between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001. We identified children with persistent asthma using Health Employer Data Information System criteria. The primary outcome was a controller medication claim. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors for underutilizing asthma controller medications and applied generalized estimating equations to account for repeated measures. RESULTS The proportion of children with claims for a controller medication increased from 53% in 1997 to 67% in 2001. Although there were no racial differences in medication claims in 1997, a smaller proportion of African American children had a claim for a controller medication in 2001 (64.8% vs 67.8%, P < .001). Leukotriene antagonists (LTAs) were driving this difference. Individuals residing in urban areas were significantly less likely to have claims for LTAs when compared with those who resided in nonurban areas. CONCLUSIONS Overall use of asthma controller medications among Ohio Medicaid children was poor. There was a widening racial difference in controller medication claims over the 5-year study. Regional differences in LTA claims were driving this racial difference.
Quality of life and smoking among industrial workers in Greece.

BACKGROUND Smoking is a predictor of quality of life, while socio-economic factors influence the prevalence of smoking habits. Occupational medical research has been fairly late in coming to study quality of life aspects in working populations. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study is the assessment of smoking prevalence among blue- and white-collar workers industrial workers in Greece and its impact on health-related quality of life. METHODS In a cross-sectional study the Euro-Qol 5D questionnaire was been used in a random sample of 472 blue and white-collar heavy industry workers. RESULTS 57% of the study population were current smokers. The difference in prevalence of smoking across all the examined socio-demographic variables (sex, age, education and occupation) was not statistically significant. Smoking had a significant impact on the health-related quality of life. Smokers recorded significant lower scores (74.9) in the overall Visual Analogue Scale in comparison with non-smokers (79.1), (p = 0.007). Further analysis revealed that age, smoking and education were significant predictors of VAS score. A non-significant contribution was found for occupation and sex. Smokers reported significantly higher rates of problems regarding mobility, self-care and anxiety/depression than non-smokers. Logistic regression analysis showed an independent impact of smoking on mobility, self-care and anxiety/depression level. CONCLUSIONS Smoking is a significant hazard and a strong predictor of poor quality of life among the blue- and white-collar workers under study. Anti-smoking policies integrated into a broader context of occupational health and safety at work could reduce smoking rates and thus improve worker's quality of life.
Our First 100 Consecutive Pediatric Liver Transplants*

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is nowadays accepted as the best therapy for end-stage liver disease. The difficulties involved are even greater in children than in adults, and it is debatable whether exclusively pediatric programs are warranted. The aim of this paper is to analyze our experience at the Children's Hospital "La Paz", with the first consecutive 100 OLT in children, 61% of whom weighed less than 20 kg. Since 1986, 220 pediatric patients were evaluated as candidates, 100 OLT were performed in 78 patients and 13 died on the waiting list, currently maintained below 15 cases. Indications were: cholestasis (45), metabolic disease (18), fulminant hepatic failure (3), primary liver tumors (2) and cirrhosis (10). Mean age was 66 months (range = 7 to 216) with a mean weight of 21 kg (range = 6 to 60), twenty patients weighed less than 13 kilograms. OLT was performed by standard technique. Reduced or segmental grafts were necessary in 8 instances. Twenty-two patients were retransplanted and 2 received three grafts. Indications for retransplantation were: hepatic artery thrombosis (8), primary nonfunction (4), chronic rejection (7), portal thrombosis (2) and Budd-Chiari recurrence (1). Acute rejection was observed in 52 patients, and eight cases developed a chronic rejection. These episodes were treated with "bolus" of steroids, monoclonal antibodies (OKT-3) and FK-506. Surgical complications included: hepatic artery thrombosis 12%, portal vein thrombosis 3% and biliary fistula or stenosis 13%. The incidence of primary non-function was 7%. Actuarial survival rate at 5 years was 75%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Communication Skills Training Programme to Improve Oncology Nurses ’ Relationships with Patients : An Observational Study

This research was carried out to determine the impact of communication skills training programme on patient-nurse interactions in oncology setting. The research consisted of a single group pre-, post-test and non-participant observation. Thirty-six nurses volunteered to participate. In the first evaluation method, the nurses were evaluated both before and after the training using “Empathic Tendency”, “Empathic Skill” and “Communication Skills Evaluation Scales”. In the second one, researcher observed nurse-patient interactions in the clinics and evaluated them using the Communication Skills Observation Form. The training improved nurses’ empathic tendency (p<0.001), empathic (p<0.001) and communication skills (p<0.05). “Respect to patients, giving constructive feedback, using effective body language, using continuing and leading reactions” showed gradual improvement during observations while self-disclosure and “ineffective commnunication techniques” were lower in the last observation. Training improved nurses’ communication skills to effectively interact with their patients. Therefore, communication skills training should be taught and expanded during inservice training programs.
Essays on Innovation in Retail Banking

During the last years, the finance industry has experienced a proliferation of innovations which may disrupt traditional financial services. They blur the boundaries between banks and financial start-ups, speed up transactions, democratize the access to credit, revise how we can purchase goods and how merchants can sell their products, while imposing regulators the challenge for a new level playing field which balances the trade-off between financial stability, competition and innovation. In this thesis, I try to answer to three main issues related to the topic of innovation in retail banking. Firstly, how do innovations impact competition in retail banking. One first issue is to understand why some of these innovative services are offered by non-bank platforms and how can banks compete with entrants that do not have the same business model. Secondly, I look at what the drivers of the adoption of innovation by consumers in retail banking are. What determines the diffusion of a new financial technology despite all the financial risks related to it ? To answer to these questions, I will look empirically at the example of the two main peer-to-peer lending platforms in the USA, Prosper and LendingClub. Third, I address the question on whether regulation of innovation is necessary. Is it optimal for the society to regulate the providers of innovative retail banking services? To answer to these questions, I address, in two theoretical models, the well-known debates on the optimal level of interchange fees in payment card systems and the imposition of exclusivity arrangements and price parity clauses in contracts between platforms and merchants.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Clinical Strains of CDC Group IVc-2

ABSTRACT CDC group IVc-2 is a gram-negative, oxidase-positive, nonfermentative bacillus that has been implicated in human infections, including septicemia and peritonitis. Biochemically it most closely resembles Bordetella bronchiseptica andAlcaligenes sp. Results of cellular fatty acid (CFA) and 16S rRNA gene analysis were combined with biochemical data to assist in identification and classification. The predominant CFAs were hexadecanoic acid (16:0), cis-9-hexadecanoic acid (16:1ω7c), cis-11-octadecanoic acid (18:1ω7c), and Δ-cis-9,10-methylenehexadecanoic acid (17:0cyc). Small amounts (2 to 5%) of 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid (3-OH-14:0), tetradecanoic acid (14:0), 2-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid (2-OH-16:0), and Δ-cis-11,12-methyleneoctadecanoic acid (19:0cyc) were also consistently present. The highest 16S rRNA gene similarity was with Ralstonia eutropha and Ralstonia solanacearum. The CFA and 16S rRNA gene sequence data support the inclusion of CDC group IVc-2 in the recently created genusRalstonia, which includes R. eutropha, R. pickettii, and R. solanacearum.
Safety and delivery efficiency of a photodynamic treatment of the lungs using indocyanine green and extracorporeal near infrared illumination

Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a promising alternative for combating infections caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Pneumonias are among the most worrisome infections because of their high‐mortality rate. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using PDI with extracorporeal light to treat pneumonia. In this study, we analyzed key parameters for the viability of this treatment, including the selectivity of the photodynamic response for pathogens over host cells. Our results showed that PDI can induce killing of Staphylococcus aureus (of up to 4.18 log for the strain Xen29 and 3.62 log for Xen36) under conditions where little or no toxicity for host cells is observed. We validated pulmonary delivery of the photosensitizer and light in mice, using photobleaching as an indicator, and demonstrated preservation of healthy tissues as evidence of the safety of the protocol. Overall, PDI displays low toxicity on host tissues, making it a promising tool for treatment of pneumonias caused by S. aureus and other important pathogens.
Computerized investigation of robust measurement systems

This paper deals with the development of software for investigating the robust properties of measurement systems and for their design and tuning in order to improve their robustness. The software constitutes Simulink models and m-files as extensions of the libraries of MATLAB. The investigations on continuous measurement systems (a self-balancing system) and discrete systems (ADCs) with improved robustness by using the internal model controller technique revealed new properties-fast dynamics, high accuracy, and discretization error reduction via multiple measurements.
Millennials, sharing economy and tourism: the case of Seoul

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the “Sharing City, Seoul” (SCS) project in order to highlight the role that Millennials are playing in transforming the tourist market by relying on the tools of the sharing economy. The Korean project, in fact, is promoting and favoring online entrepreneurship by Millennials, thus impacting also on the tourism sector. Design/methodology/approach A three-stage methodology – based on in-depth interviews with the “sharing organizations” (SOs) involved in the SCS project, participant observation, and institutional and online materials – has made it possible to comprehend how Millennials are changing the travel and tourism landscape in Seoul through disruptive innovation of the sharing economy, and to propose some broad recommendations for the tourism market. Findings The research, analyzing the SCS project, highlights the increasing purchasing power of Millennials, confirming the importance of adopting a generational perspective to understand needs and tendencies of this generation and orient the tourist market. The SOs interviewed for the research, mainly founded and managed by Millennials, demonstrated to know how to recognize, intercept and satisfy the styles, personalities and requests of tourists, especially Millennials. Thus, Millennials are able to enter in the market not only as users and travelers, but also as entrepreneurs and creators of new online travel services. Research limitations/implications A further analysis should include interviews also with the funders and staff members of the other sharing enterprises that operate in the tourism sector. Moreover, a map of the current state of the sharing enterprises is suggested in order to determine whether or not the number of enterprises with a tourism vocation involved in the project is growing and under which conditions. This map would also be helpful to frame new tendencies in the sharing tourism industry and to monitor the role of Millennials in the market. It would be helpful to compare the Korean case with that of other Asian countries. Originality/value Through the analysis of the Korean case, the research shows that Millennials are massive users of traveler sharing platforms. At the same time they are able to enter the tourist market not only as users and travelers but also as entrepreneurs and creators of new online travel services. The paper offers some broad indications to help in orienting the future tourism market so that it takes account of the growing presence and purchasing power of Millennials.
( Halictidae ) Megalopta genalis sweat bee Socially induced brain development in a facultatively eusocial

Supplementary data tml http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing. org/content/suppl/2010/03/23/rspb.2010. 0269.DC1. h "Data Supplement" References ml#ref-list-1 http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing. org/content/early/2010/03/23/rspb.2010. 0269.full. ht This article cites 50 articles, 15 of which can be accessed free P<P Published online 24 March 2010 in advance of the print journal. Subject collections (1547 articles) evolution (1138 articles) behaviour (302 articles) neuroscience Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections
Managers Views on the Determinants of Cash Holdings: Evidence from Kenya

Cash is essential for firms to support their day-to-day operations, take care of uncertainties in future and to take advantage of profitable opportunities that arise. However, setting the optimal cash holding by firms is not an easy task for managers and continues to be a hotly debated subject especially after the latest development in the global financial system. Empirical evidence in Kenya on the subject is scant, and the purpose of the paper is to establish the determinants of cash holding among firms listed in Kenya’s Nairobi Securities Exchange(NSE) from a manager’s perspectives. 168 questionnaires were administered to senior and finance executives in 44 non-financial firms listed on NSE. The respondents agreed with the statements on the expected relationship between Cash holding and Interest rates and industry sector and disagreed with the constructs on size,levarage,cashflow and Market- to- book value (MTB). The results may point to some agency problem in Kenyan listed nonfinancial firms.
Formal and informal scenario-planning in strategic decision-making: an assessment of corporate reasoning

PurposeThe theoretical value of scenario-planning as a strategic tool is well recognized in literature. The purpose of this study is to explore the corporate reasoning of formal and informal usage (or non-usage) of scenario-planning in strategic decision-making.Design/methodology/approachAn overview of the relevant literature on scenario-planning as a strategic decision-making tool in the context of complexity and uncertainty is presented, in combination with 15 case studies on executives in the South African context.FindingsThe findings are based on a study in the emerging market context. From the case studies reported, it is evident that industry, organizational and leadership-related factors influence the effective use or non-use of scenario-planning.Research limitations/implicationsEmpirical findings are reported, contributing to an assessment framework to revisit the usage of formal and informal scenario-planning in strategic decision-making. Further research to determine which supportive tools and technologies should be used for scenario-planning across multiple contexts is needed.Practical implicationsThe study expands upon previous insights into the formal and informal usage (or non-usage) of scenario-planning in strategic decision-making based on an emerging market context.Originality/valueThis study contributes to understanding the value of scenario-planning in complex contexts that require strategic adaptability and offers a hands-on toolkit and shortlist of assessment criteria to conceptualize the organizational reasoning and scholarly framing of formal, informal or non-scenario-planning in strategic decision-making.
Recruitment of Gβγ controls the basal activity of G‐protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels: crucial role of distal C terminus of GIRK1

The G‐protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel is an important mediator of neurotransmission via Gβγ subunit of the heterotrimeric Gi/o protein released by G‐protein coupled receptor (GPCR) activation. Channels containing the GIRK1 subunit exhibit high basal currents, whereas channels that are formed by the GIRK2 subunit have very low basal currents. GIRK1‐containing channels, but not channels consisting of GIRK2 only, recruit Gβγ to the plasma membrane. The Gα subunit of the G protein is not recruited by either GIRK1/2 or GIRK2. The unique distal C terminus of GIRK1 (G1‐dCT) endows the channel with strong interaction with Gβγ, and deletion of G1‐dCT abolishes the Gβγ recruitment and reduces the basal currents. These findings suggest that the basal activity of GIRK channels depends on channel‐induced recruitment of Gβγ. The unique C terminus of GIRK1 subunit plays an important role in Gβγ recruitment.
GenetiKit: a randomized controlled trial to enhance delivery of genetics services by family physicians.

BACKGROUND Patients look to their family physicians (FPs) for credible information and guidance in making informed choices about genetic testing. FPs are challenged by lack of knowledge and the rapid pace of genetic discovery. There is an urgent need for effective interventions to facilitate integration of genetics into family medicine. OBJECTIVE To determine if a multi-faceted knowledge translation intervention would improve skills, including referral decisions, confidence in core genetics competencies and knowledge. METHODS Randomized controlled trial involving FPs in four communities in Ontario, Canada (two urban and two rural). The intervention consisted of an interactive educational workshop, portfolio of practical clinical genetics tools and knowledge service called Gene Messenger. Outcome measures included appropriate genetics referral decisions in response to 10 breast cancer scenarios, decisional difficulty, self-reported confidence in 11 genetics core competencies, 3 knowledge questions and evaluation of intervention components 6 months afterwards. RESULTS Among the one hundred and twenty-five FPs randomized, 80 (64%) completed the study (33 control, 47 intervention). Intervention FPs had significantly higher appropriate referral decision scores [6.4/10 [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.8-6.9] control, 7.8/10 (95% CI 7.4-8.2) intervention] and overall self-reported confidence on core genetics competencies [37.9/55 (95% CI 35.1-40.7) control, 47.0/55 (95% CI 44.9-49.2) intervention]. Over 90% of FPs wanted to continue receiving Gene Messengers and would recommend them to colleagues. No significant differences were found in decisional difficulty or knowledge. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that a complex educational intervention was able to significantly improve practice intent for clinical genetics scenarios found in primary care, as well as confidence in genetics skills.