Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization of culture conditions and bench-scale production of anticancer enzyme L-asparaginase by submerged fermentation from Aspergillus terreus CCT 7693

Abstract L-Asparaginase amidohydrolase (EC 3.5.1.1) has received significant attention owing to its clinical use in acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment and non-clinical applications in the food industry to reduce acrylamide (toxic compound) formation during the frying of starchy foods. In this study, a sequential optimization strategy was used to determine the best culture conditions for L-asparaginase production from filamentous fungus Aspergillus terreus CCT 7693 by submerged fermentation. The cultural conditions were studied using a 3-level, central composite design of response surface methodology, and biomass and enzyme production were optimized separately. The highest amount of biomass (22.0 g·L−1) was obtained with modified Czapek–Dox medium containing glucose (14 g·L−1), L-proline (10 g·L−1), and ammonium nitrate (2 g·L−1) fermented at 37.2 °C and pH 8.56; for maximum enzyme production (13.50 U·g−1), the best condition was modified Czapek–Dox medium containing glucose (2 g·L−1), L-proline (10 g·L−1), and inoculum concentration of 4.8 × 108 espore·mL−1 adjusted to pH 9.49 at 34.6 °C. The L-asparaginase production profile was studied in a 7 L bench-scale bioreactor and a final specific activity of 13.81 U·g−1 was achieved, which represents an increase of 200% in relation to the initial non-optimized conditions.
The burden of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with lipid levels among adults in rural northern Ghana: An AWI-Gen sub-study

Dyslipidaemia is a primary risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, causing over 17 million deaths globally in 2015. However, the burden of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with lipid levels remain unknown in many rural African populations. Therefore, this study evaluated the association of socio-demographic, anthropometric and behavioural factors with lipid levels in rural Ghana. The prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and elevated LDL-C in the total population of 1839 (846 men and 993 women) was 4.02%, 2.12%, and 5.55% respectively and did not differ between genders. The prevalence of low HDL-C levels was 60.30% and differed (p = 0.005) between men (56.86%) and women (63.24%). Subcutaneous abdominal fat was associated with TC (β = 0.067, p = 0.015) and TG (β = 0.137, p<0.001) among women and LDL-C (β = 0.139, p = 0.006) and TC (β = 0.071, p = 0.048) among men. Body mass index was associated with TC (β = 0.010, p = 0.043) among men while waist circumference was associated with LDL-C (β = 0.116, p<0.001) and TG (β = 0.094, p<0.001) among women. Hip circumference was negatively associated (β = -0.053, p = 0.043) while visceral fat was positively associated with TG (β = 0.033, p = 0.022) among women. Socioeconomic status, education, being unmarried and employment were associated with HDL-C (β = 0.081, p = 0.004), LDL-C (β = 0.095, p = 0.004) and TG (β = 0.095, p = 0.001) all among women, and TC (β = 0.070, p = 0.010) among men, respectively. Nankana women had lower TC (β = -0.069, p = 0.001), and men lower TG levels (β = -0.084, p = 0.008) than the other ethnic groups. Tobacco smoking (β = 0.066, p = 0.024) and alcohol intake (β = 0.084, p = 0.001) were associated with HDL-C levels among men and women respectively. Further studies are required to investigate whether high prevalence of low HDL-C levels in this population presents with any adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes. Associations of education, employment and adiposity with lipid levels suggest that future societal advances and increases in the prevalence of obesity may lead to associated adverse health consequences. Monitoring and interventions are required to limit these effects.
Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in Spain: influence of adult and childhood sociodemographic factors

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) chronic infection causes severe digestive diseases, including gastric cancer, and certain strains entail a higher risk. Risk factors for this infection are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to describe the association of adult and childhood sociodemographic factors with the seroprevalence of H. pylori, and with CagA and VacA antigen-specific seropositivity among H. pylori-seropositive individuals in the Spanish adult population. Serum antibody reactivity to H. pylori proteins was evaluated using multiplex serology in 2555 population-based controls enrolled in the MCC-Spain study, a multicase–control study recruiting participants from 2008 to 2013 in different areas of Spain. H. pylori seroprevalence was defined as seropositivity against at least four bacterial proteins. Information on sociodemographics, lifestyles, and environmental exposures was collected through personal interviews. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression models to assess the association of lifetime sociodemographic factors with H. pylori seroprevalence and with seropositivity for CagA and VacA. H. pylori seroprevalence was 87.2%. Seropositivity was statistically significantly higher in men, increased with age, BMI, and number of siblings, and decreased with education and socioeconomic family level at birth. Among H. pylori-seropositive individuals, seropositivity was 53.3% for CagA, 61.4% for VacA, and 38.8% for both CagA and VacA. Ever smokers had lower seroprevalence for CagA and VacA than never smokers. H. pylori seroprevalence among this Spanish adult population was high and one third of the population was seropositive for two well-known markers of gastric cancer risk: CagA and VacA. Sex, age, education, and BMI were associated with H. pylori seroprevalence.
Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Travels to Mesenteric Lymph Nodes Both with Host Cells and Autonomously

Salmonella infection is a globally important cause of gastroenteritis and systemic disease and is a useful tool to study immune responses in the intestine. Although mechanisms leading to immune responses against Salmonella have been extensively studied, questions remain about how bacteria travel from the intestinal mucosa to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), a key site for Ag presentation. In this study, we used a mouse model of infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STM) to identify changes in intestinal immune cells induced during early infection. We then used fluorescently labeled STM to identify interactions with immune cells from the site of infection through migration in lymph to the MLN. We show that viable STM can be carried in the lymph by any subset of migrating dendritic cells but not by macrophages. Moreover, approximately half of the STM in lymph are not associated with cells at all and travel autonomously. Within the MLN, STM associates with dendritic cells and B cells but predominantly with MLN-resident macrophages. In conclusion, we describe the routes used by STM to spread systemically in the period immediately postinfection. This deeper understanding of the infection process could open new avenues for controlling it.
Bir Eğitsel Sosyal Ağ Olarak Edmodo’nun Yükseköğretimde Kullanımı Hakkındaki Öğrenci Görüşlerinin İncelenmesi

Teknolojinin gelisimine paralel olarak egitim kurumlarindaki geleneksel yontemler yerini alternatif uygulamalara birakmaktadir. Bu uygulamalardan Edmodo, ogretmen, ogrenci ve veliler icin olusturulmus egitsel aktiviteleri iceren egitim amacli kurulmus bir sosyal ag platformudur. Bu calismada Edmodo sosyal ag sitesi, bir donem boyunca yeni okuryazarliklar dersine kayitli egitim fakultesi 1. Sinif ogrencileri tarafindan kullanilmistir. Ogrencilerin egitsel sosyal ag olan Edmodo’nun yeni okuryazarliklar dersinde kullanilmasina yonelik gorusleri donem sonunda arastirmacilar tarafindan hazirlanan yapilandirilmis bir gorusme formu ile toplanmistir. 37 katilimcinin gorusleriyle elde edilen veriler icerik analizi kullanilarak analiz edilmistir. Arastirma sonuclari Edmodo’nun bir derste icerik ve bilgi alisverisine uygun olarak egitim amacli kullanilan faydali ve iyi bir sosyal ag oldugu ile derse odaklanmayi arttirdigini gostermektedir. Ayrica Edmodo’nun yeni okuryazarliklar dersinde kullanilmasi, gunumuz yeni okuryazarlik becerileri acisindan degerlendirildiginde sosyal ve bilissel acidan onemli bir etkisinin oldugu da bulgular arasindadir. Son olarak, arastirmaya katilan ogrenciler, arkadaslarinin konuya iliskin goruslerinin ogrenmelerine katki sagladigini, kendi fikirlerini olgunlastirdigini ve Edmodo ile ders icerigine hemen her yerden pratik bir sekilde ulasabildiklerini belirtmektedir. Edmodo sosyal aginin ders kapsaminda kullanilmasina iliskin sinirliliklar da bulgular arasindadir.
Characteristics influencing high-risk sexual behaviours in elderly men

With the objective of investigating the characteristics influencing high-risk sexual behaviours in elderly men (60–74 years of age) in Chongqing, China, a total of 1433 healthy elderly men with sexual intercourse frequencies of one to six times/month who were willing to participate in the questionnaires were studied at four hospitals. We measured serum testosterone levels and performed follow-ups every six months, with a total of 1128 elderly men followed up after two years. We also investigated socio-economic and demographic characteristics (age, education, income, location, marital status and number of marriages), types of sexual partners, age differences with fixed sexual partners, frequency of sexual intercourse, combined basic age-related diseases, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) education, elderly self-care ability and high-risk sexual behaviours (frequency of sexual intercourse and number of sexual partners) using questionnaires. We analysed the influencing factors of high-risk sexual behaviours in elderly men using a univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, BP neural network prediction and cluster analysis. Finally, we found that serum total testosterone, age, types of sexual partners, age differences with fixed partners and frequency of sexual intercourse are five factors that influence high-risk sexual behaviours in elderly men.
Heparanase: A Multitasking Protein Involved in Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Remodeling and Intracellular Events

Heparanase (HPSE) has been defined as a multitasking protein that exhibits a peculiar enzymatic activity towards HS chains but which simultaneously performs other non-enzymatic functions. Through its enzymatic activity, HPSE catalyzes the cutting of the side chains of heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans, thus contributing to the remodeling of the extracellular matrix and of the basal membranes. Furthermore, thanks to this activity, HPSE also promotes the release and diffusion of various HS-linked molecules like growth factors, cytokines and enzymes. In addition to being an enzyme, HPSE has been shown to possess the ability to trigger different signaling pathways by interacting with transmembrane proteins. In normal tissue and in physiological conditions, HPSE exhibits only low levels of expression restricted only to keratinocytes, trophoblast, platelets and mast cells and leukocytes. On the contrary, in pathological conditions, such as in tumor progression and metastasis, inflammation and fibrosis, it is overexpressed. With this brief review, we intend to provide an update on the current knowledge about the different role of HPSE protein exerted by its enzymatic and non-enzymatic activity.
Exploring Different Operationalizations of Employee Engagement and Their Relationships with Workplace Stress and Burnout Among IT Professionals in Community Hospitals

Many empirical studies of employee engagement show positive relationships with desirable work-related outcomes, yet a consistent understanding of the construct remains elusive (Saks & Gruman, 2014). We propose that this lack of clarity is leading to an increased risk that employee engagement is becoming overly generalized and that, as a consequence, its utility in both theory and practice is compromised. Indeed, our study of 472 information technology (IT) professionals working in community hospitals reveals that, even though the two measures of employee engagement examined in this study are conceptually based on Kahn's (1990) needs-satisfaction framework, they are nomologically different, evidence different predictive properties (with regard to workplace stress and burnout), and suggest different workplace interventions. As hypothesized, both measures of employee engagement reveal negative relationships with workplace stress, and burnout has a mediating effect on those relationships. Further, the relationships are significantly different, but these differences are understood only when examining the dimensional levels of each engagement measure. Our findings also clarify the highly debated relationship between employee engagement and burnout and challenge those engagement measures that are conceptually grounded in a burnout-antithesis framework. Implications and avenues for future research are presented.
Amantadine as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe obsessive–compulsive disorder: A double‐blind randomized trial with placebo control

The role of the glutamatergic system in the pathogenesis of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been shown by numerous studies. The aim of the present randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 12‐week trial was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of amantadine as an adjuvant to fluvoxamine in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe OCD.
Mycoplasmas are no exception to extracellular vesicles release: Revisiting old concepts

Release of extracellular vesicles (EV) by Gram-negative and positive bacteria is being frequently reported. EV are nano-sized, membrane-derived, non-self-replicating, spherical structures shed into the extracellular environment that could play a role in bacteria-host interactions. Evidence of EV production in bacteria belonging to the class Mollicutes, which are wall-less, is mainly restricted to the genus Acholeplasma and is scanty for the Mycoplasma genus that comprises major human and animal pathogens. Here EV release by six Mycoplasma (sub)species of clinical importance was investigated. EV were obtained under nutritional stress conditions, purified by ultracentrifugation and observed by electron microscopy. The membrane proteins of EV from three different species were further identified by mass spectrometry as a preliminary approach to determining their potential role in host-pathogen interactions. EV were shown to be released by all six (sub)species although their quantities and sizes (30–220 nm) were very variable. EV purification was complicated by the minute size of viable mycoplasmal cells. The proteins of EV-membranes from three (sub)species included major components of host-pathogen interactions, suggesting that EV could contribute to make the host-pathogen interplay more complex. The process behind EV release has yet to be deciphered, although several observations demonstrated their active release from the plasma membrane of living cells. This work shed new light on old concepts of “elementary bodies” and “not-cell bound antigens”.
A Profile of Female Breast Cancer Patients in a Kenyan Urban Private Hospital

Background Breast cancer shows differences between the Afro- American and Western population. We present data from our centre, analyze the age variation, parity and compare it to Kenyan data from a public hospital and worldwide data. We designed a study to evaluate important characteristics of a mixed socio-demographic population of female breast cancer patients who are referred from monthly breast clinics or seek care at a private hospital and compare it to similar characteristics in the western population. Methods This was a retrospective study of two hundred and sixty patient case records with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Patient charts were retrieved and assessed for age, stage and parity profiling and this was compared to western data by search through medical databases (Pubmed and Uptodate Ver 19.3.) Results The highest proportion of cases was in the 45-49 year range (15%). 136 records were retrieved with data on parity and staging. Of all patients, 26% had a parity of three while 16% of the cases were nulliparous. Of the patients, 124 had data on staging; 67.5% had late disease at the time of presentation. Of those under 50 years, 31% had early disease. Patients over 50 made up 34% of the women. Conclusion Aga Khan University Hospital sees a different age profile at time of diagnosis from that seen in the Western population which is mainly postmenopausal. Despite our population being affluent, urban and with access to information and healthcare facilities, there is still significant number presenting with late disease.
Enhanced locomotion, effective diffusion and trapping of undulatory micro-swimmers in heterogeneous environments

Swimming cells and microorganisms must often move through complex fluids that contain an immersed microstructure such as polymer molecules or filaments. In many important biological processes, such as mammalian reproduction and bacterial infection, the size of the immersed microstructure is comparable to that of the swimming cells. This leads to discrete swimmer–microstructure interactions that alter the swimmer’s path and speed. In this paper, we use a combination of detailed simulation and data-driven stochastic models to examine the motion of a planar undulatory swimmer in an environment of spherical obstacles tethered via linear springs to random points in the plane of locomotion. We find that, depending on environmental parameters, the interactions with the obstacles can enhance swimming speeds or prevent the swimmer from moving at all. We also show how the discrete interactions produce translational and angular velocity fluctuations that over time lead to diffusive behaviour primarily due to the coupling of swimming and rotational diffusion. Our results demonstrate that direct swimmer–microstructure interactions can produce changes in swimmer motion that may have important implications for the spreading of cell populations in or the trapping of harmful pathogens by complex fluids.
Teaching Language in Context

ion Abstract nouns are usually compared to concrete nouns such as table, flower, and pencil— things we can see and touch. There are certain abstract nouns that have a function similar to nominalisation in that they can be used to capture a stretch of surrounding text, compacting it into a single term. Abstract nouns such as problem, idea, fact, concept, issue, result, process, cause, and reason are often used in this way. These are sometimes referred to as ‘shell nouns’, ‘catch-all nouns’ or ‘summarising nouns’. While their dictionary meaning can be defined in a general way, their specific meaning can only really be interpreted in relation to the surrounding text. If I refer to an issue, for example, I would need to clarify the nature of the issue by referring to the particular context. In the problem-solution Geography report above, for example, the author has written: The issue at this location is that when the river is in full flow during the wet season, the outer bank erodes at a greater rate. Having specified the meaning (underlined above) of issue in this context, the author can now move on and simply use the term issue rather than continually restating when the river is in full flow during the wet season, the outer bank erodes at a greater rate. 10_DER_TLC2_03686_TXT_LAY. indd 309 11/06/16 3:01 PM 310 PART 2: Learning about Language Such terms can be used to create cohesion in texts. In this case, for example, issue can be used to constantly refer to the matter outlined, e.g.: The issue at this location is that when the river is in full flow during the wet season, the outer bank erodes at a greater rate. This issue has caused concern . The issue with the river bank . We can see from this example that such abstract nouns can be used as cohesive devices, constantly referring back and forth to the point in the text where the issue has been elaborated. Designer Note: Typesetter, three arrows need to be added to this text. Please see the attached file.
Asynchronous logics and application to information processing

The limiting numbe! of switching elements to which any given switching element may �upply �Ign�S has been tenned the "fan-out" of the element. Whenever logical . design IS undertaken, such fan-out restrictions must be ob­ served by th . e desIgne�, and the conditions imposed by these restrictions are usually consIdered qUIte separately from the logical conditions of the design. However, the spe�ds of 10gIC� ele�ents in . a switching system have long been known to bear an Inverse reiattonship to theIr fan-out. This inverse relationship results from the fact that both speed and fan-out place conflicting requirements upon the power amplification of the element. In parallel computers, for ex­ ample, one of the gr�atest limitations in speed occurs when signals from the control must be amplified and sent to all the gates in a register. This amplifica­ tion is perfonned whenever a word is transferred from one register to another, and, in particular, it limits the speed of such operations as shifting and multi­ plication, which involve a large number of such transfers. Circuit designers have recognized the fact that computation speed is often limited by the time required to amplify control signals and transmit them to the registers, and so have tended to concentrate upon the design of fast cable drivers and gate drivers rather than upon the design of flip-flops and other logical elements whose individual speeds have relatively little influence upon the speed of computation. On the other hand, logical designers and system designers have not usually been influenced by such considerations of the effect of fan-out upon speed, or at least not to the same extent, and the methods used for carrying out calculations and for performing arithmetic have remained unaffected. In the present discussion a method of logical design will be proposed that is based upon the notion that fan-out is always limited and that calculation time depends upon the amount of amplification that . must be performed. AI! hough the method will be described from the standpomt of asynchronous lOgICS, the basic problem is common to both asynchronous and synchronous systems, and a variation of the method may be derived that applies to synchronous systems. However, when the procedure is used for the design of an a�ynchronous system the methods used automatically ensure that the result WIll be speed­ independent. Hence no special precautions need b� taken during design to make certain that the course followed by the calculatIOn does not depend upon the speeds of the logical switching elements.
The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Syntax

Preface 1. Some Notes of Comparative Syntax with Special Reference to English and French 2. On the Grammatical Basis of Language Development: A Case Study 3. Comparative Syntax and Language Disordered 4. Object Shift, Verb Movement, and Verb Reduplication 5. Finiteness and Negation in Dravidian 6. On Some Descriptive Generalizations in Romance 7. Classifiers in Four Varieties of Chinese 8. Morphology and Word Order in "Creolization" and Beyond 9. Slavic Languages 10. The Scandinavian Languages 11. Noun Class, Gender, and the Lexicon-Syntax-Morphology Interfaces: A Comparative Study of Niger-Congo and Romance Languages 12. Agreement and Its Placement in Turkic Non-Subject Relative Clauses 13. Qu'est-ce-que (qu)-est-ce que? A Case Study in Comparative Romance Interrogative Syntax 14. Clitic-placement, Grammaticalization, and Reanalysis in Berber 15. Clitic Placement in Western Iberian: A Minimalist View 16. Comparative Athapaskan Syntax: Arguments and Projections 17. Number Agreement Variation in Catalan Dialects 18. Calssifiers and DP Structure in Southeast Asia 19. The Celtic Languages 20. Preverbal Elements in Korean and Japanese 21. Continental West-Germanic Languages