Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Historical perspective on the development of the genetic toxicity test battery in the United States

The currently used genetic toxicity testing battery (the Ames Salmonella test, the in vitro mammalian cell mouse lymphoma assay and/or the in vitro mammalian cell chromosome assay, and the rodent bone marrow chromosome aberration or micronucleus assay) had its origins in the early‐to‐mid 1970s. By the late 1970s, a large number of genetic tests had been proposed or recommended by the US‐EPA for identifying germ cell mutagens and carcinogens. After a number of modifications that were primarily directed toward minimizing the number of tests used, the test battery reached its current state in the mid‐1980s. This test battery, with some minor modifications in the timing or ordering of the tests is mandated by regulatory authorities worldwide. Although it would be intellectually satisfying to presume that this compendium of tests was developed and selected for regulatory screening based solely on scientific grounds, it was actually based on a combination of scientific data, theoretical considerations, chance, and advocacy, and not always in equal proportions. The evolution of the current genetic toxicity test battery, and some of the activities and considerations that directed this evolution are described. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Line Planning and Connectivity

The line planning problem in public transport deals with the construction of a system of lines that is both attractive for the passengers and of low costs for the operator. In general, the computed line system should be connected, i.e., for each two stations there have to be a path that is covered by the lines. This subproblem is a generalization of the well-known Steiner tree problem; we call it the Steiner connectivity Problem. We discuss complexity of this problem, generalize the so-called Steiner partition inequalities and give a transformation to the directed Steiner tree problem. We show that directed models provide tight formulations for the Steiner connectivity problem, similar as for the Steiner tree problem.
Ultrasound evaluation of the male urethra for assessment of urethral stricture

Radiographic retrograde urethrography has traditionally been the preferred technique used by urologists to image the anterior urethra. Since originally described by McAninch in 1988, ultrasonic imaging of the urethra has evolved into a powerful and clinically useful tool for the accurate delineation of urethral pathology. Although posterior urethral and peri‐urethral fibrosis cannot be assessed reliably using this technique, sono‐urethrography has proven to be more accurate than conventional radiographic urethrography in measuring stricture length throughout the anterior urethra. Herein we describe the evolution of sono‐urethrography, explain its many advantages over traditional imaging techniques, and show clinical examples of its importance in guiding the successful reconstruction of urethral strictures, particularly in the bulbar area. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Serum and urinary NGAL but not KIM‐1 raises in human postrenal AKI

We examined the value of the novel acute kidney injury (AKI) markers neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule‐1 (KIM‐1) in acute postrenal impairment. These biomarkers have been evaluated in prerenal and intrarenal AKI so far, but not in human acute postrenal kidney injury. With regard to multimorbid and critically ill patients the discrimination of different AKI origins often remains a challenge. As the trend goes towards a diagnostic panel of AKI markers, we hereby aim to contribute to evaluate further options of discrimination in an observational case‐control study.
No clear evidence from countries that have enforced the wearing of helmets

Case-control studies suggest that cyclists who choose to wear helmets have fewer head injuries than non-wearers. Consequently, the BMA recommended that the United Kingdom introduce and enforce bicycle helmet laws.1 However, regular exercise such as cycling is beneficial to health, and non-helmeted commuter cyclists have lower mortality than non-cyclists.2 Helmet laws would be counterproductive if they discouraged cycling and increased car use. Wearing helmets may also encourage cyclists to take more risks, or motorists to take less care when they encounter cyclists.3 Recent epidemiological research highlighted problems adjusting for confounders in observational studies, causing biased, misleading results.4 Thus the best estimate of the benefits of helmet laws is what actually happens when laws are passed. Fig 1 Head injuries among cyclists admitted to hospitals in South Australia6 I reviewed data from all jurisdictions that have introduced legislation and increased use of helmets by at least 40 percentage points within a few months: New Zealand, Nova Scotia (Canada), and the Australian states of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia. To avoid confusing reductions in injuries (from safer roads or less cycling) with benefits of helmets, I have focused on percentages of cyclists with head injuries. Head injuries were most commonly classified as admissions to hospital with head wounds, skull or facial fracture, concussion, or other intracranial injury. The data include 10 504 head injuries, and in most cases were available as percentages of all cyclist injuries. Details of data sources and methods are given on bmj.com. Fig 2 Head injuries among cyclists and other road users admitted to hospital in Western Australia7 Road safety initiatives often yield substantial benefits. For example, random breath testing in New South Wales produced an obvious, sustained reduction in deaths. Another campaign, about the same time as the helmet law, …
Reducing numerical diffusion in interfacial gravity wave simulations

We demonstrate how the background potential energy is an excellent measure of the effective numerical diffusion or antidiffusion of an advection scheme by applying several advection schemes to a standing interfacial gravity wave. All existing advection schemes do not maintain the background potential energy because they are either diffusive, antidiffusive, or oscillatory. By taking advantage of the compressive nature of some schemes, which causes a decrease in the background potential energy, and the diffusive nature of others, which causes an increase in the background potential energy, we develop two background potential energy preserving advection schemes that are well‐suited to study interfacial gravity waves at a density interface between two miscible fluids in closed domains such as lakes. The schemes employ total variation diminishing limiters and universal limiters in which the limiter is a function of both the upwind and local gradients as well as the background potential energy. The effectiveness of the schemes is validated by computing a sloshing interfacial gravity wave with a nonstaggered‐grid Boussinesq solver, in which QUICK is employed for momentum and the pressure correction method is used, which is second‐order accurate in time. For scalar advection, the present background potential energy preserving schemes are employed and compared to other TVD and non‐TVD schemes, and we demonstrate that the schemes can control the change in the background potential energy due to numerical effects. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the syntax and semantics of Italian spatial Ps

This paper offers a unified approach to Italian spatial prepositions, such as di fronte a ‘in front of’, verso ‘towards’, in ‘in’, dietro a ‘behind’, and nel mezzo di ‘in the middle of’. Three assumptions play a key role. First, Italian spatial prepositions can differ sensibly in their morphological structure, but share the same syntactic properties. Second, their sentential distribution is in part context-sensitive, thus based on the categories with which they combine. Third, their semantic contribution is “layered”, in the sense that it includes the meaning dimensions of both aspectual boundedness and specificity. The main result is a generalised theory on the structure and semantic interpretation of these prepositions.
Duplication 12p and Pallister–Killian syndrome: A case report and review of the literature toward defining a Pallister–Killian syndrome minimal critical region

Pallister–Killian syndrome (PKS) is a multisystem sporadic genetic condition characterized by facial anomalies, variable developmental delay and intellectual impairment, hypotonia, hearing loss, seizures, pigmentary skin differences, temporal alopecia, diaphragmatic hernia, congenital heart defects, and other systemic abnormalities. PKS is typically caused by the presence of a supernumerary isochromosome composed of the short arms of chromosome 12 resulting in tetrasomy 12p, which is often present in a tissue limited mosaic state. The PKS phenotype has also often been observed in individuals with complete or partial duplications of 12p (trisomy 12p rather than tetrasomy 12p) as the result of an interstitial duplication or unbalanced translocation. We have identified a proposita with PKS who has two small de novo interstitial duplications of 12p which, along with a review of previously reported cases, has allowed us to define a minimum critical region for PKS. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microenvironment and Immunology Adenosine A 2 A Receptors Intrinsically Regulate CD 8 þ T Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) blockade enhances innate and adaptive immune responses. However, mouse genetic studies have shown that A2AR deletion does not inhibit the growth of all tumor types. In the current study, we showed that growth rates for ectopic melanoma and bladder tumors are increased in Adora2a / mice within 2 weeks of tumor inoculation. A2AR deletion in the host reduced numbers of CD8 þ T cells and effector–memory differentiation of all T cells. To examine intrinsic functions in T cells, we generated mice harboring a T-cell–specific deletion of A2AR. In this host strain, tumor-bearing mice displayed increased growth of ectopic melanomas, decreased numbers of tumor-associated T cells, reduced effector–memory differentiation, and reduced antiapoptotic IL7Ra (CD127) expression on antigen-experienced cells. Intratumoral pharmacologic blockade similarly reduced CD8þ T-cell density within tumors in wild-type hosts. We found that A2AR-proficient CD8 þ T cells specific for melanoma cells displayed a relative survival advantage in tumors. Thus, abrogating A2AR signaling appeared to reduce IL7R expression, survival, and differentiation of T cells in the tumor microenvironment. One implication of these results is that the antitumor effects of A2AR blockade that can be mediated by activation of cytotoxic T cells may be overcome in some tumor microenvironments as a result of impaired T-cell maintenance and effector–memory differentiation. Thus, our findings imply that the efficacious application of A2AR inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy may require careful dose optimization to prevent activation-induced T-cell death in tumors. Cancer Res; 74(24); 7239–49. 2014 AACR.
West Nile Virus Transmission in 2008 in North‐Eastern Italy

After 10 years, West Nile virus (WNV) re‐emerged in Italy in August 2008. As on 31 December 2008, the infection affected eight Provinces in three Regions (Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Lombardy), where a total of 794 cases of WNV infection in 251 equine stables were detected on the basis of the clinical signs and as a result of a serological screening in horses living in the area. Only 4.0% (32/794) of the serologically positive animals showed clinical signs, and the 32 clinical cases were reported in 18 different farms. The observed case‐fatality rate was 15.6% (5/32). The confirmed clinical cases were detected from end August to mid October. Significant levels of positivity by RT‐PCR were also observed in magpies (Pica pica) (9.1%, 95% confidence levels: 6.1–13.4%), carrion crows (Corvus corone) (7.4%, 95% confidence levels: 3.6–14.4%) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) (12.9%, 95% confidence levels: 7.6–21.2%).
Accurate thermal characterization of power semiconductor packages by thermal simulation and measurements

In this paper the possibility of generating a compact thermal model based on thermal transient measurements is discussed and evaluated. A case study of a power diode in a cylindrical-shaped copper package is shown. The detailed model of the package is built and simulated in a CFD based thermal simulator software. The measurement results are compared to the results of the simulations and after some model refinement we found good agreement. The compact model of the package is also identified based on the structure functions generated from the real measurement. The case-node is determined using the standard dual-interface method. The resulting compact model has proven to be a perfect representation of the real package as the structure functions generated based on measurements and corresponding simulation results match perfectly.
Degradation of ppGpp by Nudix Pyrophosphatase Modulates the Transition of Growth Phase in the Bacterium Thermus thermophilus*

A major bacterial alarmone, guanosine 3′,5′-bispyrophosphate (ppGpp), controls cellular growth under conditions of nutritional starvation. For most bacteria, intracellular ppGpp levels are tightly controlled by the synthesis/degradation cycle of RelA and SpoT activities. This study shows a novel ppGpp regulatory protein governing the cellular growth of Thermus thermophilus, Ndx8, a member of the Nudix pyrophosphatase family that degrades ppGpp to yield guanosine 3′,5′-bisphosphate. The ndx8-null mutant strain exhibited early stage growth arrest accompanied by the stationary phase-specific morphologies and global transcriptional modulation under nutritionally defined conditions. Several possible substrate compounds of Ndx8, which specifically accumulated in the ndx8 mutant cells, were identified by employing a capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach. Among them, the hydrolytic activity of Ndx8 for ppGpp was significant not only in vitro but also in vivo. Finally, the elimination of ppGpp synthetic activity suppressed the observed phenotype of the ndx8 mutation, suggesting that the function of Ndx8 as a growth regulator is involved in ppGpp accumulation, which is thought to act as a trigger of the growth phase transition. These results suggest a novel mechanism of ppGpp-mediated growth control by the functional relay between Ndx8 and SpoT activity as ppGpp scavengers.
The Human Factor in Acquisitions: Cross-Industry Labor Mobility and Corporate Diversification

The benefits of internal labor markets are largest when they include industries that utilize similar worker skills, thereby facilitating cross-industry worker reallocation and collaboration. We show that diversifying acquisitions occur more frequently among industry pairs with higher human capital transferability. Such acquisitions result in larger labor productivity gains and are less often undone in subsequent divestitures. Moreover, acquirers retain more high-skill workers and more often transfer workers to jobs in other industries inside the merged firm. Overall, our results link human capital reallocation with the value created by corporate diversification and provide an explanation for seemingly unrelated acquisitions.
Effect of zeta potential value on bacterial behavior during electrophoretic separation

The aggregation and/or adhesion of bacterial cells is a serious disadvantage of electrophoretic separations. In this study, physicochemical surface characteristics of bacteria were measured to establish their role in bacterial adhesion and aggregation on the basis of electrophoretic behavior of different clinical strains of Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‐negative Escherichia coli bacteria. The number and the shape of peaks obtained on the electropherograms were connected with the zeta potential measurements and in‐line microscope observation using specially designed CE fluorescence stereomicroscope setup. These results suggest that the lower the zeta potential, the higher the number of smaller peaks detected. The direct microscopic observation of electrophoretic movement proved the presence of many small aggregates originating from individual or clustered bacterial cells. On the other hand, lower zeta potential was also observed for dead bacterial cells, which suggested that some of the peaks can be attributed to viable cells while the other to the dead ones.
Nucleotide sequence and characterization of a Bacillus subtilis gene encoding a flagellar switch protein

The nucleotide sequence of the Bacillus subtilis fliM gene has been determined. This gene encodes a 38-kDa protein that is homologous to the FliM flagellar switch proteins of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Expression of this gene in Che+ cells of E. coli and B. subtilis interferes with normal chemotaxis. The nature of the chemotaxis defect is dependent upon the host used. In B. subtilis, overproduction of FliM generates mostly nonmotile cells. Those cells that are motile switch less frequently. Expression of B. subtilis FliM in E. coli also generates nonmotile cells. However, those cells that are motile have a tumble bias. The B. subtilis fliM gene cannot complement an E. coli fliM mutant. A frameshift mutation was constructed in the fliM gene, and the mutation was transferred onto the B. subtilis chromosome. The mutant has a Fla- phenotype. This phenotype is consistent with the hypothesis that the FliM protein encodes a component of the flagellar switch in B. subtilis. Additional characterization of the fliM mutant suggests that the hag and mot loci are not expressed. These loci are regulated by the SigD form of RNA polymerase. We also did not observe any methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins in an in vivo methylation experiment. The expression of these proteins is also dependent upon SigD. It is possible that a functional basal body-hook complex may be required for the expression of SigD-regulated chemotaxis and motility genes.
Re Stig Söderberg's "Personality disorders in parasuicide" in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry (2001;55:163-7).

Re Stig Söderberg’s ‘‘Personality disorders in parasuicide’’ in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry (2001;55:163–7). P 163, 7th last line: ‘‘Previous studies have seldom included standardized methods for assessment of the full range of personality disorders (21)’’. This reference is to my article: Persson ML, Runeson BS, Wasserman D. Diagnoses, psychosocial stressors and adaptive functioning in attempted suicide. Ann Clin Psychiatry 1999;11:119–27. In this article, a systematic sample of 78 suicide attempters were interviewed according to SCID I and II and Axes III–V according to DSM-III-R. In Table 1 on page 122, the percentages of any Axis II diagnoses, borderline, paranoid, antisocial and avoidant personality disorders are shown, and on page 121 Axis II diagnoses are referred to in a special chapter, including all 3 clusters. It was a misunderstanding that my study did not include standardized methods for assessment of the full range of personality disorders. Instead, this perhaps should have been expressed: . with the exception of (21). I am grateful for the opportunity to make this correction in the Journal.
Building a brain in the gut: development of the enteric nervous system

The enteric nervous system (ENS), the intrinsic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract, is an essential component of the gut neuromusculature and controls many aspects of gut function, including coordinated muscular peristalsis. The ENS is entirely derived from neural crest cells (NCC) which undergo a number of key processes, including extensive migration into and along the gut, proliferation, and differentiation into enteric neurons and glia, during embryogenesis and fetal life. These mechanisms are under the molecular control of numerous signaling pathways, transcription factors, neurotrophic factors and extracellular matrix components. Failure in these processes and consequent abnormal ENS development can result in so‐called enteric neuropathies, arguably the best characterized of which is the congenital disorder Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), or aganglionic megacolon. This review focuses on the molecular and genetic factors regulating ENS development from NCC, the clinical genetics of HSCR and its associated syndromes, and recent advances aimed at improving our understanding and treatment of enteric neuropathies.
Altered Metabolic Flux due to Deletion of odhA causes l-Glutamate Overproduction in Corynebacterium glutamicum

ABSTRACT l-Glutamate overproduction in Corynebacterium glutamicum, a biotin auxotroph, is induced by biotin limitation or by treatment with certain fatty acid ester surfactants or with penicillin. We have analyzed the relationship between the inductions, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (ODHC) activity, and l-glutamate production. Here we show that a strain deleted for odhA and completely lacking ODHC activity produces l-glutamate as efficiently as the induced wild type (27.8 mmol/g [dry weight] of cells for the ohdA deletion strain compared with only 1.0 mmol/g [dry weight] of cells for the uninduced wild type). This level of production is achieved without any induction or alteration in the fatty acid composition of the cells, showing that l-glutamate overproduction can be caused by the change in metabolic flux alone. Interestingly, the l-glutamate productivity of the odhA-deleted strain is increased about 10% by each of the l-glutamate-producing inductions, showing that the change in metabolic flux resulting from the odhA deletion and the inductions have additive effects on l-glutamate overproduction. Tween 40 was indicated to induce drastic metabolic change leading to l-glutamate overproduction in the odhA-deleted strain. Furthermore, optimizing the metabolic flux from 2-oxoglutarate to l-glutamate by tuning glutamate dehydrogenase activity increased the l-glutamate production of the odhA-deleted strain.
Prevalence and potential determinants of musculoskeletal disease symptoms among care workers in long-term care facilities in South Korea.

AIM The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree and influencing factors of musculoskeletal disease symptoms among care workers in long-term care facilities in South Korea. METHODS Participants in this cross-sectional study were 265 care workers in 15 long-term care facilities. Data were collected between 1 and 27 August 2011, using the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) code H-30-2003 and analyzed using logistic regression with SPSS ver. 18.0. RESULTS Of the care workers, 88.7% had pain in at least one of the six body parts. The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disease symptoms was in the lower back and legs. Among the organizational factors, there were significant differences in neck pain by work shift and patient grade. Neck pain was more severe in the 8 h shift group than 12-24 h shift group. Care workers caring for patients who were classified in the first patient grade of long-term care insurance had 4.73 times more complaints of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck, 9.54 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.37-27.02) in the hand and wrist, 4.37 times (95% CI = 1.59-12.03) in the lower back, and 2.96 times (95% CI: 1.17-7.51) in the leg and foot. CONCLUSION To prevent and manage musculoskeletal disease symptoms, activities and the intensity of work should be arranged systematically and planned, and the improvement of organizational factors such as appropriate assignment by patients' severity is considered.