Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural and Functional Analysis of a New Subfamily of Glycosyltransferases Required for Glycosylation of Serine-rich Streptococcal Adhesins*

Serine-rich repeat glycoproteins (SRRPs) are a growing family of bacterial adhesins found in many streptococci and staphylococci; they play important roles in bacterial biofilm formation and pathogenesis. Glycosylation of this family of adhesins is essential for their biogenesis. A glucosyltransferase (Gtf3) catalyzes the second step of glycosylation of a SRRP (Fap1) from an oral streptococcus, Streptococcus parasanguinis. Although Gtf3 homologs are highly conserved in SRRP-containing streptococci, they share minimal homology with functionally known glycosyltransferases. We report here the 2.3 Å crystal structure of Gtf3. The structural analysis indicates that Gtf3 forms a tetramer and shares significant structural homology with glycosyltransferases from GT4, GT5, and GT20 subfamilies. Combining crystal structural analysis with site-directed mutagenesis and in vitro glycosyltransferase assays, we identified residues that are required for UDP- or UDP-glucose binding and for oligomerization of Gtf3 and determined their contribution to the enzymatic activity of Gtf3. Further in vivo studies revealed that the critical amino acid residues identified by the structural analysis are crucial for Fap1 glycosylation in S. parasanguinis in vivo. Moreover, Gtf3 homologs from other streptococci were able to rescue the gtf3 knock-out mutant of S. parasanguinis in vivo and catalyze the sugar transfer to the modified SRRP substrate in vitro, demonstrating the importance and conservation of the Gtf3 homologs in glycosylation of SRRPs. As the Gtf3 homologs only exist in SRRP-containing streptococci, we conclude that the Gtf3 homologs represent a unique subfamily of glycosyltransferases.
Relationship of organizational culture and readiness for change to employee commitment to the organization.

OBJECTIVES A study was undertaken to determine the relationships among organizational culture, organizational commitment, and organizational readiness in a sample of employees participating in a hospital-wide redesign process. METHODS Employees of an organization undergoing patient-focused redesign were surveyed after a 6-month period of preparation and before the initiation of the new care delivery model. RESULTS Organizational readiness, a variable rarely described in organizational change literature, was the strongest predictor of employee commitment to the organization. Constructive culture also was predictive, but less so than readiness for change. CONCLUSIONS Additional research is needed to clarify how an organization's history and culture of change contribute to employee willingness to work for the goals of the organization. Findings suggest that when change is seen as a positive characteristic of the environment, employees are more likely to commit to the work of the institution.
Lattice Constant Effect of Photonic Crystals on the Light Output of Blue Light-Emitting Diodes

Photonic crystal (PC) slabs with triangular lattice constants of 230, 345, 460, and 690 nm have been fabricated onto InGaN-GaN multiquantum-well light-emitting diodes with a wavelength of 461 nm. For the shallow nanoholes in the depth range of 10-38.5 nm, the current-voltage characteristics were not changed but the electroluminescence intensities were enhanced by a factor of 3.5. The light output was most enhanced with the lattice constant corresponding to the wavelength due to the PC diffraction with constructive interference but was suppressed with the lattice constant of the half wavelength by forming a photonic bandgap.
Self esteem and academic performance of students in public secondary schools in Ndhiwa District, Kenya

9] Academic Year: 2011 Project Year: 2012 Project Status: completed Project Supervisor: Prof. Lucy Wairimu Kibera, Ph.D Source URL: https://edufoundations.uonbi. ac.ke/node/759 Links: [1] https://edufoundations.uonbi. ac.ke/node/685 [2] http://facebook.com/sharer.php? u=https://edufoundations.uonbi. ac.ke/node/759&t=SELF+E STEEM+AND+ACADEMIC+PERFORMANCE+OF+STUDENTS+IN+PUBLIC+SECONDARY+SCHOOLS+IN +NDHIWA+DISTRICT%2C+KENYA [3] http://twitter.com/intent/tweet? text=SELF+ESTEEM+AND+ACADEMIC+PERFORMANCE+OF+STU DENTS+IN+PUBLIC+SECONDARY+SCHOOLS+IN+NDHIWA+DISTRICT%2C+KENYA&url=https:// edufoundations.uonbi. ac.ke/node/759 [4] https://plus.google. com/share? url=https://edufoundations.uonbi. ac.ke/node/759 [5] http://bookmarks.yahoo. com/toolbar/savebm? opener=tb&u=https://edufoundations.uonbi. a c.ke/node/759&t=SELF+ESTEEM+AND+ACADEMIC+PERFORMANCE+OF+STUDENTS+IN+PUBLI C+SECONDARY+SCHOOLS+IN+NDHIWA+DISTRICT%2C+KENYA&d= [6] http://www.linkedin. com/shareArticle? url=https://edufoundations.uonbi. ac.ke/node/759&min i=true&title=SELF+ESTEEM+AND+ACADEMIC+PERFORMANCE+OF+STUDENTS+IN+PUBLIC+SE CONDARY+SCHOOLS+IN+NDHIWA+DISTRICT%2C+KENYA&ro=false&summary=&so urce= [7] http://digg.com/submit? url=https://edufoundations.uonbi. ac.ke/node/759&title=SELF+ESTEE M+AND+ACADEMIC+PERFORMANCE+OF+STUDENTS+IN+PUBLIC+SECONDARY+SCHOOLS+IN+NDH IWA+DISTRICT%2C+KENYA [8] http://www.delicious. com/save? v=5&noui&jump=close&url=https://edufoundation s.uonbi. ac.ke/node/759&title=SELF+ESTEEM+AND+ACADEMIC+PERFORMANCE+OF+STUDENT S+IN+PUBLIC+SECONDARY+SCHOOLS+IN+NDHIWA+DISTRICT%2C+KENYA [9] http://erepository.uonbi. ac.ke/handle/11295/8980 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Page 1 of 1
Registered report: The common feature of leukemia-associated IDH1 and IDH2 mutations is a neomorphic enzyme activity converting alpha-ketoglutarate to 2-hydroxyglutarate

The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from “The common feature of leukemia-associated IDH1 and IDH2 mutations is a neomorphic enzyme activity converting alpha-ketoglutarate to 2-hydroxyglutarate” by Ward and colleagues, published in Cancer Cell in 2010 (Ward et al., 2010). The experiments that will be replicated are those reported in Figures 2, 3 and 5. Ward and colleagues demonstrate the mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2), commonly found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), abrogate the enzyme’s wild-type activity and confer to the mutant neomorphic activity that produces the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) (Figures 2 and 3). They then show that elevated levels of 2-HG are correlated with mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 in AML patient samples (Figure 5). The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology is a collaboration between the Center for Open Science and Science Exchange and the results of the replications will be published by eLife. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.12626. 001
[Epidemiologic study of dental fear in school children 8-15 years of age].

Authors investigated the dental fear scores (DAS, DFS) of 139 primary school children in Budapest, Hungary (72 females, 67 males, ages between 8-15 years). Sex and age had no effect on the scales. Mean dental fear scores were high (DAS: 10.7 +/- 3.7, DFS: 40.4 +/- 15.3). A strong correlation between DAS and DFS, and somewhat lower correlation between these scales and the general anxiety scales were demonstrated. Children's evaluation of the dental fear of the family and relations strongly correlated with dental fear and moderately with general anxiety. The results indicate that, dental fear is influenced by dental fear of family and relations, and general anxiety, but much less influenced by other demographic variables (i.e. age, sex) in primary-school children.
Uveitis: a global perspective

Purpose: To study the patterns of uveitis in various geographic regions. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using the MEDLINE database, from 1966 to present. Studies that satisfied our described selection criteria were analyzed to provide a global perspective on uveitis. Results: Twenty-two studies, which were the best available representatives of Australia, North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, were included in the final analysis. The distribution of uveitis cases according to the anatomical site of inflammation in the various regions, and the causes and clinical disease associations of anterior, intermediate, posterior, and pan-uveitis were studied for each of the regions and a comparative analysis was performed. Conclusions: There are similarities and distinct differences in the patterns of uveitis in the various geographic regions. Such patterns of uveitis are influenced by combinations of geographical, environmental, and genetic factors.
Influence of topically applied cold treatment on core temperature and cell viability in equine superficial digital flexor tendons.

OBJECTIVE To determine rate and degree of cooling for the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) during a standard cryotherapy application in horses and evaluate in vitro effects of cooling on survival of tendon cells. SAMPLE POPULATION 6 limbs of 5 adult horses and cultured cells obtained from SDFT of 3 adult horses during necropsy. PROCEDURE In vivo data were acquired by use of a thermocouple temperature probe inserted into the SDFT of a forelimb of each standing sedated horse. After baseline temperatures were recorded, a commercial compression splint with circulating coolant was placed on each selected limb, which was then exposed to cold treatment for 60 minutes. Temperatures were recorded at 30-second intervals. Mean minimum core temperature was calculated and used to design a protocol for in vitro cold treatment of cells. Specimens were obtained from the SDFT of horses during necropsy; tendon cells were cultured in suspension and exposed to 1-hour of cold treatment that mimicked the in vivo procedure. Viability of cells after cold treatment was compared with viability of cells maintained at body temperature. RESULTS After 1 hour of cold treatment, SDFT core temperature was reduced by a mean of 21.8 degrees C, reaching a mean minimum temperature of 10 degrees C. Viability did not differ significantly between cold-treated and control cells. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that topical application of cryotherapy significantly reduced core SDFT temperature in standing sedated horses. Temperatures achieved in vivo during cold treatment were not detrimental to the in vitro viability of tendon cells.
Changes in Muscle Architecture of Vastus Lateralis Muscle After an Alpine Snowboarding Race

Abstract Vernillo, G, Pisoni, C, Sconfienza, LM, Thiébat, G, and Longo, S. Changes in muscle architecture of vastus lateralis muscle after an alpine snowboarding race. J Strength Cond Res 31(1): 254–259, 2017—This study aimed to assess acute changes of vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture after an alpine snowboarding simulated race and to compare architecture characteristics between the front and rear legs on elite alpine snowboarders. Using ultrasonography, VL muscle thickness (MT), pennation angles (&thgr;), and fascicle lengths (Lf) were assessed in 8 elite alpine snowboarders (25.6 ± 4.4 years; stature: 178.4 ± 9.8 cm; body mass: 78.1 ± 12.1 kg) before and directly after an alpine snowboarding simulated race under competition rules. Muscle thickness, &thgr;, and Lf showed no meaningful changes (P > 0.05, differences reported as trivial) after the race for both legs. The rear leg tended to have a 14.0% lower &thgr; (P = 0.04, differences rated as moderate) and a 13.6% higher Lf (P = 0.04, differences rated as moderate) compared with the front leg. Changes in muscle architecture are not observable immediately after an alpine snowboarding simulated race. The ∼14.0% difference in muscle architecture between the front and the rear leg suggests the presence of a morphological asymmetry in elite alpine snowboarders with direct implications for injury prevention and training prescription.
Risk factors for mortality from pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in non-HIV patients: a meta-analysis

The number of patients with non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is increasing with widespread immunosuppressive treatment. We performed a meta-analysis to describe the clinical characteristics and factors associated with outcomes of PCP in HIV-negative patients. A total of 13 studies including 867 patients with non-HIV related PCP was included. The overall mortality for non-HIV patients with PCP was 30.6%. The most common underlying disorder for the development of PCP is hematological malignancies (29.1%), followed by autoimmune disease (20.1%), organ or bone marrow transplantation (14.0%), and solid tumors (6.0%). Risk factors associated with increased mortality rate including old age, female sex, longer time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis, respiratory failure, solid tumors, high lactate dehydrogenase, low serum albumin, bacterial, and aspergillus co-infection, etc (P < 0.05). Adjunctive corticosteroid and PCP prophylaxis was not shown to improve the outcome of PCP in non-HIV patients (P > 0.05). Our findings indicate that mortality in non-HIV patients with PCP is high. Improved knowledge about the prognostic factors may guide the early treatment.
Reclaiming Information and Communication Technologies for Development

The development of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has transformed the world over the last two decades. These technologies are often seen as being inherently 'good', with the ability to make the world better, and in particular to reduce poverty. However, their darker side is frequently ignored in such accounts. ICTs undoubtedly have the potential to reduce poverty, for example by enhancing education, health delivery, rural development and entrepreneurship across Africa, Asia and Latin America. However, all too often, projects designed to do so fail to go to scale, and are unsustainable when donor funding ceases. Indeed, ICTs have actually dramatically increased inequality across the world. The central purpose of this book is to account for why this is so, and it does so primarily by laying bare the interests that have underlain the dramatic expansion of ICTs in recent years. Unless these are fully understood, it will not be possible to reclaim the use of these technologies to empower the world's poorest and most marginalised.
Benchmarking the Scholarly Productivity of Physician Assistant Educators: An Update

Purpose: Success in scholarship has long challenged physician assistant (PA) educators, most of whom enter academia with little experience in research or writing. Since most PA programs grant a professional graduate degree, and expectations for PA faculty typically focus on teaching and service rather than research, it is reasonable for promotion and tenure decisions to be based on comparisons from within the PA education realm. Providing such benchmarks is the focus of this report. Predictors of successful publication and trends over time are also explored briefly. Methods: De‐identified data from the 2010 Faculty Survey were obtained from the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), including basic demographics, faculty rank and program role, degree, and number of peer‐reviewed publications. PAEA distributed the online survey in March 2010 to all faculty associated with member programs. The response rate was 35%, N = 425. SPSS version 19 was used for data analysis. Results: Respondents were 58.1% female. The mean number of publications reported by respondents over their entire career was 4.2, and over the last 3 years was 1.7. The respective median numbers of publications were one and zero. Logistic regression analysis identified three significant predictors of publication success: number of years in PA education, previous publications, and highest degree attained. Conclusions: This study seeks to provide rational benchmarks for PA program faculty seeking promotion or tenure. Previous publications and highest degree attained are key factors predicting successful publication. There is a continuing need for faculty development activities to help PA educators publish successfully.
In vitro activities of several new macrolide antibiotics against Mycobacterium avium complex

The in vitro activities of 12 macrolide compounds against 28 Mycobacterium avium complex strains isolated from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were determined by the conventional proportion method and by the BACTEC method. Clarithromycin (A-56268; TE-031), a new macrolide compound, was the most active agent tested, inhibiting 90% of strains at an MIC of 4 micrograms/ml by the BACTEC method. Roxithromycin (RU 28965) and erythromycylamine inhibited 90% of strains at 16 micrograms/ml. The organisms showed high levels of resistance to most other macrolide compounds.
The interrelationships between electrical stimulation, the environment surrounding the vascular endothelial cells of the skin, and the role of nitric oxide in mediating the blood flow response to electrical stimulation.

BACKGROUND Electrical stimulation (ES) is a commonly used modality in physical therapy for treating wounds such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores but the mechanism of its effect on skin blood flow (BF) has not been determined. MATERIAL/METHODS Ten subjects were examined during ES of the skin above the quadriceps muscle with biphasic sine wave stimulation at a frequency of 30 Hertz, pulse width 250 microseconds. BF was measured between the electrodes with a Laser Doppler Flow meter. In one series of experiments, N-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) was infused to determine the effect of blocking nitric oxide production on the blood flow response to ES. In another series, acetylcholine and epinephrine were infused to determine the effects of the initial blood flow prior to stimulation on the magnitude of the BF response to ES. RESULTS The apparent mechanism of the increase in blood flow during electrical stimulation seems to be mediated by nitric oxide since the increase in blood flow as a result of stimulation was blocked by L-NAME. Modulation of the vasoconstrictor or vasodilator tone of the skin blood vessels altered the magnitude of the BF response to electrical stimulation; epinephrine blocked the response and acetylcholine increased the response. CONCLUSIONS The BF response to ES is caused by NO and can be modulated by changing the environment of the vascular endothelial cell.
The use of statins after a cardiac intervention is associated with reduced risk of subsequent depression: proof of concept for the inflammatory and oxidative hypotheses of depression?

OBJECTIVE Depression is associated with immune activation as well as oxidative stress. Statins have in vitro and in vivo antiinflammatory and antioxidative properties. We prospectively investigated whether the use of statins was associated with a reduced risk of development of depression in individuals who have had a cardiac event or intervention. METHOD Participants were recruited between May 2005 and March 2006 from the Geelong Hospital, Geelong, Australia, a tertiary hospital in regional Australia that serves a catchment area shown to be representative of the broader Australian community. Patients who were hospitalized for angioplasty, myocardial infarction, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (N = 193) were followed up prospectively for 9 months to assess development of depression. Depression data were collected 3 months postdischarge (T1) by structured clinical interview (using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, version 5) and 9 months postdischarge (T2) by self-report (using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Major depressive disorder, minor depression, and dysthymia were diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria. Data on statins were collected from medical records. The association between statin therapy and depression was tested using both linear and logistic regression models controlling for clinical, psychological, and demographic confounders. RESULTS At discharge, 157 participants (81.3%) were receiving statin therapy. Adjusting for possible confounders, taking statins at discharge had a protective effect on depression at T1, reducing the likelihood of dysthymia, minor depression, or major depression by 69% (95% CI, 0.097-0.972; P = .045). At the T2 end point, statin therapy again had a protective effect and was associated with a 79% reduction in the likelihood of depression (95% CI, 0.052-0.876; P = .032). The linear regression model to predict depression at T2 was significantly different from zero (F(11,180) = 8.686, P < . 001) and explained 36.3% of the variance in depression. CONCLUSIONS The use of statins was associated with significant reduction in the risk of depression in individuals who have had a cardiac event. This supports the role of oxidative and inflammatory processes in depression and opens the door to rational and novel pathophysiologically based therapies distinct from conventional antidepressants.
Phase IIb dose-ranging study of the oral JAK inhibitor tofacitinib (CP-690,550) or adalimumab monotherapy versus placebo in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis with an inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 5 doses of oral tofacitinib (CP-690,550) or adalimumab monotherapy with placebo for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with an inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. METHODS In this 24-week, double-blind, phase IIb study, patients with RA (n = 384) were randomized to receive placebo, tofacitinib at 1, 3, 5, 10, or 15 mg administered orally twice a day, or adalimumab at 40 mg injected subcutaneously every 2 weeks (total of 6 injections) followed by oral tofacitinib at 5 mg twice a day for 12 weeks. The primary end point was the responder rate according to the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) at week 12. RESULTS Treatment with tofacitinib at a dose of ≥3 mg twice a day resulted in a rapid response with significant efficacy when compared to placebo, as indicated by the primary end point (ACR20 response at week 12), achieved in 39.2% (3 mg; P ≤ 0.05), 59.2% (5 mg; P < 0.0001), 70.5% (10 mg; P < 0.0001), and 71.9% (15 mg; P < 0.0001) in the tofacitinib group and 35.9% of patients in the adalimumab group (P = 0.105), compared with 22.0% of patients receiving placebo. Improvements were sustained at week 24, according to the ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 response rates as well as classifications of remission according to the 3-variable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) using C-reactive protein and the 4-variable DAS28 using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) in patients across all tofacitinib treatment arms (n = 272) were urinary tract infection (7.7%), diarrhea (4.8%), headache (4.8%), and bronchitis (4.8%). CONCLUSION Tofacitinib monotherapy at ≥3 mg twice a day was efficacious in the treatment of patients with active RA over 24 weeks and demonstrated a manageable safety profile.