Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pertussis Toxin and Adenylate Cyclase Toxin Provide a One-Two Punch for Establishment of Bordetella pertussis Infection of the Respiratory Tract

ABSTRACT Previously we found that pertussis toxin (PT), an exotoxin virulence factor produced by Bordetella pertussis, plays an important early role in colonization of the respiratory tract by this pathogen, using a mouse intranasal infection model. In this study, we examined the early role played by another exotoxin produced by this pathogen, adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT). By comparing a wild-type strain to a mutant strain (ΔCYA) with an in-frame deletion of the cyaA gene encoding ACT, we found that the lack of ACT confers a significant peak (day 7) colonization defect (1 to 2 log10). In mixed-infection experiments, the ΔCYA strain was significantly outcompeted by the wild-type strain, and intranasal administration of purified ACT did not increase colonization by ΔCYA. These data suggest that ACT benefits the bacterial cells that produce it and, unlike PT, does not act as a soluble factor benefiting the entire infecting bacterial population. Comparison of lower respiratory tract infections over the first 4 days after inoculation revealed that the colonization defect of the PT deletion strain was apparent earlier than that of ΔCYA, suggesting that PT plays an earlier role than ACT in the establishment of B. pertussis infection. Examination of cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of infected mice revealed that, unlike PT, ACT does not appear to inhibit neutrophil influx to the respiratory tract early after infection but may combat neutrophil activity once influx has occurred.
An appraisal of the disc–macula distance to disc diameter ratio in the assessment of optic disc size

The disc–macula distance to disc diameter ratio (DM:DD ratio) has been advocated as a method of supporting the diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia. A DM:DD ratio of 3.00 has been claimed to be a satisfactory threshold value for this purpose. This study has critically evaluated the above claim and found a value of 3.00 to be too low. The threshold DM:DD ratio values for the diagnosis of unequivocal ONH for an adult population, 5 and 2 years of age were found to be respectively 4.20, 3.93 and 3.70, the values for the diagnosis of mild ONH being 3.68, 3.44 and 3.23. Lower computed values reduce the predictive power. The method of computation of the DM:DD ratio was modified to abolish potential error due to disc rotation and foveal displacement. In an adult population, there was no correlation between the DM:DD ratio and amblyopia or disc ovalness. There was a trend of increasing DM:DD ratio towards myopia and decreasing DM:DD ratio towards hypermetropia; the DM:DD ratio may therefore be falsely high in high myopia. DM:DD ratio values below threshold should therefore be interpreted with care until formal optic disc biometry can be performed.
Identification of a Haemophilus influenzae5′-Nucleotidase Protein: Cloning of the nucA Gene and Immunogenicity and Characterization of the NucA Protein

ABSTRACT We report on the identification of a surface-exposed, highly conserved, immunogenic nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae(NTHi) protein, which elicits cross-reactive bactericidal antibodies against NTHi. The protein was extracted from NTHi strain P860295 with KSCN and purified; it migrated as a single band on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel with an apparent molecular mass of 63 kDa. Mouse antiserum generated against the purified protein was reactive on whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with seven NTHi strains and type b Eagan and Whittier strains and exhibited bactericidal activity to homologous and heterologous NTHi strains. However, the protein is made in small amounts in NTHi as corroborated by immunoelectron microscopy. To further study this protein, we cloned, sequenced, and expressed it recombinantly in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein is localized in the periplasm ofE. coli and has been purified to homogeneity. Both the recombinant and native proteins possess 5′-nucleotidase activity; hence, the protein has been called NucA. Mouse antiserum directed against the recombinant NucA protein was reactive on Western immunoblots and whole-cell ELISA with all H. influenzaestrains tested including Eagan and was bactericidal for two heterologous strains tested. The antiserum also resulted in a log reduction in bacteremia, in an infant-rat protection study withH. influenzae type b as the challenge strain. These features suggest that NucA is a potential subunit vaccine candidate against NTHi disease.
NDM-1-producing Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae from diabetic foot ulcers in India.

Emerging multi-drug resistance has become a major problem in communityacquired and nosocomial infections worldwide (Shakil et al., 2008; Paterson & Bonomo, 2005; Rodrı́guez-Baño & Navarro, 2008). Carbapenems are used as last-resort drugs because increasing resistance against b-lactam groups of antibiotics has developed due to their excessive use in treating a wide range of infections (Paterson, 2006). One of the latest resistance enzymes, NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-b-lactamase) was first identified in isolates from a Swedish patient of Indian origin in 2008. This patient had previously been admitted to the Ludhiana hospital in Punjab (India) and was later admitted to a hospital in New Delhi (Yong et al., 2009; Kumarasamy et al., 2010). This was the first report of blaNDM-1-carrying isolates that confer resistance against all b-lactams except aztreonam (Yong et al., 2009). Since then, NDM-1 producers have been extensively described in many countries in the world but mostly those representing important bacterial populations originating from the Indian subcontinent. Widespread dissemination of NDM producers in the community, such as that found in Pakistan, indicates that prevalence of carriage of NDM in the community may be as high as 13.8 % in outpatients (Perry et al., 2011).
Organizational reputation and risk regulation: The effect of reputational threats on agency scientific outputs

This article aims to explain the variation in the scientific risk assessments conducted by two regulatory agencies: the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES). To explain the merits of scientific risk assessments that have caused polarization within the EU, this article draws on bureaucratic reputation theory. The theory argues that regulators are political organizations that are active in protecting their unique organizational reputations. The findings obtained from interviews, direct observations, and primary documents yield support for this framework: depending on reputational threats, agencies choose to emphasize either their role as guardians of the prevailing social values, or send strong professional signals by delivering a scientifically rigorous risk assessment.
Business model of Islamic banks in Turkey

The purpose of this paper is inductively identifying the business model of Islamic (participation) banks in Turkey via using bank characteristics, meaning balance sheet ratios. ,The methodology starts from bank characteristics and ends with identification of bank business model according to these characteristics under the assumption that there is one single business model (say Model A) for all Turkish Islamic banks. What the author aims to find is the properties of this business model. Regarding the method, seven bank characteristics from liability side and five characteristics from asset side of bank balance sheets were established. While representing these characteristics, the author uses charts and tables. Necessary data are gathered from the Central Bank of Turkey. Time frame of monthly data is from December 2005 to March 2015. In total, there are 1356 observations. ,Value proposition of business model of Turkish Islamic banks depends on participation in collecting funds. In terms of customer segmentation, there is dominance of private sector. While using the funds, the main preference is loans, meaning that value proposition depends on loan products, especially murabahah. Thus, revenue streams depend on mark-up. Overall, business model of Turkish Islamic banks seems similar to traditional banking based on intermediation with some peculiarities. There are also some evidences which can be interpreted as signs toward decline in this traditional role like decrease in deposits, increase in funds from financial institutions and decrease in loans. ,It can be said that original idea of participation banks has been followed on the liability side of Turkish Islamic banks. However, decrease in deposits recently needs detailed investigation to create convenient policies especially by Islamic banks. Similar investigation and policy creation is needed also for the developments of increase in funds from financial institutions and decrease in loans. Furthermore, as the original idea of participation is not followed by business model of Turkish Islamic banks, rethinking and acting is needed in that regard. ,Main contributions of this paper are as follows: first, it fills a gap in the field where studies regarding business model of Islamic banks are scarce. Second, it fills a gap in literature of Islamic banking in Turkey where most of the studies are about development or jurisprudence of Islamic banks. Third, it provides a decade-long evidence regarding business model of Islamic banks in Turkey. Fourth, the findings provide an initial step for the construction of a business model canvas for Turkish Islamic banks. Fifth, discussion of findings leads to number of important questions which can pave the way for new research studies.
Postnatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from mother to infant. A prospective cohort study in Kigali, Rwanda.

BACKGROUND Although transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) from mother to infant has been well documented during pregnancy and delivery, little is known about the possible transmission of HIV-1 during the postnatal period. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study in Kigali, Rwanda, of 212 mother-infant pairs who were seronegative for HIV-1 at delivery. All the infants were breast-fed. The subjects were followed at three-month intervals, with Western blot assays for antibodies to HIV-1 and testing of mononuclear cells by a double polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using three sets of primers. To evaluate potential risk factors, each mother who seroconverted was matched with three seronegative control women. RESULTS After a mean follow-up of 16.6 months, 16 of the 212 mothers became seropositive for HIV-1. Of their 16 infants, 9 became seropositive. One infant was excluded from the analysis because of a positive test by PCR on the blood sample obtained at birth. Postnatal seroconversion to HIV-1 occurred in four of the five infants born to the mothers who seroconverted during the first 3 months post partum, and in four infants of the 10 mothers who seroconverted between month 4 and month 21. In all cases, the infant seroconverted during the same three-month period as the mother. The main risk factor for maternal seroconversion was being single. CONCLUSIONS HIV-1 infection can be transmitted from mothers to infants during the postnatal period. Colostrum and breast milk may be efficient routes for the transmission of HIV-1 from recently infected mothers to their infants.
Peripheral trafficking of bone-marrow-derived stem cells in patients with different types of gastric neoplasms

ABSTRACT Recently, there has been a growing interest in the importance of stem cells (SCs) in the development/progression of gastric neoplasms. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of different populations of bone-marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) in patients with various types of gastric malignancies, including gastric cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), and lymphomas. We found significantly lower numbers of circulating Lin-/CD45 +/ CD133 + hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), and intensified peripheral trafficking of both Lin−/CD45−/CXCR4+/CD34+/CD133+ very small embryonic/epiblast-like stem cells (VSELs) and CD105 + /STRO-1 +/ CD45- mesenchymal SCs (MSCs) in patients with gastric cancer, but not in those with other types of gastric neoplasms. No significant differences in the absolute numbers of circulating CD34 +/ KDR +/ CD31 +/ CD45- endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were observed between the groups. This abnormal balance in the peripheral trafficking of BMSCs in patients with gastric cancer was neither associated with clinical stage of the disease nor with systemic levels of stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), as these were comparable to the values observed in control individuals. Interestingly, the absolute numbers of circulating BMSCs correlated with the concentrations of complement cascade-derived anaphylatoxins/molecules (mainly C5b-9/membrane attack complex-MAC) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). In summary, our translational study revealed that abnormal peripheral trafficking of BMSCs occurs in patients with gastric cancer, but not in those with other types of gastric neoplasms. Further, our findings indicate that highlighted complement cascade-derived molecules and S1P, but not SDF-1, are significant players associated with this phenomenon.
All-Pay Oligopolies: Price Competition with Unobservable Inventory Choices

We study a class of games where stores source unobservable inventories in advance, and then simultaneously set prices. Our framework allows for firm asymmetries, heterogeneous consumer tastes, endogenous consumer information through advertising, and salvage values for unsold units. The payoff structure relates to a complete-information all-pay contest with outside options, non-monotonic winning and losing functions, and conditional investments. In the generically unique equilibrium, stores randomize their price choice and, conditional on that choice, serve all their targeted demandâ€”thus, some inventories may remain unsold. As inventory costs become fully recoverable, the equilibrium price distribution converges to an equilibrium of the associated Bertrand game (where firms first choose prices and then produce to order). This suggests that with production in advance, the choice between a Cournot analysis and a Bertrand-type analysis, as properly generalized in this paper, should depend on whether or not stores observe rivalsâ€™ inventories before setting prices.
Parental Perceptions toward and Practices of Heritage Language Maintenance: Focusing on the United States and Canada.

This study reviews 17 studies since the year of 2000 on the perceptions and practices of immigrant parents who reside in the United States or Canada with respect to their children’s heritage language maintenance (HLM). The findings suggest that parental perceptions may change due to practical considerations and vary with different degrees of expectation, emphases, and reasons. To apply their attitudes into practice, the body of literature shows that parents take the responsibility to make efforts, through trying to make full use of the inhouse and external resources such as creating language environment and attending heritage language school and church. However, some of them have little enthusiasm, and some of them change their language practices. Also, there are discrepancies between what they think and what they practice. Several challenges are synthesized including children’s changing language practices, their resistance to attending heritage language school, and parents’ lack of time and energy. Further implications are discussed regarding children’s bilingual/ multilingual development, parental efforts, and external resources. It is concluded that joint efforts from parents, educational institutions, governments, and other organizations should be made to tackle the issues in HLM.
A recombinant mutant abrin A chain expressed in Escherichia coli can be used as an effective vaccine candidate

We used site-directed mutagenesis to mutate two key amino acid residues, Glu164 and Arg167, of abrin A chain (ABRA), creating a mutant ABRAE164AR167L. The mutant ABRA (mABRA) encoded by mABRAE164AR167L was expressed in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli, and used to develop an effective vaccine to protect mice against native abrin intoxication. The cytotoxicity of mABRA was dramatically reduced as compared to that of recombinant ABRA (rABRA) and native abrin, but the antigenicity and immunogenicity remained the same. Balb/c mice were vaccinated with purified mABRA, and survival was evaluated after challenge with native abrin. Mice that were given three vaccinations developed a protective immune response that was 100% protective against an intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 10×LD50 of native abrin. Furthermore, the sera from immunized mice provided complete passive protection for naive mice. This study describes the generation of a substantial amount of mABRA from E. coli and the potential application of mABRA as an effective vaccine candidate for humans, to protect against a high-dose of native abrin.
Anterior cruciate ligament tunnel placement: Comparison of insertion site anatomy with the guidelines of a computer-assisted surgical system.

PURPOSE With the development of computer-assisted surgery (CAS) systems, the surgeon's ability to operate a CAS planning station will become essential. For example, default parameters in computed tomographic (CT) data are being used to place tunnels in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The goal of this study was to compare the location of the insertion sites in ACL reconstruction anatomically, via roentgenographic images and via CT scan data and to validate these tunnel placement parameters. TYPE OF STUDY Cadaveric analysis. METHODS Eight human cadaveric knees were marked with 6 copper wires 1 mm in diameter around the circumference of the insertions of the ACL. Using lateral roentgenograms and CT scans that were subsequently transferred to the CAS planning station, the tunnel locations were determined. These were based on a distance from the back of the condyle (location A) and from the roof of the notch (location B) on the femur and on a distance posterior from the tuberosity to the posterior margin along the tibial plateau, which is set as the CAS planning station's default. Locations according to roentgenograms and CT scans were then compared and the accuracy of the CAS planning station was assessed. RESULTS Comparison of roentgenograms and CT revealed a femoral insertion at 27.5% +/- 3.2% and 26.9% +/- 3.5% (roentgenograms) and 26.6% +/- 1.9% and 26.3% +/- 2.4% (CT), respectively. The CAS planning station provided a tunnel location that was 1.3 +/- 1.0 mm (0.3 to 2.5 mm) away from the actual femoral ACL insertion. The tibial tunnel was placed according to the copper wire markers and was found to be at 46.2% +/- 2.8% (roentgenograms) and 45.4% +/- 2.1% (CT). No statistical differences between position in CT and roentgenograms could be detected (P >.05). CONCLUSIONS The compared methodologies showed similar locations of the ACL insertions, assuring accurate preoperative planning with the CAS system. However, the CAS system requires adjustment to each individual knee anatomy.
How long to compliance? Escalating infringement proceedings and the diminishing power of special interests

ABSTRACT Previous research has shown that European governments vary in their responsiveness to the demands of special interests benefiting from non-compliance with European Union law. However, what determines intra-member state variation and the persistence of violations? I argue that the political weight of interest groups can explain delays in changes from the non-compliant status quo to policies consistent with European legislation, and long and escalating infringement proceedings are the result of opportunistic governments maximizing political support by providing particularly influential special interests with continued non-compliance. This argument is empirically supported by an analysis of member states’ decisions to comply before infringement cases reach the Court of Justice of the European Union, the time-to-compliance from the initiation of official infringement proceedings, and the number of stages of these proceedings that a case reaches before finally being settled.
Central urocortin 3 administration decreases limited-access ethanol intake in nondependent mice

Stress and alcohol abuse are co-related. Acute alcohol is anxiolytic and stress is cited as a factor in relapse to alcohol use. A primary mediator of the stress response is the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). The CRF family of endogenous ligands includes urocortin 3 (Ucn 3), which binds selectively to the CRF type 2 receptor and has been implicated in ethanol consumption in dependent and withdrawing rats. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of Ucn 3, delivered centrally to nondependent mice, on limited-access ethanol consumption. Adult C57BL/6J mice were trained to self-administer 10% ethanol during daily, 2-h limited-access sessions, using lickometers to assess drinking patterns for both ethanol and water. Sterile saline or 0.3, 1, or 3 nmol of Ucn 3 was microinjected into the lateral ventricle immediately before the limited-access session in a within-subjects design. There was a significant decrease in ethanol (both ml and g/kg), but not water, intake following Ucn 3 treatment, explained by a change in size of the largest lick run. Food intake at both 2 h and 24 h after injection was statistically unaffected by Ucn 3 administration. These results establish a role for CRF type 2 receptors in a nondependent mouse model of ethanol self-administration.
Formation Kinetics of Gemfibrozil Chlorination Reaction Products: Analysis and Application

Aqueous chlorination kinetics of the lipid regulator gemfibrozil and the formation of reaction products were investigated in deionized water over the pH range 3 to 9, and in two wastewater matrices. Chlorine oxidation of gemfibrozil was found to be highly dependent on pH. No statistically significant degradation of gemfibrozil was observed at pH values greater than 7. Gemfibrozil oxidation between pH 4 and 7 was best represented by first order kinetics. At pH 3, formation of three reaction products was observed. 4′‐ClGem was the only reaction product formed from pH 4–7 and was modeled with zero order kinetics. Chlorine oxidation of gemfibrozil in two wastewater matrices followed second order kinetics. 4′‐ClGem was only formed in wastewater with pH below 7. Deionized water rate kinetic models were applied to two wastewater effluents with gemfibrozil concentrations reported in literature in order to calculate potential mass loading rates of 4′ClGem to the receiving water.