Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OXA-24, a Novel Class D β-Lactamase with Carbapenemase Activity in an Acinetobacter baumanniiClinical Strain

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii RYC 52763/97, a clinical isolate involved in a prolonged nosocomial outbreak at our hospital, was resistant to all β-lactams tested, including imipenem and meropenem, which had MICs of 128 and 256 μg/ml, respectively. This strain synthesized three β-lactamases: a plasmid-mediated TEM-1 β-lactamase (pI 5.4), an AmpC-type chromosomal cephalosporinase (pI 9.4), and a novel, presumptively chromosomally mediated OXA-related enzyme (pI 9.0) named OXA-24. After cloning and sequencing, the deduced amino acid sequence of the OXA-24 β-lactamase showed 40% homology with the OXA-10 (PSE-2) and OXA-7 β-lactamases, 39% homology with the OXA-11 and OXA-5 enzymes, and 33% homology with the LCR-1 β-lactamase. The amino acid sequence of the OXA-24 β-lactamase contained the STFK motif found in serine β-lactamases, but the typical class D triad KTG was replaced by KSG and the motif YGN was replaced by FGN. The OXA-24 β-lactamase hydrolyzed benzylpenicillin and cephaloridine but lacked activity against oxacillin, cloxacillin, and methicillin. The enzymatic activity was inhibited by chloride ions and by tazobactam (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], 0.5 μM), sulbactam (IC50, 40 μM), and clavulanic acid (IC50, 50 μM). Carbapenem MICs for an Escherichia coli transformant (pBMB-1) expressing the cloned OXA-24 enzyme had a fourfold increase. RelativeVmax/Km values of 13 and 6 were obtained with imipenem and meropenem, respectively, and a positive microbiological assay result with imipenem was obtained with a purified enzymatic extract of this transformant strain. Therefore, we consider this new β-lactamase to be involved in the carbapenem resistance of A. baumannii RYC 52763/97.
History of the ADP/ATP-Translocase-Encoding Gene, a Parasitism Gene Transferred from a Chlamydiales Ancestor to Plants 1 Billion Years Ago

ABSTRACT Nonmitochondrial ADP/ATP translocase is an energy parasite enzyme. Its encoding gene, tlc, is found only in Rickettsiales, Chlamydiales, and plant and alga plastids. We demonstrate the presence of tlc in Parachlamydia acanthamoebae. This gene shares more similarity with the tlc1 gene of Chlamydiaceae and the tlc of plant and alga plastids than with the tlc2 gene of Chlamydiaceae. Phylogenetic analysis, including all other tlc homologs found in GenBank, showed that tlc was duplicated in a Chlamydiales ancestor before the appearance of multicellular eukaryotes. A time scale, calibrated with seven independent time points obtained from fossil estimates and from the 16S rRNA molecular clock, was congruent with the molecular clock provided by tlc. Plant and alga plastids acquired tlc approximately when Parachlamydiaceae and Chlamydiaceae diverged, at the eucaryotic radiation time, ca. 1 billion years ago.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Ganciclovir after Valganciclovir Treatment in Children with Renal Transplant

Valganciclovir, the ganciclovir prodrug, is an antiviral agent administered orally to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus infection in solid-organ transplant recipients. The valganciclovir dosing regimen in children is still controversial, as the number of patients reaching the area under the concentration-time curve at steady state (AUCss) target (40 to 60 mg·h/liter) remains highly variable. ABSTRACT Valganciclovir, the ganciclovir prodrug, is an antiviral agent administered orally to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus infection in solid-organ transplant recipients. The valganciclovir dosing regimen in children is still controversial, as the number of patients reaching the area under the concentration-time curve at steady state (AUCss) target (40 to 60 mg·h/liter) remains highly variable. The aim of this study was to determine the population pharmacokinetics of valganciclovir in pediatric renal transplant recipients and propose an appropriate dosing regimen. Children with renal transplant who received valganciclovir to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus infection at the Robert Debré University Hospital were included. Plasma ganciclovir concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and UV detection. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed with NONMEM software. A total of 104 patients aged 2 to 20 years treated with valganciclovir, administered at a mean dose of 17.3 ± 6.1 mg/kg of body weight to prevent and/or treat cytomegalovirus infection after renal transplantation, were included. A total of 1,212 samples were available. A two-compartment model with first-order elimination best fitted the data: ganciclovir clearance increased with body surface area, was 15% higher in boys than in girls, and decreased with increasing creatinine concentration. The central volume of distribution increased with body surface area and was 14% higher in boys than in girls. According to the personalized dosing regimen, 65.7% and 65.4% of the children were predicted to achieve the AUCss target for cytomegalovirus prophylaxis and treatment, respectively. A new pharmacokinetic model that allows the proposal of an individualized dose adapted to the characteristics of pediatric patients with renal transplant was built.
Determining of Suitable Graft Method for Apple Propagation in Cool Climatic and High Altitude Conditions

The objective of this study was to determine the most suitable budding methods in different apple cultivars. In this study, MM 109 was used as rootstock under field conditions. Granny Smith, Red Chief, Golden Delicious and Mondial Gala apple cultivars were used as grafting scions. The chip and T budding were grafting methods. All budding operations were done on the 25th April in 2012. Bud taking rate, bud sprouting rate, graft shoot diameter, shoot length and graft combinations were determined in this study. Bud taking and sprouting success resulted in sufficient values for all cultivars and grafting types. Also, satisfactory values for graft diameter and length shoot were obtained. The conclusion was that chip buddings were superior to T buddings; and Mondial Gala was superior to other cultivars in terms of graft shoot quality. Successful results were obtained in all grafting combinations of chip budding. The success could be attributed in chip budding that it caused the less necrotic tissue in blanking between rootstock and scion then better cambial continuity and vascular integration occurred.
ROLE OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA IN HEAVY METAL TOLERANCE IN PLANTS: PROSPECTS FOR PHYTOREMIDIATION

Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) is an obligate biotroph, which mainly improves phosphorus nutrition, ability to withstand water stress and offers a natural potential for biological control of root pathogen. They are also reported to be present on the roots of plants growing on metal-contaminated soils and play an important role in metal tolerance and accumulation. Isolation of the heavy metal tolerant AM fungi can be a potential biotechnological tool for inoculation of plants for successful phytoremediation. AM fungi provide an attractive system to advance plant-based environmental clean-up. During symbiotic interaction the hyphal network functionally extends the root system of their hosts. Thus, plants in symbiosis with AM fungi have the potential to take up heavy metal (HM) from an enlarged soil volume. This review throws light on the potential and the prospects of AM fungi in heavy metal tolerance of plant and its utilization for enhancing phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils. Key words: Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM), Heavy metal, Phytoremediation Hrishikesh Upadhyaya et al. Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza in Heavy Metal Tolerance in Plants: Prospects for Phytoremidiation. J Phytol 2/7 (2010) 16-27.
Determinants of Employee Turnover in the Construction Sector: Evidence from Nigeria

The study examined determinants of employees’ turnover on quoted construction companies in South West geo-political zone in Nigeria. We employed the use of open and close ended questionnaires in order to elicit relevant information from the respondents chosen from the existing 16 construction companies while the close ended questionnaire was developed in line with 5 point Likert rating scales and covered all the four objectives stated in the work. To ensure that every employee had an equal chance of being sampled, the research work employed simple random and purposive sampling techniques for picking out respondents in the course of administering the questionnaires to 400 respondents as our sample size who were the employees of the 16 construction companies. Out of the 400 questionnaires administered, 365 questionnaires were considered to be adequate for analytical purpose representing 91% respondent’s rate. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses were used to analyze and test the four hypotheses at 5% level of significance. It was discovered that compensation packages, job satisfaction, work environment and leadership style has a negative and significant effect on employee turnover of construction companies in South West geo-political zone. We therefore recommend that a pragmatic review of the human resources management policies such as leadership style, job satisfaction and compensation packages as well as organizational policies to induce serene atmospheric conditions where no one is carrying out responsibilities in fear or operating under duress.
Evaluation of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG Enzyme Immunoassays in Serologic Diagnosis of West Nile Virus Infection

ABSTRACT A unique urban encephalitis epidemic in Romania signaled the emergence of neurological infection due to West Nile (WN) virus as a novel public health threat in Eastern Europe and provided an opportunity to evaluate patterns of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM reactivity in IgM capture and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). WN virus infection was diagnosed serologically in 236 of 290 patients from whom acute serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were available. In 37% of serum samples and in 25% of CSF samples collected in the first week of illness, anti-WN virus IgM antibody was detected in the absence of virus-specific IgG. The switch to an IgG antibody response occurred after 4 to 5 days of illness and earlier in CSF than in serum. A specific humoral immune response was detected in the CSF before the serum in some patients for whom paired CSF and serum samples from the same day were available. IgM antibody in convalescent serum samples persisted beyond 2 months after the onset of illness in more than 50% of patients. ELISA optical density values and antibody concentrations were well correlated for both IgM and IgG immunoassays. Anti-WN virus IgM antibody in acute-phase samples did not cross-react significantly with flaviviruses in other antigenic groups.
Explaining Job Search Behavior in Unemployed Youngsters Beyond Perceived Employability: The Role of Psychological Capital

Job search seems to be a daunting task for youngsters in the Spanish labor market, unfortunately so given that it is the best predictor of getting a job even during economic crisis. Accordingly, it is vitally important to find resources that promote youngsters’ job search. The present study examines the effect of psychological capital on job search through perceived employability in a sample of Spanish unemployed youngsters. We analyzed data of 568 Spanish unemployed youngsters aged 16–29 years using structural equation modeling. Results showed that unemployed youngsters who possess high levels of psychological capital also perceive more control over job search which is directly connected with their job search intention. Surprisingly, analyses also showed that perceived employability is not an antecedent of job search. Instead, psychological capital seems to be a more beneficial resource for keeping unemployed youngsters engaged in job search in an adverse economic context.
Species status, hybridisation and geographic distribution of Irish populations of Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Q. robur L.

The species status of Quercus petraea and Q. robur in Ireland was investigated through morphological analysis of leaves. A number of different methods were used for the analysis. The consensus findings were that both species were readily distinguished in Ireland, although there are putative hybrids and introgressed individuals. The overall variability in leaf morphology was considerable and the percentage of distinct species based on a hybrid index was only 30% (15% Q. petraea and 15% Q. robur). The level of hybridisation was estimated at 10%, which is comparable to that reported in other studies in Europe. Quercus robur was found to be more distinct than Q. petraea as intermediate morphological forms grouped closer to Q. petraea in a Neighbour-Joining cluster analysis. Quercus petraea individuals were found mainly in peripheral mountainous regions and Q. robur individuals mainly in central lowland regions and these distributions roughly corresponded to typical ecological habitats for either species.
‘Shouldering’ exaggerated genitalia: a unique behavioural adaptation for the retraction of the elongate intromittant organ by the male rove beetle (Aleochara tristis Gravenhorst)

Complex genitalia are ubiquitous among arthropods, but little attention has been given to the fact that the evolution of such elaborate structures may have led to biomechanical constraints that hinder their usage. In the rove beetle, Aleochara tristis, the male's intromittant organ consists of a long flagellum that is more than twice the body length. It is introduced into the spermathecal duct of the female during copulation. The flagellum apparently functions as a guiding rod for a tube growing from the spermatophore that the male deposits in the female's genital chamber. The extraordinary length of the intromittant organ poses a unique physical challenge for the male. During its retraction from the female after mating, the flagellum is under considerable tension. Any sudden release of this tension would result in the flagellum becoming severely entangled, preventing the male from mating again. In response to this novel physical challenge, males have apparently evolved a specialized behavioural adaptation that prevents entanglement after copulation. While retracting the flagellum from the female, the male secures it between a wing shoulder and the pronotum (‘shouldering’), holding it taut for about one half of its length. This allows the stepwise retraction of the flagellum from the female and allows it to be retracted back into the male's body in an orderly fashion. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a behavioural adaptation that has evolved to ameliorate the biomechanical problems caused by exaggerated genital morphology. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 84, 307–312.
Association Between FoxO1, A2M, and TGF-β1, Environmental Factors, and Major Depressive Disorder

Introduction Investigations of gene-environment (G×E) interactions in major depressive disorder (MDD) have been limited to hypothesis testing of candidate genes while poly-gene-environmental causation has not been adequately address. To this end, the present study analyzed the association between three candidate genes, two environmental factors, and MDD using a hypothesis-free testing approach. Methods A logistic regression model was used to analyze interaction effects; a hierarchical regression model was used to evaluate the effects of different genotypes and the dose-response effects of the environment; genetic risk score (GRS) was used to estimate the cumulative contribution of genetic factors to MDD; and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses were carried out to evaluate the relationship between candidate genes and top MDD susceptibility genes. Results Allelic association analyses revealed significant effects of the interaction between the candidate genes Forkhead box (Fox)O1, α2-macroglobulin (A2M), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 genes and the environment on MDD. Gene-gene (G×G) and gene-gene-environment (G×G×E) interactions in MDD were also included in the model. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the effect of environmental factors on MDD was greater in homozygous than in heterozygous mutant genotypes of the FoxO1 and TGF-β1 genes; a dose-response effect between environment and MDD on genotypes was also included in this model. Haplotype analyses revealed significant global and individual effects of haplotypes on MDD in the whole sample as well as in subgroups. There was a significant association between GRS and MDD (P = 0.029) and a GRS and environment interaction effect on MDD (P = 0.009). Candidate and top susceptibility genes were connected in PPI networks. Conclusions FoxO1, A2M, and TGF-β1 interact with environmental factors and with each other in MDD. Multi-factorial G×E interactions may be responsible for a higher explained variance and may be associated with causal factors and mechanisms that could inform new diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, which can contribute to the personalized medicine of MDD.
A Study on the effect of iron folic acid supplementation and deworming among college going adolescent girls in urban Agra

Background: Spaced IFA Supplementation is recognized as an efficacious public health program and effective preventive approach in combating anemia in adolescent girls, is cost effective and results in fewer side effects. Aim: To study the effect of: bi-weekly supplementation of IFA with and without Albendazole administration on the status of hemoglobin level in college going adolescent girls. Material and methods: An interventional study was conducted among college going girls in Agra in the age group of 16-19 years (n=300) who were randomly selected. Their Hemoglobin levels were estimated before and after intervention by the Cynmeth-hemoglobin method using Drabkin’s solution. Three groups [two study A and B and one control] of hundred girls each were randomly constituted. To the study groups, supervised bi-weekly IFA with and without Albendazole were administered respectively for three months. Data collected was analyzed using suitable statistical tools. Results &Discussion: The overall prevalence of anemia was 65.3%. The initial prevalence in study group reduced significantly from 80.7% to 35.5% whereas in study group B it reduced from 73.5% to 58.8% and in control it remained almost same 84.3% and 81.2% pre and post intervention respectively. The mean Hemoglobin rise observed in the study group A and B was 2.5gm/dl and 2.3 gm/dl respectively while in control group fall in the mean Hb was observed (0.1gm/dl). Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia in adolescent girls is high. Supervised IFA therapy twice a week is an effective strategy to lower the prevalence of anemia either combined or uncombined with Albendazole.
Promotion of in Vitro Leaf Growth of Inner Scales Excised from Dormant Onion Bulbs

Inner scales excised from dormant bulbs of the short-day 'Texas Grano 1015Y' onion (Allium cepa L.) were cultured in vitro and leaf growth was examined. Light promoted leaf growth, but no differences in leaf growth were observed for media pH between 4 and 7. Leaf growth rate in darkness was highest at 24C, reduced at 15C, and greatly reduced at SC. Kinetin promoted leaf growth at 1, 10, and 100 µ M. IAA was effective at 1 and 10 µM, but not at 0.1 and 100 µ M. GA 3 promoted growth at 0.1 µM. No inhibitory effects of ABA on leaf growth could be detected. Chemical names used: 1-H-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA 3), 6-furfurylaminopurine (Kinetin).
Morphological and genetic diversity of Mexican guava germplasm

Fifty morphological characteristics, fruit production over 3 years (from 1999 to 2002) and the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique were used to analyse a set of 48 guava (Psidium guajava L.) accessions cultivated in Mexico, in order to characterize their genetic relationships. Germplasm was collected from the Calvillo-Cañones region and planted in Huanusco, Mexico. The study included two P. cattleianum (Sabine) and two P. friedrichsthalianum (Berg-Niedenzu) accessions from Costa Rica as outgroups. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained less than 30% of total variation and 14 characteristics from trees (1), leaves (2) and fruits (11) were the most informative. PCA analysis separated the germplasm into three major groups of accessions based on fruit size and weight, stem diameter and leaf size. Significant differences in fruit yield were detected among accessions and years, where P. guajava produced 36 kg/year/tree of fresh fruit while P. cattleianum and P. friedrichsthalianum showed fruit yield lower than 7 kg/year/tree. The fruit yield broad sense heritability was 0.25. The AFLP analysis produced two clusters of Psidium accessions, the first included P. cattleianum and P. friedrichsthalianum, and the second P. guajava accessions. This is the first report about the use of AFLP marker methodology for the genetic characterization of Mexican native guava germplasm and the results based on phenotypic and productive characteristics suggest that germplasm was selected from open pollinated trees.
Comparison of Three Commercial Rapid Identification Systems for the Unusual Gram-Positive Cocci Dolosigranulum pigrum, Ignavigranum ruoffiae, andFacklamia Species

ABSTRACT We evaluated three rapid identification systems—The Biomerieux rapid ID 32 STREP (ID32), the BBL Crystal rapid gram-positive identification (Crystal), and the Remel IDS RapID STR (IDS) systems—for their ability to identify 7 strains of Alloiococcus otitidis, 27 strains of Dolosigranulum pigrum, 3 strains of Ignavigranum ruoffiae, and 18 strains of 4 different Facklamia species. Since none of these six species of gram-positive cocci are included in the identification databases for these systems, the correct identification for the strains tested should be “unacceptable ID” for the ID32 and Crystal systems or “no choice” for the IDS system. The ID32 system identified all 27 strains of D. pigrum, 6 of 18 Facklamiaspecies, and 2 of 3 cultures of I. ruoffiae as “unacceptable ID. ” The Crystal system identified 10 of 27 D. pigrum, 2 of 18 Facklamia species, and 2 of 3I. ruoffiae strains as “unacceptable ID. ” The IDS system identified only 1 culture of D. pigrum as “no choice,” but it also identified 2 cultures of D. pigrumas a “questionable microcode” and 19 cultures of D. pigrum as an “inadequate ID, E. faecalis 90%,S. intermedius 9%. ” A total of 2 of the 18 cultures ofFacklamia and all 3 of the I. ruoffiaecultures were correctly identified as “no choice. ” The most common misidentifications of Facklamia species by the ID32 and IDS systems were as various Streptococcus species and asGemella species. In the Crystal system, the most common erroneous identification was Micrococcus luteus. These data indicate the need for the commercial manufacturers of these products to update their databases to include newly described species of gram-positive cocci.