Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conditions leading to secretion of a normally periplasmic protein in Escherichia coli

The phosphate-binding protein (PhoS) is a periplasmic protein which is part of the high-affinity phosphate transport system of Escherichia coli. Hyperproduction of PhoS in strains carrying a multicopy plasmid containing phoS led to partial secretion of the protein. By 6 h after transfer to phosphate-limiting medium, about 13% of the total newly synthesized PhoS was secreted to the medium. Kinetic studies demonstrated that this secretion consists of newly synthesized PhoS. This secretion occurs in PhoS-hyperproducer strains but not in a PhoS-overproducer strain. Another type of secretion concerning periplasmic PhoS was observed in both PhoS-hyperproducer and PhoS-overproducer strains. This mode of secretion depended upon the addition of phosphate to cells previously grown in phosphate-limiting medium.
Flicker is part of a multi-cue response criterion in fiddler crab predator avoidance

SUMMARY Predator avoidance behaviour costs time, energy and opportunities, and prey animals need to balance these costs with the risk of predation. The decisions necessary to strike this balance are often based on information that is inherently imperfect and incomplete because of the limited sensory capabilities of prey animals. Our knowledge, however, about how prey animals solve the challenging task of restricting their responses to the most dangerous stimuli in their environment is very limited. Using dummy predators, we examined the contribution of visual flicker to the predator avoidance response of the fiddler crab Uca vomeris. The results illustrate that crabs let purely black or purely white dummies approach significantly closer than black-and-white flickering dummies. We show that this effect complements other factors that modulate escape timing such as retinal speed and the crab's distance to its burrow, and is therefore not due exclusively to an earlier detection of the flickering signal. By combining and adjusting a range of imperfect response criteria in a way that relates to actual threats in their natural environment, prey animals may be able to measure risk and adjust their responses more efficiently, even under difficult or noisy sensory conditions.
Adenovirus-mediated delivery of a soluble form of the VEGF receptor Flk1 delays the growth of murine and human pancreatic adenocarcinoma in mice.

BACKGROUND Because pancreatic adenocarcinoma is poorly responsive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, novel treatments such as antiangiogenic gene therapy may have use in the adjuvant treatment of this malignancy. We evaluated the antitumor effects of the in vivo administration of an adenovirus vector encoding a soluble form of Flk1 (Flk1-Fc), a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor, in 3 murine models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS In a first model, immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with Panc02 murine pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells before treatment. In a second model, immunodeficient severe combined immunodeficiency mice were injected subcutaneously with BxPc-3 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells before treatment. In a third model, C57Bl/6 mice were injected with Panc02 cells through an intrasplenic route before treatment, in an effort to model metastatic disease. In each model, half the tumor-bearing mice were injected intravenously with 10(9) Flk1-Fc adenovirus particles and half with control adenovirus. RESULTS In subcutaneous tumor models, Ad Flk1-Fc-treated animals were found to have 75% smaller murine and 78% smaller human pancreatic tumor volumes, relative to tumor volumes of Ad Fc-treated animals, 6 weeks after vector administration. In animals injected with tumor through the intrasplenic route, pathologic and histologic analyses made 10 days after injection of tumor revealed hepatic, pancreatic, and splenic tumors, together with a desmoplastic response consistent with pathologic findings in human pancreatic cancer. Cohorts of these tumor-bearing mice treated with Ad Flk1-Fc demonstrated significantly longer survival and decreased liver replacement with tumor at the time of death, relative to animals treated with Ad Fc. CONCLUSION A recombinant adenovirus encoding soluble Flk-1 inhibited pancreatic tumor growth in mice. These studies suggest that the delivery of gene products such as Flk1-Fc through in vivo gene transfer may be useful in the future treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
The Effects of Bone Morphogenetic Protein and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Spine Fusion

Study Design. Posterolateral lumbar transverse process fusion was carried out using cultured mesenchymal stem cells with or without bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Objectives. To determine the ability of BMP and basic FGF to enhance the efficacy of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in lumbar arthrodesis. Summary of Background Data. Our previous study hypothesized that it would be important to differentiate into osteogenic cells and to implant a large number of cells for achieving solid spinal fusions. Methods. Thirty-six adult rabbits underwent single-level bilateral posterolateral intertransverse process fusions at L4–L5. Animals were divided into 5 groups, each according to the material implanted: (1) autologous bone (autograft; n = 8); (2) mesenchymal stem cells (n = 7); (3) mesenchymal stem cells with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2 (mesenchymal stem cell-BMP; n = 7); (4) mesenchymal stem cells with basic FGF (mesenchymal stem cell-FGF; n = 7); and (5) mesenchymal stem cells with rhBMP-2 and basic FGF (mesenchymal stem cell-BMP-FGF; n = 7). Fresh bone marrow cells from the iliac crest of each animal were cultured in a standard medium for 2 weeks. For an additional week, the mesenchymal stem cells (1 × 106cells/mL) were cultured in 10−8M dexamethasone, type I collagen gel and porous hydroxyapatite particles with or without rhBMP-2 (2 &mgr;g/mL) and basic FGF (5 &mgr;g/mL). Animals were killed 6 weeks after surgery. Radiograph, manual palpation, and histology were used to evaluate spinal fusions. Results. Fusion rates were 5/7 in the autograft group, 0/7 in the mesenchymal stem cell group, 2/7 in the mesenchymal stem cell-BMP group, 3/7 in the mesenchymal stem cell-FGF group, and 6/7 in the mesenchymal stem cell-BMP-FGF group. The histology in some of both mesenchymal stem cell-BMP and mesenchymal stem cell-FGF groups demonstrated that fibrous tissues and cartilages remained in grafted areas. In the mesenchymal stem cell-BMP-FGF group, each grafted fragment was connected with new bone ingrowths. Conclusions. This study showed that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells cultured with rhBMP-2 and basic FGF act as a substitute for autograft in lumbar arthrodesis. This technique may yield a more consistent quality of fusion bone as compared to that with autograft.
An Estimation and Verificat Cross-Sections for HF

The radar cross sections (RCS) of both small and large ships for High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR) were studied by using Numerical Electromagnetics Code [4] and by using measurements from a HFSWR system at Cape Race, Newfoundland, Canada. The results of the study indicate that Teleost, a 2405-ton Canadian Coast Guard ship, and large cargocontainer vessels (~36000 ton) have comparable RCS values at 3.1 and 4.1 MHz. This was verified by comparing Teleost signals with the reflections of seven cargo-container vessels identified during an operational evaluation of the HFSWR. The conclusion of the study is that Teleost and the large cargo-container vessels have an angle-averaged RCS of ~40dBm, while small vessels (~1000 tons) could reasonably be characterized by an angle-averaged RCS of ~30 dBm, in the lower end of the HF band (3-5 MHz).
Distribution of surface carbon dioxide and air-sea exchange in the English Channel and adjacent areas

[1] In the present paper we report the distribution of the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in surface waters along 13 transects in the English Channel, covering the four seasons. The spatial and temporal variability of pCO2 is controlled by a complex combination of primary production (from May to June), degradation of organic matter, temperature change, and freshwater inputs. Preliminary air-sea CO2 exchange computations suggest that the Channel is not a major sink of atmospheric CO2 and is probably neutral from the point of view of atmospheric coupling. This is mainly related to a relatively low export and/or burial of organic carbon and intense benthic calcification.
Semi-Automatic Construction of the Chinese-English MeSH Using Web-BasedTerm Translation Method

Due to language barrier, non-English users are unable to retrieve the most updated medical information from the U.S. authoritative medical websites, such as PubMed and MedlinePlus. A few cross-language medical information retrieval (CLMIR) systems have been utilizing MeSH (Medical Subject Heading) with multilingual thesaurus to bridge the gap. Unfortunately, MeSH has yet not been translated into traditional Chinese currently. We proposed a semi-automatic approach to constructing Chinese-English MeSH based on Web-based term translation. The system provides knowledge engineers with candidate terms mining from anchor texts and search-result pages. The result is encouraging. Currently, more than 19,000 Chinese-English MeSH entries have been complied. This thesaurus will be used in Chinese-English CLMIR in the future.
Scapular motion adaptations in junior overhead athletes: a three-dimensional kinematic analysis in tennis players and non-overhead athletes

Abstract Adult overhead athletes without a history of shoulder injury show scapular adaptations. There is a lack of detailed assessment of scapular kinematics in junior overhead athletes. This study aims to investigate three-dimensional scapular kinematics in junior overhead athletes. We recruited a total of 20 junior tennis players and 20 healthy children without participation in any overhead sports in this study. Bilateral scapular kinematic data were recorded using an electromagnetic tracking device for scapular plane glenohumeral elevation. The data were further analysed at 30°, 45°, 60°, 90° and 120° during glenohumeral elevation and lowering. Statistical comparisons of the data between groups (junior overhead athletes and non-overhead athletes) and sides (serve dominant and non-dominant shoulders of the overhead athletes) were analysed with the ANOVA. Comparisons showed that, in general, the scapula was more upwardly rotated and anteriorly tilted in overhead athletes when compared to non-overhead athletes, however there was no side-to-side differences when serve dominant and non-dominant shoulders compared in junior overhead athletes. The serve dominant arm of junior overhead athletes had alternations in scapular kinematics when compared with the non-overhead athletes. These findings provide clinical evaluation implications and the need for clinicians to assess for potential adaptations in junior overhead athletes.
[Reproducibility and sensitivity of a questionnaire on physical activity in a Mexican population].

OBJECTIVE To assess the reproducibility and sensitivity of a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ) developed at Laval University, to detect differences in lean and obese individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at Mexico's National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, between January and May 1999. The PAQ was translated into Spanish and adjusted to the Mexican setting. The test-retest method was used to measure reliability, allowing a four-week interval between tests (n = 30 overweight subjects). To assess the questionnaire's sensitivity a group of young cadets (n = 18) was compared to a group of young civilians (n = 32). Concordance was measured through the intraclass correlation coefficient; test-retest was analyzed using the paired or unpaired Student's t test, as necessary. RESULTS The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.86. The PAQ was able to show differences of more than 400 kcal/day (1674 kJ/day) and more than 4 kcal/kg/day (17 kJ/kg/day), among young people with high physical activity (t-test). CONCLUSIONS The PAQ is a sensitive and reliable instrument that can be used in the Mexican population. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp. mx/salud/index.html
Intravesical sealing of the distal ureter in nephroureterectomy.

OBJECTIVES To study the effectiveness and reliability of a new minimally invasive technique for the treatment of the terminal ureter in nephroureterectomy due to transitional cell carcinoma, both in open and laparoscopic procedures. METHODS Observational retrospective study of 14 patients that underwent intravesical sealing and endoscopic excision of terminal ureter, before ureterectomy (11 laparoscopic, 3 open), due to an upper urinary tract tumor, between July 2003 and November 2007. This procedure was performed on 11 males and 3 females, average age 59.5 years, )range: 35-70). The tumor settled on the renal pelvis in 12 cases and on the proximal ureter in 2. Stage was Ta - T1 in 10 patients, T2 in 3, and T3 in 1. Tumor grade was G3 in 9 cases and G2 in 5. Excision was carried out with a Collins knife. In order to avoid contact between the urine and retroperitoneal space, the meatus was quickly sealed with a clip introduced by means of a transvesical trocar. RESULTS Total surgical time of nephroureterectomy was 231.15 minutes (range 200-340). Global complication rate for the procedure was 28.4%, but the rate for the cases associated with this technique (meatus sealing and disinsertion) was 14.2%. All patients were discharged after removing bladder catheter. Mean hospital stay was 10.14 days (range: 6-22). After an average follow-up of 25.3 months (range: 12-64), no retroperitoneal recurrence has been reported. One of the patients had bladder recurrence and another one developed metastasis to the suprarenal gland that was treated satisfactorily. CONCLUSIONS Quick sealing of distal ureter by transvesical application of a clip before its endoscopic excision in nephrourecterectomy is a sound technique from an oncological point of view, with an acceptable complication rate that avoids a second open time to manage distal ureter.
Gene expression profiles reflect sclerosing cholangitis activity in abcb4 (−/−) mice

Objective. Abcb4 (−/−) mice secrete phosphatidylcholine-deficient bile and develop sclerosing cholangitis (SC), a condition that involves differential hepatic transcription of genes governing inflammation, tissue remodelling and fibrosis. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that genes involved in the regulation of tissue inflammation and fibrosis display transcription rates that parallel differences in abcb4 (−/−) SC activity. The activity of abcb4 (−/−) SC can be altered through dietary intervention: abcb4 (−/−) mice fed cholic acid (CA) display high SC activity, whereas ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-fed mice display low SC activity. Material and methods. Differential hepatic transcription of genes was measured in abcb4 (−/−) mice maintained on CA- and UDCA-supplemented diets using cDNA microarrays. Abcb4 (+/+) mice served as controls. Differential transcription of selected genes was verified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Liver tissue pathology was quantified by histopathology scoring. Result. Histopathology score, reflecting increased inflammation and fibrosis, was increased in CA-fed mice compared with UDCA-fed mice. cDNA microarray analysis showed up-regulation of 1582 genes in livers of CA-fed mice in contrast to 573 genes in UDCA-fed mice. Differential transcription of Ccl2, Ccl20, Cxcl10, Nfκb1, Nfκb2, Tgfβ1, Tgfβ2, Sparc, Ctgf, Lgals3, Elf3, Spp1, Pdgfa, Pdgfrb, Col1a1, Col1a2 and Col4a1 genes paralleled the unequal SC activities of CA- and UDCA-fed abcb4 (−/−) mice. Conclusions. The numbers of differentially transcribed genes and the transcriptional activity of genes relating to inflammation, tissue remodelling and fibrosis parallel disease activity in CA- and UDCA-fed abcb4 (−/−) mice harbouring SC. Data on their hepatic transcription can gauge SC disease activity.
Efficiency and Equilibrium in Network Games: An Experiment

Abstract The tension between efficiency and equilibrium is a central feature of economic systems. We examine this tradeoff in a network game with a unique Nash equilibrium in which agents can achieve a higher payoff by following a “collaborative norm. ” Subjects establish and maintain a collaborative norm in the circle, but the norm weakens with the introduction of one hub connected to everyone in the wheel. In complex and asymmetric networks of 15 and 21 nodes, the norm disappears and subjects' play converges to Nash. We provide evidence that subjects base their decisions on their degree, rather than the overall network structure.
Effects of glass ionomer cement, resin-based pit and fissure sealant and HF applications on occlusal caries in a developing country field trial.

The aim of this community-oriented study was to evaluate different methods to prevent fissure caries. The following products and measures were tested: 1) glass ionomer cement (GIC) applied by dentist; 2) same material applied by short term (3 days) trained personnel (teachers); 3) application of a 0.5% HF solution three times; 4) an established autopolymerized resin based sealant (Delton). The study was performed in Bangkok, Thailand, a city in a developing country experiencing increasing caries prevalence. Children with at least three sound permanent molars from two age groups, 7-8 and 12-13-yr-olds respectively were chosen from very low to medium socioeconomic level families. 1264 children were systematically assigned to experiment or control groups based on school and DMFT. For the younger age group, the 2 yr mean DFS occlusal increment in the Control group was 0.66 surfaces. Significantly lower increments were observed in the GIC experimental group: 0.17 surfaces applied by the teachers and 0.32 applied by dentist, corresponding to 74% and 52% reductions, respectively. The mean increment in the HF group was 0.44 surfaces, a 33% reduction in relation to the Control group. For the 12-13-yr-olds, the mean occlusal surface DF increment was 0.70 surfaces in the Control group. Almost no occlusal increment was found in the Delton group, 0.05 DFS, a 93% reduction. In the GIC Dentist group, the DFS increment was 0.48 and in the Teacher group 0.56, corresponding to 31% and 20% reduction, respectively. A slight and nonsignificant increase of caries in relation to the Control group was observed in the HF group. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Relationship Between Time in the Operating Room and Incident Pressure Ulcers

The objective was to determine the relationship between time in the operating room (OR) and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs), controlling for temporality. The research team identified 931 HAPUs among surgical patients and matched them to 4 controls by hospital length of stay at the time the pressure ulcer (PU) was documented. A regression model estimated the relationship between OR time and HAPU after controlling for matching, age, sex, admission and current Braden score, weight, year, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score. OR time in the 24 hours prior to PU documentation was associated with PUs. Only 5% of HAPUs occurred within 24 hours of extended (>4 hours) surgery and 58% occurred after hospital day 5. Extended surgery is confirmed as a risk factor for PU development. Most PUs do not appear in the immediate postoperative period, and prevention efforts should focus on postoperative patient care, when most HAPUs develop.
Community Interventions for Dietary Improvement in Ghana

Background. Low caregiver income and poor nutrition knowledge and skills are important barriers to achieving optimal child feeding in rural Ghana. Objective. An integrated microcredit and nutrition education intervention was implemented to address these barriers. Methods. Using a quasi-experimental design, 134 caregivers of children 2 to 5 years of age in six intervention communities were enrolled into self-selected savings and loan groups. They received small individual loans over four 16-week cycles to support their income-generating activities. Nutrition and entrepreneurial education was provided during weekly loan repayment meetings. Another 261 caregivers in six comparison communities did not receive the intervention. Data on household sociodemographic and economic characteristics, perception of income-generating activity profits, and children's consumption of animal-source foods in the previous week were collected at baseline and at four additional time points. Differences according to group (intervention vs. control) and time (baseline vs. endline) were analyzed with chi-square and Student's t-tests. Results. The intervention and comparison groups did not differ by caregivers' age and formal education; few (35) had previous experience with microcredit loans. At endline, more intervention than comparison caregivers perceived that their business profits had increased (59% vs. 23%, p < .001). In contrast to comparison children, after 16 months of intervention children consumed more livestock meat (p = .001), organ meat (p = .04), eggs (p = .001), and milk and milk products (p < .0001) in the previous week in comparison with baseline. Conclusions. Integrated food-centered strategies can improve children's diets, which will enhance their nutritional status, health, and cognitive outcomes.
Modern Multivariate Statistical Techniques: Regression, Classification, and Manifold Learning

Remarkable advances in computation and data storage and the ready availability of huge data sets have been the keys to the growth of the new disciplines of data mining and machine learning, while the enormous success of the Human Genome Project has opened up the field of bioinformatics. These exciting developments, which led to the introduction of many innovative statistical tools for high-dimensional data analysis, are described here in detail. The author takes a broad perspective; for the first time in a book on multivariate analysis, nonlinear methods are discussed in detail as well as linear methods. Techniques covered range from traditional multivariate methods, such as multiple regression, principal components, canonical variates, linear discriminant analysis, factor analysis, clustering, multidimensional scaling, and correspondence analysis, to the newer methods of density estimation, projection pursuit, neural networks, multivariate reduced-rank regression, nonlinear manifold learning, bagging, boosting, random forests, independent component analysis, support vector machines, and classification and regression trees. Another unique feature of this book is the discussion of database management systems. This book is appropriate for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers in statistics, computer science, artificial intelligence, psychology, cognitive sciences, business, medicine, bioinformatics, and engineering. Familiarity with multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and probability and statistics is required. The book presents a carefully-integrated mixture of theory and applications, and of classical and modern multivariate statistical techniques, including Bayesian methods. There are over 60 interesting data sets used as examples in the book, over 200 exercises, and many color illustrations and photographs.