Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
General Model, Based on Two Mixed Weibull Distributions of Bacterial Resistance, for Describing Various Shapes of Inactivation Curves

ABSTRACT Cells of Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium taken from six characteristic stages of growth were subjected to an acidic stress (pH 3.3). As expected, the bacterial resistance increased from the end of the exponential phase to the late stationary phase. Moreover, the shapes of the survival curves gradually evolved as the physiological states of the cells changed. A new primary model, based on two mixed Weibull distributions of cell resistance, is proposed to describe the survival curves and the change in the pattern with the modifications of resistance of two assumed subpopulations. This model resulted from simplification of the first model proposed. These models were compared to the Whiting's model. The parameters of the proposed model were stable and showed consistent evolution according to the initial physiological state of the bacterial population. Compared to the Whiting's model, the proposed model allowed a better fit and more accurate estimation of the parameters. Finally, the parameters of the simplified model had biological significance, which facilitated their interpretation.
ICF Core Sets for stroke.

OBJECTIVE To report on the results of the consensus process integrating evidence from preliminary studies to develop the first version of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and the Brief ICF Core Set for stroke. METHODS A formal decision-making and consensus process integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies was followed. Preliminary studies included a Delphi exercise, a systematic review, and an empirical data collection. After training in the ICF and based on these preliminary studies relevant ICF categories were identified in a formal consensus process by international experts from different backgrounds. RESULTS The preliminary studies identified a set of 448 ICF categories at the second, third and fourth ICF levels with 193 categories on body functions, 26 on body structures, 165 on activities and participation, and 64 on environmental factors. Thirty-nine experts from 12 different countries attended the consensus conference on stroke. Altogether 130 second-level categories were included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set with 41 categories from the component body functions, 5 from body structures, 51 from activities and participation, and 33 from environmental factors. The Brief ICF Core Set included a total of 18 second-level categories (6 on body functions, 2 on body structures, 7 on activities and participation, and 3 on environmental factors). CONCLUSION A formal consensus process integrating evidence and expert opinion based on the ICF framework and classification led to the definition of ICF Core Sets for stroke. Both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and the Brief ICF Core Set were defined.
High-Efficiency Isolated Bidirectional AC–DC Converter for a DC Distribution System

A high-efficiency isolated bidirectional ac–dc converter is proposed for a 380-V dc power distribution system to control bidirectional power flows and to improve its power conversion efficiency. To reduce the switches’ losses of the proposed nonisolated full-bridge ac–dc rectifier using an unipolar switching method, switching devices employ insulated-gate bipolar transistors, MOSFETs, and silicon carbide diodes. Using the analysis of the rectifier’s operating modes, each switching device can be selected by considering switch stresses. A simple and intuitive frequency detection method for a single-phase synchronous reference frame-phase-locked loop (SRF-PLL) is also proposed using a filter compensator, a fast period detector, and a finite impulse response filter to improve the robustness and accuracy of PLL performance under fundamental frequency variations. In addition, design and control methodology of the bidirectional full-bridge CLLC resonant converter is suggested for the galvanic isolation of the dc distribution system. A dead-band control algorithm for the bidirectional dc–dc converter is developed to smoothly change power conversion directions only using output voltage information. Experimental results will verify the performance of the proposed methods using a 5-kW prototype converter.
Increased visual sensitivity following periods of dim illumination.

PURPOSE We measured changes in the sensitivity of the human rod pathway by testing visual reaction times before and after light adaptation. We targeted a specific range of conditioning light intensities to see if a physiological adaptation recently discovered in mouse rods is observable at the perceptual level in humans. We also measured the noise spectrum of single mouse rods due to the importance of the signal-to-noise ratio in rod to rod bipolar cell signal transfer. METHODS Using the well-defined relationship between stimulus intensity and reaction time (Piéron's law), we measured the reaction times of eight human subjects (ages 24-66) to scotopic test flashes of a single intensity before and after the presentation of a 3-minute background. We also made recordings from single mouse rods and processed the cellular noise spectrum before and after similar conditioning exposures. RESULTS Subject reaction times to a fixed-strength stimulus were fastest 5 seconds after conditioning background exposure (79% ± 1% of the preconditioning mean, in darkness) and were significantly faster for the first 12 seconds after background exposure (P < 0.01). During the period of increased rod sensitivity, the continuous noise spectrum of individual mouse rods was not significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS A decrease in human reaction times to a dim flash after conditioning background exposure may originate in rod photoreceptors through a transient increase in the sensitivity of the phototransduction cascade. There is no accompanying increase in rod cellular noise, allowing for reliable transmission of larger rod signals after conditioning exposures and the observed increase in perceptual sensitivity.
Short-term magnesium deficiency downregulates telomerase, upregulates neutral sphingomyelinase and induces oxidative DNA damage in cardiovascular tissues: relevance to atherogenesis, cardiovascular diseases and aging.

THE PRESENT WORK TESTED THE HYPOTHESES THAT 1) short-term dietary deficiency of magnesium (Mg; 21 days) in rats (MgD) would result in a downregulation of telomerase in cardiac and aortic smooth muscle cells, 2) low levels of Mg(2+) added to drinking water (DW) would either prevent or greatly reduce the downregulation of telomerase in MgD, 3) MgD in rats would cause an upregulation of neutral-sphingomyelinase (N-SMAse) and p53, 4) short-term MgD would result in oxidation of DNA in diverse cardiac muscle and aortic smooth muscle cells as exemplified by measurement of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), and 5) cross-talk between telomerase, N-SMase, p53, and 8-OH-dG would be evident in left ventricular (LV), right ventricular (RV), atrial and aortic smooth muscle obtained from rats subjected to short-term MgD. The data indicated that short-term MgD (10% normal dietary intake) resulted in downregulation of telomerase in LV, RV, atrial and aortic muscle cells; even very low levels of water-bourne Mg(2+) (e.g., 15-40 mg/lday) either prevented or ameliorated the downregulation of telomerase. Our experiments also showed that MgD resulted in a 7-10 fold increased formation of 8-OH-dG in the cardiac and aortic muscle cells. The experiments also confirmed that short-term dietary deficiency of Mg resulted in greatly increased upregulation of N-SMAse and p53 in the cardiac and aortic muscle tissues. These new experiments point to a sizeable cross-talk among telomerase, N-SMAse, and p53 in rat cardiac and peripheral vascular muscle exposed to a short-term MgD. These studies would be compatible with the idea that even short-term MgD could cause alterations of the genome in diverse cell types leading to mutations of cardiac, vascular, and endothelial cells seen in aging and atherogenesis. Since we have shown, previously, that activation of N-SMAse in MgD leads to synthesis and release of ceramide in cardiovascular tissues and cells, we believe this pathway, most likely, helps to result in downregulation of telomerase, upregulation of transcription factors (e.g., p53; NF-kB), cytokine release, mutations, transformations, and dysfunctional growth seen in the cardiac and vascular cells observed in the normal aging process, atherogenesis, hypertension, and cardiac failure. Lastly, we suggest ways in which this hypothesis can be tested.
Structure of the Ebola Fusion Peptide in a Membrane-mimetic Environment and the Interaction with Lipid Rafts*

The fusion peptide EBO16 (GAAIGLAWIPYFGPAA) comprises the fusion domain of an internal sequence located in the envelope fusion glycoprotein (GP2) of the Ebola virus. This region interacts with the cellular membrane of the host and leads to membrane fusion. To gain insight into the mechanism of the peptide-membrane interaction and fusion, insertion of the peptide was modeled by experiments in which the tryptophan fluorescence and 1H NMR were monitored in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles or in the presence of detergent-resistant membrane fractions. In the presence of SDS micelles, EBO16 undergoes a random coil-helix transition, showing a tendency to self-associate. The three-dimensional structure displays a 310-helix in the central part of molecule, similar to the fusion peptides of many known membrane fusion proteins. Our results also reveal that EBO16 can interact with detergent-resistant membrane fractions and strongly suggest that Trp-8 and Phe-12 are important for structure maintenance within the membrane bilayer. Replacement of tryptophan 8 with alanine (W8A) resulted in dramatic loss of helical structure, proving the importance of the aromatic ring in stabilizing the helix. Molecular dynamics studies of the interaction between the peptide and the target membrane also corroborated the crucial participation of these aromatic residues. The aromatic-aromatic interaction may provide a mechanism for the free energy coupling between random coil-helical transition and membrane anchoring. Our data shed light on the structural “domains” of fusion peptides and provide a clue for the development of a drug that might block the early steps of viral infection.
The acute respiratory distress syndrome in catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: analysis of a series of 47 patients

Background: The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a non-cardiogenic form of pulmonary oedema characterised by severe hypoxaemia refractory to oxygen therapy, with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiographs. It can be precipitated by various serious medical and surgical conditions, including systemic autoimmune diseases. The “catastrophic” variant of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an accelerated form of this systemic autoimmune condition which results in multiorgan failure because of multiple small vessel occlusions. Objective: To analyse the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with catastrophic APS who develop ARDS. Methods: Cases with ARDS were selected from the web site based international registry of patients with catastrophic APS (CAPS registry) (http://www.med.ub.es/MIMMUN/FORUM/CAPS.HTM) and their characteristics examined. Results: Pulmonary involvement was reported in 150 of 220 patients with catastrophic APS (68%) and 47 patients (21%) were diagnosed as having ARDS. Nineteen (40%) of these patients died. Pathological studies were undertaken in 10 patients and thrombotic microangiopathy was present in seven. There were no differences in age, sex, precipitating factors, clinical manifestations, or mortality between catastrophic APS patients with and without ARDS. Conclusions: ARDS is the dominant pulmonary manifestation of catastrophic APS. Thus the existence of ARDS in the context of an APS makes it necessary to rule out the presence of the catastrophic variant of this syndrome.
Mechanism of Agonist‐Induced Down‐Regulation and Subsequent Recovery of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in a Clonal Neuroblastoma X Glioma Hybrid Cell Line

Abstract: The mechanisms of carbachol‐induced muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) down‐regulation, and recovery following carbachol withdrawal, were studied in the neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid NG108‐15 cell line by specific ligand binding assays. N‐[3H]Methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) were used as the ligands for the cell surface and total cellular mAChRs, respectively. Exposure of cells to 1 mM carbachol for 16 h decreased the specific binding of [3H]NMS and [3H]QNB by ∼80%. Bacitracin (1–4 mg/ml) and methyl‐amine (1–15 mM), inhibitors of transglutaminase and of endocytosis, prevented agonist‐induced loss of surface mAChRs. Pretreatment of cells with the antimicrotubular agents nocodazole (0.1–10 μM) and colchicine (1–10 μM) prevented carbachol‐induced loss of [3H]QNB binding, but not that of [3H]NMS binding. These results indicate that agonist‐induced mAChR down‐regulation occurs by endocytosis, followed by microtubular transport of receptors to their intracellular degradation sites. When carbachol was withdrawn from the culture medium following treatment of cells for 16 h, receptors recovered and were incorporated to the surface membrane. This recovery process was antagonized by monovalent ionophores monensin (0.1 μM) and nigericin (40 nM), which interfere with Golgi complex function. Receptor recovery was also prevented by the antimicrotubular agent nocodazole. Thus, recovery of receptors appears to be mediated via Golgi complex and microtubular transport to the surface membrane.
Molecular dynamics simulations of poly(dA)·poly(dT): Comparisons between implicit and explicit solvent representations

The program AMBER 3.0 has been used to generate molecular dynamics trajectories of a poly (dA)·poly (dT) decamer. The simulations were performed using different methods to treat solvent effects. Results of a simulation including 18 counterions NH +4 and 4109 water molecules under (N, P, T) conditions were compared to simulation runs with implicit solvent representation in which solvent screening effects were represented by the use of a sigmoidal distance‐dependent dielectric function. In the latter case, the system was simulated under microcanonical (N, V, E) and canonical (N, V, T) conditions. For the fully hydrated system simulation, a preequilibration protocol was developed since it was observed that long and progressive periods of heating and equilibration on the overall system were necessary in order to avoid energetic collisions between the solute and the solvent molecules, leading to severe irreversible deformation of the solute. A detailed analysis of DNA conformations, sugar puckers, and stability of the hydrogen bonds, Watson–Crick and three‐center H bonds, is reported. The results show that DNA remains essentially in the B conformer with a tendency in the hydrated model to adopt a slightly distorted, unwound, and stretched conformation in comparison to standard B‐DNA. Concerning sugar puckers, the mean pseudorotation phases of the adenine residues are systematically higher than those of the thymine residues, except in the case of the hydrated model for which a particular behavior is observed for the adenine strand. In this case, the terminal bases oscillate between C2′,‐endo and O4′,‐endo and the central ones stay in the C3′,‐endo domain. The mean lifetimes of the internal Watson–Crick H‐bond (A)HN6O4(T) are also dependent on the base pairs included in the calculation, excepted for the implicit solvent simulation at constant temperature. The three‐center H bonds have very small mean lifetimes in all three cases of MD simulation. In the minor groove of the hydrated model, a spine of hydration is found as observed by x‐ray crystallography and other theoretical simulations. On the basis of the rms deviations, it appears that the fully hydrated simulation has not reached a plateau at the end of the run, while the implicit simulation at constant energy seems to have converged. At constant temperature, very large oscillations in rms deviations are observed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Genetic, proteomic and metabolic analysis of the regulation of energy storage in rice seedlings in response to drought

We used proteomic analysis to determine the response of rice plant seedlings to drought‐induced stress. The expression of 71 protein spots was significantly altered, and 60 spots were successfully identified. The greatest down‐regulated protein functional category was translation. Up‐regulated proteins were mainly related to protein folding and assembly. Additionally, many proteins involved in metabolism (e.g. carbohydrate metabolism) also showed differences in expression. cDNA microarray and GC‐MS analysis showed 4756 differentially expressed mRNAs and 37 differentially expressed metabolites. Once these data were integrated with the proteomic analysis, we were able to elucidate the metabolic pathways affected by drought‐induced stress. These results suggest that increased energy consumption from storage substances occurred during drought. In addition, increased expression of the enzymes involved in anabolic pathways corresponded with an increase in the content of six amino acids. We speculated that energy conversion from carbohydrates and/or fatty acids to amino acids was increased. Analysis of basic metabolism networks allowed us to understand how rice plants adjust to drought conditions.
Involvement of multiple distinct Bordetella receptor proteins in the utilization of iron liberated from transferrin by host catecholamine stress hormones

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a pathogen that can acquire iron using its native alcaligin siderophore system, but can also use the catechol xenosiderophore enterobactin via the BfeA outer membrane receptor. Transcription of bfeA is positively controlled by a regulator that requires induction by enterobactin. Catecholamine hormones also induce bfeA transcription and B. bronchiseptica can use the catecholamine noradrenaline for growth on transferrin. In this study, B. bronchiseptica was shown to use catecholamines to obtain iron from both transferrin and lactoferrin in the absence of siderophore. In the presence of siderophore, noradrenaline augmented transferrin utilization by B. bronchiseptica, as well as siderophore function in vitro. Genetic analysis identified BfrA, BfrD and BfrE as TonB‐dependent outer membrane catecholamine receptors. The BfeA enterobactin receptor was found to not be involved directly in catecholamine utilization; however, the BfrA, BfrD and BfrE catecholamine receptors could serve as receptors for enterobactin and its degradation product 2,3‐dihydroxybenzoic acid. Thus, there is a functional link between enterobactin‐dependent and catecholamine‐dependent transferrin utilization. This investigation characterizes a new B. bronchiseptica mechanism for iron uptake from transferrin that uses host stress hormones that not only deliver iron directly to catecholamine receptors, but also potentiate siderophore activity by acting as iron shuttles.
Can Teachers’ Behavior Ratings Be Used to Screen Early Adolescent Boys for Psychiatric Diagnoses?

The present study examined if a short, 22-item teacher rating questionnaire could be used to screen young adolescent boys for psychiatric diagnoses. Subjects were 239 12-year-old boys from a community sample of low socioeconomic status families. Child and parent versions of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children were used to provide DSM-III-R diagnoses. Results show a low to moderate screening value for the Short Social Behavior Questionnaire (S-SBQ) scales, with best results for externalizing disorders. The method used to establish the diagnoses had an impact on the screening efficacy of the S-SBQ, higher prevalence rates resulting in a lower proportion of false-positives for the same cutoff point. Additional research is needed to assess the screening efficacy of the S-SBQ across ages and gender, but results suggest that teacher ratings with the S-SBQ could be used to screen boys with externalizing disorders at the end of elementary school.
Genetic Analysis Identifies a Function for the queC (ybaX) Gene Product at an Initial Step in the Queuosine Biosynthetic Pathway in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Queuosine (Q), one of the most complex modifications occurring at the wobble position of tRNAs with GUN anticodons, is implicated in a number of biological activities, including accuracy of decoding, virulence, and cellular differentiation. Despite these important implications, its biosynthetic pathway has remained unresolved. Earlier, we observed that a naturally occurring strain of Escherichia coli B105 lacked Q modification in the tRNAs. In the present study, we developed a genetic screen to map the defect in E. coli B105 to a single gene, queC (renamed from ybaX), predicted to code for a 231-amino-acid-long protein with a pI of 5.6. As analyzed by mobility of tRNATyr on acid urea gels and two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of the modified nucleosides, expression of QueC from a plasmid-borne copy confers a Q+ phenotype to E. coli B105. Further, analyses of tRNATyr from E. coli JE10651 (queA mutant), its derivative generated by deletion of chromosomal queC (queA ΔqueC), and E. coli JE7325, deficient in converting preQ0 to preQ1, have provided the first genetic evidence for the involvement of QueC at a step leading to production of preQ0, the first known intermediate in the generally accepted pathway that utilizes GTP as the starting molecule. In addition, we discuss the possibilities of collaboration of QueC with other cellular proteins in the production of preQ0.
PENERAPAN ASAS PACTA SUNT SERVANDA PADA TESTAMENT YANG DIBUAT DI HADAPAN NOTARIS DALAM PERSPEKTIF KEADILAN

The research entitled The Application of Pacta Sunt Servanda Principle In Testament Made Before Notary in Perspective of Justice has problem formulation: 1) How is the application of pacta sunt servanda principle on testaments made before the present notary ? , 2) What legal effect arises when The testamen made before the notary does not apply the principle of pacta sunt servanda in the perspective of justice? And 3) How is the application of pacta sunt servanda principle to testament made before Notary in the perspective of justice ? The results of this research are 1) The application of pacta sunt servanda principle on testaments made before the present notary can be described that the implementation of pacta sunt servanda principle is required at all stages, either before, during or after the process of making the testament deed. 2) Any legal effect that arises when a testament made before a notary public does not apply the principle of pacta sunt servanda in the perspective of justice is that the testament is essentially a statement made unilaterally by the testamenter set forth in a deed that must be executed by the will . 3) The application of the principle of pacta sunt servanda to the testament made before the Notary in the perspective of justice is that in the making of this testament it must be adhered to two principles namely, firstly, giving equal rights and opportunities to the widest freedom of the broadest extent of equal freedom for each person. Second, able to reorganize the socio-economic disparities that occur so as to provide mutual benefits. Keywords: Pakta Azmen Sunt Servanda, Testament