Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
gadA gene locus in Lactobacillus brevis NCL912 and its expression during fed-batch fermentation.

Normally, Lactobacillus brevis has two glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) genes; gadA and gadB. Using PCR, we cloned the gadA gene from L. brevis strain NCL912, a high yield strain for the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). However, despite using 61 different primer pairs, including degenerate primers from conserved regions, we were unable to use PCR to clone gadB from the NCL912 strain. Furthermore, we could not clone it by genomic walking over 3000 bp downstream of the aldo-keto reductase gene, a single-copy gene that is located 1003 bp upstream of gadB in L. brevis ATCC367. Altogether, the data suggest that L. brevis NCL912 does not contain a gadB gene. By genomic walking, we cloned regions upstream and downstream of the gadA gene to obtain a 4615 bp DNA fragment that included the complete gadA locus. The locus contained the GAD gene (gadA) and the glutamate:GABA antiporter gene (gadC), which appear to be transcribed in an operon (gadCA), and a transcriptional regulator (gadR) of gadCA. During whole fed-batch fermentation, the expression of gadR, gadC and gadA was synchronized and correlated well with GABA production. The gadA locus we cloned from NCL912 has reduced homology compared with gadA loci of other L. brevis strains, and these differences might explain the ability of NCL912 to produce higher levels of GABA in culture.
Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma with Thalidomide-based Regimens: Identification of Prognostic Factors

We evaluated the predictive value of several parameters, including the International Staging System (ISS) for myeloma, in patients with advanced disease treated with thalidomide-based regimens (TBR). We analyzed 119 patients, from 3 phase II studies. Patients with pretreatment β2 microglobulin < 3.5 mg/l and albumin ⩾̸ 3.5 g/dl were scored ISS stage 1, patients with β2 microglobulin < 3.5 mg/l and albumin < 3.5 g/dl or β2 microglobulin 3.5 - 5.5 mg/l regardless of albumin levels were scored ISS stage 2, patients with β2 microglobulin > 5.5 mg/l ISS stage 3. ISS stage was 1, 2 and 3 in 45, 32 and 23% of patients respectively. Seventy-four patients (62%) achieved at least partial response. Median progression-free and overall survival were 8 months and 19.5 months respectively. ISS stage, serum LDH and performance status were independent predictive factors for survival. Based on these 3 variables a scoring system was developed with survival times of 38.1, 28.8 and 5.8 months for scores 0, 1 and 2 respectively. The ISS staging system was highly predictive for overall survival of patients with advanced myeloma treated with TBR. With the addition of performance status and serum LDH, a simple scoring system was developed which may help select patients likely to benefit from TBR.
Eating patterns and mental health problems in early adolescence – a cross-sectional study of 12–13-year-old Norwegian schoolchildren

Abstract Objective To investigate the association between eating patterns and mental health problems in young Norwegian adolescents (12–13 years of age). Design Cross-sectional study. Dietary information was reported by parents using a retrospective FFQ. Eating patterns were identified using principal component analysis. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to measure mental health problems. The association between eating patterns and mental health problems was examined using multiple logistic regression analysis. Setting Primary schools, Telemark County, Norway. Subjects Children (n 1095) aged 12–13 years and their parents. Results Children with high scores on a ‘varied Norwegian’ eating pattern were less likely to have indications of any psychiatric disorders (adjusted OR = 0·5; 95 % CI 0·3, 1·0) and hyperactivity-inattention disorders (adjusted OR = 0·4; 95 % CI 0·2, 0·8) than children with low scores on this pattern. Children with high scores on a ‘junk/convenient’ eating pattern were more likely to have indications of hyperactivity-inattention disorders (adjusted OR = 3·4; 95 % CI 1·3, 8·6) than children with low scores on this pattern. Children with high scores on a ‘snacking’ eating pattern were more likely to have indications of conduct/oppositional disorders (adjusted OR = 3·8; 95 % CI 1·2, 11·5) than those with low scores on this eating pattern. Conclusions We identified a significant association between eating patterns and mental health problems in young adolescents, independently of physical activity, sedentary activity and background variables. A diverse diet rich in unrefined plant foods, fish and regular meals was associated with better mental health, while energy-dense, nutrient-poor diets and irregular meals were associated with poorer mental health.
Is breakaway training effective? An audit of one medium secure unit

Abstract Background: Violence to mental health staff is a major problem in the UK. Breakaway training may improve knowledge, attitudes, and stress. It is unknown if breakaway training is effective in clinical environments. Aim: To audit the effectiveness of breakaway training in a sample of clinically-based mental health nurses in a medium secure forensic mental health unit. Method: Audit using a cross-sectional design with an opportunistic sample of 47 clinically-based mental health nursing staff in a forensic medium secure unit. Participants had previously been trained in breakaway techniques. They were approached by the audit team on the ward and randomly selected one of five possible life-threatening assaults that they then had to break away from. Measures were blind ratings by breakaway trainers of the participant's correct use of technique and time. Where participants were unable to break away after 10 seconds the scenario was stopped. Descriptive analysis of the sample and inter-rater agreement of breakaway trainers' ratings were conducted. Results: None of the sample had used a breakaway technique in the preceding 12 months; 40% (19/47) were unable to break away from a life-threatening assault within a 10-second period; 60% did not employ the correct breakaway technique. Conclusion: The effectiveness of breakaway training is questionable given that 40% of the sample were unable to break away from a life-threatening hold in time. Further replication is required.
Systematic Functional Analysis of Bicaudal-D Serine Phosphorylation and Intragenic Suppression of a Female Sterile Allele of BicD

Protein phosphorylation is involved in posttranslational control of essentially all biological processes. Using mass spectrometry, recent analyses of whole phosphoproteomes led to the identification of numerous new phosphorylation sites. However, the function of most of these sites remained unknown. We chose the Drosophila Bicaudal-D protein to estimate the importance of individual phosphorylation events. Being involved in different cellular processes, BicD is required for oocyte determination, for RNA transport during oogenesis and embryogenesis, and for photoreceptor nuclei migration in the developing eye. The numerous roles of BicD and the available evidence for functional importance of BicD phosphorylation led us to identify eight phosphorylation sites of BicD, and we tested a total of 14 identified and suspected phosphoserine residues for their functional importance in vivo in flies. Surprisingly, all these serines turned out to be dispensable for providing sufficient basal BicD activity for normal growth and development. However, in a genetically sensitized background where the BicDA40V protein variant provides only partial activity, serine 103 substitutions are not neutral anymore, but show surprising differences. The S103D substitution completely inactivates the protein, whereas S103A behaves neutral, and the S103F substitution, isolated in a genetic screen, restores BicDA40V function. Our results suggest that many BicD phosphorylation events may either be fortuitous or play a modulating function as shown for Ser103. Remarkably, amongst the Drosophila serines we found phosphorylated, Ser103 is the only one that is fully conserved in mammalian BicD.
Efficient Cell-Aware Fault Modeling by Switch-Level Test Generation

This paper proposes methods to drastically reduce the expensive analog fault simulation currently used to create cell-aware fault models. By exploiting low-power properties of common CMOS designs, most defects in the transistor-level netlist containing parasitics can be represented by just two canonical fault classes. Via simple circuit analysis, we show that faulty behaviors are completely predictable as the defect resistance parameter value varies from zero to infinity, thus eliminating the need for circuit simulation at multiple parameter values. The two canonical fault classes can be modeled by transistor switch stuck-open and stuck-closed faults. Rather than enumerating the full combination cell input patterns to search for defect detection conditions by analog fault simulation, switch-level test generation can obtain those input conditions directly, thereby reducing significantly the role of analog simulation to that of ranking conditions in terms of detection effectiveness.
Diversity and Collegiate Experiences Affecting Self-Perceived Gains in Critical Thinking: Which Works, and Who Benefits?

This study is grounded in the theoretical and conceptual frameworks that postulate diversity and collegiate experiences as triggers for the cognitive disequilibrium that fosters critical thinking (CT). With the assumption that CT is both a general and a discipline-specific facility, this longitudinal, single-institution study of 447 students examines the effects of both diversity and collegiate experiences on self-perceived gains in critical thinking among white and ethnic minority students. Implications for institutional policy and further empirical research are discussed.
Nitro-Imidazole Radiosensitizer-Induced Toxicity in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Intravenously administered nitro-imidazole radiosensitizer and alkylating anticancer compound CI-1010, designated as (R)-a-[[(2-bromoethyl)amino]methyl]-2-nitro-lH-imidazole-l-ethanol monohydrobromide, causes multiorgan toxicity in rodents, including retinal degeneration. This study determined the potential of CI-1010 to induce similar effects in nonhuman primates. One male and 1 female cynomolgus monkey were given single daily doses of CI-1010 intravenously for 5 consecutive days each week for 3 wk. Doses were escalated from 5 mg per kilogram of body weight in week 1 to 40 and 60 mg/kg in week 3. Postdosing emesis occurred in both monkeys at 5 mg/kg, and clinical signs at 40 and 60 mg/kg included more pronounced emesis, reduced food consumption, pallor, weakness, and body weight loss. At study termination, both monkeys had markedly reduced peripheral blood lymphocytes and moderately lowered erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels, which correlate with a decreased total nucleated bone marrow cell count. At necropsy, the monkeys had pancytic bone marrow hypocellularity, multiorgan lymphoid depletion, pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis, testicular seminiferous tubular degeneration, and bilateral multifocal retinal degeneration involving the photoreceptor and outer nuclear layers. Ultrastructurally, selected inner and outer retinal rod segments were swollen and fragmented, a state associated with cytoplasmic condensation and pyknosis of the outer nuclear cell layer. Thus, CI-1010 induced toxicity of hematopoietic/lymphoid organs, retina, testes, and pancreas in monkeys, findings similar to those of previous studies in rodents.
Classification of High Spatial Resolution Imagery Using Improved Gaussian Markov Random-Field-Based Texture Features

Gaussian Markov random fields (GMRFs) are used to analyze textures. GMRFs measure the interdependence of neighboring pixels within a texture to produce features. In this paper, neighboring pixels are taken into account in a priority sequence according to their distance from the center pixel, and a step-by-step least squares method is proposed to extract a novel set of GMRF texture features, named as PS-GMRF. A complete procedure is first designed to classify texture samples of QuickBird imagery. After texture feature extraction, a subset of PS-GMRF features is obtained by the sequential floating forward-selection method. Then, the maximum a posteriori iterated conditional mode classification algorithm is used, involving the selected PS-GMRF texture features in combination with spectral features. The experimental results show that the performance of classifying texture samples on high spatial resolution QuickBird satellite imagery is improved when texture features and spectral features are used jointly, and PS-GMRF features have a higher discrimination power compared to the classical GMRF features, making a notable improvement in classification accuracy from 71.84% to 94.01%. On the other hand, it is found that one of the PS-GMRF texture features - the lowest order variance - is effective for residential-area detection. Some results for IKONOS and SPOT-5 images show that the integration of the lowest order variance with spectral features improves the classification accuracy compared to classification with purely spectral features
Design Activism: Beautiful Strangeness for a Sustainable World

Preface 1. Scoping the Territory: Design, Activism and Sustainability 2. Past Lessons: A Short History of Design in Activist Mode, 1750 to 2000 3. Global-Local Tensions: Key Drivers for Design Activism in an Unsustainable World 4. Contemporary Expressions: Design Activism, 2000 Onwards 5. Designing Together: The Power of 'We Think', 'We Design', 'We Make' 6. Activist Frameworks & Tools: Nodes, Networks & Technology, Tools 7. Adaptive Capacity: Design as a Societal Strategy for Designing 'Now' and 'Co-futuring' 8. Appendices 9. Notes 10. Bibliography 11. Index
Evidence, Mechanism and Alternative Chemical Seedbank-Level Control of Glyphosate Resistance of a Rigid Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) Biotype from Southern Spain

Rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is one of the most troublesome weeds in different crops in the Mediterranean region. A rigid ryegrass biotype from an olive grove in Jaén province (Andalusía, southern Spain), potentially resistant to glyphosate (RG), was tested for its resistance level through dose-response assays using a susceptible biotype (SG). To test the hypothesis of a non-target-site-based resistance, as point mutations are far less common mechanisms of glyphosate resistance, studies were also conducted to elucidate whether resistance was associated with biochemical, metabolism, molecular and/or physiological mechanisms. Alternative herbicide-based control options, including single-herbicide or herbicide mixtures with glyphosate, applied at seedling, tillering or full heading stages, were tested in field experiments for 2 years for their efficacy against rigid ryegrass plants and their effects on the soil seed bank. Resistance levels of the RG biotype were 23- (LD50) and 7-fold (GR50) higher compared to the SG biotype. The SG biotype exhibited a significantly greater shikimic acid accumulation than the RG one. At 96 HAT, 58 and 89% of applied 14C-glyphosate was up taken by leaves of RG and SG biotype plants, respectively, and, at this time, a significantly higher proportion of the glyphosate taken up by the treated leaf remained in its tissue in RG plants compared to the SG ones. The RG biotype did not reveal any point mutation in the glyphosate target site EPSP synthase. Overall, results confirmed reduced glyphosate uptake and translocation as being the mechanism involved in glyphosate resistance in the RG biotype. RG biotype responses to the alternative treatments tested in situ indicated that herbicide applications at the later growth stage tended to be less effective in terms of immediate effects on population size than earlier applications, and that only in some cases, the removal of at least 85% of the RG biotype was achieved. However, with few exceptions, the alternative treatments tested appeared to be highly effective in reducing the seed bank irrespective of the growth stage. The frequency of the resistant phenotype in the progeny of surviving plants of the RG biotype was dependent on treatment. Results suggest that a potential exists for effective management of glyphosate-resistant rigid ryegrass in olive groves in southern Spain.
Cells with High Cyclophilin A Content Support Replication of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag Mutants with Decreased Ability To Incorporate Cyclophilin A

ABSTRACT Gag polyprotein-mediated incorporation of cellular cyclophilin A (CyPA) into virions is essential for the formation of infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions. Either a point mutation in Gag (P222A) or drugs which bind CyPA decrease virion incorporation of CyPA and interfere with HIV-1 replication. We have found that lymphoid cells varied greatly in their CyPA content and that cells with high CyPA content supported the replication of P222A HIV-1 Gag mutants. These experiments demonstrated that a higher cellular CyPA content of some cells was able to compensate for the decreased binding affinity of P222A mutant Gag for CyPA, allowing virus replication to occur.
The Role of Play in Human Development

While the subject of play may seem trivial for behavioral science, E.O. Wilson noted that understanding the significance of play is an important challenge facing scholars in these fields. Play is observed among juveniles across a number of animal species and is especially prevalent in young mammals, yet it is difficult to define or to attribute functional significance to it. In this book, Pellegrini argues that play is an excellent example of the ways in which biology and culture influence each other, especially during childhood. Specifically, the innovative possibilities associated with different forms of play behavior during the juvenile period can influence individuals' skill acquisition, and possibly influence the development of the species. In order to understand play in this broad sense, it is necessary to understand its phylogenetic development (across monkeys, great apes, and humans), its place within human development, and its function(s) and atecedents. Such an understanding of the role of play in childhood has implications for a deeper understanding of the role of development in the human experience. This book is unique among its competitors in that it takes an explicitly theoretical orientation as it is applied to human play, in an evolutionary context. This will be the only volume to provide a coherent theoretical framework addressing the role of play in development. In his concluding chapter, Pellegrini will synthesize his arguments and theory, and speculate about directions for future research in the area. Because of these two aspects, this book has the potential to be a highly influential book for scholars in developmental psychology, educational psychology, evolutionary biology, and play theorists in anthropology.
Implicit Measures of User Interests through Country and Predicting Users' Future Requests in WWW

has become the center of attraction for business transactions and hence e-commerce due to its ease of use and speed. its ability from tracking the browsing behaviour of any user to even the mouse clicks of any individual has brought the vendor and end customer closer than ever before.WWW has made it possible for vendors to advertize their products i.e. they are personalizing their product messages for individual customers at a very large scale such a phenomenon is termed as mass communication such a utility is not only applicable for e-commerce but also such personalization is aiding several web browsing activities. Any action that tailors the web experience to any individual or several users is termed as web personalization. Web personalization is that the method of customizing an internet website to the wants of specific users, taking advantage of the information noninheritable from the analysis of the user's guidance behaviour(Weblog data) in correlation with alternative data collected within the web context, namely, structure, content and user profile information. The domain of web personalization has gained importance both in the area of research and commerce. In this paper we proposed a framework of web log mining to implicit measures of user interests through Country and predicting users" future requests in WWW.
Simulation and Analysis of Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter using Single DC source

Cascaded H-Bridge multilevel inverter is a promising topology and provides alternative way for converters that are used in grid connected photovoltaic, wind power generation and in motor drive. Output power can be expanded simply with modularity and control. Though it has wide application area and tremendous merits, it has greater disadvantage that it uses separate DC supply for each H- Bridge. CMI with single phase transformer and single DC source is proposed for ensure high quality output power waveform. Compared to conventional topology of CMI, proposed topology provides minimization in cost in terms of THD, losses and filter size. Switching angles are calculated for Selective harmonic elimination techniques. Newton- Raphson's method is used to solve non-linear equations of the system.
An Economic Analysis of Co-Parenting Choices: Single Parent, Visiting Father, Cohabitation, Marriage

This paper sheds light on the determinants of choice between four co- parenting arrangements: father absence, father’s non-residential visitations, cohabitation, and marriage. In our theoretical framework, we use an adaptation of Becker’s Demand & Supply (DS (2) fathers who have more children with other women are less likely to have contact with a given woman’s children, but this discouraging effect of men’s other children is smaller for blacks than for whites; and (3) employment in the last year reduces the likelihood that a white mother is married to her child’s father, while increasing that likelihood among black mothers.
Common genetic variations in CLOCK transcription factor are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIM To investigate the role of gene variants and derived haplotypes of the CLOCK transcription factor in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and their relation with the disease severity. METHODS A total of 136 patients with NAFLD and 64 healthy individuals were studied. Liver biopsy was performed in 91 patients. Six tag SNPs showing a minor allele frequency > 10% (rs1554483 C/G; rs11932595 A/G; rs4580704 C/G; rs6843722 A/C; rs6850524 C/G and rs4864548 A/G) encompassing 117 kb of chromosome 4 and representing 115 polymorphic sites (r(2) > 0.8) were genotyped. RESULTS rs11932595 and rs6843722 showed significant associations with NAFLD (empiric P = 0.0449 and 0.023, respectively). A significant association was also observed between clinical or histologic spectrum of NAFLD and rs1554483 (empiric P = 0.0399), rs6843722 (empiric P = 0.0229) and rs6850524 (empiric P = 0.00899) and between fibrosis score and rs1554483 (empiric P = 0.02697), rs6843722 (empiric P = 0.01898) and rs4864548 (empiric P = 0.02697). Test of haplotypic association showed that CLOCK gene variant haplotypes frequencies in NAFLD individuals significantly differed from those in controls (empiric P = 0.0097). CONCLUSION Our study suggests a potential role of the CLOCK polymorphisms and their haplotypes in susceptibility to NAFLD and disease severity.