Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Streptococcus pneumoniae Phosphotyrosine Phosphatase CpsB and Alterations in Capsule Production Resulting from Changes in Oxygen Availability

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae produces a protective capsular polysaccharide whose production must be modulated for bacterial survival within various host niches. Capsule production is affected in part by a phosphoregulatory system comprised of CpsB, CpsC, and CpsD. Here, we found that growth of serotype 2 strain D39 under conditions of increased oxygen availability resulted in decreased capsule levels concurrent with an ∼5-fold increase in Cps2B-mediated phosphatase activity. The change in Cps2B phosphatase activity did not result from alterations in the levels of either the cps2B transcript or the Cps2B protein. Recombinant Cps2B expressed in Escherichia coli similarly exhibited increased phosphatase activity under conditions of high-oxygen growth. S. pneumoniae D39 derivatives with defined deletion or point mutations in cps2B demonstrated reduced phosphatase activity with corresponding increases in levels of Cps2D tyrosine phosphorylation. There was, however, no correlation between these phenotypes and the level of capsule production. During growth under reduced-oxygen conditions, the Cps2B protein was essential for parental levels of capsule, but phosphatase activity alone could be eliminated without an effect on capsule. Under increased-oxygen conditions, deletion of cps2B did not affect capsule levels. These results indicate that neither Cps2B phosphatase activity nor Cps2D phosphorylation levels per se are determinants of capsule levels, whereas the Cps2B protein is important for capsule production during growth under conditions of reduced but not enhanced oxygen availability. Roles for factors outside the capsule locus, possible interactions between capsule regulatory proteins, and links to other cellular processes are also suggested by the results described in this study.
Children Show Highest Levels of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in a California Family of Four: A Case Study

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a major class of flame retardants, are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with particularly high concentrations in humans from the United States. This study is a first attempt to report and compare PBDE concentrations in blood drawn from a family. Serum samples from family members collected at two sampling occasions 90 days apart were analyzed for PBDE congeners. Concentrations of the lower-brominated PBDEs were similar at the two sampling times for each family member, with children’s levels 2- to 5-fold higher than those of their parents. Concentrations of, for example, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) varied from 32 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in the father to 60, 137, and 245 ng/g lw in the mother, child, and toddler, respectively. Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) concentrations differed significantly between the two samplings. September concentrations in the father, mother, child, and toddler were 23, 14, 143, and 233 ng/g lw, respectively. December concentrations (duplicate results from the laboratory) were 2 and 3, 4 and 4, 9 and 12, and 19 and 26 ng/g lw, respectively. Parents’ ∑PBDE concentrations approached U.S. median concentrations, with children’s concentrations near the maximum (top 5%) found in U.S. adults. The youngest child had the highest concentrations of all PBDE congeners, suggesting that younger children are more exposed to PBDEs than are adults. Our estimates indicate that house dust contributes to children’s higher PBDE levels. BDE-209 levels for all family members were 10-fold lower at the second sampling. The short half-life of BDE-209 (15 days) indicates that BDE-209 levels can decrease rapidly in response to decreased exposures. This case study suggests that children are at higher risk for PBDE exposures and, accordingly, face higher risks of PBDE-related health effects than adults.
Probiotics and human health: a clinical perspective

There is unequivocal evidence that administration of probiotics could be effective in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhoea in children and the prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and nosocomial/community acquired diarrhoea. Encouraging evidence is also emerging for the effectiveness of probiotics in the prevention and management of pouchitis and paediatric atopic diseases, and the prevention of postoperative infections. There is also strong evidence that certain probiotic strains are able to enhance immune function, especially in subjects with less than adequate immune function such as the elderly. Efficacy of probiotics in the prevention of traveller’s diarrhoea, sepsis associated with severe acute pancreatitis, and cancers, the management of ulcerative colitis, and lowering of blood cholesterol remains unproven. In addition to firm evidence of efficacy (for a range of conditions), major gaps exist in our knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which probiotics modulate various physiological functions and the optimum dose, frequency, and duration of treatment for different probiotic strains.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF MITOCHONDRIAL SEQUENCE DIVERSITY SUPPORT NEW NULL HYPOTHESES

A variety of forces and constraints can cause sequence data to deviate from patterns predicted under strict neutrality. Here, I present a meta‐analysis of available aligned sequence data from 12 higher animal taxa to identify whether the typical null assumption for an often‐used test for neutrality—Tajima's D statistic—is an appropriate or useful null given large numbers of empirical observations. Across 1068 cytochrome oxidase I (COI) datasets, the mean value for Tajima's D is −0.391, with over a sixth of these datasets representing “significant” divergence from null assumptions according to this test. These results indicate a persistent trend for mitochondrial COI data—chosen for their prevalence in population and taxonomic studies—to indicate patterns of diversity that deviate from a purely neutral description, and provide compelling support for the concept that more complex “null” hypotheses may be necessary in population genetics.
The Ethical Costs of Commercializing the Professions: First-Person Narratives from the Legal and Medical Trenches

This paper explores the tension between being both a professional and a businessperson in the practice of law or medicine. Traditionally, these professions were marked by certain criteria, central of which was “a commitment to provide service to the public that goes beyond the economic welfare of the practitioner. ” In 21st century U.S., however, business or economic concerns have an increasingly large impact on the lives of lawyers and physicians. This impact, I argue, is not a positive one. Drawing upon qualitative interview and survey data gathered from practicing lawyers and physicians who find themselves struggling to act as ethical businesspersons in the practice of law or medicine, I describe this moral tension between serving self-interests and meeting the needs of patients/clients as an important, under-identified, and ultimately corrosive component of contemporary professional life.
WHEN TWO VOWELS GO WALKING: VOWEL COALESCENCE IN SHONA

Vowel coalescence is a phonological process in which adjacent vowels cause each other to change. Processes of vowel coalescence that are widespread in other Bantu languages occur in Shona at the boundaries between words and monosyllabic affixes. This article argues for two main coalescence triggers in Shona: 1) epenthetic i-, used to eliminate monosyllabic words, and 2) a nominal initial vowel attested, in other Bantu languages, which is hypothesized to have once existed in Shona. Coalescence only takes place across a syntactic boundary that occurs within a phonological word.
Enabling 3-share Threshold Implementations for any 4-bit S-box

Threshold Implementation (TI) is an elegant and widely accepted countermeasure against 1-st order Differential Power Analysis (DPA) in Side Channel Attacks. The 3-share TI is the most efficient version of TI, but so far, it can only be applied to 50% of all 4-bit S-boxes. In this paper, we study the limitations of decomposition and introduce factorization to enable the 3-share TI for any optimal 4-bit S-box. We propose an algorithm which can decompose any optimal 4-bit S-box to quadratic vectorial boolean functions with a time complexity of 2. Furthermore, we use our new methodology in combination with decomposition to optimize ciphers utilizing many different S-boxes, and, to highlight the strength of our new methodology, we construct a 3-share Threshold Implementation of SERPENT which was believed to be not possible until now. Last, we show how to implemented all SERPENT S-boxes with only one mutual core.
An epidemiological survey of constipation in Canada: definitions, rates, demographics, and predictors of health care seeking

OBJECTIVES:The prevalence of functional constipation is highly variable among epidemiological surveys and may relate to the definitions applied. We estimated the population prevalence of self-reported, Rome I–defined, and Rome II–defined constipation in Canada and determined the variables that best predicted health care seeking.METHODS:A research firm was employed to conduct a random digit dial national survey, inviting household members at least 18 yr of age to participate in a study assessing personal health issues. The sample was stratified to ensure that each region of Canada was represented. Data collection involved three stages: 1) recruitment of participants by phone, 2) mailing of the questionnaire, and 3) data retrieval through a follow-up phone call. The Rome II questionnaire was used to derive the prevalence of functional constipation using both Rome I and Rome II criteria.RESULTS:Of the 1149 participants, 27.2% self-reported constipation within the past 3 months, and 16.7% and 14.9% had functional constipation according to Rome I and II, criteria, respectively. For all three definitions, the rate for women was close to twice that for men. Approximately 34% of those with self-reported constipation had visited a physician for it, versus 26.3% of Rome II subjects. In a regression model, subjects self-reporting in the past 3 months were more likely to have seen a doctor for their constipation (odds ratio 2.47, p < 0.01) and significantly more women than men (35.6% vs 19.5%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Functional constipation and related health care seeking are common in the Canadian population and are strongly determined by the definition used. The Rome II criteria for this disorder seem to be satisfactory, but modifications may be considered to allow for constipated subjects taking laxatives and to increase the number of qualifying symptoms.
Controlling a Human–Computer Interface System With a Novel Classification Method that Uses Electrooculography Signals

Electrooculography (EOG) signals can be used to control human-computer interface (HCI) systems, if properly classified. The ability to measure and process these signals may help HCI users to overcome many of the physical limitations and inconveniences in daily life. However, there are currently no effective multidirectional classification methods for monitoring eye movements. Here, we describe a classification method used in a wireless EOG-based HCI device for detecting eye movements in eight directions. This device includes wireless EOG signal acquisition components, wet electrodes and an EOG signal classification algorithm. The EOG classification algorithm is based on extracting features from the electrical signals corresponding to eight directions of eye movement (up, down, left, right, up-left, down-left, up-right, and down-right) and blinking. The recognition and processing of these eight different features were achieved in real-life conditions, demonstrating that this device can reliably measure the features of EOG signals. This system and its classification procedure provide an effective method for identifying eye movements. Additionally, it may be applied to study eye functions in real-life conditions in the near future.
STABILITY AND SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF NEGATIVE IONS

STABILITY AND SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF NEGATIVE IONS By Swayamprabha Behera, M.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011. Major Director: Dr. Purusottam Jena, Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics Negative ions play an important role in chemistry as building blocks of salts and oxidizing agents. Halogen atoms, due to their ability to attract electrons, readily form negative ions. Considerable interest exists in the design and synthesis of new negative ions called superhaogens whose electron affinities are much higher than those of halogen atoms. This thesis deals with the design of such species. Using density functional theory I have studied two classes of superhalogens. First one involves d transition metal (Sc, Y, La) atoms surrounded by Cl while the second one involves simple metals (Na, Mg, Al) surrounded by pseudohalogens such as CN. Geometry, electronic structure, and electron affinity of these species containing up to 5 ligands have been calculated. Studies reveal a fundamental difference between the interaction of transition and metal atoms with electronegative ligands. In addition, pseudohalogens can be used to synthesize a new class of superhalogens.
A Theory of the Mechanism of Cerebral Vasospasm and Its Reversal, the Role of Calcium and Cyclic AMP

SUMMARY: It is proposed that the basic mechanism of vasospasm which sometimes follows subarachnoid hemorrhage is dependent on increased free intracellular calcium ion produced by spasmogens from closely applied extravasated blood. Relaxation of this spasm occurs when the intracellular cyclic AMP levels are raised, resulting in sequestration of calcium ion by the vascular smooth muscle cell sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Can Lucas-Kanade be used to estimate motion parallax in 3D cluttered scenes?

When an observer moves in a 3D static scene, the motion field depends on the depth of the visible objects and on the observer's instantaneous translation and rotation. By computing the difference between nearby motion field vectors, the observer can estimate the direction of local motion parallax and in turn the direction of heading. It has recently been argued that, in 3D cluttered scenes such as a forest, computing local image motion using classical optical flow methods is problematic since these classical methods have problems at depth discontinuities. Hence, estimating local motion parallax from optical flow should be problematic as well. In this paper we evaluate this claim. We use the classical Lucas-Kanade method to estimate optical flow and the Rieger-Lawton method to estimate the direction of motion parallax from the estimated flow. We compare the motion parallax estimates to those of the frequency based method of Mann-Langer. We find that if the Lucas-Kanade estimates are sufficiently pruned, using both an eigenvalue condition and a mean absolute error condition, then the Lucas- Kanade/Rieger-Lawton method can perform as well as or better than the frequency-based method.
Interferon‐γ is crucial for surviving a Brucella abortus infection in both resistant C57BL/6 and susceptible BALB/c mice

Brucella abortus is an intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes chronic infections in humans and a number of agriculturally important species of animals. It has been shown that BALB/c mice are more susceptible to infections with virulent strains of Brucella abortus than C57BL/6 or C57BL/10 strains. In experiments described here, gene knock‐out mice were utilized to elucidate some of the salient components of resistance. Resistant C57BL/6 mice with gene deletions or disruptions in the interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), perforin or β2‐microglobulin genes had decreased abilities to control intracellular infections with B. abortus strain 2308 during the first week after infection. However, only the IFN‐γ knock‐out mice had a sustained inability to control infections and this resulted in death of the mice at approximately 6 weeks post‐infection. These mice had a continual increase in the number of bacterial colony‐forming units (CFU) in their spleens until death. When BALB/c mice with the disrupted IFN‐γ gene were infected they had more splenic CFU at one week post‐infection than control mice but the increase was not statistically significant and by 3 weeks they did not have more CFU than control mice. Moreover, the number of splenic bacteria did not increase in the BALB/c IFN‐γ knock‐out mice between 6 and 10·5 weeks, although they died at 10·5 weeks, the time by which normal BALB/c mice were clearing the infection. Death in both strains of IFN‐γ gene disrupted mice coincided with symptoms of cachexia and macrophages comprised ≥ 75% of the splenic leucocytes.
Familial generalized epilepsy in Bulgarian Roma.

AIMS Gypsy communities constitute cultural and frequently inbred genetic isolates. Several genetic neurological disorders have been identified in these communities. Epilepsy appears as a fairly frequent medical condition among Bulgarian Gypsies, and many patients can be related to large pedigrees that may then be studied by conventional genetic linkage analyses. PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified two large Wallachian Gypsy families from the Plovdiv and Varna regions of Bulgaria, with detailed clinical questionnaires and examination, and EEG recordings for many. Genetic linkage analysis was performed using microsatellite markers spaced across the human genome. RESULTS Although phenotypes were not always easy to identify, epilepsy appears in both families as a dominant, or pseudo-dominant trait, with the characteristics of idiopathic generalized epilepsy with onset at various ages, with infrequent, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, some associated with fever in childhood, but without sensitivity to fever in later life. While few markers yielded LOD scores > 2, no locus showed significant linkage, assuming autosomal dominant or recessive modes of inheritance. CONCLUSION Idiopathic generalized epilepsy, with a marked familial character, has not been reported to date in Bulgarian Gypsies. Both pedigrees studied here present with an identifiable epilepsy type inherited as a Mendelian trait. Despite the current lack of significant linkage, these families may constitute interesting ground for further genetic studies, on condition that more patients and families can be recruited. [Published with supplemental data on DVD].
Una mirada desde Bourdieu, al lenguaje y a las competencias

El articulo pretende establecer las bases teoricas de Bourdieu para interrogar las evaluaciones masivas de lenguaje en Colombia, desde el punto de vista de su papel frente a: la comprension de nuestra cultura; los efectos de la desigualdad social; el lenguaje y las condiciones sociales que posibilitan las competencias; las constantes linguisticas y las variaciones sociologicamente significativas; la manipulacion de sentidos sin relacion con el contexto; la condicion institucional que garantiza su imposicion; el poder simbolico que describe un cierto ser de la escuela; la validez de usos linguisticos, practicas pedagogicas, costumbres educativas y politicas educativas; y las sanciones negativas del mercado escolar a los usos de las clases mas desprovistas.
Efficient Resource Allocation for Multicell Heterogeneous Cognitive Networks With Varying Spectrum Availability

This paper investigates the problem of designing an efficient spectrum-allocation mechanism in heterogeneous multicell coordinated cognitive radio networks (CRNs) under time-varying channel availabilities and traffic demands across the different cells. The problem is modeled as a utility proportional fair maximization problem subject to traffic demand, spectrum heterogeneity, and exclusive spectrum sharing constraints. Specifically, the optimization problem is formulated as a binary linear programming (BLP) problem. Due to its integrality properties, the BLP is anticipated to be NP-hard. However, this paper proves that the optimal solution of the formulated BLP can be found in polynomial time using linear programming (LP) because of its total unimodular constraint matrix. The proposed solution is a spectrum-aware allocation design that ensures a fair spectrum sharing among cells based on their current traffic loads while considering the unique characteristics of their radio-frequency (RF) environment. Simulation results reveal that the proposed spectrum-aware proportional weighted fair allocation leads to improved system performance while effectively dealing with spectrum heterogeneity and time-varying traffic demands. The results also indicate that the proposed spectrum-allocation design is quite robust to traffic estimation and spectrum sensing errors.
Pulsed Discharge Induced by Nanosecond Pulsed Power in Atmospheric Air

Nonthermal plasmas have been widely used for various applications. Observation of a discharge plasma is an essential aspect for understanding the plasma physics of this growing field. In this paper, the propagation of a general pulsed discharge having a 100-ns pulse duration is observed by taking framing and streak images and spectroscopic measurement. The results showed that two discharge phases exist in the general pulsed discharge, namely, a streamer discharge and the following glowlike discharge. Between these two phases, the electrode gap impedance changed dramatically which could cause impedance mismatching between the power generator and the electrode. In addition, the gas temperature increased about 150 K during the glowlike discharge, which causes further energy loss in plasma-enhanced chemical reactions. Consequently, it was decided to remove the glowlike discharge phase and to only have the streamer discharge. A nanosecond pulsed power generator having a pulse duration of 5 ns was developed, and the observed discharge propagation ended before it shifts to the glowlike discharge. The streamer propagation velocity with the nanosecond pulsed discharge was 6.0-8.0 mm/ns, which is much faster than that of a general pulsed discharge, and showed little difference between positive and negative voltage polarities.
Assessment Disparities among Pediatric Patients: Advantages of Pictorial Descriptions

Remarkable progress in medicine has provided people with the potential for longer and healthier lives. However, health disparities (e.g., poverty, access to health care, educational inequalities, higher exposure to health risks, etc.), make individuals, families, and communities miss most of the benefits of this progress (1, 2). Pediatric populations are affected by these disparities during crucial years of development. The result is poor health or disease, which develops over short and/or long term periods (3–5). The adverse contributions of these disparities have a different effect on each individual. However, they have a powerful effect on pediatric outcomes. One of the most recognized factors associated with health disparities is the problem of poor communication with parents/caretakers. Poor communication prevents them from receiving health benefits, participating in research studies, and actively contributing to disease prevention and health care for their children (6–9). Decades of effort and research on strategies to reduce health disparities have led to inconclusive and conflicting results, and there has been little improvement in leading health indicators (10). Some interventions could have a true beneficial effect on the participants. However, it is possible that the findings have been affected by misclassification of outcomes, exposures, or health conditions due to assessment disparities (11–13).