Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Further Unraveling the Regulatory Twist by Elucidating Metabolic Coinducer-Mediated CbbR-cbbI Promoter Interactions in Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA010

ABSTRACT The cbbI region of Rhodopseudomonas palustris (Rp. palustris) contains the cbbLS genes encoding form I ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase oxygenase (RubisCO) along with a divergently transcribed regulator gene, cbbR. Juxtaposed between cbbR and cbbLS are the cbbRRS genes, encoding an unusual three-protein two-component (CbbRRS) system that modulates the ability of CbbR to influence cbbLS expression. The nature of the metabolic signals that Rp. palustris CbbR perceives to regulate cbbLS transcription is not known. Thus, in this study, the CbbR binding region was first mapped within the cbbLS promoter by the use of gel mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting. In addition, potential metabolic coinducers (metabolites) were tested for their ability to alter the cbbLS promoter binding properties of CbbR. Gel mobility shift assays and surface plasmon resonance analyses together indicated that biosynthetic intermediates such as RuBP, ATP, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and NADPH enhanced DNA binding by CbbR. These coinducers did not yield identical CbbR-dependent DNase I footprints, indicating that the coinducers caused significant changes in DNA structure. These in vitro studies suggest that cellular signals such as fluctuating metabolite concentrations are perceived by and transduced to the cbbLS promoter via the master regulator CbbR.
Relating Satisfaction With Access to Utilization of Services

Underlying the continuing emphasis on access by health services researchers and policymakers is the assumption that patients having poorer access will receive less than appropriate health care, other things being equal. However, recent research results typically have not supported this assumption, and the nature and importance of relationships between access and use still remain unclear. Most published studies have sought to define general relationships that are descriptive of the behavior of all patients in a population facing access problems. The authors use interview data to show that significant relationships between satisfaction with access and use of services can be found if segments of the population, homogeneous in terms of age, sex, or other characteristics, are considered separately. This approach is based on the assumption that dissatisfaction with a particular dimension of access may be salient for some groups of patients but not others, and it is consistent with the view that patients' beliefs and perceptions are important determinants of health behavior.
Risk identification and analysis concurrently: Group Decision Making afpproach

The identification and analysis of project risks among potential risks is a multi attribute group decision making problem. Conventional approaches to risk identification and risk analysis separately tend to be less effective in dealing with the imprecise of the risk analysis individually. The aim of this paper is to present a new methodology for identifying and analyzing risks concurrently by applying Multi Attribute Group Decision Making (MAGDM). The paper includes a new procedure for classifying potential risks which it is the Potential Risks Breakdown Structure (PRBS) based on project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Moreover, lessons learned and Nominal Group Technique (NGT) are utilized for gathering potential risks. Obtained results have been applied in gas refinery plant construction successfully.
Cloning, characterization, and DNA base sequence of the high-level streptomycin resistance gene strA1 of Haemophilus influenzae Rd

The high-level streptomycin resistance strA1 gene of Haemophilus influenzae Rd was cloned in plasmid pAT4 as a 2.1-kbp EcoRI insert. It was later replaced in pAT4 by the wild-type strA+ gene. Plasmid pAT4 carrying the strA+ gene is highly unstable and renders chromosomally resistant recipients sensitive to streptomycin. The strA+ gene and the instability factor both reside on a 500-base HindIII-EcoRI subfragment. The two biological activities are also expressed in Escherichia coli. Both wild-type (strA+) and mutant (strA1) genes were sequenced. They show considerable nucleotide homology with the E. coli strA+ gene and its product.
Power semiconductor devices and smart power IC's - the enabling technology for future high efficient power conversion systems -

One future trend will be to meet growth in electric power capacity, replacement of existing power plants using much smaller units of "clean" generation technologies based on renewables and high efficient power conversion systems responsible for precisely controlling the flow of electrical energy from the source up to the loads. Another direction is to reduce the CO2 emission of cars significantly by applying electronic units replacing mechanical parts and demand driven power electronic systems. The overall target of power electronics system development is boasting energy efficiency in all electric systems to help stretching energy resources and slow down the increase in carbon emission. Power electronic devices and smart power IC's will play a crucial role in increasing the efficiency, electric power is consumed. Silicon utilization, system reliability, power units miniaturization and overall operating efficiency are the key factors. Power Semiconductor devices, and signal processing IC's are the key elements of power electronic systems - despite of the fact that their costs are minimal in many applications relatively to the overall system costs. System integration and high power density design of monolithic devices, discrete components or multichip approach are the driving force for the progress in power electronic system development. Silicon utilization, system reliability, power units miniaturization and overall operating efficiency are the key factors. New system trends are going towards ultra high switching frequency reducing or eliminating bulky magnetics and capacitances as well as soft switching topologies for higher efficiency and low harmonics.
Local Intravaginal Vaccination of the Female Genital Tract

In a clinical trial the authors tested whether local intravaginal or oral vaccination would stimulate a mucosal immune response in the female genital tract. The whole cell/B subunit (CTB) oral cholera vaccine was used. Two groups of previously unimmunized volunteers were given three doses of vaccine at 2‐week intervals: a first group of seven women received oral immunizations and a second group of seven women were immunized locally in the genital tract by mixing the vaccine with a well defined gel, eldexomer, and applying it directly in the fornix of the vagina. The women were given the first vaccination on day 10 of the menstrual cycle. Sampling of peripheral blood and of cervical mucus (CM) using an Aspiglaire syringe was performed immediately prior to the first dose and at 8–10 days following the last immunization. The study showed that while only three of the seven orally immunized women responded with detectable IgA and IgG anti‐CTB antibodies in the genital tract, six out of the seven women in the locally vaccinated group responded with genital tract antibodies. The responses were also generally stronger and CM contained higher specific IgA and secretory component containing anti‐CTB titres in the locally vaccinated group. Of the orally vaccinated individuals all responded with increases in serum anti‐CTB IgG and 4/7 also exhibited specific IgA serum titres. By contrast, only 3/7 in the intravaginal group responded with increases in serum IgG and IgA anti‐CTB titers following immunization. The authors conclude that local intravaginal vaccination using a well‐defined gel appears to be the route of choice to stimulate immunity in the female genital tract.
Changes in Human Muscle Transverse Relaxation Following Short‐Term Creatine Supplementation

The rapid increase in body mass that often occurs following creatine (Cr) supplementation is believed to be due to intracellular water retention. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Cr consumption alters the magnetic resonance (MR) transverse relaxation (T2) distribution of skeletal muscle. Transverse relaxation can be used to model water compartments within a cell or tissue. In this double‐blind study, subjects were asked to supplement their normal diet with creatine monohydrate (20 g day−1 for 5 days) mixed with a grape drink (Creatine group, n= 7), or the grape drink alone (Placebo group, n= 8). Phosphorous MR spectroscopy was used to determine the effectiveness of the supplementation protocol. Subjects that responded to the Cr supplementation (i.e. showed a > 5% increase in the ratio of the levels of phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP) were placed in the Creatine group. Both proton MR imaging and spectroscopy were used to acquire T2 data, at 1.89 T, from the flexor digitorum profundus muscle of each subject before and after supplementation. Following the supplementation period, the Creatine group showed a gain in body mass (1.2 ± 0.8 kg, P < 0.05, mean ± S.D.), and an increase in PCr/ATP ratio (23.8 ± 16.4%, P < 0.001). Neither group showed any changes in intracellular pH or T2 calculated from MR images. However, the spectroscopy data revealed at least three components (> 5 ms) at approximately 20, 40 and 125 ms in both groups. Only in the Creatine group was there an increase in the apparent proton concentration of the two shorter components combined (+5.0 ± 4.7%, P < 0.05). According to the cellular water compartment model, the changes observed in the shorter T2 components are consistent with an increase in intracellular water.
Expression of apoptosis‐regulatory genes in epithelial cells in pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Up‐regulation of Fas and Fas ligand and excessive apoptosis of bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells were identified in bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. This study hypothesized that apoptosis‐regulatory genes other than Fas–Fas ligand, such as p53, p21 (Waf1/Cip1), bcl‐2, bcl‐x, and bax, may also participate in epithelial cell apoptosis in this model. The expression of these genes was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), RT in situ PCR, or immunohistochemistry. The expression of p53 and p21 mRNA was concurrently up‐regulated in the alveolar epithelial cells at 1 h to 7 days after intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. The expression of bcl‐2 mRNA was weakly up‐regulated at 1 h to 14 days, while the expression level of bcl‐2 protein was not changed. The expression of bcl‐x(L) and bax mRNA was strongly up‐regulated at 1 h to 7 days. The expression of bcl‐x protein was up‐regulated in lymphocytes and macrophages, whereas bax protein was up‐regulated in both epithelial and inflammatory cells. It is concluded that epithelial cell apoptosis in this model may also be induced by the up‐regulation of p53 and bax and by the imbalance between apoptosis‐inducible and ‐inhibitory genes, in addition to the up‐regulation of the Fas–Fas ligand pathway. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The development and course of test reactions to gold sodium thiosulfate

In our department, gold sodium thiosulfate has become the 2nd most common allergen in routinely patch tested dermatitis patients, with a rate around 10%. Test reactions to this compound often appear late, sometimes so late that active sensitization may be suspected. This study was performed to study the time course of the allergic reaction to gold sodium thiosulfate and to elucidate whether late test reactions mean active sensitization. 10 patients with contact allergy to gold sodium thiosulfate (0.5% pet.) were retested epicutaneously (e.c.) and intracutaneously (i.c.) with dilution series. The clinical course was followed for 2 months with initially short intervals, later more extended. During the entire study, 26 positive e.c, reactions were diagnosed. Within the 1st week, 17 (65%) were recorded, 12 reactions (46% of 26) were noted at the ordinary reading, 3 days after lest application. After 10 days, another 9 reactions (35%) appeared. The patients with the latter reactions also had positive test reactions within the 1st week. After 2 months, 9 reactions remained. Out of 30 i.e. tests applied, 25 became positive within 1 week 19 (76%) of these reactions changed in morphology Prom thin infiltrates to deep nodules. Another 4 nodules appeared in patients with previous negative i.c. tests. All 23 nodules remained after 2 months. E.c. and i.c. test reactions to gold sodium thiosulfate are long‐lasting. Positive patch test reactions emerging after 10 days do not automatically imply active sensitization. To diagnose contact allergy to gold sodium thiosulfate, the ordinary reading at day 3 is insufficient; even reading at 1 week is insufficient and must he supplemented by a reading at 3 weeks. All the i.c. test reactions, however, appeared within 1 week and, in sacral, a dermal nodule was formed.
Heme oxygenase‐1 inhibits rat and human breast cancer cell proliferation: mutual cross inhibition with indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase

Heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) is the rate limiting enzyme of heme catabolism whereas indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) catabolizes tryptophan through the kynurenine pathway. We analyzed the expression and biological effects of these enzymes in rat and human breast cancer cell lines. We show that rat (NMU and 13762) but not human cells (MCF‐7 and T47D) express HO‐1. When overexpressed, we found this enzyme to have anti‐proliferative and proapoptotic effects by antioxidant mechanisms in these four cell lines. We show that IDO is expressed by rat and human breast cancer cells. IDO inhibition with 1‐MT and siRNA leads to diminished proliferation in rat cells. In contrast, HO‐1 negative human cell lines increase proliferation upon IDO inhibition. Since we also demonstrate that IDO inhibits the anti‐proliferative HO‐1, we propose that IDO has opposite effects on proliferation depending on the coexpression or not of HO‐1. We also describe that HO‐1 inhibits IDO at the post‐translational level through heme starvation. In vivo, we show that rat normal breast expresses HO‐1 and IDO. In contrast, N‐nitrosomethylurea‐induced breast adenocarcinomas only express IDO. In conclusion, we show that HO‐1/IDO cross‐regulation modulates apoptosis and proliferation in rat and human breast cancer cells. —Hill, M. , Pereira, V. , Chauveau, C. , Zagani, R. , Remy, S. , Tesson, L. , Mazal, D. , Ubillos, L. , Brion, R. , Ashgar, K. , Mashreghi, M. F. , Kotsch, K. , Moffett, J., Doebis, C. , Seifert, M. , Boczkowski, J., Osinaga, E. , Anegon, I. Heme oxygenase‐1 inhibits rat and human breast cancer cells proliferation: mutual cross inhibition with indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase. FASEB J. 19, 1957–1968 (2005)
A 0.52-V 5.7-GHz low noise sub-sampling PLL with dynamic threshold MOSFET

This paper proposes a low voltage sub-sampling PLL with dynamic threshold MOSFET (DTMOS). DTMOS switch can achieve higher on/off ratio, which prevents signal attenuation and leakage of a sub-sampling phase detector (SSPD) under low supply voltage. The proposed SSPD also employs double-balanced structure to suppress feedthrough in hold mode. DTMOS switches are also applied to a sub-sampling charge pump to reduce undesirable current leak. The proposed PLL was fabricated in a 65nm CMOS. Under the power supply of 0.52V, it shows a in-band phase noise of -98 dBc/Hz at 410 kHz, and the total power consumption of 1.72 mW at 5.71 GHz including frequency-locked loop.
The Challenges of Macroeconomic Management of Natural Resource Revenues in Developing Countries: The Case of Uganda

Recent natural resource discoveries in East Africa provide an enormous opportunity for development. We focus on oil discoveries in Uganda and their expected impact on government revenues. We analyze alternative spending policies of natural resource revenues using a calibrated dynamic, stochastic, general equilibrium model (DSGE). We use detailed publicly-available information on the upstream oil sector and the fiscal regime to derive realistic cost and government revenue profiles across a range of oil price scenarios. This enables us to project annual production, fixed and variable costs, and government revenues for given global oil price paths. We compare the potential effects of income transfers versus public investment spending, as well as front-loaded versus gradual public investment policies. We also assess the impacts of alternative assumptions on the efficiency of public investment due to constraints on absorptive capacity. In terms of economic welfare, income transfers dominate public investments (whether gradual or front-loaded) given the typically low discount factors for households in low-income developing countries. Similarly, front-loaded investment policies dominate gradual investment policies given the low discount factors. However, our simulations show that as individuals care more about the future (i.e. have a lower discount rate), the welfare order of policies change, as the productivity effect of public investment produces a higher increase in consumption and welfare even though this increase is lagged in time.
Effect of Various Antiplatelet Agents on Acute Arterial Thrombosis in the Rat

Summary Electrical stimulation of the rat carotid artery causes a deep medial injury and the formation of a platelet-rich thrombus. Occlusive thrombosis at sites of vessel wall injury was significantly reduced after the oral administration of clopidogrel, a potent analogue of ticlopidine, which showed dose-dependent inhibition of the thrombus formation (ED50 = 1.0 ±0.2 mg/kg, p.o.). Accumulation of thrombotic material was also considerably reduced after the i. v. administration of SR 27417, a highly potent and selective platelet activating factor receptor antagonist (ED50 = μg/kg, i.v.), nafagrel, a thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor (ED50 = 1.3 mg/kg, i.v.) and hirudin (ED50 = 140 μg/ kg, i.v.). A high dose (20 mg/kg, i.v.) of the anti-adhesive tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) showed only a slight effect on thrombus formation whereas aspirin was ineffective. These results confirm that ADP and thromboxane A2 play key roles in the initiation and progression of arterial thrombus formation and suggest that platelet activating factor may also modulate thrombosis in this experimental model.
Spatial Econometrics In Nonspatial Settings

In this paper, we use data from Major League Baseball between 2000 and 2005 to illustrate how spatial econometric techniques can be used to directly model the interdependence of players. Specifically, we empirically examine the role of task specific human capital on earnings, by modeling player contracts as being determined by their performance, and the performance of other players with similar task specific human capital profiles. Our approach also provides an example to other researchers of a methodological approach to using spatial econometrics in settings where space is defined in ways other than spatial geography.
Trends in rates of Healthcare Associated Infection in England 2004 to 2008

Healthcare associated infections (HCAI) are often caused by micro-organisms that are not transmissible in the classical sense but which take advantage of breaches in the hosts defences against infection (e.g. bowel flora causing wound infection after surgery, skin organisms causing bloodstream infection via a vascular device). Microorganisms that cause HCAI may be derived from the patients’ own flora or may have been acquired from other patients, the environment or staff through contact with people or equipment, or more rarely via the air. The factors that contribute to the acquisition of HCAI are therefore complex and their prevention depends on a range of infection control procedures. For example, preventing a patient becoming colonised with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is dependant on hand hygiene being performed between patient contacts, however, preventing the patient subsequently developing a surgical wound infection caused by MRSA depends on appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis, good surgical technique, a high standard of infection control during surgery and effective protection of the wound from contamination post-surgery.
Deflation and Economic Growth in Japan

Fear of deflation leads to the hypothesis that deflation can have influential negative impact on growth. This paper aims to examine the relation between deflation and growth slowdown of the Japan economy through threshold effect. By using quarterly time series data from 1965 to 2010, log functional form and OLS threshold regression method, the research found existence of the threshold effect which is significant statistically and strong economically. The threshold point of mild deflation is actual true zero inflation. Below this point, the negative impact of deflation will occur on growth. However this finding is sensitive to period of study. Negative threshold impact of deflation turn to be insignificant if period 1990 to 2010 is taken. In addition, deflation has positive impact on economic growth. These finding which are observed from period with prevalence of deflation is in striking contrast with predication of fear of deflation theory of Keynesians but consistent with Austrian Business Cycle and productivity norm deflation theories. Hence, reasons for fear of danger of deflation in the case of Japan cannot be justified.
SMART stent for salvage of hemodialysis access grafts.

PURPOSE To evaluate the SMART stent for treating angioplasty-resistant hemodialysis access venous stenoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study of 64 patients with polytetrafluoroethylene grafts who were treated with the SMART stent at 69 locations in the venous outflow tract was undertaken. Stents were used for elastic recoil after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, venous rupture, or recurrent stenosis less than 3 months after angioplasty. When angiographic follow-up was available, the degree of in-stent restenosis was measured. Primary patency was determined, and, when applicable, compared with that of previous angioplasty treatments of the same lesion. RESULTS The SMART stent was placed in 15 central veins and 54 peripheral veins, with a 98% technical success rate and a 97% clinical success rate. The mean primary access patency times were 14.9 months and 8.9 months in patients who received central and peripheral stents, respectively. In 19 patients whose central or peripheral venous stenoses were previously treated with angioplasty, the mean primary access patency was increased from 2.5 months to 10.6 months after placement of the SMART stent (P = .0003). Angiography in 29 patients after an average of 348 days showed 55% mean in-stent stenosis. The only stent-related complication occurred in a patient who had venous dissection associated with the edge of a SMART stent placed at the elbow. CONCLUSION The SMART stent is safe and effective for treating dialysis access venous stenoses that are resistant to standard angioplasty.