Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solution structure and function of an essential CMP kinase of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen that causes high mortality and morbidity and has developed resistance to many antibiotics. We show that the gene product from SP1603, identified from S. pneumoniae TIGR4, is a CMP kinase that is essential for bacterial growth. It represents an attractive drug target for the development of a novel antibiotic to overcome the problems of drug resistance development for this organism. Here we describe the three‐dimensional solution structure of the S. pneumoniae CMP kinase as determined by NMR spectroscopy. The structure consists of eight α‐helices and two β‐sheets that fold into the classical core domain, the substrate‐binding domain, and the LID domain. The three domains of the protein pack together to form a central cavity for substrate‐binding and enzymatic catalysis. The S. pneumoniae CMP kinase resembles the fold of the Escherichia coli homolog. An insertion of one residue is observed at the β‐turn in the substrate‐binding domain of the S. pneumoniae CMP kinase when compared with the E. coli homolog. Chemical shift perturbations caused by the binding of CMP, CDP, and ATP revealed that CMP or CDP binds to the junction between the core and substrate‐binding domains, whereas ATP binds to the junction between the core and LID domains. From NMR relaxation studies, we determined that the loops in the LID domain are highly mobile. These mobile loops could aid in the closing/opening of the LID domain during enzyme catalysis.
A Psychometric Comparison of Three Scales and a Single-Item Measure to Assess Sexual Satisfaction

This study was designed to systematically compare and contrast the psychometric properties of three scales developed to measure sexual satisfaction and a single-item measure of sexual satisfaction. The Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS), Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX), and the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale–Short (NSSS-S) were compared to one another and to a single-item measure of sexual satisfaction. Conceptualization of the constructs, distribution of scores, internal consistency, convergent validity, test-retest reliability, and factor structure were compared between the measures. A total of 211 men and 214 women completed the scales and a measure of relationship satisfaction, with 33% (n = 139) of the sample reassessed two months later. All scales demonstrated appropriate distribution of scores and adequate internal consistency. The GMSEX, NSSS-S, and the single-item measure demonstrated convergent validity. Test-retest reliability was demonstrated by the ISS, GMSEX, and NSSS-S, but not the single-item measure. Taken together, the GMSEX received the strongest psychometric support in this sample for a unidimensional measure of sexual satisfaction and the NSSS-S received the strongest psychometric support in this sample for a bidimensional measure of sexual satisfaction.
Thiopeptide Antibiotics: Retrospective and Recent Advances

Thiopeptides, or thiazolyl peptides, are a relatively new family of antibiotics that already counts with more than one hundred different entities. Although they are mainly isolated from soil bacteria, during the last decade, new members have been isolated from marine samples. Far from being limited to their innate antibacterial activity, thiopeptides have been found to possess a wide range of biological properties, including anticancer, antiplasmodial, immunosuppressive, etc. In spite of their ribosomal origin, these highly posttranslationally processed peptides have posed a fascinating synthetic challenge, prompting the development of various methodologies and strategies. Regardless of their limited solubility, intensive investigations are bringing thiopeptide derivatives closer to the clinic, where they are likely to show their veritable therapeutic potential.
Fuzzy neural-based learning rate adjustment for gradient based blind source separation

Independent component analysis (ICA) algorithms have been proposed to solve blind source separation (BSS) problem in recent years. T he gradient algorithm is a popular method deals with separating independent signal step by step with learning rate. In this paper, consider to balance the mis-adjustment and the speed of convergence, the leaning rate will be computed in fuzzy neural network (FNN) depended on the second-order and higher order correlation coefficients of output components of BSS. To enhance the performance of the FNN-based learning rate, the FNN is optimization by particle swarm optimization algorithm. Finally, simulation results are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The influence of calcium ions on fibrin polymerization

The influence of calcium ions on the polymerization induced in fibrinogen solutions by thrombin and by Reptilase has been investigated by meansof static and dynamic light scattering in combination with measurements of the release of the fibrinopeptide A. The calcium concentration was varied in the range between 0.3 and 103 calcium ions per fibrinogen molecule. The enzyme concentration was chosen sufficiently low so that it was possible to make quantitative observations as a function of time, in particular, beforethe onset of gelation. Likewise, the influence of calcium ions on the enzymatically induced polymerization of fragment X was studied. The results indicate that there are at least three mechanisms by which calcium can influence the evolution of the polymer system on the path to gelation and clotting. Which mechanism dominates depends upon the calcium concentration.
Caminos de Sostenibilidad de la Mejora Continua de Procesos en la Administración Pública .

En este segundo articulo de la investigacion cualitativa basada en cuatro Ayuntamientos espanoles se presentan de manera ejemplificada los resultados para cada uno de ellos. Se responde a las siguientes sub-preguntas: 3) ? Que diferentes caminos de sostenibilidad se detectan? , 4) ? Que potenciadores e inhibidores influyen en la evolucion de los diferentes caminos de sostenibilidad? Emergen del mismo, una serie de diversos caminos de sostenibilidad de la MCP: �Flujo continuo ciclico�, �flujo continuo por lotes�, �flujo en desarrollo�, �flujo desbloqueado� y �flujo bloqueado e irreversible�. (Ver el articulo aparecido en un numero anterior de la revista para el analisis conceptual y el desarrollo y respuesta a las dos primeras sub-preguntas de la investigacion http://gcg.universia.net/articulo/85/APLICACION-EVOLUCION-MEJORA-CONTINUA-PROCESOS-ADMINISTRACION-PUBLICA.html ) .
Measurement-Based Characterization of 15 GHz Propagation Channels in a Laboratory Environment

In this paper, measurements in a laboratory characterizing the 15-GHz band propagation channels are introduced. Both an omnidirectional antenna (ODA) and a 10° half-power-beamwidth (HPBW) pyramidal horn antenna are deployed at the transmitter (Tx) in different measurements. The receiver (Rx) is equipped with a 10° HPBW horn antenna. A direction-scanning sounding method is applied by rotating the Rx horn antenna in steps of 5° to collect channel impulse responses (CIRs) in the angular domains. Clusters are extracted based on power concentration from the 3-D power spectrum in delay, azimuth, and zenith arrival angles. Each cluster represents the contribution of specular paths with similar delay, azimuth, and zenith arrival angles, and of the diffuse-scattering components spreading around these paths. The mapping of the propagation paths reconstructed from the extracted clusters to the physical interacting objects in the environment is found to be reasonable. Differences on channel characteristics are compared for both a horn antenna and an ODA at the Tx. Finally, a stochastic cluster model is provided based on five measurements in the laboratory for the case where the ODA is used at the Tx.
A Wirelist Compare Program for Verifying VLSI Layouts

We will describe a wirelist compare program that, together with a VLSI node extractor, is used to verify VLSI IC layout connectivity. Engineers at Digital Equipment Corporation have successfully used this tool in a production environment to debug layout errors. The program is based on a graph isomorphism algorithm and provides graphical and textual guides to pinpoint errors. We will examine this algorithm, its error outputs, and provide run-time statistics.
Ibex-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever–Like Disease in a Group of Bongo Antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus)

A private zoological facility experienced an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in 3 bongo antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus). All cases were periparturient bongos that presented acutely anorectic beginning ~6 weeks after being housed with a Nubian ibex. Disease quickly progressed to respiratory distress and death within 24–72 hours of onset of clinical signs. Consistent gross findings in affected bongos were pulmonary edema and small pale tan foci in the livers. Histological lesions included a nonsuppurative vasculitis in multiple tissues, which is well recognized in MCF, but additionally included necrotizing cholangiohepatitis and neutrophilic, necrotizing myocarditis. Ibex-associated viral DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction and was identical in sequence whether derived from bongos or ibex. The sequence closely matched an MCF viral DNA fragment that had been amplified from an ibex and bongo in a previous case report.
A novel dihydrofolate reductase cassette inserted in an integron borne on a Tn21-like element

In this study, a 498-bp dhfrXII gene coding for trimethoprim resistance was found inserted in a cassette-like manner in the recombinationally active locus, the integron, borne on a transposon Tn21-like element. The dhfrXII cassette is distinct from those cassettes earlier observed in integrons and was found here upstream of two similarly inserted cassettes. The second one carried the new unidentified orfF, which is 85% identical to the orfD cassette in R46. The third cassette contained the aadA2 gene mediating spectinomycin resistance. The plasmid carrying this Tn21-like element was originally isolated from a trimethoprim-resistant urinary tract pathogen, Escherichia coli, from Turku City Hospital, Turku, Finland. By colony hybridization and polymerase chain reaction, this group of three cassettes, including dhfrXII, was detected in four additional E. coli strains of similar origin and in four Shigella strains isolated in Finland but originating from Asia. The dihydrofolate reductase produced from dhfrXII showed an unusual drug resistance in that 50% of the enzymatic activity remained at a trimethoprim concentration of 1 mM.
Verification of second-order functional programs

Functional programming languages such as Haskell or ML allow the programmer to implement and to use higher-order procedures. A higher-order procedure gets a function as argument and applies this function to some values. For instance, procedure 'map' applies a function to all elements of a list and returns the list of the result values. Verifying that a higher-order program satisfies a certain property is particularly challenging, because it involves reasoning about indirect function calls; for instance, a call 'map(f, l)' directly calls procedure 'map' and indirectly calls function 'f' if list 'l' is non-empty. Using a higher-order procedure 'g', a procedure 'f' can be defined by higher-order recursion; i. e. , procedure 'f' (directly) calls 'g' and passes itself as an argument to 'g', which leads to indirect recursive calls. These indirect recursive calls make reasoning about higher-order programs difficult. In this thesis we show how the verification of second-order functional programs can be supported by semi-automated theorem provers. 'Second-order' means that a procedure such as 'map' may only be applied to a first-order function, not to a higher-order function. This suffices for most examples that occur in practice and has advantages concerning the semantics of programs. Our goal is to verify the total correctness of programs. This requires a proof that the program terminates and that the result of the computation satisfies a user-defined property. Consequently, we investigate two main problems: termination analysis and inductive theorem proving. The general contribution of this thesis is the automated analysis of the dynamic call structure in second-order programs (introduced by indirect function calls). Specifically, we describe a technique that automatically analyzes and proves termination of many procedures that occur in practice and a technique that automatically synthesizes induction axioms that are suitable to prove properties of these procedures by induction. Finally, we show how the proof of the base and step cases can be supported by an automated theorem prover. The techniques have been implemented in the verification tool VeriFun. Several case studies confirm that they work well in practice and provide a significantly higher degree of automation than other inductive theorem provers.
An Overview of the Distribution of Staphylococcus aureus in the hospital Environment

Background: Bacteria are the major causes of nosocomial infections. Staphylococcus aureus is highly invasive and virulent strains have been described as the aetiological agents of nosocomial infections in different hospitals. The objective of the study was to determine the distribution of S. aureus qualitatively from various spaces in the hospital. Materials: A general hospital in a semi urban community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria was used for this study. Sterile swab sticks moistened in sterile water were used to smear the various spaces in the hospital. Mannitol salt agar was used for the culturing and identification was done using standard microbiological procedures. Results: The result showed a prevalence of 54.05% of Staphylococcus aureus contaminated surfaces in the hospital environment. S. aureus was present in all the samples but the samples collected from the hospital toilet had 100% positive results followed by samples collected from the reception area while the lowest positive result was recorded in the samples collected from the hospital wards. Conclusion: The fact that these contaminants were at high levels in these environments as established in this study is of great concern. These results suggest that disinfection by wiping with 80% (v/v) ethyl alcohol is not adequate for total elimination of S. aureus.
Androgen receptor polymorphisms and endometrial cancer risk

The androgen receptor (AR) gene is a transcription factor responsible for mediating the physiological effects of androgens. Evidence suggests that androgens and the androgen receptor are involved in uterine cell proliferation. A polymorphic CAG repeat in exon 1 of the AR gene encodes a polyglutamine tract that is inversely correlated with the transcriptional activity of this gene. We assessed the association between the functional CAG repeat polymorphism and AR haplotypes and the risk of endometrial cancer in two nested case‐control studies within the Nurses' Health Study (n = 222 cases, 666 controls) and the Women's Health Study (n = 137 cases, 411 controls) using conditional and unconditional logistic regression. Associations between AR CAG repeat polymorphism and endometrial cancer risk were similar in the 2 case‐control studies. In the pooled analysis, women with an average repeat allele ≥22 repeats compared to <22 repeats were at a statistically significant decreased risk of endometrial cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.76; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59–0.98). Women with one or two long alleles (≥27 repeats) compared to both alleles <22 repeats were also at a statistically significant decreased risk (OR = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.36–0.99). We observed a modest yet statistically significant association for each one unit increase in the average repeat length and endometrial cancer risk (OR = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88–1.00). Associations for the AR CAG average repeat length and endometrial cancer risk differed by menopausal status (p = 0.02). No significant associations between the AR haplotypes and endometrial cancer risk were observed. Our findings suggest that an increasing number of functional CAG repeats may be associated with endometrial carcinogenesis because of AR's reduced ability to recruit coregulators and other transcriptional components. (supplementary material for this article can be found on the International Journal of Cancer website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0020‐7136/suppmat/index.html). © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cartilage in anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knees: MR imaging T1{rho} and T2--initial experience with 1-year follow-up.

PURPOSE To longitudinally evaluate cartilage matrix changes by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging T1(ρ) (T1 relaxation time in rotating frame) and T2 quantification and to study the relationship between meniscal damage and cartilage degeneration in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-reconstructed knees. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was an institutional review board-approved, HIPAA-compliant study. Informed consent was obtained. Twelve patients with acute ACL injuries were imaged with 3.0-T MR imaging at baseline (after injury and prior to ACL reconstruction) and 1 year after ACL reconstruction. Ten age-matched healthy subjects were studied as controls. Cartilage T1(ρ) and T2 were quantified in full thickness, superficial, and deep layers of defined subcompartments at baseline and follow-up in ACL-injured knees and were compared with measures acquired in matched regions of control knees. Meniscal lesions were graded by using modified subscores of the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score system. RESULTS T1(ρ) values of the posterolateral tibial cartilage in ACL-injured knees were significantly elevated at baseline compared with T1(ρ)values of control knees and were not fully recovered at 1-year follow-up. T1(ρ) values of weight-bearing medial femorotibial cartilage in ACL-injured knees were significantly elevated at 1-year follow-up compared with those of control knees. No significant differences in T2 values between ACL-injured and control knees were found. Patients with lesions in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus showed a greater increase of T1(ρ) and T2 from baseline to follow-up in adjacent cartilage than patients without lesions in the medial meniscus. CONCLUSION Quantitative MR imaging T1(ρ) and T2 enable detection of changes in the cartilage matrix of ACL-reconstructed knees as early as 1 year after ACL reconstruction.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces the severity of ischaemia, preservation and reperfusion injury in a rat model of liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND Approaches to increase organ availability for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) often result in the procurement of marginal livers that are more susceptible to ischaemia, preservation and reperfusion injury (IPRI). METHODS The effects of post-OLT hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on IPRI in a syngeneic rat OLT model were examined at various time-points. The effects of IPRI and HBO on hepatocyte necrosis, apoptosis, proliferation, and sinusoidal morphology and ultrastructure were assessed. RESULTS Post-OLT HBO therapy significantly reduced the severity of IPRI; both apoptosis [at 12 h: 6.4 ± 0.4% in controls vs. 1.6 ± 0.7% in the HBO treatment group (p < 0.001); at 48 h: 2.4 ± 0.2% in controls vs. 0.4 ± 0.1% in the HBO treatment group (p < 0.001)] and necrosis [at 12 h: 18.7 ± 1.8% in controls vs. 2.4 ± 0.4% in the HBO treatment group (p < 0.001); at 48 h: 8.5 ± 1.3% in controls vs. 3.4 ± 0.9% in the HBO treatment group (P= 0.019)] were decreased. Serum alanine transaminase was reduced [at 12 h: 1068 ± 920 IU/l in controls vs. 370 ± 63 IU/l in the HBO treatment group (P= 0.030); at 48 h: 573 ± 261 IU/l in controls vs. 160 ± 10 IU/l in the HBO treatment group (P= 0.029)]. Treatment with HBO also promoted liver regeneration [proliferation at 12 h: 4.5 ± 0.1% in controls vs. 1.0 ± 0.3% in the HBO treatment group (p < 0.001); at 48 h: 8.6 ± 0.7% in controls vs. 2.9 ± 0.2% in the HBO treatment group (p < 0.01)] and improved sinusoidal diameter and microvascular density index. CONCLUSIONS Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has persistent positive effects post-OLT that may potentially transfer into clinical practice.
Procedure-related serious adverse events among home hemodialysis patients: a quality assurance perspective.

BACKGROUND There has been resurgent interest in home hemodialysis (HD) in recent years because of the reported benefits and its excellent safety record. However, the potential for adverse events, including potentially catastrophic ones, exists when patients are performing HD in their homes without supervision. There is a lack of literature on this important topic. STUDY DESIGN Quality improvement report. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS We present the experience of 2 adult home HD programs in Canada from 2001 to 2012, including a total of 190 patients and approximately 500 patient-years of treatments. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN We retrospectively reviewed all life-threatening adverse events occurring in our programs and re-examined our approach to patient training, retraining, and safety monitoring. RESULTS We report 1 death and 6 potentially fatal adverse events, yielding a crude rate of 0.060 events/1,000 dialysis treatments. Six of 7 events involved significant blood loss (including 1 exsanguination); 5 of 7 events involved human error with lapses in protocol adherence. Because such events are rare, evaluation of specific intervention strategies will require much longer follow-up. LIMITATIONS Retrospective identification of cases. A specific quality improvement initiative was not undertaken. CONCLUSIONS Life-threatening adverse events in home HD are uncommon; however, when one does occur, this should prompt review of home HD-related policies and procedures to make this therapy even safer.
The temporal properties of rod vision.

1. Profiles which represent rod thresholds for flickering fields seen against backgrounds of various intensity have shapes which depend on flicker frequency. Low frequency profiles rise smoothly as background intensity is increased. High frequency profiles are only affected by bright backgrounds, which cause them to rise steeply. Intermediate frequency profiles contain two distinct branches which resemble separate increment threshold functions. 2. The high intensity branches of two‐branched threshold profiles cannot be attributed to cone intrusion. Instead, both branches of such profiles are mediated by visual mechanisms which have the spectral properties, the dark adaptation properties and the directional insensitivity of rod vision. Thus, the stimuli are detected by rods. 3. Plots of critical flicker frequency (c.f.f.) as a function of intensity contain two rising branches which are separated by a plateau (when modulation depth is large), or they form two enclosed lobes so that only intermediate frequencies, but neither high nor low ones, are seen (when modulation depth is small). C.f. f. is profoundly depressed by very bright light (above 100 scotopic trolands) which saturates rod vision. 4. In dim light rod modulation sensitivity functions resemble those of low‐pass filters, but in bright light they resemble those of band‐pass filters. 5. Several forms of rod mediated interference occur at moderate intensities, where rod vision's temporal properties ordinarily improve abruptly. With certain stimuli, rod signals conveying temporal information disrupt one another so completely that suprathreshold flicker cannot be seen within a ten‐fold intensity range. 6. Many of these observations can be explained by the hypothesis that rod vision comprises two temporal channels which have different properties.