Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative weight of evidence assessment of higher-tier studies on the toxicity and risks of neonicotinoids in honeybees. 2. Imidacloprid

ABSTRACT A quantitative weight of evidence (QWoE) methodology was used to assess higher-tier studies on the effects of imidacloprid (IMI) on honeybees. Assessment endpoints were population size and viability of commercially managed bees and quantity of hive products. A colony-level no-observed-adverse effect concentration (NOAEC) of 25 µg IMI/kg syrup, equivalent to an oral no-observed-adverse-effect-dose of 7.3 ng/bee/d for all responses, was measured. The overall weight of evidence indicates that there is minimal risk to honeybees from exposure to IMI from its use as a seed treatment. Exposures via dusts from currently used seed coatings present a de minimis risk to honeybees when the route of exposure is via uptake in plants that are a source of pollen or nectar for honeybees. There were few higher-tier observational (ecoepidemiological) studies conducted with IMI. Considering all lines of evidence, the quality of the studies included in this analysis was variable, but the results of the studies were consistent and point to the same conclusion – that IMI had no adverse effects on viability of the honeybee colony. Thus, the overall conclusion is that IMI, as currently used as a seed treatment and with good agricultural practices, does not present a significant risk to honeybees at the level of the colony.
Integrative review: what is it? How to do it?

INTRODUCTION The integrative review is the methodology that provides synthesis of knowledge and applicability of results of significant studies to practice. OBJECTIVE To present the phases of an integrative review and the relevant aspects to be taken into account when using this methodological resource. METHODS This study was based on bibliographic search and on the experience of the authors when performing an integrative review. RESULTS Presentation of the six stages of the integrative review process: preparing the guiding question, searching or sampling the literature, data collection, critical analysis of the studies included, discussion of results and presentation of the integrative review. CONCLUSIONS Considering the need to assure care based on scientific evidence, the integrative review has been identified as a unique tool in healthcare for it synthesizes investigations available on the given topic and guides practice based on scientific knowledge.
Impact of Financial Intermediation on Economic Growth of Nigeria (1995-2014)

The problems of lack of efficiency and effectiveness of mobilizing resources lead to unemployment, instability, and underdevelopment of the Nigeria economy. Financial intermediation as a financial system aims at the enhancement of mobilization of funds by pooling individuals savings and increasing the proportion of societal resources devoted to interest—yielding assets and long-term investments, which in turn facilitates economic growth. This study is aimed at accessing the impact of financial intermediation on economic development in Nigeria by using the endogenous components of financial intermediation, such as demand deposits (DD), time/savings deposits (T/Sav), and credits (loans and overdraft), our independent variables as explanatory variables to predict the outcome of our dependent variable output (GDP) secondary data from the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) Statistical Bulletin of various issues. The study covers an eight-year period (1995-2014). Parametric statistics in forms of analysis of variance (ANOVA), mean, standard deviation, t-test, co-efficient of correlation, and simple linear regression were used to analyze the data. The findings suggest that though there exists a positive growth relationship between financial intermediation and output in Nigeria, there also exist elements of negative short-run growth relationship, especially for the periods that suffered financial shocks resulting from the global financial crisis and perhaps numerous bank failures. Recommendation states that this finding may serve to buttress existing research outcomes and will be relevant to regulatory authorities in formulating policies that are capable of positively enhancing financial intermediation and output growth in the economy.
Substrate Channeling in Mammalian Base Excision Repair Pathways: Passing the Baton*

The current model for base excision repair (BER) involves two general sub-pathways termed single-nucleotide BER and long patch BER that are distinguished by their repair patch sizes and the enzymes/co-factors involved. Both sub-pathways involve a series of sequential steps from initiation to completion of repair. The BER sub-pathways are designed to sequester the various intermediates, passing them along from one step to the next without allowing these toxic molecules to trigger cell cycle arrest, necrotic cell death, or apoptosis. Although a variety of DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions are known for the BER intermediates and enzymes/co-factors, the molecular mechanisms accounting for step-to-step coordination are not well understood. In the present study we designed an in vitro assay to explore the question of whether there is a channeling or “hand-off” of the repair intermediates during BER in vitro. The results show that when BER enzymes are pre-bound to the initial single-nucleotide BER intermediate, the DNA is channeled from apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 to DNA polymerase β and then to DNA ligase. In the long patch BER subpathway, where the 5′-end of the incised strand is blocked, the intermediate after DNA polymerase β gap filling is not channeled to the subsequent enzyme, flap endonuclease 1. Instead, flap endonuclease 1 must recognize and bind to the intermediate in competition with other molecules.
The general transition metal (Tro) and Zn2+ (Znu) transporters in Treponema pallidum: analysis of metal specificities and expression profiles

Acquisition of transition metals is central to the struggle between a bacterial pathogen and its mammalian host. Previous studies demonstrated that Treponema pallidum encodes a cluster‐9 (C9) ABC transporter (troABCD) whose solute‐binding protein component (TroA) ligands Zn2+ and Mn2+ with essentially equal affinities. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that T. pallidum encodes an additional C9 transporter (tp0034–36) orthologous to Zn2+‐uptake (Znu) systems in other bacteria; the binding protein component, ZnuA, contains a His‐rich tract characteristic of C9 Zn2+‐binding proteins. Metal analysis and metal‐reconstitution studies demonstrated that ZnuA is a Zn2+‐binding protein; parallel studies confirmed that TroA binds Zn2+, Mn2+ and Fe. Circular dichroism showed that ZnuA, but not TroA, undergoes conformational changes in the presence of Zn2+. Using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), we demonstrated that TroA binds Zn2+ and Mn2+ with affinities approximately 100‐fold greater than those previously reported. ITC analysis revealed that ZnuA contains multiple Zn2+‐binding sites, two of which are high‐affinity and presumed to be located within the binding pocket and His‐rich loop. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of tro and znu transcripts combined with immunoblot analysis of TroA and ZnuA confirmed that both transporters are simultaneously expressed in T. pallidum and that TroA is expressed at much greater levels than ZnuA. Collectively, our findings indicate that T. pallidum procures transition metals via the concerted utilization of its general metal (Tro) and Zn2+ (Znu) transporters. Sequestration of periplasmic Zn2+ by ZnuA may free up TroA binding capacity for the importation of Fe and Mn2+.
Establishment of DsRed.T3_S4T as an improved autofluorescent marker for microbial ecology applications.

Autofluorescent proteins (AFPs), such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) and DsRed, are valuable tools for studying plant-microbe interactions. Nevertheless, because of some limitations, efforts are ongoing to generate improved AFP variants. Several groups have generated variants of GFP with altered spectral characteristics, and faster maturing and brighter variants of DsRed. In this study we used plasmid and chromosomal constructs to test the efficacy of a new variant of DsRed, DsRed. T3_S4T, in Pseudomonas fluorescens F113rif. In addition, we compared the ecological fitness of strains carrying chromosomal copies of EGFP, DsRed or DsRed. T3_S4T. Strains expressing DsRed. T3_S4T fluoresced significantly brighter than strains expressing DsRed. Furthermore, it was found that although all strains grew equally well in vitro, only strains carrying DsRed. T3_S4T functioned as well as wild type in a competitive rhizosphere colonization assay. In particular, it was observed that DsRed. T3_S4T is an improved marker over DsRed for microbial ecology studies in this strain.
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase in experimental gram-negative sepsis.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed as a mediator of hypotension in septic shock. The aim of this study was to determine whether an inhibitor of NO production, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), was able to protect against death in two murine models of experimental gram-negative sepsis. L-NMMA (3-300 mg kg-1) did not improve survival in intravenous or intraperitoneal models of sepsis. Seven h after intravenous infection, L-NMMA (100 mg/kg-1) reduced serum nitrite plus nitrate levels (NO breakdown products) from 774 microM in control-treated animals to 282 microM in L-NMMA-treated animals (P < .001). This compared to a level of 103 microM in uninfected mice. L-NMMA produced little change in bacterial load following infection and did not increase hepatic damage, as measured by serum levels of ornithine carbamoyltransferase. Thus, while L-NMMA may reverse the hyporesponsiveness of peripheral circulation in sepsis, it was unable to prevent death in these models of gram-negative septic shock.
Retinoblastoma: direct chemotherapeutic drug delivery into the vitreous cavity

Retinoblastoma if left untreated is almost invariably fatal, but prognosis improved markedly when surgeons in the late 19th century learned to enucleate eyes harbouring early retinoblastoma. Without compromising prognosis, management of retinoblastoma has since focused on the preservation of vision, evolving from surgical removal of the eye to radiotherapy and recently to systemic chemotherapy. Systemic chemotherapy (using the intravenous route) with or without focal consolidation therapy has not only been highly successful in retaining many eyes with visual function but has also avoided radiation-induced side effects. However, systemic chemotherapy by default exposes the entire body to significant doses of highly toxic drugs in order that only a minute fraction (<1% by weight) of the body can be treated. The potential late side effects of this massive overtreatment are still largely unknown. This insight has driven the advent of periocular administration1 and more recently, selective intra-arterial administration of chemotherapeutic drugs.2 Superselective cannulation of the ophthalmic artery requires a trained interventionist and given that reports of significant side effects are now …
International Economic Transactions: Issues in Measurement and Empirical Research

This paper summarizes a forthcoming book that describes issues and recent innovations in the measurement of international transactions. A number of distinguished authors assess data measuring trade in merchandise, services, and foreign-direct investment claims. Others assess international prices and data measuring comparisons of inputs and outputs internationally. (International financial data are not assessed.) The chapters in many cases tabulate the data and illustrate their application to recent research questions. U.S. international data are emphasized, but those of other countries are frequently highlighted as well. Growing international interdependence and structural and technological change raise a number of important theoretical and measurement issues that are explored here with regard, for example, to computer prices, productivity, international convergence of income, service provision from overseas affiliates, and proper valuation of direct investment stakes.
Bidirectional radio-over-fiber link employing optical frequency multiplication

We propose a bidirectional radio-over-fiber link consisting of an optical downlink transmission employing the optical frequency multiplication principle, a remote local oscillator (LO) generation, a remote down-conversion of the radio-frequency uplink signals, and an optical uplink transmission employing intensity modulation-direct detection. Experiments demonstrate the optical up-conversion of 64-level quadrature amplitude modulated radio signals to 17.8 GHz after transmission over 4.4 km of multimode fiber, 12.5 and 25 km of single-mode fiber in the downlink; the uplink performance is evaluated in terms of down-conversion loss employing the optically generated LO.
Presence and Characterization of a Mosaic Genomic Island Which Distinguishes Sorbitol-Fermenting Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H− from E. coli O157:H7

ABSTRACT A mosaic genomic island comprising Shigella resistance locus (SRL) sequences flanked by segments of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain EDL933 O islands 43, 81, and 82 was identified in sorbitol-fermenting (SF) enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H− strain 493/89. This mosaic island is absent from strain EDL933. PCR targeting the SRL-related sequence is a useful tool to distinguish SF EHEC O157:H− from EHEC O157:H7.
Financial Applications of the Conditional Expectation

This dissertation examines different financial applications of some conditional expectation estimators. In the first application, we provide some theoretical motivations behind the use of the moving average rule as one of the most popular trading tools among practitioners. In particular, we examine the conditional probability of the price increments and we study how this probability changes over time. In the second application, we present different approaches to evaluate the presence of the arbitrage opportunities in the option market. In particular, we investigate empirically the well-known put-call parity no-arbitrage relation and the state price density. We first measure the violation of the put-call parity as the difference in implied volatilities between call and put options. Furthermore, we propose alternative approaches to estimate the state price density under the classical hypothesis of the Black and Scholes model. In the third application, we investigate the implications for portfolio theory of using conditional expectation estimators. First, we focus on the approximation of the conditional expectation within large-scale portfolio selection problems. In this context, we propose a new consistent multivariate kernel estimator to approximate the conditional expectation. We show how the new estimator can be used for the return approximation of large-scale portfolio problems. Moreover, the proposed estimator optimizes the bandwidth selection of kernel type estimators, solving the classical selection problem. Second, we propose new performance measures based on the conditional expectation that takes into account the heavy tails of the return distributions. Third, we deal with the portfolio selection problem from the point of view of different non-satiable investors, namely risk-averse and risk-seeking investors. In particular, using a well-known ordering classification, we first identify different definitions of returns based on the investors’ preferences. The new definitions of returns are based on the conditional expected value between the random wealth assessed at different times. Finally, for each problem, we propose an empirical application of several admissible portfolio optimization problems using the US stock market.
Changes in Angiogenic Gene Expression in a Case of Expanded Capillary Malformation: Does an Expanded Capillary Malformation Grow?

We examined a 59-year-old woman with a capillary malformation (CM) in her thigh, which was serially excised. Interestingly, the remnant CM after the first excision was enlarged at the time of the second excision. To investigate whether this phenomenon was caused by mere passive expansion or regrowth, the CM specimens of the first operation (nonexpanded) and the second operation (expanded) were examined. Expressions of angiogenic genes Tie2 and Angiopoietin-1 were up-regulated within the expanded CM compared with the nonexpanded lesion, suggesting angiogenesis in the expanded CM. Expression pattern of the endothelial marker von Willebrand factor and the capillary densities were unchanged after the excision, suggesting that angiogenesis seen in the expanded CM resulted in reorganization of vascular networks. We consider that our data support a hypothesis that the expanded lesion in this case was caused by regrowth, not a passive expansion, of the CM.
Randomized Trial of Dual-Focused Vs. Single-Focused Individual Therapy for Personality Disorders and Substance Dependence

We conducted a randomized comparison of dual-focus schema therapy with individual drug counseling as enhancements to the residential treatment of 105 substance-dependent patients with specific personality disorders versus those without. Both therapies were manual-guided and delivered for 6 months by experienced psychotherapists intensively trained and supervised with independent fidelity assessment. Using the Cox proportional hazards model, we found no psychotherapy differences in retention (days in treatment). Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that participants with personality disorders started with higher psychiatric, interpersonal, and dysphoria symptoms and that both therapies reduced symptoms in 6 months. Contrary to predictions, individual drug counseling resulted in more sustained reductions than did dual-focus schema therapy in several symptoms for several personality disorders. Our findings raised important questions about the added value of integrative or dual-focus therapies for co-occurring personality disorders and substance dependence relative to empirically supported therapies focused more specifically on addiction symptoms.
Psychological Distress and Suicidal Ideation among 15–24–Year-Olds Presenting to General Practice: A Pilot Study

Objectives: The study sought to determine: (i) the prevalence rates of psychological distress and suicidal ideation among 15–24–year-old patients presenting to general practice; and (ii) the relationship between patients' presenting complaints and their levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation. Method: This was a pilot study designed to sample patients aged 15–24 years presenting consecutively to general practitioners during a 4–week period. The study was set among five general practices in the western suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. Participants included five general practitioners and 69 patients aged 15–24 years. Main outcome measures were the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Depressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS). Results: One-third of patients scored above the cut-off of the GHQ-12,31.9% above the cut-off of the CES-D and 20.3% above the cut-off of the DSI-SS. The majority of patients (87.5%) presented with medical complaints. Of these, 26.8%, 23.2% and 21.4% scored above the cut-offs of the GHQ-12, CES-D and DSI-SS, respectively. Patients presenting with psychological complaints (12.5%) were significantly more likely to score above the cut-off of the CES-D. Conclusions: In this pilot study, patients aged 15–24 presenting to five general practices had relatively high levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation. Of most concern were those presenting with medical complaints and who also had high levels of unreported psychological distress.
Assessment of Experimental Pain From Skin, Muscle, and Esophagus in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis

Objectives: Comprehensive experimental methods are of major relevance assessing pain mechanisms in patients with chronic pain. Chronic pancreatitis is thought to involve the sensory response in other visceral organs and somatic tissue. We, therefore, aimed at exploring the pain mechanisms in chronic pancreatitis (CP) using a multimodal and multitissue stimulation approach. Methods: Ten patients (mean age, 50 years) with CP and 13 healthy controls (mean age, 35 years) participated. None of the patients took analgesics regularly. All were exposed to multimodal (mechanical, thermal, and electrical) experimental pain in the skin, muscles, and esophagus. Results: The patients were hyposensitive to mechanical stimulations of the skin (P = 0.001), but there were no differences in the pain to thermal and electrical stimulations. In the muscle and esophagus, no differences in pain thresholds were found. The difference between single and repeated stimulations reflecting the degree of central sensitization was 17% in controls and 36% in patients (P = 0.001). The referred pain area to electrical stimulation was 30.1 cm2 in the patients and 7.7 cm2 for the controls (P = 0.02). Conclusions: The findings suggest that the balance among central hyperexcitability, neuroplastic changes, and descending pain-modulating pathways may explain the pain response to experimental multimodal stimulations in CP. This will likely also reflect the clinical pain mechanisms and may have important impact in selection of treatment, where drugs with potential effects on these mechanisms should be used.
Comparison of ABF1 and RAP1 in Chromatin Opening and Transactivator Potentiation in the Budding Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Autonomously replicating sequence binding factor 1 (ABF1) and repressor/activator protein 1 (RAP1) from budding yeast are multifunctional, site-specific DNA-binding proteins, with roles in gene activation and repression, replication, and telomere structure and function. Previously we have shown that RAP1 can prevent nucleosome positioning in the vicinity of its binding site and have provided evidence that this ability to create a local region of “open” chromatin contributes to RAP1 function at the HIS4 promoter by facilitating binding and activation by GCN4. Here we examine and directly compare to that of RAP1 the ability of ABF1 to create a region of open chromatin near its binding site and to contribute to activated transcription at the HIS4, ADE5,7, and HIS7 promoters. ABF1 behaves similarly to RAP1 in these assays, but it shows some subtle differences from RAP1 in the character of the open chromatin region near its binding site. Furthermore, although the two factors can similarly enhance activated transcription at the promoters tested, RAP1 binding is continuously required for this enhancement, but ABF1 binding is not. These results indicate that ABF1 and RAP1 achieve functional similarity in part via mechanistically distinct pathways.