Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Purification and certain properties of a bacteriocin from Streptococcus mutans

An inhibition factor from Streptococcus mutans strain C3603 (serotype c) was purified and isolated, and its properties indicated that it was a bacteriocin. Bacteriocin C3603 is a basic protein with a pI value of 10 and a molecular weight of 4,800. The activity of this bacteriocin was not affected by pH over a range of 1.0 to 12.0 or by storage at 100 degrees C for 10 min at pH 2.0 to 7.0 or storage at 121 degrees C for 15 min at pH 4.0. Pronase; papain, phospholipase C, trypsin, and alpha-amylase had no effect on the activity of the bacteriocin, whereas alpha-chymotrypsin and pancreatin were partially active against it. Bacteriocin activity was greater against certain S. mutans strains of serotypes b, c, e, and f than against certain S. mutans strains of serotypes a, d, and g. Bacteriocin C3603 was also effective against selected strains of S. sanguis, S. salivarius, S. bovis, S. faecium, S. lactis, Lactobacillus casei, L. plantarum, L. fermentum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum, Propionibacterium acnes, and Bacteroides melaninogenicus, but it was not effective against certain strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Corynebacterium parvum, and Candida albicans. The inhibition of S. mutans strains BHT and PS-14 by bacteriocin C3603 was found to be due to the bacteriocidal activity of the bacteriocin. When water or a diet containing bacteriocin C3603 was consumed by gnotobiotic and specific pathogen-free rats infected with S. mutans PS-14, the caries score was found to be significantly reduced.
Two Hoxc6 transcripts are differentially expressed and regulate primary neurogenesis in Xenopus laevis

Hox genes are key players in defining positional information along the main body axis of vertebrate embryos. In Xenopus laevis, Hoxc6 was the first homeobox gene isolated. It encodes two isoforms. We analyzed in detail their spatial and temporal expression pattern during early development. One major expression domain of both isoforms is the spinal cord portion of the neural tube. Within the spinal cord and its populations of primary neurons, Hox genes have been found to play a crucial role for defining positional information. Here we report that a loss‐of‐function of either one of the Hoxc6 products does not affect neural induction, the expression of general neural markers is not modified. However, Hoxc6 does widely affect the formation of primary neurons within the developing neural tissue. Manipulations of Hoxc6 expression severly changes the expression of the neuronal markers N‐tubulin and Islet‐1. Formation of primary neurons and formation of cranial nerves are affected. Hence, Hoxc6 functions are not restricted to the expected role in anterior‐posterior pattern formation, but they also regulate N‐tubulin, thereby having an effect on the initial formation of primary neurons in Xenopus laevis embryos. Developmental Dynamics 238:755–765, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural Insights into the Low pH Adaptation of a Unique Carboxylesterase from Ferroplasma

Background: Carboxylesterases typically have an alkaline pH optima, which limits their industrial application. Results: An acidophilic carboxylesterase was crystallized and changed into an alkaliphilic enzyme via quadruple mutations. Conclusion: The extended hydrogen bonds in the active site were important for adaptation to a low pH. Significance: The first structure of an acidophilic carboxylesterase revealed a novel strategy for the low pH adaptation of carboxylesterase. To investigate the mechanism for low pH adaptation by a carboxylesterase, structural and biochemical analyses of EstFa_R (a recombinant, slightly acidophilic carboxylesterase from Ferroplasma acidiphilum) and SshEstI (an alkaliphilic carboxylesterase from Sulfolobus shibatae DSM5389) were performed. Although a previous proteomics study by another group showed that the enzyme purified from F. acidiphilum contained an iron atom, EstFa_R did not bind to iron as analyzed by inductively coupled plasma MS and isothermal titration calorimetry. The crystal structures of EstFa_R and SshEstI were determined at 1.6- and 1.5-Å resolutions, respectively. EstFa_R had a catalytic triad with an extended hydrogen bond network that was not observed in SshEstI. Quadruple mutants of both proteins were created to remove or introduce the extended hydrogen bond network. The mutation on EstFa_R enhanced its catalytic efficiency and gave it an alkaline pH optimum, whereas the mutation on SshEstI resulted in opposite effects (i.e. a decrease in the catalytic efficiency and a downward shift in the optimum pH). Our experimental results suggest that the low pH optimum of EstFa_R activity was a result of the unique extended hydrogen bond network in the catalytic triad and the highly negatively charged surface around the active site. The change in the pH optimum of EstFa_R happened simultaneously with a change in the catalytic efficiency, suggesting that the local flexibility of the active site in EstFa_R could be modified by quadruple mutation. These observations may provide a novel strategy to elucidate the low pH adaptation of serine hydrolases.
Fall in blood pressure produced from discrete regions of the ventral surface of the medulla by glycine and lesions

1. In cats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone sodium, atropinized by i.v. atropine methyl nitrate and artificially ventilated, experiments were carried out (a) to localize the site where glycine acts on the ventral surface of the medulla when, on topical application through paired Perspex rings caudal to the trapezoid bodies, it produces a fall in arterial blood pressure, (b) to compare the effects of uni‐ and bilateral application, and (c) to study the blood pressure effects produced by electrolytic lesions of the glycine‐sensitive areas.
Intrinsic risk factors for inversion ankle sprains in females – a prospective study

Ankle sprains are extremely common. However, very little is known about the variables that predispose individuals to these injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine prospectively intrinsic risk factors for inversion sprains in a young physically active female population. One hundred and fifty‐nine female physical education students were evaluated for several possible intrinsic risk factors for inversion sprains at the beginning of their academic study. The evaluated intrinsic risk factors included anthropometrical and physical characteristics, ankle joint position sense, isokinetic ankle muscle strength, lower leg alignment characteristics, postural control and muscle reaction time during a sudden inversion perturbation. All sports injuries were registered during 1–3 years and exposure to sport was recorded (mean: 15.33±4.33 h a week). Thirty‐two (20%) of the 159 females sprained their ankle. The number of ankle sprains per 1000 h of sports exposure was 0.75. The Cox regression analysis revealed that females with less accurate passive joint inversion position sense [hazard ratio (HR): 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.14 for absolute error at 15° inversion], a higher extension range of motion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.06) and less coordination of postural control (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–1.00 for endpoint excursion; HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89–0.99 for maximal endpoint excursion) are at greater risk of an ankle sprain. The findings of this study suggest that effective prevention and conservative rehabilitation of ankle inversion sprains should include attention to these variables.
An adaptive learning rate approach for an on-line neuro-fuzzy speed controller applied to a switched reluctance machine

The mostly used neuro-fuzzy motor speed control systems are time consuming and have an high computation effort when the speed reference changes gradually and the system has to learn the new operating point most of the time. In these cases a degradation of the system performance is evident has is demonstrated by experimental results in this paper. To surpass these effects, a decision and adaptation algorithm of the learning rate applied to the neuro-fuzzy control's approach is proposed. The adaptive learning rate algorithm with the controller is tested and compared in the speed control system for an 8/6 switched reluctance motor by experimental tests. The proposed solution is explained, tested and the experimental tests are presented and discussed.
Evaluation of industrial yeasts for pathogenicity.

Eleven yeasts representative of species of industrial interest were compared with Candida albicans for their potential pathogenicity for untreated and cortisone-treated mice. Only C. tropicalis produced a progressive infection similar to that produced by C. albicans. Candida lipolytica, Torulopsis spp. , and Hansenula polymorpha were not recovered from mice 6 days after inoculation. Kluyveromyces fragilis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. utilis, C. guilliermondii and C. maltosa were recovered from mice but did not produce evidence of infection.
Thermal behaviour of epoxy resin filled with high thermal conductivity nanopowders

The improvement of heat conduction in electrical power equipment has become a very important issue. Thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, which are mainly used for their insulating properties, have a relatively low thermal conductivity. One approach to change this is to introduce inorganic fillers which have high thermal conductivities compared to the polymer matrix. In this exploratory work we used commonly available bisphenol-A epoxy resin as a host material and high thermal conductivity nanopowders as fillers. Two types of nanopowders with different particles sizes and different ways of production have been used in this study. The content of nanopowder in the samples was varied from 0.5 to 10 % by weight. Morphological characterization of the prepared nanocomposites was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The different models for predicting the thermal conductivity for two phase system are compared with experimental data of nanosized aluminum nitride and boron nitride particles filled epoxy composites. The Agari&Uno model correlated best with the experimental data.
Structures of the inactive and active states of RIP2 kinase inform on the mechanism of activation

Innate immune receptors NOD1 and NOD2 are activated by bacterial peptidoglycans leading to recruitment of adaptor kinase RIP2, which, upon phosphorylation and ubiquitination, becomes a scaffold for downstream effectors. The kinase domain (RIP2K) is a pharmaceutical target for inflammatory diseases caused by aberrant NOD2-RIP2 signalling. Although structures of active RIP2K in complex with inhibitors have been reported, the mechanism of RIP2K activation remains to be elucidated. Here we analyse RIP2K activation by combining crystal structures of the active and inactive states with mass spectrometric characterization of their phosphorylation profiles. The active state has Helix αC inwardly displaced and the phosphorylated Activation Segment (AS) disordered, whilst in the inactive state Helix αC is outwardly displaced and packed against the helical, non-phosphorylated AS. Biophysical measurements show that the active state is a stable dimer whilst the inactive kinase is in a monomer-dimer equilibrium, consistent with the observed structural differences at the dimer interface. We conclude that RIP2 kinase auto-phosphorylation is intimately coupled to dimerization, similar to the case of BRAF. Our results will help drug design efforts targeting RIP2 as a potential treatment for NOD2-RIP2 related inflammatory diseases.
Anti-biofilm activities of quercetin and tannic acid against Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of nosocomial infections because of its resistance to diverse antibiotics. The formation of a biofilm is one of the mechanisms of drug resistance in S. aureus. The anti-biofilm abilities of 498 plant extracts against S. aureus were examined. Seventy-two plant extracts belonging to 59 genera and 38 families were found to significantly inhibit the formation of biofilms of S. aureus without affecting the growth of planktonic cells. The most active extract, from Alnus japonica, inhibited the formation of biofilms by three S. aureus strains by >70% at 20 μg ml−1. Transcriptional analyses showed that extract of A. japonica repressed the intercellular adhesion genes icaA and icaD most markedly. Quercetin and tannic acid are major anti-biofilm compounds in the extract of A. japonica. Additionally, the extract of A. japonica and its component compound quercetin, reduced hemolysis by S. aureus. This phenomenon was not observed in the treatment with tannic acid. This study suggests that various plant extracts, such as quercetin and tannic acid, could be used to inhibit the formation of recalcitrant biofilms of S. aureus.
Neutrinos as a diagnostic of cosmic ray galactic-extragalactic transition

Motivated by a recent change in viewing the onset of the extragalactic component in the cosmic ray spectrum, we have fitted the observed data down to ${10}^{8.6}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ and have obtained the corresponding power emissivity. This transition energy is well below the threshold for resonant $p\ensuremath{\gamma}$ absorption on the cosmic microwave background, and thus source evolution is an essential ingredient in the fitting procedure. Two-parameter fits in the spectral and redshift evolution indices show that a standard Fermi ${E}_{i}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ source spectrum is excluded at larger than 95% confidence level (CL). Armed with the primordial emissivity, we follow Waxman and Bahcall to derive the associated neutrino flux on the basis of optically thin sources. For $pp$ interactions as the generating mechanism, the neutrino flux exceeds the AMANDA-B10 90% CL upper limits. In the case of $p\ensuremath{\gamma}$ dominance, the flux is consistent with AMANDA-B10 data. In the new scenario the source neutrino flux is considerably enhanced, especially below ${10}^{9}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. Should data from AMANDA-II prove consistent with the model, we show that IceCube can measure the characteristic power law of the neutrino spectrum, and thus provide a window on the source dynamics.
Prevalence of canine distemper virus in wild mustelids in the Czech Republic and a case of canine distemper in young stone martens

Between 2001 and 2003, a total of 194 samples of brain tissues of wild mustelids from the Czech Republic were tested for the presence of canine distemper virus (CDV) by direct immunofluorescence examina - tion. Out of 21 animals exhibiting symptoms of the disease or changed behaviour, one mustelid was CDV positive (5% prevalence). In this group, 1 out of 18 stone martens ( Martes foina) was CDV positive, while 2 pine martens (Martes martes) and 1 Eurasian badger ( Mustela nivalis) (n = 4), stoats ( Mustela erminea) (n = 3) and American minks (Mustela vison) (n = 19) were negative. Clinical distemper was demonstrated in three stone marten pup siblings. In two of the siblings, CDV was demonstrated in footpads. The third of the siblings survived the acute stage of the disease and had virus neutralizing antibodies from the end of the acute stage until 6 months after the end of the acute stage, with a maximum antibody titre of 32. During the acute stage and 7 months after the end of the acute stage, no virus neutralizing antibodies were found.
Imaging the vascular wall using confocal microscopy

Blood vessels are capable of structural changes in a dynamic process called ‘vascular remodelling’, which involves cell growth, death, phenotypic change and migration, as well as extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation. An integrated view of the interrelationships of the different elements of the arterial wall is made possible by fluorescence confocal microscopy which enables collection of serial optical sections of relatively thick specimens without the need to cut them as with conventional histology. With the aid of image analysis software, these serial sections can be further reconstructed to obtain 3‐D images, where the structures of interest are localized and quantified. Confocal microscopy can be combined with pressure myography to obtain, simultaneously, information on vascular function and 3‐D structure at near‐to‐physiological conditions. There are a vast number of fluorescent compounds useful for imaging vessel structure and function. Nuclear dyes allow the identification of the different types of vascular cells and the quantification of their number, shape and orientation. The speed of confocal image acquisition and processing makes it possible to scan entire intact arteries stained with fluorescent kits or antibodies to locate infrequent events such as cell apoptosis, proliferation or migration. Confocal microscopy is not only useful for imaging vascular wall structure, but also to visualize and quantify, by the intensity of fluorescence, the generation of vascular cell factors such as nitric oxide or superoxide anion. In conclusion, confocal microscopy and image analysis software provide insight into vascular wall structure and function and the active process of vascular remodelling in physiological and pathological situations.
Enhanced Algorithm for Data Privacy Preservation using Data Anonymization with Low Information

Data are scattered in public cloud to share among the stake holders which produces much concern over the protection of individual privacy. Without revealing the delicate information, publishing data in a public cloud is a challenging aspect. To reveal data to the public leads to the introduction of many models like kanonymity and l-diversity. These methods safeguard the data against the adversary by attaining the knowledge about the sensitive information. But, in these approaches there exists many shortcomings such as the information loss. The research focuses the issues only with the k-anonymity. An efficient framework is proposed for privacy preservation. Considering the information loss metrics, onedimensional quasi identifiers are focused and studied the properties of optimal solutions for k-anonymity. To generalize, an efficient multi-dimensional quasi iden tifiers using space mapping methods are proposed. These experimental evaluations prove that the proposed approaches are more efficient in terms of execution time and information loss.
In vivo radiocarpal kinematics and the dart thrower's motion.

BACKGROUND Wrist motion is dependent on the complex articulations of the scaphoid and lunate at the radiocarpal joint. However, much of what is known about the radiocarpal joint is limited to the anatomically defined motions of flexion, extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation. The purpose of the present study was to determine the three-dimensional in vivo kinematics of the scaphoid and lunate throughout the entire range of wrist motion, with special focus on the dart thrower's wrist motion, from radial extension to ulnar flexion. METHODS The three-dimensional kinematics of the capitate, scaphoid, and lunate were calculated from serial computed tomography scans of both wrists of fourteen healthy male subjects (average age, 25.6 years; range, twenty-two to thirty-four years) and fourteen healthy female subjects (average age, 23.6 years; range, twenty-one to twenty-eight years), which yielded data on a total of 504 distinct wrist positions. RESULTS The scaphoid and lunate primarily flexed or extended in all directions of wrist motion, and their rotation varied linearly with the direction of wrist motion (R2= 0.90 and 0.82, respectively). Scaphoid and lunate motion was significantly less along the path of the dart thrower's motion than in any other direction of wrist motion (p < 0.01 for both carpal bones). The scaphoid and lunate translated radially (2 to 4 mm) when extended, but they did not translate appreciably when flexed. CONCLUSIONS The dart thrower's path defined the transition between flexion and extension rotation of the scaphoid and lunate, and it identified wrist positions at which scaphoid and lunate motion approached zero. These findings indicate that this path of wrist motion confers a unique degree of radiocarpal stability and suggests that this direction, rather than the anatomical directions of wrist flexion-extension and radioulnar deviation, is the primary functional direction of the radiocarpal joint.
Laboratory and Field Evaluation of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycetes) for Controlling Questing Adult Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract Unfed adult Ixodes scapularis Say were treated with spores of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae Metschnikoff in the laboratory and in the field. An M. anisopliae suspension containing 4 × 109 spores per milliliter caused 96% mortality in the laboratory, versus 53% mortality among field-treated ticks. The LC50 value for unfed adult I. scapularis in the laboratory was 4 × 107 spores per milliliter. Our results indicate that M. anisopliae was highly pathogenic to unfed adult ticks and showed potential for controlling questing adult I. scapularis.
Feasibility and consumer satisfaction ratings following an intervention for families who have a child with acquired brain injury.

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to ascertain the feasibility and consumer satisfaction ratings of families who received an adapted pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) 'Signposts for Building Better Behavior' program in either group- or telephone-support delivery formats. METHODS Forty-eight families of children aged between 3 and 12 years with mild, moderate, and severe ABI completed Signposts in group (n=23) or telephone-support (n=25) format consisting of nine information booklets, a DVD, and Workbook. RESULTS All parents approved of the skills taught and a majority felt the materials were helpful in both managing challenging behavior associated with brain injury, and teaching new skills to their brain injured child. All parents rated a high level of feasibility for all of the Signposts materials. CONCLUSION The current research has provided preliminary evidence for the feasibility and satisfaction of a family-centered parent-based behavioral intervention program called Signposts to be used with a pediatric ABI population. It also provides evidence for a less costly option of intervention delivery via telephone-support.
Optimal length of continuation therapy in depression: a prospective assessment during long-term fluoxetine treatment.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively the optimal length of therapy in a long-term, placebo-controlled continuation study of patients who responded to acute fluoxetine treatment for major depression (defined by DSM-III-R). METHOD The study was conducted at five outpatient psychiatric clinics in the United States. Patients who met criteria for remission after 12 or 14 weeks of open-label acute fluoxetine therapy, 20 mg/day (N=395 of 839 patients), were randomly assigned to one of four arms of a double-blind treatment study (50 weeks of placebo, 14 weeks of fluoxetine and then 36 weeks of placebo, 38 weeks of fluoxetine and then 12 weeks of placebo, or 50 weeks of fluoxetine). Relapse rate was the primary outcome measure. Both Kaplan-Meier estimates and observed relapse rates were assessed in three fixed 12-week intervals after double-blind transfers from fluoxetine to placebo at the start of the double-blind period and after 14 and 38 weeks of continued fluoxetine treatment. RESULTS Relapse rates (Kaplan-Meier estimates) were lower among the patients who continued to take fluoxetine compared with those transferred to placebo in both the first interval, after 24 total weeks of treatment (fluoxetine, 26.4%; placebo, 48.6%), and the second interval, after 38 total weeks of treatment (fluoxetine, 9.0%; placebo, 23.2%). In the third interval, after 62 total weeks of treatment, rates were not significantly different between the groups (fluoxetine, 10.7%; placebo, 16.2%). CONCLUSIONS Patients treated with fluoxetine for 12 weeks whose depressive symptoms remit should continue treatment with fluoxetine for at least an additional 26 weeks to minimize the risk of relapse.