Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of cytoplasmic pH in bacteria.

In the last 30 years, bacteria have provided experimentalists with an easily manipulable system in which to study regulatory phenomena. This has led to a relatively clear understanding of the regulatory mechanisms which operate to control gene expression (35). However, with a few exceptions (e.g., chemotaxis, the control of enzyme activity) regulatory phenomena which primarily involve control of extant biochemical systems have fared less well. In particular the regulation of transport systems involved in cellular homeostasis is still poorly understood despite the early recognition of its importance (28). In recent years cytoplasmic pH has come to be recognized as an important aspect of bacterial cell physiology over which the cell exerts relatively tight regulation. In essence, regulation of cytoplasmic pH implies control over the permeability of the cell membrane to protons. It is generally accepted that this is achieved by control of the activity of ion transport systems which facilitate proton entry. The aim of this review of pH homeostasis in bacteria is to assess the role of transport systems in the regulation of cytoplasmic pH and to consider the principal questions which remain to be answered. As a result of work on a wide range of organisms, a number of generalizations can be made about bacterial pH homeostasis. First, it is clear that there is no magic value of internal pH (pHj) which all organisms aim to achieve. Thus it is recognized that acidophiles exhibit pH, values in the range of pH1 6.5 to 7.0, neutrophiles have pH, values of 7.5 to 8.0, and alkalophiles have pH, values of 8.4 to 9.0 (3, 37, 40, 41, 43, 49, 59, 80, 82, 108; D. McLaggan, Ph.D. thesis, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, 1984). This variance in pH, values reflects a remarkable capacity to evolve enzyme systems which operate in these ranges. Second, it is clear that organisms exhibit different capacities to regulate their cytoplasmic pH. In many organisms, the pH1 varies by only 0.1 units per pH unit change in external pH, whereas in others much larger changes in pH, have been observed (3, 41). One caveat to this generalization is that only rarely has the cytoplasmic pH been measured under growth conditions where cells might be expected to show optimum regulatory capacity. Third, fermentative organisms
Finding the Kool Mixx: how Brown & Williamson used music marketing to sell cigarettes

Objective: To describe the history of Kool’s music-themed promotions and analyse the role that music played in the promotion of the brand. Methods: Analysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents, legal documents, and promotional materials. Results: Brown & Williamson started Kool sponsorship of musical events in 1975 with Kool Jazz concerts. Music was considered to be an effective marketing tool because: (1) music helped consumers make emotional connections with the brand; (2) music concerts were effective for targeted marketing; (3) music tied together an integrated marketing campaign; and (4) music had potential to appeal widely to a young audience. Brown & Williamson’s first music campaigns successfully targeted young African-American male audiences. Subsequent campaigns were less effective, exploring different types of music to achieve a broader young adult appeal. Conclusions: This case study suggests Brown & Williamson used music most successfully for targeted marketing, but they failed to develop a wider audience using music because their attempts lacked consistency with the Kool brand’s established identity. The 2004 “Kool Mixx” campaign both returned to Brown & Williamson’s historic practice targeting young African-American males, and also exploited a musical genre with much more potential to bring Kool more universal appeal, as hip-hop music is increasingly popular among diverse audiences. Tobacco control efforts led by African-American community activists to oppose these marketing strategies should continue; expanding these coalitions to include the hip-hop community may further increase their effectiveness.
Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase‐Associated Lipocalin diagnosed acute kidney injury in patients with systemic inflammatory disease and sepsis

Sepsis is the leading cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated‐Lipocalin (NGAL) is a promising biomarker for acute kidney injury (AKI) detection; however, it is also increased with inflammation and few studies have been conducted in non‐Caucasian populations and/or in developing economies. Therefore, we evaluated plasma NGAL's diagnostic performance in the presence of sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in a Malaysian ICU cohort.
Space-Time Bayesian Compressed Spectrum Sensing for Wideband Cognitive Radio Networks

Wideband spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks remains an open challenge due to wideband spectrum acquisition implementation. Compressed spectrum sensing provides a powerful approach to acquire wideband signals. We purpose a probabilistic Space-time Bayesian Compressed Spectrum Sensing (ST-BCSS) to combat the noise in wideband compressed spectrum sensing. We present an informative hierarchical prior probabilistic model to recover the compressed spectrum by exploiting the temporal and spatial prior information. These priori information endows the robustness of spectrum sensing subject to noise and low sampling rate. We present a probabilistic framework to address how to represent, convey and fuse multi-prior information to improve the local compressed spectrum reconstruction. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that the ST-BCSS algorithm improves the performance of compressed spectrum sensing under low sampling rate and low Signal Noise Ratio (SNR), compared with the traditional Basis Pursuit and Orthogonal Matching Pursuit algorithms. A correlation based algorithm for the detection of reconstruction failure due to non-sparse spectrum is also proposed and demonstrated using numerical simulations.
Signaling Through NK Cell-Associated CD137 Promotes Both Helper Function for CD8+ Cytolytic T Cells and Responsiveness to IL-2 But Not Cytolytic Activity1

NK cells possess both effector and regulatory activities that may be important during the antitumor immune response. In fact, the generation of antitumor immunity by the administration of an agonistic mAb against CD137 is NK cell-dependent. In this study, we report that NK cells could be induced by IL-2 and IL-15 to express CD137 and ligation of CD137-stimulated NK cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion, but not their cytolytic activity. Importantly, CD137-stimulated NK cells promoted the expansion of activated T cells in vitro, demonstrating immunoregulatory or “helper” activity for CD8+CTL. Furthermore, tumor-specific CTL activity against P815 tumor Ags was abrogated following anti-CD137 treatment in NK-depleted mice. We further demonstrate that CD137-stimulated helper NK cells expressed the high-affinity IL-2R and were hyperresponsive to IL-2. Taken together with previous findings that CD137 is a critical receptor for costimulation of T cells, our findings suggest that CD137 is a stimulatory receptor for NK cells involved in the crosstalk between innate and adaptive immunity.
The effects of perioperative beta-blockade: results of the Metoprolol after Vascular Surgery (MaVS) study, a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing vascular surgery comprise the highest risk group for perioperative cardiac mortality and morbidity after noncardiac procedures. Many current guidelines recommend the use of beta-blockers in all patients undergoing vascular surgery. We report a trial of the perioperative administration of metoprolol and its effects on the incidence of cardiac complications at 30 days and 6 months after vascular surgery. METHODS Patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery and infrainguinal or axillofemoral revascularizations were recruited to a double-blind randomized controlled trial of perioperative metoprolol versus placebo. Patients were randomized to receive study medication, starting 2 hours preoperatively until hospital discharge or maximum of 5 days postoperatively. Primary outcome were postoperative 30-day composite incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, new congestive heart failure, new atrial or ventricular dysrhythmia requiring treatment, or cardiac death. RESULTS Patients were randomized to receive either metoprolol (n = 246) or placebo (n = 250). Primary outcome events at 30 days postoperative occurred in 25 (10.2%) versus 30 (12.0%) (P = .57) in metoprolol and placebo groups, respectively (relative risk reduction 15.3%, 95% CI -38.3% to 48.2%). Observed effects at 6 months were not significantly different (P = .81) (relative risk reduction 6.2%, 95% CI% -58.4% to 43.8%). Intraoperative bradycardia requiring treatment was more frequent in the metoprolol group (53/246 vs 19/250, P = .00001), as was intraoperative hypotension requiring treatment (114/246 vs 84/250, P = .0045). CONCLUSION Our results showed metoprolol was not effective in reducing the 30-day and 6-month postoperative cardiac event rates. Prophylactic use of perioperative beta-blockers in all vascular patients is not indicated.
Integrated model-based approach and test framework for embedded systems

In the recent decade, new automated methodologies such as the Model Driven Development (MDD) and Model-Based Testing (MBT) are under evaluation for embedded systems development and testing. However, most of the currently existing MBT approaches are neither integrated with the software development process nor transferred to real-life embedded software engineering projects. There is also a lack of usage of corresponding modeling languages for the MDD and MBT phases. In this context, this paper discusses the applicability of an integrated model-based approach and test framework which addresses the aforementioned gaps. The approach is evaluated in a spark extinguishing embedded system example based on a real-life embedded software engineering project. A test framework generation algorithm which generates the necessary artifacts for deploying MBT in resource-constrained embedded systems is discussed. A prototype implementation of the proposed approach and illustrative examples are presented.
Resurrecting Surviving Neandertal Lineages from Modern Human Genomes

Neandertal Shadows in Us Non-African modern humans carry a remnant of Neandertal DNA from interbreeding events that have been postulated to have occurred as humans migrated out of Africa. While the total amount of Neandertal sequence is estimated to be less than 3% of the modern genome, the specific retained sequences vary among individuals. Analyzing the genomes of more than 600 Europeans and East Asians, Vernot and Akey (p. 1017, published online 29 January) identified Neandertal sequences within modern humans that taken together span approximately 20% of the Neandertal genome. Some Neandertal-derived sequences appear to be under positive selection in humans, including several genes associated with skin phenotypes. Ancestral Neandertal sequences within extant humans reveal that positive and purifying selection has occurred. Anatomically modern humans overlapped and mated with Neandertals such that non-African humans inherit ~1 to 3% of their genomes from Neandertal ancestors. We identified Neandertal lineages that persist in the DNA of modern humans, in whole-genome sequences from 379 European and 286 East Asian individuals, recovering more than 15 gigabases of introgressed sequence that spans ~20% of the Neandertal genome (false discovery rate = 5%). Analyses of surviving archaic lineages suggest that there were fitness costs to hybridization, admixture occurred both before and after divergence of non-African modern humans, and Neandertals were a source of adaptive variation for loci involved in skin phenotypes. Our results provide a new avenue for paleogenomics studies, allowing substantial amounts of population-level DNA sequence information to be obtained from extinct groups, even in the absence of fossilized remains.
A decade of embedding: Where are we now?

Over the last 10 years the higher education sector has undergone a myriad of changes both in student demographics and the influx of international students. With these changes, concerns about the ability of students to meet the English language and academic demands of tertiary study have come to the forefront. This paper reports on a project of embedding academic literacy into nine units across four disciplines, which spanned the duration of a decade. The paper documents the process by which the Unit Support Program (USP) evolved from a discipline-based reading program in a university preparation context to an embedded, integrated and team-taught approach in the university mainstream. It sought to determine whether the introduction of the program improved student learning in the discipline, specifically in English language and academic literacy development. Using data drawn from over 2500 students relating to progression rates, final grades, participation levels, and qualitative data relating to student and staff perceptions, this longitudinal study demonstrated a positive relationship between embedding academic literacy in the disciplines and student learning. The added benefit of academic socialisation for staff is also a reported result of this study. Although significant ongoing institutional support is needed, this paper advocates that an embedded, integrated and team-taught model should be incorporated into the first year of study. Using a case study approach, this paper firstly explains the rationale to embed language and academic literacy development within disciplinary contexts; the framework from which the Unit Specific Model emanated; and the team teaching approach used in the delivery of the Unit Support Program (USP) across a variety of disciplines. It considers the comparative results for both participating and non-participating groups, and the impact of collaboration across the faculty on the success of USP. Finally the paper recommends strategies for the long term sustainability of these programs.
A constructive self-balancing controlled Lagrangian for wheeled inverted pendulum

This work presents a controlled Lagrangian for the wheeled inverted pendulum system in which the upward position of the pendulum becomes a stable nonlinear equilibrium. Unlike the general form of underactuated systems, the configuration variables are not partitioned into actuation and underactuated subsets and instead we show that the energy shaping and matching conditions can be achieved in a constructive procedure. The asymptotic stability is guaranteed by the definiteness of the shaped energy and applying a suitable dissipation. We also apply this self-balancing control to the system which is partially linearized and controlled in the wheel position. The efficiency of the control law along with the wheel positioning is observed by simulation.
The dissociative anaesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine, selectively reduce excitation of central mammalian neurones by N‐methyl‐aspartate

1 The interaction of two dissociative anaesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine, with the responses of spinal neurones to the electrophoretic administration of amino acids and acetylcholine was studied in decerebrate or pentobarbitone‐anaesthetized cats and rats. 2 Both ketamine and phencyclidine selectively blocked excitation by N‐methyl‐aspartate (NMA) with little effect on excitation by quisqualate and kainate. 3 Ketamine reduced responses to L‐aspartate somewhat more than those of l‐glutamate; the sensitivity of responses to these two putative transmitters was between that to NMA on one hand and that to quisqualate or kainate on the other. 4 On Renshaw cells, ketamine and phencyclidine reduced responses to acetylcholine less than those to NMA but more than those to quisqualate or kainate. Dorsal root‐evoked synaptic excitation of Renshaw cells was reduced to a greater extent than that following ventral root excitation. 5 Intravenous ketamine, 2.5–20 mg/kg, and phencyclidine, 0.2–0.5 mg/kg, also selectively blocked excitation of neurones by NMA. 6 Ketamine showed no consistent or selective effect on inhibition of spinal neurones by electrophoretically administered glycine or γ‐aminobutyricacid (GABA). 7 The results suggest that reduction of synaptic excitation mediated via NMA receptors contributes to the anaesthetic/analgesic properties of these two dissociative anaesthetics.
Evaluation of antibiotic use to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis and cholangitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between prophylactic antibiotic use and complications following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODOLOGY We retrospectively evaluated 605 consecutive patients who underwent ERCP in our hospital between September 2009 and November 2011. The antibiotic group included patients who underwent their procedure before October 2010, while the control group included patients after October 1, 2010, who did not receive antibiotics. We compared the incidence of postoperative pancreatitis and cholangitis between the groups. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the backgrounds of the 304 control and the 301 antibiotic-treated patients. The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis was 4.9% in the control group and 4.3% in the antibiotic group (p = 0.72). The incidence of postoperative cholangitis was 2.0% in the control group and 1.7% in the antibiotic group (p = 0.99). Choledocholithiasis, pancreatic duct injection, and female gender were detected as significant risk factors for postoperative pancreatitis by multivariate analysis; sclerosing cholangitis and incomplete biliary drainage were significant risk factors for postoperative cholangitis. Even in cases with these risk factors, prophylactic antibiotic use did not influence the incidence of pancreatitis or cholangitis. CONCLUSION Prophylactic antibiotics do not reduce the incidence of either pancreatitis or cholangitis following ERCP.
Ketolides: an emerging treatment for macrolide-resistant respiratory infections, focusing on S. pneumoniae

Resistance to antibiotics in community acquired respiratory infections is increasing worldwide. Resistance to the macrolides can be class-specific, as in efflux or ribosomal mutations, or, in the case of erythromycin ribosomal methylase (erm)-mediated resistance, may generate cross-resistance to other related classes. The ketolides are a new subclass of macrolides specifically designed to combat macrolide-resistant respiratory pathogens. X-ray crystallography indicates that ketolides bind to a secondary region in domain II of the 23S rRNA subunit, resulting in an improved structure–activity relationship. Telithromycin and cethromycin (formerly ABT-773) are the two most clinically advanced ketolides, exhibiting greater activity towards both typical and atypical respiratory pathogens. As a subclass of macrolides, ketolides demonstrate potent activity against most macrolide-resistant streptococci, including ermB- and macrolide efflux (mef)A-positive Streptococcus pneumoniae. Their pharmacokinetics display a long half-life as well as extensive tissue distribution and uptake into respiratory tissues and fluids, allowing for once-daily dosing. Clinical trials focusing on respiratory infections indicate bacteriological and clinical cure rates similar to comparators, even in patients infected with macrolide-resistant strains.
Divalent cations and the protein surface co-ordinate the intensity of human platelet adhesion and P-selectin surface expression

At sites of blood vessel injury, platelets adhere to exposed vessel components, such as collagen, or immobilized fibrinogen derived from plasma or activated platelets. The divalent cations Mg2+ and Ca2+ are essential for platelet adhesion and activation, but Mg2+ can also inhibit platelet activation. The present study evaluates, by an enzymatic method, the effects of various divalent cations on the adhesion of isolated human platelets to collagen, fibrinogen, albumin or plastic in vitro. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, platelet surface expression of P-selectin was measured to estimate the state of activation on adherence. Mg2+ increased platelet adhesion exclusively to collagen and fibrinogen at physiologically relevant concentrations. At higher concentrations, the adhesion declined. Ca2+ induced a weak adhesion only to fibrinogen at physiological doses and a peak of increased adhesion to all protein-coated surfaces at 10 mmol/l. Mn2+ elicited dose-dependent adhesion only to collagen and fibrinogen. Zn2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ increased the adhesion of platelets independently of the surface. Ca2+ dose-dependently inhibited adhesion elicited by Mg2+ to collagen and fibrinogen. No other combination of divalent cations elicited such an effect. Mg2+-dependent platelet adhesion to collagen and Ca2+-dependent adhesion to fibrinogen increased P-selectin expression. Thus, the present study shows that the outcome of the platelet adhesion depends on the surface and the access of divalent cations, which co-ordinate the intensity of platelet adhesion and P-selectin surface expression.
Decision forest: an algorithm for classifying multivariate time series

Nowadays with time series accounting for an increasingly large fraction of world's supply of data, there has been an explosion of interest in mining time series data. This paper proposes an approach of creating a new data structure automatically, for multivariate time series classification. For more accurate and comprehensive classification, induction of valuable rules named soft discretisation decision forest is illustrated comparing with other machine learning methods such as traditional neural network, SVM and nearest neighbour algorithms. Moreover, some real time series instances from the training dataset will be selected as class dedicated patterns. And a splitting stage using fuzzy theory is prepared for comparing attributes of time series. The ideas of authors are confirmed by simulation results with a set of Japanese vowel time series capably.