Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for RecA protein association with the cell membrane and for changes in the levels of major outer membrane proteins in SOS-induced Escherichia coli cells

Membrane fractions from Escherichia coli cells expressing DNA damage-inducible (SOS) functions contain elevated quantities of RecA protein (L. J. Gudas and A. B. Pardee, J. Mol. Biol. 101:459-477, 1976). We used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to separate membrane proteins from several strains to determine whether this effect is an artifact due to contamination of membranes during preparation by the large amount of cytoplasmic RecA present in SOS-induced cells. We found that amplification of RecA+ protein without a DNA-damaging treatment does not result in increased RecA-membrane association, whether recA is depressed specifically by an operator-constitutive recA allele or coordinately with other SOS genes by a lexA mutation that inactivates their common repressor. In contrast, large amounts of RecA appear in membrane fractions from undamaged cells of an SOS-constitutive strain carrying recA730, which encodes a spontaneously SOS-activated RecA. We conclude that the increased association of RecA with the membrane fraction requires the presence of the activated form of RecA, and that this association may contribute significantly to the SOS response. We describe also striking effects of SOS expression on the levels of the outer membrane proteins OmpA, OmpC, and OmpF.
A RELAÇÃO DA GESTÃO DO CONHECIMENTO NO GERENCIAMENTO DO ESTOQUE DE PEÇAS DE REPOSIÇÃO: UM ESTUDO DE CASO

Em muitas organizacoes os gestores ainda nao se deram conta da importância estrategica da gestao do conhecimento (GC) no gerenciamento do estoque estrategico de pecas de reposicao. Para que gestores, analistas e proprietarios possam gerenciar melhor o inventario de pecas de reposicao, e crescente a busca por praticas/ferramentas que visam no final das contas, uma reducao do custo e um aumento de eficiencia em suas operacoes. O objetivo deste estudo e identificar segundo o modelo de Binney (2001) o nivel de aplicacao/atividade da GC no inventario de pecas de reposicao com caracteristica de baixissimo giro (sem demanda no ultimo ano), bem como no inventario com caracteristica de alto giro (com demanda mensal constante), compreendendo desta forma quais as opcoes de investimento para este inventario e seus principais beneficios no gerenciamento do estoque estrategico nos centros de distribuicao de pecas de reposicao. Os dados foram levantados com base no modelo apresentado por Binney (2001), e a partir de observacoes das entrevistas individuais nao-estruturadas aplicadas com especialistas do negocio de pecas de reposicao. Os resultados auferidos mostraram que a existencia de praticas da GC no gerenciamento de pecas de reposicao possibilita mais transparencia aos processos existentes no segmento de pecas de reposicao, especialmente para aquelas pecas com caracteristica de baixissimo giro, onde ficou evidente a deficiencia no que diz respeito ao tratamento estrategico que as mesmas possuem.
Fibrinolytic activity of human oral epithelial cells. A preliminary report.

– The fibrinolytic activity of human epithelial cells from the buccal mucosa of 5 females and 3 males was investigated using the fibrin slide technique. It was shown that cells from all layers of the squamous epithelium were fibrinolytically active. No sexual differences were recorded. The results are discussed with special reference to their implications for injury to the epithelium.
Loss of cytoplasmic retention ability of mutant LKB1 found in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome patients.

LKB1 Serine/Threonine (ST) kinase (also called STK11) originally identified in our novel protein kinase search project has recently been recognized as a susceptibility gene of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS; MIM 175200). PJS is a dominantly inherited human disorder which is characterized by gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis and mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation. Since PJS patients also show a predisposition to a wide spectrum of cancers, it is speculated that LKB1 has a tumor suppressor function. In the present study we have characterized the basic biochemical property of LKB1. In the analysis of mutant LKB1 identified in PJS patients, it was found that one of the mutants, SL26, does not lose its kinase function, but alters its subcellular distribution to accumulate in the nucleus only, whereas wild type LKB1 shows both nuclear and cytoplasmic localization. Domain mapping of the nuclear targeting signal of LKB1 assigned it to its amino terminal side. Furthermore, it was shown that LKB1 also has a cytoplasmic retention ability which is considered defective and pathogenic in the SL26 mutant. It is speculated that subcellular distribution of LKB1 is regulated in the balance of these two forces, importation into the nucleus and retention within the cytoplasm; and the cytoplasmic retention ability is necessary for LKB1 to fulfil its normal function.
Bivariate association analyses for the mixture of continuous and binary traits with the use of extended generalized estimating equations

Genome‐wide association (GWA) study is becoming a powerful tool in deciphering genetic basis of complex human diseases/traits. Currently, the univariate analysis is the most commonly used method to identify genes associated with a certain disease/phenotype under study. A major limitation with the univariate analysis is that it may not make use of the information of multiple correlated phenotypes, which are usually measured and collected in practical studies. The multivariate analysis has proven to be a powerful approach in linkage studies of complex diseases/traits, but it has received little attention in GWA. In this study, we aim to develop a bivariate analytical method for GWA study, which can be used for a complex situation in which continuous trait and a binary trait are measured under study. Based on the modified extended generalized estimating equation (EGEE) method we proposed herein, we assessed the performance of our bivariate analyses through extensive simulations as well as real data analyses. In the study, to develop an EGEE approach for bivariate genetic analyses, we combined two different generalized linear models corresponding to phenotypic variables using a seemingly unrelated regression model. The simulation results demonstrated that our EGEE‐based bivariate analytical method outperforms univariate analyses in increasing statistical power under a variety of simulation scenarios. Notably, EGEE‐based bivariate analyses have consistent advantages over univariate analyses whether or not there exists a phenotypic correlation between the two traits. Our study has practical importance, as one can always use multivariate analyses as a screening tool when multiple phenotypes are available, without extra costs of statistical power and false‐positive rate. Analyses on empirical GWA data further affirm the advantages of our bivariate analytical method. Genet. Epidemiol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rabbit nucleus pulposus cells facilitate differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into nucleus pulposus-like cells.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the feasibility of inducing adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS ADSCs were isolated from rabbit while NPCs were isolated from an allogeneic rabbit. NPCs were co-cultured with the 3rd generation ADSCs in co-cultured system. Only NPCs were cultured in single culturing group. Through the collagen type II collagen immunohistochemistry, we observed NPCs and then identify NPC. Proteoglycan messenger RNA (mRNA) and collagen type II mRNA level were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS In two group cells, collagen type II collagen were detected by immunohistochemistry. The amount of proteoglycan mRNA and collagen type II mRNA was both significantly higher in co-cultured group than in single cultured group. CONCLUSIONS In some condition, ADSCs have the potency to differentiate toward nucleus pulposus-like cells. ADSCs are better seed cells for tissue engineering of artificial nucleus pulposus.
SEMANA NACIONAL DE LA EDUCACIÓN FINANCIERA

LA UNIVERSIDAD FUE RECONOCIDA POR SU PARTICIPACION EN LA SEMANA NACIONAL DE LA EDUCACION FINANCIERA, ORGANIZADA POR LA COMISION NACIONAL PARA LA PROTECCION Y LA DEFENSA DE LOS USUARIOS DE SERVICIOS FINANCIEROS (CONDUSEF), EN LA QUE INTERVINIERON CERCA DE 150 INSTITUCIONES DE EDUCACION SUPERIOR, FINANCIERAS, PUBLICAS, PRIVADAS E INDUSTRIALES. EN LA CEREMONIA DE PREMIACION, NORMAN WOLF DEL VALLE, COORDINADOR DE LA MAESTRIA EN FINANZAS DE LA FACULTAD DE CONTADURIA Y ADMINISTRACION, RECIBIO LA DISTINCION EN NOMBRE DE LA INSTITUCION. EN UN BREVE DISCURSO, LUIS PAZOS DE LA TORRE, PRESIDENTE DE LA CONDUSEF, RESALTO LA INTERVENCION DE TODOS LOS PARTICIPANTES, Y JUNTO CON LUIS FABRE PRUNEDA, VICEPRESIDENTE TECNICO, Y JOSE CARLOS BORUNDA ZARAGOZA, DIRECTOR DE PROMOCION DE LA CULTURA FINANCIERA, ENTRE OTROS FUNCIONARIOS, ENTREGO LOS DIPLOMAS Y LAS PRESEAS CORRESPONDIENTES. AL TERMINO DEL EVENTO, NORMAN WOLF INFORMO QUE DENTRO DE LA SEMANA NACIONAL, LA UNAM CONTRIBUYO CON VARIOS EVENTOS: CONFERENCIAS, VIDEOCONFERENCIAS Y ELABORACION DE ARTICULOS Y C PSULAS INFORMATIVAS PUBLICADOS TANTO EN LA P GINA DE INTERNET COMO EN LA REVISTA DE LA FACULTAD. CON LA PARTICIPACION DE M S DE 700 PERSONAS, ENTRE ALUMNOS DE LICENCIATURA, POSGRADO Y PERSONAL ACADEMICO, SE DESARROLLARON LAS ACTIVIDADES CON EL OBJETIVO DE PROMOVER EL AHORRO, EL CREDITO Y, EN ESPECIAL, PARA SABER QUE HACER Y ADONDE ACUDIR EN CASO DE ENFRENTAR UN PROBLEMA MONETARIO, DETALLO. "LA IDEA ES QUE LA POBLACION SE ACERQUE Y NO LE TEMA A LAS INSTITUCIONES FINANCIERAS; ESTAS TIENEN OBLIGACIONES CON SUS USUARIOS". LA SEMANA NACIONAL ES UN PROYECTO DIRIGIDO A TODA LA REPUBLICA MEXICANA, REFORZADO CON CONFERENCIAS, FOROS, TALLERES, FIESTAS Y ENTREVISTAS, ENTRE OTRAS ACTIVIDADES, ORGANIZADAS EN DISTINTAS SEDES ESTATALES, ANADIO. EL PROPOSITO ES GENERAR UN MARCO DE REFERENCIA PARA IDENTIFICAR LAS ACCIONES QUE PROPICIEN LA EDUCACION FINANCIERA, PROMUEVAN LA SINERGIA ENTRE INSTITUCIONES DE DIVERSOS MBITOS PARA LOGRAR IMPACTO EN LA POBLACION, Y CREAR CONCIENCIA EN LA CIUDADANIA DE QUE LA INSTRUCCION REFERENTE ES UNA HERRAMIENTA QUE LE PUEDE AYUDAR A TOMAR MEJORES DECISIONES Y ELEVAR SU CALIDAD DE VIDA.
Requirement of the Receiver and Phosphotransfer Domains of ArcB for Efficient Dephosphorylation of Phosphorylated ArcA In Vivo

ABSTRACT The Arc two-component system, comprising the ArcB sensor kinase and the ArcA response regulator, modulates the expression of numerous genes in response to the respiratory conditions of growth. Under anoxic growth conditions, ArcB autophosphorylates and transphosphorylates ArcA, which in turn represses or activates its target operons. Under aerobic growth conditions, phosphorylated ArcA (ArcA-P) dephosphorylates and its transcriptional regulation is released. The dephosphorylation of ArcA-P has been shown to occur, at least in vitro, via an ArcAAsp54-P → ArcBHis717-P → ArcBAsp576-P → Pi reverse phosphorelay. In this study, the physiological significance of this pathway was assessed. The results demonstrate that the receiver and phosphotransfer domains of the tripartite sensor kinase ArcB are necessary and sufficient for efficient ArcA-P dephosphorylation in vivo.
Benefits of Strict Rest After Acute Concussion: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: To determine if recommending strict rest improved concussion recovery and outcome after discharge from the pediatric emergency department (ED). METHODS: Patients aged 11 to 22 years presenting to a pediatric ED within 24 hours of concussion were recruited. Participants underwent neurocognitive, balance, and symptom assessment in the ED and were randomized to strict rest for 5 days versus usual care (1–2 days rest, followed by stepwise return to activity). Patients completed a diary used to record physical and mental activity level, calculate energy exertion, and record daily postconcussive symptoms. Neurocognitive and balance assessments were performed at 3 and 10 days postinjury. Sample size calculations were powered to detect clinically meaningful differences in postconcussive symptom, neurocognitive, and balance scores between treatment groups. Linear mixed modeling was used to detect contributions of group assignment to individual recovery trajectory. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were enrolled; 88 completed all study procedures (45 intervention, 43 control). Postdischarge, both groups reported a 20% decrease in energy exertion and physical activity levels. As expected, the intervention group reported less school and after-school attendance for days 2 to 5 postconcussion (3.8 vs 6.7 hours total, P < .05). There was no clinically significant difference in neurocognitive or balance outcomes. However, the intervention group reported more daily postconcussive symptoms (total symptom score over 10 days, 187.9 vs 131.9, P < .03) and slower symptom resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Recommending strict rest for adolescents immediately after concussion offered no added benefit over the usual care. Adolescents’ symptom reporting was influenced by recommending strict rest.
Functional characterization of the primate sperm acrosomal antigen (PSA-63).

Monoclonal antibody (HS-63) raised in mice against human ejaculated sperm, polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against the cognate mouse testicular antigen (MSA-63; or Fab) and polyclonal antibodies raised in the rabbit against recombinant fusion proteins (GST-63) showed acrosomal localization in permeabilized rhesus monkey and human ejaculated sperm. Tail localization of the cognate primate sperm antigen (PSA-63) was also seen with intact MSA-63 antibodies and Fab fragments. The ability of these antibodies to inhibit sperm binding to the zona pellucida was measured with hemizona binding assays (HZAs). HS-63 (1.2 mg/ml) inhibited rhesus monkey sperm binding (mean +/- SEM) to homologous hemizonae (treatment, 15.5 +/- 3.3; control, 58.9 +/- 9.4; P < 0.025), whereas comparable concentrations of protein from nonimmunized mouse preparations were inactive (ascites fluid, 67.6 +/- 43.5; no ascites fluid, 72.0 +/- 44.6). Intact MSA-63 antibodies inhibited (up to 99%) monkey sperm-zona binding in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, inhibition in this case by intact MSA-63 antibody was limited to capacitated sperm. Similarly, intact MSA-63 antibodies inhibited (up to 85%) human sperm binding to homologous zonae in an antibody concentration-dependent manner. Fab fragments derived from MSA-63, when present in insemination mixtures (0.5 mg/ml), inhibited (P < 0.01) primate sperm binding to homologous hemizonae (monkey, 9.6 +/- 3; human sperm 9.4 +/- 2) compared with matched hemizona controls (monkey, 117 +/- 29; human, 20.4 +/- 3). Furthermore, rhesus monkey sperm-zona binding was reduced by 84% in the presence of rabbit anti-GST-63 antibodies. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Noninvasive ventilation by helmet or face mask in immunocompromised patients: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) by helmet and face mask in immunocompromised patients with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF). DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING The general ICU of a university hospital. PATIENTS Nineteen immunocompromised patients (hematologic malignancies [n = 8], solid-organ recipients [n = 8], AIDS [n = 3]) with hypoxemic ARF, fever, and lung infiltrates were treated with NPPV delivered by a helmet. Nineteen immunocompromised patients matched for diagnosis, age, simplified acute physiology score II, and Pao(2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio(2)) receiving NPPV through a facial mask served as case-control subjects. RESULTS The use of NPPV delivered via helmet was as effective as NPPV delivered via face mask in avoiding endotracheal intubations (intubation rate, 37% vs 47%, respectively; p = 0.37) and improving gas exchange; 14 patients (74%) in the helmet group showed a sustained improvement in Pao(2)/Fio(2) ratio (ability to increase Pao(2)/Fio(2) ratio > 200, or an increase > 100 from the baseline) in comparison with 7 patients (34%) in the mask group (p = 0.02), whose Pao(2)/Fio(2) at treatment discontinuation was higher (p = 0.02) and had fewer complications related to NPPV (ie, skin necrosis, p = 0.01). Moreover, the patients receiving ventilation via helmet required significantly less NPPV discontinuations in the first 24 h of application (p < 0.001) than patients receiving ventilation via face mask. CONCLUSIONS The helmet may represent a valid alternative to a face mask in immunocompromised patients with lung infiltrates and hypoxemic ARF, increasing the patient's tolerance (ie, the number of hours of continuous NPPV use without interruptions) and decreasing the rate of complications directly related to the administration of NPPV.
Formalizing and Using Persistency

In many formalizations of a changing world things do not change all the time but are persistent thoughout a time interval. Often this persistency is represented by facts refering to intervals int which are still valid if int is replaced by any subinterval int' Approaches like episode propagation or Penberthy's temporal unification try to employ this property for efficient reasoning. However these approaches lack formality. In this paper their way of reasoning about persistency is reconstructed as inference rules that combine appropriate time-boxes with standard resolution. In many cases Burckert's Constrained Resolution may be used. More complex examples may be handled by a new inference rule, called Persistency Resolution. An analysis of this rule leads to a more general notion of persistency.
Value of baseline and follow-up whole-body bone scans in detecting bone metastasis in high-risk breast cancer patients

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to test the value of routine baseline and follow-up bone scans in societies with a prevalence of high-risk breast cancer features. Patients and methodsThe medical records of 261 Jordanian breast cancer patients were reviewed. Patients who had (a) breast cancer proven by pathology, (b) had undergone a baseline bone scan, and (c) had undergone follow-up bone scan(s) for at least 12 months were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 171 patients who had negative bone scans; group 2 included 52 patients who had negative baseline bone scans but developed bone metastasis on follow-up; and group 3 included 38 patients who had bone metastasis at presentation. ResultsPatients’ ages ranged between 21 and 85 years with mean±SD of 49.7 (±11.3) years. About 55% of our patients were younger than 50 years. Clinicopathological stages were as follows: 14% of patients were in stage I, 42% were in stage II, 30% were in stage III, and 14% were in stage IV. A significant proportion of our patients have high-risk features. Fourteen percent of the patients already had bone metastasis at diagnosis and 20% developed bone metastasis on follow-up. Sixty percent of group 2 patients developed bone metastasis within 2 years after diagnosis and the rest (40%) developed bone metastasis 2 years after diagnosis (⩽13 years). ConclusionWithin the limitations of this retrospective study, in a country like Jordan with greater prevalence of high-risk breast cancer features, a routine baseline whole-body bone scan might be justifiable. Follow-up whole-body bone scans might result in better quality of life and lower skeletal-related morbidity. Further prospective work is suggested.
Activation and Repression of Transcription by Differential Contact: Two Sides of a Coin*

Activation and repression of transcription are primarily caused by gene regulatory proteins (activators and repressors), which act by binding to specific sites on DNA. The steps from initial binding of RNA polymerase to the elongating complex are characterized by many intermediates, each with a discrete structure, offering many mechanistic possibilities for regulator actions. It has been shown in some systems that the activator acts by helping RNA polymerase or other associated factors to bind (recruitment) and/or by influencing a postrecruitment step (isomerization, promoter clearance, etc.) (1-7). We have used the term recruitment for referring to assistance only on the initial binding step of RNA polymerase. We caution that a postbinding step may be indistinguishable from the recruitment step if they are in rapid equilibrium. Clearly, all activators do not act at the level of RNA polymerase recruitment to the promoters. There are activators demonstrated to help postbinding steps that have no effect on initial binding (4-7). Promoter-specific repression can occur by sterically hindering the binding of RNA polymerase or of, in principle, another essential transcription factor to the promoter (8, 9). However, other studies in several promoters, as was anticipated (10), point toward repressor action also through contact with promoter-bound RNA polymerase at a postbinding step (11-17). More interestingly, some regulators act as activator in one context and as repressor in another (13, 15). Although the contact regions on the surface of some regulators and of RNA polymerase have been mapped (18, 19), how these contacts cause activation or inhibition of transcription initiation in biochemical terms is not known. In principle, the contact may affect the process of transcription initiation (i) by allosteric modification of RNA polymerase and/or (ii) by energetic stabilization of an intermediate(s). Regulator-induced conformation changes in RNA polymerase by protein-protein contact may contribute to the regulation process. However, a regulator-RNA polymerase contact may play a fundamentally different role in transcription initiation. In this article, we provide a conceptual framework for the process of activator and repressor action through differential stabilization of one or more of the intermediate states of RNA polymerase-promoter complex by its contact with the regulator. We portray regulators as catalysts. From a thermodynamic point, we view that activators, like catalysts, lower the activation energy of some step(s) in the reaction pathway of transcription initiation. As discussed below, a similar energetic argument explains the action of repressors. To make our point, we discuss simple examples of DNA-binding regulators modulating RNA polymerase during transcription initiation in selected prokaryotic systems.
The Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis spp. Galleriae Against Rice Water Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for Integrated Pest Management in California Rice

ABSTRACT Rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kushel) is the most damaging insect pest of rice in the United States. Larval feeding on the roots stunt growth and reduce yield. Current pest management against the weevil in California relies heavily on pyrethroids that can be damaging to aquatic food webs. Examination of an environmentally friendly alternative biopesticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis spp. galleriae chemistry against rice water weevil larvae showed moderate levels of activity in pilot studies. We further examined the performance of different formulations of Bt.galleriae against the leading insecticide used in California rice, &lgr;-cyhalothrin. The granular formulation performed as well as the &lgr;-cyhalothrin in use in California in some of our greenhouse and field studies. This is the first reported use of B. thuringiensis spp. galleriae against rice water weevil.