Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
31P nuclear magnetic resonance and chemical studies of the phosphorus residues in bovine milk xanthine oxidase.

In addition to the phosphate residues contained in the acid-dissociable FAD and the molybdenum cofactor moieties, milk xanthine oxidase contains one mole of covalently bound phosphorus per active-center molybdenum. Acid hydrolysis of the apoprotein moiety and subsequent analysis by high-voltage thin-layer electrophoresis has identified the phosphorylated amino acid residue to be phosphoserine. 31P NMR data show the phosphopeptide to be monosubstituted, in agreement with the chemical analysis. A pH-dependent chemical shift of the phosphorus residue in the molybdenum cofactor moiety is also observed which provides unequivocal support for suggestions in the literature that this cofactor contains a monosubstituted phosphate. 31P NMR studies on the intact enzyme show phosphorus resonances at about -3 ppm, +1 ppm, +8.8 ppm and at +13.5 ppm. The resonances at +8.8 ppm and at +13.5 ppm are assigned to those of the pyrophosphate linkage of the FAD moiety by analogy with chemical shift data of the FAD on glucose oxidase [James, T.L. , Edmondson, D.E. , and Husain, M. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 617] and from the absence of any resonances in this region upon examination of preparations of deflavo xanthine oxidase. The intensity and resolution of the resonance at about -3 ppm is dependent on the degree of functionality of the enzyme. This resonance has a small amplitude relative to the FAD resonances in 50-60% functional enzyme, but increases dramatically in intensity in the desulpho enzyme. This resonance is the only one exposed to solvent as it is the only one susceptible to paramagnetic line-broadening on the addition of Mn(II) to the enzyme solution. Treatment of the enzyme with allopurinol leads to alteration of the approximately equal to -3-ppm resonance, but does not significantly affect the other resonances. Formation of the stable Mo(V) 'inhibited' form of the enzyme with ethylene glycol results in extensive line-broadening of the resonances at -3 ppm and +1 ppm, but has no observable affect on the FAD resonances. These data suggest that in addition to the phosphate on the molybdenum cofactor, the phosphoserine residue in xanthine oxidase is also in close proximity to the activesite molybdenum center of this enzyme. These results are discussed with respect to possible implications on the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme.
Chondrocytes and bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells undergoing chondrogenesis in agarose hydrogels of solid and channelled architectures respond differentially to dynamic culture conditions

The objective of this study was to investigate how a combination of different scaffold architectures and rotational culture would influence the functional properties of thick cartilaginous tissues engineered using either chondrocytes or bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs). Expanded porcine chondrocytes and BM‐MSCs were suspended in 2% agarose and cast in custom‐designed moulds to produce either regular solid or channelled construct cylinders. The study consisted of three seperate experimental arms. First, chondrocyte and BM‐MSC constructs were cultured in free swelling conditions for 9 weeks. Second, constructs were subjected to rotational culture for a period of 3 weeks. Finally, BM‐MSC‐seeded constructs were subjected to delayed rotational culture, in which constructs were first cultured for 3 weeks in free swelling conditions, followed by an additional 3 weeks in rotating culture conditions. Constructs were supplemented with TGFβ3 during the first 3 weeks of all experiments. The introduction of channels alone had little effect on the spatial patterns of tissue accumulation in either chondrocyte‐ or BM‐MSC‐seeded constructs. The two cell types responded differentially to rotational culture, resulting in the formation of a more homogeneous tissue in chondrocyte‐seeded constructs, but significantly inhibiting chondrogenesis of BM‐MSCs. This inhibition of chondrogenesis in response to dynamic culture conditions was not observed if BM‐MSC‐seeded constructs were first maintained in free swelling conditions for 3 weeks prior to rotation. The results of this study demonstrate that bioreactor culture conditions that are beneficial for chondrocyte‐based cartilage tissue engineering may be suboptimal for BM‐MSCs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of indomethacin‐induced gastric injury by spermine and taurine in rats

This study investigated the involvement of neutrophil infiltration, nitric oxide (NO) generation, and oxidative stress in indomethacin‐induced ulcer and the possible gastroprotective potentials of spermine and taurine, known for their tissue regenerating and antioxidant effects, respectively. Male Wistar albino rats (180–220 g) were allocated into a normal control group, ulcer control group (received a single dose of indomethacin 40 mg–kg p.o.), and two ulcer groups pretreated with spermine (150 mg–kg p.o. 1 h before ulcer induction) and taurine (250 mg–kg i.p. for three consecutive days before ulcer induction). The animals were killed 6 h after indomethacin administration, and the gastric juice, serum, and mucosal tissue were used for gastric injury evaluation. Both modulators significantly ameliorated the indomethacin–induced gastric lesions in glandular mucosa. Notably, spermine exhibited the most pronounced effect as manifested by great reduction in the gastric ulcer index, normalization of the elevated gastric acidity, and triggering of mucin production. Spermine and taurine were able to decrease the elevated levels of gastric myeloperoxidase, conjugated diene, and serum NO. However, the lowered tissue NO content was markedly elevated only by taurine. The antioxidant action of taurine was illustrated by restoration of the depressed content of glutathione, normalization of the inhibited activities of glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that spermine and taurine confer significant gastroprotection against indomethacin‐induced gastric injury with the priority of spermine. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 21:280–288, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20194
Metamaterial-based frequency selective surface with a band gap electronic adjustment

Currently, frequency selective surfaces, based on metamaterials are increasingly important in microwave technique. The mushroom-type metamaterial surfaces allow solving such tasks as isolation of elements in antenna arrays, multipath mitigating in GNSS systems, reduction of the ground plane edge influence on the directivity of the antenna elements etc. The usage of these structures in the microwave devices design can significantly improve their properties and performance. Structurally mushroom-type metamaterials are periodic microstrip structures and their properties depend strongly on the parameters of the substrate and the accuracy of manufacturing of the conductive pattern. As these structures have a narrow band gap, expensive materials and high precision technologies should be used for their manufacturing. A method of the mushroom-type metamaterial band gap electronic readjustment is proposed in this paper. The idea of the method is that a variable-capacitance diode, should be placed between two coupled mushroom hats one terminal of which is grounded for direct current through a metalized via of the metamaterial element, and the other one is connected to a controlled DC voltage source. At the same time the mushroom hats are separated by at least two capacitive gaps, one of which is in parallel with a variable-capacitance diode, which equivalent capacitance is determined by the DC voltage of the controlled source. The design of a band gap metamaterial-based frequency selective surface with an electronic readjustment of the working band, and the results of its numerical modeling, which show the working band frequency movement while the changing of the lumped elements capacitance are presented. The calculation of the structure dielectric parameters, which confirms that the proposed structure is a metamaterial, is provided.
Non-robust versus robust [test generation]

We show that a path delay under a non-robust test may be longer than under any robust test. Thus, for a given path, a non-robust test can detect a delay fault undetectable by robust tests. This can happen even in a circuit in which all paths are robust-testable.
Synthesis of double-shelled sea urchin-like yolk-shell Fe3O4/TiO2/Au microspheres and their catalytic applications

Double-shelled sea urchin-like yolk-shell Fe3O4/TiO2/Au microspheres were successfully synthesized through loading Au nanoparticles on the Fe3O4/TiO2 support by a in situ reduction of HAuCl4 with NaBH4 aqueous solution. These microspheres possess tunable cavity size, adjustable shell layers, high structural stability and large specific surface area. The Au nanoparticles of approximately 5 nm in diameter were loaded both on the TiO2 nanofibers and inside the cavities of sea urchin-like yolk-shell Fe3O4/TiO2 microspheres. The sea urchin-like structure composed of TiO2 nanofibers ensure the good distribution of the Au nanoparticles, while the novel double-shelled yolk-shell structure guarantees the high stability of the Au nanoparticles. Furthermore, the Fe3O4 magnetic core facilitates the convenient recovery of the catalyst by applying an external magnetic field. The Fe3O4/TiO2/Au microspheres display excellent activities and recycling properties in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP): the rate constant is 1.84 min−1 and turnover frequency is 5457 h−1.
Anomalous behavior of water inside the SecY translocon

Significance α-Helical membrane proteins are assembled cotranslationally into cell membranes with the aid of the heterotrimeric membrane-embedded translocon complex. The structures of several translocons reveal that the interior has an hourglass shape filled with water. Because nascent peptide chains emerging from the ribosome are thought to pass through the translocon during secretion or membrane insertion, the translocon is often referred to as a protein-conducting channel. We show by all-atom molecular-dynamics simulations that the water molecules within a translocon do not behave as in a bulk phase, which raises fundamental questions not only about the current conceptual model of translocon-assisted insertion of membrane proteins but also about the physical principles of partitioning of solutes between bulk and confined water. The heterotrimeric SecY translocon complex is required for the cotranslational assembly of membrane proteins in bacteria and archaea. The insertion of transmembrane (TM) segments during nascent-chain passage through the translocon is generally viewed as a simple partitioning process between the water-filled translocon and membrane lipid bilayer, suggesting that partitioning is driven by the hydrophobic effect. Indeed, the apparent free energy of partitioning of unnatural aliphatic amino acids on TM segments is proportional to accessible surface area, which is a hallmark of the hydrophobic effect [Öjemalm K, et al. (2011) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108(31):E359–E364]. However, the apparent partitioning solvation parameter is less than one-half the value expected for simple bulk partitioning, suggesting that the water in the translocon departs from bulk behavior. To examine the state of water in a SecY translocon complex embedded in a lipid bilayer, we carried out all-atom molecular-dynamics simulations of the Pyrococcus furiosus SecYE, which was determined to be in a “primed” open state [Egea PF, Stroud RM (2010) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107(40):17182–17187]. Remarkably, SecYE remained in this state throughout our 450-ns simulation. Water molecules within SecY exhibited anomalous diffusion, had highly retarded rotational dynamics, and aligned their dipoles along the SecY transmembrane axis. The translocon is therefore not a simple water-filled pore, which raises the question of how anomalous water behavior affects the mechanism of translocon function and, more generally, the partitioning of hydrophobic molecules. Because large water-filled cavities are found in many membrane proteins, our findings may have broader implications.
Effect of Prior Sexually Transmitted Disease on the Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis

In developed nations, Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted pathogen. To determine whether prior disease affects the probability of subsequent chlamydial infection, we took culture specimens from 2,546 men and 1,998 women attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic. The men had nongonococcal urethritis and the women were contacts of men who had a positive chlamydial culture or nongonococcal urethritis. Significantly lower isolation rates for those with a history of sexually transmitted diseases were found for both men (29% vs. 38%; P less than 0.0001) and women (27% vs. 36%; P less than 0.0001). In addition, both men and women with previously documented chlamydial infections had a lower isolation rate at the index visit, if the previous infection occurred less than, as opposed to more than, six months earlier (men: 20% vs. 41%; P = 0.0006; women: 14% vs. 35%; P = 0.003). These relationships were found to be independent of age. However, the effect of partial immunity due to prior infection could not be distinguished from that of prior antibiotic therapy, and if such immunity does confer protection against reinfection, that protection appears to be both partial and of relatively short duration.
Table of Contents.

Introduction . 1-1 Chapter 1. 1.1 Purpose of Study . 1-1 1.2 Decision-Making Structure . 1-2 1.3 Scope of Work . 1-3 1.4 Stakeholder Participation . 1-5 1.5 Definition of Planning Horizons and Study Area . 1-7 1.6 Data Collected . 1-9 1.7 Reaching Consensus . 1-12 1.8 Organization of the Report . 1-12
Absolute Stroke Mortality Burden for Non-Hispanic Non-Latino Whites Was Disproportionately Higher Than Expected Simply Based on the US Population in 2001

Background and Purpose— The absolute burden of stroke is a major determinant of health care costs and should also be considered when developing and implementing effective health policy. This study evaluated the impact of specific racial-ethnic categorization on absolute stroke mortality burden and population percentages. Methods— In this population-based analysis, 2001 US data was used to compute absolute values of population and stroke mortality burden for white and black, and other racial–ethnic groups. To test the effect of age-mix, values were age-adjusted using the 2000 US standard population. The z test statistic was computed and a 2-tailed P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Result— Whites comprised a majority of the 2001 absolute US stroke mortality burden and US population (86% and 82%, respectively). Surprisingly, nHnL whites comprised a much higher percentage of the absolute US stroke mortality burden than expected based on their percentage of the US population alone (81% and 69%, respectively; P<0.001). Age-adjustment indicated a contribution by age-mix, however, an age-independent residual component remained. Conclusions— Specific race-ethnicity categorization significantly influences comparisons of the proportion of absolute stroke mortality burden to the population proportion. Accordingly, appropriate caution and care are needed when estimating the societal impact of conditions such as stroke.
Effectiveness of ramelteon for insomnia symptoms in older adults with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of ramelteon, a melatonin receptor agonist, for the treatment of insomnia in older adults starting auto-titrating positive airway pressure (APAP) therapy for sleep apnea. METHODS A parallel group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot effectiveness clinical trial. The study enrolled 21 research study participants who were ≥ 60 years old and had obstructive sleep apnea, defined by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 events/h, with complaints of insomnia. The primary outcome measure was change in sleep onset latency determined from polysomnography at 4 weeks. Research study participants, all of whom were starting on APAP, were randomized to ramelteon 8 mg (n = 8) or placebo (n = 13). RESULTS Ramelteon treatment was associated with a statistically significant difference in sleep onset latency (SOL) as measured by polysomnography of 28.5 min (± 16.2 min) compared to placebo (95% C.I. 8.5 min to 48.6 min, effect size 1.35, p = 0.008). This was due to a 10.7 (± 17.0) min SOL reduction in the ramelteon arm and a 17.8 (± 23.5) min SOL increase in the placebo arm. No change was noted in subjective sleep onset latency (-1.3 min, ± 19.3 min, 95% C.I.: -21.4 min to 18.7 min). No statistically significant changes were noted in the AHI, sleep efficiency (polysomnography and self-report), APAP adherence, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score, or Epworth Sleepiness Scale score when comparing ramelteon vs. placebo. Four adverse events occurred in the ramelteon arm and 2 in the placebo arm; none were considered to be related to treatment. CONCLUSIONS Ramelteon was effective in improving objective, but not subjective, sleep onset latency even in older adults who were starting APAP therapy for sleep apnea. Further research is warranted in examining the role of ramelteon in the care of older adults with insomnia symptoms and sleep apnea.
Variability in the phases of the menstrual cycle.

OBJECTIVE To determine variability in the phases of the menstrual cycle among healthy, regularly cycling women. DESIGN A prospective descriptive study of a new data set with biological markers to estimate parameters of the menstrual cycles. PARTICIPANTS One hundred forty one healthy women (mean age 29 years) who monitored 3 to 13 menstrual cycles with an electronic fertility monitor and produced 1,060 usable cycles of data. MEASURES AND OUTCOMES: Variability in the length of the menstrual cycle and of the follicular, fertile, and luteal phases, and menses. The estimated day of ovulation and end of the fertile phase was the peak fertility reading on the monitor (i.e., the urinary luteinizing hormone surge). RESULTS Mean total length was 28.9 days (SD = 3.4) with 95% of the cycles between 22 and 36 days. Intracycle variability of greater than 7 days was observed in 42.5% of the women. Ninety-five percent of the cycles had all 6 days of fertile phase between days 4 and 23, but only 25% of participants had all days of the fertile phase between days 10 and 17. CONCLUSIONS Among regularly cycling women, there is considerable normal variability in the phases of the menstrual cycle. The follicular phase contributes most to this variability.
Reduction in Hospitalizations for Pneumonia Associated With the Introduction of a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination Schedule Without a Booster Dose in Australia

Background: Postmarketing surveillance of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vPCV) has shown significant reductions in admissions coded as pneumonia in countries where a booster dose is given in the second year of life. In Australia, a 3-dose primary schedule at 2, 4, and 6 months of age without a booster has been funded nationally for non-Indigenous children since 2005. Methods: All hospital discharges in Australia with the primary diagnosis coded as pneumonia between July 1998 and June 2007 were identified from a national electronic database. Monthly rates of hospitalization for pneumonia over this period were determined for the age groups <2, 2–4, 5–17, 18–39, 40–64, and ≥65 years. Negative binomial regression modeling, adjusting for background and seasonal trends, was used to quantify the effect of the 7vPCV program. Results: A total of 523,591 eligible hospital discharges were identified. In the 30 months following 7vPCV introduction, there were significant adjusted reductions in all-cause pneumonia in children aged <2 and 2 to 4 years of 38% (95% CI = 36%–40%), and 29% (26%–31%), respectively. Reductions of between 3% and 11% were observed in the older age groups. Interpretation: The significant differential effects observed are strongly suggestive of the PCV7 program being responsible for the observed reduction in pneumonia hospitalizations in Australia, and the magnitude was comparable to that documented in countries with a booster dose. This finding appears robust and may be related to high levels of vaccination coverage and catch-up early in the program, or to relatively lower levels of serotype replacement without a booster dose.
Does unconscious stress play a role in prolonged cardiovascular stress recovery?

According to recent insights, humans might not be aware of a substantial part of their cognitive stress representations while these still have prolonged physiological effects. 'Unconscious stress' can be measured by implicit affect (IA) tests. It was shown that IA predicts physiological stress responses, in fact better than explicit ('conscious') affect. It is not known yet whether IA is associated with concurrent prolonged stress responses. In two studies (n = 62 and 123), anger harassment was used to induce stress. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously. During BP and HR recovery, IA was measured by an 'anger' version of the implicit association test (IAT) or the implicit positive and negative affect test (IPANAT). Blood pressure and HR increased during anger harassment and recovery afterwards. When using the IPANAT BP recovery levels were lower when positive IA was high and higher when negative IA was high, independent of explicit affect and rumination. These results were not found using the IAT. These results provide preliminary evidence that physiological stress recovery is associated with IA. This is in line with the theory that unconscious stress is responsible for a-possibly considerable-part of unhealthy prolonged stress-related physiological activity.
Mapping ‘new’ geographies of religion: politics and poetics in modernity

This article reviews geographical research on religion in the 1990s, and highlights work from neighbouring disciplines where relevant. Contrary to views that the field is incoherent, I suggest that much of the literature pays attention to several key themes, particularly, the politics and poetics of religious place, identity and community. I illustrate the key issues, arguments and conceptualizations in these areas, and suggest various ways forward. These ‘new’ geographies emphasize different sites of religious practice beyond the ‘officially sacred’; different sensuous sacred geographies; different religions in different historical and place-specific contexts; different geographical scales of analysis; different constitutions of population and their experience of and effect on religious place, identity and community; different dialectics (sociospatial, public-private, politics-poetics); and different moralities.