Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New insights in the formation of polyhydroxyalkanoate granules (carbonosomes) and novel functions of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).

The metabolism of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and related polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) has been investigated by many groups for about three decades, and good progress was obtained in understanding the mechanisms of biosynthesis and biodegradation of this class of storage molecules. However, the molecular events that happen at the onset of PHB synthesis and the details of the initiation of PHB/PHA granule formation, as well as the complex composition of the proteinaceous surface layer of PHB/PHA granules, have only recently come into the focus of research and were not reviewed yet. In this contribution, we summarize the progress in understanding the initiation and formation of the PHA granule complex at the example of Ralstonia eutropha H16 (model organism of PHB-accumulating bacteria). Where appropriate, we include information on PHA granules of Pseudomonas putida as a representative species for medium-chain-length PHA-accumulating bacteria. We suggest to replace the previous micelle mode of PHB granule formation by the Scaffold Model in which the PHB synthase initiation complex is bound to the bacterial nucleoid. In the second part, we highlight data on other forms of PHB: oligo-PHB with ≈100 to 200 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) units and covalently bound PHB (cPHB) are unrelated in function to storage PHB but are presumably present in all living organisms, and therefore must be of fundamental importance.
Low complexity encoding of improved regular LDPC codes

The existing encoding scheme for LDPC codes usually incurs too high complexity and should be changed to a low complexity encoding scheme. However, little consideration has been given to the LDPC encoder VLSI implementation. We consider low complexity encoding of regular LDPC codes, and we propose a pivoting and bit-reverse (PABR) algorithm to rapidly construct the parity-check matrix (PCM). And we consider improved regular LDPC codes in BER performance. We propose that the PCM is constructed with sub-matrixes which are made up of Costas arrays. The codes have sparse PCMs. They are designed to perform well when iteratively decoded with the sum-product decoding algorithm and to allow low complexity encoding. We show an approach to implementing the LDPC encoder using the PABR algorithm and improving BER performance using a PCM with Costas arrays. This paper then describes an FPGA implementation of regular LDPC encoder on a hardware platform for 4G mobile communication systems.
Accelerated Death Kinetics of Aspergillus niger Spores under High-Pressure Carbonation

ABSTRACT The death kinetics of Aspergillus niger spores under high-pressure carbonation were investigated with respect to the concentration of dissolved CO2 (dCO2) and treatment temperature. All of the inactivation followed first-order death kinetics. The D value (decimal reduction time, or the time required for a 1-log-cycle reduction in the microbial population) in the saline carbonated at 10 MPa was 0.16 min at 52°C. The log D values were linearly related to the treatment temperature and the concentration of dCO2, but a significant interaction was observed between them.
Designing a continuous current buck-boost converter using the core geometry

The purpose of this paper is to design a continuous current, buck-boost converter using the core geometry approach. The design will show engineers another method of designing transformers and inductors using this step-by-step approach. There are many advantages of using the core geometry method for designing inductors and transformers over the area product method. The core geometry will give the engineer another tool to better understand transformer and inductor design and therefore, cut the design time way down
Baseline measures for a school‐based obesity control programme: Project Energize: Differences by ethnicity, rurality, age and school socio‐economic status

School‐based interventions to tackle the rise in childhood overweight and obesity remain inconclusive and are often limited in their application to diverse populations. To inform and measure the effect of the implementation of a primary school‐based longitudinal randomised controlled nutrition and activity intervention, Project Energize, baseline measures of body size and blood pressure were required.
Direct measurement and modelling of internal strains in ion-implanted diamond

We present a phenomenological model and finite element simulations to describe the depth variation of mass density and strain of ion-implanted single-crystal diamond. Several experiments are employed to validate the approach: firstly, samples implanted with 180 keV B ions at relatively low fluences are characterized using high-resolution x-ray diffraction; secondly, the mass density variation of a sample implanted with 500 keV He ions, well above its amorphization threshold, is characterized with electron energy loss spectroscopy. At high damage densities, the experimental depth profiles of strain and density display a saturation effect with increasing damage and a shift of the damage density peak towards greater depth values with respect to those predicted by TRIM simulations, which are well accounted for in the model presented here. The model is then further validated by comparing transmission electron microscopy-measured and simulated thickness values of a buried amorphous carbon layer formed at different depths by implantation of 500 keV He ions through a variable-thickness mask to simulate the simultaneous implantation of ions at different energies.
Polymorphisms in the DNA nucleotide excision repair genes and lung cancer risk in Xuan Wei, China

The lung cancer mortality rate in Xuan Wei County is among the highest in China and has been attributed to exposure to indoor smoky coal emissions that contain very high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Nucleotide excision repair (NER) plays a key role in reversing DNA damage from exposure to environmental carcinogens, such as PAHs, that form bulky DNA adducts. We studied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their corresponding haplotypes in 6 genes (ERCC1, ERCC2/XPD, ERCC4/XPF, ERCC5/XPG, RAD23B and XPC) involved in NER in a population‐based case‐control study of lung cancer in Xuan Wei. A total of 122 incident primary lung cancer cases and 122 individually matched controls were enrolled. Three linked SNPs in ERCC2 were associated with lung cancer with similar ORs; e.g., persons with the Gln allele at codon 751 had a 60% reduction of lung cancer (OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.18–0.89). Moreover, one haplotype in ERCC2 was associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer (OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.19–0.85) compared to the most common haplotype. In addition, subjects with one or 2 copies of the Val allele at codon 249 of RAD23B had a 2‐fold increased risk of lung cancer (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.12–3.24). In summary, our results suggest that genetic variants in genes involved in the NER pathway may play a role in lung cancer susceptibility in Xuan Wei. However, due to the small sample size, additional studies are needed to evaluate these associations within Xuan Wei and in other populations with substantial environmental exposure to PAHs. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Who volunteers for companionship with mental patients? A study of attitude-belief-intention relationships.

Summary 329 students were asked to join a companionship program for mental hospital patients. It was expected that the relationship between humanitarian attitudes and intention to participate would be stronger for subjects with benign beliefs than for subjects with unfavorable beliefs about patients The findings were (a) subjects’ intentions corresponded to their later joining (p<.001), and were unrelated to social desirability, (b) general helping and social-responsibility attitudes correlated higher than did specific beliefs about patients, with willingness to become a companion, (c) attitude-intention correlations were greatest for subjects with neutral beliefs, and weakest for subjects with benign beliefs (upsetting the main hypothesis), (d) the same pattern of correlations obtained in subgroups trichotomized on the basis of another scale (ostensibly unrelated to volunteering for companionship) which had an authoritarian component. Result (d) suggests that a personality factor, not beliefs about patients, moderated variations in the attitude-intention relationship
Correlations with Point Mutations and Severity of Hemolitic Anemias: The Example of Hereditary Persistence of Fetal Hemoglobin with Sickle Cell Anemia and Beta Thalassemia

Hemolytic anemias are a group of diseases characterized by a reduction in red blood cells (RBC) life span mainly caused by a deregulation in the hemoglobin formation. Among these diseases, Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Beta Thalassemia (Thal) are the most common disorders involved in the premature destruction of RBC. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the outcome of these diseases as well as the metabolic pathways surrounding its onset constitutes a very useful approach to target treatment strategies for such diseases. In this chapter we will discuss the state-of-the-art aspects about this theme highlighting the importance of several point mutations in hemolytic anemia using  thalassemia and sickle cell disease as examples. In addition, the molecular aspects involved in the Hereditary Persistence of Fetal Hemoglobin (HPFH), also an important disorder caused by point mutations and deletions, and its association with the severity of Thal and SCD will be also discussed. In this context lies the manifestation of better prognostic to patients having an increase in fetal hemoglobin and SCD or Thal concomitantly. Therefore a parallel discussion towards the advances currently described in the literature and associations of gene expression and different drugs that increase the production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) are pointed out as a mechanism to improve the quality of life of SCD and Thal patients.
Penetration into Host Cells of Naked, Partially Injected (Post-FST) DNA of Bacteriophage T5

The experiments presented here suggest that the naked post-FST DNA, attached to the bacteria after a centrifugation at 6,000 × g of Escherichia coli-T5 complexes arrested at the FST stage, can be injected into the host cell if protein synthesis is allowed. This results from the observation that the production of infectious centers by this naked DNA is sensitive to DNase or moderate shearing treatments. The process of injection seems to be the same as that for DNA normally rolled in an adsorbed capsid.
DNA helicase‐mediated packaging of adeno‐associated virus type 2 genomes into preformed capsids

Helicases not only catalyse the disruption of hydrogen bonding between complementary regions of nucleic acids, but also move along nucleic acid strands in a polar fashion. Here we show that the Rep52 and Rep40 proteins of adeno‐associated virus type 2 (AAV‐2) are required to translocate capsid‐associated, single‐stranded DNA genomes into preformed empty AAV‐2 capsids, and that the DNA helicase function of Rep52/40 is essential for this process. Furthermore, DNase protection experiments suggest that insertion of AAV‐2 genomes proceeds from the 3′ end, which correlates with the 3′→5′ processivity demonstrated for the Rep52/40 helicase. A model is proposed in which capsid‐immobilized helicase complexes act as molecular motors to ‘pump’ single‐stranded DNA across the capsid boundary.
High doses of irbesartan offer long-term kidney protection in cases of established diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND Hypothetically, the greater the blockade of angiotensin AT1 receptors from ultra-high doses of angiotensin receptors blockers (ARB), the greater the expected renoprotection effects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of ultra-high doses of irbesartan on proteinuria and renal function in diabetics with established or overt diabetic nephropathy (ODN). MATERIAL AND METHOD Ours was a prospective, non-randomised 3-year follow-up study, using a multifactorial therapeutic approach based on irbesartan 600mg daily. Demographic variables, anthropometric data, and biochemical parameters were comparatively analysed at the beginning and end of the study. Forty patients (75% with type 2 diabetes) were included, average age 57.1 +/- 10, 29 male (72.5%). RESULTS SBP (157.6 +/- 27mm Hg vs 130.1 +/- 14mm Hg) and DBP (88.8 +/- 10mm Hg vs 76.2 +/- 8mm Hg) decreased significantly at the end of follow-up (P<.001). Serum creatinine increased by only 0.17mg/dl, although this was a statistically significant difference (P<.05). Proteinuria markedly decreased from 2.64 +/- 1.99 to 0.98 +/- 1.18 (P<.0001), i.e. 59.2%. Twenty-five percent of patients had normal albuminuria at the end of the follow-up period. Lipid profiles significantly improved. No patients withdrew from the study due to side effects, and serum potassium did not change significantly over the course of the study. Except for BMI and HbA1c, all other therapeutic targets set out by ADA recommendations improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS The treatment of ODN with ultra-high doses of irbesartan was highly effective and safe in reducing proteinuria and slowing the progressive course to ESRD.
A low-current logarithmic LED electrometer

A new circuit for measuring low dc currents using an LED-based logarithmic electrometer is presented. The electrometer is designed to measure currents from 1 pA to 0.1 mA. Temperature compensation is achieved using the ratio technique in the temperature range -20/spl deg/C-70/spl deg/C. Variations in the scale factor as a function of the input current and the device constant n as a function of temperature are also discussed.
NoC-Compatible Wrapper Design and Optimization under Channel-Bandwidth and Test-Time Constraints

The IEEE 1500 standard wrapper requires that its inputs and outputs be interfaced directly to the chip's primary inputs and outputs for controllability and observability. This is typically achieved by providing a dedicated Test Access Mechanism (TAM) between the wrapper and the primary inputs and outputs. However, when reusing the embedded Network-on-Chip (NoC) interconnect instead of the dedicated TAM, the standard wrapper cannot be used as is because of the packet-based transfer mechanism and other functional requirements by the NoC. In this paper, we describe two NoC-compatible wrappers, which overcome these limitations of the 1500 wrapper. The wrappers (Type 1 and Type 2) complement each other to optimize NoC bandwidth utilization while minimizing the area overhead. The Type 2 wrapper uses larger area overhead to increase bandwidth efficiency, while Type 1 takes advantage of some special configurations which may not require a complex and high-cost wrapper. Two wrapper optimization algorithms are applied to both wrapper designs under channel-bandwidth and test-time constraints, resulting in very little or no increase in the test application time compared to conventional dedicated TAM approaches.
The Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors in a Latino Subgroup: A Rural Batey Population in the Dominican Republic

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and identify variables associated with hypertension among residents of Batey 16. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults residing in Batey 16 of La Romana, Dominican Republic. Residents were approached house to house and invited to participate in a blood pressure screening and a survey pertaining to risk factors for hypertension. Blood pressures and waist circumferences were measured. Comparisons between the hypertensive and non-hypertensive group’s survey results, heights, and waist circumferences were made using chi square, Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test, and univariate linear and logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 187 participants, age 35±16 years (range 18-107 years), 34% were diagnosed with hypertension and 42% with were diagnosed with pre-hypertension. Age, sex, height, waist circumference, and use of medication were not significantly different between the hypertensive and the non-hypertensive participants. These variables in addition to elevated waist circumference were not associated with hypertension. Family history was an independent predictor of hypertension (OR= 2.7, p= 0.013; 95% CI, 1.2-5.8). Conclusions: The batey population has many unique characteristics that may contribute to its prevalence of hypertension and the patterns found in the associated risk factors. Further research needs to be conducted to broaden, explore, and clarify our findings.
Mitochondrial plasticity in obesity and diabetes mellitus.

SIGNIFICANCE Insulin resistance and its related diseases, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have been linked to changes in aerobic metabolism, pointing to a possible role of mitochondria in the development of insulin resistance. RECENT ADVANCES Refined methodology of ex vivo high-resolution respirometry and in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy now allows describing several features of mitochondria in humans. In addition to measuring mitochondrial function at baseline and after exercise-induced submaximal energy depletion, the response of mitochondria to endocrine and metabolic challenges, termed mitochondrial plasticity, can be assessed using hyperinsulinemic clamp tests. While insulin resistant states do not uniformly relate to baseline and post-exercise mitochondrial function, mitochondrial plasticity is typically impaired in insulin resistant relatives of T2DM, in overt T2DM and even in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). CRITICAL ISSUES The variability of baseline mitochondrial function in the main target tissue of insulin action, skeletal muscle and liver, may be attributed to inherited and acquired changes in either mitochondrial quantity or quality. In addition to certain gene polymorphisms and aging, circulating glucose and lipid concentrations correlate with both mitochondrial function and plasticity. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Despite the associations between features of mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity, the question of a causal relationship between compromised mitochondrial plasticity and insulin resistance in the development of obesity and T2DM remains to be resolved.
Hoarding: a symptom, not a syndrome.

BACKGROUND Hoarding behavior in humans spans a continuum from normal collecting to pathological self-neglect and can be associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders. METHOD The authors summarize research in the past 15 years characterizing hoarding behavior in groups of college students, in nonclinical populations of self-named "pack rats," in outpatients treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and in individual pathological hoarders presented in psychiatric case reports. Two new case reports of pathological hoarding are presented here. RESULTS The literature suggests, as do the 2 case reports presented, that certain factors may be common to all groups of hoarders, as they all show poor insight, lack of resistance to the compulsion to hoard, and poor treatment motivation. CONCLUSION Possible biological and psychosocial determinants of pathological hoarding include association with schizophrenia, OCD, and tic disorders, as well as a possible link through the neurotransmitter dopamine. Management issues range from psychopharmacologic treatment with antipsychotic medication to behavioral therapy and environmental manipulation.
DNA-directed printing of self-assembled nanoparticle microarrays

A Gutenberg-style nanoprinting technique that exploits electrostatic nanoparticle self-assembly and DNA-mediated replication of lithographic microstructures was developed. Printing of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from lithographic micropatterns (stamps) was successfully shown. The original micropatterns of the stamps were well replicated. The efficiency of the nanoparticle transfer was dependent on the pressure applied to the stamp and capture substrate during the printing process. High AuNP loading and high transfer yields were observed in this work. This new pattern replication technique offers an opportunity to produce functional devices with complex nanostructures at low cost.
Stimulation of oogenesis by proteinaceous adult diets for screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The influence of protein in the adult diet on first cycle gonotrophic development was examined in newly colonized screwworm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), reared on an artificial larval diet and bred in subsequent generations from females stimulated to oviposit only after all individuals in a colony were expected to have matured their eggs. This latter criterion was established with the goal of reducing selection for early ovarian maturity and increased autogeny. Under these conditions, supplementing the diet with raw meat during the first week after adult emergence hastened egg maturation by two to four days or more, increased the percentage of seven- to ten-day-old females that was gravid by 45%, and boosted the number of eggs per gravid female by c. 30%. The serous discharge from screwworm-infested sheep wounds, a casein‐salt mixture, or casein in potassium hydroxide was as effective as raw meat. Addition of B vitamins to the casein‐salt mixture was without further effect. The measures taken to reduce selection for altered gonotrophic development were not critically evaluated here, but they appeared successful in that age and protein affected ovarian maturation rates similarly in F 2 and F 27 . Fecundity measured as eggs matured per gravid female differed between generations, but appeared correlated with size differences that were unrelated to colonization duration.
Adsorption and release properties of growth factors from biodegradable implants.

The present investigation was performed to study the adsorption behavior of growth factors and their release characteristics from biodegradable implants in an in vitro study. We investigated the stability of growth factors administered on various scaffolds. We used porous tricalcium phosphate ceramics (alpha-TCP), a neutralized glass-ceramics (GB9N), a composite (polylactid/-glycolid/GB9N), and solvent dehydrated human bone as carriers. Block shaped scaffolds (sized: 7 x 7 x 10 mm) were loaded with 5 microg of either bone morphogenetic protein (rxBMP-4), basic fibroblast growth factor (rh-bFGF), or vascular endothelial growth factor (rh-VEGF) solved in 150 microL PBS. The growth factors were labeled with Iodine125 (I-125) for detecting the adsorbed and released amount of growth factors by counting the samples for total I-125 activity. We observed that the adsorption of these growth factors seems to depend on two different parameters: first on the nature of the tested material, and second on the growth factors on their own. The release kinetics of the growth factors from the biodegradable implants can be described as a two phase process-a very rapid release during the first hours by an elution of not adsorbed protein, followed by a specific release, which depends upon the chemical/physical interaction of the material and the growth factor used. Analyzing the eluted proteins on SDS-PAGEs rh-VEGF was degraded into a smaller fragment with a size of around 15 kDa, while rxBMP-4 and rh-bFGF showed a complete degradation into fragments smaller than 3 kDa after more than 3 days. Although this in vitro study suggests that biodegradable implants might be successfully used as carriers for osteogenic growth factors, the different release kinetics as well as the alteration of their molecular structure including loss of biological activity should be considered.