Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ftsZ is an essential cell division gene in Escherichia coli

The ftsZ gene is thought to be an essential cell division gene in Escherichia coli. We constructed a null allele of ftsZ in a strain carrying additional copies of ftsZ on a plasmid with a temperature-sensitive replication defect. This strain was temperature sensitive for cell division and viability, confirming that ftsZ is an essential cell division gene. Further analysis revealed that after a shift to the nonpermissive temperature, cell division ceased when the level of FtsZ started to decrease, indicating that septation is very sensitive to the level of FtsZ. Subsequent studies showed that nucleoid segregation was normal while FtsZ was decreasing and that ftsZ expression was not autoregulated. The null allele could not be complemented by lambda 16-2, even though this bacteriophage can complement the thermosensitive ftsZ84 mutation and carries 6 kb of DNA upstream of the ftsZ gene.
On the evaluation and optimization of protein X‐ray structures for pKa calculations

The calculation of the physical properties of a protein from its X‐ray structure is of importance in virtually every aspect of modern biology. Although computational algorithms have been developed for calculating everything from the dynamics of a protein to its binding specificity, only limited information is available on the ability of these methods to give accurate results when used with a particular X‐ray structure. We examine the ability of a pKa calculation algorithm to predict the proton‐donating residue in the catalytic mechanism of hen egg white lysozyme. We examine the correlation between the ability of the pKa calculation method to obtain the correct result and the overall characteristics of 41 X‐ray structures such as crystallization conditions, resolution, and the output of structure validation software. We furthermore examine the ability of energy minimizations (EM), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and structure‐perturbation methods to optimize the X‐ray structures such that these give correct results with the pKa calculation algorithm. We propose a set of criteria for identifying the proton donor in a catalytic mechanism, and demonstrate that the application of these criteria give highly accurate prediction results when using unmodified X‐ray structures. More specifically, we are able to successfully identify the proton donor in 85% of the X‐ray structures when excluding structures with crystal contacts near the active site. Neither the use of the overall characteristics of the X‐ray structures nor the optimization of the structure by EM, MD, or other methods improves the results of the pKa calculation algorithm. We discuss these results and their implications for the design of structure‐based energy calculation algorithms in general.
Glutathione S-transferase P1 polymorphisms are associated with time to tumor progression in small cell lung cancer patients.

PURPOSE Many of commonly used chemotherapeutics in lung cancer treatment are metabolized by glutathione-S transferases (GSTs). The placental isoform of GST (GSTP1) is the most abundant isoform in the lung. Polymorphisms within the GSTP1 may result in alterations in enzyme activity and change sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. We investigated whether the polymorphism within the exons 5 and 6 of GSTP1 gene may change response to therapy, time to tumor progression (TTP) and overall survival in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. METHODS Ninety-four histologically confirmed patients with SCLC were enrolled in this study during 1995-2006. GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism in exon 5 and GSTP1 Ala- 114Val polymorphism in exon 6 were determined by using PCR-RFLP techniques. Associations between the GSTP1 polymorphisms and treatment response were evaluated using the chi-square test. Associations between the GSTP1 polymorphisms and TTP and overall survival were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS We found no significant associations between exon 5 and exon 6 GSTP1 gene polymorphisms and response to therapy or overall survival. Patients carrying both variant exon 5 (Ile/Val or Val/Val) and variant exon 6 (Ala/Val) genotypes had significantly shorter TTP (5 vs. 8 months, p = 0.04). Moreover, patients with heterozygote exon 6 variant had presented with extensive-stage disease. CONCLUSION No individual effect of variant alleles was found in relation to chemotherapy response, median TTP and overall survival. The carriage of both types of variant alleles may predict worse outcome.
Virtual Shadows in Mixed Reality Environment Using Flashlight-like Devices

We propose the concepts of Virtual Light and Virtual Shadow with the aim of achieving a Mixed Reality Environment focused on shadows. In this proposal, we divide the concept of Virtual Shadow into four categories, and among them, implement four types of interactive applications: (a) real to virtual shadow for rigid objects, (b) real to virtual shadow for non-rigid objects, (c) image-based virtual to virtual shadow, and (d) virtual to real shadow. In these applications, we can see the shadow of a real object projected onto the virtual world and vice versa. These proposed concepts and applications should contribute to the realization of a Mixed Reality Environment that provides a novel sense of visual interaction.
A 6-bit 1.6 GS/s Flash ADC in 0.18-μm CMOS with Reversed-Reference Dummy

A 6-bit 1.6 GS/s CMOS flash ADC using reversed-reference dummy method is demonstrated in a standard 0.18-μm CMOS process. The proposed method improves linearity error at the boundary of offset averaging networks. The prototype circuit exhibits an INL of +0.32/-0.28 LSB and a DNL of +0.28/-0.28 LSB. The SNDR and SFDR achieve 32 and 44 dB at 1.6 GS/s for Nyquist input frequency. The ADC consumes 350 mW at 1.8 V supply and occupies an active chip area of 0.46 mm2.
Principal—Principal Conflict in the Governance of the Chinese Public Corporation

By examining the level of ownership concentration across firms, we determine how principal–principal conflict, defined as the incongruence of ownership goals among shareholder groups in a corporation, impacts agency costs of Chinese boards of directors. Based on data from Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges during 1999-2003, we found that ownership concentration had a U-shaped relationship with board compensation, board size and the presence of independent directors. These results provide corroborating evidence that principal-principal conflict can lead to high agency costs.
Extension of the Optimised Virtual Fields Method to Estimate Viscoelastic Material Parameters from 3D Dynamic Displacement Fields

In vivo measurement of the mechanical properties of soft tissues is essential to provide necessary data in biomechanics and medicine (early cancer diagnosis, study of traumatic brain injuries, etc.). Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance elastography can provide 3D displacement maps in the bulk and in vivo, from which, using inverse methods, it is then possible to identify some mechanical parameters of the tissues (stiffness, damping, etc.). The main difficulties in these inverse identification procedures consist in dealing with the pressure waves contained in the data and with the experimental noise perturbing the spatial derivatives required during the processing. The optimised virtual fields method (OVFM) ( Comput. Mech. 34, 2004, 439 ), designed to be robust to noise, presents natural and rigorous solution to deal with these problems. The OVFM has been adapted to identify material parameter maps from magnetic resonance elastography data consisting of 3D displacement fields in harmonically loaded soft materials. In this work, the method has been developed to identify elastic and viscoelastic models.
Cognitive/Clinical Endpoints for Pre-Dementia AD Trials.

With the aging of the world's population, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rising. Yet it remains the only leading cause of death for which there is no diseasemodifying treatment available, despite substantial academic and industry efforts. Disappointing clinical trials over the last several years have led to a growing consensus on the need to intervene early in the disease process, before clinical symptoms begin (1). Built on the hypothetical model of disease progression proposed by Jack et al (2, 3), which has since been supported by empirical data (4), the dominant paradigm today posits that the pathophysiologic processes underlying AD begin long before symptoms (5). However drug development at this stage is complicated by the difficulty of assessing a therapeutic benefit in subjects who are, by definition, clinically normal.
A Case Study on the Analysis of the Data Quality of a Large Medical Database

In this paper we present a report on the data quality of a medical database containing clinical and administrative data from hospitals and private clinics in the Bologna district area. In particular, we have analyzed the database according to several data quality dimensions, identifying a number of issues (e.g., inaccuracies and incompleteness) that we have systematized and described in this work.
Control of an Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus Colonization and Infection in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Without Closing the ICU or Placing Patients in Isolation

Objective. To describe the control of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus (MDRABC) colonization and infection in an intensive care unit (ICU). Setting. An 18-bed ICU in a large tertiary care teaching hospital in London. Interventions. After recognition of the outbreak, a range of infection control measures were introduced over several months that were primarily aimed at reducing environmental contamination with the outbreak strain. Strategies included use of a closed tracheal suction system for all patients receiving mechanical ventilation, use of nebulized colistin for patients with evidence of mild to moderate ventilator-associated pneumonia, improved availability of alcohol for hand decontamination, and clearer designation of responsibilities and strategies for cleaning equipment and the environment in the proximity of patients colonized or infected with MDRABC. Results. The outbreak lasted from June 2001 through November 2002 and involved 136 new cases of MDRABC infection or colonization. The number of newly diagnosed cases per month reached a maximum of 15 in February 2002, and the number of new cases slowly decreased over the next 9 months. Conclusion. This outbreak was controlled by emphasizing the control of environmental reservoirs and did not require recourse to ward closure or placement of affected patients in isolation.
Salt tolerance underlies the cryptic invasion of North American salt marshes by an introduced haplotype of the common reed Phragmites australis (Poaceae)

A distinct, non-native haplotype of the common reed Phragmites australis has become inva- sive in Atlantic coastal Spartina marshes. We com- pared the salt tolerance and other growth charac- teristics of the invasive M haplotype with 2 native haplotypes (F and AC) in greenhouse experiments. The M haplotype retained 50% of its growth potential up to 0.4 M NaCl, whereas the F and AC haplotypes did not grow above 0.1 M NaCl. The M haplotype pro- duced more shoots per gram of rhizome tissue and had higher relative growth rates than the native haplotypes on both freshwater and saline water treatments. The M haplotype also differed from the native haplotypes in shoot water content and the biometrics of shoots and rhizomes. The results offer an explanation for how the M haplotype is able to spread in coastal salt marshes and support the conclusion of DNA analyses that the M haplotype is a distinct ecotype of P. australis.
Trabajo infantil y problemas del comportamiento en menores trabajadores

Objetivo: Identificar la relacion de los factores de riesgo ocupacional del trabajo infantil con los problemas de comportamiento en menores de edad trabajadores de una plaza de mercado en Colombia Materiales y metodos: Se realizo un estudio de corte transversal con 100 ninos trabajadores de la plaza de Mercaneiva. Se aplico un cuestionario para evaluar los factores ocupacionales en la poblacion, evaluando aspectos sociodemograficos y condiciones laborales; para establecer la prevalencia de los problemas del comportamiento se utilizo el cuestionario sobre el comportamiento de ninos ninas de 6-18 anos (CBCL- 01). El analisis de los datos se realizo mediante SPSS version 26, con un analisis estadistico cualitativo por medio de proporciones y tablas de frecuencia, se usaron ademas medidas de tendencia central y dispersion. Se hizo un analisis bivariado entre los problemas de comportamiento y los factores ocupacionales utilizando el coeficiente de Spearman. Resultados: Se determinaron 3 parametros relacionados entre los factores ocupacionales y los problemas de conductas que fueron la edad minima de admision al empleo (8.2 ± 2.5 anos, med=8), las extensas jornadas de trabajo (7.2 ± 3.1, med=7) y los anos que lleva laborando (4.5± 2.6 anos med=4). Los ninos mostraron una diferencias significativa en los problemas de comportamiento (26.3± 9.9) mas que las ninas (23.9±9.3) (p=0.023) y respecto a las conductas externalizadas fue mayor en el genero masculino (p=0.001). El resultado de la prevalencia de los problemas de comportamiento demostro que el rango clinico se correlaciono significativamente con el comportamiento general (conductas internalizadas r= 0.735, p<0.001; conductas externalizadas r= 0.693, p<0.001; otros problemas r= 0.729, p<0.001) al hallar que el 76.0% de menores trabajadores estan en un rango clinico. Conclusion: El empezar a trabajar a una edad temprana es un riesgo para presentar problemas de conducta. Los entes gubernamentales deben ser mas activos y apropiarse de su rol para el restablecimiento de derechos y actuar en los resultados hallados en la investigacion para que se continue monitoreando mediante mas estudios e intervenciones.
From rejection to transmission for a stack of arrayed split ring resonators

We report on free space transmission experiments carried out on stacked split ring resonator (SRRs) arrays operating at microwaves. We start from the case of a single frequency selective surface which exhibits a rejection at the SRR resonance frequency. By stacking several SRR arrays in the propagation direction, we then show experimentally the possibility to induce a transmission band just below this resonance frequency. The results are interpreted by means of a full wave analysis which points out the role played by the magneto inductive waves in the electromagnetic properties of such 2D ½ metamaterials with the appearance of a transmission band resulting from a magnetic activity. Potential interest of this type of microstructures derives from the possibility of tailoring the dispersion characteristics of the stacked arrays.
Architecture of Product Family: Fundamentals and Methodology

The rationale of developing product families with respect to satisfying diverse customer needs with reasonable costs, i.e., mass customization, has been well recognized in both industry and academia. Earlier research often highlights isolated and successful empirical studies with limited attempt to explore the theoretical foundations surrounding this economically important class of engineering design problem. This paper investigates the fundamental issues underlying product family development. The concept of Architecture of Product Family (APF) is introduced as a conceptual structure and overall logical organization of generating a family of products. APF constructs, including common bases, differentiation enablers, and configuration mechanisms, are discussed from both sales and engineering perspectives. Also discussed are variety generation methods with regard to producing custom products based on the modular product architecture and configure-to-order product development. To support APF-based product family design, a Generic Product Structure (GPS) is proposed as the platform for tailoring products to individual customer needs and generating product variants. A case study of an industrial example is also presented to illustrate the feasibility and potential of the proposed methodology.
Developing Driving Task Scenarios for Developmentally Tailored Driving Assessments: Using An Evidence-Centered Design Model

A systematic procedure was described by which task scenarios can be derived as a basis for educationally informative and developmentally tailored driving assessments. To this end, Mislevy´s evidence centered design model for assessment was applied to the driving context. Borrowing from recent theories on driving and driving errors, task environment attributes were derived which may complicate the sub processes of driving and thus may result in varying task difficulty. A universe of assessment tasks was defined by combining basic driving tasks and critical task environment attributes. A collection of 55 critical driving task scenarios was selected from 39 video recorded driving lessons, throughout different stages of driving education. Results of a difficulty rating study pertaining to these scenarios including experienced driving instructors show that the scenarios discriminate well between beginning and advanced learner drivers. Successful scenario solution can be predicted by using an IRT function, where solution probability is a function of driver ability and task difficulty. Implications for assessment design activities are discussed.
Chronic infection due to Mycobacterium intracellulare in mice: association with macrophage release of prostaglandin E2 and reversal by injection of indomethacin, muramyl dipeptide, or interferon-gamma.

As a model for the study of human atypical mycobacterial disease, we explored the basis for the prolonged mycobacteriosis in mice infected with Mycobacterium intracellulare. Two weeks after i.v. injection of mycobacteria, peritoneal macrophages were found to be activated, as indicated by their capacity to produce large amounts of superoxide anion (O2-) in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or viable M. intracellulare. However, 4 wk after infection, despite the continued presence of large numbers of mycobacteria in the spleen, macrophages from infected animals produced low amounts of O2-. Unfractionated spleen cells from mice infected 4 wk earlier produced increased amounts of interleukin 2 and interferon (IFN) when stimulated with the mitogen concanavalin A, but less of these lymphokines than unstimulated cells when exposed to antigens derived from M. intracellulare, suggesting production of an inhibitory factor. Spleen cells from infected mice were not stimulated to incorporate [3H]thymidine by exposure to mycobacterial antigens; but this unresponsiveness could be reversed by addition of indomethacin to the cultures. Additional investigation showed that macrophages from infected animals produced large amounts of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) when stimulated by mycobacterial antigens. In vitro, such concentrations of PGE2 inhibited uptake of [3H]thymidine by stimulated spleen lymphocytes from infected animals. Thus, it seemed likely that in infected animals, macrophage-derived PG suppressed production of IFN-gamma by lymphocytes, which in turn prevented activation of the macrophages to full microbicidal activity. To test this hypothesis, we administered either indomethacin, IFN-gamma, or muramyl dipeptide to infected mice. Mice treated with each of these agents showed decreased spleen and lung weights, and decreased numbers of viable mycobacteria in these organs. These results support the concept that interaction between the host and M. intracellulare is modulated profoundly by PG and suggest that administration of agents that directly promote macrophage activation can enhance resistance to infection by this organism.
Implantable collamer lens and femtosecond laser for myopia: comparison using an adaptive optics visual simulator.

PURPOSE To compare optical and visual quality of implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation and femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (F-LASIK) for myopia. METHODS The CRX1 adaptive optics visual simulator (Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France) was used to simulate the wavefront aberration pattern after the two surgical procedures for -3-diopter (D) and -6-D myopia. Visual acuity at different contrasts and contrast sensitivities at 10, 20, and 25 cycles/degree (cpd) were measured for 3-mm and 5-mm pupils. The modulation transfer function (MTF) and point spread function (PSF) were calculated for 5-mm pupils. RESULTS F-LASIK MTF was worse than ICL MTF, which was close to diffraction-limited MTF. ICL cases showed less spread out of PSF than F-LASIK cases. ICL cases showed better visual acuity values than F-LASIK cases for all pupils, contrasts, and myopic treatments (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in contrast sensitivities between ICL and F-LASIK cases with -3-D myopia for both pupils for all evaluated spatial frequencies (p>0.05). For -6-D myopia, however, statistically significant differences in contrast sensitivities were found for both pupils for all evaluated spatial frequencies (p<0.05). Contrast sensitivities were better after ICL implantation than after F-LASIK. CONCLUSIONS ICL implantation and F-LASIK provide good optical and visual quality, although the former provides better outcomes of MTF, PSF, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity, especially for cases with large refractive errors and pupil sizes. These outcomes are related to the F-LASIK producing larger high-order aberrations.
Lactate and gas exchange responses to incremental and steady state running.

This study compared the oxygen uptake (VO2) and running velocity at which the lactate threshold (LT), the ventilatory threshold (VT), and the maximal lactate steady state (MSSLA), and the maximal VO2 steady state (MSSVO2) occurred in 11 trained male runners (mean age = 22.4 years, range 18-28 years). Each underwent an incremental treadmill test to exhaustion. The LT was defined by a systematic, continuous increase in arterialised venous blood lactate; the VT was determined by an abrupt rise in VE.VO2(-1) without an increase in VE.VCO2(-1). Each subject also completed a series of steady state treadmill runs of 20 minutes duration. The MSSLA was determined as the highest velocity and VO2 at which lactate concentration increased by less than 0.2 mmol.l-1 from minute 10 to minute 20. The MSSVO2 was determined as the highest velocity or VO2 at which a steady state in VO2 was not delayed for more than 3 minutes (with a steady state defined as VO2 within 0.2 l.min-1 of the average VO2 over the last 10 minutes of each test). Each subject also completed a 5 km time trial run to assess performance. No significant differences were found among the four variables expressed either as VO2 or velocity. Significant correlations were found between MSSLA and MSSVO2 (r = 0.74) expressed as VO2, and between MSSLA and MSSVO2 (r = 0.90), MSSVO2 and VT (r = 0.70) and MSSLA and VT (r = 0.67) expressed as velocity. A stepwise regression analysis found MSSLA (expressed as velocity) to be the best predictor of 5 km performance (r = 0.87). It was concluded that (a) MSSLA and MSSVO2 are closely related, and (b) MSSLA is a good predictor of performance and may be an important, objective measure of cardiorespiratory endurance capacity.
Chlamydial Antigens Colocalize within IncA-Laden Fibers Extending from the Inclusion Membrane into the Host Cytosol

ABSTRACT Chlamydial IncA localizes to the inclusion membrane and to vesicular fibers extending away from the inclusion. Chlamydial outer membrane components, in the absence of developmental forms, are found within these fibers. This colocalization may explain how chlamydial developmental form antigens are localized outside of the inclusion within infected cells.