Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase variation in Xenorhabdus luminescens: cloning and sequencing of the lipase gene and analysis of its expression in primary and secondary phases of the bacterium

The phenomenon of phase variation in the insect-pathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus luminescens was investigated. Differential activity of the lipase enzyme (EC 3.1.1.3) was observed between the two phases of the bacteria. The enzyme was found to be secreted into the culture medium, and about five to six times greater specific activity was secreted by the primary phase than by the secondary form. The lipase gene (lip-1) was cloned and sequenced. The data imply that there is only a single Tween 80-utilizing lipase gene in X. luminescens K122. The sequence revealed a translation product of 645 amino acids, from which a hydrophobic leader sequence of 24 amino acids is removed during processing. The structure of the gene was shown to be the same in the primary and secondary forms of X. luminescens. In addition, transcription was found to start at the same position, 169 bp upstream of the translation initiation codon, in the two forms of the bacteria. Equal amounts of lipase RNA accumulated in the two forms, and at least as much lipase protein was secreted by the secondary form as by the primary. This suggests that the difference in specific activity between the enzymes secreted by the two phases probably arises from a posttranslational type of regulation.
HLA in Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Disorders

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Effect of the Calcium Antagonist Amlodipine on the Two Phases of Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction in Rat Large and Small Isolated Pulmonary Arteries

Summary Calcium antagonists inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), which was recently shown to be biphasic in isolated vessels, but the sensitivity of the two phases to calcium antagonism is unknown. We studied HPV in rat isolated large pulmonary arteries (PA) and resistance pulmonary arteries (PRV), using a small vessel myograph. Two phases of acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction were confirmed to occur in both sizes of vessel. The first phase was short-lived and was followed by a more persistent phase of gradual onset. The magnitude of the first phase of contraction was greater than the second (p > 0.01). The first phase was reproducible, but the second was variable. Tension generated per square millimeter of vessel during both phases of hypoxic contraction was significantly greater in PRV than in PA (p > 0.05). Amlodipine caused dose-dependent inhibition of the first phase of HPV (p = 0.01), with a greater effect in PRV (p > 0.01). The second phase was not significantly inhibited. These results confirm that HPV is biphasic in isolated large and small PA, with a greater sensitivity of the first phase to calcium antagonism. Therefore, the first phase may represent HPV as observed in vivo.
Education and debate

Breast cancer screening and mammography have almost become synonymous in the public perception, yet this should not necessarily be the case. Ideally, a screening tool for breast cancer would reduce mortality from breast cancer while having a low false alarm rate and being relatively cheap. Screening should not be at the expense of the symptomatic services nor inappropriately divert scarce resources away from equally deserving areas of the NHS that are less politically sensitive. An ideal screening test would be simple, inexpensive, and effective. Of the three modalities of breast cancer screening—breast self examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography—breast self examination fulfils the first two criteria, but early results of two randomised trials conducted in Russia and China suggest that it would not be effective in reducing mortality from breast cancer. 3 Clinical breast examination is also relatively simple and inexpensive, but its effectiveness in reducing mortality from breast cancer has not been directly tested in a randomised trial. Mammography is complex, expensive, and only partially effective. We believe that there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to suggest that clinical breast examination is as effective as mammography in reducing mortality from breast cancer and that the time has come to compare these two screening methods directly in a randomised trial.
FUNGI IN THE AIR OF HOSPITAL WARDS.

SUMMARY: The fungal flora of the air of hospital wards was investigated by using slit samplers. Isolations were made on Sabouraud glucose agar and particular attention was paid to the flora which grew at 37°. Aspergillus fumigatus was recovered on each of the 78 days of sampling and reached peak of incidence in the autumn and winter months; no other fungal species was recovered at 37° with such regularity. Bed sweeps revealed the presence of these fungi on blankets in the hospital wards. The mean equivalent diameter of the air-borne particles was determined for several fungal species and was found to correspond closely to that of individual spores. No dissemination of fungal particles by four patients with the hypersensitivity type of aspergillosis or by one patient with an aspergillus mycetoma was observed.
Birth order: a critical review.

As the number of birth order studies continues to burgeon, it seems appropriate to review the state of this research area. This paper examines theories, findings, problems, and possibilities. Theories which incorporate the guiding assumptions of most birth order studies include intrauterine or physiological, only-child uniqueness, dethronement, anxious or relaxed parent, sibling influence, and economic. Findings are compiled under personality adjustment and problems, education-achievement-intelligence, anxiety-affiliation-dependence-conformity, and miscellaneous. The two most consistent findings in the birth order literature are: (1) greater educational attainment, including college attendance, among first-borns (including only children), and (2) first-borns are more affiliative and dependent than laterborns. Problems involve cohort and demographic difficulties, needed controls and specifications, the restrictiveness of early socialization theories, and researcher-induced bias in experimental studies. These problems themselves may also be viewed as possibilities, as they are solved, but three specific possibilities which should be pursued are studies of whole or completed families, theoretical expansions, and sophisticated statistical controls.
Propagation Characteristics in Substrate Integrated Holey Metasurfaces

In this paper we discuss the dispersion properties of a particular type of holey metasurfaces, named here “substrate integrated holey” (SIH) metasurface. SIH is a metallic holey structure manufactured in printed circuit board (PCB) technology by using densely metallized posts. We demonstrate that, differently to the case of holes fully covered with metal, in SIH, the height of the holes has a significant effect on the dispersion properties. In addition, in SIH metasurfaces, apart from the conventional stopband caused by its periodicity, there are stopbands due to the resonance modes trapped in the hole due to the posts. These stopbands are narrow and have a high rejection.
The decline of agriculture in rural Transkei: ʺthe case of Mission Location in Butterworthʺ

The following dissertation sets out to investigate the decline of agriculture in Mission location at Butterworth, Transkei, using the Rehabilitation Scheme as a benchmark. The scheme was introduced in 1945 to combat soil erosion and improve agriculture in the African reserve areas, as the South African government claimed. The dissertation argues that this claim by the government served to mask the real intentions behind the scheme namely, to regiment the migrant labour system by depriving as many Africans as possible of productive land so that they were unable to fully subsist by means of agriculture. This is further shown by analysing the impact of the Rehabilitation scheme in Mission location in which a substantial number of people lost arable land as a result of the implementation of the scheme in 1945. These people were consequently denied the wherewithal to subsist by agriculture. Moreover, the efforts of the government resulted to a modernisation of agriculture by making it more cash-basedfor example through the introduction of fencing, the need for tractors as a result of a decline in stock numbers (in part as a result of stock culling). Most people could hardly afford this type of agriculture and were consequently forced off the land. The dissertation concludes that indeed the decline of agriculture in Mission location can be linked to the changing agricultural and land-holding practices brought about by the governmentespecially the introduction of the Rehabilitation scheme.
Efficacy and Safety of Continuing Bevacizumab beyond Disease Progression plus Docetaxel in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: Bevacizumab-based chemotherapy has been shown to extend progression-free survival (PFS) of lung cancer, but its effect on overall survival (OS) remains unclear. However, bevacizumab beyond disease progression (BBP) significantly improved OS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: Therefore, we retrospectively analysed 22 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with docetaxel plus BBP at the Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kansai Medical University Hirakata Hospital, between November 2009 and March 2013. Results: The response rate was 31.8% and the disease control rate was 86.4%. The median PFS was 4.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5 - 8.7 months) and the median OS was 17.2 months (95% CI, 8.5 - 25.9 months). Grade 3 and 4 adverse events included leukocytopenia (68.2%), neutropenia (77.3%), fatigue (9.1%), proteinuria (9.1%), febrile neutropenia (4.5%), anemia (4.5%), and anorexia (4.5%). Conclusion: Docetaxel plus BBP was found to be generally well tolerated and effective.
Age‐related prevalence of Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis in the human gut microbiome

A 16S rDNA sequence‐based investigation of methanogenic Archaea in the human stools found Methanobrevibacter smithii in 99.2% and Methanosphaera stadtmanae in 32.6%. The recently described Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis found by others to be representative of a new order of methanogenic Archaea was found in 4% of stool specimens. The prevalence of M. luminyensis significantly increased with age, contrary to M. smithii and M. stadtmanae.
5‐HT1A receptors increase excitability of spinal motoneurons by inhibiting a TASK‐1‐like K+ current in the adult turtle

The modulatory effects of serotonin mediated by 5‐HT1A receptors in adult spinal motoneurons were investigated by intracellular recordings in a slice preparation from the turtle. In current‐clamp mode, activation of 5‐HT1A receptors by 8‐OH‐DPAT led to depolarization and an increase in input resistance in most motoneurons but caused hyperpolarization and a decrease in input resistance in the remaining smaller fraction of cells. When slices were preincubated in medium containing the 5‐HT1A receptor antagonist WAY‐100635, 8‐OH‐DPAT had no effect. In voltage‐clamp mode, with 1 mm CsCl in the bathing medium, 8‐OH‐DPAT consistently inhibited a leak current that was sensitive to extracellular acidification and anandamide, a TASK‐1 channel blocker. In medium with a low pH, as in the presence of anandamide, 8‐OH‐DPAT had no effect. Our results show that activation of 5‐HT1A receptors contributes to the excitatory effect of serotonin on spinal motoneurons by inhibition of a TASK‐1 potassium channel leading to depolarization and increased input resistance.
Cross-regional study on driver response behavior patterns and system acceptance with triggered forward collision warning

Understanding complex behavior patterns in response to triggered forward collision warning system benefits localized user experience design, especially in safety critical scenarios from a cross-regional perspective. This paper studies driver response behavior patterns towards two alarm timings, in car-following scenarios with different traffic density. Data from 32 participants in China and 30 participants in Sweden were collected using a driving simulator. Differences were observed between China group and Sweden group regarding response behavior patterns, system acceptance and effectiveness. Seen from obtained results, Chinese drivers were found to steer more frequently than Swedish drivers in response to triggered alarm no matter what alarm timing or traffic density there were. Chinese drivers preferred later alarm timing than Swedish drivers. To better design regional-adaptive human machine interaction of forward collision warning system; some suggestions were produced based on obtained results.
ncPRO-seq: a tool for annotation and profiling of ncRNAs in sRNA-seq data

SUMMARY Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) PROfiling in small RNA (sRNA)-seq (ncPRO-seq) is a stand-alone, comprehensive and flexible ncRNA analysis pipeline. It can interrogate and perform detailed profiling analysis on sRNAs derived from annotated non-coding regions in miRBase, Rfam and RepeatMasker, as well as specific regions defined by users. The ncPRO-seq pipeline performs both gene-based and family-based analyses of sRNAs. It also has a module to identify regions significantly enriched with short reads, which cannot be classified under known ncRNA families, thus enabling the discovery of previously unknown ncRNA- or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-producing regions. The ncPRO-seq pipeline supports input read sequences in fastq, fasta and color space format, as well as alignment results in BAM format, meaning that sRNA raw data from the three current major platforms (Roche-454, Illumina-Solexa and Life technologies-SOLiD) can be analyzed with this pipeline. The ncPRO-seq pipeline can be used to analyze read and alignment data, based on any sequenced genome, including mammals and plants. AVAILABILITY Source code, annotation files, manual and online version are available at http://ncpro.curie.fr/. CONTACT bioinfo.ncproseq@curie.fr or cciaudo@ethz.ch SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The MEK inhibitor PD 184352 / CI-1040 selectively induces apoptosis in malignant schwannoma cell lines

Wayne State University School of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology (R.R.M., J.T.D., J.J.R.) and Neurology (B.B., J.A.B.), and Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (J.A.B., M.A.T.), 540 East Canfield Ave, Detroit MI 48201. Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Programs in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics (R.R.M., J.A.K., J.E.N., M.A.T.) and in Proteases (J.J.R.), 110 East Warren Ave, Detroit MI 48201. Wayne State University, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P.M., J.J.R.) and Environmental Health Sciences Center for Molecular & Cellular Toxicology with Human Applications (R.R.M., J.A.B., M.A.T., J.J.R.), 2727 Second Ave, Detroit MI 48201. JPET Fast Forward. Published on October 20, 2005 as DOI:10.1124/jpet.105. 091454
Antibody Repertoire and Gene Expression Profile: Implications for Different Developmental and Functional Traits of Splenic and Peritoneal B-1 Lymphocytes 1

In L2 mice, a high expression level of the transgenic λ2315 L chain results in nearly complete exclusion of endogenous L chains and a predominance of B-1a cells. In this study, we show that splenic and peritoneal B-1a cells differ considerably in their Ab repertoire and gene expression profile. Splenic B-1a cells exhibit a more diversified repertoire under L chain limitation. Despite oligoclonal overlaps between both B-1a compartments, some B cell receptor specificities are clearly restricted to the peritoneum. The capacity of peritoneal B-1a cells to enter the splenic B-1a compartment was found to be very limited. Gene expression profiling revealed genes up-regulated in splenic B-1a cells that are involved in mediating specialized first-line-of-defense effector functions and interaction with T cells. Thus, splenic and peritoneal B-1a cells differ not only in their developmental program but also in functional properties.
Influence of customer service on the performance of hospitality enterprises : lessons from sunbird tourism limited in Malawi

This paper examines the influence of customer service on the success of hospitality enterprises. The paper argues that in order to deliver excellent services that will result into profitable hospitality business, there is need to bring into close alignment the understanding of customer service and its relationship to service customer relationship management (CRM), service quality and internal relationship marketing. If these aspects are carefully harnessed, they will result into a more delighted and satisfied customer, who will later become loyal to the hospitality business in the long run. If the service is consistently delivered to customer satisfaction, then this will eventually lead to increased and successful business performance. Aproposed conceptual framework showing the relationship among these elements has been provide. This paper is based on a document analysis of a 2015 annual report of Sunbird Tourism Limited (STL),the largest and leading operator in the hospitality industry in Malawi. A review of relevant and related literature on customer service and the related elements has been undertaken. The study has utilized secondary data for it was easy to link it to theory about the concepts. The findings of this study can therefore help hospitality operators in Malawi to appreciate the importance of embracing strategies that can inform the customer service and its influence onbusiness performance. The paper, however, recommends a thorough investigation of the validity of proposed conceptual framework in the country in order to gain insights into how customer service can truly influence the performance of a hospitality enterprise.
In-Depth Study into Polymeric Materials in Low-Density Gastroretentive Formulations

The extensive use of oral dosage forms for the treatment of diseases may be linked to deficient pharmacokinetic properties. In some cases the drug is barely soluble; in others, the rapid transit of the formulation through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) makes it difficult to achieve therapeutic levels in the organism; moreover, some drugs must act locally due to a gastric pathology, but the time they remain in the stomach is short. The use of formulations capable of improving all these parameters, as well as increasing the resident time in the stomach, has been the target of numerous research works, with low-density systems being the most promising and widely explored, however, there is further scope to improve these systems. There are a vast variety of polymeric materials used in low-density gastroretentive systems and a number of methods to improve the bioavailability of the drugs. This works aims to expedite the development of breakthrough approaches by providing an in-depth understanding of the polymeric materials currently used, both natural and synthetic, their properties, advantages, and drawbacks.
Changes over Time in Racial/Ethnic Differences in Quality of Life for Nursing Home Residents: Patterns within and between Facilities

Objectives: To investigate trends in racial/ethnic differences in nursing home (NH) residents’ quality of life (QoL) and assess these patterns within and between facilities. Method: Data include resident-reported QoL surveys (n = 60,093), the Minimum Data Set, and facility-level characteristics (n = 376 facilities) for Minnesota. Hierarchical linear models were estimated to identify differences in QoL by resident race/ethnicity and facility racial/ethnic minority composition for 2011–2015. Results: White residents in low-proportion racial/ethnic minority facilities reported higher QoL than both minority and white residents in high-proportion minority facilities. While the year-to-year differences were not statistically significant, the point estimates for white–minority disparity widened over time. Discussion: Racial/ethnic differences in QoL are persistent and may be widening over time. The QoL disparity reported by minority residents and all residents in high-proportion minority facilities underscores the importance of examining NH structural characteristics and practices to ultimately achieve the goal of optimal, person-centered care in NHs.
Crystal Structure of Barley 1,3–1,4-β-Glucanase at 2.0-Å Resolution and Comparison with Bacillus1,3–1,4-β-Glucanase*

Both plants and bacteria produce enzymes capable of degrading the mixed-linked β-glucan of the endosperm cell walls of cereal grains. The enzymes share the specificity for β-1,4 glycosyl bonds of O-3-substituted glucose units in linear polysaccharides and a similar cleavage mechanism but are unrelated in sequence and tertiary structure. The three-dimensional structure of the 1,3–1,4-β-glucanase isoenzyme EII from barley was determined from monoclinic crystals at a resolution of 2.0 Å. The protein is folded into a βα8 barrel structure as has been shown previously (Varghese, J. N., Garrett, T. P. J., Colman, P. M., Chen, L., Høj, P. B., and Fincher, G. B. (1994)Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 2785–2789) by diffraction analysis at lower resolution of tetragonal crystals. It contains one N-glycosylation site which is described in detail with the sugar moieties attached to residue Asn190. The geometry and hydration of the barley 1,3–1,4-β-glucanase is analyzed; a model β-glucan fragment is placed into the binding site by molecular dynamics simulation, and the β-glucan binding grooves of the plant and bacterial enzymes are compared. Their active sites are shown to have a small number of common features in generally dissimilar geometries that serve to explain both the identical substrate specificity and the observed differences in inhibitor binding.