Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biodegradation of the gasoline oxygenates methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl tert-butyl ether, and tert-amyl methyl ether by propane-oxidizing bacteria

Several propane-oxidizing bacteria were tested for their ability to degrade gasoline oxygenates, including methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME). Both a laboratory strain and natural isolates were able to degrade each compound after growth on propane. When propane-grown strain ENV425 was incubated with 20 mg of uniformly labeled [14C]MTBE per liter, the strain converted > 60% of the added MTBE to 14CO2 in < 30 h. The initial oxidation of MTBE and ETBE resulted in the production of nearly stoichiometric amounts of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), while the initial oxidation of TAME resulted in the production of tert-amyl alcohol. The methoxy methyl group of MTBE was oxidized to formaldehyde and ultimately to CO2. TBA was further oxidized to 2-methyl-2-hydroxy-1-propanol and then 2-hydroxy isobutyric acid; however, neither of these degradation products was an effective growth substrate for the propane oxidizers. Analysis of cell extracts of ENV425 and experiments with enzyme inhibitors implicated a soluble P-450 enzyme in the oxidation of both MTBE and TBA. MTBE was oxidized to TBA by camphor-grown Pseudomonas putida CAM, which produces the well-characterized P-450cam, but not by Rhodococcus rhodochrous 116, which produces two P-450 enzymes. Rates of MTBE degradation by propane-oxidizing strains ranged from 3.9 to 9.2 nmol/min/mg of cell protein at 28 degrees C, whereas TBA was oxidized at a rate of only 1.8 to 2.4 nmol/min/mg of cell protein at the same temperature.
Estimación bootstrap de la disposición a pagar en modelos de valoración contingente: Análisis del escenario de respuestas binarias balanceadas

La presente investigacion tiene como objetivo mostrar la aplicacion del metodo bootstrap dentro del proceso de estimacion de la disposicion a pagar (DAP) de un determinado bien y/o servicio ambiental, bajo el enfoque de la valoracion contingente de formato binario. El principal aporte de la investigacion, es la inclusion de un criterio adicional en el proceso de remuestreo bootstrap, seleccionandose aleatoriamente muestras que contengan valores balanceados en la variable dependiente binaria. Con fines ilustrativos, se utilizo la base de datos del estudio de Postigo (2011), con el objetivo de estimar la media, el error estandar y el intervalo de confianza de la DAP mediante bootstrap. En comparacion con los resultados obtenidos usando un remuestreo convencional, al aplicarse el bootstrap con muestras balanceadas, se obtuvo una disminucion del promedio y error estandar estimado de la DAP.
Why do solution additives suppress the heat‐induced inactivation of proteins? Inhibition of chemical modifications

Thermoinactivation of proteins is prevented by several kinds of solution additives such as chaotropes, amino acids, amino acid derivatives, and polyamines. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of action of the various additives that prevent thermoinactivation of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A and hen egg white lysozyme. The thermoinactivation of both proteins in the presence of additives showed clear correlations with deamidation and β‐elimination of the proteins. Thus, experimental evidences indicated that the effects of additives on thermoinactivation of proteins are highly due to the suppression of chemical modifications. To our surprise, not only the suppressive effect of the additives on heat‐induced inactivation but also that on the chemical modification of proteins is remarkably similar by comparison of two unrelated proteins. This finding indicates the generality of the effects of additives on heat‐induced chemical modification of proteins. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2011
Adverse events associated with prolonged antibiotic use

The Infectious Diseases Society of America and US CDC recommend 60 days of ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, or amoxicillin for anthrax prophylaxis. It is not possible to determine severe adverse drug event (ADE) risks from the few people thus far exposed to anthrax prophylaxis. This study's objective was to estimate risks of severe ADEs associated with long‐term ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin exposure using three large databases: one electronic medical record (General Practice Research Database) and two claims databases (UnitedHealthcare, HMO Research Network).
A Wideband VHF/UHF Discone-Based Antenna

Few low-profile VHF/UHF antennas have been reported so far although they are demanded in many applications such as aircraft communication systems. In this letter, a low-profile wideband VHF/UHF antenna based on the conventional discone antenna is proposed. It is composed of a discone antenna that is flattened with additions of a cavity-backed discone, a short-circuited configuration, and a two-plate top structure. The simulation results show that the addition of the three structures makes the proposed antenna low-profile and wideband. A prototype with optimized geometrical parameters was fabricated and tested. The measurements show that the prototype has a VSWR bandwidth of 76% from 200 to 447 MHz, a height of only 0. 087λmax, and a radiation pattern of omnidirectivity. The designed antenna has great potential for its flush-mount capability.
Fault diagnosis system using LPC coefficients and neural network

As rotating machines perform an important role in industrial applications, many researchers have developed various condition monitoring system and fault diagnosis system by applying various techniques such as signal processing and pattern recognition. Recently, fault diagnosis systems using artificial neural network have been proposed. This paper proposes the neural-network-based fault diagnosis system using the proper feature vectors by LPC (linear predictive coding) coefficients. This method has not been reported yet. For the effective fault diagnosis, a MLP (multi-layer perceptron) network is used. From the experiment results, the proposed system shows a perfect fault diagnosis for each faulty case.
Autonomic responses to ultrasound- guided percutaneous needle electrolysis of the patellar tendon in healthy male footballers

Background Ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) is a novel minimally invasive approach, which involves the application of a galvanic current via an acupuncture needle. As in any procedure involving needling, vagal reactions have been reported during PNE. Objective To examine for changes in autonomic activity during the US-guided PNE technique on healthy patellar tendons by measurement and analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Methods Twenty-two male footballers were randomly allocated to: a control group (11 players), for whom HRV was recorded for 10 min, both at rest and during an exhaustive US examination of the patellar tendon and adjacent structures; and an experimental group (11 players), for whom HRV was recorded for 10 min, both at rest and during application of US-guided PNE on the patellar tendon. The following HRV parameters were assessed: mean NN interval, mean heart rate, time domain parameters (SDNN, rMSSD, pNN50), diameters of the Poincare plot (SD1, SD2), stress score, and sympathetic/parasympathetic ratio. Results There were no differences between groups in any baseline measurements, nor were there any significant differences between control group measurements (baseline vs intervention). The experimental group exhibited statistically significant increases in SDNN/SD1 (p=0.02/p=0.03) and SD2 (p=0.03), indicating increased parasympathetic and decreased sympathetic activity, respectively. Conclusions US-guided PNE was associated with an autonomic imbalance characterised by greater parasympathetic activity, which could potentially result in a vasovagal reaction. Care should be taken to monitor for adverse reactions during US-guided PNE and simple HRV indicators may have a role in early detection.
Estrogen-progestagen menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer: does delay from menopause onset to treatment initiation influence risks?

PURPOSE To investigate whether the relation between estrogen-progestagen menopausal hormone therapy (EP-MHT) and breast cancer risk varies according to the delay between menopause onset and treatment initiation. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Between 1992 and 2005, 1,726 invasive breast cancers were identified among 53,310 postmenopausal women from the French E3N cohort (mean duration of follow-up, 8.1 years). Hazard ratios (HRs) and CIs were estimated using Cox models, with MHT never users as the reference. RESULTS Among recent users of EP-MHT, the risk of breast cancer varied according to the timing of treatment initiation. This variation was confined to short durations of use (< or = 2 years): the HR was 1.54 (95% CI, 1.28 to 1.86) for short treatments initiated in the 3-year period following menopause onset and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.68 to 1.47) for short treatments initiated later (P = .04 for homogeneity). However, this pattern of risks was not observed in users of EP-MHT containing progesterone, among whom there was no significantly increased risk associated with short duration of use (HR was 0.87 [95% CI, 0.57 to 1.32] for treatments initiated < or = 3 years after menopause, and HR was 0.90 [95% CI, 0.45 to 1.81] for treatments initiated later). Longer durations of EP-MHT use were generally associated with increases in breast cancer risk, whatever the gap time. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that, for some EP-MHT, the timing of treatment initiation transiently modulates the risk of breast cancer and that, when initiated close to menopause, even short durations of use are associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Estrogen + progesterone combinations might be an exception in this regard.
Insights into the Biogenesis of Lysosome‐Related Organelles from the Study of the Hermansky‐Pudlak Syndrome

Abstract: Lysosome‐related organelles (LROs) are a family of cell‐type‐specific organelles that include melanosomes, platelet dense bodies, and cytotoxic T cell granules. The name, LRO, recognizes the fact that all of these organelles contain subsets of lysosomal proteins in addition to cell‐type‐specific proteins. The recent identification of genetic disorders that cause combined defects in several of these organelles indicates that they share common biogenetic pathways. Studies of one of these disorders, the Hermansky‐Pudlak syndrome (HPS), have provided helpful insights into the molecular machinery involved in LRO biogenesis. HPS is a genetically heterogeneous disorder caused by mutations in any of 7 genes in humans and 15 genes in mice. These genes encode subunits of 4 multi‐protein complexes named AP‐3, BLOC‐1, BLOC‐2 and BLOC‐3, in addition to miscellaneous components of the general protein trafficking machinery. The AP‐3 complex is a coat protein involved in vesicle formation and cargo selection in the endosomal‐lysosomal system. One of these cargo molecules is the melanosomal enzyme, tyrosinase, the missorting of which may explain the defective melanosomes in AP‐3‐deficient humans and mice. The function of the BLOC complexes is unknown, although they are thought to mediate either vesicle tethering/fusion or cytoplasmic dispersal of LROs. Further studies of these complexes should contribute to the elucidation of the mechanisms of LRO biogenesis and the pathogenesis of HPS.
Cenozoic imprints on the phylogenetic structure of palm species assemblages worldwide

Despite long-standing interest in the origin and maintenance of species diversity, little is known about historical drivers of species assemblage structure at large spatiotemporal scales. Here, we use global species distribution data, a dated genus-level phylogeny, and paleo-reconstructions of biomes and climate to examine Cenozoic imprints on the phylogenetic structure of regional species assemblages of palms (Arecaceae), a species-rich plant family characteristic of tropical ecosystems. We find a strong imprint on phylogenetic clustering due to geographic isolation and in situ diversification, especially in the Neotropics and on islands with spectacular palm radiations (e.g., Madagascar, Hawaii, and Cuba). Phylogenetic overdispersion on mainlands and islands corresponds to biotic interchange areas. Differences in the degree of phylogenetic clustering among biogeographic realms are related to differential losses of tropical rainforests during the Cenozoic, but not to the cumulative area of tropical rainforest over geological time. A largely random phylogenetic assemblage structure in Africa coincides with severe losses of rainforest area, especially after the Miocene. More recent events also appear to be influential: phylogenetic clustering increases with increasing intensity of Quaternary glacial-interglacial climatic oscillations in South America and, to a lesser extent, Africa, indicating that specific clades perform better in climatically unstable regions. Our results suggest that continental isolation (in combination with limited long-distance dispersal) and changing climate and habitat loss throughout the Cenozoic have had strong impacts on the phylogenetic structure of regional species assemblages in the tropics.
Overeducation Wage Penalty Among Ph.D. Holders: An Unconditional Quantile Regression Analysis on Italian Data

The wage effect of overeducation has only recently been investigated in the case of Ph.D. holders. The existing contributions rely on OLS estimates that allow measuring the average effect of being educationally mismatched at the mean of the conditional wage distribution. This paper, instead, observes the heterogeneity of the overeducation penalty along the hourly wage distribution and according to the study field and sector of employment (academic/non-academic) of Ph.D. holders. We estimate a Recentered Influence Function. The results reveal that overeducation hits the wages of those Ph.D. holders who are employed in the academic sector and in non-R&D jobs outside of the academic sector. Instead, no penalty exists among those who carry out R&D outside the Academia. The size of the penalty is higher among those who are in the mid-top of the wage distribution and hold a Social Science and Humanities specialization.
A randomized, controlled trial of vitamin A in children with severe measles.

BACKGROUND Measles kills about 2 million children annually, and there is no specific therapy for the disease. It has been suggested that vitamin A may be of benefit in the treatment of measles. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial involving 189 children who were hospitalized at a regional center in South Africa because of measles complicated by pneumonia, diarrhea, or croup. The children (median age, 10 months) were assigned to receive either vitamin A (total dose, 400,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, given orally; n = 92) or placebo (n = 97), beginning within five days of the onset of the rash. At base line, the characteristics of the two groups were similar. RESULTS Although clinically apparent vitamin A deficiency is rare in this population, the children's serum retinol levels were markedly depressed (mean [+/- SEM], 0.405 +/- 0.021 mumols per liter [11.6 +/- 0.6 micrograms per deciliter]), and 92 percent of them had hyporetinemia (serum retinol level less than 0.7 mumols per liter [20 micrograms per deciliter]). Serum concentrations of retinol-binding protein (mean, 30.1 +/- 2.0 mg per liter) and albumin (mean, 33.4 +/- 0.5 g per liter) were also low. As compared with the placebo group, the children who received vitamin A recovered more rapidly from pneumonia (mean, 6.3 vs. 12.4 days, respectively; P less than 0.001) and diarrhea (mean, 5.6 vs. 8.5 days; P less than 0.001), had less croup (13 vs. 27 cases; P = 0.03), and spent fewer days in the hospital (mean, 10.6 vs. 14.8 days; P = 0.01). Of the 12 children who died, 10 were among those given placebo (P = 0.05). For the group treated with vitamin A, the risk of death or a major complication during the hospital stay was half that of the control group (relative risk, 0.51; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.35 to 0.74). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with vitamin A reduces morbidity and mortality in measles, and all children with severe measles should be given vitamin A supplements, whether or not they are thought to have a nutritional deficiency.
Loss of heterozygosity in lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast

Aims—(1) To investigate whether loss of heterozygosity identified at various loci in invasive breast carcinoma or is present in lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). (2) To investigate whether LCIS is a monoclonal (neoplastic) or a polyclonal (hyperplastic) proliferation. Methods—Forty three cases of LCIS (30 with associated invasive carcinoma or in situ ductal carcinoma (DCIS) and 13 cases of pure LCIS) were investigated for loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 16q, 17q, 17p, and 13q using a microdissection technique, polymorphic DNA markers, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results—Loss of heterozygosity was detected in both subgroups of LCIS at all the loci examined. There was no significant difference in the frequency of the loss between the group associated with invasive carcinoma and the pure LCIS group. The frequency of loss of heterozygosity ranged from 8% on 17p to 50% on 17q. Conclusions—Because of the nature of the technique employed, our findings show that LCIS is a monoclonal (neoplastic) proliferation rather than a hyperplastic proliferation. The incidence of loss of heterozygosity on 17p (D17S796) is lower than we have observed previously in DCIS, suggesting that LCIS and DCIS are different genetically as well as clinically and morphologically. The similar incidence of loss of heterozygosity on 16q and 17q, however, suggests that DCIS and LCIS may share a common pathway of evolution.
Recognition between disordered states: kinetics of the self-assembly of thioredoxin fragments.

The disordered N- (1-73) and C- (74-108) fragments of oxidized Escherichia colithioredoxin (Trx) reconstitute the native structure upon association [Tasayco, M. L. , & Chao, K. (1995) Proteins: Struct. , Funct. , Genet. 22, 41-44]. Kinetic measurements of the formation of the complex (1-73/74-108) at 20 degrees C under apparent pseudo-first-order conditions using stopped-flow far-UV CD and fluorescence spectroscopies indicate association coupled to folding, an apparent rate constant of association [kon = (1330 +/- 54) M-1 s-1], and two apparent unimolecular rate constants [k1 = (0. 037 +/- 0.007) s-1 and k2 = (0.0020 +/- 0.0005) s-1]. The refolding kinetics of the GuHCl denatured Trx shows the same two slowest rate constants. An excess of N- over C-fragment decreases the kon, and the slowest phase disappears when a P76A variant is used. Stopped-flow fluorescence measurements at 20 degrees C indicate a GuHCl-dependent biphasic dissociation/unfolding process of the complex, where the slowest phase corresponds to 90% of the total. Their rate constants, extrapolated to zero denaturant, k-1 = (9 +/- 3) x 10(-5) s-1 and k-2 = (3.4 +/- 1.2) x 10(-5) s-1, show m# values of (4.0 +/- 0.4) kcal mol-1 M-1 and (3.5 +/- 0.1) kcal mol-1 M-1, respectively. Our results indicate that: (i) a compact intermediate with trans P76 and defined tertiary structure seems to participate in both the folding and unfolding processes; (ii) not all the N-fragment is competent to associate with the C-fragment; (iii) conversion to an association competent form occurs apparently on the time scale of P76 isomerization; and (iv) the P76A variation does not alter the association competency of the C-fragment, but it permits its association with "noncompetent" forms of the N-fragment.
Liver microcirculation after hepatic artery embolization with degradable starch microspheres in vivo.

AIM To observe the dynamic changes of liver microcirculation in vivo after arterial embolization with degradable starch microspheres (DSM). METHODS DSM were injected into the proper hepatic artery through a silastic tube inserted retrogradely in gastroduodenal artery (GDA) of SD rats. Fluorescent microscopy was used to evaluate the dynamic changes of blood flow through the terminal portal venules (TPVs), sinusoids and terminal hepatic venules (THVs). The movements of DSM debris were also recorded. Six hours after injection of DSM, percentages of THVs with completely stagnant blood flow were recorded. RESULTS Two phases of blood flow change were recorded. In phase one: after intra-arterial injection of DSM, slow or stagnant blood flow was immediately recorded in TPVs, sinusoids and THVs. This change was reversible, and blood flow resumed completely. In phase two: after phase one, blood flow in TPVs changed again and three patterns of blood flow were recorded. Six hours after DSM injection, 36.9% +/- 9.2% of THVs were found with completely stagnant blood flow. CONCLUSION DSM can stop the microcirculatory blood flow in some areas of liver parenchyma. Liver parenchyma supplied by arteries with larger A-P shunt is considered at a higher risk of total microcirculatory blood stagnation after injection of DSM through hepatic artery.
An empirical investigation of investors behavioral biases on financial decision making

Investor`s irrationality is an inevitable reality that has been time and again highlighted by researchers (Statman, 2008). Therefore, this study is another effort to assess the role of behavioral biases in financial decision making in Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). A survey questionnaire is designed and used to collect responses using convenience sampling technique from sample of 250 investors of PSX. Behavioral biases include overconfidence, over thinking, herding, cognitive bias, and hindsight effect of investors. Multiple regression models are used to test influence of five behavioral biases on investment decision. The results show that overconfidence, over thinking, herding, cognitive bias, and hindsight effect have significant positive impact on investment decision. Overall results conclude that much change in investment decision is due to behavioral biases. This study will help financial advisors to better advice their clients. The one way to reduce these biases may be education and training of investors.
Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in the Asia–Pacific region

There is a wide variation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the Asia–Pacific region. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection is lowest (< 1%) in North America, Australia and New Zealand, 2–4% in Japan, 5–18% in China and highest (15–20%) in Taiwan as well as several other countries in South East Asia. Perinatal transmission is common in HBV‐hyperendemic areas. Geographical clusters of horizontal HBV infection have been reported in both high‐ and low‐risk countries. Common sources of infection, including iatrogenic and sexual transmission, have been implicated. Migrant studies indicate the importance of childhood environments in the determination of HBV infection. Rural–urban and ethnic differences in the prevalence of HBV infection have also been reported. There has been a decrease in the prevalence of HBV infection after mass HBV vaccination programmes in some Asia– Pacific countries, which may be due to the intervention of possible transmission routes through the use of disposable syringes and needles, screening of HBV infection markers in blood banks, and prevention of high‐risk tattooing, acupuncture, ear‐piercing and sexual contact. A striking decrease in the incidence of HBV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma has been observed among children in Taiwan and other areas where mass vaccination programmes have been implemented.