Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A General Method for Selection of α-Acetolactate Decarboxylase-Deficient Lactococcus lactis Mutants To Improve Diacetyl Formation

ABSTRACT The enzyme acetolactate decarboxylase (Ald) plays a key role in the regulation of the α-acetolactate pool in both pyruvate catabolism and the biosynthesis of the branched-chain amino acids, isoleucine, leucine, and valine (ILV). This dual role of Ald, due to allosteric activation by leucine, was used as a strategy for the isolation of Ald-deficient mutants of Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis biovar diacetylactis. Such mutants can be selected as leucine-resistant mutants in ILV- or IV-prototrophic strains. Most dairy lactococcus strains are auxotrophic for the three amino acids. Therefore, the plasmid pMC004 containing the ilv genes (encoding the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of IV) of L. lactis NCDO2118 was constructed. Introduction of pMC004 into ILV-auxotrophic dairy strains resulted in an isoleucine-prototrophic phenotype. By plating the strains on a chemically defined medium supplemented with leucine but not valine and isoleucine, spontaneous leucine-resistant mutants were obtained. These mutants were screened by Western blotting with Ald-specific antibodies for the presence of Ald. Selected mutants lacking Ald were subsequently cured of pMC004. Except for a defect in the expression of Ald, the resulting strain, MC010, was identical to the wild-type strain, as shown by Southern blotting and DNA fingerprinting. The mutation resulting in the lack of Ald in MC010 occurred spontaneously, and the strain does not contain foreign DNA; thus, it can be regarded as food grade. Nevertheless, its application in dairy products depends on the regulation of genetically modified organisms. These results establish a strategy to select spontaneous Ald-deficient mutants from transformable L. lactis strains.
Study on the Direction Finding Ambiguities Performance of Non-uniform Linear Antenna Array

In an array-based high resolution direction finding system, the non-uniform linear antenna array(NLA) is a widely-used geometric configuration of array. The direction finding ambiguity of NLA is studied in the paper, the cause of the array's direction finding ambiguity is analysed based on the theoretically, the idea of the array redundancy and the geometric configuration of NLA is studied. Relationship between the direction finding ambiguity performance and geometric configuration of NLA is revealed. It offers a guide and reference to choose and construct NLA in project application to avoid the blindness and willingness of the system design.
Dimensionality-Reduction Using Connectionist Networks

A method is presented for using connectionist networks of simple computing elements to discover a particular type of constraint in multidimensional data. Suppose that some data source provides samples consisting of n-dimensional feature-vectors, but that this data all happens to lie on an m-dimensional surface embedded in the n-dimensional feature space. Then occurrences of data can be more concisely described by specifying an m-dimensional location of the embedded surface than by reciting all n components of the feature vector. The recording of data in such a way is known as dimensionality-reduction. A method is presented for performing dimensionality-reduction in a wide class of situations for which an assumption of linearity need not be made about the underlying constraint surface. The method takes advantage of self-organizing properties of connectionist networks of simple computing elements. The authors present a scheme for representing the values of continuous (scalar) variables in subsets of units. >
The long term retention of levetiracetam in a large cohort of patients with epilepsy

Levetiracetam (Lev) is a new antiepileptic drug with a distinct mechanism of action, shown in regulatory trials to be effective. These controlled trials do not always predict how useful a drug will be in day to day clinical practice. Retention rates can provide a better indication of efficacy and tolerability in everyday use. Patients attending a tertiary referral centre for epilepsy and who received Lev in the first 2 years of its marketing were assessed (n = 811) to determine continuation rates of treatment with this drug. At the last follow up, 65% of patients were still taking Lev, and the estimated 3 year retention rate was 58%. In total, 11% attained seizure freedom of at least 6 months. Patients taking greater numbers of concurrent antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were more likely to discontinue Lev, and those reaching higher maximum daily dosages were less likely to discontinue Lev. The retention rate for Lev compares favourably with that of other new AEDs.
Phospholipase D signaling is essential for meiosis.

Phospholipid metabolism plays an important role in cellular regulation by generating second messengers for signal transduction. Many stimuli activate a phospholipase D, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, producing phosphatidic acid and choline. Here we report that the yeast SP014 gene, which is essential for meiosis [Honigberg, S. M. , Conicella, C. & Esposito, R. E. (1992) Genetics 130, 703-716], encodes a phospholipase D. SP014 RNA and protein activity are induced during late meiotic prophase, and the enzyme has properties similar to mammalian phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-regulated phospholipase D. Characterization of an unusual allele of SP014 defines regions of the protein important for enzyme catalysis and regulation. These results implicate phospholipase D signaling in regulating cellular differentiation.
Forward-Looking Behavior in Mobile Data Consumption and Targeted Promotion Design: A Dynamic Structural Model

This paper studies how individual users who subscribe to limited monthly mobile data plans dynamically consume data on a daily basis. Employing a unique data set on users' daily mobile data usage from a large mobile carrier, we develop a dynamic structural model in which an individual user maximizes her data usage utility by considering the intertemporal trade-off between current and future consumption. The model contains individual-specific utility parameters to fully capture the heterogeneity in consumption behavior across mobile data users. Theoretical properties derived from the model enable us to discover distinct usage patterns for both forward-looking and myopic users. We then empirically test for forward-looking consumption patterns in order to control for possible consumer myopia. For each of the users with forward-looking consumption patterns, we estimate her structural utility parameters such as price sensitivity. We find simulated individual consumption based on our model estimates can correctly capture the dynamic trends observed in the actual individual consumption. We also conduct counterfactual simulations to investigate how month-end promotions and discounts can stimulate individual mobile data consumption and increase carrier profit.
Helicopter Money: Survey Evidence on Expectation Formation and Consumption Behavior

The effects of helicopter money on expectations and economic outcomes is largely unexplored from an empirical point of view. We fielded a representative survey among the German population randomly assigning respondents to various unconventional monetary policy scenarios that raise household incomes. Asking participants on how they would spend the money and what their expectations on various key economic variables are, allowed us to explore the likely consequences of an injection of helicopter money into the economy. Our main findings are that in all policy treatments people consider money as a windfall and spend the same amount they would spend out of a lottery win, regardless whether the transfer was debt financed and provided by the government or printed and provided by the central bank. Policies seem not to suffer from Ricardian equivalence and do not raise inflation expectations. Furthermore, expectations about inflation, economic conditions and government behaviour are not strongly correlated with the individuals' spending decisions. Finally, while we do not confirm earlier results on mental accounting theories as a behavioural explanation of the respondents' answers, we do find interesting correlations between peoples' budgeting plans and spending decisions.
Surgical treatment of pressure ulcers: 20-year experience.

OBJECTIVE To review the outcomes of surgical management of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with severe pressure ulcers and to examine likely risk factors for recurrence of pressure ulcers. DESIGN A retrospective medical record review. SETTING An SCI unit in a tertiary care facility. PATIENTS All admissions to the SCI unit for grade 4 pressure ulcers from 1976 to 1996. INTERVENTION Surgical repair of pressure ulcers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Complication and recurrence rates of pressure ulcers. RESULTS Of 598 pressure ulcers, 468 were pelvic area ulcers, of which 431 (92%) were treated surgically. Fifty-three had split-thickness skin grafting, and 380 were treated with 421 surgical procedures (253 fasciocutaneous or cutaneous flaps, 93 muscle or musculocutaneous flaps, 75 primary closures). One hundred eight (26%) of these procedures required some bone work. Suture line dehiscence occurred in 130 (31%), with 45 (11%) requiring reconstruction and 8 (2%) requiring skin grafting to heal. At discharge, 38 (9%) of these pelvic ulcers had not healed. Recurrent admissions occurred in 90 (54%) of the patients. Recurrence of ulcers at the same site occurred in 31% of the total number of ulcers and at a different site in 21%. At the time of the 415 admissions, 336 (81%) of the patients were unemployed; 159 (38%) had grade 8 or lower level of education; and 226 (55%) lived alone or with family but were independent in self-care. Of the 168 patients studied, 45 (27%) were aboriginal (Canadian native), and 59 (35%) had a history of drug or alcohol abuse. CONCLUSIONS The vast majority of severe pressure ulcers were surgically treated. Complication and recurrence rates are similar to previous reports. Psychosocial problems (unemployment, low level of education, drug or alcohol abuse, poverty in the native communities) appear to increase the risk for pressure ulcer development.
REGULATORY INTERVENTION TO ENSURE AN EFFICIENT MEDIUM- TERM GENERATING RESOURCE PLANNING IN ELECTRICITY MARKETS

In the context of the security of electricity generation supply problem, the electric power system firmness has been defined as the ability of already installed facilities to supply electricity efficiently in the medium term. In other words, the firmness represents the ability of the system to supply electricity efficiently within a time term in which the system cannot count on new investments to solve the security of supply problem, e.g. one or two years. This ability depends to a large extent on how generators carry out their medium-term resource planning (implying among others fuel provision, water reservoir management or maintenance scheduling). In this paper, on the basis of a stylized mathematical model developed specifically for this purpose, we contribute from the regulator's point of view to the theoretical analysis and discussion of the firmness dimension in a market environment. We focus on how generators' risk aversion coupled with generators' inability to efficiently hedge long-term positions (due to market incompleteness) may lead the system towards an inefficient (from the social perspective) outcome. In this context, we evaluate whether some kind of regulator's intervention could be recommended in order to lead the market towards a more efficient/adequate solution. This intervention, as already implemented in certain electric power systems, could (and in some power markets does) take the form of administratively setting minimum hydro reservoir levels or compulsory long-term contracting.
Development of the transient ipsilateral retinotectal projection in the chick embryo: A numerical flourescence‐microscopic analysis

The ipsilateral retinotectal projection in the developing chick was examined by using rhodamine‐B‐isothiocyanate (RITC)as an anterograde and retrograde vital marker for the retinal ganglion cells and their axons. Staining of the entire retina following intravitreal RITC injection between incubation days 3 and 16 revealed a small number of anterogradely labeled fibers in the optic tract and the anterior half of the optic tectum ipsilateral to the injection site. The total number of ipsilaterally projecting fibers was estimated to be about 2,000 on developmental day 9. The ipsilateral projection totally disappeared after day 15. The arrangement of fibers within the ipsilateral projection was examined by local anterograde RITC staining of localized retinal regions between days 9 and 10. The projection was retinotopically organized along the dorsoventral axis such that fibers of dorsal retinal origin projected on the ventral tectal half, whereas fibers of ventral retinal orgin projected on the dorsal tectal half.
Initial Evaluations in the Interview: Relationships with Subsequent Interviewer Evaluations and Employment Offers

The authors of this study examine how evaluations made during an early stage of the structured interview (rapport building) influence end of interview scores, subsequent follow-up employment interviews, and actual internship job offers. Candidates making better initial impressions received more internship offers (r = .22) and higher interviewer ratings (r = .42). As predicted, initial evaluations of candidate competence extend beyond liking and similarity to influence subsequent interview outcomes from the same interviewer (ΔR² = .05), from a separate interviewer (ΔR² = .05), and from another interviewer who skipped rapport building (ΔR² = .05). In contrast, assessments of candidate liking and similarity were not significantly related to other judgments when ratings were provided by different interviewers. The findings of this study thus indicate that initial impressions of candidates influence employment outcomes, and that they may be based on useful judgments of candidate competence that occur in the opening minutes of the structured interview.
Predictors of outcome in methadone programs: effect of HIV counseling and testing

ObjectiveTo identify predictors of treatment outcomes in methadone maintenance programs and to determine whether HIV counseling and testing influenced these outcomes. DesignRetrospective record review. SettingFour methadone maintenance programs in four cities in Connecticut, USA. ParticipantsFive hundred and ninety-four clients, who began treatment over an 18-month period and for whom records were available, took part. InterventionsHIV counseling and testing. Main outcome measuresRisk of treatment discontinuation and persistent in-treatment illicit drug use. ResultsThe most important predictor of treatment discontinuation and of persistent in-treatment illicit drug use was self-reported pre-treatment cocaine use. After controlling for this and demographic risk factors, clients who received initial HIV counseling, when compared with clients who did not, had a similar 12-month discontinuation risk (54 versus 59%; P = 0.08) but were less likely to show persistent illicit drug use (46 versus 53%; P = 0.01). Among counseled entrants who were tested for HIV antibodies, those receiving positive results had a 12-month discontinuation risk similar to those receiving negative results (50 versus 52%), but more often showed persistent illicit drug use (57 versus 44%), although this difference may have been due to chance (P = 0.28). The majority of clients who discontinued treatment did so because they were discharged for non-compliance with clinic rules, usually for failing to pay fees. ConclusionsHIV counseling and testing do not have a substantial adverse effect on methadone treatment outcomes. In the clinics under study, failure to pay clinic fees was an important factor contributing to discontinuation of treatment.
Candidate gene association studies of genes involved in neuronal cholinergic transmission in Alzheimer's disease suggests choline acetyltransferase as a candidate deserving further study

Consistent deficits in the cholinergic system are evident in the brains of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients, including reductions in the activities of acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), increased butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity, and a selective loss of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Accordingly, we have analyzed polymorphisms in the genes encoding AChE, ChAT, BChE, and several of the subunit genes from neuronal nAChRs, for genetic associations with late‐onset AD. A significant association for disease was detected for a non‐coding polymorphism in ChAT (allele χ12 = 12.84, P = 0.0003; genotype χ22 = 11.89, P = 0.0026). Although replication analysis did not confirm the significance of this finding when the replication samples were considered alone (allele χ12 = 1.02, P=0.32; genotype χ22 = 1.101, P = 0.58) the trends were in the correct direction and a significant association remained when the two sample sets were pooled (allele χ12 = 12.37, P = 0.0004; genotype χ22 = 11.61, P = 0.003). Previous studies have reported significant disease associations for both the K‐variant of BChE and the coding ChAT rs3810950 polymorphism with AD. Replication analyses of these two loci failed to detect any significant association for disease in our case‐control samples. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Residues of Corticotropin Releasing Factor-binding Protein (CRF-BP) That Selectively Abrogate Binding to CRF but Not to Urocortin 1*

Corticotropin releasing factor-binding protein (CRF-BP) binds CRF and urocortin 1 (Ucn 1) with high affinity, thus preventing CRF receptor (CRFR) activation. Despite recent progress on the molecular details that govern interactions between CRF family neuropeptides and their cognate receptors, little is known concerning the mechanisms that allow CRF-BP to bind CRF and Ucn 1 with picomolar affinity. We conducted a comprehensive alanine scan of 76 evolutionarily conserved residues of CRF-BP and identified several residues that differentially affected the affinity for CRF over Ucn 1. We determined that both neuropeptides derive their similarly high affinity from distinct binding surfaces on CRF-BP. Alanine substitutions of arginine 56 (R56A) and aspartic acid 62 (D62A) reduce the affinity for CRF by ∼100-fold, while only marginally affecting the affinity for Ucn 1. The selective reduction in affinity for CRF depends on glutamic acid 25 in the CRF peptide, as substitution of Glu25 reduces the affinity for CRF-BP by approximately 2 orders of magnitude, but only in the presence of both Arg56 and Asp62 in human CRF-BP. We show that CRF-BPR56A and CRF-BPD62A have lost the ability to inhibit CRFR1-mediated responses to CRF that activate luciferase induction in HEK293T cells and ACTH release from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells. In contrast, both CRF-BP mutants retain the ability to inhibit Ucn 1-induced CRFR1 activation. Collectively our findings demonstrate that CRF-BP has distinct and separable binding surfaces for CRF and Ucn 1, opening new avenues for the design of ligand-specific antagonists based on CRF-BP.
Water Policy in a Time of Climate Change: Coping with Complexity

The unpredictable impacts of climate change, combined with significant social and economic changes, mean that policy analysis is becoming inordinately more complex. Coping with this increasing complexity while engaging with a full range of stakeholders and the community requires a new approach to leadership and governance. Water planners (and others involved in the planning processes) need new skills in active listening and constructive cultural behavior, and all agencies need to recognize that thinking and acting only in the interests of their own silo of responsibilities will inevitably produce suboptimal outcomes. Leadership focused on constructive behavior that recognizes and rewards generosity of spirit across disciplines and between organizations is the foundation of this new approach.
Influences onmeat consumption in Australia

In a study of influences on meat consumption, over 700 South Australians answered questions on frequency of meat consumption, beliefs about meat and nutrition, perceived difficulties with and benefits of vegetarian diets, personal values, number of vegetarian significant others, use in and trust of health/nutrition/food information sources, and demography. Perceived difficulties with vegetarian diets, the number of vegetarian significant others and beliefs about meat were important predictors of meat consumption. There were differences between men and women and members of different age groups, which should be taken into account when attempts are made to influence meat consumption. For example, health promotion campaigns that focus on whether or not meat is necessary in the diet may influence meat consumption, but would be most successful if directed predominantly at older people and men. In contrast, the meat consumption of women and younger people was strongly associated with more specific concerns about lack of iron and protein in the vegetarian diet. Some of the difficulties people find with vegetarian diets will also apply to plant-based diets generally, and such diets are becoming more widely acknowledged as providing health benefits. Therefore, the findings have important implications for public health. # 2001 Academic Press
Public Reactions to Windfarms: The Dynamics of Opinion Formation

With more than 20 windfarms now in operation in the UK, public responses to the reality rather than to the idea are emerging. The evidence is mixed: most opinion polls show overall strong support, but there are, equally, signs of strong local opposition in some areas and a general polarisation of views. This paper attempts to explore the way in which local and national attitudes and views have developed, looking in particular at the role of the Government, academic, and the media. It argues for a more constructive debate aimed at developing a consensus on the UK's ‘carrying capacity’ for windfarms.
Prolactin mediates estradiol-induced inflammation in the lateral prostate of Wistar rats.

Inflammation was induced in the lateral prostate of castrated Wistar rats by exposure to a sc implant of estradiol-filled Silastic tubing, followed by the addition of a dihydrotestosterone implant to restore prostatic wet weight. The presence of inflammation was correlated with increased serum PRL, elevated pituitary weight, and a greater than 2-fold increase in the lateral prostate DNA concentration. The administration of bromocriptine (4 mg/kg.day) to these animals was effective in suppressing pituitary weight and hyperprolactinemia and mitigated the lateral prostate inflammatory response. Inflammation was restored in the bromocriptine-treated hormone-implanted rats by administering exogenous ovine PRL at a dose of 2 mg/kg twice a day. The results indicate that estradiol-induced inflammation in the rat lateral prostate is mediated at least in part by the release of PRL from the pituitary.
Impact of age and body size on inter‐individual variation in measures of lipid metabolism: influence of gender and apolipoprotein E genotype

This study was undertaken in 1695 adult subjects (870 women and 825 men) in order to further document the complexity of the influence of the apolipoprotein (apo) E genotypes on the mean levels and intragenotypic variability of seven measures of lipid metabolism. In addition, the statistical relationships between variability in these traits and variation in age, body mass index (BMI) and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) were assessed. The contribution of variation in age and body size to inter‐individual variation was found to be dependent on context, defined by gender and apo E genotype. Our findings are consistent with the reality that it is neither genes nor environments, but their interactions that are responsible for the variation in risk of cardiovascular disease.