Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bacilysocin, a Novel Phospholipid Antibiotic Produced by Bacillus subtilis 168

ABSTRACT We have found a novel phospholipid antibiotic (named bacilysocin) which accumulates within (or associates with) the cells of Bacillus subtilis 168 and determined the structure by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry analyses. The structure of bacilysocin elucidated was 1-(12-methyltetradecanoyl)-3-phosphoglyceroglycerol. Bacilysocin demonstrated antimicrobial activity, especially against certain fungi. Production of bacilysocin commenced immediately after growth ceased and before the formation of heat-resistant spores. The production of bacilysocin was completely blocked when the ytpA gene, which encodes a protein homologous to lysophospholipase, was disrupted, but blockage of the ytpA gene did not significantly affect growth. Sporulation was also impaired, with a 10-fold reduction in heat-resistant spore titers being detected. Since the ytpA disruptant actually lacked phospholipase activity, we propose that the YtpA protein functions as an enzyme for the biosynthesis of bacilysocin.
O Uso pedagógico do Programa Nacional de Tecnologia Educacional, nas Escolas Públicas Municipais

No Brasil, os primeiros laboratorios de tecnologias para informatica do Proinfo (Programa Nacional de Informatica na Educacao) foram efetivados escolas publicas municipais a partir de 1997.O presente estudo objetivou discutir as contribuicoes da utilizacao do Proinfo nas escolas publicas, como ferramenta pedagogica inovadora no processo ensino-aprendizagem, nas escolas publicas de Banabuiu. A pesquisa envolveu 12 escolas de ensino fundamentais do municipio, sendo 3 na zona urbana e 9 na zona rural do municipio. A coleta de dados foi realizada atraves de um questionario contendo questoes fechadas, respondidos por alunos, professores e gestores, funcionarios e familiares dos alunos. Apos analise dos dados, constatou-se que, nem todas as escolas possuem uma infra-estrutura apropriada para laboratorios de informatica; Muitos professores ainda tem receio quanto a utilizacao do computador em sala de aula. Que os mesmos carecem de maior treinamento na area didatica para lidarem com as novas tecnologias. Que utilizam-se pouco do aparato de recursos em termos computacionais em suas aulas, mesmo conhecendo que ha uma demanda latente dos alunos quanto a sua incorporacao como recurso didatico. Concluiu-se pois, que ainda e relativamente grande o deficit quanto a formacao de professores para o trabalho em ambientes informatizados. Que a informatica para uso em sala de aula, nao tem sido vivenciada da forma como foi originalmente concebido no programa e que, portanto, o uso regular e corriqueiro dos laboratorios de informatica enquanto recurso pedagogico, ainda nao alcancou a sua meta.
Prolonged glucocorticoid treatment decreases cannabinoid CB1 receptor density in the hippocampus

Experimental studies indicate a bidirectional, functional relationship between glucocorticoids and the endocannabinoid system; however, the effects of repeated glucocorticoid treatment on the endocannabinoid system have not been examined. In this study, we treated male rats with either a single dose or a 21‐day course of treatment with corticosterone (20 mg/kg) and measured hippocampal cannabinoid CB1 receptor expression and endocannabinoid content. The 21‐day, but not the single, administration of corticosterone significantly reduced both the binding site density and amount of protein of the hippocampal cannabinoid CB1 receptor without affecting affinity for the CB1 receptor agonist, [3H]CP55940. With regard to hippocampal endocannabinoid content, acute corticosterone treatment resulted in a significant reduction in anandamide but did not affect 2‐arachidonylglycerol, while repeated corticosterone treatment did not alter content of either anandamide or 2‐arachidonylglycerol. These data support the hypothesis that the cannabinoid CB1 receptor is under negative regulation by glucocorticoids in the hippocampus, and suggest that hippocampal cannabinoid CB1 receptor signaling could be reduced under conditions associated with hypersecretion of glucocorticoids, such as chronic stress. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence for preoperative aspirin improving major outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing cardiac surgery: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND Effects of aspirin on patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of preoperative aspirin use on postoperative renal function and 30-day mortality in patients with CKD undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed on consecutive patients (n = 5175) receiving cardiac surgery in 2 tertiary hospitals. Of all patients, 3585 met the inclusion criteria and underwent the analysis to determine the association of preoperative aspirin with incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and death based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). RESULTS Of 3585 patients, 31.5% had CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) at baseline and 27.6% had AKI postoperatively. The baseline eGFR had a nonlinear relationship with the incidence and stages of AKI. As eGFR decreased to 15 to 30 from more than or equal to 90 mL/min/1.73 m2, AKI and 30-day mortality increased to 50.5% from 23.5% and to 11.9% from 2.6%, respectively (P < 0.001). However, preoperative aspirin use was associated with a significant decrease in postoperative AKI and 30-day mortality in patients with CKD undergoing cardiac surgery, in particular, the survival benefit associated with aspirin was greater in patients with CKD (vs normal kidney function): 30-day mortality was reduced by 23.3%, 58.2%, or 70.0% for patients with baseline eGFR more than or equal to 90, 30 to 59, or 15 to 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (P trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS For patients with CKD undergoing cardiac surgery, preoperative aspirin therapy was associated with renal protection and mortality decline. The magnitude of the survival benefit was greater in patients with CKD than normal kidney function.
Streptozotocin-Diabetes in the Chinese Hamster*

Intraperitoneal administration of 200 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin to non-diabetic adult Chinese hamsters, evoked a triphasic blood glucose response. There was a hyperglycemic peak after 3 hours and a hypoglycemic phase with a minimum at 6 hours, after which time there was a rather rapid return to hyperglycemia. Light and electron microscopic examinations during the first 24 hours after the injection of streptozotocin showed pyknosis, vacuolization, marked degeneration and necrosis of the β-cells. Degenerative and necrotic changes were also seen in a few α2-cells. The results denote that in the Chinese hamster streptozotocin has an early and direct cytotoxic action on the β-cells and probably also on a few α2-cells.
Anomalies in mineralization of low concentrations of organic compounds in lake water and sewage

The rates of mineralization of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), p-nitrophenol, aniline, and isopropyl N-phenylcarbamate (IPC) at one or more concentrations ranging from 100 pg/ml to 1.0 microgram/ml were proportional to chemical concentrations in samples of three lakes. The rates at 100 pg of NTA, 2,4-D, p-nitrophenol, and aniline per ml in samples of one or more lakes were less than predicted, assuming the rates were linearly related to the concentration. Neither NTA nor 2,4-dichlorophenol at 2.0 ng/ml was mineralized in some lake waters, but higher levels of the two chemicals were converted to CO2 in samples of the same waters. In samples from two lakes, little or no mineralization of IPC or 2,4-D occurred at 1.0 microgram/ml, but 10 ng/ml or lower levels of the herbicides were mineralized. The mineralization in sewage of 1.0 microgram of NTA per ml was biphasic; about 20% of the substrate was mineralized in 20 h, and mineralization was only reinitiated after a period of 130 h. The biphasic transformation was not a result of the accumulation of organic products, and it was still evident if protozoan activity was inhibited. NTA also underwent a biphasic mineralization in lake waters, and the biphasic pattern was not altered by additions of growth factors and inorganic nutrients. From 40 to 60% of the carbon of aniline added to lake water at levels of 100 pg/ml to 1.0 microgram/ml was mineralized, but more than 90% of the carbon of NTA, 2,4-D, or p-nitrophenol added to lake water at 10 ng/ml or 1.0 microgram/ml was mineralized. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mammary gland factor (MGF) is a novel member of the cytokine regulated transcription factor gene family and confers the prolactin response.

MGF cDNA was incorporated into a eukaryotic expression vector and cotransfected with a vector encoding the long form of the prolactin receptor into COS cells. A strong MGF-specific bandshift was obtained with nuclear extracts of COS cells induced with prolactin. Treatment of activated MGF with a tyrosine-specific protein phosphatase resulted in the loss of DNA binding activity. Prolactin-dependent transactivation of a -cmasein promoter-luciferase reporter gene construct was observed in transfected cells.
SPARKING THE IMAGINATION: Exploring the Eureka Moment

This article elucidates aspects of the creative imagination: inspiration and how this brief momentary revelation combines previously pondered thoughts, combined with the craft of implementation, to present a meaningful whole in an architectural design process. This imaginative spark or the eureka moment may be the resolution of an idea or the understanding of a perplexing concept. Using Vitruvius’ story of Archimedes as an analogy, this exploration utilizes myth to bring concepts of inspiration to contemporary architecture. Thus, a new understanding of inspiration may assist architects to better utilize this important capacity and potentially unlock the principles that lead to understanding the beginning of design.
Spectroscopic approach to capillary-alveolar membrane damage induced acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND Acute (or adult) respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is often associated with a high mortality rate in the critical care population. The term acute lung injury (ALI), a primitive phase of ARDS, was introduced by the European and American consensus groups to provide early diagnoses of ARDS. The pathophysiological characterization of ALI/ARDS - an increased pulmonary capillary-alveolar membrane barrier permeability - is generally not included in current intensive care unit diagnosis criteria. OBJECTIVES To apply the infrared (IR) spectroscopic technique, in combination with the administration of hydroxyethyl starch (HES), to patients with ALI and ARDS. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study involved 67 patients from the intensive care unit at the Health Sciences Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The methodology was based on the IR spectroscopic determination of HES in patient's bronchial washing fluid. Exaggerated infiltration of HES into the alveolar space was taken as evidence of damage to the pulmonary capillary-alveolar membrane, which in turn provided a diagnosis of ALI/ARDS. RESULTS The accuracy of determining pulmonary HES leakage in severe lung injury (Partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen [PaO2/FiO2] less than 100 mmHg [n=10]), was 100%. The subgroups with PaO2/FiO2 between 100 and 200 mmHg (n=23), and PaO2/FiO2 between 200 and 300 mmHg (n=22), 56.5% and 77.3%, respectively, showed IR positive for HES leakage. CONCLUSIONS The proposed IR bronchial washing assay is very sensitive in determining the pulmonary HES leakage in severe lung injury. It is also suitable for evaluating pulmonary leakage at an early phase of the injury, a fact that is particularly important for supportive treatment. The method is advantageous because no radioactive tracers are employed, little sample preparation is required, and it is rapid and minimally invasive, making it convenient to use in the critical care environment.
A physiological study of vestibular and prepositus hypoglossi neurones projecting to the abducens nucleus in the alert cat.

1. Vestibular and prepositus hypoglossi (PH) neurones projecting to the abducens (ABD) nucleus were recorded in the alert cat. Their discharge characteristics were analysed to ascertain the origin of the horizontal eye position signal present in ABD neurones. 2. Neurones were classified according to: their location with respect to the ABD nucleus; their antidromic activation from the ABD nucleus; the synaptic field potential they induced in the ABD nucleus with the spike‐triggered averaging technique; and their activity during spontaneous and vestibularly induced eye movements. 3. Vestibular neurones projecting to the ABD nucleus were located in the rostral medial vestibular nucleus. They were excitatory on the contralateral and inhibitory on the ipsilateral ABD neurones. Both types of premotor vestibular neurone showed a firing rate weakly related to eye position, increasing for eye fixations in the contralateral on‐direction, and decreasing with ipsilateral fixation. Position sensitivity during eye fixations was (means +/‐ S.D.) 1.8 +/‐ 0.9 spikes s‐1 deg‐1 for excitatory neurones and 2.2 +/‐ 1.3 spikes s‐1 deg‐1 for inhibitory neurones. Firing rate exhibited a high variability during eye fixations. Their responses during saccades in the off‐direction were characterized by a pause that, although less defined, was occasionally present during saccades in the on‐direction. Eye velocity sensitivity during spontaneous saccades in the on‐direction was 0.17 +/‐ 0.15 spikes s‐1 deg‐1 s‐1 for excitatory neurones and 0.15 +/‐ 0.07 spikes s‐1 deg‐1 s‐1 for inhibitory vestibular neurones. During sinusoidal head stimulation at 0.2 Hz, vestibular neurones showed a type I discharge rate with a phase lead over eye position of 86.0 +/‐ 14.1 deg for excitatory and 80.2 +/‐ 12.5 deg for inhibitory neurones. Position sensitivity during vestibular stimulation did not differ significantly from values obtained for spontaneous eye movements. However, the velocity sensitivity of premotor vestibular neurones during head rotation was significantly higher (1.6 +/‐ 0.2 spikes s‐1 deg‐1 s‐1 for excitatory and 1.5 +/‐ 0.3 spikes s‐1 deg‐1 s‐1 for inhibitory neurones) than during spontaneous eye movements. 4. PH neurones projecting to the ABD nucleus were located in the rostral one‐third of the nucleus. These neurones were excitatory on the ipsilateral and inhibitory on the contralateral ABD nucleus. Their firing rates were correlated mainly with eye position, increasing for abducting eye positions of the ipsilateral eye and decreasing with adduction movements. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The paradoxical association of common polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system genes with risk of myocardial infarction

Background The insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the A1166C polymorphism of the angiotensin-II AT1 receptor (AT1R) have been extensively investigated as possible risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI). Design and methods Genetic association, case-control study, specifically designed to investigate the association of the above-mentioned polymorphisms with risk of MI in a homogeneous, low coronary risk, Caucasian population. The study population consisted of 1603 consecutive patients with acute MI who were recruited from nine clinics, located in three cities, and 699 unrelated adults who were randomly selected from the city catalogues. Results In univariate analysis, the DD genotype was found to be more prevalent among controls (40.8 vs. 35.2%, P = 0.011). In multivariate analysis adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and family history of coronary artery disease, the presence of the DD genotype was independently and negatively associated with risk of AMI (RR = 0.743, 95% CI = 0.595–0.927, P = 0.008). The CC genotype was not found to be significantly associated with risk of MI, either in univariate (6.2 vs. 6.4%, P = 0.856), or in multivariate analysis adjusted for the same confounders (RR = 0.743, 95% CI = 0.473–1.167, P = 0.197). Conclusions Contrary to previous reports, in this study the DD genotype of the ACE gene, but not the CC genotype of the AT1R gene, was associated with a lower risk of MI. Our results emphasize the complexity of genotype-phenotype interactions in the pathogenesis of ischaemic heart disease and question the previously hypothesized role of the DD genotype on risk of acute myocardial infarction.
Multi-class boosting based on Phase-out Model

We present a probability model for multi-classification problem. In our theory, a formalization description method in the form of probability is put forward for multi-class boosting. With these arguments, a novel prediction framework, called Phase-out Model, is proposed. Unlike previous classifiers which choose the best one from all classes as the prediction, our model weeds out one of all classes step by step until only one still insists when predict and the surviving class is the outcome. A local optimum algorithm is designed to implement the model. Experiments show that our algorithm is feasible and our model is more robust than traditional prediction framework.
Long-lasting behavioral changes following prednisone withdrawal.

To the Editor. — Behavioral changes occurring during corticosteroid therapy are well recognized. 1-3 There have been few reports, however, of behavioral changes persisting well beyond the discontinuation of steroid treatment. 2-3 Freyberg et al 3 described a corticosteroid "withdrawal syndrome" characterized by fatigue, anorexia, discouragement, and depression in approximately 21% of their patients with rheumatoid arthritis, subsiding after 2 to 8 weeks and possibly representing an emotional response to clinical relapse. Given what we now know about the direct effects of corticosteroids on the central nervous system, 4-6 it is possible that such withdrawal syndromes represent the sequelae of corticosteroid actions on the central nervous system. Because of the widespread use of corticosteroids, it is important to investigate such behavioral reactions. We report here two cases of long-lasting behavioral disturbances that began during the tapering off of steroid medication, persisted for several weeks following steroid withdrawal, and were related
Treatment interruption strategies: how great are the risks?

Purpose of review This review brings together the results of recent definitive trials of treatment interruption strategies in order to evaluate the risks and to examine whether there is evidence to support this approach in clinical practice. Recent findings Recent studies confirm that there is no clear benefit of treatment interruption in the settings of virological failure or acute infection. The most important recent data relate to the use of structured treatment interruption in the setting of chronic HIV disease. The SMART and Trivacan trials found that a CD4+ lymphocyte count guided interruption strategy was clearly inferior to continuous therapy, but Staccato (using a higher threshold for treatment re-initiation) did not. The largest fixed-schedule treatment interruption trial also reported inferior clinical outcomes with interruption, although the evidence of harm was less clear in other smaller studies. A broad spectrum of clinical effects of treatment interruption was highlighted by this research. Summary Overall, recent studies indicate that treatment interruption is associated with a variable degree of net harm. Continuous treatment should remain the strongly preferred approach, although, if it is carefully managed, there may be some clinical situations in which the benefits of a short period of interruption may potentially outweigh the risks.
Chaitin's Toylisp on a Connex Memory Machine

This paper describes an implementation of Chaitin's ToyLisp [Chaitin '87] on a Connex Memory Machine (CMM) [S tefan '85]. The Connex Memory Machine has a smaller complexity than previous Universal Machines used to run Lisp programs, so the time and space used in running Lisp programs can be considerably decreased. A ToyLisp like language can be used with a CMM to construct a Lisp (Co)Processor for accelerating Lisp processing in conventional architectures.
Software Design Metrics for Object-Oriented Software

The importance of software measurement is increasing leading to development of new measurement techniques. As the development of object-oriented software is rising, more and more metrics are being defined for object-oriented languages. Many metrics have been proposed related to various object-oriented constructs like class, coupling, cohesion, inheritance, information hiding and polymorphism. The applicability of metrics developed by previous researchers is mostly limited to requirement, design and implementation phase. Exception handling is a desirable feature of software that leads to robust design and must be measured. This research addresses this need and introduces a new set of design metrics for object-oriented code. Two metrics are developed that measure the amount of robustness included in the code. The metrics are analytically evaluated against Weyuker’s proposed set of nine axioms. These set of metrics are calculated and analyzed for standard projects and accordingly ways in which project managers can utilize these metrics are suggested.
Modeling and decoupled control of a non-isolated high step-up/down bidirectional DC-DC converter

Bidirectional DC-DC converters play a very important role in energy storage systems. High voltage conversion ratio, high efficiency and economy are challenging issues for the research and development of advanced bidirectional DC-DC converters. In this paper, the modeling and control of a new non-isolated high step-up/down bidirectional DC-DC converter is studied. This converter is a combination of buck-boost and dual-active-half-bridge converter. It features wide-range high voltage conversion ratio and high efficiency due to full soft switching. However, the circuit coupling causes troubles in control stability. For instance, in island boost mode, oscillation easily occurs if output voltage of high-pressure is still directly regulated by shifted phase. Hence A dynamically accurate enough model is required for analysis and more stable control method is needed. For the modeling, scholars have made some research on calculating power delivered by the transformer with its series inductor current, but they have not taken the series inductor current as a state variable in full frequency domain. Such methods achieve good outcomes in steady-state, but are at a cost of dynamic inaccuracy more or less. In this paper, an average modeling technique which considers transformer series inductor current as a state variable in full frequency domain for dynamic accuracy is proposed. A decoupled control is also proposed to achieve a leap in stability. Simulation and experiment results are also presented to verify the proposed average model and the decoupled control.