Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus cell death induced by UV radiation and the penetration of lethal UVR in the Mediterranean Sea

Irradiation experiments performed on natural communities of picocyanobacteria from the southwest Mediterranean Sea indicated that natural levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR: 280 to 400 nm) induced important cell death in Prochlorococcus sp. , although Synechococcus sp. appeared to be highly resistant. In the treatments where UVB radiation (UVBR, 280 to 315 nm) was ex- cluded, Prochlorococcus also experienced high cell death with short half-life times of 3.01 ± 0.1 SE (h), showing the contribution of UVA radiation (UVAR,315 to 400 nm) and photosynthetically active radi- ation (PAR, 400 to 700 nm) to Prochlorococcus cell death. Underwater radiometric measurements conducted during the cruise indicated that penetration of UVR was significant in the Mediterranean waters studied, with minimum diffuse attenuation coefficients of 0.165 and 0.071 m -1 for 313 and 380 nm, respectively. The lethal UV doses required to decrease the picocyanobacteria populations by half, UVLRD50, calculated experimentally, were related to underwater UVR penetration in the Mediterranean Sea measured during the cruise. By calculating (from incident irradiances and UVR penetration) the daily UV doses at different depths in the water column, we found that, for sunny days, experimental Prochlorococcus LRD50 (187 kJ m -2 ) could reach from 10 to 26 m depth. For Syne- chococcus, however, the depth receiving daily UVLRD50 (1375 kJ m -2 ) was always shallower, above 5 m depth. The differential sensitivity of the 2 genera and the UV transparency of the Mediterranean Sea suggest that solar radiation could be an important factor influencing the dynamics and distribu- tion of cyanobacterial populations in the surface waters of this oligotrophic sea.
Surgical therapy for coronary artery disease among patients with combined coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease.

BACKGROUND Among patients with combined coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease, long-term benefits of surgical therapy compared with medical therapy for coronary artery disease are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS Using prospectively collected data from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study registry, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 1834 patients (mean age, 56 years; 20% women) with both coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease and evaluated their long-term outcomes. Of these patients, 986 received (nonrandomly) coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and 848 were treated medically. Perioperative mortality was 4.2% (2.9% in the absence of peripheral vascular disease; P = .02). In a mean follow-up period of 10.4 years, 1100 deaths occurred (80% due to cardiovascular causes). For the surgical group, 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-year estimated probabilities of survival were 88%, 72%, 55%, and 41%, respectively, and 73%, 57%, 44%, and 34%, respectively, for the medical group (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that type of therapy was independently associated with survival (P = .0001; chi 2 = 15.34). Subgroup analysis suggested that benefits of surgical treatment on survival were limited to patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease and were inversely related to ejection fraction. Survival free of death or myocardial infarction was also significantly better among the surgical group. Type of therapy was significantly associated with occurrence of late events (P = .01; chi 2 = 6.55). Subgroup analysis again demonstrated that beneficial effects of surgery were limited to patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease and were inversely related to ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment provides long-term benefit for certain subgroups of patients with combined coronary artery and peripheral arterial vascular disease.
The Influence of Tactical Flexibilities on the Competitive Advantage of a Firm: An Empirical Study on Jordanian Industrial Companies

This study aims at investigating the influence of tactical flexibilities (mix flexibility, volume flexibility, and modification flexibility) on the competitive advantage of a firm. To address this objective, a cross-sectional survey employing a questionnaire method of data collection is adopted. The study targets operations managers, plant managers, and quality managers in Jordanian Manufacturing Companies listed in Amman Stock Exchange Market. A total of 153 usable responses are received representing a response rate of 69.5%. For the purpose of data analysis, the research utilizes multivariate data analysis using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results of structural equation modeling analysis indicate significant impact of tactical flexibilities on competitive advantage. The study includes managerial implications for managers and proposes several directions for future research such as examining the role of tactical flexibilities in planning the corporate and functional strategies of a firm.
Impact of Bee Venom Enzymes on Diseases and Immune Responses

Bee venom (BV) is used to treat many diseases and exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antimutagenic, radioprotective, anti-nociceptive immunity promoting, hepatocyte protective and anti-cancer activity. According to the literature, BV contains several enzymes, including phospholipase A2 (PLA2), phospholipase B, hyaluronidase, acid phosphatase and α-glucosidase. Recent studies have also reported the detection of different classes of enzymes in BV, including esterases, proteases and peptidases, protease inhibitors and other important enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Nevertheless, the physiochemical properties and functions of each enzyme class and their mechanisms remain unclear. Various pharmacotherapeutic effects of some of the BV enzymes have been reported in several studies. At present, ongoing research aims to characterize each enzyme and elucidate their specific biological roles. This review gathers all the current knowledge on BV enzymes and their specific mechanisms in regulating various immune responses and physiological changes to provide a basis for future therapies for various diseases.
Relationship between bacterial flora in sputum and functional impairment in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. Study Group of Bacterial Infection in COPD.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To investigate the possible relationship between functional respiratory impairment measured by FEV1 and isolation of diverse pathogens in the sputum of patients with exacerbations of COPD. DESIGN Multicenter, cross-sectional, epidemiologic study. SETTING Pneumology units in six secondary or tertiary hospitals in Spain. PATIENTS Ninety-one patients with acute exacerbation of COPD were included. INTERVENTIONS A quantitative sputum culture was performed, and bacterial growth was considered significant only when the germ was isolated at concentrations > 10(6) cfu (> 10(5) for Streptococcus pneumoniae) in samples with < 10 epithelial cells and > 25 leukocytes per low magnification field (x 100). RESULTS Germs isolated were the following: Haemophilus influenzae (20 cases; 22%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14 cases; 15%), S. pneumoniae (9 cases; 10%), Moraxella catarrhalis (8 cases; 9%), other gram-negative bacteria (7 cases; 7%), and non-potentially pathogenic microorganisms (non-PPMs; 33 cases; 36%). P. aeruginosa and H. influenzae were isolated more frequently among the patients with FEV1 < 50% than among those with FEV1 > 50% (p < 0.05). All patients with P. aeruginosa in sputum had FEV1 < 1,700 mL. FEV1 < 50% was associated with a very high risk of P. aeruginosa or H. influenzae isolation: the odds ratios (ORs) are 6.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 123.6) and 6.85 (95% CI, 1.6 to 52.6), respectively. Furthermore, active tobacco smoking was associated with a high risk of H. influenzae isolation (OR, 8.1; 95% CI, 1.9 to 43.0). CONCLUSIONS Patients with the greatest degree of functional impairment, as measured by their FEV1, presented a higher probability of having an isolation of P. aeruginosa or H. influenzae in significant concentrations in sputum during an exacerbation. The diagnostic yield of sputum in patients with an FEV1 > 50% was low, with a predominance of non-PPMs. Low FEV1 and active tobacco smoking are data that should be considered when establishing an empiric antibiotic treatment for exacerbated COPD.
Isolation and Characterization of Sporulation-Initiation Mutation in the Bacillus subtilis prfB Gene

A Bacillus subtilis prfB45 mutant grew at 42 °C, but its sporulation was severely defective at 37 °C. Sporulation-specific induction of kinA, spo0A, and spo0H genes was inhibited in the mutant. The effects of temperature up-shift and down-shift on sporulation of the prfB45 mutant was observed at an early stage of sporulation. UGA readthrough frequency at non-permissive temperatures for sporulation was higher in the mutant than in the wild-type strain. Temperature-sensitive sporulation of the prfB45 mutant was suppressed by mutations in rpsL coding for S12 of ribosomes, required for accurate termination of translation. Additionally, spontaneous second-site mutations that suppressed the sporulation phenotype of the prfB45 strain were found in the rpoB gene. These results suggest that accurate termination of translation is required for proper initiation of sporulation.
Old and New Concepts in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Primary Aldosteronism

Primary aldosteronism (PA) was first reported by Jerome Conn from the University of Michigan1 and is characterized by hypertension with excessive, autonomous production of aldosterone relative to suppressed renin levels.2 Once thought to be a rare condition, it is now known to be the most common form of endocrine hypertension. The overall prevalence in the general hypertensive population was recently demonstrated to be 5.9% increasing with the severity of hypertension (3.9%–11.8%; grade I–III hypertension)3 to as much as 20% in patients with resistant hypertension.4 An early diagnosis followed by correct treatment has an important impact on clinical outcome because it can reverse the increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications associated with PA.5,6 PA can be familial caused by either of the 4 currently recognized subtypes (familial hyperaldosteronism [FH] types I–IV) or arise sporadically in which the aldosterone excess is unilateral (usually caused by an aldosterone-producing adenoma [APA]) or bilateral (usually caused by bilateral adrenal hyperplasia [BAH]). The unilateral and bilateral forms of PA should be differentiated because a patient with unilateral APA is most appropriately treated by adrenalectomy,2 which normalizes or improves blood pressure in 84% of cases,7 and a patient with BAH is treated in almost all cases with a mineralocorticoid antagonist.2 Details for the diagnosis of PA and recommendations for the protocol and interpretation of adrenal venous sampling are described in detail elsewhere.8–10 Until 2011, the genetic basis of PA was largely unknown when in an unprecedented development germline mutations causing new familial forms of PA and somatic mutations driving aldosterone excess in the majority of sporadic unilateral APAs were uncovered. The development of specific monoclonal antibodies to the highly homologous human CYP11B2 and CYP11B1 enzymes identified novel histological structures and evolved our understanding …
Induction of antibodies to a kappa V region by gene immunization.

Direct gene transfer into muscle can lead to sustained gene expression at the injected sites. Here we tested the ability of in vivo gene transfection to immunize mice against an isolated human IgV region. The Humkv325 germline kappa L chain V gene encodes the kappa L chain in V regions of several human IgM autoantibodies and is used frequently in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This gene was inserted into a mammalian expression vector, pREP7, to produce pREVk3. Mice injected i.m. with pREVk3 produced antibodies against the V region of Glo, a human monoclonal IgM paraprotein whose kappa L chain is encoded by Humkv325. Co-injection of an expression vector encoding IL-2 enhanced anti-Glo antibody production fivefold and induced a localized delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Antibody production also was induced when vectors encoding Humkv325 and IL-2 were injected s.c. These experiments demonstrate that gene immunization vectors can stimulate immune responses to antibody V region determinants.
Assessment of the COBAS Amplicor HBV Monitor Test for Quantitation of Serum Hepatitis B Virus DNA Levels

ABSTRACT Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections with potent antiviral therapy often results in dramatic reductions in the levels of viremia to very low levels. Monitoring of serum HBV DNA levels is a consistent method for the assessment of antiviral potency; however, widely used hybridization assays for the monitoring of HBV DNA levels have limited sensitivities and are not effective for the monitoring of patients whose serum HBV DNA levels have decreased to below approximately 700,000 HBV genomes/ml. The objective of the present study was to assess a PCR-based assay (the COBAS-AM assay) for quantitation of serum HBV DNA levels and to compare the results of the COBAS-AM assay with those of a solution hybridization assay with a radiolabeled probe. The precision and accuracy of the assay were determined with low-positive and high-positive controls consisting of a plasmid DNA molecule containing HBV-specific primer binding regions, and the sensitivity of the assay was determined by using serial dilutions of sera from subjects with chronic HBV infection. HBV DNA levels were quantitated in 1,695 serum samples from subjects with chronic HBV infection who were enrolled in clinical trials of lamivudine in North America or Asia. The COBAS-AM assay demonstrated high levels of inter- and intra-assay precision and accuracy, and the linear range of the COBAS-AM assay was greater than that of the solution hybridization assay. The assay is linear over a 3-log10 range and is able to quantitate serum HBV DNA at levels 3 log10 lower than those that can be detected by the solution hybridization assay. We found that the COBAS-AM assay is an accurate PCR-based assay for quantitation of serum HBV DNA levels in subjects with chronic HBV infection.
Uptake of a cell permeable G7‐18NATE construct into cells and binding with the Grb7‐SH2 domain

Grb7 is an adapter protein found to be overexpressed in several breast and other cancer cell types along with ErbB2. Grb7 is normally an interaction partner with focal adhesion kinase and in cancer cells also aberrantly interacts with ErbB2. It is thus implicated in the migratory and proliferative potential of cancer cells. Previous studies have shown that the phage display‐derived cyclic nonphosphorylated inhibitor peptide, G7‐18NATE, when linked to Penetratin©, is able to interfere with the interaction of Grb7 with its upstream binding partners and to impact on both cell migration and proliferation. Here we report the synthesis of a biotinylated G7‐18NATE covalently attached to just the last seven residues of Penetratin© (G7‐18NATE‐P‐Biotin). We demonstrate that this construct is taken up efficiently into MDA‐MB‐468 breast cancer cells and colocalizes with Grb7 in the cytoplasm. We also used isothermal titration calorimetry to determine the binding affinity of G7‐18NATE‐P‐Biotin to the Grb7‐SH2 domain, and showed that it binds with micromolar affinity (K d = 14.4 μM), similar to the affinity of G7‐18NATE (K d = 35.4 μM). Together this shows that this shorter G7‐18NATE‐P‐Biotin construct is suitable for further studies of the antiproliferative and antimigratory potential of this inhibitor. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 96: 181–188, 2011.
Percepções de avós cuidadoras maternas sobre a criação e educação dos netos

O aumento da populacao idosa e as novas construcoes culturais e teoricas acerca dos processos de envelhecimento vem reconfigurando os papeis assumidos por idosas no seio das familias contemporâneas. A presente pesquisa objetivou investigar a percepcao de avos cuidadoras maternas sobre as praticas educativas e acompanhamento de seus netos em idade escolar e suas concepcoes sobre o desenvolvimento, educacao e relacionamentos intergeracionais. A pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas. A primeira, de rastreamento, contou com a participacao de 70 mulheres, com idade media de 66,2 anos, avos de criancas de 7 a 10 anos de idade, alunos de uma escola particular na cidade de Juiz de Fora, sendo submetidas a aplicacao de um instrumento de sondagem para a identificacao das avos cuidadoras. Apos analise estatistica dos resultados, 10 avos, com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, foram selecionadas para a participacao na segunda etapa da pesquisa, respondendo a uma entrevista semi-estruturada cujo roteiro envolveu doze perguntas distribuidas em cinco tematicas. Os resultados oriundos do instrumento de rastreamento revelaram que 80% das avos encontravam-se numa faixa etaria entre 50 e 59 anos enquanto a maioria das avos idosas, 85,5%, estavam compreendidas entre a faixa etaria dos 60 – 69 anos e 14,5% entre 70-79 anos. No que se refere ao estado civil, 60% das avos maduras eram casadas enquanto 54,5% das avos idosas encontravam-se em uniao estavel. A media do numero de filhos para a amostra total de avos foi de 3,49 e a media para o numero de netos esteve entre 4,27. A media do numero de pessoas que residiam com as avos foi de 2,72 por residencia. Da amostra inicial, 6,7% das avos maduras e 32,7% das avos idosas foram identificadas como cuidadoras, enquanto 86,6% das avos maduras e 67,3% idosas foram consideradas auxiliares. Das avos idosas cuidadoras, 10 mulheres participaram da entrevista (segunda etapa da pesquisa). A analise de conteudo dessas entrevistas evidenciou que, o trabalho e a separacao dos filhos sao as principais razoes que motivam o cuidado dos netos pelas avos. Em relacao a concepcao sobre a educacao e criacao dos netos, as avos concebem esse papel de uma forma restritiva e diferenciada dos filhos, desempenhando-o de forma secundaria. Em relacao ao desenvolvimento infantil dos netos, as avos evidenciaram dificuldades relacionadas a nutricao, constituicao familiar e carencia dos mesmos, declarando ainda que os cuidados prestados aos netos conferem a elas mais beneficios que prejuizos. No que se refere as relacoes intergeracionais e familiares, as idosas consideram a velhice um marco para mudancas pessoais e funcionais na familia. Os resultados permitiram concluir que as avos cuidadoras representam suporte pratico para os filhos e afetivo para os netos embora desempenhem um papel secundario na educacao deles.
Use of the ‘real-ear to dial difference’ to derive real-ear SPL from hearing level obtained with insert earphones

Abstract The electroacoustic characteristics of a hearing instrument are normally selected for individuals using data obtained during audiological assessment. The precise inter-relationship between the electroacoustic and audiometric variables is most readily appreciated when they have been measured at the same reference point, such as the tympanic membrane. However, it is not always possible to obtain the real-ear sound pressure level (SPL) directly if this is below the noise floor of the probe-tube microphone system or if the subject is unco-operative. The real-ear SPL may be derived by adding the subject’s real-ear to dial difference (REDD) acoustic transform to the audiometer dial setting. The aim of the present study was to confirm the validity of the Audioscan RM500 to measure the REDD with the ER-3A insert earphone. A probe-tube microphone was used to measure the real-ear SPL and REDD from the right ears of 16 adult subjects ranging in age from 22 to 41 years (mean age 27 years). Measurements were made from 0.25 kHz to 6 kHz at a dial setting of 70 dB with an ER-3A insert earphone and two earmould configurations: the EAR-LINK foam ear-tip and the subjects’ customized skeleton earmoulds. Mean REDD varied as a function of frequency but was typically approximately 12 dB with a standard deviation (SD) of ±1.7 dB and ±2.7 dB for the foam ear-tip and customized earmould, respectively. The mean test-retest difference of the REDD varied with frequency but was typically 0.5 dB (SD 1 dB). Over the frequency range 0.5-4 kHz, the derived values were found to be within 5 dB of the measured values in 95% of subjects when using the EAR-LINK foam ear-tip and within 4 dB when using the skeleton earmould. The individually measured REDD transform can be used in clinical practice to derive a valid estimate of real-ear SPL when it has not been possible to measure Ihis directly.
An outbreak of Ebola in Uganda

An outbreak of Ebola disease was reported from Gulu district, Uganda, on 8 October 2000. The outbreak was characterized by fever and haemorrhagic manifestations, and affected health workers and the general population of Rwot‐Obillo, a village 14 km north of Gulu town. Later, the outbreak spread to other parts of the country including Mbarara and Masindi districts. Response measures included surveillance, community mobilization, case and logistics management. Three coordination committees were formed: National Task Force (NTF), a District Task Force (DTF) and an Interministerial Task Force (IMTF). The NTF and DTF were responsible for coordination and follow‐up of implementation of activities at the national and district levels, respectively, while the IMTF provided political direction and handled sensitive issues related to stigma, trade, tourism and international relations. The international response was coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) under the umbrella organization of the Global Outbreak and Alert Response Network. A WHO/CDC case definition for Ebola was adapted and used to capture four categories of cases, namely, the ‘alert’, ‘suspected’, ‘probable’ and ‘confirmed cases’. Guidelines for identification and management of cases were developed and disseminated to all persons responsible for surveillance, case management, contact tracing and Information Education Communication (IEC). For the duration of the epidemic that lasted up to 16 January 2001, a total of 425 cases with 224 deaths were reported countrywide. The case fatality rate was 53%. The attack rate (AR) was highest in women. The average AR for Gulu district was 12.6 cases/10 000 inhabitants when the contacts of all cases were considered and was 4.5 cases/10 000 if limited only to contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. The secondary AR was 2.5% when nearly 5000 contacts were followed up for 21 days. Uganda was finally declared Ebola free on 27 February 2001, 42 days after the last case was reported. The Government's role in coordination of both local and international support was vital. The NTF and the corresponding district committees harmonized implementation of a mutually agreed programme. Community mobilization using community‐based resource persons and political organs, such as Members of Parliament was effective in getting information to the public. This was critical in controlling the epidemic. Past experience in epidemic management has shown that in the absence of regular provision of information to the public, there are bound to be deleterious rumours. Consequently rumour was managed by frank and open discussion of the epidemic, providing daily updates, fact sheets and press releases. Information was regularly disseminated to communities through mass media and press conferences. Thus all levels of the community spontaneously demonstrated solidarity and response to public health interventions. Even in areas of relative insecurity, rebel abductions diminished considerably.