Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pilins in gram‐positive bacteria: A structural perspective

Pilins or fimbrilins are a class of proteins found in bacterial surface pilus, a hair‐like surface appendage. Both the Gram‐negative and ‐positive bacteria produce pilins to assemble pili on their cell‐surface for different purposes including adherence, twitching motility, conjugation, immunomodulation, biofilm formation, and electron transfer. Immunogenic properties of the pilins make them attractive vaccine candidates. The polymerized pilins play a key role in the initiation of host adhesion, which is a critical step for bacterial colonization and infection. Because of their key role in adhesion and exposure on the cell surface, targeting the pilins‐mediated adhesion (anti‐adhesion therapy) is also seen as a promising alternative approach for preventing and treating bacterial infections, one that may overcome their ever‐increasing repertoires of resistance mechanisms. Individual pilins interact with each other non‐covalently to assemble the pilus fiber with the help of associated proteins like chaperones and Usher in Gram‐negative bacteria. In contrast, the pilins in Gram‐positive bacteria often connect with each other covalently, with the help of sortases. Certain unique structural features present on the pilins distinguish them from one another across different bacterial strains, and these dictate their cellular targets and functions. While the structure of pilins has been extensively studied in Gram‐negative pathogenic bacteria, the pilins in Gram‐positive pathogenic bacteria have been in only during the last decade. Recently, the discovery of pilins in non‐pathogenic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, has received great attention, though traditionally the attention was on pathogenic bacteria. This review summarizes and discusses the current structural knowledge of pilins in Gram‐positive bacteria with emphasis on those pilins which are sortase substrates. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(7):533–543, 2015
Radical excision of intramedullary spinal cord tumors: surgical morbidity and long-term follow-up evaluation in 164 children and young adults.

OBJECT The majority of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCT) in children and young adults are low-grade gliomas. Radical resection of similar tumors in the cerebral hemisphere or cerebellum is usually curative; however, the conventional management for IMSCTs remains partial resection followed by radiotherapy because of the concern for surgical morbidity. Nevertheless, radical resection of IMSCTs without routine adjuvant treatment has been the rule at our institution since 1980. In an attempt to resolve this controversy, the long-term morbidity and survival in a large series of children have been retrospectively reviewed. METHODS The database records and current status of 164 patients 21 years of age and younger in whom an IMSCT was resected were reviewed. A gross-total resection (>95%) was achieved in 76.8% of the surgical procedures. Subtotal resections (80-95%) were performed in 20. 1%. The majority of patients (79.3%) had histologically low-grade lesions. There were no deaths due to surgery. When comparing the preoperative and 3-month postoperative functional grades, 60.4% stayed the same, 15.8% improved, and 23.8% deteriorated. Only 13 patients deteriorated by more than one functional grade. Patients with either no deficits or only mild deficits before surgery were rarely injured by the procedure, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The major determinant of long-term patient survival was histological composition of the tumor. The 5-year progression-free survival rate was 78% for patients with low-grade gliomas and 30% for those with high-grade gliomas. Patients in whom an IMSCT was only partially resected (<80%) fared significantly worse. CONCLUSIONS The long-term survival and quality of life for patients with low-grade gliomas treated by radical resection alone is comparable or superior to minimal resection and radiotherapy. The optimum therapy for patients with high-grade gliomas is yet to be determined.
Electrophysiological Correlates of the Visual After Effect by Means of Visual Evoked Potentials

An attempt was made to determine whether changes of electrical activity could be seen in the posterior cortex during an after image of high frequency luminance gratings. Steady state visual evoked potentials were recorded (midoccipital, right and left temporo-occipital sites) immediately after a period of visual adaptation (15 min) to the stimulus, while the subjects experienced the after image. During this illusion, frequencies of the fast Fourier transform spectra linked to the stimulation differed from the noise and were larger at temporo-occipital sites than at the midoccipital on e. in view of these results, the hypothesis that the after effect represents a short term storage of the temporal characteristics of the stimulus is evoked.
Impact of daylength on the productivity of two commercial broiler strains

1. The impact of daylength on productivity in male and female broilers of two genotypes was studied in two replicated experiments. In each experiment, four lighting programs (14L:10D (14L), 17L:7D (17L), 20L:4D (20L) and 23L:1D (23L)) were used to study the relationships between productivity and daylength in two genotypes and both genders. 2. General Linear Model analysis was used to test for differences in daylength, genotype, gender and their interactions, and regression analysis to define relationships between productivity and daylength in experiment one and daylength differences in experiment two. 3. In experiment one, body weights at d 32 (P = 0·002) and d 39 (P = 0·011) were related in a quadratic fashion to daylength, with the heaviest birds raised under 20L. The growth curve at d 49 was similar in shape, and body weights under both 17L and 20L were significantly higher than under 14L and 23L (P < 0·001). In experiment two, data were similar, although the quadratic relationship was not significant. 4. Feed consumption was highest to d 39 or d 49 under 20L, and birds under 23L ate as much (d 39) or less feed (d 49) than under 17L. 5. Gain-to-feed efficiency (FCR) responded in a quadratic fashion, with maximum efficiency observed under the shortest daylength. 6. Mortality increased linearly with daylength for all time periods in both experiments.
Activation of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor promoter in T cells requires cooperative binding of Elf-1 and AP-1 transcription factors

The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene has been studied extensively as a model system of transcriptional induction during T-lymphocyte activation. The GM-CSF gene is not expressed in resting peripheral blood T cells but is rapidly induced at the transcriptional level following activation through the cell surface T-cell receptor. A highly conserved 19-bp element located immediately 5' of the human GM-CSF TATA box (bp -34 to -52), herein called purine box 1 (PB1), has been shown to bind a T-cell nuclear protein complex and to be required for transcriptional induction of the GM-CSF gene following T-cell activation. The PB1 sequence motif is highly conserved in both human and murine GM-CSF genes. In this report, we demonstrate that the PB1 element alone confers inducibility on a heterologous promoter following transfection into human Jurkat T cells. In addition, we identify a major PB1 nuclear protein-binding complex that is not present in resting peripheral blood T cells but is rapidly induced following T-cell activation. Sequence analysis revealed that PB1 is composed of adjacent binding sites for Ets and AP-1 transcription factors. In vitro mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that both the Ets and AP-1 sites are required for binding of the inducible PB1 nuclear protein complex and for the transcriptional activity of this element and the GM-CSF promoter in activated T cells. Using antibodies specific for different Ets and AP-1 family members, we demonstrate that the major inducible PB1-binding activity present in activated T-cell nuclear extracts is composed of the Elf-1, c-Fos, and JunB transcription factors. Taken together, these results suggest that cooperative interactions between specific Ets and AP-1 family members are important in regulating inducible gene expression following T-cell activation.
Embryotoxicity of arsenic acid: light and electron microscopy of its effect on neurulation-stage rat embryo.

To clarify the light and electron microscopic changes accompanying embryonic death from a lethal dose of arsenic acid, MP 1 pregnant rats were injected i.p. with 30 mg/kg arsenic acid at 1:30 p.m. on day 9 of gestation (the neurulation stage). At 4 hours after treatment, some cell necrosis occurred in the neuroectoderm and the mesoderm of the embryo. At six hours later, cell necrosis increased in the neuroectoderm and the mesoderm, whereas those in the surface ectoderm and the endoderm were very few. In the embryo 12 hours after treatment, abnormal mitotic cells exhibiting vesiculation of the endoplasmic reticula, and abnormal interphase cells characterized by the ring-shaped nucleoli in the nucleus and the enlargement of cisternae of the endoplasmic reticula and the nuclear envelope, were observed in the neuroectoderm and the mesoderm. Debris from cell necrosis and the said abnormal mitotic and interphase cells were ejected from the neuroectoderm into the amniotic coele. In the embryo 24 hours later, neurulation was stopped and the V-shaped neural fold remained. The somite formation was retarded. The surviving cells in the embryo sometimes contained phagocytic vesicles in the cytoplasm, but no other anomalies were encountered. It was considered that a variety of metabolic reactions may be disturbed by arsenic acid, resulting in numerous cell necrosis and abnormal mitotic and interphase cells in the neuroectoderm and the mesoderm of the rat embryo.
Fundamental limits on the frequency stabilities of crystal oscillators

The frequency instabilities of precision bulk acoustic wave (BAW) quartz crystal oscillators are reviewed. The fundamental limits on the achievable frequency stabilities, and the degree to which the fundamental limits have been approached to date are examined. Included are the instabilities as a function of time, temperature, acceleration, ionizing radiation, electromagnetic fields, humidity, atmospheric pressure, power supply, and load impedance. Most of the fundamental limits are zero or negligibly small, a few are finite. We speculate about the progress which may be achievable in the future with respect to approaching the fundamental limits. Suggestions are provided about the paths that may lead to significant stability improvements. <<ETX>>
The changing nature of labour protest: Comparing the fragmentation of protest rituals on May 1st in Berlin and Budapest

The transition from industrial to post-industrial society has changed the conditions for labour protest in Europe fundamentally. In this paper recent forms of labour protest are explored in two European capital cities, Berlin and Budapest. In the context of growing job insecurity, flexibilisation and fragmentation of labour markets, the motivations and class positions of protest participants are scrutinised, along with the diversified geographies of protest events. Building on empirical results by means of a survey based on structured mini-interviews, the paper argues, first, that a fragmentation of labour protests on May 1st is observable. This fragmentation is driven by an overall change of Labour Day celebrations from trade union oriented demonstrations towards segmented party zones of protest in both cities. Second, neither traditional forms of labour protest is nor newly created, more festive forms of labour celebrations attract a significant proportion of people suffering from precarity or unemployment. Thus, most marginalised people in the service-dominated economy do not have a voice in labour protests today.
Headaches in intracerebral hemorrhage survivors

Few data exist on headache in survivors of acute cerebrovascular disease. During the second year of follow-up of a cohort of intracerebral hemorrhages(ICH), the lifetime history of headache before stroke and 2 years after stroke was characterized through a neurologic interview and a headache questionnaire. Headaches were classified following the International Headache Society classification categories. Disability (Rankin scale) and depression(CERAD depression scale) were also evaluated. Ninety survivors were interviewed. Comparing the distribution of pre- and post-ICH headaches, 24 subjects (27%) never had headaches, 39 subjects (43%) had ongoing headaches, 10 subjects (11%) complained of headaches only after ICH, and 17 subjects'(19%) headaches remitted after ICH. There was usually a delay of weeks or months between ICH and the first headache episode. Poststroke headaches were in general less severe and frequent than prestroke headaches. New-onset headaches after ICH were mainly of the tension type and were significantly associated with depression but not with new intracranial lesions. Headaches in remission after ICH were related to acute alcohol consumption and migraines. Chronic post-ICH headaches are usually tension type and occur in association with depression. Remission of headaches after ICH is related to removal of headache precipitants (alcohol) and possibly to structural or functional changes of the trigeminovascular system secondary to intracranial bleeding.
Arrhythmic complications after electrical cardioversion of acute atrial fibrillation: the FinCV study.

AIMS To determine the incidence and risk factors of arrhythmic complications after electrical cardioversion of acute atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS Our retrospective multicentre study collected data from 7660 cardioversions of acute (<48 h) AF in 3143 consecutive patients. Immediate arrhythmic complications were evaluated after 6906 (90.2%) electrical cardioversions performed in 2868 patients. We also assessed the predictors of arrhythmic complications and whether post-cardioversion bradycardia or asystole led to later a permanent pacemaker implantation. Altogether, 63 (0.9%) electrical cardioversions resulted in bradyarrhythmia in 54 patients. Asystole (>5 s) occurred immediately after 51 cardioversions leading to a short resuscitation in seven cases and two patients needed extrinsic pacing after the cardioversion. In nine cases, asystole was followed by bradycardia. Bradycardic ventricular rate (<40 b.p.m.) alone was seen after 12 procedures. No ventricular arrhythmias needing intervention were detected. Old age [odds ratio (OR) 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.10, P < 0.0001], female sex (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4-4.8, P = 0.004), and unsuccessful cardioversion (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.6, P = 0.03) were the independent predictors of bradycardic complications. Slow ventricular rate, use of digoxin, beta blocker, or antiarrhythmic medication did not increase the risk of bradycardic complications. Pacemaker was implanted in 24 (44.4%) patients after a median delay of 66 days. CONCLUSION Bradycardic complications are rare and usually benign after cardioversion of acute AF. They seem to reflect sinus node dysfunction and often result in later implantation of a permanent pacemaker.
Catastrophizing: a predictor of persistent pain among women with endometriosis at 1 year.

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is the most common gynecological diagnosis among women with chronic pelvic pain, but the underlying mechanisms of endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the biopsychosocial predictors of pain improvement among women with endometriosis. METHODS One hundred and fifteen women who presented for treatment of endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain at a tertiary referral center at a university-based hospital participated in this prospective observational study of clinical practice. Participants completed questionnaires assessing pain, mental health and catastrophizing at entry and 1 year follow-up. The main outcome measure assessed was the interval change in pain report using the McGill pain 1uestionnaire. RESULT(S) On average, participants experienced a 37.4% reduction in interval pain (P < 0.001). Adjusted for baseline pain, nulliparity (P = 0.002) and catastrophizing (P = 0.04) were associated with decreased probability of interval improvement in pain. Those referred for physical therapy had less interval pain improvement (P = 0.04). However, undergoing hysterectomy was a strong predictor of improvement in pain (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION(S) Our study suggests that chronic pain in endometriosis may be more akin to other idiopathic pain disorders. Specifically, biopsychosocial variables, such as catastrophizing, play an important role in reported severity. Further research on biopsychosocial correlates of chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis is warranted.
Precise Packaging of the Three Genomic Segments of the Double-Stranded-RNA Bacteriophage φ6

SUMMARY Bacteriophage φ6 has a genome of three segments of double-stranded RNA. Each virus particle contains one each of the three segments. Packaging is effected by the acquisition, in a serially dependent manner, of the plus strands of the genomic segments into empty procapsids. The empty procapsids are compressed in shape and expand during packaging. The packaging program involves discrete steps that are determined by the amount of RNA inside the procapsid. The steps involve the exposure and concealment of binding sites on the outer surface of the procapsid for the plus strands of the three genomic segments. The plus strand of segment S can be packaged alone, while packaging of the plus strand of segment M depends upon prior packaging of S. Packaging of the plus strand of L depends upon the prior packaging of M. Minus-strand synthesis begins when the particle has a full complement of plus strands. Plus-strand synthesis commences upon the completion of minus-strand synthesis. All of the reactions of packaging, minus-strand synthesis, and plus-strand synthesis can be accomplished in vitro with isolated procapsids. Live-virus constructions that are in accord with the model have been prepared. Mutant virus with changes in the packaging program have been isolated and analyzed.
Protection by DMSO against Cell Death Caused by Intracellularly Localized Iodine-125, Iodine-131 and Polonium-210

Abstract Bishayee, A. , Rao, D. V. , Bouchet, L. G. , Bolch, W. E. and Howell, R. W. Protection by DMSO against Cell Death Caused by Intracellularly Localized Iodine-125, Iodine-131 and Polonium-210. The mechanisms by which DNA-incorporated radionuclides impart lethal damage to mammalian cells were investigated by examining the capacity of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to protect against lethal damage to Chinese hamster V79 cells caused by unbound tritium (3H2O), DNA-incorporated 125I- and 131I-iododeoxyuridine (125IdU, 131IdU), and cytoplasmically localized 210Po citrate. The radionuclides 3H and 131I emit low- and medium-energy β particles, respectively, 125I is a prolific Auger electron emitter, and 210Po emits 5.3 MeV α particles. Cells were radiolabeled and maintained at 10.5°C for 72 h in the presence of different concentrations of DMSO (5–12.5% v/v), and the surviving fraction compared to that of unlabeled controls was determined. DMSO afforded no protection against the lethal effects of the high-LET α particles emitted by 210Po. Protection against lethal damage caused by unbound 3H, 131IdU and 125IdU depended on the concentration of DMSO in the culture medium. Ten percent DMSO provided maximum protection in all cases. The dose modification factors obtained at 10% DMSO for 3H2O, 131IdU, 125IdU and 210Po citrate were 2.9 ± 0.01, 2.3 ± 0.5, 2.6 ± 0.2 and 0.95 ± 0.07, respectively. These results indicate that the toxicity of Auger electron and β-particle emitters incorporated into the DNA of mammalian cells is largely radical-mediated and is therefore indirect in nature. This is also the case for the low-energy β particles emitted by 3H2O. In contrast, α particles impart lethal damage largely by direct effects. Finally, calculations of cellular absorbed doses indicate that β-particle emitters are substantially more toxic when incorporated into the DNA of mammalian cells than when they are localized extracellularly.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF UNIVERSITIES CO-PRODUCTION IN AFRICA

Universities are engine of growth and development if well managed and sustained. Most of the universities in Africa are performing below expectation especially in co-production. Therefore, the study seeks to explore the role of university in fostering co-production with reference to Africa. What are the key features of highly co-production universities? And why is it that African universities are not innovative? Qualitative method was used, interviews were conducted with some of the stakeholders in Africa and secondary data were used. Secondary data were sourced through newspapers, journals and text books to validate the data. The findings reveal that lack of collaboration, poor funding, inadequate man power and lack of training constitute hindrance to innovation practice. The paper suggests, collaboration, information technology development and training should be enhanced.
Television newscasters and news : the perception and selection of local newscasters and stations /

2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark, it is an indication o f either blurred copy because o f movement during exposure, duplicate copy, or copyrighted materials that should no t have been filmed. For blurred pages, a good image o f the page can be found in the adjacent frame. If copyrighted materials were deleted, a target note will appear listing the pages in the adjacent frame.
Why So Few Women and Minorities in Local Politics?: Incumbency and Affinity Voting in Low Information Elections

Previous research has examined the effects of incumbency or affinity voting on the political representation of women and minorities. No study has considered the interaction of these two factors, even though there are good reasons to suspect that both may play a key role in voter choice. This study examines the joint effects of incumbency and gender and racial affinity voting in non-partisan and generally low information ward elections in the City of Toronto. Results reveal the absence of gender affinity effects, regardless of the presence of an incumbent, but that racial affinity is a factor in wards without incumbents.
The Warburg effect in mycobacterial granulomas is dependent on the recruitment and activation of macrophages by interferon‐γ

Granulomas are the hallmark of mycobacterial disease. Here, we demonstrate that both the cell recruitment and the increased glucose consumption in granulomatous infiltrates during Mycobacterium avium infection are highly dependent on interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). Mycobacterium avium‐infected mice lacking IFN‐γ signalling failed to developed significant inflammatory infiltrations and lacked the characteristic uptake of the glucose analogue fluorine‐18‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). To assess the role of macrophages in glucose uptake we infected mice with a selective impairment of IFN‐γ signalling in the macrophage lineage (MIIG mice). Although only a partial reduction of the granulomatous areas was observed in infected MIIG mice, the insensitivity of macrophages to IFN‐γ reduced the accumulation of FDG. In vivo, ex vivo and in vitro assays showed that macrophage activated by IFN‐γ displayed increased rates of glucose uptake and in vitro studies showed also that they had increased lactate production and increased expression of key glycolytic enzymes. Overall, our results show that the activation of macrophages by IFN‐γ is responsible for the Warburg effect observed in organs infected with M. avium.