Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HmbR, a Hemoglobin-Binding Outer Membrane Protein of Neisseria meningitidis, Undergoes Phase Variation

ABSTRACT Neisseria meningitidis uses hemoglobin (Hb) as an iron source via two TonB-dependent outer membrane receptors, HmbR and HpuB. Analysis of 25 epidemiologically unrelated clinical isolates from serogroups A, B, C, and Y revealed that 64% strains possessed both Hb receptor genes. Examination of the hmbR expression pattern in strains in which the hpuB gene was genetically inactivated revealed two distinct Hb utilization phenotypes. Five strains retained the ability to grow as a confluent lawn, while seven grew only as single colonies around Hb discs. The single-colony phenotype observed for some hpuB mutants is suggestive of phase variation of hmbR. The length of the poly(G) tract starting at position +1164 of hmbR absolutely correlated with the two Hb utilization phenotypes. All five strains that grew as confluent lawns around Hb discs possessed either 9 or 12 consecutive G residues. All seven strains that grew as single colonies around Hb discs had poly(G) tracts of a length other than 9 or 12. These single-colony variants that arose around the Hb discs had poly(G) tracts with either 9 or 12 consecutive G residues restoring thehmbR reading frame. Inactivation of hmbR in these strains resulted in a loss of Hb utilization, demonstrating that the change in the hmbR gene was responsible for the phenotypic switch. The switching rates from hmbR phase off to phase on were ∼5 × 10−4 in four serogroup C strains, 2 × 10−2 in the serogroup A isolate, and 7 × 10−6 in the serogroup B isolate.
A light‐entrained circadian clock controls transcription of several plant genes.

Diurnal oscillations in steady‐state mRNA levels and transcription rates were measured for seven transcripts (five of which encode chloroplast‐localized proteins) in tomato seedlings: photosystem I and photosystem II chlorophyll a/b binding proteins (CAB/I and CAB/II), small subunit of RuBisCO (RBCS), actin, subunit II of the photosystem I reaction center (PSAD), subunit I of the photosystem II oxygen‐evolving enzyme (OEE1), and a biotin‐binding protein of unknown function. CAB/II mRNA levels were found to oscillate greater than 20‐fold, showing a peak at noon, while only marginal diurnal oscillations are seen in RBCS transcripts. The oscillations are at least partially controlled at the transcriptional level. Transcription rates of both CAB/II and RBCS, measured by nuclear run‐on experiments, were found to oscillate, with a peak around 8 a.m. Transcription rates of the ‘biotin’ clone also oscillated, with a peak around noon. Transfer of plants to constant darkness or constant light conditions alters the amplitude of the transcriptional oscillation, but does not abolish it, suggesting that it is at least partially controlled by a circadian clock. The oscillations are still visible after three days in complete darkness, and have a period very close to 24 h. The oscillator phase can be reset by out‐of‐phase light treatment.
Singar1, a Novel RUN Domain-containing Protein, Suppresses Formation of Surplus Axons for Neuronal Polarity*♦

Although neuronal functions depend on their robust polarity, the mechanisms that ensure generation and maintenance of only a single axon remain poorly understood. Using highly sensitive two-dimensional electrophoresis-based proteomics, we identified here a novel protein, single axon-related (singar)1/KIAA0871/RPIPx/RUFY3, which contains a RUN domain and is predominantly expressed in the brain. Singar1 expression became up-regulated during polarization of cultured hippocampal neurons and remained at high levels thereafter. Singar1 was diffusely localized in hippocampal neurons and moderately accumulated in growth cones of minor processes and axons. Overexpression of singar1 did not affect normal neuronal polarization but suppressed the formation of surplus axons induced by excess levels of shootin1, a recently identified protein located upstream of phosphoinositide-3-kinase and involved in neuronal polarization. Conversely, reduction of the expression of singar1 and its splicing variant singar2 by RNA interference led to an increase in the population of neurons bearing surplus axons, in a phosphoinositide-3-kinase-dependent manner. Overexpression of singar2 did not suppress the formation of surplus axons induced by shootin1. We propose that singar1 ensures the robustness of neuronal polarity by suppressing formation of surplus axons.
Efforts to establish the reliability of the Resident Assessment Instrument.

BACKGROUND since its original implementation in the USA, the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) has been used in many countries in languages other than English. This paper describes the efforts that have been made to test the inter-rater reliability of the core set of items forming the minimum data set items in the USA and in non-English speaking countries (Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland). RESULTS a large proportion (from 70 to 96%) of the items in the RAI achieved an adequate to excellent level of reliability, with no substantial differences across countries. The RAI met the standard for good reliability (i.e. a kappa value of 0.6 or higher) in crucial areas of functional status, such as memory, activities of daily living self-performance and support, and bowel and bladder continence in most of the countries. Indicators of mood and behavioural problems achieved adequate reliability levels of 0.4 or higher.
Allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation after nonmyeloablative conditioning in patients with T‐cell and natural killer‐cell lymphomas

Patients with T‐cell and natural killer‐cell lymphomas have poor outcomes. This study examined the role of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo‐HCT) after nonmyeloablative conditioning in this setting. Seventeen patients with T‐cell lymphoma or NK‐cell lymphoma, including three patients in first complete remission, received allo‐HCT after 2 Gy total‐body irradiation and fludarabine. The median age was 57 (range, 18–73) years. The median number of prior therapies was 3 (range, 1–7), six patients (35%) had failed prior autologous HCT, and five patients (29%) had refractory disease at the time of allograft. Postgrafting immunosuppression was provided with mycophenolate mofetil with ciclosporin or tacrolimus. After a median follow‐up of 3·3 (range, 0·3–8·0) years among surviving patients, the estimated probabilities of 3‐year overall and progression‐free survival were 59% and 53%, respectively, while the estimated probabilities of non‐relapse mortality and relapse at 3 years were 19% and 26%, respectively. Sixty‐five percent of patients developed grades 2–4 acute graft‐versus‐host disease and 53% of patients developed chronic graft‐versus‐host disease. Allo‐HCT after nonmyeloablative conditioning is a promising salvage option for selected patients with T‐cell and NK‐cell lymphomas. These results suggest that graft‐versus‐T‐cell lymphoma activity is responsible for long‐term disease control.
Evaluación financiera para la apertura de una unidad de negocio para Musselle Ltda

Musselle es una empresa familiar dedicada a la produccion y comercializacion de productos de belleza. La compania ha estado presente en el mercado de cosmeticos y productos para la salud, la higiene y la belleza desde hace 27 anos y se ha caracterizado por ofrecer productos de calidad a otras empresas comercializadoras. En la actualidad el crecimiento de la empresa es limitado y la competitividad del mercado ha generado inconvenientes financieros para la compania. Adicionalmente, el modelo de negocio bajo el cual opera la compania implica que los margenes de rentabilidad sean muy bajos debido a que la mayor parte de este margen se queda en las empresas que venden los productos directamente al consumidor final.
Association Between Steroid Dosage and Death With a Functioning Graft After Kidney Transplantation

Death with a functioning graft remains a major challenge following kidney transplantation. Steroid dosing may be a modifiable risk factor. Collaborative Transplant Study (CTS) data were analyzed to assess the relationship between long‐term steroid dose and death with function during years 2–5 posttransplant in 41 953 adult recipients of a deceased‐donor kidney transplant during 1995–2010. Steroid dose at year 1 correlated significantly with death with function overall, and with death due to cardiovascular disease or infection (all p < 0.001). In patients with optimal graft function (serum creatinine <130 µmol/L) and no anti‐rejection treatment during (a) year 1 (b) years 1 and 2, these significant associations remained (all p < 0.001). The center‐specific incidence of steroid withdrawal during year 2 showed a significant inverse association with death due to cardiovascular disease (p < 0.001) or infection (p < 0.001) overall, and within the subpopulation with good graft function and no rejection during year 1 (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Maintenance steroid dose shows a highly significant association with death with a functioning graft caused by cardiovascular disease or infection during years 2–5 after kidney transplantation, even in patients with good graft outcomes in whom steroid treatment would appear to be unnecessary.
Look-ahead fixations in curve driving

Two functionally distinct types of fixation, guiding fixations and look-ahead fixations, have been identified in naturalistic tasks based on their temporal relationship to the task execution. In car driving, steering through a curve is guided by fixations toward a region located 1–2 s in the future, but drivers also make fixations further along the road. We recorded drivers' eye movements while they drove an instrumented vehicle on curved rural roads and developed a method to quantify lead time and distance of look-ahead fixations. We also investigated the effect of cognitive load on look-ahead fixations. The look-ahead fixations appear to have a pattern which is connected to the sequential structure of a curve. This suggests that they have a role both in advance planning of the driving line and in the anticipation of oncoming vehicles. Cognitive load led to a shorter look-ahead lead time and distance. Practitioner Summary: We developed a method to quantify lead time and distance of look-ahead fixations in curve driving from on-road eye movement data. The results are relevant for driver modelling and development of anticipation training programmes for novice drivers.
A Korean experience of the use of Boston Bowel Preparation Scale: A Valid and Reliable Instrument for Colonoscopy-Oriented Research

Background/Aims: Few bowel preparation scales have been validated. The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) is a novel bowel preparation scale in western countries. We validated the BBPS in Korean patients and assessed the relationship between the colon polyp detection rate and BBPS score. Patients and Methods: This study was a prospective, single-center trial. The BBPS is a 10-point scale that assesses bowel preparation after the completion of all cleansing maneuvers. We assessed three segment scores (the right side, transverse section, and left side) and total BBPS scores during screening colonoscopy. In addition, we compared the BBPS scores with clinically meaningful outcomes such as the polyp detection rate and colonoscope withdrawal times. Results: We enrolled 482 screening colonoscopies between January 2011 and January 2012. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) BBPS score was 8.1 ± 1.1. Higher BBPS scores (≥8 vs <8) were associated with a higher polyp detection rate (44.9% vs. 33.0%, P = 0.042). The BBPS scores were inversely correlated with colonoscope withdrawal times (r = −0.167, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The BBPS is a valid and reliable measure for assessing bowel preparation during colonoscopy in Korean patients. The polyp detection rate is higher in patients with higher BBPS scores than in those with lower BBPS scores during a colonoscopic procedure.
Study of cell death induced by cell membrane localized sonodynamic therapy

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), based on synergistic effect of low intensity ultrasound and sonosensitizer, is a potential noninvasive approach for the treatment of cancers. It is shown that the subcellular distribution of sonosensitizer are varied with their properties and incubation time. However, the responses of cancer cells to localized SDT is still unclear. The aim of this study is to reveal bioeffect of cell membrane localized SDT. Before ultrasound treatment, Homo sapiens epithelial cells, HeLa were incubated 1 hour with protoporphyrin IX (PpIX, accumulated on cell membrane in 1 hour). The subcellular distribution of PpIX was visualized after incubating of 1 hour by confocal microscopy. Then cells were treated by low intensity ultrasound (frequency of 1.0MHz, Ispta of 500mW/cm2, and duty circle of 20%) for 10 minutes. After SDT treatment, FITC Annexin V/PI stain and flow cytometry analysis were employed for the analysis of the necrosis and apoptosis ratio induced by cell membrane localized SDT. Confocal images showed that PpIX adhered to membrane after incubation of 1 hour. Flow cytometry results demonstrated that there were 41.8% necrosis and 5.12% apoptosis when loaded with PpIX after SDT treatment. These results indicated that membrane localized SDT tends to induce necrosis and provide us an alternative protocol for SDT.
Dose reduction in CT while maintaining diagnostic confidence: diagnostic reference levels at routine head, chest, and abdominal CT--IAEA-coordinated research project.

PURPOSE To measure radiation doses for computed tomography (CT) of the head, chest, and abdomen and compare them with the diagnostic reference levels, as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency Research coordination project. MATERIALS AND METHODS The local ethics committees of all participating institutions approved the study protocol. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. All scanners were helical single-section or multi-detector row CT systems. Six hundred thirty-three patients undergoing head (n = 97), chest (n = 243), or abdominal (n = 293) CT were included. Collected data included patient height, weight, sex, and age; tube voltage and tube current-time product settings; pitch; section thickness; number of sections; weighted or volumetric CT dose index; and dose-length product (DLP). The effective dose was also estimated and served as collective dose estimation data. RESULTS Mean volumetric CT dose index and DLP values were below the European diagnostic reference levels: 39 mGy and 544 mGy . cm, respectively, at head CT; 9.3 mGy and 348 mGy . cm, respectively, at chest CT; and 10.4 mGy and 549 mGy . cm, respectively, at abdominal CT. Estimated effective doses were 1.2, 5.9, and 8.2 mSv, respectively. CONCLUSION Comparison of CT results with diagnostic reference levels revealed the need for revisions, partly because the newer scanners have improved technology that facilitates lower patient doses.
Appliances in the residential sector: Economic impact of harmonic losses

In this work, the energy losses and the economic impact associated with the harmonic pollution of various frequently used appliances in the residential sector were estimated for Spanish dwellings. Most of the current residential devices, which contain power electronics (PE), produce harmonic emissions whose presence in the distribution system originates an increase of the losses in the wiring as well as a higher apparent power demand. The Time Use Survey (2009–10) conducted by the National Statistical Institute in Spain was used to obtain information about the activities taking place at the Spanish dwellings and directly related to the usage of some common residential appliances. Based on this information, as well as models of different types of household appliances, the active and non-active power annually demanded by this equipment in the Spanish residential sector were determined. Despite the negligible contribution of a single appliance, the aggregated effect of them, with a total annual energy demand greater than 19,000 GWh, can be significant enough to be considered in any energy efficiency program. Moreover, the research depicts that a reduction from 20% to 5% in the distribution system of the total harmonic distortion (THDi) can lead to a significant reduction of energy losses, as well as more than one thousand million Euros in energy savings. Single-phase power electronic loads, harmonics, economic impact, residential sector.
Electrooxidation study of methanol in a laminar flow membraneless microfluidic fuel cell-a review

This paper presents development of conceptual design model of membraneless microfluidic methanol fuel cell system for portable device application. Direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is an alternative source of energy. It has more energy density than gaseous fuels. Fuel cell operating under alkaline conditions has positive effects on the reaction kinetics both at the anode and cathode, while the cell performance under “mixed-media” conditions offers an opportunity to increase the maximum achievable open cell voltage (OCV). Although methanol microfluidic fuel has many disadvantages they can be minimized in changing the device parameters and using appropriate catalyst.
Experimental AI systems

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Lenalidomide in the myelodysplastic syndrome with chromosome 5q deletion.

BACKGROUND Severe, often refractory anemia is characteristic of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated with chromosome 5q31 deletion. We investigated whether lenalidomide (CC5013) could reduce the transfusion requirement and suppress the abnormal 5q31- clone in patients with this disorder. METHODS One hundred forty-eight patients received 10 mg of lenalidomide for 21 days every 4 weeks or daily. Hematologic, bone marrow, and cytogenetic changes were assessed after 24 weeks of treatment by an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS Among the 148 patients, 112 had a reduced need for transfusions (76%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 68 to 82) and 99 patients (67%; 95% CI, 59 to 74) no longer required transfusions, regardless of the karyotype complexity. The response to lenalidomide was rapid (median time to response, 4.6 weeks; range, 1 to 49) and sustained; the median duration of transfusion independence had not been reached after a median of 104 weeks of follow-up. The maximum hemoglobin concentration reached a median of 13.4 g per deciliter (range, 9.2 to 18.6), with a corresponding median rise of 5.4 g per deciliter (range, 1.1 to 11.4), as compared with the baseline nadir value before transfusion. Among 85 patients who could be evaluated, 62 had cytogenetic improvement, and 38 of the 62 had a complete cytogenetic remission. There was complete resolution of cytologic abnormalities in 38 of 106 patients whose serial bone marrow samples could be evaluated. Moderate-to-severe neutropenia (in 55% of patients) and thrombocytopenia (in 44%) were the most common reasons for interrupting treatment or adjusting the dose of lenalidomide. CONCLUSIONS Lenalidomide can reduce transfusion requirements and reverse cytologic and cytogenetic abnormalities in patients who have the myelodysplastic syndrome with the 5q31 deletion. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00065156 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
[Congenital renal defects from 1961 to 2000--incidence, prenatal diagnosis and prevalence according to maternal age].

OBJECTIVE Presentation of agenesis/hypoplasia of kidneys and cystic kidneys in the Czech Republic during 1961-2000. Analysis of prevalence of these defects in different groups by maternal age. DESIGN Retrospective demographic-epidemiological study. SETTING Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague. METHOD The author used data from the nationwide register of birth defects in neonates, kept by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics in the CR during 1990-2000. Epidemiological analysis of the incidence of agenesis/hypoplasia of the kidneys and cystic kidneys in the CR during 1961 to 2000 in cases diagnosed prenatally and in born children. The authors made a mathematical-statistical analysis of the prevalence of these defects by maternal age, using the method of calculation of the 95% confidence interval of probability. RESULTS In the CR there were during the period from 1961-2000 1093 registered cases of agenesis/hypoplasia of the kidneys and 1370 cases of cystic kidneys. The mean incidence during the entire period was 1.81 in agenesis/hypoplasia of the kidneys and 2.26 in cystic kidneys per 10,000 live born infants. After adding prenatally diagnosed cases and pregnancies terminated on that account it was 2.05 a 2.58 per 10,000 live born infants. CONCLUSION The investigation of these inborn defects did not confirm nor rule out statistically a higher risk of women older than the population average.
Evaluation of Laboratory Testing Methods for Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in the Era of Nucleic Acid Amplification

ABSTRACT Diagnostic tests presently available for Chlamydia trachomatis have widely varying performance characteristics. To assess evolving laboratory testing practices since the introduction of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), we surveyed laboratories in Washington State about their testing practices in 1998 and compared our findings to a similar survey conducted in 1995. Laboratory directors of 61 (87%) of 70 laboratories performing chlamydial tests in 1998 returned a survey. Between 1995 and 1998, 36 laboratories discontinued chlamydial testing, and the total number of laboratories performing tests in the state decreased from 92 to 70, a 24% decline. Of the 36 laboratories that discontinued testing, 25 (69%) had previously used rapid tests. While no laboratory routinely used NAAT in 1995, ligase chain reaction (LCR) was used in 23% of laboratories in 1998 and accounted for 113,624 (36%) of the 318,133 tests performed that year. Among the remaining 204,509 tests performed in 1998, other tests employed included DNA probe (29%), enzyme immunoassay (20%), culture (12%), direct fluorescent antibody assays (3%), and rapid tests (<1%). The majority (65%) of tests performed in 1998 using technologies other than LCR or culture were done in laboratories that did more than 10,000 tests. Cost and loss of revenue to laboratories were the most frequently cited reasons for not adopting NAAT. We conclude that in Washington State, NAAT have been rapidly adopted in larger laboratories, but most patients are still tested with much less sensitive technologies. Financial constraints represent the major barrier to more widespread use of DNA amplification tests.