Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies of protein-protein association between yeast cytochrome c peroxidase and yeast iso-1 ferricytochrome c by hydrogen-deuterium exchange labeling and proton NMR spectroscopy.

Hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) exchange labeling and proton NMR have been applied to study the protein-protein association between cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP) and yeast iso-1 ferricytochrome c. Specifically, the exchange behavior of individual backbone amide protons of yeast iso-1 ferricytochrome c in both CcP-bound (i.e., complexed) and free (i.e., never in the complex) forms has been investigated and used in an attempt to map the binding site of CcP on yeast iso-1 ferricytochrome c when the noncovalent complex was formed in very low salt solution. The exchange rates of certain amino acid amide protons were significantly slowed down, by up to 40-fold, in the complex compared to the free form. The protected regions on iso-1 ferricytochrome c include parts of the 10's helix and the 70's helix surrounding the cytochrome c heme solvent-exposed edge (the so-called "front side" of iso-1 cytochrome c). These regions are very similar to the cytochrome c peroxidase binding interface on iso-1 ferricytochrome c that has been defined by X-ray crystallographic data. This further supports the direct involvement of the front side of iso-1 cytochrome c in binding with cytochrome c peroxidase. The results from our H-D exchange experiments also indicated that the amide proton exchange rates of Trp59, Asp60, and part of the 90's helix, all of which are located on the opposite side (the "back" side) of ferricytochrome c from the heme solvent-exposed edge, are also retarded upon complex formation.
Apathy and executive function in Alzheimer's disease

Apathy is a common behavioral disturbance in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have linked the presence of apathy to alterations in frontal lobe functions, but few studies have explored the relationship using standard neuropsychological measures in patients with AD. We administered a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests and a behavior rating scale to 80 patients with AD. We explored the relationship of apathy to executive dysfunction. AD patients with apathy performed significantly worse on tests of executive function (WAIS–R Digit Symbol, Trail-Making, Stroop Color Interference Test) than AD patients without apathy. The presence of dysphoria did not modify these results and no significant relationships were found between tests of executive functions and dysphoria. Performance on executive measures as a group were effective in correctly classifying patients as apathetic or nonapathetic with 75% accuracy. Neuropsychological measures not dependent on executive functions were unrelated to apathy. Apathy is associated with executive dysfunction and not with other neuropsychological deficits. Apathy is distinct from dysphoria. (JINS, 2002, 8, 373–381.)
Breaking the path in national development? The politics of public–private partnerships in Ghana

Public–private partnerships (PPPs), it is argued, generate greater value for money than traditional procurement methods. Governments overwhelmed by budget deficits and public debts see them as a way to overcome the challenges of providing critical public infrastructure. However, many PPP projects are not on cost and on time, igniting criticisms and debate as to their merits. The Ghanaian Government has developed a PPP policy framework with the view of engaging the private sector to build needed infrastructure. Incorporating insights from path dependency, we are interested in finding out if, compared to traditional procurement, the policy represents a new path for national development.
Granulocytic sarcoma: An immunohistologic comparison with peripheral T‐cell lymphoma in paraffin sections

In evaluating histologically malignant infiltrates in the skin, it is often challenging to distinguish granulocytic sarcoma (GS) from selected cases of peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL). These lesions have clinical features in common, in addition to shared histologic attributes. These include similarity in dermal distribution and growth pattern, nuclear characteristics, propensity to recruit other inflammatory cell types, and production of matrical sclerosis. In order to determine if immunohistology could contribute to differential diagnosis in this setting, we analyzed 15 cases of mucocutaneous GS, and compared them with 11 cases of well‐documented PTCL. Antibodies in the CD15, CD20, CD34, CD43, GD45, CD45RO, and CD68 groups were used, as well as antimyeloperoxidase (anti‐MPX), anti‐lysozyme (anti‐LYSO), Mac387, and MB2. Anti‐LYSO and anti‐MPX were sensitive and specific markers of GS, labeling 93% and 80% of GS cases, respectively, and no cases of PTCL. Anti‐CD 15 and MB2 were also specific for GS, but each labeled only (50% of GS cases. CD34, CD68, and Mac 387 were specific but insensitive markers of GS. CD43 and CD45 were not particularly useful discriminants, with each being seen in 93% of GS cases, but also 64% and 100% of cases of PTCL, respectively. CD45RO was specific for PTCL; it was present in 82% of PTCL cases and no GS cases. Thus, conjoint reactivity for CD43, CD45, MPX, and LYSO characterizes GS, and differs from the pattern of PTCL, which is characterized by reactivity for CD45 and CD45RO, occasional reactivity for CD43, and lack of other specified markets.
Characteristics of sterol uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae sterol auxotroph, FY3 (alpha hem1 erg7 ura), was used to probe the characteristics of sterol uptake in S. cerevisiae. The steady-state cellular concentration of free sterol at the late exponential phase of growth could be adjusted within a 10-fold range by varying the concentration of exogenously supplied sterol. When cultured on 1 microgram of sterol ml-1, the cells contained a minimal cellular free-cholesterol concentration of 0.85 nmol/mg (dry weight) and were termed sterol depleted. When cultured on 11 micrograms of sterol ml-1 or more, the cells contained a maximal cellular free-cholesterol concentration of 6.8 nmol/mg (dry weight) and were termed free sterol saturated. Cells with free-sterol concentrations below the maximal level were capable of accumulating free sterol from the medium. The capacity of the cells for cholesterol uptake was inversely proportional to the initial intracellular concentration. The uptake of sterol was shown to be a nonactive process that is independent of cellular energy sources or viability. The intracellular transport of sterol for esterification is not sensitive to anti-microtubule agents.
Recent advances in capsule endoscopy: development of maneuverable capsules

One important disadvantage of modern capsule endoscopy is its lack of maneuverability. Thus, clinically available systems depend on transportation by spontaneous gastrointestinal motility. Even in subjects with normal motility, transit time for different intestinal segments may vary considerably, and relevant segments may be passed too quickly. This probably explains why approximately 10% of all pathologies are overlooked during small bowel investigations. Moreover, without maneuverable capsule endoscopes, the large inner surface of the stomach cannot be investigated properly. The most advanced approaches, which try to develop maneuverable systems for targeted inspection of the GI tract, use magnetic fields for steering of a videocapsule with magnetic inclusions. With such systems, preliminary clinical studies have already been performed. Other projects try to develop biologically inspired steering mechanisms such as capsules that can move on legs or they use electrical stimulation of the intestinal wall in order to induce contractions for propulsion of the videocapsule.
Alcohol intake and risk of breast cancer defined by estrogen and progesterone receptor status—A meta‐analysis of epidemiological studies

The association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of breast cancer has been established. It is still unclear however, whether this relationship differs across the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) tumors subtypes. To provide a quantitative assessment of the association between alcohol intake and the risk of ER‐/PR‐defined breast cancer, we conducted a meta‐analysis of cohort and case–control studies. Studies were identified by a literature search of PubMed through April 20, 2007 and by searching the reference lists of relevant articles. Summarized risk estimates (REs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random‐effects models. The summarized results of the meta‐analysis comparing the highest versus the lowest consumption categories showed statistically significant higher risks of developing all ER+ (27%), all ER− (14%), ER+PR+ (22%) and ER+PR− (28%), but not ER−PR− tumors. The dose–response meta‐analysis showed that an increase in alcohol consumption of 10 g of ethanol per day was associated with statistically significant increased risks for all ER+ (12%), all ER− (7%), ER+PR+ (11%) and ER+PR− (15%), but not ER−PR−. A statistically significant heterogeneity of the REs across all ER+ versus ER−PR− was observed (pheterogeneity = 0.02). The summarized results from studies with adjustment for postmenopausal hormone use, body mass index and family history of breast cancer were higher and statistically significantly different from those without. The observed positive associations with alcohol for ER+PR+ and ER+PR− tumors cannot be explained by estrogen‐dependent pathway only. Further studies need to clarify the biological mechanisms. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CD34+ hematopoietic stem-progenitor cell microRNA expression and function: A circuit diagram of differentiation control

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently identified class of epigenetic elements consisting of small noncoding RNAs that bind to the 3′ untranslated region of mRNAs and down-regulate their translation to protein. miRNAs play critical roles in many different cellular processes including metabolism, apoptosis, differentiation, and development. We found 33 miRNAs expressed in CD34+ hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs) from normal human bone marrow and mobilized human peripheral blood stem cell harvests. We then combined these data with human HSPC mRNA expression data and with miRNA-mRNA target predictions, into a previously undescribed miRNA:mRNA interaction database called the Transcriptome Interaction Database. The in silico predictions from the Transcriptome Interaction Database pointed to miRNA control of hematopoietic differentiation through translational control of mRNAs critical to hematopoiesis. From these predictions, we formulated a model for miRNA control of stages of hematopoiesis in which many of the genes specifying hematopoietic differentiation are expressed by HSPCs, but are held in check by miRNAs until differentiation occurs. We validated miRNA control of several of these target mRNAs by demonstrating that their translation in fact is decreased by miRNAs. Finally, we chose miRNA-155 for functional characterization in hematopoiesis, because we predicted that it would control both myelopoiesis and erythropoiesis. As predicted, miRNA-155 transduction greatly reduced both myeloid and erythroid colony formation of normal human HSPCs.
A prospective study of fatal occupational accidents – relationship to sleeping difficulties and occupational factors

Very little is known about the association between sleep and (fatal) occupational accidents. This study investigated this relationship using register data of self‐rated sleep difficulties, together with occupational and demographic characteristics. The variables were related to subsequent occupational fatal accidents. A national sample of 47 860 individuals was selected at regular intervals over a period of 20 years, and interviewed over the phone on issues related to work and health. The responses were linked to the cause of death register (suicides excluded) and the data set was subjected to a (multivariate) Cox regression survival analysis. One hundred and sixty six fatal occupational accidents occurred, and the significant predictors were: male vs. female: relative risk (RR)=2.30 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.56–3.38; difficulties in sleeping (past 2 weeks): RR=1.89 with CI=1.22–2.94; and non‐day work: RR=1.63 with CI=1.09–2.45. No significant effect was seen for age, socio‐economic group, hectic work, overtime (>50 h per week), or physically strenuous work. It was concluded that self‐reported disturbed sleep is a predictor of accidental death at work, in addition to non‐day work and male gender.
CT-angiography protocol with low dose radiation and low volume contrast medium for non-cardiac chest pain.

AIM To evaluate the diagnostic quality of a new multiple detector-row computed tomography angiography (MDCT-A) protocol using low dose radiation and low volume contrast medium techniques for evaluation of non-cardiac chest pain. METHODS Forty-five consecutive patients with clinically suspected noncardiac chest pain and requiring contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) were examined. The patients were assigned to the protocol, with 80 kilovolt (peak) (kV[p]) and 150 effective milliampere-second (eff mA-s). In our study group, 40 mL of low osmolar contrast material was administered at 3.0 mL/s. RESULTS In the study group, four patients with pulmonary embolism, four with pleural effusion, two with ascending aortic aneurysm and eight patients with pneumonic consolidation were detected. The mean attenuation of the pulmonary truncus and ascendant aortic locations was considered 264±44 and 249±51 HU, respectively. The mean effective radiation dose was 0.83 mSv for MDCT-A. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary artery and the aorta scanning simultaneously was significantly reduced radiation exposure with the mentioned dose saving technique. Additionally, injection of low volume (40 cc) contrast material may reduce the risk of contrast induced nephropathy, therefore, facilitate the diagnostic approach. This technique can be applied to all cases and particularly patients at high risk of contrast induced nephropathy due to its similar diagnostic quality with a low dose and high levels of arteriovenous enhancement simultaneously.
Tumor Subtype-Specific Cancer–Testis Antigens as Potential Biomarkers and Immunotherapeutic Targets for Cancers

Yao and colleagues surveyed the expression and methylation of CT antigens and clinicopathologic features of ten cancers in The Cancer Genome Atlas RNAseq datasets, identifying multiple tumor subtype-specific CT antigens to be studied as potential biomarkers and targets for immunotherapy. Cancer–testis (CT) antigens are potential targets for cancer immunotherapy because of their restricted expression in immune-privileged germ cells and various malignancies. Current application of CT-based immunotherapy has been focused on CT expression–rich tumors such as melanoma and lung cancers. In this study, we surveyed CT expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets for ten common cancer types. We show that CT expression is specific and enriched within certain cancer molecular subtypes. For example, HORMAD1, CXorf61, ACTL8, and PRAME are highly enriched in the basal subtype of breast cancer; MAGE and CSAG are most frequently activated in the magnoid subtype of lung adenocarcinoma; and PRAME is highly upregulated in the ccB subtype of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Analysis of CT gene expression and DNA methylation indicates that some CTs are regulated epigenetically, whereas others are controlled primarily by tissue- and subtype-specific transcription factors. Our results suggest that although for some CT expression is associated with patient outcome, not many are independent prognostic markers. Thus, CTs with shared expression pattern are heterogeneous molecules with distinct activation modes and functional properties in different cancers and cancer subtypes. These data suggest a cancer subtype–orientated application of CT antigen as biomarkers and immunotherapeutic targets. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(4); 371–9. ©2013 AACR.
Nonenzymatic Chloramphenicol Resistance Mediated by IncC Plasmid R55 Is Encoded by a floR Gene Variant

ABSTRACT The IncC plasmid R55, initially described in the 1970s and isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae, confers nonenzymatic chloramphenicol resistance. The gene coding for this resistance was cloned and sequenced and shows 95 to 97% nucleotide identity with the recently reportedfloR gene from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 and from Escherichia coli animal isolates, respectively, conferring cross-resistance to florfenicol.
Analysis and Implementation of a Direct Phase Unwrapping Method for Displacement Measurement Using Self-Mixing Interferometry

Self-mixing or optical feedback interferometry has been widely used for displacement and velocity measurement applications. For metric information retrieval with $< \lambda /2$ precision, various phase unwrapping methods have been proposed. However, these are computationally heavy and require large number of hardware resources, thereby hindering the development of real-time, embedded solutions for large bandwidth applications. In this regard, a simple and efficient feedback phase retrieval algorithm, called consecutive samples-based unwrapping (CSU) is presented. Detailed analysis of its error performance has been conducted as a function of key optical feedback parameters. A theoretical study has also been conducted to explain as to why such good error performance is obtained for such a simple algorithm by establishing a linear relation between the modulated laser power signal and the laser phase in the absence of optical feedback for specific ranges of key optical feedback parameters. We applied CSU on various simulated and experimentally acquired signals using SMI for the retrieval of harmonic and arbitrary displacements and found out that CSU retrieves target displacement with a precision of about $\lambda /10$ while consuming much less time and hardware resources. The paper also presents FPGA based hardware design results of CSU and compares its performance with a traditional analytical phase unwrapping method in terms of maximum clock frequency, latency, and on-chip hardware resources. This hardware comparison strongly establishes the advantages of such a fast and computationally light algorithm, readily suitable for large bandwidth, embedded, and real-time sensing applications.
Exercices et constructions du pouvoir aux marges de la cité : la participation des femmes dans la lutte contre le VIH/sida en Éthiopie, entre marginalité et mobilité sociale

Une epidemie generalisee de VIH/sida est attestee en Ethiopie des le debut des annees 1990. Repartie de facon tres heterogene d’une region a l’autre du pays, l’epidemie est restee essentiellement concentree dans les villes ou le taux de seroprevalence est a son maximum parmi les jeunes femmes adultes. Diverses formes de privation economique et sociale se produisent au sein de la population urbaine et plus particulierement parmi les femmes, en lien avec une mobilite geographique interne a dominante feminine et une instabilite conjugale tres marquee. Facteur aggravant ces formes de privation economique et sociale, le VIH/sida a ete a l’origine d’une mobilisation de malades socialement defavorises qui se sont rassembles autour de leurs afflictions afin de faire face a leur condition par la recherche de differentes formes d’aides et d’un soutien psycho-social aupres de differentes organisations non- gouvernementales et humanitaires. Cette mobilisation s’est par la suite amplifiee se structurant autour des strategies globales de lutte contre l’epidemie en meme temps que celle-ci a conduit a un investissement sans precedents dans le systeme sociosanitaire ethiopien en termes de ressources economiques, humaines, techniques et biomedicales. Les politiques d’acces gratuit et generalise aux ARV que l’Ethiopie a mises en place grâce au developpement de partenariats avec des organisations d’aide multilaterale, des pays engages dans la cooperation bilaterale, et des instances globales de la sante, se sont de fait progressivement inscrites a differents titres dans le champ de la lutte contre la pauvrete. Elles ont plus particulierement facilite la prise en charge globale de femmes seropositives au sein de la population consideree pauvre sur la base de leur condition medicale alors que le ciblage de cette population est imparfaitement atteint par les politiques de reduction de la pauvrete. En s’appuyant sur les donnees recueillies au cours d’enquetes ethnographiques realisees en Ethiopie entre 2007 et 2010, cette these se propose plus precisement d’etudier l’impact que les politiques d’acces aux soins ont eu sur la representation sociale de la pauvrete feminine en Ethiopie tant par le developpement de diverses formes de solidarite parmi des citoyens les plus marginalises que par la facilitation de leur acces a diverses ressources materielles et symboliques. Se constituant comme un observatoire privilegie du processus historique d’evolution de l’Etat ethiopien sous l’angle de ses pratiques dans une situation de forte extraversion, la lutte contre le VIH/sida se donne plus specialement a voir comme l’espace de nouvelles experiences de citoyennete de la part de femmes malades socialement marginalisees en lien avec diverses formes de mobilites sociales engendrees par leur participation en tant qu’actrices profanes au fonctionnement des dispositifs sociosanitaires devolus a l’endiguement de cette epidemie.
12.2 A1.8V 30-to-70MHz 87% peak-efficiency 0.32mm2 4-phase time-based buck converter consuming 3μA/MHz quiescent current in 65nm CMOS

Multi-phase switching DC-DC converters offer many advantages in terms of high output power, low ripple, fast load transient response, high efficiency across a very wide range of load currents, and alleviated output filter requirements. However, the need for complex controllers that ensure accurate regulation and uniform current sharing between phases along with generation of multiple matched pulse-width modulated (PWM) signals complicate the design of multi-phase converters. Hysteretic control offers the simplest means to implement multi-phase converters and has been widely used in the prior art [1]. However, its nonlinear behavior leads to large output ripple, unpredictable loop dynamics, and wide variation in switching frequency (Fsw), which are undesirable in many noise-sensitive applications. Furthermore, they require current sensors to implement active current sharing, and generation of multiple synchronized PWM signals requires power hungry circuits [1]. A voltage-mode controller using a type-Ill compensator is well-suited for low-noise applications but it requires multiple synchronized and matched ramp generators that also incur large area and power penalty. A digital PWM generator can provide accurately matched multi-phase PWM signals thereby enabling passive current sharing, but digitally controlled buck converters exhibit large ripple due to their limit cycle behavior, have poor transient response, and consume significant quiescent current [2][3]. All these issues become even more challenging to address in high-Fsw converters because of more stringent loop-delay requirements.
Analysis of cash flow ratios: A study on CMC

Article history: Received January 9, 2017 Received in revised format January 11 2017 Accepted March 7 2017 Available online March 7 2017 Cash flow ratios help financial users get relevant information about financial resources for a given time. Cash flow ratios are now used more than the traditional ones because it is more effective and justified. Cash flow based ratios are especially surprising because they do not only play a significant role in the credit rating of evaluation, but also forecast the failure of a corporation. In this study, we perform an empirical investigation on a company named CMC. From the study, it is clear that the liquidity and solvency positions of the company were moderate whereas the company maintained low profitability. On the other hand, the efficiency and sufficiency ratios of the study give us a new look on financial judgement. Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 7 © 201