Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diacylglycerol Kinase A Is Essential for Polymyxin Resistance Provided by EptA, MCR-1, and Other Lipid A Phosphoethanolamine Transferases

For Gram-negative bacteria, modification of a key surface structure known as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is critical for resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides, including the last-resort antibiotic polymyxin. One key enzyme that is critical for resistance is EptA that adds a positively charge residue to LPS, preventing polymyxin binding. Here we show that EptA can be post-translationally regulated by a key cell envelope lipid leading to changes in antibiotic resistance. ABSTRACT Gram-negative bacteria utilize glycerophospholipids (GPLs) as phospho-form donors to modify various surface structures. These modifications play important roles in bacterial fitness in diverse environments influencing cell motility, recognition by the host during infection, and antimicrobial resistance. A well-known example is the modification of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide by the phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) transferase EptA that utilizes phosphatidyethanoalmine (PE) as the phospho-form donor. Addition of pEtN to lipid A promotes resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs), including the polymyxin antibiotics like colistin. A consequence of pEtN modification is the production of diacylglycerol (DAG) that must be recycled back into GPL synthesis via the diacylglycerol kinase A (DgkA). DgkA phosphorylates DAG forming phosphatidic acid, the precursor for GPL synthesis. Here we report that deletion of dgkA in polymyxin-resistant E. coli results in a severe reduction of pEtN modification and loss of antibiotic resistance. We demonstrate that inhibition of EptA is regulated posttranscriptionally and is not due to EptA degradation during DAG accumulation. We also show that the inhibition of lipid A modification by DAG is a conserved feature of different Gram-negative pEtN transferases. Altogether, our data suggests that inhibition of EptA activity during DAG accumulation likely prevents disruption of GPL synthesis helping to maintain cell envelope homeostasis. IMPORTANCE For Gram-negative bacteria, modification of a key surface structure known as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is critical for resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides, including the last-resort antibiotic polymyxin. One key enzyme that is critical for resistance is EptA that adds a positively charged residue to LPS, preventing polymyxin binding. Here we show that EptA can be posttranscriptionally regulated by a key cell envelope lipid leading to changes in antibiotic resistance.
The longitudinal buffering effects of resilience on alcohol use outcomes.

OBJECTIVE Traumatic events (TE) are a risk factor for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Resilience may be protective of the effects of TE exposure, but few studies have longitudinally tested the buffering hypothesis. Thus, the present study aimed to fill this gap. METHOD Participants (N = 6,015) were from a longitudinal investigation into substance use and health outcomes at a large, urban university. Participants completed self-report measures on precollege internalizing symptoms and lifetime trauma load. Resilience was calculated as a quantitative variable. At each of the follow-up assessments, participants reported on past month consumption, AUD symptoms, and new onset TEs. Longitudinal path modeling was used to test interactions. RESULTS Higher new onset TE load was associated with greater AUD symptoms, and higher consumption at one time-point. Results demonstrate a significant main effect of resilience at Y1S and Y3S, and a significant interaction between resilience and new onset TE at the last time-point, whereby higher levels of new onset TE were associated with higher levels of AUD symptoms at low (β = .19, p < .001), and average (β = .20, p = .001) levels of resilience. This effect was attenuated at high levels of resilience (β = .07, p = .051). No significant main nor interaction effects of resilience on consumption were found. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest resilience as an important protective factor in relation to the development of AUD symptoms after exposure to a TE, though perhaps less so in relation to consumption. Findings are consistent with prior work demonstrating that AUD symptoms are more clinically relevant than consumption in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
tRNA Synthetases Are Recruited to Yeast Ribosomes by rRNA Expansion Segment 7L but Do Not Require Association for Functionality

Protein biosynthesis is essential for any organism, yet how this process is regulated is not fully understood at the molecular level. During evolution, ribosomal RNA expanded in specific regions, referred to as rRNA expansion segments (ES). First functional roles of these expansions have only recently been discovered. Here we address the role of ES7La located in the large ribosomal subunit for factor recruitment to the yeast ribosome and the potential consequences for translation. Truncation of ES7La has only minor effects on ribosome biogenesis, translation efficiency and cell doubling. Using yeast rRNA deletion strains coupled with ribosome-specific mass spectrometry we analyzed the interactome of ribosomes lacking ES7La. Three aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases showed reduced ribosome association. Synthetase activities however remained unaltered suggesting that the pool of aminoacylated tRNAs is unaffected by the ES deletion. These results demonstrated that aminoacylation activities of tRNA synthetases per se do not rely on ribosome association. These findings suggest a role of ribosome-associated aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase beyond their core enzymatic functions.
A Platoon Level Model of Communication Flow and the Effects on Soldier Performance

The Future Combat System (FCS) initiative is at the center of the Army's Future Force Vision. To predict how proposed systems and displays will impact situational understanding and, thereby, decision making, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory Human Research and Engineering Directorate (ARL HRED) used the tool, Command, Control, and Communication: Techniques for Reliable Assessment of Concept Execution (C3TRACE). C3TRACE is a modeling environment in which one can develop multiple concept configurations quickly and efficiently, minimizing the need for multiple human-in-the-loop experiments. Among the performance measures tracked are operator utilization, completed versus dropped messages, and the probability of making a “good” decision, that is, a decision supported by the required information. C3TRACE was used to develop a model of a Future Combat System (FCS) platoon equipment concept—–wrist-mounted displays for the dismounted positions and laptop-type displays for the mounted positions. This paper discusses the effects of display device communication processing on Soldier performance in mounted vs. dismounted positions.
Design and control of compliant microrobots

This paper deals with the design, building and control of compliant microrobots. Some prototypes of micromodules and microrobots using the micro-stereophotolithography technology were developed. The mechanical structure of these microrobots are made in polymer and the actuators are made of shape memory alloy wires. Some examples are presented in the paper. They are typically 2 mm to 700 /spl mu/m in diameter and are compliant structures including a deforming joint. Our present research concerns with the control of compliant motions of such microsystems using neural networks with an extension to the integrated design of microrobots.
Start Healthy and Stay Healthy: A workplace health promotion intervention for new graduate nurses: A mixed-methods study.

AIMS This study explored the acceptability of a workplace health promotion intervention embedded into a transition to practice (TTP) programme to assist new graduate nurses in establishing healthy dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviours from career commencement. DESIGN A sequential mixed methods design. METHODS The Start Healthy and Stay Healthy (SH&SH) intervention, informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel, was conducted in an Australian Local Health District. It included face-to-face education sessions, the use of a fitness tracker and twice-weekly short answer messages. Participants completed three online surveys: at orientation, 6 weeks and 6 months. A sub-sample participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their experience of the intervention. Interview data were analysed thematically. RESULTS The intervention was delivered from February to December 2019. A total of 99 nurses completed the baseline survey, 62 at 6 weeks and 69 at 6 months. After 6 months, health knowledge increased as participants correctly identified recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables and PA. Fruit consumption increased at 6 months with little change to vegetable intake. Takeaway consumption decreased, but consumption of some discretionary foods increased. Across the three time points, there was a low engagement in PA during leisure time. The interviews identified three themes: (1) Support of Colleagues and Peers, (2) The Work Environment and (3) Engagement with SH&SH. CONCLUSION Providing a targeted intervention for new graduate nurses embedded into a TTP programme improved their health knowledge, some dietary behaviours, and participation in PA by some participants. IMPACT Ensuring a healthy nursing workforce is critical to retaining staff. Implementing a workplace health promotion intervention that targets new graduate nurses can help them adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours to support them in their future careers.
Sleep disorder symptoms and massed delivery of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder: Nodding off but not missing out.

OBJECTIVE The impact of disrupted sleep on the effectiveness of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not well understood. Researchers have suggested that comorbid sleep disorders contribute to nonresponse by impairing therapeutic mechanisms such as emotional processing of trauma memories and extinction in cued fear conditioning. Several studies indicate daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and nightmares are correlated with PTSD symptom severity. However, a recent randomized controlled trial found that these sleep disorder symptoms did not affect PTSD symptom change over the course of massed PE (i.e., daily sessions across 2 weeks). METHOD The current study used an ecologically valid clinical sample to examine whether daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and nightmares interfere with the slope of symptom change in massed PE. RESULTS Results indicate that all 3 sleep disorder symptoms correlate with PTSD symptom severity on the first day of treatment but were not associated with symptom change. CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with the expectation that the daily structure of massed PE may enhance treatment engagement in patients who are typically drowsy or not well-rested, thus facilitating fear extinction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Time‐Tested Survival Skills for a Publish or Perish Environment

There are several time‐tested survival skills to consider when plotting a course to tenure in a “publish or perish” environment. These are: choosing an institution that matches your expectations, abilities, and goals; knowing what to expect (and avoid) once a position is accepted; and using best practices when preparing grant proposals and publishing research results.
Serotonin Discharge Regulation by Additional Neurotransmitters of Rat Hippocampus Associated With the Continence Central Circuit

Purpose The lower urinary tract is believed to be centrally regulated with the involvement of a range of neurotransmitters. The parasympathetic excitatory input to the urinary bladder is suppressed when the serotonergic system is activated, and thereby voiding is blocked. In healthy people, continence is usually underpinned by hippocampal formation (circuit 3). In order to advance knowledge of how serotoninergic neurons and additional nerve fibers were correlated, the purpose of the present work was to research how the discharge of serotonin from hippocampal slices was affected by different neurotransmitters in rat models. Methods The adopted procedure involved administration of the central neurotransmitters acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and neuropeptide Y as well as monitoring of the alterations in the discharge of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Furthermore, to determine whether the effect of the neurotransmitters was influenced by interneuron, tetrodotoxin was also employed. Results Acetylcholine (10-5M) did not alter [3H]5-HT discharge, whereas more 5-HT was discharged from the hippocampal slices of rats under stimulation by norepinephrine (10-5M) as well as dopamine (10-5M) and tetrodotoxin (10-6M) did not inhibit the discharge. By contrast, tetrodotoxin inhibited the discharge of [3H]5-HT that was exacerbated by NMDA (10-4M). Meanwhile, compared to control, GABA (10-5M), glycine (10-5M), or neuropeptide Y (10-6M) did not alter the [³H]5-HT discharge. Conclusions From the research findings, it can be concluded that 5-HT discharge from rat hippocampus is enhanced by norepinephrine and dopamine through direct effect on the 5-HT neuronal terminal. By contrast, 5-HT discharge is intensified by NMDA by activating interneurons.
Live capture of energy-related knowledge into BIM systems

Energy Management in buildings is about operating and maintaining many complex energy systems used by buildings’ occupants. The generation and collection of energy-related building information is commonly fragmented, created over the building’s lifecycle by different teams with different objectives, and stored in different systems. The development of BIM systems has helped in storing this various information. However, the knowledge utilised in maintaining energy systems has also to be captured to develop a building portfolio that is comprehensive enough to benefit buildings’ owners, occupants, and energy managers. Capturing knowledge in digital format is always a challenge when developing such systems. Therefore, this research proposes an innovative means for capturing energy-related knowledge when monitoring and maintaining building performance by the integration of Spoken Dialogue Systems (SDS) with BIM models. SDS presents a natural language interface where the expert’s utterances are understood and answered back in speech format. The advancements in Spoken Dialogue technology will be employed to enable capturing and retrieving experts/occupants’ knowledge with the system interviewing the expert concerning the problem at hand. This interface will also allow easier searching for solutions to new problems with a more comprehensive retrieval of information.
Shop floor characteristics influencing the use of advanced planning and scheduling systems

The purpose of this article is to investigate how the manufacturing process, the shop type and the data quality, i.e. the shop floor characteristics, influence the use of advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems in production activity and control (PAC). The methodology implemented is a multiple case study at three case companies. Each company has different shop floor characteristics, but all use a scheduling module in an APS system, which supports production scheduling. A theoretical framework is developed suggesting how APS system are used in the PAC activities, and which major aspect to consider. The case analysis shows that the scheduling module in APS system, foremost supports sequencing and dispatching. In particular, the shop type is influenced by the decision of how often the APS runs and what freedom is given to the shop floor. The manufacturing process influences how the dispatch list is created. Contrary to the literature presuming that APS systems are most suitable in job shop processes, it is found that the manufacturing process is not a crucial factor when deciding whether APS systems are an appropriate investment. It is found that the level of data quality needed in the APS system depends to a large extent on how the dispatch list is used. For example, is the dispatch list used as a guideline, not a regulation, the need for accurate data in the module is reduced. This article extends the previous literature concerning APS systems by analysing how APS systems influence PAC as a whole and increase the understanding of the challenges of using APS systems in PAC.
Initial Experience with the Comprehensive Modified Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty Technique Based on Membrane Anatomy for Treating Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

Objective: The aim of the objective was to present our initial experience and evaluate the feasibility of the novel comprehensive modified laparoscopic pyeloplasty (CMLP) technique based on membrane anatomy. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight patients underwent CMLP from February 2016 to October 2020. CMLP involves the following: dissection of the ureter was based on the fascia or fusion fascia formed by embryonic development. The ureter was separated from the ureteral sheath, and the pelvis and ureter were incised with incomplete amputation. The first stitch was placed between the lower point of the spatulated ureter and the lowest corner of the renal pelvis to ensure correct orientation of the anastomosis; anastomosis of the renal pelvis and ureter was performed using the touchless technique. Results: All CMLPs were completed successfully without conversion. The mean overall operating time was 230.96 min. The median estimated blood loss was 50.00 (interquartile range 20.00–57.50) mL. The average postoperative hospital stay was 9.31 days. The average follow-up time was 24.73 months. No major complications occurred. In 1 case, revision laparoscopic pyeloplasty was performed, but the obstruction persisted after double J stent removal, so ultimately, the double J stent required regular replacement. Another asymptomatic patient with hydronephrosis experienced failed treatment and is still under follow-up. The overall success rate was 95.83% (46/48). The success rate in patients with recurrent ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) was 87.5% (7/8). Conclusions: CMLP is a practical and effective treatment option for UPJO with a high success rate. An advantage of CMLP is the clear surgical field.
Combination therapy with novel androgen receptor antagonists and statin for castration‐resistant prostate cancer

One of the growth mechanisms of castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is de novo androgen synthesis from intracellular cholesterol, and statins may be able to inhibit this mechanism. In addition, statins have been reported to suppress the expression of androgen receptors (ARs) in prostate cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated a combination therapy of novel AR antagonists and statin, simvastatin, for CRPC.
Novel experimental and early investigational drugs for the treatment of bipolar disorder

ABSTRACT Introduction The quest toward more effective treatments for bipolar disorder (BD) solicits novel drugs and further research on the underpinning neurobiology. The present review aims to critically appraise the existing evidence about the pharmacological treatment of BD toward the development of novel treatment avenues. Areas covered The present review appraises animal and human studies concerning both the currently available psychotropic drugs, and the general medicine drugs which may represent a path toward the development of novel drugs for BD. PubMed and Scopus were last accessed on February 20th, 2021 for records indexed upon inception relevant to the pharmacological treatment of BD. Immune-modulating agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and glutamate antagonists represent the most intriguing potential targets for the development of new drugs for BD, thus receiving critical appraisal in the present text. Expert Opinion Regardless of the neurobiological pathways worthy of investigation toward the development of experimental drugs for BD, several unmet needs need to be addressed first. In particular, several biomarkers are altered in BD. However, it is the opinion herein expressed by the authors that it remains uncertain what comes first, that is peripheral changes or the disease.
The Effect of a First‐Year Integrated Engineering Curriculum on Graduation Rates and Student Satisfaction: A Longitudinal Study

This paper reports on the long‐term results of a two‐year experiment conducted in the 1994–1995 and 1995–1996 academic years in which a group of “average” engineering students was recruited for a first‐year program that integrated curricula and fostered a learning community. Students who participated in the Connections program graduated at a significantly higher rate than their peers and reflected retrospectively that the program had a strong positive effect on their college careers.
Wastewater Treatment Systems: Modelling, Diagnosis and Control

Modelling: Plant Dynamics Basic Modelling Advanced Modelling Empirical or Black-Box Models Experiments and Data Screening Principles of Parameter Estimation Fitting and Validating Models Simulators. Diagnosis: Diagnosis - an Introduction Quality Management Model Based Diagnosis Knowledge Based Systems. Control: Goals and Strategies Disturbances Manipulated Variables Feedback Control Model Based Control Batch Plant Control Plant Wide Control Benefit Studies. Instrumentation: Primary Sensors Analysers Actuators and Controllers. The Future
AN ASSESSMENT OF 3DTV TECHNOLOGIES

Stereoscopic 3D viewing techniques are almost as old as their 2D counterparts: experimental stereoscopic 3DTV immediately followed the invention of TV. Holography is a newer technology compared to stereoscopy, and there are indicators that satisfactory holographic 3DTV may be feasible. Another candidate technology for 3DTV is integral imaging. Holography and integral imaging provide true full parallax 3D displays in the ideal case. All these technologies have their own distinct features, advantages and problems. Interest in all forms of 3DTV has been significantly increasing both in research and commercial communities. An integrated 3DTV system naturally has different components: capturing of 3D moving scenes, their representation, compression and transport, and finally display are the main building blocks. Naturally, the consumer attitude and the related social issues will be rather centred around the display and interaction. 3D scenes can be captured by various means, for example, by using many cameras simultaneously. Furthermore, it is desirable to serve all types of 3D displays with different capabilities. Therefore, It is envisaged that scene capture and display operation will be decoupled in future 3DTV systems: captured scene information will be converted to abstract representations (and maybe stored) using computer graphics techniques, and the display (and observer) will interact with this intermediate data. It is natural to extend conventional video compression techniques to 3D video signals by exploiting the inherent redundancies. Coding of 3D video signals is attracting research interest and related standardization activities are ongoing in bodies like ISO-MPEG. Digital transmission, using adapted streaming techniques is another research area. Autostereoscopic, holographic and volumetric displays have been demonstrated and used. Signal processing techniques are employed to find the technology-dependent display driver signals to get the 3D images from abstract 3D scenes.