Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Role for Cargo in Arf-dependent Adaptor Recruitment*

Background: Cargo proteins recruit Arf-dependent adaptors for packaging. Results: Cargo presence at the Golgi/endosomes leads to specific adaptor recruitment. Conclusion: Arf activation is more closely coupled to cargo than previously appreciated, and we interpret the specificity in adaptor recruitment as evidence of the lack of freely diffusible activated Arfs. Significance: Cargos play a role in the activation of Arfs and recruitment of specific adaptors. Membrane traffic requires the specific concentration of protein cargos and exclusion of other proteins into nascent carriers. Critical components of this selectivity are the protein adaptors that bind to short, linear motifs in the cytoplasmic tails of transmembrane protein cargos and sequester them into nascent carriers. The recruitment of the adaptors is mediated by activated Arf GTPases, and the Arf-adaptor complexes mark sites of carrier formation. However, the nature of the signal(s) that initiates carrier biogenesis remains unknown. We examined the specificity and initial sites of recruitment of Arf-dependent adaptors (AP-1 and GGAs) in response to the Golgi or endosomal localization of specific cargo proteins (furin, mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR), and M6PR lacking a C-terminal domain M6PRΔC). We find that cargo promotes the recruitment of specific adaptors, suggesting that it is part of an upstream signaling event. Cargos do not promote adaptor recruitment to all compartments in which they reside, and thus additional factors regulate the cargo's ability to promote Arf activation and adaptor recruitment. We document that within a given compartment different cargos recruit different adaptors, suggesting that there is little or no free, activated Arf at the membrane and that Arf activation is spatially and temporally coupled to the cargo and the adaptor. Using temperature block, brefeldin A, and recovery from each, we found that the cytoplasmic tail of M6PR causes the recruitment of AP-1 and GGAs to recycling endosomes and not at the Golgi, as predicted by steady state staining profiles. These results are discussed with respect to the generation of novel models for cargo-dependent regulation of membrane traffic.
Using Piecewise Sinusoidal Basis Functions as Multiple Domain Basis Functions

This paper discusses application of the piecewise sinusoidal (PWS) basis function (BF) over a chain of several wire segments, i.e. as a multiple domain basis functions. The usage of PWS BF is compared to results based on the piecewise linear (PWL) basis functions. An example of meander monopole demonstrates the advantages associated with the PWS BF.
Broadband and picosecond intraband absorption in lead based colloidal quantum dots

Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy we demonstrate that lead chalcogenide nanocrystals show efficient, photoinduced absorption (PA) in a broad wavelength range starting just below the bandgap. The time-dependent decay of the PA signal correlates well with the recovery of the band gap absorption. Therefore, the same carriers are involved, which decay with the typical Auger recombination rate in these nanocrystals. Based on this, we assign this PA signal to intraband absorption, i.e., the excitation of photogenerated carriers from the bottom of the conduction band or the top of the valence band to higher energy levels in the conduction and valence band continuum. This broadband response in the commercially interesting near to mid-infrared range is very relevant for ultra-high speed all optical signal processing.
Stability of Dirichlet heat kernel estimates for non-local operators under Feynman-Kac perturbation

In this paper we show that Dirichlet heat kernel estimates for a class of (not necessarily symmetric) Markov processes are stable under non-local Feynman-Kac perturbations. This class of processes includes, among others, (reflected) symmetric stable-like processes in closed d-sets in R d , killed symmetric stable processes, censored stable processes in C 1;1 open sets as well as stable processes with drifts in bounded C 1;1 open sets. These two-sided estimates are explicit involving distance functions to the boundary.
A Novel Method for Noninvasive Monitoring of Ocular Fundus Status During Transpupillary Thermotherapy Treatment

A novel optical method for noninvasive monitoring of the ocular fundus status is presented. The method could provide an optimal end-point for transpupillary thermotherapy treatment, thus overcoming the severe over- and under-treatment issues currently affecting about 10% of patients. The developed instrument and measurement procedure have been tested on both a mechanical eye model and animal models. The presented results demonstrate the ability of our system to potentially detect variations in both blood flow and optical properties. Much more work will be needed before the developed instrument will be ready for clinical test, nevertheless the proposed method may provide an important improvement in the treatment of several disabling ocular diseases.
S-Nitrosylated Human Serum Albumin-mediated Cytoprotective Activity Is Enhanced by Fatty Acid Binding*

Binding of oleate to S-nitrosylated human serum albumin (SNO-HSA) enhances its cytoprotective effect on liver cells in a rat ischemia/reperfusion model. It enhances the antiapoptotic effect of SNO-HSA on HepG2 cells exposed to anti-Fas antibody. To identify some of the reasons for the increased cytoprotective effects, additional experiments were performed with glutathione and HepG2 cells. As indicated by 5,5′-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid binding, the addition of oleate increased the accessibility of the single thiol group of albumin. Binding of increasing amounts of oleate resulted in increasing and more rapid S-transnitrosation of glutathione. Likewise, binding of oleate, or of a mixture of endogenous fatty acids, improved S-denitrosation of SNO-HSA by HepG2 cells. Oleate also enhanced S-transnitrosation by HepG2 cells, as detected by intracellular fluorescence of diaminofluorescein-FM. All of the S-transnitrosation caused by oleate binding was blocked by filipin III. Oleate also increased, in a dose-dependent manner, the binding of SNO-HSA labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate to the surface of the hepatocytes. A model in two parts was worked out for S-transnitrosation, which does not involve low molecular weight thiols. Fatty acid binding facilitates S-denitrosation of SNO-HSA, increases its binding to HepG2 cells and greatly increases S-transnitrosation by hepatocytes in a way that is sensitive to filipin III. A small nitric oxide transfer takes place in a slow system, which is unaffected by fatty acid binding to SNO-HSA and not influenced by filipin III. Thus, fatty acids could be a novel type of mediator for S-transnitrosation.
Acute Focal Neurological Deficits in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Relation of Clinical Course, CT Findings, and Metabolite Abnormalities Monitored With Bedside Microdialysis

Background and Purpose— We sought (1) to identify early metabolic markers for the development of (ir)reversible neurological deficits and cerebral infarction in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients by using the microdialysis technique and (2) to evaluate the influence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) on microdialysis parameters. Methods— We performed a prospective study of 44 SAH patients with acute focal neurological deficits (AFND) occurring acutely with SAH (due to ICH) or directly after surgery (due to clip stenosis, thromboembolism, or early edema). Fifty-one nonischemic SAH patients served as a control group. A microdialysis catheter was inserted into the vascular territory of the aneurysm after clipping. The microdialysates were analyzed hourly for extracellular glucose, lactate, lactate/pyruvate ratio, glutamate, and glycerol with a bedside analyzer. Microdialysis-related CT findings were evaluated for the presence of ICH and cerebral infarction. Reversibility of neurological symptoms after 4 weeks and 6- and 12-month outcomes were assessed. Results— In patients with AFND, cerebral metabolism was severely disturbed when microdialysis started compared with controls (P <0.005). Infarction on CT was associated with pathological microdialysis parameters (P <0.002) and development of a fixed deficit (P <0.003), while the presence of ICH alone was not. A secondary neurological deterioration of AFND patients (n=11) was reflected by preceding (0 to 20 hours) changes of microdialysate concentrations. Conclusions— In the presence of ICH, pathological microdialysis values may indicate reversible tissue damage. Extreme microdialysis values and pathological microdialysis concentrations that further deteriorate 2-fold are highly indicative of the development of cerebral infarction and permanent neurological deficits. Therefore, the analysis of relative changes of microdialysis parameters is crucial for the detection of ischemia in SAH patients.
Comparison of caffeine and theophylline ingestion: exercise metabolism and endurance.

This two-part investigation compared the ergogenic and metabolic effects of theophylline and caffeine. Initially (part A), the ergogenic potential of theophylline on endurance exercise was investigated. Eight men cycled at 80% maximum O(2) consumption to exhaustion 90 min after ingesting either placebo (dextrose), caffeine (6 mg/kg; Caff), or theophylline (4.5 mg/kg Theolair; Theo). There was a significant increase in time to exhaustion in both the Caff (41.2+/-4.8 min) and Theo (37.4+/-5.0 min) trials compared with placebo (32.6+/-3.4 min) (P<0.05). In part B, the effects of Theo on muscle metabolism were investigated and compared with Caff. Seven men cycled for 45 min at 70% maximum O(2) consumption (identical treatment protocol as in part A). Neither methylxanthines (MX) affected muscle glycogen utilization (P>0.05). Only Caff increased plasma epinephrine (P<0.05), but both MX increased blood glycerol levels (P<0.05). Muscle cAMP was increased (P<0.05) by both MX at 15 min and remained elevated at 45 min with Theo. This demonstrates that both MX are ergogenic and that this can be independent of muscle glycogen.
Burden of Podoconiosis in Poor Rural Communities in Gulliso woreda, West Ethiopia

Background Podoconiosis is an environmental lymphoedema affecting people living and working barefoot on irritant red clay soil. Podoconiosis is relatively well described in southern Ethiopia, but remains neglected in other parts of the Ethiopian highlands. This study aimed to assess the burden of podoconiosis in rural communities in western Ethiopia. Methodology/Principal Findings A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulliso woreda (district), west Ethiopia. A household survey in the 26 rural kebeles (villages) of this district was conducted to identify podoconiosis patients and to measure disease prevalence. A more detailed study was done in six randomly selected kebeles to describe clinical features of the disease, patients' experiences of foot hygiene, and shoe wearing practice. 1,935 cases of podoconiosis were registered, giving a prevalence of 2.8%. The prevalence was higher in those aged 15–64 years (5.2%) and in females than males (prevalence ratio 2.6∶1). 90.3% of patients were in the 15–64 year age group. In the detailed study, 335 cases were interviewed and their feet assessed. The majority of patients were farmers, uneducated, and poor. Two-third of patients developed the disease before the age of thirty. Almost all patients (97.0%) had experienced adenolymphangitis (ALA - red, hot legs, swollen and painful groin) at least once during the previous year. Patients experienced an average of 5.5 ALA episodes annually, each of average 4.4 days, thus 24 working days were lost annually. The incidence of ALA in podoconiosis patients was higher than that reported for filariasis in other countries. Shoe wearing was limited mainly due to financial problems. Conclusions We have documented high podoconiosis prevalence, frequent adenolymphangitis and high disease-related morbidity in west Ethiopia. Interventions must be developed to prevent, treat and control podoconiosis, one of the core neglected tropical diseases in Ethiopia.
Effect of Action Potential Duration and Conduction Velocity Restitution and Their Spatial Dispersion on Alternans and the Stability of Arrhythmias

Restitution and Spatial Heterogeneities vs Arrhythmias. Introduction: The slope of the action potential duration (APD) restitution curve has been used to explain wavebreaks during arrhythmia initiation and maintenance. This hypothesis remains incomplete to fully describe the experimental data. Other factors contributing to wavebreaks must be studied to further understand arrhythmia dynamics.
Degradation of the long-resistant pharmaceutical compounds carbamazepine and diatrizoate using mixed microbial culture

ABSTRACT The microbial degradation of two recalcitrant pharmaceutical compounds, carbamazepine (CBZ) and diatrizoate (DTZ), was studied in laboratory batch experiments. We used a defined mixed microbial culture comprising four distinct microbial species that were previously known to have high decomposition capacity toward recalcitrant substances. Biological decomposition in liquid phase cultures for either CBZ or DTZ, or in a combination of the two, was conducted for 12 days. DTZ and CBZ were degraded by 43.2% and 60%, respectively from an initial concentration of 100 µg L−1. When degradation was assessed using a mixture of the two compounds, the initial degradation rates of CBZ and DTZ were lower than those observed in the single-compound study. However, the final cumulative removal efficiency was very similar. The extent of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal was correlated with the degradation of the pharmaceuticals.
BETAINE TRANSPORT IN GIANT FIBER LOBES OF THE SQUID LOLLIGUNCULA BREVIS

Although it is known that cephalopods and other marine molluscs accumulate organic osmolytes to prevent cellular water loss in the high salinity of seawater, very few studies on molluscs, and no studies on cephalopods have been performed to characterize the underlying transport processes. We used ( 3 H) betaine to quantify the uptake of betaine into giant fiber lobe motor neurons of the squid Lolliguncula brevis. We found that betaine uptake was Na + and Cl - dependent with a specific uptake rate of 7.7 fmoles ( 3 H) betaine/µg protein/min. In addition, we found that 100 µM niflumic acid blocked 85% of betaine uptake. As expected for an osmoregulatory transporter, exposure to hypotonic seawater inhibited betaine uptake by 95%. These data indicate that squids use the betaine transporter to accumulate betaine, and support previous electrophysiological recordings of a betaine-induced Na + -dependent Cl - current that is thought to be linked to the betaine transporter.
Is your caching resolver polluting the internet?

Previous research has shown that most of the DNS queries reaching the root of the hierarchy are bogus [1]. This behavior derives from two constraints on the system: (1) queries that cannot be satisfied locally percolate up to the root of the DNS; (2) some caching nameservers are behind packet filters or firewalls that allow outgoing queries but block incoming replies. These resolvers assume the network failure is temporary and retransmit their queries, often aggressively.DNS pollution may not be causing any perceivable performance problems. The root servers seem well equipped to handle the load. Since DNS messages are small, the pollution does not contribute significantly to the total traffic generated by most organizations. Nonetheless, this paper provides a few reasons why network operators should take the time to investigate and fix these problems.
The Ownership and Trading of Debt Claims in Chapter 11 Restructurings

Using a novel data set that covers individual debt claims against 136 bankrupt US companies and includes information on a subset of claims transfers, we provide new empirical insight regarding how a firm’s debt ownership relates to bankruptcy outcomes. Firms with higher debt concentration at the start of the case are more likely to file prearranged bankruptcy plans, to move quickly through the restructuring process, and to emerge successfully as independent going concerns. Moreover, higher ownership concentration within a debt class is associated with higher recovery rates to that class. Trading of claims during bankruptcy concentrates ownership further, but this trading is not associated with subsequent improvements in bankruptcy outcomes and could, at the margin, increase the likelihood of liquidation.
Case report: Increased viral receptor expression associated with high viral load and severe pneumonia in a young patient infected with 2009 H1N1 influenza a with no pre‐existing conditions

A case of unusually high severity of influenza pneumonia leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death was investigated. This was a previously a healthy 28‐year‐old man with no underlying conditions, admitted to a hospital during the first wave of influenza pandemic in Thailand in July 2009. He had experienced high fever and influenza‐like illness for 5 days before coming to the hospital. He developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and expired on day 7 after admission. In comparison to three other cases of influenza pneumonia in the same outbreak with known risk factors for severe influenza, such as pregnancy and diabetes mellitus, a much higher viral load was detected in the lungs of this patient despite antiviral treatment. In agreement with the high viral load, the lung specimens from this patient, but not the other three patients, showed a high expression of α‐2,6‐linked sialic acid by lectin staining. The gene responsible for the synthesis of this sialic acid was also found to be upregulated. The data indicated overexpression of the viral receptor as a potential mechanism for severe disease in some patients. J. Med. Virol. 84:380–385, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gold as a strategic asset for UK investors : Portfolio risk management and capital preservation

The World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry. Working within the investment, jewellery and technology sectors, as well as engaging in government affairs, our purpose is to provide industry leadership, whilst stimulating and sustaining demand for gold. We develop gold-backed solutions, services and markets, based on true market insight. As a result, we create structural shifts in demand for gold across key market sectors. We provide insights into the international gold markets, helping people to better understand the wealth preservation qualities of gold and its role in meeting the social and environmental needs of society. Based in the UK, with operations in India, the Far East, Europe and the US, the World Gold Council is an association whose members include the world's leading and most forward thinking gold mining companies.
Competing Theories of Financial Anomalies

We compare two competing theories of financial anomalies: "behavioral" theories built on investor irrationality, and "rational structural uncertainty" theories built on incomplete information about the structure of the economic environment. We find that although the theories relax opposite assumptions of the rational expectations ideal, their mathematical and predictive similarities make them difficult to distinguish. Even if irrationality generates financial anomalies, their disappearance still may hinge on rational learning--that is, on the ability of rational arbitrageurs and their investors to reject competing rational explanations for observed price patterns. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Patient's perception of autonomy support and shared decision making in physical therapy

Background: Shared Decision Making (SDM) is primarily intended to enhance patient autonomy. To date, the relationship between patients’ perceived levels of involvement and autonomy support has never been investigated in the field of physical therapy. Based on the recently reported extremely low level of observed SDM in physical therapy, similarly poor patient perceptions are expected. Objective: The main objectives of this study were to examine patients’ perceptions of SDM and autonomy support in physical therapy and to explore the relationship between both. Design: Patient survey after real consultations in physical therapy. Methods: Patients completed the Dyadic Observing Patient Involvement (Dyadic OPTION) instrument and the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ) to examine patients’ perceived levels of SDM and autonomy support, respectively. Multilevel analyses were applied to determine the relationship between both perceptions. Results: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients, who were recruited by 13 physical therapists, agreed to participate. The median Dyadic OPTION score was 72.9 out of a total possible score of 100. The median HCCQ score was 94.3 out of a total possible score of 100. Patients’ experienced level of SDM (b = 0.14; p < 0.001) and patients’ age (b = 0.12; p = 0.001) contributed to patients’ perceived autonomy support. None of the physical therapist characteristics were related to patients’ perceived autonomy support. Limitations: Only 13 out of 125 therapists who were personally contacted agreed to participate. Conclusion: Using patients’ perceptions, we found that a relationship between SDM and autonomy support existed. In contrast to observational studies, our study also demonstrated that the participating physical therapists individually tailored patient support by adapting their implementation of SDM to each patient.
T Cells in Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a human T cell–mediated autoimmune-like disorder caused by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. This review will discuss how CD4 T cell responses directed against an exogenous Ag can cause an autoreactive B cell response and participate in the licensing of intraepithelial lymphocytes to kill intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, this review will examine the mechanisms by which intraepithelial cytotoxic T cells mediate tissue destruction in celiac disease.
Extreme Band Engineering of III-Nitride Nanowire Heterostructures for Electronic and Photonic Application

Bottom-up nanowires are attractive for realizing semiconductor devices with extreme heterostructures because strain relaxation through the nanowire sidewalls allows the combination of highly lattice mismatched materials without creating dislocations. The resulting nanowires are used to fabricate light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, solar cells, and sensors. The aim of this work is to investigate extreme heterostructures, which are impossible or very hard to realize in conventional planar films, exploiting the strain accommodation property of nanowires and engineer their band structure for novel electronic and photonic applications. To this end, in this thesis, III-Nitride semiconductor nanowires are investigated. In the first part of this work, a complete growth phase diagram of InN nanowires on silicon using plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy is developed, and structural and optical characteristics are mapped as a function of growth parameters. Next, a novel up-side down pendeoepitaxial growth of InN forming mushroom-like microstructures is demonstrated and detail structural and optical characterizations are performed. Based on this, a method to grow strain-free large area single crystalline InN or thin film is proposed and the growth of InN on patterned GaN is investigated. The optimized growth conditions developed for InN are further used to grow InGaN nanowires graded over the whole composition range. Numerical energy band simulation is performed to better