Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mediates Vesicle Trafficking From the trans-Golgi Network via an Interaction With the Clathrin Adaptor AP-1

Eps15 (EGFR pathway substrate clone 15) is well known for its role in clathrin-coated vesicle formation at the plasma membrane through interactions with other clathrin adaptor proteins such as AP-2. Interestingly, we observed that in addition to its plasma membrane localization, Eps15 is also present at the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Therefore, we predicted that Eps15 might associate with clathrin adaptor proteins at the TGN and thereby mediate the formation of Golgiderived vesicles. Indeed, we have found that Eps15 and the TGN clathrin adaptor AP-1 coimmunoprecipitate from rat liver Golgi fractions. Furthermore, we have identified a 14 amino acid motif near the AP-2-binding domain of Eps15 that is required for binding to AP-1, but not AP-2. Disruption of the Eps15-AP-1 interaction via siRNA knockdown of AP-1 or expression of mutant Eps15 protein, which lacks a 14 amino acid motif representing the AP-1 binding site of Eps15, significantly reduced the exit of secretory proteins from the TGN. Together, these findings indicate that Eps15 plays an important role in clathrin-coated vesicle formation not only at the plasma membrane but also at the TGN during the secretory process.
Prospective Study on the Effectiveness of Complementary Food Supplements on Improving Status of Elder Infants and Young Children in the Areas Affected by Wenchuan Earthquake

Objective To prospectively evaluate the efficiency of daily providing complementary food supplements decreasing malnutrition and anemia prevalence in elder infants and young children living in areas affected by Wenchuan Earthquake. Design Using promotional probability sampling method, 250 to 300 children from six-randomized townships (30 to 50 children in each township) in Kang County affected by the Earthquake were randomly chosen for follow up to evaluate intervention effectiveness using anthropometric measurement and hemoglobin level at six, twelve and eighteen months after start of intervention. Setting and Subjects All children from 6 to 18 months of age in Kang County (in North Western China) were daily provided with complementary food supplements containing multiple vitamins and minerals for up to 24 months of age. The intervention period lasted for one and half year. Results At beginning of intervention, malnutrition prevalence, including underweight, stunting and wasting were respectively 4.5%, 8.9% and 3.5%; anemia prevalence was 74.3%. After one and half year intervention, the growth and anemia status were significantly improved; the percentages of wasting, stunting underweight prevalence were decreased from 3.5%, 8.9% and 4.5% to 1.7%, 5.0% and 3.3% respectively, and the anemia rates were significantly decreased. Conclusions Our results indicated that an intervention using complementary food supplements could improve nutritional status and elevate hemoglobin level in elder infants and young children, which would significantly decrease the prevalence of malnutrition and anemia.
INF2‐ and FHOD‐related formins promote ovulation in the somatic gonad of C. elegans

Formins are regulators of actin filament dynamics. We demonstrate here that two formins, FHOD‐1 and EXC‐6, are important in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for ovulation, during which actomyosin contractions push a maturing oocyte from the gonad arm into a distensible bag‐like organ, the spermatheca. EXC‐6, a homolog of the disease‐associated mammalian formin INF2, is highly expressed in the spermatheca, where it localizes to cell‐cell junctions and to circumferential actin filament bundles. Loss of EXC‐6 does not noticeably affect the organization the actin filament bundles, and causes only a very modest increase in the population of junction‐associated actin filaments. Despite absence of a strong cytoskeletal phenotype, approximately half of ovulations in exc‐6 mutants exhibit extreme defects, including failure of the oocyte to enter the spermatheca, or breakage of the oocyte as the distal spermatheca entrance constricts during ovulation. Loss of FHOD‐1 alone has little effect, and we cannot detect FHOD‐1 in the spermatheca. However, combined loss of these formins in double fhod‐1;exc‐6 mutants results in profound ovulation defects, with significant slowing of the entry of oocytes into the spermatheca, and failure of nearly 80% of ovulations. We suggest that EXC‐6 plays a role directly in the spermatheca, perhaps by modulating the ability of the spermatheca wall to rapidly accommodate an incoming oocyte, while FHOD‐1 may play an indirect role relating to its known importance in the growth and function of the egg‐laying muscles. © 2016 The Authors. Cytoskeleton Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Species composition and relative abundance of medium and large mammals in Mengaza communal forest, East Gojjam, Ethiopia

Studies on the species composition, relative abundance and distribution of medium and large mammals were carried out from August 2015 to July 2016 in Mengaza communal forest. Data were collected using line transect technique. A total of twelve species of medium and large mammals were identified and recorded in the study area. Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), porcupine (Hystrix cristata), honey badger (Mellivera capensis), vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus), black backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus), olive baboon (Papio anubis), were among the medium mammals but Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), aardvark (Oryctropus afer), bohor reed buck (Redunca redunca) and common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were among the large mammals identified in the study area. Olive baboon (32.7%) was the most abundant species during dry and wet seasons. Mammalian species composition between the two habitats (natural forest and plantation) was not significant (χ2 = 0.47, df =1, P > 0.05). However, there was seasonal variation in the abundance of individuals of medium and large mammals (χ2 = 3.89, df = 1, P < 0.05). The area is facing severe degradation due to human population pressure. Therefore, there should be proper conservation of the forest to sustain the wildlife species living there. Key words: Abundance, distribution, medium and large mammals, Mengaza Communal Forest, plantation species composition.
Weight Gain After Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a promising treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. We report a case of a woman successfully treated with FMT who developed new-onset obesity after receiving stool from a healthy but overweight donor. This case may stimulate further studies on the mechanisms of the nutritional-neural-microbiota axis and reports of outcomes in patients who have used nonideal donors for FMT.
Evaluating Nutritional Quality of Single Stage- and Two Stage-fermented Soybean Meal

This study investigated the nutritional quality of soybean meal (SBM) fermented by Aspergillus () and/or followed by Lactobacillus fermentation (). Both fermented products significantly improved protein utilization of SBM with higher trichloroacetic acid (TCA) soluble true protein content, in vitro protein digestibility and available lysine content, especially in . Moreover, produced a huge amount of lactic acid resulting in lower pH as compared to the unfermented SBM or soybean protein concentrate (SPC) (p and raised 4.14% and 9.04% of essential amino acids and 5.38% and 9.37% of non-essential amino acids content, respectively. The -galactoside linkage oligosaccharides such as raffinose and stachyose content in and decreased significantly. The results of soluble protein fractions and distribution showed that the ratio of small protein fractions ( and , respectively, as compared to 7.2% for SBM, where the ratio of large size fractions (>55 kDa, mainly -conglycinin) decreased to 9.4%, 5.4% and increased to 38.8%, respectively. There were no significant differences in ileal protein digestibility regardless of treatment groups. SPC inclusion in the diet showed a better protein digestibility than the SBM diet. In summary, soybean meal fermented by Aspergillus, especially through the consequent Lactobacillus fermentation, could increase the nutritional value as compared with unfermented SBM and is compatible with SPC.
Decision-making in ADHD: sensitive to frequency but blind to the magnitude of penalty?

BACKGROUND Decision-making and reinforcement sensitivity were investigated in 23 children with ADHD and 20 healthy controls using a gambling paradigm. METHODS Children were required to choose between three alternatives that carried (A) small rewards and small penalties (advantageous), (B) large rewards and increasing penalties and (C) small rewards and increasing penalties (both disadvantageous). Penalties increased either in frequency or magnitude in two independent conditions. Heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) were measured to examine whether impaired decision-making was accompanied by autonomic abnormalities. RESULTS Children with ADHD showed a maladaptive response style compared to controls by demonstrating a smaller preference for the advantageous alternative, when penalties increased in magnitude. When penalties increased in frequency, children with ADHD performed like controls. Group differences in decision-making attenuated after the task was administered twice. Compared to controls, performance of children with ADHD in the magnitude condition was accompanied by increased HR acceleration following reward. In this condition, the post-selection SC of children with ADHD was larger for advantageous than for disadvantageous alternatives, in contrast to controls who showed an opposite SC pattern. CONCLUSIONS The current findings suggest that during decision-making, children with ADHD may be sensitive to the frequency but blind to the magnitude of penalty.
MELD Scores and Child–Pugh Classifications Predict the Outcomes of ERCP in Cirrhotic Patients With Choledocholithiasis

AbstractEndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is challenging in cirrhotic patients with choledocholithiasis. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ERCP in cirrhotic patients with choledocholithiasis and accessed the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores and Child–Pugh classifications for prediction of morbidity and mortality.From January 2000 to June 2014, 77 ERCP operations were performed in cirrhotic patients with choledocholithiasis. The data on operative complications were analyzed. MELD scores and Child–Pugh classifications were calculated and associated with operative outcomes and survival. Telephone follow-up was performed to determine survival situations.No death, perforation, or hemorrhage caused by gastroesophageal varices occurred as a result of the procedure. The rate of intraoperative hemorrhage was 13.0%, and the rate of postoperative morbidity was 27.3% including hemorrhage (18.2%), post-ERCP pancreatitis (6.1%), aggravated infection of the biliary tract (1.3%), hepatic encephalopathy (1.3%), and respiratory failure (1.3%). Four (5.2%) patients had both intraoperative and postoperative hemorrhage. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified MELD scores higher than 11.5 as the best cutoff value for predicting complication incidence (95% confidence interval = 0.63–0.87). Twenty-one (44.7%) patients with a MELD score above 11.5 developed a complication, and 3 (10%) patients who had a lower MELD score developed a complication (P = 0.001). Both MELD score and Child–Pugh classification had prognostic value in patients without jaundice, although sex may result in different prognostic values based on the 2 scores. The rate of complications was not significantly different among patients with different Child–Pugh classifications. No significant difference was observed in patients with different MELD scores or Child–Pugh classifications in terms of median survival times.ERCP is an effective and safe procedure in cirrhotic patients with choledocholithiasis. MELD scores can predict the risk of operative complications, but Child–Pugh classification system scores do not predict the risk of complications.
Apyrase Suppression Raises Extracellular ATP Levels and Induces Gene Expression and Cell Wall Changes Characteristic of Stress Responses1[C][W][OPEN]

Suppressing the expression of two apyrase genes raises extracellular ATP levels and induces gene expression, growth, and cell wall changes characteristic of stress responses, thus implicating extracellular nucleotides as early signals linking biotic and abiotic stresses to growth inhibition. Plant cells release ATP into their extracellular matrix as they grow, and extracellular ATP (eATP) can modulate the rate of cell growth in diverse tissues. Two closely related apyrases (APYs) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), APY1 and APY2, function, in part, to control the concentration of eATP. The expression of APY1/APY2 can be inhibited by RNA interference, and this suppression leads to an increase in the concentration of eATP in the extracellular medium and severely reduces growth. To clarify how the suppression of APY1 and APY2 is linked to growth inhibition, the gene expression changes that occur in seedlings when apyrase expression is suppressed were assayed by microarray and quantitative real-time-PCR analyses. The most significant gene expression changes induced by APY suppression were in genes involved in biotic stress responses, which include those genes regulating wall composition and extensibility. These expression changes predicted specific chemical changes in the walls of mutant seedlings, and two of these changes, wall lignification and decreased methyl ester bonds, were verified by direct analyses. Taken together, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that APY1, APY2, and eATP play important roles in the signaling steps that link biotic stresses to plant defense responses and growth changes.
“Tweak Your Order Set!” Implementation of Modified Laboratory Order Set Improves Hepatitis C Virus Screening Rates in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract There are several barriers to annual hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAb) testing, including lack of provider knowledge of the changing HCV epidemic and provider underestimation of a patient’s risk. We identified low rates of testing for HCVAb in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in our outpatient HIV Infectious Diseases clinic, and we developed a quality improvement project to increase rates of HCVAb screening.
Lymphocytes transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. Induction of nuclear antigen reactive with antibody in rheumatoid arthritis

Sera from approximately two-thirds of patients with rheumatoid arthritis contain an antibody which is reactive with a nuclear antigen present in human B-lymphocyte tissue culture cells. The immunological reaction can be demonstrated by precipitation and immunofluorescence. Evidence is present that the reactive nuclear antigen is associated with Epstein-Barr (EB) virus-transformed lymphocytes. Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes did not contain the nuclear antigen reactive with rheumatoid arthritis sera, but after infection with EB virus, they showed increasing amounts of reactive nuclear antigen as the cells were transformed into continuous lines. Several established human and simian lymphocyte cell lines known to carry EB viral genomes were shown to contain rheumatoid arthritis-associated nuclear antigen. Evidence is presented which suggests that the rheumatoid arthritis- associated nuclear antigen is different from the previously described EB nuclear antigen.
Using Software-based Attestation for Verifying Embedded Systems in Cars

With advances in automobile electronics, we find a rapid prol iferation of embedded systems in cars, both in safety-critical a pp ications and for passenger comfort. These embedded systems are increasingly networked for their operation and enhanced func tio ality. However, the increased connectivity of embedded syste m also greatly complicates design, increases the number of failur e modes, and introduces the risk of remote malicious attacks, such as worms and viruses. Moreover, car owners may alter the code on their car to access features they did not pay for or achieve higher moto r performance. Such owner-initiated changes are likely to deter iorate the car’s safety. We propose SWATT, a SoftWare-based ATTestation mechanism to detect and defend against these threats. SWATT enables an external verifier to verify the code of a running system to det ect maliciously inserted or altered code. So far, code attestationhas been proposed as a mechanism to verify the code running on a system, and special hardware mechanisms have been designed to achieve this property, e.g., TCG (formerly known as TCPA) [1 5] and NGSCB (formerly known as Palladium) [6]. However, speci al hardware to provide attestation may not be available in lega cy systems or due to cost reasons. Therefore, we design SWATT to be software-based. Code attestation is instrumental to many a pplic tions, such as remote detection of malicious code (such as Tr ojan horses and viruses) in embedded systems and gives an assuran ce that critical embedded systems are running the correct code . If we use SWATT to verify code running on embedded systems in a car, an attacker is forced to perform a hardware change to hide the presence of altered code; greatly increasing the effort require d by an attacker and preventing entire classes of remote attacks.
Spectral characteristics of copper-stressed vegetation leaves and further understanding of the copper stress vegetation index

ABSTRACT This study analysed the changing pattern of the spectral features of copper-stressed leaves for several vegetation types, and explored the mechanism of the Copper Stress Vegetation Index (CSVI). First, the change of seven key spectral features (Green Peak, Red Valley, Red Shoulder, NIR (Near Infrared) Reflectance Platform, Blue-Edge, Yellow-Edge, and Red-Edge) with copper stress level from low to high, were presented and analysed. Second, the chlorophyll contents in leaves were investigated to explain the spectral characteristics at the visible band. Third, the leaf structure and absorption related to copper were analysed to explore the reason of changing pattern at NIR band. The results showed that there are significant changing trends at Blue-Edge, Green Peak, and Red-Edge while the changing pattern at NIR band depends on the vegetation type. The analysis on chlorophyll content, leaf structure, and absorption related to copper, gave an overall mechanism explanation for the spectral characteristics of copper-stressed vegetation and the wavelengths used in CSVI. The results and conclusions in this paper, contribute new knowledge of copper-stressed vegetation reflectance and the CSVI, and provide mechanism basement for the remote sensing of copper-stressed vegetation.
Bodyweight Changes Are Associated with Reduced Health Related Quality of Life: The Hordaland Health Study

There is lack of studies investigating the association between bodyweight changes and health related quality of life (HRQL). The aim was to study the effect of relative changes in bodyweight over time on HRQL. In the Hordaland Health Study, 9276 men and 10433 women aged 40–47 years were included. Weight and height were measured and information on bodyweight changes during the last 5 years, physical activity and smoking was obtained from self–administered questionnaires including the Medical Outcomes Study MOS short form-12 including a Physical health Composite Score (PCS) and a Mental health Composite Score (MCS). Increasing bodyweight changes were associated with marked reduced scores in PCS and MCS also after adjustment for body mass index (BMI), physical activity and smoking. Men and women with a variation in weight with more than 15% during the last 5 years reported a mean score of MCS that was 0.48 standard deviation (SD) (3.9/8.1) and 0.35 SD (3.1/8.9) lower than those reporting a variation in weight less than 5%. No major differences were found between those who at date of examination were at the lower and higher end of the reported weight interval. There were no significant differences in the associations between men and women. Our findings confirm that increasing bodyweight changes are associated with reduced physical and mental health beyond what is related to BMI itself.
The potential for integration of ride-hailing with mass transit systems: A choice experiment in Latin America

As transportation alternatives facilitated by TNCs (Transportation Network Companies) have gained popularity around the world, research has increasingly focused on understanding their impacts on urban mobility, with several studies examining whether they are competing with public transit trips, increasing vehicle kilometers, or contributing to congestion. Recent policy discussions have turned to whether these services could also have positive benefits, such as complementing mass transit services as a first-and last-mile solution. Most research to date has focused on industrialized countries, with little work focusing on Global South cities. Seeking to fill significant evidence gaps on the impacts of ride-hailing on travel behavior, this paper builds on a stated preference survey in three large metropolitan areas in Latin America (Bogota, Medellin, and Mexico City) to evaluate the potential of introducing an integrated scheme of ride-hailing and mass transit. The scenario of the integrated scheme places ride-hailing as a filler of the first-and last-mile gap left by mass transit. We use discrete choice models and simulations to assess the potential for modal shifts under different pricing scenarios. Results suggest limited feasibility (or modal shifts) of an integrated system of ride-hailing with mass transit under the scenarios considered. Even with significant discounts on the integrated fare, for two of the three cases, the additional ridership would remain comparatively low. Nevertheless, this opens the door for considering other app-based mobility options operating under a sharing perspective and that can reduce operative costs in an integrated scheme. JEL classification: J16, N76
A Proof of the Smoothness of the Finite Time Horizon American Put Option for Jump Diffusions

We give a new proof of the fact that the value function of the finite time horizon American put option for a jump diffusion, when the jumps are from a compound Poisson process, is the classical solution of a free boundary equation. We also show that the value function is $C^1$ across the optimal stopping boundary. Our proof, which uses only the classical theory of parabolic partial differential equations of [A. Friedman, Partial Differential Equations of Parabolic Type, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1964] and [A. Friedman, Stochastic Differential Equations and Applications, Dover, Mineola, NY, 2006], is an alternative to the proof that uses the theory of viscosity solutions (see [H. Pham, Appl. Math. Optim., 35 (1997), pp. 145-164]). This new proof relies on constructing a monotonous sequence of functions, each of which is a value function of an optimal stopping problem for a geometric Brownian motion, converging to the value function of the American put option for the jump diffusion uniformly and exponentially fast. This sequence is constructed by iterating a functional operator that maps a certain class of convex functions to classical solutions of corresponding free boundary equations. On the other hand, since the approximating sequence converges to the value function exponentially fast, it naturally leads to a good numerical scheme.