Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intramolecular Disulfide Bond Is a Critical Check Point Determining Degradative Fates of ATP-binding Cassette (ABC) Transporter ABCG2 Protein*

Human ABCG2 belongs to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family and plays an important role in various biological reactions, such as xenobiotic elimination and homeostasis of protoporphyrin. We previously reported that ABCG2 exists in the plasma membrane as a homodimer bound via a disulfide bond at Cys-603. In the present study, we examined the importance of an intramolecular disulfide bond for stability of the ABCG2 protein. Substitution of either Cys-592 or Cys-608 located in the extracellular loop to glycine resulted in a significant decrease in protein levels of ABCG2 when expressed in Flp-In-293 cells. Interestingly, the protein levels of those ABCG2 variants were remarkably enhanced by treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Concomitantly, increases in ubiquitinated forms of those variant proteins were detected by immunoprecipitation. In contrast, neither the protein level nor the ubiquitinated state of the ABCG2 wild-type (WT) was affected by MG132 treatment. Ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation is suggested to be involved in degradation of misfolded ABCG2 proteins lacking the intramolecular disulfide bond. On the other hand, the protein level of ABCG2 WT increased more than 4-fold when cells were treated with bafilomycin A1, which inhibits lysosomal degradation, whereas the C592G or C608G variant was little affected by the same treatment. These results strongly suggest that two distinct pathways exist for protein degradation of ABCG2 WT and mutants lacking the intramolecular disulfide bond. Namely, the WT ABCG2 is degraded in lysosomes, and the misfolded ABCG2 lacking intramolecular disulfide bond undergoes ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation in proteasomes.
Proteome analysis of Fusarium head blight in grains of naked barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. nudum)

The effect of artificial Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum infection at the level of the proteome on grains of naked barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. nudum) was investigated in comparison to naturally infected samples. Fusarium infection in barley led to numerous host‐specific biochemical responses. NEPHGE 2‐D PAGE and MS were used to identify proteins that were differentially expressed in response to fungal infection and growing location of the plants. Moreover, the mycotoxin concentration of the grains was evaluated to characterize the infection degree. Inoculation of naked barley with Fusarium led to grain deoxynivalenol concentrations of up to 1.2 mg/kg. The carbon and nitrogen grain concentrations were not significantly changed after fungal infection, but differed between growing locations. Eleven proteins related to fungal infection were detected as were three proteins with effects based on growing location. These proteins belong to different protein groups involved in various cell functions: transcription regulation, defence response, nutrient reservoirs and starch biosynthesis. The results gave indications on plant defence strategies and changes as response to Fusarium infection in mature grains after a long infection period as well as being influenced by the growing location.
States of Insurgency: Conflict Transformation in Civil Wars through Social Services

Under what circumstances can the provision of social services, including that provided as humanitarian assistance, contribute to the management and transformation of civil wars? This dissertation addresses this question through a qualitative comparative analysis of social service provision during three civil wars - Northern Ireland (1969-1998), southern Sudan (1983-2005) and Tajikistan (1992-1997). Drawing from theoretical advances in the field of contentious politics, it identifies two forms of brokerage, namely opportunity hoarding and exploitation as key causal mechanisms related to social service provision during civil wars. Drawing on field research in each of the three cases considered, this dissertation argues that in situations where social services are provided in a relatively autonomous way from categorical groups engaged in conflict, social services can materially impact the incentive structure of insurgencies, resulting in organizational changes that in turn can increase prospects for peace. These changes arise because of brokerage opportunities between local populations and social service systems created by autonomous social service systems. Furthermore, in situations where social services are of a relatively high capacity, social service systems can, over time, also address social grievances, taking these issues off the table when peace talks actually take place.
Evaluation of Correlation between the In Vitro Susceptibility of Field Isolates of Leishmania major and Clinical Outcomes of Meglumine Antimoniate Therapy in Fars Province, Iran

Background: This study was designed to detect whether there is a correlation between in vitro susceptibility of field isolates of Leishmania major and the clinical outcomes of meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®) therapy, the mainstay of cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment in Iran. Methods: Forty-three patients infected with L. major were enrolled in this study from October 2009 to March 2010 and categorized as responsive or unresponsive to Glucantime® treatment after receiving the appropriate therapy. Then, intracellular amastigote approach was conducted on these field strains to investigate in vitro drug susceptibility as well. Results: At clinical level, out of 43 patients, 15 were clinically non-responsive and 28 were responsive to antimony therapy. All those 28 clinically sensitive strains were susceptible to antimony in the in vitro assay, whereas merely 11 isolates from 15 non-healing isolates were resistant in vitro. Finally, a good correlation (78.9%) with high sensitivity, specificity (100/73) between clinical outcomes and the in vitro susceptibility test was achieved. Conclusion: The intracellular amastigote model could be an appropriate assay for evaluation of the in vivo drug sensitivity of field isolates. However, more comprehensive studies with larger sets of isolates are needed to confirm these preliminary data.
Artifact-free high dynamic range imaging based on Sandroid Cubesat with camera array

Space Imaging face serious dynamic range problem. Images captured by conventional cameras will loss important information of overexposed or underexposed regions. In this paper, we proposed a novel HDR imaging method with camera array based on Sandroid Cubesat to obtain accurate images of space target. It has been introduced from two aspects of hardware and software and has been tested the accuracy of variety space conditions in DST environment. Experiments proof that our method can obtain clear and artifact-free images from high dynamic range scene, and it cost only a little computation. As the platform of our approach, Sandroid Cubesat is a small satellite with smart phone cluster as the core. It carries powerful computing capability, which could be used to solve complex image processing algorithms on-board.
The use of postoperative bone scintigraphy to predict graft retention.

BACKGROUND Osteonecrosis of the femoral head commonly occurs in patients aged under 50 years. Because of a high rate of complications associated with joint replacement surgery in this population, surgical techniques, such as vascularized fibular grafting, have been devised in an attempt to salvage the femoral head. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of bone scintigraphy to predict graft retention after vascularized fibular grafting for osteonecrosis of the hip. METHODS We evaluated single photon emission computed tomography images from 104 subjects whose hips were treated with vascularized fibular grafts between 1994 and 2000. We compared the signal intensity of the graft with the intensity of the ipsilateral proximal femoral diaphysis and assigned a score of 1 if less than diaphysis, 2 if equal to diaphysis and 3 if greater than diaphysis. We defined graft failure as conversion to or on the waiting list for total hip arthroplasty. RESULTS Thirty percent of hips failed treatment (n = 31, mean graft survival 34.9 mo), while 70% of grafts were retained (n = 73, mean follow-up 56.6 mo). Bone scan scores were significantly lower in the failed group (mean 7.1, range 6-12), compared with the retained group (mean 8.5, range 6-18; p = 0.03). Logistic regression demonstrated that a bone scan score > 6 was associated with graft retention (p = 0.028), with an odds ratio of 3.08 (range 1.13-8.40). CONCLUSION These results suggest that having a well-perfused graft in the early postoperative period improves the chances of graft retention in the future.
An economic agent in my brain? A critical analysis of multiple-self models in neuroeconomics

Abstract Neuroeconomic multiple-self models describe individuals’ choices as the equilibrium of the interaction amongst neural sites modelled as economic agents. This approach aims at explaining some inter-temporal inconsistency problems and the rejection of unfair offers in ultimatum games. However, the experiments on these models do not provide replicable results. The standard view interprets this problem as due to inadequate econometric techniques. Conversely, this paper shows that the non-replicability problem arises from a conundrum of multiple-self models’ (MSMs) theory. It illustrates how the assumption of neuroeconomic agents is deduced from the revealed preferences theory applied to the neuro-level. Therefore, the paper shows how experiments on MSMs cannot test the assumption of neuroeconomic agents but only the empirical hypotheses that derive from it. This entails that the assumption of neuroeconomic agents is a tautology, which might generate hypotheses that do not robustly identify the neural correlates of behaviour.
THE MORPHOLOGY OF BULL SPERMATOZOA

It has been known since the nineteenth century that the microscopical structure of living cells may be modified by fixation and by post-mortem or sub-mortem changes (Hardy, 1899), but inadequate attention seems to have been paid to factors which may injure spermatozoa before fixation and microscopical examination. One such factor is the effect of sudden cooling. If semen is exposed to a sudden fall in temperature there is an irreversible decline in the activity of the spermatozoa (Chang & Walton, 1940), and this reduction in activity is associated with an increase in the number of dead, i.e. eosinophil cells (Lasley, Easley & McKenzie, 1942). This phenomenon of 'temperature shock' is encountered in bull semen cooled abruptly by pipetting semen at 30 C. into an aqueous solution of nigrosin and eosin at 20 C. (Hancock, 1951). The depressed rate of respiration and fructolysis of temperature-shocked samples can be correlated with the increase in the proportion of eosinophil cells (Bishop & Hancock,
[Polyethylene content and cell size of foreign body giant cells in aseptic hip prosthesis loosening--a histomorphometric study].

INTRODUCTION In aseptic loosening of cementless hip arthroplasty polyethylene particles are phagocytized by macrophages and foreign-body giant cells. This initiates an osteolytic cascade. In this study, the authors investigated if there are correlations between the size of foreign-body giant cells and the polyethylene loading and number of intracellular particles as determined by light microscopy. MATERIAL AND METHOD Histological specimens were processed from tissues retrieved during revision surgery of 7 cases of cementless hip arthroplasty which had become aseptically loose. The specimens were analyzed by histolomorphology and histomorphometry. The cell size, polyethylene loading and intracellular particle number of 111 foreign-body giant cells were determined. A regression analysis was performed to investigate if there was a correlation between these variables. RESULTS The mean cell size was 1417 +/- 487 micron 2, the mean polyethylene loading was 49 +/- 42 micron 2 and the mean intracellular particle number was 10.4 +/- 5.4. The cell size correlated with both the intracellular particle number (r = 0.25) and the polyethylene loading (r = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS In the cellular reaction to polyethylene particles in aseptic loosening of cementless total hip arthroplasty, the size of foreign-body giant cells correlates with intracellular polyethylene loading and intracellular polyethylene particle number as determined by light microscopy. The presence of large foreign body giant cells might be associated with a high particle load of the tissue and a high osteolytic activity.
Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation System (OXPHOS) Deficits in Schizophrenia

Mitochondria are key players in the generation and regulation of cellular bioenergetics, producing the majority of adenosine triphosphate molecules by the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS). Linked to numerous signaling pathways and cellular functions, mitochondria, and OXPHOS in particular, are involved in neuronal development, connectivity, plasticity, and differentiation. Impairments in a variety of mitochondrial functions have been described in different general and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ), a severe, chronic, debilitating illness that heavily affects the lives of patients and their families. This article reviews findings emphasizing the role of OXPHOS in the pathophysiology of SCZ. Evidence accumulated during the past few decades from imaging, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies points at OXPHOS deficit involvement in SCZ. Abnormalities have been reported in high-energy phosphates generated by the OXPHOS, in the activity of its complexes and gene expression, primarily of complex I (CoI). In addition, cellular signaling such as cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) and Ca+2, neuronal development, connectivity, and plasticity have been linked to OXPHOS function and are reported to be impaired in SCZ. Finally, CoI has been shown as a site of interaction for both dopamine (DA) and antipsychotic drugs, further substantiating its role in the pathology of SCZ. Understanding the role of mitochondria and the OXPHOS in particular may encourage new insights into the pathophysiology and etiology of this debilitating disorder.
The role of staphylococcal enterotoxin A in achieving oral tolerance to myelin basic protein in adult mice

Background: Oral tolerance is the biological process explaining the non-responsiveness of gut lymphoid tissue to intestinal content. Our study tested a new approach for the enhancement of oral tolerance to a multiple sclerosis-triggering auto-antigen–myelin basic protein, by its oral administration with the Staphylococcal enterotoxin A. Methods: Immune tolerance thus stimulated was assessed in adult BALB/c mice, by measuring different cytokines from the supernatant of mesenteric lymph nodes cells (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, and TGF-β), and in a SJL/E mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, by evaluating the development of regulatory T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and the clinical outcome of the intervention. Results: We obtained a significant rise in the levels of IL-10 and TGF-β compared with control and a significant decrease of IFN-γ, IL-4 (p < 0.05). Regulatory T cells were increased compared with control (p < 0.05). These results were attributable both to myelin basic protein and to Staphylococcal enterotoxin A. The clinical outcome of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was influenced only by the administration of myelin basic protein. Conclusion: In our experiment, Staphylococcal enterotoxin A enhanced the immune tolerance to myelin basic protein in the gut mucosa, but had no impact on the clinical evolution of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
A single-wire capacitive power transfer system with large coupling alignment tolerance

This paper introduces a new Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system based on single pair of electric field coupling without a current return path. Such a single-contact Capacitive Power Transfer (CPT) system helps to enhance the coupling tolerance between the coupled plates. A class E converter is designed to drive an LCLC resonant circuit to boost the voltage at the primary side of the coupling plate, while a CLCL resonant circuit is used to boost the output current to the load. A practical prototype is built, and it has demonstrated that 3.8 W of power can be transferred across a single pair of copper coupling plates (100mm ×100mm) at full alignment. And it has found that the single-wire CPT system has a large coupling tolerance against both lateral and angular misalignments between the coupled plates.
Apheresis in the Treatment of Cholesterol Embolic Disease

Abstract: Cholesterol embolic disease is a devastating complication of atherosclerosis. Universally recommended treatment is lacking thus far. Recent data suggest that a therapeutic protocol aimed at specifically combating three causes of mortality, recurrent bouts of cholesterol embolism, cardiac failure, and cahexia, were associated with a favorable clinical outcome. As for drug therapy, corticosteroid has been reported to be beneficial in reducing local and general inflammatory responses. Concerning apheresis, combined therapy consisting of plasma exchange and low to intermediate–dose corticosteroid therapy has been shown to be effective in multivisceral cholesterol embolism. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis has been reported to be beneficial for cholesterol embolism‐induced damage to the skin and brain.
PCR for Screening Potential Probiotic Lactobacilli for Piglets

Maurilia Rojas-Contreras1, Maria Esther Macias-Rodriguez2 and Jose Alfredo Guevara Franco1 1Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur, Area de Conocimientos Ciencias Agropecuarias, Food Science and Technology Laboratory, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 2Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias e Ingenierias, Department of Pharmacobiology, Sanitary Microbiology Laboratory, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Formation of Highly Twisted Ribbons in a Carboxymethylcellulase Gene-Disrupted Strain of a Cellulose-Producing Bacterium

ABSTRACT Cellulases are enzymes that normally digest cellulose; however, some are known to play essential roles in cellulose biosynthesis. Although some endogenous cellulases of plants and cellulose-producing bacteria are reportedly involved in cellulose production, their functions in cellulose production are unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that disruption of the cellulase (carboxymethylcellulase) gene causes irregular packing of de novo-synthesized fibrils in Gluconacetobacter xylinus, a cellulose-producing bacterium. Cellulose production was remarkably reduced and small amounts of particulate material were accumulated in the culture of a cmcax-disrupted G. xylinus strain (F2-2). The particulate material was shown to contain cellulose by both solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Electron microscopy revealed that the cellulose fibrils produced by the F2-2 cells were highly twisted compared with those produced by control cells. This hypertwisting of the fibrils may reduce cellulose synthesis in the F2-2 strains.
Mast cells in the kidney

SUMMARY: Mast cells have become a recent concern in the nephrological world. The development of antibodies to mast cell‐specific enzymes, tryptase and chymase, has facilitated the study of mast cells in the kidney. Now, they are investigated immunohistochemically as well as histochemically. There are three types of human mast cells, MCT, which contains exclusively tryptase, MCTC, which has both tryptase and chymase, and MCC, which contains only chymase. Many immunohistochemical studies involving mast cells have been conducted through the use of renal biopsy specimens. As a result, human renal diseases including various glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis are found to have increased the number of mast cells in the renal cortex, especially in the area of fibrosis. The relationship between the number of mast cells and the prognosis of renal diseases has been proved to be significantly correlated in many reports. The subtypes of mast cells in these diseases are variably present, and no tendency of subtype specificity has been found. With the use of electron microscopically, mast cells are observed to be in contact with other interstitial cells or to infiltrate into tubules. Functionally, human renal mast cells resemble lung mast cells. Inhibitory substances for mast cell proliferation have been found in the mouse kidney. Compared with the results of human studies, mast cells are not found in the interstitum in animal models of renal diseases, except in a few transgenic mouse models and magnesium‐deficient rats. Little is known about the exact roles that mast cells play in the renal interstitium. Future studies will hopefully make their characteristics clear.
Parental influenza virion nucleocapsids are efficiently transported into the nuclei of murine cells expressing the nuclear interferon-induced Mx protein

The interferon-induced murine Mx1 protein, which is localized in the nucleus, most likely specifically blocks influenza virus replication by inhibiting nuclear viral mRNA synthesis, including the mRNA synthesis catalyzed by inoculum (parental) virion nucleocapsids (R. M. Krug, M. Shaw, B. Broni, G. Shapiro, and O. Haller, J. Virol. 56:201-206, 1985). We tested two possible mechanisms for this inhibition. First, we determined whether the transport of parental nucleocapsids into the nucleus was inhibited in murine cells expressing the nuclear Mx1 protein. To detect the Mx1 protein, we prepared rabbit antibodies against the Mx1 protein with a CheY-Mx fusion protein expressed in bacteria. The fate of parental nucleocapsids was monitored by immunofluorescence with an appropriate dilution of monoclonal antibody to the nucleocapsid protein. The protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin was added to the cells 30 min prior to infection, so that the only nucleocapsids protein molecules in the cells were those associated with nucleocapsids of the parental virus. These nucleocapsids were efficiently transported into the nuclei of murine cells expressing the Mx1 protein, indicating that this protein most likely acts after the parental nucleocapsids enter the nucleus. The second possibility was that the murine Mx1 protein might act in the nucleus to inhibit viral mRNA synthesis indirectly via new cap-binding activities that sequestered cellular capped RNAs away from the viral RNA transcriptase. We show that the same array of nuclear cap-binding proteins was present in Mx-positive and Mx-negative cells treated with interferon. Interestingly, a large amount of a 43-kDa cap-binding activity appeared after interferon treatment of both Mx-positive and Mx-negative cells. Hence, the appearance of new cap-binding activities was unlikely to account for the Mx-specific inhibition of viral mRNA synthesis. These results are most consistent with the possibility that the Mx1 protein acts directly to inhibit the viral transcriptase in the nucleus.