Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein Composition and Electron Microscopy Structure of Affinity-Purified Human Spliceosomal B Complexes Isolated under Physiological Conditions

ABSTRACT The spliceosomal B complex is the substrate that undergoes catalytic activation leading to catalysis of pre-mRNA splicing. Previous characterization of this complex was performed in the presence of heparin, which dissociates less stably associated components. To obtain a more comprehensive inventory of the B complex proteome, we isolated this complex under low-stringency conditions using two independent methods. MS2 affinity-selected B complexes supported splicing when incubated in nuclear extract depleted of snRNPs. Mass spectrometry identified over 110 proteins in both independently purified B complex preparations, including ∼50 non-snRNP proteins not previously found in the spliceosomal A complex. Unexpectedly, the heteromeric hPrp19/CDC5 complex and 10 additional hPrp19/CDC5-related proteins were detected, indicating that they are recruited prior to spliceosome activation. Electron microscopy studies revealed that MS2 affinity-selected B complexes exhibit a rhombic shape with a maximum dimension of 420 Å and are structurally more homogeneous than B complexes treated with heparin. These data provide novel insights into the composition and structure of the spliceosome just prior to its catalytic activation and suggest a potential role in activation for proteins recruited at this stage. Furthermore, the spliceosomal complexes isolated here are well suited for complementation studies with purified proteins to dissect factor requirements for spliceosome activation and splicing catalysis.
Dominance Rank, Copulatory Behavior, and Differential Reproduction

The view that high social rank is associated with high levels of both copulatory behavior and the production of offspring is widespread in the study of animal social behavior. In order to demonstrate the validity of this hypothesis it is necessary first to resolve ambiguities in the concept of dominance and to assign ranks by means of valid procedures. Second, copulatory behavior must be properly sampled, measured, and related to rank. Finally, it must be demonstrated that rank and increased copulatory behavior actually lead to increased reproduction. Each step in this process entails conceptual and methodological difficulties. There have been many studies of rank and copulatory behavior, fewer of rank and differential reproduction, and very few of rank, copulatory behavior, and differential reproduction. The consistency of results obtained varies with taxon; results of particular consistency appear in studies of carnivores and ungulates. Both the concept of dominance and the validity of the hypothesis relating it to copulatory behavior and to differential reproduction appear viable for at least some species, although the body of data relating rank to both copulation and differential reproduction remains minimal.
Chemical Pleurodesis With Doxycycline 1 g

We evaluated the utility of a single 1‐g dose of doxycycline in the treatment of malignant and nonmalignant pleural effusions and refractory pneumothoraces in 27 consecutive patients requiring pleurodesis. After the evacuation of all retained air or fluid, and premedication with intravenous narcotic analgesics and intrapleural lidocaine 200 mg, the patients received doxycycline 1 g in 50 ml normal saline instilled through the chest tube. This was followed by instillation of 100–200 ml of air to facilitate dispersion. The chest tube was removed when the drainage was less than 150 ml/day. Twenty‐three of 27 patients were evaluated at 30 days. Six (67%) of the nine patients with pneumothoraces achieved a response, and both patients with nonmalignant pleural effusions had a complete response. Of the 12 patients with malignant pleural effusion, 8 (67%) achieved a complete response, 2 had a partial response, and 2 had no response. Twenty‐two (81%) of 27 patients experienced adverse effects with pleurodesis, with pain (81%) and fever (11%) being the most prevalent. In this limited number of patients, doxycycline 1 g appeared to be safe and effective for the treatment of pleural effusions and pneumothoraces. The 1‐g dose must be compared with the standard 500‐mg dose and with other established agents.
Characteristics of NIFNE in Azotobacter vinelandii Strains

The products of the nifN and nifE genes of Azotobacter vinelandii function as a 200-kDa α2β2 tetramer (NIFNE) in the synthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) of nitrogenase, the enzyme system required for biological nitrogen fixation. NIFNE was purified using a modification of the published protocol. Immunoblot analysis of anoxic native gels indicated that distinct forms of NIFNE accumulate in strains deficient in either NIFB (ΔnifB::kan ΔnifDK) or NIFH (ΔnifHDK). During the purification of NIFNE from the ΔnifHDK mutant, its mobility in these gels changed, becoming similar to that of NIFNE from the ΔnifB::kan ΔnifDK mutant. While NIFB activity initially co-purified with the NIFNE activity from the ΔnifHDK mutant, further purification of NIFNE activity resulted in the loss of the co-purifying NIFB activity; this loss correlated with the change in NIFNE mobility on native gels. These results suggest that the form of NIFNE accumulated in the ΔnifHDK mutant is associated with NIFB activity in crude extract but loses this association during NIFNE purification. Addition of the purified metabolic product of NIFB, termed NifB-co, to either NIFNE purified from the ΔnifHDK strain or to the NIFNE in crude extract of the ΔnifB::kan ΔnifDK strain caused a change in the mobility of NIFNE on anoxic native gels to that of the form accumulated in a ΔnifHDK mutant. These results support a model where both NifB-co and dinitrogenase reductase participate in FeMo-co synthesis through NIFNE, which serves as a scaffold for this process.
Congressional Elections and Local Federal

It is often assumed that changes in federal spending in a congressional district affect the incumbent's prospect of reelection. This study tests that assumption, using cross-section data to analyze voting for candidates for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, 1978, and 1980. While variables reflecting party affiliation, the incumbent's vote in the last election, and scandal associated with incumbents are important determinants of the vote, changes in both local federal spending on construction and federal civilian employment in the incumbent's district are shown to have no effect on the share of the vote going to incumbents. They also have no effect on campaign expenditures by either challengers or incumbents.
Hospital competition, managed care, and mortality after hospitalization for medical conditions in California.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of hospital competition and health maintenance organization (HMO) penetration on mortality after hospitalization for six medical conditions in California. DATA SOURCE Linked hospital discharge and vital statistics data for short-term general hospitals in California in the period 1994-1999. The study sample included adult patients hospitalized for one of the following conditions: acute myocardial infarction (N=227,446), hip fracture (N=129,944), stroke (N=237,248), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH, N=216,443), congestive heart failure (CHF, N=355,613), and diabetes (N=154,837). STUDY DESIGN The outcome variable was 30-day mortality. We estimated multivariate logistic regression models for each study condition with hospital competition, HMO penetration, hospital characteristics, and patient severity measures as explanatory variables. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Higher hospital competition was associated with lower 30-day mortality for three to five of the six study conditions, depending on the choice of competition measure, and this finding was robust to a variety of sensitivity analyses. Higher HMO penetration was associated with lower mortality for GIH and CHF. CONCLUSIONS Hospitals that faced more competition and hospitals in market areas with higher HMO penetration provided higher quality of care for adult patients with medical conditions in California. Studies using linked hospital discharge and vital statistics data from other states should be conducted to determine whether these findings are generalizable.
Integrating aerial and ship surveys of marine birds into a combined density surface model: A case study of wintering Common Loons

ABSTRACT Biologists now use a variety of survey platforms to assess the spatial distribution and abundance of marine birds, yet few attempts have been made to integrate data from multiple survey platforms to improve model accuracy or precision. We used density surface models (DSMs) to incorporate data from two survey platforms to predict the distribution and abundance of a diving marine bird, the Common Loon (Gavia immer). We conducted strip transect surveys from a multiengine, fixed-wing aircraft and line surveys from a 28 m ship during winter 2009–2010 in a 3,800 km2 study area off the coast of Rhode Island, USA. We accounted for imperfect detection and availability bias due to Common Loon diving behavior. We incorporated spatially explicit environmental covariates (water depth and latitude) to provide predictions of the spatial distribution and abundance of wintering Common Loons. The combined-platform DSM estimated the highest Common Loon densities (>20 individuals km−2) in nearshore waters <35 m deep, with an average daily abundance of 5,538 (95% CI = 4,726–6,489) individuals in the study area. The combined-platform model offered substantial improvement in the precision of abundance estimates from the ship-platform model, and modest improvement in the precision of the aerial-platform model. The combined model had relatively low predictive power, which previous research indicates is primarily a consequence of the dynamic marine environment. We show that the DSM approach presents a flexible framework for developing spatially explicit models of a marine bird from different survey protocols.
Sex Chromosomes in Vertebrates: XX/XY against ZZ/ZW

It was noted only recently that the mammalian X/Y sex chromosome system originated late in our therian ancestors. The question is, what makes the X/Y sex chromosome system so special that it has replaced the original Z/W sex chromosome system? Two classes of genes are overrepresented on the X chromosome: sex and reproduction genes and brain-related genes. The X chromosome has acquired bursts of young male-biased genes engaged in sex and reproduction which exemplifies the dynamics of sex chromosome evolution. Brain genes are old genes and display the most conserved transcriptome. The new therian X chromosome was formed by fusion of chromosome building blocks already bearing the highest density of brain genes in the ancestral vertebrate karyotype. These building blocks constitute an X chromosome haplotype that undergoes strong selection and benefits both sexes by oscillating between males and females. We believe that this strategy is superior to male-driven Z/W sex chromosome evolution.
Evaluating Indices of Blocking Anticyclones in Terms of Their Linear Relations With Surface Hot Extremes

Changes in frequencies of blocking anticyclones are sometimes used to explain changes in surface hot extremes. However, there is no consensus on the definition of blocking anticyclones, and several indices have been developed to measure them. Here we linearly regress interannual variations of hemispheric continental summer surface hot extreme area on the corresponding variations of blocking anticyclones in the ERA‐Interim reanalysis data and use cross‐validation test error to measure the blocking‐extreme link. Relative mean square validation error is at least 0.91 (relative to no knowledge of blocking) for existing indices defined on 500‐hPa geopotential height, when summed over land and ocean. This can be reduced to 0.55, largely by excluding blocks over ocean and optimizing parameters/thresholds and partly by using anomaly‐based or anomaly‐reversal hybrid indices. This framework helps to quantify the association of hot extremes and blocks with an uncertainty estimate and can be used for other extremes as well.
Effect of horizontal vergence on the motor and sensory components of vertical fusion.

PURPOSE To compare motor and sensory capabilities for fusion of vertical disparities at different angles of horizontal vergence in healthy humans. METHODS Eye movements were recorded from both eyes of 12 healthy subjects using three-axis search coils. The stimulus was a cross (+) (3.4 x 3.2 degrees , vertically and horizontally, respectively) presented to each eye with a stereoscopic display. Vertical disparities were introduced by adjusting the vertical position of the cross in front of one eye. The disparity was increased in small increments (0.08 degrees ) every 8 seconds. Viewing was defined as "near" if there was a horizontal disparity that elicited 6 degrees to 15 degrees convergence, depending on the subject's capability for horizontal fusion; viewing was defined as "far" at 1 degrees convergence. Maximum motor (measured), sensory (stimulus minus motor), and total (motor plus sensory) vertical fusion were compared. RESULTS In 9 (75%) of 12 subjects the maximum total vertical fusion was more in near than in far viewing. The three who did not show this effect had relatively weak horizontal fusion. For the entire group, the motor component differed significantly between far (mean, 1.42 degrees ) and near (mean, 2.13 degrees). Total vertical fusion capability (motor plus sensory) also differed significantly between far (mean, 1.68 degrees ) and near (mean, 2.39 degrees ). For the sensory component there was no difference between between far (mean, 0.268 degrees ) and near (mean, 0.270 degrees ). As vertical disparity increased in a single trial, however, there was a small gradual increase of the contribution of the sensory component to vertical fusion. CONCLUSIONS Vertical fusion capability usually increases with convergence. This increase is caused primarily by an increase in the motor component. There is a gradual but small increase in the sensory component as target disparity slowly increases.
Proton-Induced Mobility Degradation in FinFETs With Stressor Layers and Strained SOI Substrates

Proton irradiation effects on fin-type field effect transistors (FinFETs) are examined from the viewpoint of their electrical-performance parameter of mobility. They are fabricated with various types of combination of strain/stress techniques to control their mobilities. The base stress level is globally modified by means of nonstrained or strained silicon-on-insulator wafers. Some process splits, additionally, receive a local strain tuning with a contact-etch-stop layer (CESL). Both n- and p-type FinFETs are evaluated. A 60-MeV proton irradiation with a fluence of 1012 p/cm2 leads to mobility changes for wide-fin samples: degradation for n-type and enhancement for p-type. These mobility variations can be explained with a change in the number of charged interface traps at the Si and buried-oxide interface. Narrow-fin devices exhibit mobility changes unnoticeable statistically. A comparison with previous studies indicates an elevated source/drain structure plays a role in this mobility preservation. Although the mobility is kept intact in the narrow-fin samples, a close investigation based on a two channel-component model can reveal noticeable mobility variations at a component level. In this study, observed mobility changes are complex depending on the adopted stress techniques as well as process parameters and cannot be explained by the stress levels simply.
Performance in Tax Research Tasks: The Joint Effects of Knowledge and Accountability

This study investigates the separate and joint effects of prior knowledge and accountability on performance in the information search phase of a tax research task. An experiment is reported in which 63 tax professionals performed a computer-based tax research task. The results indicate that increases in effort duration, which are partly attributable to the accountability manipulation, improved search effectiveness regardless of the level of prior knowledge. In addition, after controlling for the effect of effort duration, accountability had an incremental positive effect on performance among the more knowledgeable professionals. These results suggest that effort can substitute for knowledge in performing information search tasks, but this substitution does not appear to be complete. The results also support the hypothesis that the effect of accountability on performance depends upon the level of knowledge, which suggests that certain aspects of effort and knowledge act as complements in improving performance.
Regional Neuronal Network Failure and Cognition in Late-Onset Sporadic Alzheimer Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The severe cognitive deficits in Alzheimer disease are associated with structural lesions in gray and white matter in addition to changes in synaptic function. The current investigation studied the breakdown of the structure and function in regional networks involving the Papez circuit and extended neocortical association areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cortical volumetric and diffusion tensor imaging (3T MR imaging), positron-emission tomography with 18F fluorodeoxyglucose on a high-resolution research tomograph, and comprehensive neuropsychological assessments were performed in patients with late-onset sporadic Alzheimer disease, those with mild cognitive impairment, and elderly healthy controls. RESULTS: Atrophy of the medial temporal lobes was the strongest and most consistent abnormality in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease. Atrophy in the temporal, frontal, and parietal regions was most strongly related to episodic memory deficits, while deficits in semantic cognition were also strongly related to reductions of glucose metabolism in the posterior cingulate cortex and temporoparietal regions. Changes in fractional anisotropy within white matter tracts, particularly in the left cingulum bundle, uncinate fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, were significantly associated with the cognitive deficits in multiple regression analyses. Posterior cingulate and orbitofrontal metabolic deficits appeared to be related to microstructural changes in projecting white matter tracts. CONCLUSIONS: Many lesioned network components within the Papez circuit and extended neocortical association areas were significantly associated with cognitive dysfunction in both mild cognitive impairment and late-onset sporadic Alzheimer disease. Hippocampal atrophy was the most prominent lesion, with associated impairment of the uncinate and cingulum white matter microstructures and hippocampal and posterior cingulate metabolic impairment.
High-frequency invasion of epithelial cells by Streptococcus pyogenes can be activated by fibrinogen and peptides containing the sequence RGD

The ability of Streptococcus pyogenes to invade human epithelial cells has been suggested to be an important contributing factor to the bacterium's ability to cause severe, invasive infections. We know little, however, of the mechanism underlying intracellular invasion by this organism. In this study, we demonstrate that the invasion of cultured human epithelial cells by a serotype M1 strain of S. pyogenes (strain 90-226) is stimulated over 50-fold by the addition of fetal calf serum (FCS) to the cell culture medium (RPMI medium). Purified human fibrinogen and peptides containing the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) were also found to promote bacterial invasion of cultured cells. Experiments that demonstrate that the agonists stimulate invasion by interacting with bacterial cells are described. Invasion stimulation did not appear to involve de novo synthesis of a bacterial protein, as FCS and fibrinogen stimulated invasion in the presence of chloramphenicol. Although the agonists stimulated adherence by up to threefold, strain 90-226 efficiently adhered to cultured cells in unsupplemented RPMI medium. The invasion index (the number of internalized CFU/the number of adherent CFU) of strain 90-226 was increased 10- to 25-fold by the addition of the agonists. Postinternalization survival of bacteria was unaffected by fibrinogen or FCS. Thus, the agonistic factors affect the efficiency by which adherent bacteria are internalized by epithelial cells.
Faculty perceptions of librarian-led information literacy instruction in postsecondary education

Many academic libraries identify information literacy (IL) instruction as one of their core mandates. At the same time, one of the main challenges faced by instructional librarians is gaining access to the very students that they are tasked with educating. At most postsecondary institutions, there is no formal requirement that faculty devote classroom time to IL instruction, nor any requirement that a librarian participate in its planning or delivery. Faculty are typically the gatekeepers to their classrooms, and to this end, faculty perceptions of and attitudes toward academic librarians and library instruction tend to be critical to the success of IL programs. Using data collected using a web-based questionnaire, this paper explores the perceptions and attitudes of instructional faculty at postsecondary institutions across Canada toward academic librarians and IL instruction.
Interval increase in right-left ventricular diameter ratios at CT as a predictor of 30-day mortality after acute pulmonary embolism: initial experience.

PURPOSE To retrospectively determine if the interval increase of right ventricular-left ventricular (RV/LV) diameter ratio from negative prior to positive current computed tomographic (CT) examination findings for pulmonary embolism (PE) is more accurate for predicting 30-day mortality than positive CT ratio alone, by using patient 30-day mortality as reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS This IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant study had waiver of informed consent and retrospectively reviewed 50 patients (19 men, 31 women; mean age, 60 years) with negative prior and positive current CT findings for acute PE (median interval, 63 days). Interval increase was defined as percentage change in RV/LV diameter ratio by using reformatted four-chamber views. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis compared the interval increase with the RV/LV diameter ratio from the positive findings alone for PE-related and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Twelve (24%) patients died in 30 days; nine were PE-related. The interval increase was significantly more accurate overall than the ratio from the positive study alone for PE-related (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.95 vs 0.73, P = .003) and all-cause (AUC = 0.81 vs 0.66, P = .05) mortality. The respective sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 0.78 (seven of nine; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43, 1.00), 0.93 (38 of 41; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.00), 0.70 (seven of 10; 95% CI: 0.38, 1.00), and 0.95 (38 of 40; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.00) for PE-related mortality (interval increase, >18%) and 0.75 (nine of 12; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.00), 0.89 (34 of 38; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.99), 0.69 (nine of 13; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.95), and 0.92 (34 of 37; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.00) for all-cause mortality (interval increase, >15%). At target sensitivity (0.75), specificity of interval increase was significantly higher than from positive scans alone for both PE-related (0.93 vs 0.59, P = .001) and all-cause (0.89 vs 0.58, P = .05) mortality. CONCLUSION The interval increase in four-chamber RV/LV diameter ratio is more accurate than the diameter ratio of the CT examination with with positive findings for PE alone for mortality prediction after acute PE.