Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperactive forms of the Pdr1p transcription factor fail to respond to positive regulation by the Hsp70 protein Pdr13p

Multidrug resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is commonly associated with the overproduction of ATP‐binding cassette transporter proteins such as Pdr5p or Yor1p. The Cys6‐Zn(II)2 cluster‐containing transcription factors Pdr1p and Pdr3p are key regulators of expression of these pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) loci. Previous experiments have demonstrated that the Hsp70 protein encoded by the PDR13 gene is a positive regulator of Pdr1p function. We have examined the mechanism underlying the control of Pdr1p by Pdr13p. Expression of deletion, insertion and amino acid substitution mutant variants of Pdr1p suggest that the centre region of the transcription factor is the target for Pdr13p‐mediated positive regulation. Immunological and fusion protein analyses demonstrate that Pdr13p is located in the cytoplasm, while Pdr1p is found in the nucleus. Biochemical fractionation experiments indicate that Pdr13p is associated with a high‐molecular‐weight complex and suggest the association of some fraction of Pdr13p with ribosomes.
Identification of a novel cell death-inducing domain reveals that fungal amyloid-controlled programmed cell death is related to necroptosis

Significance Programmed cell death plays a central role in host defense in plants, animals, and fungi, but the extent to which cell death modalities are evolutionarily related and mechanistically similar in different kingdoms is unclear. The involvement of prion-like mechanisms in host defense and cell death cascades has been reported in animals and fungi. In fungi, a cell death-inducing pore-forming protein termed HET-S is activated by amyloid templating. Here we characterize a protein termed HELLP, which behaves analogously to HET-S as a membrane-targeting cell death-inducing protein regulated by amyloid templating. We find that HELLP is homologous to MLKL, the protein involved in execution of necroptotic cell death in mammals, thus revealing transkingdom conservation of amyloid-regulated programmed cell death. Recent findings have revealed the role of prion-like mechanisms in the control of host defense and programmed cell death cascades. In fungi, HET-S, a cell death-inducing protein containing a HeLo pore-forming domain, is activated through amyloid templating by a Nod-like receptor (NLR). Here we characterize the HELLP protein behaving analogously to HET-S and bearing a new type of N-terminal cell death-inducing domain termed HeLo-like (HELL) and a C-terminal regulatory amyloid motif known as PP. The gene encoding HELLP is part of a three-gene cluster also encoding a lipase (SBP) and a Nod-like receptor, both of which display the PP motif. The PP motif is similar to the RHIM amyloid motif directing formation of the RIP1/RIP3 necrosome in humans. The C-terminal region of HELLP, HELLP(215-278), encompassing the motif, allows prion propagation and assembles into amyloid fibrils, as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction and FTIR analyses. Solid-state NMR studies reveal a well-ordered local structure of the amyloid core residues and a primary sequence that is almost entirely arranged in a rigid conformation, and confirm a β-sheet structure in an assigned stretch of three amino acids. HELLP is activated by amyloid templating and displays membrane-targeting and cell death-inducing activity. HELLP targets the SBP lipase to the membrane, suggesting a synergy between HELLP and SBP in membrane dismantling. Remarkably, the HeLo-like domain of HELLP is homologous to the pore-forming domain of MLKL, the cell death-execution protein in necroptosis, revealing a transkingdom evolutionary relationship between amyloid-controlled fungal programmed cell death and mammalian necroptosis.
A Long PCR-Based Molecular Protocol for Detecting Normal and Expanded ZNF9 Alleles in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) lacks the expansion on chromosome 19q13 present in DM1 and is characterized by a mutation on 3q21. It has been shown that the DM2 mutation is a huge [CCTG]n repeat expansion in intron 1 of the zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9) gene. The longest normal allele observed has a ∼30 CCTG repeat, whereas the range of expansion is extremely variable, starting from 75 up to 11,000 CCTGs. Direct analysis by Southern blot, after restriction enzyme digestion of genomic DNA, was the first method chosen for studying the DM2 mutation. However, the expansion size and the elevated grade of somatic instability have limited the sensitivity of the test to approximately 80% of known carriers. We developed a long PCR-formatted protocol, which involves a single genomic in vitro amplification, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis and oligospecific hybridization. We were able to detect normal alleles and expanded ZNF9 alleles, starting from low amounts of genomic DNA (≥1 ng) in virtually all the DM2 patients analyzed, obtaining a molecular detection rate of 100%. This method is quick, sensitive, and reproducible, and it reduces the cost of diagnostic laboratory processing for DM2 diagnosis.
The effects of poverty on academic achievement

Poverty, which forms a specific culture and way of life, is a growing issue in the United States. The number of Americans living in poverty is continually increasing. Poverty indicates the extent to which an individual does without resources. Resources can include financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical resources as well as support systems, relationships, role models, and knowledge of hidden rules. Poverty directly affects academic achievement due to the lack of resources available for student success. Low achievement is closely correlated with lack of resources, and numerous studies have documented the correlation between low socioeconomic status and low achievement. Several strategies exist to assist teachers in closing the poverty achievement gap for students. Key words: Poverty, family income, achievement gap, academic gap.
Predictability of South American low‐level jet using QuikSCAT ocean surface wind

The applicability of NASA QuikSCAT ocean surface wind was tested for predicting South American low‐level jets (SALLJs) with a statistical model. Our previous study (Wang, H. and Fu, R., 2004, Influence of cross‐Andes flow on the South American low‐level jet. Journal of Climate, 17, pp. 1247–1262) has examined the dynamic process associated with austral winter SALLJs using the ECMWF Reanalyses (ERA) and identified the mechanism that controls the seasonal and synoptic variations of the SALLJ. It was found that the SALLJ is maintained by strong zonal pressure gradients, with a maximum near 850 hPa caused by deflection of upstream zonal flow crossing the Andes and lee cyclogenesis. The robustness of this mechanism was further examined in this study using the NCEP–NCAR Reanalysis 1 (NCEP‐R1) and NCEP–DOE Reanalysis 2 (NCEP‐R2). The northerly LLJs to the east of the Andes are strongest in ERA, with wind speeds well above 15 m s−1. In NCEP‐R1 and R2, typical wind speeds are about 12 and 10 m s−1, respectively. A statistical analysis of the three reanalysis datasets indicates that the SALLJ significantly correlates with the zonal wind of previous days over the South Pacific, particularly with the surface zonal wind. Based on this result, a statistical model introduced in Wang and Fu (2004) was employed in this study for forecasting the SALLJ using the QuikSCAT ocean surface wind as a predictor. The model was applied to June, July and August of 1999 to 2006 for up to 5 day forecasts of the SALLJ. Cross validations of the hindcasts indicate significant predictability of strong LLJ events with the QuikSCAT ocean surface wind data.
Does Incorrect Level Needle Localization During Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Lead to Accelerated Disc Degeneration?

Study Design. Retrospective radiographic analysis. Objective. To retrospectively review a group of patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to determine the relative risk of adjacent level disc degeneration after incorrect needle localization. Summary of Background Data. The needle puncture technique is a well-established method to cause disc degeneration in experimental animal studies. The risk for accelerated degeneration because of needle puncture in humans is unknown. Methods. A retrospective radiographic analysis of 87 consecutive patients after single or 2-level ACDF with anterior plate instrumentation was performed. Perioperative and follow-up radiographs were used to grade disc degeneration according to a previously described scale. Results. Eighty-seven patients were included in the study (36 underwent 1-level ACDF, and 51 underwent 2-level ACDF). Seventy-two had correct needle localization at the level of planned surgery; 15 had incorrect needle localization (1 level above the operative level). There were no differences between the 2 groups in age, sex and length of follow-up. Patients in the incorrectly marked group were statistically more likely to demonstrate progressive disc degeneration with an odds ratio of 3.2. There was no correlation between age and length of follow-up with development of disc degeneration. Conclusion. There is a 3-fold increase in risk of developing adjacent level disc degeneration in incorrectly marked discs after ACDF at short-term follow-up. This may indicate that either needle related trauma or unnecessary surgical dissection contributes to accelerated adjacent segment degeneration.
Performance assessment of microenterprises operating in the Nordic Arctic region

Microenterprises provide more than 90% of the jobs in the Nordic Arctic region and are the main source of new job creation and innovation. Operations in this region can have many drawbacks related to the long distance from customers, sparse population, and climate conditions that lead to higher operation costs in comparison to other regions. Microenterprises in this region aiming for business growth must therefore pursue operational excellence to achieve a competitive advantage. Microenterprises operations development in resource constrained environment needs special approach. This study assesses the operational excellence of microenterprises in the region through 20 case studies. The performance assessments focused on order–delivery process indicators (production/manufacturing, sourcing, and sales). An operational excellence maturity review (OEMR) tool was developed to collect and analyze the data. Overall, the microenterprises obtained relatively low operational excellence scores. The review done by OEMR tool can inform initiatives for improving the competitiveness of microenterprises and their associated processes in the global market by setting practical metrics and priorities for order–deliver process development.
Avoiding and Mitigating Delay and Disruption Claims Conflict: Role of Precontract Negotiation

Delay and disruption claims often generate conflict and contract dispute in the delivery of building and civil engineering projects. If construction delay claims conflict can be avoided or mitigated, there could be substantial financial savings on projects. This study explores the effect of precontract negotiation as a means of avoiding or mitigating delay and disruption claims conflict. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire administered face to face on 41 contractors’ personnel on 41 completed projects in Singapore. The data were analyzed using structural modeling with partial least squares estimation approach. The results indicate that when the contractors received an unfavorable outcome from the contract administrator’s decision on their claims for delay, the intensity of conflict was lower when there was precontract negotiation and precontract agreement regarding the rules for quantifying and assessing the impact of anticipated delays than when there was none. It was also disco.
Bradford ranking conventions and their application to a growing literature

Bradford distributions describe the relationship between ‘journal productivities’ and ‘journal rankings by productivity’. However, different ranking conventions exist, implying some ambiguity as to what the Bradford distribution ‘is’. A need accordingly arises for a standard ranking convention to assist comparisons between empirical data, and also comparisons between empirical data and theoretical models. Five ranking conventions are described including the one used originally by Bradford, along with suggested distinctions between ‘Bradford data set’, ‘Bradford distribution’, ‘Bradford graph’, ‘Bradford log graph’, ‘Bradford model’ and ‘Bradford’s Law‘. Constructions such as the Lotka distribution, Groos droop (generalised to accommodate growth as well as fall‐off in the Bradford log graph), Brookes hooks, and the slope and intercept of the Bradford log graph are clarified on this basis. Concepts or procedures questioned include: (1) ‘core journal’, from the Bradfordian viewpoint; (2) the use of traditional statistical inferential procedures applied to Bradford data; and (3) R(n) as a maximum (rather than median or mean) value at tied‐rank values.
CHRONIC HYPOMAGNESEMIA WITH MAGNESIUM‐DEPENDENT HYPOCALCEMIA

Description of a case of “chronic hypomag‐nesemia” with secondary hypocalcemia, tetany and convulsions followed for a period of 3 years, from the age of 7 month. Primary malabsorption of magnesium has been demonstrated. Mitochondria of intestinal mucosa cells were found to be swollen. Mg‐con‐centration was increased in sweat.
Valuation of Urban Commercial Properties in Nigeria for Secured Lending: Issues and Developments

Valuation for secured lending is required when an interest in real property is used as security for a loan. The outcome of such valuation will help the lending institution to achieve commercial prudence in lending as well as avoid taking undue risk. This paper examines the issues and developments in the valuation of urban commercial properties in Nigeria for secured lending purposes. It argues that due to the volatile nature of the Nigerian economy, coupled with the linkage between the economy and commercial property markets, the maximum amount of loan to be granted by lenders in the country using interest in commercial property as collateral should be based on the Mortgage Lending Value (MLV) and not the Market Value (MV) of the property, although the market value should also be reported in the valuation. A case study is used to demonstrate the valuation. It further contends that since the inputs for determining the MLV of a commercial property must be derived from long-term trends in the property and financial markets, it is more stable than MV when used to determine the maximum amount of mortgage loan to be granted by a lender. It concludes that the stability of the MLV makes it more reliable than the MV in achieving commercial prudence in mortgage lending as it fits into the long-term nature of mortgage loan repayment.
LOWER MITE INFESTATIONS IN AN ASEXUAL GECKO COMPARED WITH ITS SEXUAL ANCESTORS

What advantage do sexually reproducing organisms gain from their mode of reproduction that compensates for their twofold loss in reproductive rate relative to their asexual counterparts? One version of the Red Queen hypothesis suggests that selective pressure from parasites is strongest on the most common genotype in a population, and thus genetically identical clonal lineages are more vulnerable to parasitism over time than genetically diverse sexual lineages. Our surveys of the ectoparasites of an asexual gecko and its two sexual ancestral species show that the sexuals have a higher prevalence, abundance, and mean intensity of mites than asexuals sharing the same habitat. Our experimental data indicate that in one sexual/asexual pair this pattern is at least partly attributable to higher attachment rates of mites to sexuals. Such a difference may occur as a result of exceptionally high susceptibility of the sexuals to mites because of their low genetic diversity (relative to other more‐outbred sexual species) and their potentially high stress levels, or as a result of exceptionally low susceptibility of the asexuals to mites because of their high levels of heterozygosity.
Changes in the use and costs of diagnostic imaging among Medicare beneficiaries with cancer, 1999-2006.

CONTEXT Emerging technologies, changing diagnostic and treatment patterns, and changes in Medicare reimbursement are contributing to increasing use of imaging in cancer. Imaging is the fastest growing expense for Medicare but has not been examined among beneficiaries with cancer. OBJECTIVE To examine changes in the use of imaging and how those changes contribute to the overall cost of cancer care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Analysis of a nationally representative 5% sample of claims from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from 1999 through 2008. Patients were Medicare beneficiaries with incident breast cancer, colorectal cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or prostate cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Use and cost of imaging by modality, year, and cancer type. RESULTS There were 100,954 incident cases of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and prostate cancer from 1999 through 2006. Significant mean annual increases in imaging use occurred among all cancer types for positron emission tomography (35.9%-53.6%), bone density studies (6.3%-20.0%), echocardiograms (5.0%-7.8%), magnetic resonance imaging (4.4%-11.5%), and ultrasound (0.7%-7.4%). Conventional radiograph rates decreased or stayed the same. As of 2006, beneficiaries with lung cancer and beneficiaries with lymphoma incurred the largest overall imaging costs, exceeding a mean of $3000 per beneficiary within 2 years of diagnosis. By 2005, one-third of beneficiaries with breast cancer underwent bone scans and half of beneficiaries with lung cancer or lymphoma underwent positron emission tomography scans. Mean 2-year imaging costs per beneficiary increased at a rate greater than the increase in mean total costs per beneficiary for all cancer types. CONCLUSION Imaging costs among Medicare beneficiaries with cancer increased from 1999 through 2006, outpacing the rate of increase in total costs among Medicare beneficiaries with cancer.
Feline Viruses in Wildcats from Scotland

Few data are available on the prevalence of feline viruses in European wildcats (Felis silvestris). Previous surveys have indicated that wildcats may be infected with the common viruses of domestic cats, apart from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). In the present study, 50 wildcats trapped throughout Scotland (UK) between August 1992 and January 1997 were tested for evidence of viral infection. All were negative for FIV by several serological or virological methods. By contrast, 10% of the cats were positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen and infectious virus was isolated from 13% of a smaller subset. Of the wildcats tested for respiratory viruses, 25% yielded feline calicivirus (FCV) and although no feline herpesvirus was isolated, 16% of the samples had neutralizing antibodies to this virus. Antibodies to feline coronavirus (FCoV) were found in 6% of samples. Feline foamy virus (FFV) was an incidental finding in 33% of samples tested. This study confirms that wildcats in Scotland are commonly infected with the major viruses of the domestic cat, except for FIV.
Mothers' Everyday Experiences of Having an Adult Child Who Suffers from Long-Term Mental Illness

This paper aims to describe everyday life experiences of mothers who have an adult child with a long-term mental illness. Sixteen mothers were interviewed. A content analysis resulted in one main theme: My adult child who is struggling with mental illness is always on my mind, and three subthemes: (1) living a life under constant strain, (2) living with an emotional burden, and (3) seeing light in the darkness despite difficulties. Knowledge of mothers’ everyday life experiences is of great importance in order to support them and thereby increase the possibility of these mothers being a source of strength for their child.
Uptake of duck hepatitis B virus into hepatocytes occurs by endocytosis but does not require passage of the virus through an acidic intracellular compartment

The infectious entry pathway of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) was investigated with primary duck hepatocytes. Virus uptake was measured by a selective PCR technique which allows for the detection of a successful infection without the need for viral replication or gene expression. To test whether DHBV uptake occurs by endocytosis, the effects of energy depletion were analyzed. The requirement for an acidic intracellular pH was tested with the lysosomotropic agent ammonium chloride. The data show that energy depletion prevents the uptake of DHBV into primary hepatocytes whereas ammonium chloride has no effect. From these data, we conclude that DHBV is taken up by its host cells by endocytosis. However, in contrast to that of most other enveloped viruses, escape of DHBV from the endocytotic route does not depend on an acidic intracellular compartment.
Rescue of Female Infertility from the Loss of Cyclooxygenase-2 by Compensatory Up-regulation of Cyclooxygenase-1 Is a Function of Genetic Makeup*

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis, is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes including female fertility, renal function, angiogenesis, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. We showed previously that targeted deletion of Ptgs2 encoding COX-2, but not Ptgs1 encoding COX-1, in C57BL/6J/129 mice produces complete female infertility resulting from multiple reproductive failures spanning ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. Here we show that Ptgs2 null mice on a CD1 background have dramatically improved female fertility including ovulation, fertilization, and implantation, giving rise to live births. We provide evidence that this improved fertility in CD1 Ptgs2 null mice is the result of a compensatory up-regulation of Ptgs1 which does not occur in C57BL/6J/129 mice missing Ptgs2. These results clearly demonstrate for the first time that COX-1 can replace specific functions of COX-2 in vivo in the context of genetic disparity. In light of this finding, the therapeutic use and efficacy of COX-2-specific inhibitors among human populations without regard for genetic and ethnic diversities should be revisited.
Update on food allergy

Food allergies are a global health issue with increasing prevalence. Allergic reactions can range from mild local symptoms to severe anaphylactic reactions. Significant progress has been made in diagnostic tools such as component‐resolved diagnostics and its impact on risk stratification as well as in therapeutic approaches including biologicals. However, a cure for food allergy has not yet been achieved and patients and their families are forced to alter eating habits and social engagements, impacting their quality of life. New technologies and improved in vitro and in vivo models will advance our knowledge of the pathogenesis of food allergies and multicenter‐multinational cohort studies will elucidate interactions between genetic background, lifestyle, and environmental factors. This review focuses on new insights and developments in the field of food allergy and summarizes recently published articles.