Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Cloning, Expression, and Functional Analysis of a cis-Prenyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana

cis-Prenyltransferase catalyzes the sequential condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate with allylic diphosphate to synthesize polyprenyl diphosphates that play vital roles in cellular activity. Despite potential significance ofcis-prenyltransferase in plant growth and development, no gene of the enzyme has been cloned from higher plants. Using sequence information of the conserved region ofcis-prenyltransferase cloned recently fromEscherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, and yeast, we have isolated and characterized the first plantcis-prenyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana. Sequence analysis revealed that the protein is highly homologous in several conserved regions tocis-prenyltransferases from M. luteus, E. coli, and yeast. In vitro analyses using the recombinant protein overexpressed in E. coli revealed that the enzyme catalyzed the formation of polyprenyl diphosphates ranging in carbon number from 100 to 130 with a predominance of C120. The enzyme exhibited a higher affinity for farnesyl diphosphate than for geranylgeranyl diphosphate, with theK m values being 0.13 and 3.62 μm, respectively, but a lower affinity for isopentenyl diphosphate, with aK m value of 23 μm. In vitro rubber biosynthesis analysis indicated that theArabidopsis cis-prenyltransferase itself could not catalyze the formation of higher molecular weight polyprenyl diphosphates similar to natural rubber. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the gene was expressed at low levels inArabidopsis plant, in which expression of thecis-prenyltransferase in leaf and root was higher than that in stem, flower, and silique. These results indicate the tissue-specific expression of cis-prenyltransferase and suggest a potential role and significance of the enzyme in the polyisoprenoid biosynthesis in plants.
Vigour and Fatigue: How Variation in Affect Underlies Effective Self-Control

dition (Baumeister, Vohs, & Tice, 2007). When control levels are high, we are able to resist impulses and rapidly correct our behaviour if we inadvertently succumb to temptation. When we lack self-control, behaviours become reflexive and automatic, initiated as a course of habit rather than deliberate exertion. But what factors determine variation in the effectiveness of self-control? Why do we respond to some temptations with renewed vigour in the pursuit of a current goal, while in other situations self-control appears exhausted, allowing impulses and (bad) habits to dominate performance? Here we explore the psychological factors that underlie fluctuations in control, articulating our view that affective processing drives variation in regulatory processes to a larger extent than acknowledged by other treatments of self-control.
Different strategies of energy storage in cultured and freshly isolated Symbiodinium sp.

The endosymbiotic relationship between cnidarians and Symbiodinium is critical for the survival of coral reefs. In this study, we developed a protocol to rapidly and freshly separate Symbiodinium from corals and sea anemones. Furthermore, we compared these freshly‐isolated Symbiodinium with cultured Symbiodinium to investigate host and Symbiodinium interaction. Clade B Symbiodinium had higher starch content and lower lipid content than those of clades C and D in both freshly isolated and cultured forms. Clade C had the highest lipid content, particularly when associated with corals. Moreover, the coral‐associated Symbiodinium had higher protein content than did cultured and sea anemone‐associated Symbiodinium. Regarding fatty acid composition, cultured Symbiodinium and clades B, C, and D shared similar patterns, whereas sea anemone‐associated Symbiodinium had a distinct pattern compared coral‐associated Symbiodinium. Specifically, the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids were lower than those of the saturated fatty acids, and the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were the highest in all examined Symbiodinium. Furthermore, PUFAs levels were higher in coral‐associated Symbiodinium than in cultured Symbiodinium. These results altogether indicated that different Symbiodinium clades used different energy storage strategies, which might be modified by hosts.
Las habilidades del pivote en la alta competición de balonmano

En el presente estudio se identifican las habilidades de los pivotes considerados competentes de la liga ASOBAL a lo largo de la temporada 2006-07. Definimos pivote como el jugador que desarrolla sus habilidades en la fase de ataque y que, por su situacion, es determinante para la intervencion y el condicionamiento de las acciones de los companeros (Roman, 1993). La investigacion analiza la figura del pivote desde la perspectiva del deportista competente, compilando las caracteristicas aptitudinales y el analisis de las acciones de juego en la alta competicion. Se presentan las habilidades del pivote desde la estructura funcional del desarrollo del juego. Bajo este enfoque, se clasifican y se definen las dimensiones para la observacion de la actividad del jugador. En la competicion de balonmano las situaciones no son identicas a las entrenadas y por lo tanto, el deportista tiene que seleccionar la alternativa mas proxima entre todas las que conoce. Pocas veces realiza una habilidad realmente nueva que no soporte, al menos parcialmente, en los aprendizajes anteriores (Riera, 1997). Para conocer estas habilidades se utilizan dos tecnicas de recopilacion de datos: la entrevista a entrenadores expertos y la observacion de la competicion de los pivotes. Del analisis de los partidos se destaca que los pivotes observados resuelven las situaciones de juego mediante un numero reducido de encadenamiento de habilidades. La actividad del pivote se conforma a partir de la combinacion de siete habilidades basicas: ganar la posicion, bloquear, fintar, lanzar, desmarcarse, contener al adversario impar y mantenerse alejado de la accion de creacion. Entre estas, se destacan las habilidades que implican la utilizacion del cuerpo para la opcion de alguna ventaja sobre el adversario. Asimismo, las habilidades del pivote se articulan mediante cuatro intenciones fundamentales: controlar el juego, pedir el balon, finalizar y ayudar.
Treating Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Not long ago we wrote a review on the treatment of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We concluded that careful use of diuretics and statins was the only possible readily available modalities useful in treating HfpEF; there is no universally accepted treatment for this condition. Until some months ago, there was a hope that spironolactone would improve the prognosis of HFpEF. However, the recently published results of the Aldosterone Receptor Blockade in Diastolic HF (Aldo-DHF) trial, which included 422 patients with chronic HF, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of 50%, and echocardiographic evidence of LV diastolic dysfunction, showed that long-term aldosterone receptor blockade improved LV diastolic function but had no effect on maximal exercise capacity, HF symptoms, or quality of life in HFpEF. A few days ago, a meta-analysis of 15 prospective studies, involving 45 110 patients, addressed the issue of statin treatment for HF. The study included patients with both preserved and reduced ejection fraction. Additional statin treatment was associated with reduced all-cause mortality (risk ratios [RRs] 1⁄4 0.71, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 0.61-0.83) and reduced rehospitalization rate for HF (RR 1⁄4 0.84, 95% CI 0.74-0.96). Statin treatment, however, had little impact on pump failure mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and sudden cardiac death. Atorvastatin treatment appeared to reduce all-cause mortality (RR 1⁄4 0.61, P 1⁄4 .05) and rehospitalization for HF (RR 1⁄4 0.44, P 1⁄4 .04) compared with nonatorvastatin therapy. These effects were also seen in the GREek Atorvastatin and Coronary-heart-disease Evaluation (GREACE) study and the large Treating to New Targets (TNT) study. According to TNT, improvement in kidney function may be related to the beneficial effect of high-dose atorvastatin on HF hospitalizations. This was also confirmed by GREACE, which a few years before TNT had shown that there is a clinically significant improvement in renal function that is independent of the hypolipidemic action of atorvastatin. The renal function protection, even improvement, with statins has been recently reported by a meta-analysis. If statins are underused in HF, there should probably be an effort to generalize their use in these patients. Authors’ Note
Seven Ways to Knit Your Portfolio: Is Investor Communication Neutral?

The concept of “familiarity” has been used in financial economics to explain apparent paradoxes in people’s behavior, such as the home bias in portfolio choices. In this study, we investigate whether (lack of) familiarity with the language of investor communication may contribute to an explanation of the well-documented gender gap in financial decision-making (i.e. women participate less in the stock market than men and, if they do, they take less risk than men). Using an interdisciplinary framework that combines insights from Behavioral Economics, Finance, Social Psychology and Linguistics, we analyze the metaphors used in websites that target beginning retail investors in three different languages; Dutch, Italian and English UK. We find that in all three languages the metaphors used come from the same conceptual domains; namely, war, health, physical activity, game, farming and the five senses. As these domains refer to worlds that are predominantly and (stereo)typically masculine, we conclude that the language of investor communication may give rise to feelings of familiarity and belonging among men, while creating feelings of distance and non-belonging among women. In other words, just as emotional responses influence risk assessment and return expectations, the language used in financial communication may contribute to explaining the gender gap in stock market participation, risk taking and portfolio choice.
Meyer’s Loop and the Optic Radiations in the Transsylvian Approach to the Mediobasal Temporal Lobe

OBJECTIVE: In the transsylvian approach to the mediobasal temporal structures, the temporal horn is approached through the floor of the sylvian fissure. The anterior bundle of the optic radiations (Meyer’s loop) courses between the floor of the sylvian fissure and roof of the temporal horn and could be damaged in this approach. This study was designed to define the route through the floor of the sylvian fissure least likely to damage the optic pathways. METHODS: Meyer’s loop was dissected by applying Klingler’s fiber dissection technique in 10 formalin-fixed human hemispheres. Several measurements quantified the relationship of the Meyer’s loop to surgically important structures. RESULTS: This study identified a triangular safe area below the floor of the sylvian fissure through which the temporal horn could be accessed in the transsylvian approach with a low risk of damaging the optic radiations. An incision in the floor of the sylvian fissure directed downward at the level of limen insula and the adjacent 5 mm of the inferior insular sulcus would avoid the optic radiations. An incision directed straight downward 10, 15, and 20 mm behind the limen in the inferior insular sulcus would cross Meyer’s loop and would need to be directed downward and medially as much as 80 degrees from the sagittal plane to avoid Meyer’s loop. CONCLUSION: In the transsylvian approach to the temporal horn, incisions at the level of the limen, or adjacent 5 mm of the inferior insular sulcus, are less likely to damage Meyer’s loop and the optic radiations than more posterior incisions along the inferior insular sulcus. Incision at this safe level commonly opens into the amygdala, a portion of which is removed to provide entry into the temporal horn for removal of the mediobasal structures.
Proteins of the Group B Arbovirus Kunjin

Purified Kunjin virus was disrupted with sodium dodecyl sulfate, urea, and mercaptoethanol or acetic acid. Electrophoresis on 7.5% polyacrylamide gel separated four proteins of high (120,000), intermediate (65,000) and low (18,000 and 13,000) molecular weights. A “core” particle was obtained by degradation of the virion with deoxycholate at 0 C; it contained the viral ribonucleic acid and the two small structural proteins. The “envelope” material released from around the core was identified with the most prominent (intermediate) protein seen in electropherograms of virion proteins. In addition to the structural proteins, at least three additional proteins (specified by virus infection) were found in the cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic proteins associated with Kunjin virus differed in their electrophoretic profile from those associated with infection by the related Murray Valley encephalitis virus.
Heterogeneity of HLA and EBER expression in epstein‐barr virus‐associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an aggressive tumour of multifactorial aetiology that, although rare in most parts of the world, poses a significant mortality problem in its high incidence area of Southern China. Improved therapies are an urgent requirement and, towards this end, immunotherapeutic methods are being developed in several centres. Such strategies are dependent on the immune competence of the target tumour, in particular its expression of HLA class‐I. We examined HLA class‐I and ‐II expression in 27 primary NPC biopsies and found that 15% were extensively down‐regulated for class‐I expression with the majority of tumour cells appearing negative. Whilst HLA class‐II was expressed at high levels in the majority of tumours, 37% showed substantial down‐regulation. NPC is associated with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). Expression of the virus‐encoded EBER RNAs is accepted as a marker of EBV latency and is regarded as a valuable diagnostic criterion. EBER RNAs were expressed in all samples, but in some the level was remarkably heterogeneous, being barely detectable in many tumour cells. Our study reinforces the concept of extensive phenotypic variation in NPC. There are morphological differences between tumour cells. Some tumours express HLA class‐I and/or –II, whilst others are down‐regulated or negative. Individual tumours may or may not express the EBV‐encoded LMP‐1 protein, and individual tumour cells may express high levels of EBER, yet adjacent tumour cells express very little or none. Int. J. Cancer 88:949–955, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pregnancy outcome in long-term survivors of childhood cancer.

BACKGROUND By the year 2010, 1/250 young adults will be long-term survivors of childhood cancer. One of the major concerns is whether they will be able to have healthy children. PROCEDURE The literature was reviewed to determine 1) the extent of intrapartum and perinatal complications experienced by survivors or their spouses and 2) the risk of congenital malformations or cancer in their children. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Series have reported on pregnancy complications among approximately 400 female survivors and 300 partners of male survivors. An increased incidence of spontaneous abortions, low-birth-weight babies, and neonatal deaths has been described for women with Wilms tumor who had received at least 20 Gy abdominal radiation. Hodgkin disease survivors who had received both radiation and chemotherapy (but not either alone) also appear to be at increased risk of spontaneous abortions. Based on several thousand survivor offspring, there is no overall increased risk of either congenital malformations or childhood cancer. Further studies will define the outcome of offspring of cancer survivors treated in the modern era.
The Status of National Legal Frameworks for Valuing Compensation for Expropriated Land: An Analysis of Whether National Laws in 50 Countries/Regions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America Comply with International Standards on Compensation Valuation

The challenges associated with determining fair compensation for expropriated land have been extensively discussed and debated among scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and the public. However, to date, a comprehensive study of national-level compensation procedures established by law considering whether such procedures meet internationally recognized standards on compensation valuation has not been conducted. This article aims to bridge this gap by serving as a reference point and informing “fair compensation” debates among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. This article examines national-level legal provisions on compensation in 50 countries/regions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America against a set of legal indicators that are based on international standards on the valuation of compensation. The legal indicators focus on the substantive and procedural requirements pertaining to the calculation of compensation. The indicators ask whether laws require assessors to account for various land values when calculating compensation, and whether there are legal processes in place that allow affected persons to negotiate compensation amounts, receive prompt payments, and hold governments accountable by appealing compensation decisions in courts or before tribunals. The results of the study show that most of the 50 countries/regions assessed do not have national laws that comply with internationally recognized standards on the valuation of compensation. Based on the findings from the legal indicator analysis, this paper presents a set of recommendations for reforming compensation procedures to bring them into conformity with international standards.
EVOLUTIONARY NOVELTIES AND LOSSES IN GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRICS: A PRACTICAL APPROACH THROUGH HOMININ MOLAR MORPHOLOGY

Geometric morphometric techniques may offer a promising methodological approach to analyze evolutionary novelties in a quantitative framework. Nevertheless, and despite continuous improvements to this methodology, the inclusion of novel features in these studies presents some difficulties. In the present study, different methods to explicitly include novel traits in geometric morphometric analyses are compared, including homology‐free approaches, landmark‐based approaches, and combinations of both techniques. The two‐dimensional occlusal morphology of the lower second molar in multiple hominin species was chosen to evaluate these methods, as an example of an anatomical structure including one novelty: a distal fifth cusp is present in earlier hominins, and notably absent in many later Homo species. Results reveal that different approaches provide different results, highlighting that the design of the conformations of landmarks has a high impact on the inferred conclusions. Among diverse methods, a combined approach including landmarks, sliding semilandmarks, and only one landmark related to the studied novelty (an indicator of its absence or presence and of its size, when present), was able to directly discern structures with and without the novel feature, circumventing some of the methodological difficulties associated with these traits. This study demonstrates the ability of geometric morphometric techniques to investigate evolutionary novelties and explores the implications of different methods, providing a reference context for future studies.
Holmium: YAG lithotripsy: optimal power settings.

PURPOSE We tested the hypothesis that holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy speed is best maximized by using low pulse energy at high pulse frequency. MATERIALS AND METHODS To demonstrate that optical fiber damage increases with pulse energy and irradiation, the 365-microm optical fiber irradiated calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (CHPD), calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), cystine, magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MAPH), and uric acid calculi at pulse energies of 0.5 to 2.0 J. Optical energy output was measured with an energy detector after 10 J to 200 J of total energy. To demonstrate that lithotripsy efficiency varies with power, fragmentation was measured at constant power settings at total energies of 200 J and 1 kJ with the 365-microm optical fiber. Fragmentation was measured for the 272-microm optical fiber at pulse energies of 0.5 J to 1.5 J at 10 Hz. To demonstrate that low pulse energy produces smaller fragments than high pulse energy, fragment size was characterized for COM and uric acid calculi after 0.25 kJ of irradiation using the 272-microm to 940-microm optical fibers at 0.5 J to 1.5 J. RESULTS Damage to the 365-microm optical fiber was greatest for irradiation of CHPD, followed by MAPH, and COM (P<0.001). There was no significant optical fiber damage after cystine and uric acid lithotripsy. For the 365-microm optical fiber and CHPD, fragmentation after 200 J was greatest for pulse energies < or =1.0 J (P< 0.001). For other compositions, fragmentation was not statistically different among the power settings for constant irradiation. No significant difference was noted in fragmentation for any composition at different pulse energies (1.0 v. 2.0 J) for 1-kJ irradiation. However, for all compositions, the calculated lithotripsy speed was greatest at high power settings (P<0.001). For the 272-microm optical fiber, CHPD fragmentation was greatest for the 1.0-J pulse energy. The mean fragment size and relative quantity of fragments > or =2 mm both increased as pulse energy increased. CONCLUSIONS Optical fiber degradation varies with stone composition, irradiation, and pulse energy. Holmium:YAG lithotripsy speed is maximized with higher power (either increased pulse energy or higher pulse frequency). Because low pulse energy may be safer and yields smaller fragments than high pulse energy, holmium:YAG lithotripsy speed is best increased by using pulse energies < or =1.0 J at a high repetition rate.
Classification of common acetabular fractures: radiographic and CT appearances.

OBJECTIVE Accurate characterization of acetabular fractures can be difficult because of the complex acetabular anatomy and the many fracture patterns. In this article, the five most common acetabular fractures are reviewed: both-column, T-shaped, transverse, transverse with posterior wall, and isolated posterior wall. Fracture patterns on radiography are correlated with CT, including multiplanar reconstruction and 3D surface rendering. CONCLUSION In the evaluation of the five most common acetabular fractures, assessment of the obturator ring, followed by the iliopectineal and ilioischial lines and iliac wing, for fracture allows accurate classification. CT is helpful in understanding the various fracture patterns.
Prostatitis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

carcinoma in the gastric stump-the occurrence of such cases 31, 7, and 17 years after a partial gastrectomy for cancer suggests a new malignancy. In addition there were cases with a double pathology such as gastric or duodenal ulcer with carcinoma; chronic gastritis, simple polyp and cancer; simple and malignant polyp; and malignant polyp and infiltrating carcinoma. These lend force to the dictum of Hurst that gastric carcinoma never develops on a normal mucosa.