Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subunit Interactions in Dimeric Kinesin Heavy Chain Derivatives That Lack the Kinesin Rod

The N-terminal residues of the two heavy chains of the motor enzyme kinesin form two globular “heads”; the heads are attached to a “rod” domain which is a two-stranded α-helical coiled-coil. Interaction between the heads is thought to be important to kinesin function. The rod may not be necessary for head-head interactions because a heavy chain N-terminal fragment containing only residues from the head and adjacent region forms dimers (Huang, T.-G., Suhan, J., and Hackney, D. D.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 16502-16507). However, the nature and stability of the subunit-subunit interactions in such derivatives are unclear. To examine the physical properties of heavy chain interaction in and near the head domains, we characterized the self-association behavior of two dimeric kinesin derivatives predicted (Lupas, A., van Dyke, M., and Stock, J.(1991) Science 252, 1162-1164) to lack the rod. Derivative K448-BIO contains the 448 N-terminal residues of Drosophila kinesin heavy chain fused at the C terminus to a 2-residue linker and a C-terminal fragment from Escherichia coli biotin carboxyl carrier protein; derivative K448-L is the same except that it lacks the biotin carboxyl carrier protein fragment. Both derivatives expressed in insect cells display microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity; K448-BIO also displays microtubule motility. Equilibrium sedimentation and gel filtration indicate that purified K448-BIO and K448-L at 0.02-0.4 mg/ml form homogeneous solutions of homodimers with no detectable formation of monomers or higher order oligomers. Derivative self-association is non-covalent but extremely stable with an association constant ≥2 × 108M. Stable subunit-subunit association induced by structures in and near the kinesin heads may be necessary for full mechanochemical function.
A possible influence of the Great White Spot on Saturn kilometric radiation periodicity

The periodicity of Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR) varies with time, and its two periods during the first 5 years of the Cassini mission have been attributed to SKR from the northern and southern hemisphere. After Saturn equinox in August 2009, there were long intervals of time (March 2010 to February 2011 and September 2011 to June 2012) with similar northern and southern SKR periods and locked SKR phases. However, from March to August 2011 the SKR periods were split up again, and the phases were unlocked. In this time interval, the southern SKR period slowed down by ~ 0.5% on average, and there was a large jump back to a faster period in August 2011. The northern SKR period speeded up and coalesced again with the southern period in September 2011. We argue that this unusual behavior could be related to the so-called Great White Spot (GWS), a giant thunderstorm that raged in Saturn's atmosphere around that time. For several months in 2011, the visible head of the GWS had the same period of ~ 10.69 h as the main southern SKR modulation signal. The GWS was most likely a source of intense gravity waves that may have caused a global change in Saturn's thermospheric winds via energy and momentum deposition. This would support the theory that Saturn's magnetospheric periodicities are driven by the upper atmosphere. Since the GWS with simultaneous SKR periodicity measurements have only been made once, it is difficult to prove a physical connection between these two phenomena, but we provide plausible mechanisms by which the GWS might modify the SKR periods.
Consumption of pomegranate juice decreases blood lipid peroxidation and levels of arachidonic acid in women with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Pomegranate juice is a rich source of polyphenols and is thus a promising dietary antioxidant with numerous health-promoting effects. These include a beneficial impact on cardiovascular health that could be partly attributed to the effects of polyphenols on lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of pomegranate juice for 6 weeks could modify lipid peroxidation and phospholipid fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocytes in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Twenty-three women, aged 40-60 years, were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups: the intervention group, in which each participant consumed 300 mL of juice per day for 6 weeks; and a control group. RESULTS A statistically significant decrease in the relative amount of arachidonic acid (P < 0.05) and an increase in the relative amount of saturated fatty acids (P < 0.05) were observed in the intervention group at the end of the consumption period. In addition, pomegranate juice significantly increased the relative amount of total mono-unsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.05), and significantly decreased the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in erythrocytes (P < 0.05). The status of blood lipids and the values for blood pressure were not changed during the study. CONCLUSION The results obtained indicate a positive impact of the consumption of pomegranate juice on lipid peroxidation and fatty acid status in subjects with metabolic syndrome and suggest potential anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective effects. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Sediment management modelling in the Blue Nile Basin using SWAT model

Abstract. Soil erosion/sedimentation is an immense problem that has threatened water resources development in the Nile river basin, particularly in the Eastern Nile (Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt). An insight into soil erosion/sedimentation mechanisms and mitigation methods plays an imperative role for the sustainable water resources development in the region. This paper presents daily sediment yield simulations in the Upper Blue Nile under different Best Management Practice (BMP) scenarios. Scenarios applied in this paper are (i) maintaining existing conditions, (ii) introducing filter strips, (iii) applying stone bunds (parallel terraces), and (iv) reforestation. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model soil erosion, identify soil erosion prone areas and assess the impact of BMPs on sediment reduction. For the existing conditions scenario, the model results showed a satisfactory agreement between daily observed and simulated sediment concentrations as indicated by Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency greater than 0.83. The simulation results showed that applying filter strips, stone bunds and reforestation scenarios reduced the current sediment yields both at the subbasins and the basin outlets. However, a precise interpretation of the quantitative results may not be appropriate because some physical processes are not well represented in the SWAT model.
Ganglions of the hand and wrist: Retrospective statistical analysis of 520 cases.

BACKGROUND Ganglions constitute the most common tumor type of the hand and wrist region. They have a non-neoplastic character and affect patients of all ages. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this work was to analyze the epidemiological data of a representative group of patients diagnosed with ganglions of the hand and wrist. MATERIAL AND METHODS Five-hundred-and-twenty patients operated on for ganglions of the hand and wrist between the years 2000 and 2014 were included in the study. For the statistical analysis, STATISTICA v. 10 was used. Categorical data was analyzed using the χ2. The distribution of two and more independent samples was compared through the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by pairwise comparisons for significant test statistics, respectively. RESULTS In the studied group of patients, ganglions affected females more often than males, with a 2.8 : 1 ratio. No statistically significant differences in age distribution between women and men (median age 38 vs. 40 years) were found. Ganglions affected both sides of the body with comparable equality. Wrist ganglions predominated (76%). The patients diagnosed with hand ganglions were statistically significantly older (p < 0.001), and the right hand was affected more often (p = 0.003). A statistically significant difference in age distribution between the patients with DWG (dorsal wrist ganglions) and VRG (volar retinacular ganglions) was observed (p < 0.001). DWG affected the left side (p = 0.003) and VRG the right side (p = 0.005) of the body more often. CONCLUSIONS Statistical analysis of our patients confirmed much of the previously published data. Although the diagnosis and treatment of ganglions of the hand and wrist are relatively uncomplicated, the pathophysiology of their formation is still waiting to be thoroughly explained.
Implementation of controlled rectifier with power factor correction using single-phase matrix converter

This paper presents an implementation of controlled rectifier with power factor correction (PFC) using single-phase matrix converter (SPMC). A current control loop (CCL) using standard proportional integral control was used to implement PFC to correct the pulsating nature of the input current to almost unity power factor form with low total harmonic distortion (THD) level well below the acceptable limit that was defined in the standards of IEEE 519. Waveshaping of supply current is facilitated through the use of boost technique that could perform corrections making it continuous, sinusoidal and in phase with the supply voltage. Safe commutation strategy was implemented to avoid voltage spikes due to inductive load. Prior to its practical realization a computer simulation model is developed to investigate the behaviour of the SPMC using MATLAB/Simulink (MLS). An experimental test-rig was then constructed to verify the operation; incorporated with control electronics, gate drives, and power circuits. Selected simulations and experimental results are presented to verify proposed operation.
Cord blood megakaryocytes do not complete maturation, as indicated by impaired establishment of endomitosis and low expression of G1/S cyclins upon thrombopoietin‐induced differentiation

Cord blood (CB) has successfully been used as a stem cell source for haemopoietic reconstitution. However, a significant delay in platelet engraftment is consistently found in CB versus adult peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow transplants. We sought to determine whether or not CB megakaryocytes have reached terminal maturation and, hence, full thrombopoietic potential. A comparative analysis of megakaryocytes cultured from either CB or PB progenitors in the presence of thrombopoietin (TPO) showed a similar differentiation response, although proliferation was 2·4 times higher in CB than in PB cells. Importantly, the TPO‐induced ploidy level was notably different: whereas 82·7% of CB megakaryocytes remained diploid (2N) at the end of the culture, more than 50% of PB megakaryocytes had reached a DNA content equal to or higher than 4N. Western blot and flow cytometry analyses revealed that only polyploid PB megakaryocytes expressed cyclins E, A and B, whereas cyclin D3 was detected in both fetal and adult megakaryocytic nuclei. These data suggest that establishment of endomitotic cycles is impaired in CB megakaryocytes, associated with a differential regulation of G1/S cell cycle factors. We believe that the relative immaturity of fetal megakaryocytes could be a contributing factor to the delayed platelet engraftment in cord blood transplantation.
Normally-Off LPCVD-SiNx/GaN MIS-FET With Crystalline Oxidation Interlayer

Developing effective technique to protect the etched- GaN surface from the degradation in a high-temperature (i.e., at ~ 780°C) process, such as low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), is essential for fabricating normally-off GaN MIS-FETs with high-quality dielectric/GaN interface and highly reliable gate dielectric. In this letter, we developed an approach of obtaining such a protection layer using oxygen-plasma treatment followed by <italic>in situ</italic> annealing prior to the LPCVD-SiN<sub>x</sub> deposition. A sharp and stable crystalline oxidation interlayer (COIL) between the LPCVD-SiN<sub>x</sub> and etched-GaN was successfully formed. The LPCVD-SiN<sub>x</sub>/GaN MIS-FETs with COIL deliver normally-off operation with a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{TH}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 1.15 V, small on-resistance, small hysteresis, and thermally stable <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{TH}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.
National Complication Rates and Disposition After Posterior Lumbar Fusion for Acquired Spondylolisthesis

Study Design. Database study using Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) administrative data from 1993 to 2002. Objective. To determine rates of in-hospital complications and complex disposition for patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis, and the association of demographic factors. Summary of Background Data. Spondylolisthesis affects primarily elderly populations. Recent data suggests a benefit of surgical treatment for acquired lumbar spondylolisthesis. However, the risks of these procedures, and the impact of patient demographics on risk, have not been nationally quantified. Methods. Data from 66,601 patients in the NIS (1993–2002) with diagnostic and procedure codes specifying posterior lumbar fusion for acquired spondylolisthesis were included. Patients were grouped by age, sex, race, number of comorbidities, hospital size, and time period of procedure. Multivariate analysis correlated patient and hospital characteristics with complex disposition and complications. Results. Mortality rate was 0.15%. Eleven percent of patients had one or more in-hospital complications; overall complication rate was 13 per 100 operations. Hematoma/seroma (5.4 per 100) was the most common complication, followed by pulmonary (2.6), renal (1.8), and cardiac (1.2) complications. Infection and neurologic injury occurred in <1% of patients. Older patients and those with a number of comorbidities had greater rates of in-hospital complication and complex disposition. Compared to those aged 45 to 64, patients aged 65 to 84 were almost 70% more likely to have complications (OR: 1.67) and 5 times as likely to have complex disposition (OR: 5.84). Having 3 or greater comorbidities, compared to no comorbidities, was also associated with increased risk of complication (OR: 1.6) and complex disposition (OR: 2.3). Conclusion. Posterior lumbar fusion for acquired lumbar spondylolisthesis is safe. However, age and comorbidity independently increase in-hospital complications and complex disposition. These data may improve national estimates of surgical risk, patient selection, informed consent, and cost-efficacy analysis for posterior lumbar fusion operations for acquired spondylolisthesis.
Life with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy: child and parental perspectives and predictors of metabolic control

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was twofold (i): to evaluate metabolic control in patients receiving CSII therapy in a routine pediatric diabetes clinic by describing reasons for initiating therapy and daily management issues, including needle fear; and (ii) to assess the change in parental involvement and anxiety once their child initiated CSII therapy.
Transient Effect of L‐Tryptophan in Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy Without Lafora Bodies: Clinical and Electrophysiological Study

Summary: A double‐blind crossover trial with 2 g L‐tryptophan ‐and placebo was carried out with five familial and two sporadic patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME) without Lafora bodies. L‐Tryptophan improved the clinical condition in six out of seven patients. Clinical improvement in ambulation, myoclonic jerks, and general condition was most evident. The change was statistically significant. In visual assessment of EEGs, the amount of paroxysmal activity and dysrhythmia of the background activity decreased in six out of seven patients on L‐tryptophan. The quantitative EEG revealed a decrease in the power bands of theta, alpha, and beta activity in five of six patients on the second day of L‐tryptophan treatment. In familial PME cases, the responses were consistently beneficial. With long‐term L‐tryptophan therapy, the effect disappeared or was even reversed in three of seven patients after 3 to 4 weeks. These findings indicate that therapy with serotonin precursors is worthy of further trial in PME and that deficient tryptophan metabolism may play a part in the etiology of PME without Lafora bodies.
Emergency dental injuries presented at the Beijing Stomatological Hospital in China.

BACKGROUND/AIM There is a lack of epidemiologic studies of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in China. The aim of this paper was to study TDI of patients visiting the Stomatological Hospital in Beijing China over a 12-month period. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study includes 644 patients, age 1-78, who were admitted to the Beijing Stomatological Hospital between July 2008 and June 2009 for TDI. Dental records and radiographs were reviewed. Age, gender, date, type of TDI, etiology, and tooth and number of teeth injured were recorded. RESULTS Men represented 60.3% of all patients. The highest frequency of dental trauma was found in schoolchildren 7-12years of age (22.8%), followed by adolescents 13-18years of age (15.2%) and young adults 19-24years of age (15.2%). Hospital visits occurred most frequently from the afternoon to late evening in 74.7% of all patients. Most cases occurred on weekends (50.8%). The most common causes of dental trauma were falls (39.6%) and violence (16.9%). Dental trauma caused by motor vehicle was seen in 6.1%. Maxillary central incisors were the most commonly affected teeth (59%). The main types of injury to permanent teeth were uncomplicated crown fractures (20.8%) and subluxations (20.4%) The least common tooth injuries were intrusions (1.4%). Among primary teeth, subluxations (32.1%) were the most common and uncomplicated crown fractures and crown-root fractures comprised 2.5% each. CONCLUSION TDI in Beijing, China not only shows epidemiologic characteristics in common with many other studies in the world, but also shows different characteristics that should be further studied and taken into consideration when planning for preventive programs and emergency resources.
The dynamics of alcohol and marijuana initiation: patterns and predictors of first use in adolescence.

OBJECTIVES This study, guided by the social development model, examined the dynamic patterns and predictors of alcohol and marijuana use onset. METHODS Survival analysis and complementary log-log regression were used to model hazard rates and etiology of initiation with time-varying covariates. The sample was derived from a longitudinal study of 808 youth interviewed annually from 10 to 16 years of age and at 18 years of age. RESULTS Alcohol initiation rose steeply up to the age of 13 years and then increased more gradually; most participants had initiated by 13 years of age. Marijuana initiation showed a different pattern, with more participants initiating after the age of 13 years. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that: (1) the risk of initiation spans the entire course of adolescent development; (2) young people exposed to others who use substances are at higher risk for early initiation; (3) proactive parents can help delay initiation; and (4) clear family standards and proactive family management are important in delaying alcohol and marijuana use, regardless of how closely bonded a child is to his or her mother.
Single-transverse-mode 3.4-mW emission of oxide-confined 780-nm VCSELs

The authors have fabricated oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with metal apertures exhibiting a spatial mode filtering effect. Single-mode continuous-wave output is enhanced up to 3.4 mW by this effect for AlGaAs-based 780-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with a 3.5-/spl mu/m-diameter oxide aperture. From numerical calculations, the round-trip loss difference between zeroth- and first-order optical modes as a function of metal aperture size indicates that there is an optimum point; a 4-/spl mu/m metal aperture size is suitable for higher order mode suppression of a 3.5-/spl mu/m oxide aperture device.
Plasmodium sporozoite invasion into insect and mammalian cells is directed by the same dual binding system

Plasmodium sporozoites, the transmission form of the malaria parasite, successively invade salivary glands in the mosquito vector and the liver in the mammalian host. Sporozoite capacity to invade host cells is mechanistically related to their ability to glide on solid substrates, both activities depending on the transmembrane protein TRAP. Here, we show that loss‐of‐ function mutations in two adhesive modules of the TRAP ectodomain, an integrin‐like A‐domain and a thrombospondin type I repeat, specifically decrease sporozoite invasion of host cells but do not affect sporozoite gliding and adhesion to cells. Irrespective of the target cell, i.e. in mosquitoes, rodents and cultured human or hamster cells, sporozoites bearing mutations in one module are less invasive, while those bearing mutations in both modules are non‐invasive. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, the TRAP modules interact with distinct cell receptors during sporozoite invasion, and thus act as independently active pass keys. As these modules are also present in other members of the TRAP family of proteins in Apicomplexa, they may account for the capacity of these parasites to enter many cell types of phylogenetically distant origins.
Anabolic steroid use and longitudinal, radial, and circumferential cardiac motion.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of anabolic steroid (AS) use on cardiac structure and function and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS We recruited 47 strength-trained individuals (male = 46, female = 1), with 28 self-reporting regular AS use and 19 self-reporting never taking AS. Participants underwent assessment of body composition, lipid profiles, blood pressure, 12-lead ECG, and a comprehensive echocardiographic examination incorporating speckle tracking of longitudinal, radial, and circumferential left ventricular (LV) motion. A subgroup of AS users (n = 4) were tested during periods of AS use and abstinence. RESULTS AS users were heavier (96 ± 15 vs 81 ± 9 kg, P < 0.05), had higher LDL (3.68 ± 0.47 vs 2.41 ± 0.49 mmol·L⁻¹, P < 0.05), and had higher resting HR (79 ± 12 vs 64 ± 13 beats·min⁻¹), although blood pressures did not differ significantly between groups. In AS, LV wall thickness and mass were significantly greater (12 ± 2 vs 11 ± 1 mm and 280 ± 60 vs 231 ± 44 g, respectively, P < 0.05), whereas ejection fractions and peak longitudinal strain ([Latin Small Letter Open E]) were significantly lower (58% ± 8% vs 63% ± 6% and -14.6% ± 2.3% vs -16.9% ± 2.2%, P < 0.05). Indices of global diastolic function were reduced in AS users (E/A, E'/A'). Some diastolic strain rates (ESR and ASR) were altered in AS users. The E/A SR ratio was reduced in the longitudinal plane as well as in the circumferential and radial plane at the basal level (P < 0.05). Basal LV E/A rotation rate was also decreased in AS users (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AS use is associated with alterations in cardiac structure and function that, allied to poor lipid profiles, represent an increased cardiovascular risk profile.
Acquiring High Quality Research Data

At present, data publication is one of the most dynamic topics in e-Research. While the fundamental problems of electronic text publication have been solved in the past decade, standards for the external and internal organisation of data repositories are advanced in some research disciplines but underdeveloped in others. We discuss the differences between an electronic text publication and a data publication and the challenges that result from these differences for the data publication process. We place the data publication process in the context of the human knowledge spiral and discuss key factors for the successful acquisition of research data from the point of view of a data repository. For the relevant activities of the publication process, we list some of the measures and best practices of successful data repositories.