Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The AAA-ATPase Cdc48 and cofactor Shp1 promote chromosome bi-orientation by balancing Aurora B activity

The assembly, disassembly and dynamic movement of macromolecules are integral to cell physiology. The ubiquitin-selective chaperone Cdc48 (p97 in Metazoa), an AAA-ATPase, might facilitate such processes in the cell cycle. Cdc48 in budding yeast was initially isolated from a mitotic mutant. However, its function in mitosis remained elusive. Here we show that the temperature-sensitive cdc48-3 mutant and depletion of cofactor Shp1 (p47 in Metazoa) cause cell-cycle arrest at metaphase. The arrest is due to a defect in bipolar attachment of the kinetochore that activates the spindle checkpoint. Furthermore, Cdc48-Shp1 positively regulates Glc7/protein phosphatase 1 by facilitating nuclear localization of Glc7, whereas it opposes Ipl1/Aurora B kinase activity. Thus, we propose that Cdc48-Shp1 promotes nuclear accumulation of Glc7 to counteract Ipl1 activity. Our results identify Cdc48 and Shp1 as critical components that balance the kinase and phosphatase activities at the kinetochore in order to achieve stable bipolar attachment.
Is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus ‐Related Kaposi's Sarcoma Epidemic Coming to an End? Insights from the Tricontinental Seroconverter Study

A decline in the proportion of Kaposi's sarcoma among AIDS cases since the 1980s has been attributed to changes in sexual behavior among homosexual men and a decreasing exposure to a hypothesized Kaposi's sarcoma cofactor. Recent studies have shown that the incidence rate of Kaposi's sarcoma has remained relatively stable, which seems to argue against the hypothesis of a declining exposure to the putative cofactor. To examine this paradox, we evaluated the incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma, using Cox proportional hazard analyses, and performed a simulation to compare incidences of different AIDS outcomes among 407 homosexual men with documented dates of seroconversion. Our data show that men who seroconverted early in the epidemic did not progress faster to Kaposi's sarcoma than men who seroconverted more recently. A lower incidence rate of Kaposi's sarcoma would be expected among the latter group if exposure to the hypothesized cofactor is decreasing over time. The percentage of Kaposi's sarcoma among incident AIDS cases decreased over the years following seroconversion, but not over calendar time. This study demonstrates that the decline in the proportion of Kaposi's sarcoma among AIDS cases should not be interpreted as a decline in the incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma and that there is no evidence that a hypothesized Kaposi's sarcoma cofactor is declining over calendar time.
The Fc receptor-like 3 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases: An updated meta-analysis

Abstract Previous studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Fc receptor-like 3 (FCRL3), an excellent susceptibility gene, as predisposing factors for human autoimmune diseases (ADs). However, the results remain inconclusive. To assess the effect of four selected SNPs (rs7528684, rs11264799, rs945635 and rs3761959), we conducted a meta-analysis with 34 case-control studies. Summary odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the polymorphisms in FCRL3 and ADs risk were evaluated. Furthermore, this meta-analysis was performed by using allele comparisons, as well as stratified analyses by ethnicity and disease phenotypes under different genetic models. Our data showed that the TC, TT + TC genotypes of rs7528684 contributed to a lower risk of ADs, compared with the CC carriers (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85–0.97; OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85–0.98). In comparison with rs7528684 TC genotype, the TT + CC carriers were significantly associated with higher ADs risk (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00–1.07). In terms of stratified analyses by ethnicity and disease phenotypes, there were significant associations of rs7528684 polymorphism both with ADs in Asians and Europeans, and with rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, type-1 diabetes, and other ADs under different genetic models. Moreover, significant associations were also found to be correlated with ADs risk for the SNP rs11264799 in mixed subgroup, for rs945635 in Europeans, North Americans and mixed group, and for rs3761959 in North Americans. These findings indicate that the polymorphisms in FCRL3 may play a role in the pathogenesis of ADs.
Cosmological constant and the time of its dominance

We explore a model in which the cosmological constant L and the density contrast at the time of recombination s rec are random variables, whose range and a priori probabilities are determined by the laws of physics. ~Such models arise naturally in the framework of inflationary cosmology. Based on the assumption that we are typical observers, we show that the order of magnitude coincidence among the three time scales, the time of galaxy formation, the time when the cosmological constant starts to dominate the cosmic energy density, and the present age of the universe, finds a natural explanation. We also discuss the probability distribution for s rec . Assuming a power law a priori distribution }s reca we find that for a.3 the most probable values of s rec are near the observationally suggested values, whereas for a,3 the typical s rec would be too large. This may be used to place constraints on inflationary models ~or on any alternative theory of initial conditions! PACS number~s! : 98.80. Cq, 98.80. Hw During the past year and a half two groups have presented ~independently! strong evidence that the expansion of the universe is accelerating rather than decelerating @1#. This surprising result comes from distance measurements to more than 50 supernovas type Ia ~SNe Ia! in the redshift range z 5 0t oz51.2. While possible ambiguities related to evolution and to the nature of SNe Ia progenitors still exist @2#, the data are consistent with the cosmological constant ~or vacuum energy! contributing to the total energy density about 70% of the critical density ( V L.0.7). At the same time, other methods, and measurements of the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background, indicate that matter alone contributes about V M.0. 3, which when combined with the cosmological constant suggests a flat universe @3#. These findings raise however an extremely intriguing question. It is difficult to understand why we happen to be living in the first and only time in cosmic history in which r M;r L ~where r M is the matter density, and r L the vacuum energy density associated with the cosmological constant! That is, why t 0;t L , ~1! where t 0 is the present time and t L is the time at which the cosmological constant starts to dominate. Observers living at t! t L would find V M’ 1( V L’0), while observers at t @t L would findV L’ 1( V M’0). There is another, less frequently discussed ‘‘coincidence,’’ which also calls for an explanation. Observationally, the epoch of structure formation, when giant galaxies were
α-Synuclein Shares Physical and Functional Homology with 14-3-3 Proteins

α-Synuclein has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease. Mutations in α-synuclein cause some cases of familial PD (Polymeropoulos et al., 1997; Kruger et al., 1998). In addition, many neurodegenerative diseases show accumulation of α-synuclein in dystrophic neurites and in Lewy bodies (Spillantini et al., 1998). Here, we show that α-synuclein shares physical and functional homology with 14-3-3 proteins, which are a family of ubiquitous cytoplasmic chaperones. Regions of α-synuclein and 14-3-3 proteins share over 40% homology. In addition, α-synuclein binds to 14-3-3 proteins, as well as some proteins known to associate with 14-3-3, including protein kinase C, BAD, and extracellular regulated kinase, but not Raf-1. We also show that overexpression of α-synuclein inhibits protein kinase C activity. The association of α-synuclein with BAD and inhibition of protein kinase C suggests that increased expression of α-synuclein could be harmful. Consistent with this hypothesis, we observed that overexpression of wild-type α-synuclein is toxic, and overexpression of α-synuclein containing the A53T or A30P mutations exhibits even greater toxicity. The activity and binding profile of α-synuclein suggests that it might act as a protein chaperone and that accumulation of α-synuclein could contribute to cell death in neurodegenerative diseases.
Alpha-chain and globin: intermediates in the synthesis of rabbit hemoglobin.

The synthesis of hemoglobin by rabbit reticulocytes has been studied by means of pulse-labelling and chase experiments. The reticulocyte lysate was fractionated into a top layer and a ribosomal fraction. The top layer was analysed by gel filtration on columns of Sephadex G-75. At least two intermediates which were formed after short incubations and were chased into hemoglobin were separated by gel filtration. These intermediates have been identified with α chain and globin. α Chain and globin have also been separated by chromatography on carboxymethyl-Sephadex. This method of analysis has been used to measure the rate of appearance of these intermediates in the top layer fraction and their rate of removal in chase experiments. The presence of complete α chains on polyribosomes has been confirmed. The rate of appearance of α chains on polyribosomes and their rate of removal in chase experiments have been determined. These rates appear to be identical, suggesting that the same biosynthetic process is responsible for these rates. The nature of the complete α chains present on polyribosomes has been investigated. These chains can be separated from peptidyl-tRNA chains by gel filtration in a sodium dodecyl sulphate-acetate buffer. This finding suggests that the complete chains are not bound to tRNA. The experimental results support the following scheme of assembly of the hemoglobin molecule: α chains are released from polyribosomes on completion. These chains combine with β chains which are still being synthesized on polyribosomes and for this reason complete α chains are found on polyribosomes. αβ subunits are released from polyribosomes once the synthesis of β chains is completed. The subunits then combine with heme to form hemoglobin molecules. The combination with heme may be stepwise and, in this case, intermediates containing less than one heme every peptide chain are formed. Some evidence for the existence of heme-containing intermediates has been obtained. The significance of the combination of α chains with β chains at the polyribosome level is discussed. This phenomenon may have some regulatory function which may be of general importance in view of the similar finding that immunoglobulin light chains combine with heavy chains at the polyribosome level and that heavy chains are apparently not released independently from polyribosomes.
Amisulpride versus Risperidone Treatment for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Dementia of the Alzheimer Type: A Randomized, Open, Prospective Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of both amisulpride and risperidone for treating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Twenty-eight patients with DAT were randomly assigned to treatment with either amisulpride or risperidone for 8 weeks. The effectiveness of the treatments was assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) scale. The Simpson-Angus Rating Scale, the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale were used for the assessment of side effects. The NPI and CGI-S scores were significantly decreased over time in both treatment groups without any significant group difference and time by treatment group interaction effect (F = 71.85, p < 0.0001). There were no serious adverse events in both groups. This study showed that either amisulpride or risperidone would be effective and tolerable for treating patients with DAT. Adequately powered studies with a head-to-head comparison design will be mandatory to draw any definite conclusion.
Population Differentiation and Plastic Responses to Drought Stress in the Generalist Annual Polygonum persicaria

We tested the generalist annual plant Polygonum persicaria (Polygonaceae) for adaptive differentiation in drought responses. Populations from one consistently moist and two variably dry sites were grown in moist and drought conditions in a greenhouse. Physiological, morphological, and reproductive data were collected. All three populations maintained similar levels of fitness in both drought and moist conditions, indicating that these populations may be equally drought tolerant. Also, the three populations had similar water use efficiency and root biomass responses to soil moisture, indicating that substantial phenotypic plasticity is present in all the populations, including a population from a consistently moist site. The magnitude of plastic responses for specific traits varied among the populations; i.e., the physiological and morphological means by which these plants maintained reproductive homeostasis across moisture conditions was population dependent. In particular, the moist‐site population had the greatest plasticity in water use efficiency, while the dry‐site populations had greater plasticity in root biomass allocation. Selection analyses demonstrated that increased water use efficiency was adaptive in drought and that decreased root biomass allocation was adaptive in moist conditions. Overall, the maintenance of fitness in stressful conditions may involve population differentiation along different axes of functional plasticity.
Psychological Health of the Teaching Personnel of Physical and Sporting Education

Our objective is to identify the factors that are responsible for the health and the psychological distress of the teaching personnel. The problem of mental health of the teachers in general and the teachers of Physical and Sporting Education in particular remains a worrying situation for the re-searchers. The speed of the metamorphoses which took place in the world of education generates an intensification of the work of the teachers whose consequences assign the teaching personnel. This series of changes did not settle without effect. Already, 3.7% of the Tunisian teachers suffer from psychic disorders (Ghachem, 2012). This distress results in a high frequency of anxiety, professional irritation and exhaustion as well as a low level of vitality lived by the teachers. There are many studies which showed that the educational work is in crisis, searching for meaning, with teachers living a state of ill-being. As part of our research, we focus on the major determinants of psychological health and well being of teachers of physical education and sports in Tunisia. 151 teachers with mean age (38.92 ± 10.62) answered the questionary of Houlfort & Sauve (2010). Our study showed serious negative effects on the mental health of Tunisian teachers due to several triggers of stress and tension at work. In addition, these health troubles due to different working conditions were variable depending on age, seniority, gender and also on marital status. Which are the factors responsible for the health and the psychological distress of the teachers of physical and sporting education?
The effect of z overscanning on patient effective dose from multidetector helical computed tomography examinations.

z overscanning in multidetector (MD) helical CT scanning is prerequisite for the interpolation of acquired data required during image reconstruction and refers to the exposure of tissues beyond the boundaries of the volume to be imaged. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of z overscanning on the patient effective dose from helical MD CT examinations. The Monte Carlo N-particle radiation transport code was employed in the current study to simulate CT exposure. The validity of the Monte Carlo simulation was verified by (a) a comparison of calculated and measured standard computed tomography dose index (CTDI) dosimetric data, and (b) a comparison of calculated and measured dose profiles along the z axis. CTDI was measured using a pencil ionization chamber and head and body CT phantoms. Dose profiles along the z axis were obtained using thermoluminescence dosimeters. A commercially available mathematical anthropomorphic phantom was used for the estimation of effective doses from four standard CT examinations, i.e., head and neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, and trunk studies. Data for both axial and helical modes of operation were obtained. In the helical mode, z overscanning was taken into account. The calculated effective dose from a CT exposure was normalized to CTDIfreeinair. The percentage differences in the normalized effective dose between contiguous axial and helical scans with pitch=1, may reach 13.1%, 35.8%, 29.0%, and 21.5%, for head and neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, and trunk studies, respectively. Given that the same kilovoltage and tube load per rotation were used in both axial and helical scans, the above differences may be attributed to z overscanning. For helical scans with pitch=1, broader beam collimation is associated with increased z overscanning and consequently higher normalized effective dose value, when other scanning parameters are held constant. For a given beam collimation, the selection of a higher value of reconstructed image slice width increases the normalized effective dose. In conclusion, z overscanning may significantly affect the patient effective dose from CT examinations performed on MD CT scanners. Therefore, an estimation of the patient effective dose from MD helical CT examinations should always take into consideration the effect of z overscanning.
Comprehensive Proteomic Analysis of Lysine Acetylation in the Foodborne Pathogen Trichinella spiralis

Lysine acetylation is a dynamic and highly conserved post-translational modification that plays a critical role in regulating diverse cellular processes. Trichinella spiralis is a foodborne parasite with a considerable socio-economic impact. However, to date, little is known regarding the role of lysine acetylation in this parasitic nematode. In this study, we utilized a proteomic approach involving anti-acetyl lysine-based enrichment and highly sensitive mass spectrometry to identify the global acetylated proteome and investigate lysine acetylation in T. spiralis. In total, 3872 lysine modification sites were identified in 1592 proteins that are involved in a wide variety of biological processes. Consistent with the results of previous studies, a large number of the acetylated proteins appear to be involved in metabolic and biosynthetic processes. Interestingly, according to the functional enrichment analysis, 29 acetylated proteins were associated with phagocytosis, suggesting an important role of lysine acetylation in this process. Among the identified proteins, 15 putative acetylation motifs were detected. The presence of serine downstream of the lysine acetylation site was commonly observed in the regions surrounding the sites. Moreover, protein interaction network analysis revealed that various interactions are regulated by protein acetylation. These data represent the first report of the acetylome of T. spiralis and provide an important resource for further explorations of the role of lysine acetylation in this foodborne pathogen.
Re: "On the use of generalized additive models in time-series studies of air pollution and health" and "Temperature and mortality in 11 cities of the eastern United States".

Recently, Dominici et al. (1) reported on the potential biases incurred when using S-Plus software (Insightful Corporation, Seattle, Washington) with default convergence criteria to fit generalized additive models. In the article by Curriero et al. (2), we used a generalized additive model with S-Plus software default convergence to describe the temperaturemortality relation in 11 US cities. These analyses have now been updated using natural splines. Although results changed quantitatively, interpretations remained qualitatively similar. The specific model we now use has the form:
Extracellular ATP Inhibits Root Gravitropism at Concentrations That Inhibit Polar Auxin Transport1

Raising the level of extracellular ATP to mmconcentrations similar to those found inside cells can block gravitropism of Arabidopsis roots. When plants are grown in Murashige and Skoog medium supplied with 1 mm ATP, their roots grow horizontally instead of growing straight down. Medium with 2 mm ATP induces root curling, and 3 mm ATP stimulates lateral root growth. When plants are transferred to medium containing exogenous ATP, the gravity response is reduced or in some cases completely blocked by ATP. Equivalent concentrations of ADP or inorganic phosphate have slight but usually statistically insignificant effects, suggesting the specificity of ATP in these responses. The ATP effects may be attributable to the disturbance of auxin distribution in roots by exogenously applied ATP, because extracellular ATP can alter the pattern of auxin-induced gene expression in DR5-β-glucuronidase transgenic plants and increase the response sensitivity of plant roots to exogenously added auxin. The presence of extracellular ATP also decreases basipetal auxin transport in a dose-dependent fashion in both maize (Zea mays) and Arabidopsis roots and increases the retention of [3H]indole-3-acetic acid in root tips of maize. Taken together, these results suggest that the inhibitory effects of extracellular ATP on auxin distribution may happen at the level of auxin export. The potential role of the trans-plasma membrane ATP gradient in auxin export and plant root gravitropism is discussed.
Coronin, an actin binding protein of Dictyostelium discoideum localized to cell surface projections, has sequence similarities to G protein beta subunits.

A soluble actin binding protein of Dictyostelium discoideum cells has been extracted and purified from precipitated actin‐myosin complexes. This protein with a relative molecular mass of 55 kDa has been named coronin because of its association with crown‐shaped cell surface projections of growth‐phase D. discoideum cells. In aggregating cells, which respond most sensitively to the chemoattractant cyclic AMP, coronin is accumulated at the front where surface projections are directed towards a cAMP source. Since these cells can quickly change shape and polarity, it follows that coronin is rapidly reshuffled within the cells during motion and chemotactic orientation. The cDNA derived sequence of coronin indicates a protein of 49 kDa, consisting of an amino‐terminal domain with similarities to the beta subunits of G proteins and a carboxy‐terminal domain with a high tendency for alpha‐helical structure. It is hypothesized that coronin is implicated in the transmission of chemotactic signals from cAMP receptors in the plasma membrane through G proteins to the cortical cytoskeleton, whose structure and activity is locally modulated.
ScholarWorks @ UTRGV ScholarWorks @ UTRGV

Many studies using masking paradigm have shown that stimuli can be processed unconsciously. However, different researchers put forward different ideas about the mechanisms of the unconscious information processing. For example, one idea is that the unconscious information might be derived from a partial awareness of the masked stimulus. Another idea is that it is derived from a perceptual interaction between a masked stimulus and the masking stimulus. We used a masking paradigm (with a briefly displayed target followed by a mask) and a subjective rating and an ob-jective forced-choice test (with a word and picture version) given after the display to study the nature of partial awareness. The question we attempted to answer was whether people did perceive