Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Na+/H+ Exchanger NHE3 Activity and Trafficking Are Lipid Raft-dependent*

A previous study showed that ∼25–50% of rabbit ileal brush border (BB) Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 is in lipid rafts (LR) (Li, X., Galli, T., Leu, S., Wade, J. B., Weinman E. J., Leung, G., Cheong, A., Louvard, D., and Donowitz, M. (2001) J. Physiol. (Lond.) 537, 537–552). Here, we examined the role of LR in NHE3 transport activity using a simpler system: opossum kidney (OK) cells (a renal proximal tubule epithelial cell line) containing NHE3. ∼50% of surface (biotinylated) NHE3 in OK cells distributed in LR by density gradient centrifugation. Disruption of LR with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) decreased NHE3 activity and increased K′(H+)i, but Km(Na+) was not affected. The MβCD effect was completely reversed by repletion of cholesterol, but not by an inactive analog of cholesterol (cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol). The MβCD effect was specific for NHE3 activity because it did not alter Na+-dependent l-Ala uptake. MβCD did not alter OK cell BB topology and did not change the surface amount of NHE3, but greatly reduced the rate of NHE3 endocytosis. The effects of inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and of MβCD on NHE3 activity were not additive, indicating a common inhibitory mechanism. In contrast, 8-bromo-cAMP and MβCD inhibition of NHE3 was additive, indicating different mechanisms for inhibition of NHE3 activity. Approximately 50% of BB NHE3 and only ∼11% of intracellular NHE3 in polarized OK cells were in LR. In summary, the BB pool of NHE3 in LR is functionally active because MβCD treatment decreased NHE3 basal activity. The LR pool is necessary for multiple kinetic aspects of normal NHE3 activity, including Vmax and K′(H+)i, and also for multiple aspects of NHE3 trafficking, including at least basal endocytosis and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent basal exocytosis. Because the C-terminal domain of NHE3 is necessary for its regulation and because the changes in NHE3 kinetics with MβCD resemble those with second messenger regulation of NHE3, these results suggest that the NHE3 C terminus may be involved in the MβCD sensitivity of NHE3.
Novel Dynamic Voltage Support Capability of Photovoltaic Systems for Improvement of Short-Term Voltage Stability in Power Systems

The large integration of photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems into power systems causes deterioration in power system stability. In our previous work, we showed that reactive power control using the inverters of PV systems, known as dynamic voltage support (DVS) capability, is a promising approach to improve the short-term voltage stability in power systems. In this paper, we propose a novel DVS capability as a function of PV inverters. In contrast to the conventional DVS capability, the proposed method uses both active and reactive power injection to improve the short-term voltage stability. Numerical examples show that the proposed DVS capability further improves the short-term voltage stability compared with the conventional DVS capability. Furthermore, the proposed method can alleviate a frequency drop after a fault caused by interruption in PV systems.
Recency and Frequency of Soccer Heading Interact to Decrease Neurocognitive Performance

This study investigated the role of heading recency interacting with heading frequency in determining neuropsychological deficits associated with heading the ball during soccer play. Sixty-four high-ability male soccer players ages 16 to 34 completed the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), the Trailmaking Test, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), the Facial Recognition Test, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, and the Shipley Scales. Heading recency interacted with heading frequency, such that players with the highest self-reported estimates of heading who also experienced heading within the previous 7 days scored significantly lower on CVLT, Shipley, Trailmaking, and PASAT than other combinations of heading and recency. Although strict ball-to-head contacts could not be isolated as sufficient to cause this interaction, these results increase the weight of evidence that heading behavior is problematic for causing at least transient cognitive impairment.
FEMA and DHS's Response to Hurricane Katrina through the Lens of Structuration Theory

Hurricane Katrina was the biggest natural disaster in the U.S. history, claiming over 1300 lives and destroying property worth an estimated $96 billion (White House, 2005, pp. 5 & 7). The federal response to the hurricane by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was widely criticized as shockingly poor. Not surprisingly, FEMA’s Katrina response became the subject of several congressional investigations and a White House review. At a hearing of one such investigation, Senator Susan Collins called FEMA’s response to the hurricane a “failure” and added that DHS shared the responsibility for the failure (2006,“Statement”).
LDL and HDL Oxidation and Fatty Acid Composition in Vegetarians

The oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and fatty acid composition, which may affect the resistance of lipoproteins to oxidation, were determined in 24 lacto-ovo vegetarians. Vegetarian diets contain more essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Therefore, the relationship between LDL and HDL oxidation resistance measured by the kinetics of the formation of fatty acid conjugated dienes (lag time, maximal rate of oxidation and maximal amount of conjugated dienes), LDL and HDL fatty acid composition and vitamin E content were evaluated. All parameters of in vitro oxidation were significantly lower in HDL when compared with LDL. The relative values of arachidonic, dihomo-γ-linoleic and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly higher in HDL, α-linolenic acid content significantly lower, when compared with LDL; the peroxidizability index was significantly higher in HDL. The content of vitamin E was found more than 2-fold lower in HDL particles. The results show the importance of fatty acid composition in the resistance of LDL and HDL to oxidation and from this aspect, the composition of LDL isolated from vegetarians seems to be more favourable compared to HDL.
Artificial Cells for Replacement of Metabolic Organ Functions

Artificial cells are being actively investigated for use in the replacement of cell and organ functions, especially related to metabolic functions. The earliest routine clinical use of artificial cells is in the form of coated activated charcoal for hemoperfusion. Implantation of encapsulated cells are being studied for the treatment of diabetes, liver failure, kidney failure and the use of encapsulated genetically engineered cells for gene therapy. Blood substitutes based on modified hemoglobin are already in Phase III clinical trials in patients with as much as 20 units infused into each patient during trauma surgery. Artificial cells containing enzymes are being developed for clinical trial in hereditary enzyme deficiency diseases and other diseases. Artificial cell is also being investigated for drug delivery and for other uses in biotechnology, chemical engineering and medicine.
The protective action of tocopherol against hemolysis of rat erythrocytes by dialuric acid.

Erythrocytes from rats on tocopherol-deficient and tocopherol-supplemented diets gave similar low values for lipid peroxides by the thiobarbituric acid test. Treatment of the cells from tocopherol-deficient rats with dialuric acid caused a marked increase in lipid peroxides and this closely paralleled the degree of hemolysis. Shaking of the red cells from tocopherol-deficient animals in an atmosphere of oxygen also resulted in a slow lipid peroxidation which again paralleled the degree of hemolysis. Addition of α-tocopherol to a suspension of erythrocytes from tocopherol-deficient rats decreased or completely prevented (depending upon concentration) hemolysis by dialuric acid and also decreased lipid peroxide formation.It is concluded that dialuric acid probably acts by catalyzing the formation of lipid peroxides in the unsaturated lipids of the membrane of erythrocytes from tocopherol-deficient animals. Tocopherol presumably inhibits peroxide formation, and therefore hemolysis, by virtue of its antioxida.
Robust Image Coding Based Upon Compressive Sensing

Multiple description coding (MDC) is one of the widely used mechanisms to combat packet-loss in non-feedback systems. However, the number of descriptions in the existing MDC schemes is very small (typically 2). With the number of descriptions increasing, the coding complexity increases drastically and many decoders would be required. In this paper, the compressive sensing (CS) principles are studied and an alternative coding paradigm with a number of descriptions is proposed based upon CS for high packet loss transmission. Two-dimentional discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is applied for sparse representation. Unlike the typical wavelet coders (e.g., JPEG 2000), DWT coefficients here are not directly encoded, but re-sampled towards equal importance of information instead. At the decoder side, by fully exploiting the intra-scale and inter-scale correlation of multiscale DWT, two different CS recovery algorithms are developed for the low-frequency subband and high-frequency subbands, respectively. The recovery quality only depends on the number of received CS measurements (not on which of the measurements that are received). Experimental results show that the proposed CS-based codec is much more robust against lossy channels, while achieving higher rate-distortion (R-D) performance compared with conventional wavelet-based MDC methods and relevant existing CS-based coding schemes.
Mechanistic studies and biological activity of bioxalomycin alpha 2, a novel antibiotic produced by Streptomyces viridodiastaticus subsp. "litoralis" LL-31F508

The bioxalomycins, a novel complex of broad-spectrum antibiotics, were isolated from fermentations of Streptomyces viridodiastaticus subsp. "litoralis" LL-31F508. Bioxalomycin alpha 2, the major component of this complex, exhibited antibacterial activity. The MICs ranged from < or = 0.002 to 0.008 micrograms/ml for gram-positive organisms and from 0.50 to 4 micrograms/ml for gram-negative organisms. Bioxalomycin alpha 2 was found to be bactericidal and to inhibit bacterial DNA synthesis preferentially. Bioxalomycin alpha 2 protected mice from a lethal challenge with Staphylococcus aureus Smith. The 50% effective dose of bioxalomycin alpha 2 administered orally was 10 times greater than that when the drug was given subcutaneously or intravenously. These data suggest a stability or bioavailability problem when the compound is administered orally.
Effect of volume defects on the performance of planar waveguide devices

The effect of volume defects (e.g., dust particles and air bubbles) on the performance of planar waveguide devices is analyzed based on Green's tensor technology. This fast method contributes to a deep physical insight into the influence of volume defects on the loss of planar waveguide devices. The results have shown that volume defects with some special shapes and indexes can produce strong resonances with the incident light and large loss is induced, which indicates that some special volume defects should be avoided in the process of fabrication.
Genetic signature of amphimixis allows for the detection and fine scale localization of sexual reproduction events in a mainly parthenogenetic nematode

Asexuality is an important mode of reproduction in eukaryotic taxa and has a theoretical advantage over sexual reproduction because of the increased ability to propagate genes. Despite this advantage, hidden signs of cryptic sex have been discovered in the genomes of asexual organisms. This has provided an interesting way to address the evolutionary impact of sex in plant and animal populations. However, the identification of rare sexual reproduction events in mainly asexual species has remained a challenging task. We examined the reproductive history in populations of the plant parasitic nematode Xiphinema index by genotyping individuals collected from six grapevine fields using seven microsatellite markers. A high level of linkage disequilibrium and heterozygous excess suggested a clonality rate of 95–100%. However, we also detected rare sexual reproduction events within these highly clonal populations. By combining highly polymorphic markers with an appropriate hierarchical sampling, and using both Bayesian and multivariate analysis with phylogenetic reconstructions, we were able to identify a small number of sexually produced individuals at the overlapping zones between different genetic clusters. This suggested that sexual reproduction was favoured when and where two nematode patches came into contact. Among fields, a high degree of genetic differentiation indicated a low level of gene flow between populations. Rare genotypes that were shared by several populations suggested passive dispersal by human activities, possibly through the introduction of infected plants from nurseries. We conclude that our method can be used to detect and locate sexual events in various predominantly asexual species.
A liver-specific nuclear factor interacts with the promoter region of the large surface protein gene of human hepatitis B virus

The outer envelope of the 42-nm virion of the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is composed of the large, the middle, and the major surface proteins. Whereas the middle and the major surface proteins are transcribed from the SPII promoter of the pre-S/S gene, the large surface protein is transcribed from the SPI promoter located upstream of SPII. We have previously shown that transcription of SPI (comprising nucleotides [nt] -380 to +17) occurs preferentially in differentiated hepatoma cell lines (H.K. Chang and L.P. Ting, Virology 170:176-183, 1989). In this report, we further demonstrated that a sequence of 95 base pairs in the upstream region of SPI (nt -95 to +17) was necessary and sufficient for such preferential expression in differentiated hepatoma cells. By analysis of the expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in a series of mutants with deletions at the 5' end of SPI, we identified a positive transcriptional cis-acting element mapping at nt -95 to -72 which appears to play a key role in the regulation of the expression of the large surface protein. This region shared a high degree of sequence homology with regulatory sequences of several liver-specific genes from human, mouse, and rat, with a consensus sequence (G/A)GTTA(A/C)TNNT(C/T)NNC(A/C). We further identified a nuclear factor present in the nuclear extracts of differentiated human hepatoma cell lines which interacted specifically with this element of the SPI promoter. This nuclear factor was similar to the rat liver-specific factor HNF-1, since an oligonucleotide containing the recognition sequence of HNF-1 could efficiently compete for the human factor in a footprinting assay. The sequence at nt -93 to -68 which was bound by this factor in SPI was termed the HNF-1-binding element. Activation of the SPI promoter by human differentiated hepatocyte nuclear factor 1, described in this report, probably explains, first, the formation of the 42-nm virion specifically in liver but not in several other tissues despite the synthesis of the middle and the major surface proteins in those tissues, and second, why only differentiated hepatoma cell lines are able to produce 42-nm-like virion particles on transfection by HBV DNA.
On power allocation for relay networks with nonorthogonal amplify-and-forward protocols

We consider a power allocation problem for three-node cooperative diversity systems using a relay node. Specifically, we focus on an amplify-and-forward (AF) protocol due to the simple operation at the relay node which makes the mathematical analysis tractable. This protocol consists of two phases. The source transmits the signal to both relay and destination in the first phase. In the second phase, the relay amplifies the received signal, and transmits to the destination. Depending on the source participation in the second phase, the protocol can be categorized into nonorthogonal AF (NAF) or orthogonal AF (OAF). In this paper, we consider the power allocation problem of the NAF protocol in a more general scenario than in previous literatures. We then show that there are only two modes of transmission which can be used if the optimal power allocation process is carried out. They correspond to the direct transmission and OAF with optimal power allocation. That is, the solution for optimal power allocation in the systems with NAF as a relay protocol excludes the nonorthogonal transmission. Instead, the selection between the direct transmission and OAF is optimal, i.e., using NAF protocol all the time is not optimal.
Abnormalities in autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction‐activated immunologic processes in systemic lupus erythematosus and their possible correction by interleukin 2

The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) represents the activation, proliferation and differentiation of T cells in response to signals from autologous non‐T cells. Upon stimulation by autologous non‐T cells, OKT4+ cells produce interleukin 2 (IL2); cells contained within both OKT4+ and OKT8+ cell populations can also be activated by autologous non‐T cells to become sensitive to IL2. Once these activated OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells are exposed to IL2 produced by OKT4+ cells, they will proliferate and go on to differentiate into effector cells.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vif Induces Cell Cycle Delay via Recruitment of the Same E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex That Targets APOBEC3 Proteins for Degradation

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif recruits a Cullin 5 ubiquitin ligase that targets APOBEC3 proteins for degradation. Recently, Vif has also been shown to induce cell cycle disturbance in G2. We show that in contrast to the expression of Vpr, the expression of Vif does not preclude cell division, and therefore, Vif causes delay and not arrest in G2. We also demonstrate that the interaction of Vif with the ubiquitin ligase is required for cell cycle disruption, as was previously shown for HIV-1 Vpr. The presence of APOBEC3 D/E, F, and G had no influence on Vif-induced alteration of the cell cycle. We conclude that cell cycle delay by Vif is a result of ubiquitination and degradation of a cellular protein that is different from the known APOBEC3 family members.
Up‐regulation of HP1γ expression during neuronal maturation promotes axonal and dendritic development in mouse embryonic neocortex

Immature neurons undergo morphological and physiological changes including axonal and dendritic development to establish neuronal networks. As the transcriptional status changes at a large number of genes during neuronal maturation, global changes in chromatin modifiers may take place in this process. We now show that the amount of heterochromatin protein 1γ (HP1γ) increases during neuronal maturation in the mouse neocortex. Knockdown of HP1γ suppressed axonal and dendritic development in mouse embryonic neocortical neurons in culture, and either knockdown or knockout of HP1γ impaired the projection of callosal axons of superficial layer neurons to the contralateral hemisphere in the developing neocortex. Conversely, forced expression of HP1γ facilitated axonal and dendritic development, suggesting that the increase of HP1γ is a rate limiting step in neuronal maturation. These results together show an important role for HP1γ in promoting axonal and dendritic development in maturing neurons.
Potent Enhancement of the Sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to Chloroquine by the Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloid Cepharanthin

ABSTRACT Cepharanthin is a proprietary extract of Stephania cepharantha, widely used in Japan for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Cephranthin, its component alkaloids, and the standard resistance modulator verapamil were tested againstPlasmodium falciparum for capacity to modulate sensitivity to chloroquine. Cepharanthin enhanced the activity of chloroquine against resistant clones by a factor of 15 at a concentration of only 200 nM (1.2 ng/ml). It is 50 times more potent than verapamil and 3 times more potent than the sum of its individual alkaloids. Combinations of component alkaloids acted synergistically to sensitize the parasite to chloroquine, possibly explaining the enhanced potency of Cepharanthin. Cepharanthin differed from verapamil in that it further sensitized clones that are considered to be fully susceptible, improving the baseline activity of chloroquine. Potent sensitization of parasites to chloroquine in vitro coupled with low toxicity suggests that coadministration of Cepharanthin might extend the clinical utility of chloroquine.
Perspectives and challenges in landscape genetics

A recent workshop held at the University of Grenoble gathered the leading experts in the field of landscape genetics and spatial statistics. Landscape genetics was only recently defined as an independent research field. It aims to understand the processes of gene flow and local adaptation by studying the interactions between genetic and spatial or environmental variation. This workshop discussed the perspectives and challenges of combining emerging molecular, spatial and statistical tools to unravel how landscape and environmental variables affect genetic variation.
Effect of Changes in Mass on Middle Ear Function

Vibrating systems such as the middle ear are affected by changes in mass. After disease or ear surgery, significant changes in mass may contribute positively or negatively to the postoperative hearing threshold. This article describes experiments in 15 human temporal bones of the addition or reduction of mass on the middle ear transfer function. Measurement of stapes and umbo vibration was performed using a Laser Doppler Vibrometer before and after the addition of different masses at several sites on the tympanic membrane (TM) and ossicular chain. The input was 61 pure tones swept from 147 to 19433 Hz at 80 dB SPL. The addition of mass onto the TM produced varying detrimental effects on sound transmission, depending on the location and amount of mass. The insertion of ventilation tubes, weighing 12 to 17 mg each, produced losses at 1.5 to 5.0 kHz compared with tympanotomy alone. Addition of mass to the umbo and malleus head produced a loss at mid and high frequencies, whereas addition of mass on the incus long process and stapes also produced a high-frequency decrease in stapes displacement. Reduction of TM mass by removal of the epithelium produced an increase, especially at 2.0 to 4.0 kHz.
A wind farm active power dispatch strategy for fatigue load reduction

One of the biggest challenges in wind farm management is to cope with requirements from the grid companies and to optimize efficiency and minimize wear on wind turbines. This paper addresses an optimized active power dispatch strategy of a wind farm to reduce the fatigue load of wind turbines, while the wind farm is following certain power references given by the network operator. The damage equivalent loads are included in the objective function by means of lookup tables generated under a series of working conditions. A Modified Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem. The proposed dispatch strategy is compared with the proportional dispatch strategy under different scenarios. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.