Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural Insights into the Unusually Strong ATPase Activity of the AAA Domain of the Caenorhabditis elegans Fidgetin-like 1 (FIGL-1) Protein*

Background: Little is known about the structure and activity of the FIGL-1 protein, whose homolog fidgetin is involved in various developmental processes in mammals. Results: The Caenorhabditis elegans FIGL-1 AAA domain has strong charge interaction between subunits. Conclusion: The strong ATPase activity of the C. elegans FIGL-1 AAA domain is contributed by its strong intersubunit interaction. Significance: These unique properties suggest that the C. elegans FIGL-1 protein possesses a distinct biological function. The FIGL-1 (fidgetin like-1) protein is a homolog of fidgetin, a protein whose mutation leads to multiple developmental defects. The FIGL-1 protein contains an AAA (ATPase associated with various activities) domain and belongs to the AAA superfamily. However, the biological functions and developmental implications of this protein remain unknown. Here, we show that the AAA domain of the Caenorhabditis elegans FIGL-1 protein (CeFIGL-1-AAA), in clear contrast to homologous AAA domains, has an unusually high ATPase activity and forms a hexamer in solution. By determining the crystal structure of CeFIGL-1-AAA, we found that the loop linking helices α9 and α10 folds into the short helix α9a, which has an acidic surface and interacts with a positively charged surface of the neighboring subunit. Disruption of this charge interaction by mutagenesis diminishes both the ATPase activity and oligomerization capacity of the protein. Interestingly, the acidic residues in helix α9a of CeFIGL-1-AAA are not conserved in other homologous AAA domains that have relatively low ATPase activities. These results demonstrate that the sequence of CeFIGL-1-AAA has adapted to establish an intersubunit charge interaction, which contributes to its strong oligomerization and ATPase activity. These unique properties of CeFIGL-1-AAA distinguish it from other homologous proteins, suggesting that CeFIGL-1 may have a distinct biological function.
Involvement of Jun and Rel Proteins in Up-regulation of Interleukin-4 Gene Activity by the T Cell Accessory Molecule CD28*

CD28 serves as a costimulatory cell surface molecule in T cell activation. CD28 signaling may also play a role in balancing the inflammatory/humoral (Th1/Th2) responses during an immune reaction. CD28 costimulation has been shown to promote the production of Th2 cytokines including interleukin (IL)-4, a key cytokine essential for Th2 differentiation and for the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. In this study, we show that IL-4 mRNA and activity of the IL-4 promoter can be activated by the CD28 signal alone and are further augmented by CD28 costimulation of α-CD3- or mitogen-activated Jurkat T cells. Two important IL-4 enhancer elements, positive regulatory element (PRE)-I and P1, are found to respond to CD28 stimulation-induced transactivation. In contrast to the Th1 IL-2 CD28RE, activity of the IL-4 PRE-I and P1 can be induced by the CD28 signal alone. In correlation with CD28-induced transcriptional activation, AP-1 (c-Jun, JunD) and NF-κB/Rel (c-Rel, RelA) family members are found to bind to the two regulatory elements PRE-I and P1 upon CD28 stimulation. The data provide the first mapping of the CD28-responsive site in a Th2 cytokine gene, the IL-4 gene. They also show that the CD28 signal can directly activate a gene (e.g. IL-4) at the transcriptional level.
EMPLOYEES’ ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND EFFORT PROPENSITY: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR

Purpose – The present study investigates the relationships of employees organizational commitment and effort propensity depending on a sector of organization (public and private sector). Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted using questionnaire made up of Organizational commitment questionnaire (Allen, Meyer, 1990), Effort propensity questionnaire (Schnake, 2007), and sociodemographic questions. The respondents were 248 Lithuanian employees working in different public and private organizations. Findings – It was found significant differences among the private and public sector employees for types of organizational commitment and effort propensity. Employees in the private sector are more affectively and normatively committed than employees in public sector. Besides, employees in the public sector withhold efforts much more than employees in the private sector. Whereas, there were no differences for extra-role performance, in-role performance, withdrawal, and propensity to turnover among the private and public sector of organization. Also analysis revealed significant differences in connections between organizational commitment and various aspects of effort propensity depending on a sector of organization. The conclusion has been made that there is a significant difference between private and public sector employee’s organizational commitment and effort propensity. Research limitations/implications – The sample was not selected randomly and, therefore, may not represent all population of Lithuanian employees. In addition, questions asking employees quite a sensitive and possibly discreet aspects related to their propensity to withhold effort at work may cause social desirability effect. The future research will need to determine whether organizational commitment could predict different forms of effort propensity, and to expand the current model of commitment's implications. Practical implications – The findings may give some references and be usefull for managers and HR consultants seeking employees who tend to offer en extra effort and less withdraw from work in various ways. Originality/Value – This is the first study to examine the relationship between organizational commitment and effort propensity in Lithuania.
Panel Analysis of Monetary Model of ASEAN-5 Exchange Rates

In this study, we examined whether the exchange rates in ASEAN-5 countries are driven by monetary fundamentals. We applied the panel unit root tests and found that the United States denominated nominal exchange rates of Malaysian Ringgit, Indonesian Rupiah, Philippines Peso, Singapore Dollar, and Thailand Baht are all integrated of order one. Meanwhile, relative money supply and relative real income are also integrated in the same order. Nonetheless, the relative interest rate is integrated in order zero, and it implies the uncovered interest rate parity held in ASEAN-5. By using a panel cointegration test pioneered by Pedroni (2000, 2004), we found evidence that there is a long-run relationship between nominal exchange rate and its monetary fundamentals. Consistent with the monetary model of the exchange rate, relative money supply is positively related to nominal exchange rates, while relative real income is negatively related to nominal exchange rates. Therefore, this study reveals the importance of relative real money supply and relative income for the exchange rate market players to predict and monitor ASEAN-5 exchange rates.
A Semantic Web Approach to Simplifying Trigger-Action Programming in the IoT

End-user programming environments for the IoT such as IFTTT rely on a multitude of low-level trigger-action rules that categorize devices and services by technology or brand. EUPont is a Semantic Web ontology that enables users to meet their needs with fewer, higher-level rules that can be adapted to different contextual situations and as-yet-unknown IoT devices and services.
Strategy To Characterize the Number and Type of Repeating EPIYA Phosphorylation Motifs in the Carboxyl Terminus of CagA Protein in Helicobacter pylori Clinical Isolates

ABSTRACT Cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) diversity with regard to EPIYA-A, -B, -C, or -D phosphorylation motifs may play an important role in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis, and therefore determination of these motifs in H. pylori clinical isolates can become a useful prognostic tool. We propose a strategy for the accurate determination of CagA EPIYA motifs in clinical strains, based upon one-step PCR amplification using primers that flank the EPIYA coding region. We thus analyzed 135 H. pylori isolates derived from 75 adults and 60 children Greek patients. A total of 34 cases were found to be EPIYA PCR negative and were consequently verified as cagA negative by cagA-specific PCR, empty-site cagA PCR, and Western blotting. Sequencing of the remaining 101 PCR-positive amplicons confirmed that an accurate prediction of the number of EPIYA motifs on the basis of size distribution of the PCR products was feasible in all cases. Furthermore, our assay could identify closely related H. pylori subclones within the same patient, harboring different numbers of EPIYA repeats. The prevalence of CagA proteins with three EPIYA motifs (ABC) or four EPIYA motifs (ABCC) was the same within the adult and children groups. However, CagA species with more than four EPIYA motifs were observed exclusively within adults (8.6%), suggesting that CagA-positive strains may acquire additional EPIYA-C motifs throughout adulthood. Our strategy requires no initial cagA screening of the clinical isolates and can accurately predict the number of EPIYA repeats in single or multiple closely related subclones bearing different numbers of EPIYA motifs in their CagA, which may coexist within the same patient.
Implementing Problem-Based Learning in Process Control Laboratory for Final Year Electrical Engineering undergraduates: Flow control plant

This paper presents the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method in the Process Control Laboratory for the flow control plant. This laboratory is designed for final year system engineering undergraduates. The flow control plant can be operated either using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) or Distributed Control System (DCS). DCS was used as a group work task for this laboratory for Proportional and Integral (PI) tuning method experiments. Facts, Ideas, Learning Issues and Actions (FILA) table has been used to extract the problems given in the problem statement lab sheets. A performance comparison of PID controller tuning methods for controlling the flow control trainer was recorded. The selection of controller parameter's value determines the stability of the process. The open-loop tests were performed on a plant and the information extracted from the methods was used for the tuning rules. The optimum values of P and I parameters were set based various tuning rules. The performance of these tuning rules was compared after closed-loop set point change operation. The fine tuning technique was used as an open ended solution in order to improve the result where the values of PI were tuned.
Adaptive Neural Network Based Variable Stiffness Control of Uncertain Robotic Systems Using Disturbance Observer

The variable stiffness actuator (VSA) has been equipped on many new generations of robots because of its superior performance in terms of safety, robustness, and flexibility. However, the control of robots with joints driven by VSAs is challenging due to the inherited highly nonlinear dynamics. In this paper, a novel disturbance observer based adaptive neural network control is proposed for robotic systems with variable stiffness joints and subject to model uncertainties. By utilizing a high-dimensional integral Lyapunov function, adaptive neural network control is designed to compensate for the model uncertainties, and a disturbance observer is integrated to compensate for the nonlinear VSA dynamics, as well as the neural network approximation errors and external disturbance. The semiglobally uniformly ultimately boundness of the closed-loop control system has been theoretically established. Simulation and extensive experimental studies have also been presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Upregulation of calpain correlates with increased neurodegeneration in acute experimental auto‐immune encephalomyelitis

Although calpain up‐regulation is well established in experimental auto‐immune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a link between increased calpain expression and activity and neurodegeneration has not been examined. Therefore, spinal cord tissue from Lewis rats with EAE was examined to test the hypothesis that increased calpain expression in neurons would correlate with increased cell death and axonal damage in a time‐dependent manner following EAE induction. We found that increased calpain expression in EAE corresponded to increased TUNEL‐positive neurons and to increased expression of dephosphorylated neurofilament protein, markers of cell death and axonal degeneration, respectively. An increase in internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in EAE spinal cord suggested that cell death was, at least partially, due to apoptosis. Axonal damage was further demonstrated in EAE spinal cord compared with control via morphological analysis, revealing granular degeneration of filament and microtubule integrity, loss of myelin, and mitochondrial damage. Calcium (Ca2+) influx, which is required for calpain activation, was also increased in EAE spinal cord. From these findings, we conclude that increases in Ca2+‐induced calpain activity may play a crucial role in neurodegeneration in acute EAE. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pioglitazone as monotherapy or in combination with sulfonylurea or metformin enhances insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S or QUICKI) in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: Miyazaki etal, demonstrated using the hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamp that pioglitazone (PIO) enhanced insulin sensitivity in patients (n = 23) with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although considered the reference method for measuring insulin sensitivity, the clamp is seldom used in large clinical trials because of its complexity. The Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Sensitivity (HOMA-S) and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) are two alternative insulin sensitivity surrogates that correlate with the clamp method and are suitable for use with large study populations. Study aim: To evaluate the effect of PIO monotherapy and in combination therapy with sulfonylurea (SU) or metformin (MET) on insulin sensitivity as assessed by HOMA-S and QUICKI in a large group of patients (∼1000). Research design and methods: Patient data from three randomized, double blind, multicenter, parallel group, placebo-controlled registration trials (Studies-001 PIO monotherapy and 010 and 027 combination therapy with SU or MET, respectively) were analyzed for this study. We evaluated insulin sensitivity for all three studies using HOMA-S and QUICKI. Results: PIO 15, 30 and 45 mg enhanced HOMA-S compared with baseline (56.9-63.6%, p = 0.0298); (53.7-64.7%, p = 0.0008); (59.0-75.9%, p < 0.0001), respectively. Only the 45 mg dose showed a difference from placebo (p = 0.0025). Similarly, PIO enhanced QUICKI versus baseline (0.290-0.296, p = 0.0026); (0.287-0.299, p = 0.0001); (0.290-0.306, p = 0.0001), respectively. Both the 30 and 45mg doses were different from placebo for QUICKI (p = 0.0005, p < 0.0001). PIO 15 and 30mg plus SU enhanced HOMA-S compared with baseline (58.4–.7%, p = 0.0007; 53.2–68.4%, p < 0.0001) and placebo plus SU (p = 0.0129, p < 0.0001, respectively). Likewise, PIO 15 and 30 mg plus SU enhanced QUICKI versus baseline (0.289-0.300, p = 0.0001; 0.287-0.305, p = 0.0001, respectively). Both doses had different effects from placebo plus SU (p = 0.0001) for QUICKI. PIO 30mg combined with MET enhanced HOMA-S versus baseline (66.2–82.2%, p < 0.0001) and placebo plus MET (p = 0.0002).
Birth Weight in Twins: An Analysis of Discordancy and Growth Retardation

Sonographic estimation of fetal weight offers the potential of antenatal diagnosis of discordancy and growth retardation in twins. Although standards for intertwin birth weight percent differences in infants over 2500 g are available, similar norms are not available at lower weights. Intertwin birth weight percent differences in live-born twins above 500 g in 500-g increments were analyzed. Intertwin birth weight differences, expressed as a percentage of the weight of the larger twin, were relatively uniform across a wide range of birth weights. Differences above 15% were increasingly more likely to be associated with growth retardation in one of the infants.
Attachment styles of Oregonians who request physician-assisted death

Abstract Objective: Qualitative analyses suggest that requests for physician-assisted death (PAD) may often be the culmination of a person's lifelong pattern of concern with issues such as control, autonomy, self-sufficiency, distrust of others, and avoidance of intimacy. Such characteristics may be measured by attachment style. We compared family members’ reports of attachment style in Oregonians who did and did not request PAD. Method: Eighty-four family members of terminally ill patients who requested PAD before death and 63 members of a comparison group that included family members of terminally ill Oregonians who died without requesting PAD rated their loved ones' attachment style in a one-time survey. Results: Individuals who requested PAD were most often described as having dismissive personality styles (56%) compared to 41% of comparison individuals, and on continuous measures of relational style, the highest mean score among PAD requesters was for dismissive style. There were marginally significant differences in the proportions of each attachment style when comparing the two groups (p = 0.08). Significance of results: Patients’ attachment styles may be an important factor in requests for PAD. Recognition of a patient's attachment style may improve the ability of the physician to maintain a constructive relationship with the patient throughout the dying process.
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016: purification and characterization of a cystathionine γ-lyase and use as adjunct starter in cheesemaking

A homo-tetrameric ∼160-kDa cystathionine γ-lyase was purified to homogeneity from Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016 by four chromatographic steps. The activity was pyridoxal-5′-phosphate dependent and the enzyme catalyzed the α,γ-elimination reaction of L-cystathionine, producing L-cysteine, ammonia and α-ketobutyrate. The enzyme was active towards a range of amino acids and amino acid derivatives, including methionine. The pH and temperature optima were found to be 8.0 and 35 °C, respectively. Isoelectric pH (pI) was ∼5.0 as determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Sensitivity to chemical inhibitors was typical of lactococcal cystathionine γ- and β-lyases, except it was inhibited by sulphydryl reagents. The N-terminal sequence was MKFNTQLIHGGNSED, which had 100% homology with cystathionine β-lyase of Lb. reuteri 104R (Accession Number CAC05298). Lb. reuteri DSM 20016, together with 10 other strains of non-starter lactic acid bacteria, was used as adjunct starter in the production of miniature Canestrato Pugliese-like cheeses. After 40 d ripening, the water-soluble extract of the cheeses with added Lactobacillus fermentum DT41 and Lb. reuteri DSM 20016 contained the highest enzyme activities on cystathionine and methionine substrates. Determinations of methanethiol, dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide and dimethyl trisulphide in the miniature cheeses confirmed the findings of enzyme activities.
Release of previously incorporated gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid in rabbit caudate nucleus slices.

The release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied in slices of the head of the rabbit caudate nucleus. The slices were preincubated with [3H]GABA and then superfused. Aminooxyacetic acid was present throughout. Both the tritium in the slices and that in the superfusate consisted practically entirely of [3H]GABA. Stimulation for 2 min by electrical field pulses of 3 ms width and 9 V/cm voltage drop (36 mA current strength) at 5 or 20 Hz elicited an overflow of [3H]GABA that amounted to 0.23 or 0.47% of the tritium content of the tissue, respectively, and was diminished by 85% in the presence of tetrodotoxin. At higher current strength, less of the stimulation-evoked overflow was tetrodotoxin-sensitive. cis-1,3-Aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid diminished the uptake of [3H]GABA into the tissue but did not change the percentage released by electrical stimulation. Ca2+ withdrawal greatly accelerated basal [3H]GABA efflux and almost abolished the response to stimulation. Nipecotic acid 10-1,000 microM enhanced both the basal and (up to eightfold) the stimulation-evoked overflow. The method described allows us to elicit electrically a quasiphysiological, i.e., Ca2+-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive, neuronal release of [3H]GABA. Nipecotic acid diverts released [3H]GABA from reuptake to overflow.
Analyzing a Lung Cancer Patient Dataset with the Focus on Predicting Survival Rate One Year after Thoracic Surgery

Background: Data mining, a new concept introduced in the mid-1990s, can help researchers to gain new, profound insights and facilitate access to unanticipated knowledge sources in biomedical datasets. Many issues in the medical field are concerned with the diagnosis of diseases based on tests conducted on individuals at risk. Early diagnosis and treatment can provide a better outcome regarding the survival of lung cancer patients. Researchers can use data mining techniques to create effective diagnostic models. The aim of this study was to evaluate patterns existing in risk factor data of for mortality one year after thoracic surgery for lung cancer. Methods: The dataset used in this study contained 470 records and 17 features. First, the most important variables involved in the incidence of lung cancer were extracted using knowledge discovery and datamining algorithms such as naive Bayes, maximum expectation and then, using a regression analysis algorithm, a questionnaire was developed to predict the risk of death one year after lung surgery. Outliers in the data were excluded and reported using the clustering algorithm. Finally, a calculator was designed to estimate the risk for one-year post-operative mortality based on a scorecard algorithm. Results: The results revealed the most important factor involved in increased mortality to be large tumor size. Roles for type II diabetes and preoperative dyspnea in lower survival were also identified. The greatest commonality in classification of patients was Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), based on levels of which patients could be classified into different categories. Conclusion: Development of a questionnaire based on calculations to diagnose disease can be used to identify and fill knowledge gaps in clinical practice guidelines.
Emotional news recommender system

With rapid advances of internet and overloading of information, it is important that we use some models and techniques to help users find proper data among massive flooding of information, especially in news domain that rapidly change. Recommender systems are a great help for achieving this goal. The current news recommender systems have focused on learning what users like to read based on their past activities and using methods for recommending news in a real-time manner, but none of them have considered emotion of news and how a user feels about an article in their recommendation process. Positive news can have a positive impact on user's mood. In this work we aim to introduce a model for news recommender systems that can recommend news in a way to have a positive impact on the user's mood. It utilizes both emotion of news and the user's preference.