Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tonoplast Intrinsic Proteins AtTIP2;1 and AtTIP2;3 Facilitate NH3 Transport into the Vacuole1

While membrane transporters mediating ammonium uptake across the plasma membrane have been well described at the molecular level, little is known about compartmentation and cellular export of ammonium. (The term ammonium is used to denote both NH3 and NH4+ and chemical symbols are used when specificity is required.) We therefore developed a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) complementation approach and isolated two Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genes that conferred tolerance to the toxic ammonium analog methylammonium in yeast. Both genes, AtTIP2;1 and AtTIP2;3, encode aquaporins of the tonoplast intrinsic protein subfamily and transported methylammonium or ammonium in yeast preferentially at high medium pH. AtTIP2;1 expression in Xenopus oocytes increased 14C-methylammonium accumulation with increasing pH. AtTIP2;1- and AtTIP2;3-mediated methylammonium detoxification in yeast depended on a functional vacuole, which was in agreement with the subcellular localization of green fluorescent protein-fusion proteins on the tonoplast in planta. Transcript levels of both AtTIPs were influenced by nitrogen supply but did not follow those of the nitrogen-derepressed ammonium transporter gene AtAMT1;1. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing AtTIP2;1 did not show altered ammonium accumulation in roots after ammonium supply, although AtTIP2;1 mRNA levels in wild-type plants were up-regulated under these conditions. This study shows that AtTIP2;1 and AtTIP2;3 can mediate the extracytosolic transport of methyl-NH2 and NH3 across the tonoplast membrane and may thus participate in vacuolar ammonium compartmentation.
Acute and Chronic Over-Exertion: Do Depressed Immune Responses Provide Useful Markers?

There are ethical objections to inducing cumulative muscle damage and associated decrements of performance deliberately in a healthy athlete. Available data on acute and chronic over-exertion thus include the changes of immune response observed following a single bout of exhausting exercise, sequential observations made on top-level competitors as they approach peak training periods, and longitudinal laboratory studies of heavy (but not necessarily damaging) bouts of training. In all three of these situations, subclinical muscle damage initiates an acute inflammatory response, with a resulting deterioration in physical performance. Although much smaller in degree and shorter in duration, the associated changes in immune function are similar to those seen in sepsis. There have been major advances in immunological technique over the past decade, and significant changes in a number of elements of the immune response can be identified in athletes during periods of heavy training. The most promising immunological marker of excessive training seems a decrease in salivary IgA concentration. However, no single change occurs with sufficient consistency to identify the individual competitor who is at risk of overtraining. Mechanisms can be conceived that convert a sequence of excessive training bouts into an acute and then a chronic inflammatory process, but the syndrome of overtraining has a complex overlay of biological and psychological influences. It remains more easily detected by decreases in physical performance and alterations in mood state than by changes in immune function.
In vivo and in vitro characterization of the secA gene product of Bacillus subtilis

The putative amino acid sequence from the wild-type Bacillus subtilis div+ gene, which complements the temperature-sensitive div-341 mutation, shares a 50% identity with the sequence from Escherichia coli secA (Y. Sadaie, H. Takamatsu, K. Nakamura, and K. Yamane, Gene 98:101-105, 1991). The B. subtilis div-341 mutant accumulated the precursor proteins of alpha-amylase and beta-lactamase at 45 degrees C as in the case of sec mutants of E. coli. The div-341 mutation is a transition mutation causing an amino acid replacement from Pro to Leu at residue 431 of the putative amino acid sequence. The B. subtilis div+ gene was overexpressed in E. coli under the control of the tac promoter, and its product was purified to homogeneity. The Div protein consists of a homodimer of 94-kDa subunits which possesses ATPase activity, and the first 7 amino acids of the putative Div protein were found to be subjected to limited proteolysis in the purified protein. The antiserum against B. subtilis Div weakly cross-reacted with E. coli SecA. On the other hand, B. subtilis Div could not replace E. coli SecA in an E. coli in vitro protein translocation system. The temperature-sensitive growth of the E. coli secA mutant could not be restored by the introduction of B. subtilis div+, which is expressed under the control of the spac-1 promoter, and vice versa. The B. subtilis div+ gene is the B. subtilis counterpart of E. coli secA, and we propose that the div+ gene be referred to as B. subtilis secA, although Div did not function in the protein translocation system of E. coli.
Impact of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species on clinical outcomes and hospital costs: a matched cohort study.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the economic and clinical impact of infection with extended-spectrum beta -lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species (ESBL-EK). DESIGN A matched-cohort analysis of the cost of illness. SETTING An 810-bed, urban, community hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. PATIENTS Twenty-one case patients infected with ESBL-EK at a site other than the urinary tract were matched with 21 control subjects infected with a non-ESBL-producing organism on the basis of pathogen species, age, anatomic site of infection, hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the time of infection, date of hospitalization, and initial antibiotics received. RESULTS Mean infection-related costs per patient were significantly greater for case patients than for control patients ($41,353 vs $24,902; P=.034). Infection-related length of stay was the main driver of cost, which was prolonged for case patients, compared with control patients (21 vs 11 days; mean difference, 9.7 days [95% confidence interval {CI}, 3.2-14.6 days]; P=.006). The additional cost attributed to the presence of an ESBL-EK infection was $16,450 per patient (95% CI, $965-$31,937). Case patients were more likely than control patients to have clinical failure (P=.027), and the rate of treatment success for case patients whose initial treatment involved antibiotics other than carbapenems was lower than that for their matched control patients (39% vs 83%; P=.013). Treatment was successful in patients for whom initial treatment was with a carbapenem, regardless of the ESBL status of the pathogen. CONCLUSION The cost of non-urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-EK was 1.7 times the cost of non-urinary tract infections caused by non-ESBL producers. Prompt recognition and appropriate antimicrobial selection may minimize this ESBL-related impact on hospital costs.
Heterogeneity of dystrophin-associated proteins.

The proteins which compose the complex of dystrophin and its associated proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional PAGE, i.e., electrofocusing in the presence of 8 M urea followed by SDS PAGE. Silver-staining of the gel showed many more spots than were expected from the results of one-dimensional SDS PAGE. By examination of their reactivity with specific antibodies, various lectins and 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)-diazirine, most of these spots were identified as dystrophin and its associated proteins described previously. Several as yet unidentified minor proteins were also detected. Dystrophin-associated protein A1 was separated into two groups, alpha-A1 and beta-A1, both composed of numerous spots. These groups differed from each other in isoelectric point, molecular mass, and reactivity with antibodies. The beta-A1 group (64 kDa) was more basic than the alpha-A1 group (60 kDa). Beta-A1 but not alpha-A1 reacted with several lectins, indicating that beta-A1 is a glycoprotein. This is incompatible with the report that 59DAG, which corresponds to A1 (alpha-A1 + beta-A1), is not a glycoprotein [Ervasti et al. (1991) Cell 66, 1121-1131]. The charge heterogeneity observed in alpha-A1 and beta-A1 may be partially due to differential phosphorylation. The charge heterogeneity of A2 and A3a may, at least to some extent, be due to differential sialilation of their carbohydrates.
Antecedent Factors of Green Purchasing Behavior: Learning Experiences, Social Cognitive Factors, and Green Marketing

This study extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework by introducing three further variables (i.e., learning experience, contextual factors, and green marketing) to explain how behavioral intention and actual behavior are induced by situational factors as well as green advertising from the company. Then, this study has four objectives. First, this study will assess the direct effect of personal factors (i.e., demographic factors) and contextual factors on learning experience and the direct effect of personal factors (i.e., demographic factors) on subjective norms. Second, this study will assess the direct effect of learning experience on social cognitive factors for a specific green product. Third, this study will assess the direct effect of social cognitive factors on intention purchasing behavior. Finally, this study will assess the role of green marketing as a moderating variable for the relationship between intention and purchasing behavior. Data used in this study were primary data, which were collected through closed questionnaires with a five-point Likert scale. This study succeeded in obtaining 602 valid data from the results of filling out questionnaires by participants. This study uses the partial least square (PLS) method with SmartPLS 3.0 for data processing. The result of data processing indicated that outcome expectation, self-efficacy, and subjective norms had significant positive effects on purchase intention for green personal care products. This study also found that the learning experience influenced both outcome expectation and self-efficacy. Although weak, the learning experience was influenced by demographic factors and contextual factors. The demographic factors that affect learning experience were gender and level of education. The contextual factor has a more substantial influence on learning experience in developing consumption-related attitudes to green personal care products than the demographic factor. Finally, this study also found the direct effect of intention on actual purchase behavior and the positive role of green marketing as the moderating variable.
X-ray radiation promotes the metastatic potential of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells via modulation of biomechanical and cytoskeletal properties

This study investigated the metastatic potential of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) cells after X-ray irradiation as well as radiation-induced changes in the biomechanical properties and cytoskeletal structure that are relevant to metastasis. Tca-8113 TSCC cells were X-ray-irradiated at increasing doses (0, 1, 2, or 4 Gy), and 24 h later, migration was evaluated with the wound healing and transwell migration assays, while invasion was assessed with the Matrigel invasion assay. Confocal and atomic force microscopy were used to examine changes in the structure of the actin cytoskeleton and Young’s modulus (cell stiffness), respectively. X-ray radiation induced dose-dependent increases in invasive and migratory potentials of cells relative to unirradiated control cells (p < 0.05). The Young’s modulus of irradiated cells was decreased by radiation exposure (p < 0.05), which was accompanied by alterations in the integrity and organization of the cytoskeletal network, as evidenced by a decrease in the signal intensity of actin fibers (p < 0.05). X-ray irradiation enhanced migration and invasiveness in Tca-8113 TSCC cells by altering their biomechanical properties and the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. A biomechanics-based analysis can provide an additional platform for assessing tumor response to radiation and optimization of cancer therapies.
Immune Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles – New Strategies in Cancer Immunotherapy

Immune cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have increasingly become the focus of research due to their unique characteristics and bioinspired applications. They are lipid bilayer membrane nanosized vesicles harboring a range of immune cell-derived surface receptors and effector molecules from parental cells. Immune cell-derived EVs are important mediators of intercellular communication that regulate specific mechanisms of adaptive and innate immune responses. However, the mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of EVs are still being explored. Importantly, immune cell-derived EVs have some unique features, including accessibility, storage, ability to pass through blood-brain and blood-tumor barriers, and loading of various effector molecules. Immune cell-derived EVs have been directly applied or engineered as potent antitumor vaccines or for the diagnosis of clinical diseases. More research applications involving genetic engineering, membrane engineering, and cargo delivery strategies have improved the treatment efficacy of EVs. Immune cell-derived EV-based therapies are expected to become a separate technique or to complement immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other therapeutic modalities. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the characteristics and functions of immune cell-derived EVs derived from adaptive (CD4+ T, CD8+ T and B cells) and innate immune cells (macrophages, NK cells, DCs, and neutrophils) and discuss emerging therapeutic opportunities and prospects in cancer treatment.
Genetic and environmental influences on adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms: a large Swedish population-based study of twins

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently persists into adulthood. Family and twin studies delineate a disorder with strong genetic influences among children and adolescents based on parent- and teacher-reported data but little is known about the genetic and environmental contribution to DSM-IV ADHD symptoms in adulthood. We therefore aimed to investigate the impact of genetic and environmental influences on the inattentive and hyperactive–impulsive symptoms of ADHD in adults. Method Twin methods were applied to self-reported assessments of ADHD symptoms from a large population-based Swedish twin study that included data from 15 198 Swedish male and female twins aged 20 to 46 years. Results The broad heritability [i.e. A + D, where A is an additive genetic factor and D (dominance) a non-additive genetic factor] was 37% (A = 11%, D = 26%) for inattention and 38% (A = 18%, D = 20%) for hyperactivity–impulsivity. The results also indicate that 52% of the phenotypic correlation between inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity (r = 0.43) was explained by genetic influences whereas the remaining part of the covariance was explained by non-shared environmental influences. These results were replicated across age strata. Conclusions Our findings of moderate broad heritability estimates are consistent with previous literature on self-rated ADHD symptoms in older children, adolescents and adults and retrospective reports of self-rated childhood ADHD by adults but differ from studies of younger children with informant ratings. Future research needs to clarify whether our data indicate a true decrease in the heritability of ADHD in adults compared to children, or whether this relates to the use of self-ratings in contrast to informant data.
Epstein-Barr virus DNA recombines via latent origin of replication with the human genome in the lymphoblastoid cell line RGN1

We show here that in a lymphoblastoid cell line Epstein-Barr virus DNA recombines with the human genome. The genetic exchange involves the oriP region of the virus. A junction between viral and human DNA from this line has been cloned and sequenced. The results indicate that the integration of Epstein-Barr virus DNA involves a region of the human genome which contains internal short repetition. An 800-bp probe has been isolated from the human part of the junction. This probe has been used to show that the human region exists as a duplication in normal cells.
Optimal Investment of DC Pension Plan Under Short-Selling Constraints and Portfolio Insurance

Abstract In this paper we investigate an optimal investment problem under short-selling and portfolio insurance constraints faced by a defined contribution pension fund manager who is loss averse. The financial market consists of a cash bond, an indexed bond and a stock. The manager aims to maximize the expected S-shaped utility of the terminal wealth exceeding a minimum guarantee. We apply the dual control method to solve the problem and derive the representations of the optimal wealth process and trading strategies in terms of the dual controlled process and the dual value function. We also perform some numerical tests and show how the S-shaped utility, the short-selling constraints and the portfolio insurance impact the optimal terminal wealth.
Dialogue in Silence: The False Binary between Freirean Concepts and Practices in Out-of-School Education in Kerala.

This article seeks to develop a critical perspective on silence, dialogue, and oppression in out-of-school education, in dialogue with Freire. It also shows how my classroom experiences or fieldwork incidents mediated this dialogue. Freire’s concept of problem-posing education has been chosen as the central theoretical framework; that further informed me to develop a dialogical methodology for researching oppression and marginalisation with the Adivasi community in Southern Wayanad in Kerala. The article also explores the complexities of applying Freirean in forming dialogue with participants. My research led me to partially critique Freire, partially apply Freire and partially extend Freire into Kerala’s context of out-of-school education. This article primarily explores the practices of silence and dialogue outside classrooms and shows how they form a dialogue with Freire or related scholars. Following that dialogue, it then revisits Freire to identify silence and dialogue as meeting practices and their oscillation in research and community work. The major outcomes of these dialogues and this article include: ‘silence and dialogue as oscillating meeting practices’; ‘research as silence and dialogue’; ‘silencing and dialogic self-help group meetings’; ‘silence as ongoing informal communication’; ‘silencing events, identity, and resistance in silence’; ‘people silence themselves, but, resist oppression in silence; ‘silence as banking education and caste oppression’.
Optimal Functional Assignment and Communication Selection under Timing Constraint for Self-Timed Pipelines

In high-level synthesis for application-specific embedded systems, it is critical to employ a proper model to measure the performance of a system containing both computation and communication. The self-timed system model, which describes the process of computation and communication as timed transitions, is able to accurately model the distributed embedded systems. In the design of a self-timed system, there are two realistic problems: how to assign heterogeneous functional units to task nodes and how to select communication protocols for pairs of task nodes. This paper focuses on the application with pipeline structure where task nodes are organized in a linear topology. Given a serial of task nodes, our objective is find the optimal functional assignment and communication selection, such that the resultant self-timed pipeline can satisfy the timing constraint with the minimum total cost. In this paper, we present efficient dynamic programming algorithm to find the optimal solution. Experiments show that other heuristics may not find a feasible assignment for the required time performance while our algorithms can. Even for feasible assignments, our algorithms can achieve 42.47% reduction in total cost.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Seasoned Equity Offerings

We examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) creates value for seasoned equity issuers. Using a sample of seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) by U.S. companies between 2004 and 2013, we find a positive association between CSR performance and the stock price reaction to SEO announcements. Surprisingly, however, further tests reveal that seasoned equity issuers with high CSR scores tend to have higher post-SEO increases in cash holdings, and lower investments in real assets, than issuers with low CSR scores. Moreover, high-CSR issuers have worse post-SEO operating and stock price performance than low-CSR issuers. Together, our findings suggest that high CSR scores mislead shareholders into attributing value-increasing motives to seasoned equity issues.
Production of fructose and fructose-3-phosphate in maturing rat lenses.

PURPOSE A large increase in glycation of crystallins between 1 and 8 months has been demonstrated in lenses obtained from aging rats. The objective of this study was to investigate if an age-associated increase in the levels of any of the phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated sugars in the aging rat lenses could be correlated with this increase. METHODS Lenses were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats ranging in age from 2 to 20 months. Trichloroacetic extracts of these tissues were analyzed by using 31P-NMR for sugar phosphates and high-pressure liquid chromatography equipped with an electrochemical detector for sugars and polyols. RESULTS Although no elevation in the lenticular glucose levels was observed, an age-associated increase in the concentrations of polyol pathway-associated metabolites--sorbitol, fructose, sorbitol-3-phosphate, and fructose-3-phosphate--was detected. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in glycolytic or pentose shunt metabolites. CONCLUSION Aging lenses accumulate increased concentrations of fructose and fructose-3-phosphate. Because fructose-3-phosphate is a potent glycating agent and a potential in vivo source of 3-deoxyglucosone, its accumulation in the lens, along with fructose, may be a contributing factor in the age-associated increase of nonenzymatic glycation in rat lenses.
Evolutionary and Ecological Explanations for the Elevational Flexibility of Several East African Bird Species Complexes

Africa’s montane areas are broken up into several large and small units, each isolated as forest-capped “sky islands” in a “sea” of dry lowland savanna. Many elements of their biota, including montane forest birds, are shared across several disjunct mountains, yet it has been difficult to rigorously define an Afromontane forest avifauna, or determine its evolutionary relationships with the birds of the surrounding lowland forests. In order to trace the historical relationship between lowland and highland avifaunas, we review cases of species or groups of closely related species with breeding populations at different elevations, and use phylogeographic methods to explore the historical connections between such populations within the biodiversity hotspot of East Africa. The study reveals several idiosyncratic patterns, but also a prominent number of cases of gene flow between populations in southern areas, mainly around the Malawi Rift, and mountains and coastal forests to the north, close to the equator. This may reflect more continuous past distributions through northern Mozambique and coastal Tanzania, or seasonal migrations between areas with different rainfall regimes. Over time, these distributional dynamics have resulted in a higher persistence of lineages, and an accumulation of forest-dependent lineages within the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and the northern part of the coastal forest mosaic.