Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulation of hSlo BK current inactivation by fatty acid esters of CoA

Lipid metabolism influences membrane proteins, including ion channels, in health and disease. Fatty acid esters of CoA are important intermediates in fatty acid metabolism and lipid biosynthesis. In the present study, we examined the effect of acyl‐CoAs on hSlo BK currents. Arachidonoyl‐CoA (C20‐CoA) induced β2‐dependent inhibition of hSlo‐α current when applied intracellularly but not extracellularly. This action was also mimicked by other long‐chain acyl‐CoAs such as oleoyl‐CoA (C18‐CoA) and palmitoyl‐CoA (C16‐CoA), but not acetyl‐CoA (C2‐CoA, shorter chain), suggesting that the length of acyl chains, rather than CoA headgroups, is critical. When hSlo‐α inactivation was induced by a free synthetic cationic β2 NH2‐terminus inactivation ball peptide, long‐chain acyl‐CoAs inhibited hSlo‐α current and facilitated inactivation. The precursor fatty acids also facilitated the ball peptide‐induced inactivation in a chain length‐dependent manner, whereas sphingosine (positively charged) slowed this inactivation. When the β2‐induced inactivation was compared with that of the ball peptide, there was a negative shift in the steady state inactivation, slower recovery, and a reduced voltage‐dependence of inactivation onset. These data suggest that electrostatic interactions with the cytosolic inactivation domain of β2 mediate acyl‐CoA modulation of BK currents. BK channel inactivation may be a specific target for lipid modulation in physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
Studies on Dietary Correction of Metabolic Abnormalities in Hepatorenal Glycogenosis[45]

Extract: This study reports the effects of frequent glucose feeding on the metabolic abnormalities observed in a patient with hepatorenal glycogenosis. Use of this diet resulted in correction of metabolic acidosis and hyperlacticacidemia. External calcium balance became positive secondary to a decrease in the loss of calcium in urine. Long-term use of the diet caused a reduction to normal values of triglyceride and cholesterol levels in serum. Continued use of the diet for nine months resulted in increased growth rate and increased calcification of bone. Evidence based on excretion of epinephrine and 17-hydroxy-corticosteroids in urine did not indicate that an increased excretion of these hormones occurred in response to hypoglycemia. Concentrations of growth hormone were low despite hypoglycemia; however, after nine months of treatment, the patient showed a rapid decline in the levels of blood sugar with an increase in the levels of growth hormone in blood.Speculation: Partially controlled hepatorenal glycogenosis is in some ways similar to juvenile diabetes mellitus since patients with this disease sustain intermittent starvation of the peripheral tissues for glucose. Study of the metabolic sequellae of peripheral glucose deprivation and repletion in some forms of glycogenosis may lead to a better understanding of the complications of juvenile diabetes mellitus.
Increased vancomycin production by overexpression of MbtH‐like protein in Amycolatopsis orientalis KFCC10990P

Recently, many in vitro studies have reported that MbtH‐like proteins are very necessary for the adenylation of amino acid by adenylating enzymes present in the biosynthetic machineries of nonribosomal peptides (NRPs). However, in vivo studies on mbtH‐like genes are somewhat controversial since their mutants still produce the target compounds. Here, we report unambiguous evidence of the crucial role of MbtH‐like protein in the biosynthesis of NRP based on in vivo study of vancomycin producer, Amycolatopsis orientalis. Deletion of mbtH‐like gene (vcm11) in the vancomycin biosynthetic gene cluster completely abolished production of vancomycin and its complementation strain showed almost full recovery of vancomycin production. As a result, we propose that the mbtH‐like gene is a good genetic engineering target to increase the yield of NRP, as verified by increased vancomycin production (by 60 and 80%) upon overexpression of cognate (Vcm11) as well as noncognate (CloY) MbtH‐like proteins.
Virus Sensitivity Index of UV disinfection

A new concept of Virus Sensitivity Index (VSI) is defined as the ratio between the first-order inactivation rate constant of a virus, ki, and that of MS2-phage during UV disinfection, kr. MS2-phage is chosen as the reference virus because it is recommended as a virus indicator during UV reactor design and validation by the US Environmental Protection Agency. VSI has wide applications in research, design, and validation of UV disinfection systems. For example, it can be used to rank the UV disinfection sensitivity of viruses in reference to MS2-phage. There are four major steps in deriving the equation between Hi/Hr and 1/VSI. First, the first-order inactivation rate constants are determined by regression analysis between Log I and fluence required. Second, the inactivation rate constants of MS2-phage are statistically analysed at 3, 4, 5, and 6 Log I levels. Third, different VSI values are obtained from the ki of different viruses dividing by the kr of MS2-phage. Fourth, correlation between Hi/Hr and 1/VSI is analysed by using linear, quadratic, and cubic models. As expected from the theoretical analysis, a linear relationship adequately correlates Hi/Hr and 1/VSI without an intercept. VSI is used to quantitatively predict the UV fluence required for any virus at any log inactivation (Log I). Four equations were developed at 3, 4, 5, and 6 Log I. These equations have been validated using external data which are not used for the virus development. At Log I less than 3, the equation tends to under-predict the required fluence at both low Log I such as 1 and 2 Log I. At Log I greater than 3 Log I, the equation tends to over-predict the fluence required. The reasons for these may very likely be due to the shoulder at the beginning and the tailing at the end of the collimated beam test experiments. At 3 Log I, the error percentage is less than 6%. The VSI is also used to predict inactivation rate constants under two different UV disinfection scenarios such as under sunlight and different virus aggregates. The correlation analysis shows that viruses will be about 40% more sensitive to sunlight than to UV254. On the other hand, virus size of 500 nm will reduce their VSI by 10%. This is the first attempt to use VSI to predict the required fluence at any given Log I. The equation can be used to quantitatively evaluate other parameters influencing UV disinfection. These factors include environmental species, antibiotic-resistant bacteria or genes, photo and dark repair, water quality such as suspended solids, and UV transmittance.
Slitlike syrinx cavities: a persistent central canal.

OBJECT The authors review their experience in the diagnosis and management of 32 patients with slitlike syrinx cavities. METHODS There were 18 men and 14 women with a mean age of 40 years. Presenting symptoms that prompted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging evaluation were mechanical spinal pain (13 patients), radicular pain (seven patients), paresthesia (six patients), numbness (five patients), and muscle spasm (one patient). In 12 patients neurological examination demonstrated normal status, and in the remainder only minimal sensory or motor abnormalities were found. The mean diameter of the syrinx cavity was 2 mm (range 1-5 mm), and on average it covered three vertebral levels. The cavities were limited to the cervical region in 16 patients, the thoracic in 12, and both regions in four patients. The mean follow-up time for changes in clinical condition and repeated MR imaging features were 38 and 32 months, respectively. Thirty-one patients were treated nonoperatively, and one was treated surgically. During the follow-up period clinical improvement was documented in six patients, worsened status in seven, and no change was demonstrated in the clinical status of 19 patients. None of the syrinx cavities changed in size. In 16 patients medical workup revealed alternative diagnoses that were determined to be the true causes of each patient's symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Slitlike cavities likely do not represent true syringomyelia but rather remnants of the central canal detected in a small percentage of adults. Review of the authors' experience indicates that these cavities are asymptomatic and are unlikely to change in size. They can be considered an incidental finding, and in many of these patients another condition explaining the patient's symptoms may be found.
Geminiviral vectors based on bean yellow dwarf virus for production of vaccine antigens and monoclonal antibodies in plants

Expression of recombinant vaccine antigens and monoclonal antibodies using plant viral vectors has developed extensively during the past several years. The approach benefits from high yields of recombinant protein obtained within days after transient delivery of viral vectors to leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana, a tobacco relative. Modified viral genomes of both RNA and DNA viruses have been created. Geminiviruses such as bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV) have a small, single stranded DNA genome that replicates in the nucleus of an infected plant cell, using the cellular DNA synthesis apparatus and a virus-encoded replication initiator protein (Rep). BeYDV-derived expression vectors contain deletions of the viral genes encoding coat and movement proteins and insertion of an expression cassette for a protein of interest. Delivery of the geminiviral vector to leaf cells via Agrobacterium-mediated delivery produces very high levels of recombinant DNA that can act as a transcription template, yielding high levels of mRNA for the protein of interest. Several vaccine antigens, including Norwalk virus capsid protein and hepatitis B core antigen, were expressed using the BeYDV vector at levels up to 1mg per g of leaf mass. BeYDV replicons can be stacked in the same vector molecule by linking them in tandem, which enables production of multi-subunit proteins like monoclonal antibody (mAb) heavy and light chains. The protective mAb 6D8 against Ebola virus was produced at 0.5mg per g of leaf mass. Multi-replicon vectors could be conveniently used to produce protein complexes, e.g. virus-like particles that require two or more subunits.
Floor-level premiums in private housing: the case of condominiums in Singapore

ABSTRACT Using a sample consists of 3367 actual condominium sales transacted in resale market from May 2012 to April 2015 from the Singapore Urban and Redevelopment Authority, a hedonic pricing model is used to investigate for the presence of floor-level premiums in the private housing market, condominium, in District 23 of Singapore. Unit size, types of land tenure and the distance to the nearest mass rapid transit (MRT) station are also used as other independent variables. The estimated coefficient of each of these independent variables is statistically significant. Each of these independent variables also has positive estimated coefficient, suggesting that they have positive effects on condominium resale prices. Main findings are (a) there is a presence of floor-level premium; (b) the condominiums with a distance more than 400 m to the MRT station get higher resale prices; and (c) there is an increasing effect of floor level on condominium price.
A TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF FOUR MAJOR CRYPTOCURRENCIES

Because of increasing interest in cryptocurrency investments, there is a need to quantify their variation over time. Therefore, in this paper we try to answer a few important questions related to a time series of cryptocurrencies. According to our goals and due to market capitalization, here we discuss the daily market price data of four major cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP) and Litecoin (LTC). In the first phase, we characterize the daily returns of exchange rates versus the U.S. Dollar by assessing the main statistical properties of them. In many ways, the interpretation of these results could be a crucial point in the investment decision making process. In the following phase, we apply an autocorrelation function in order to find repeating patterns or a random walk of daily returns. Also, the lack of literature on the comparison of cryptocurrency price movements refers to the correlation analysis between the aforementioned data series. These findings are an appropriate base for portfolio management. Finally, the paper conducts an analysis of volatility using dynamic volatility models such as GARCH, GJR and EGARCH. The results confirm that volatility is persistent over time and the asymmetry of volatility is small for daily returns.
PPARγ non-covalent antagonists exhibit mutable binding modes with a similar free energy of binding: a case study

The structural and dynamical properties of PPARγ receptor in a complex with either partial or full agonists have been intensively studied but little is known about the receptor antagonistic conformation. A composition of microsecond accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD) simulation show that like partial agonists a non-covalent PPARγ full antagonist can bind in different modes of similar population size and free energies of binding. Four different and periodically exchanging ligand conformations are detected and described. The studied antagonist interacts with different receptor substructures and affects both the co-activator and the Cdk5 phosphorylation sites and, presumably, the natural complex with the DNA. However, no significant changes in the conformational states of the activation helix 12, and in particular an antagonist orientation, have been recorded. Finally, our results show also that the aMD approach can be successfully used in recovering the possible binding modes, considering fully the receptor flexibility, and is not dependent on the starting conformation.
Nup358, a Cytoplasmically Exposed Nucleoporin with Peptide Repeats, Ran-GTP Binding Sites, Zinc Fingers, a Cyclophilin A Homologous Domain, and a Leucine-rich Region (*)

The Ras-related nuclear protein, Ran, has been implicated in nuclear transport. By screening a HeLa cell expression library with Ran-GTP and sequencing overlapping cDNA clones, we have obtained the derived primary structure of a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 358 kDa. Using antibodies raised against an expressed segment of this protein, we obtained punctate nuclear surface staining by immunofluorescence microscopy that is characteristic for nucleoporins. Electron microscopy of immunogold-decorated rat liver nuclear envelopes sublocalized the 358-kDa protein at (or near) the tip of the cytoplasmic fibers of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). In agreement with current convention, this protein was therefore termed Nup358 (for nucleoporin of 358 kDa). Nup358 contains a leucine-rich region, four potential Ran binding sites (i.e. Ran binding protein 1 homologous domains) flanked by nucleoporin-characteristic FXFG or FG repeats, eight zinc finger motifs, and a C-terminal cyclophilin A homologous domain. Consistent with the location of Nup358 at the cytoplasmic fibers of the NPC, we found decoration with Ran-gold at only the cytoplasmic side of the NPC. Thus, Nup358 is the first nucleoporin shown to contain binding sites for two of three soluble nuclear transport factors so far isolated, namely karyopherin and Ran-GTP.
Beliefs of pre-service teacher education institutional heads about inclusive education in Bangladesh

This paper investigates beliefs about inclusive education of heads of higher education institutions that offer pre-service teacher preparation programs in Bangladesh. Since 2003, Bangladesh started including children with diverse needs in regular schools in both primary and secondary education. However, pre-service teacher preparation institutions are not yet fully ready to prepare teachers for a diverse classroom. In this journey of education reform, heads of the institutions that are offering pre-service teacher education in Bangladesh have a key role in better preparing future teachers for inclusive education. A thematic analysis procedure was administered on 22 institutional heads using a semi-structured interview guide. Themes extracted from the interview data were reforming teacher education programs, providing additional assistance during practicum, importance of pre-service teachers’ motivations in relation to their profession, meeting all children’s learning needs in the same class, awareness about equal right to education and concerns about including children with severe disabilities. Implications of the findings for further improving the preservice teacher education programs in Bangladesh are also discussed.
Individually tailored contrast enhancement in CT pulmonary angiography.

OBJECTIVE The purpose was to evaluate individually shaped contrast media (CM) delivery in CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS 100 consecutive emergency patients with clinical suspicion of PE were evaluated. High-pitch CTPA was performed on a second-generation dual-source CT using the following parameters: 100 kV, 200-250 mAsref, rotation time 0.28 s, 128 × 0.6 mm col. and image reconstruction 1.0/0.8 mm (B30f). Group 1 (n = 50) then received a fixed CM bolus (300 = mgI ml(-1), volume = 90 ml and flow rate = 6 ml s(-1)); Group 2 (n = 50) received a body weight-adapted CM bolus determined by dedicated contrast injection software. For analysis, groups were further subdivided into low-weight (40-75 kg) and high-weight (76-117 kg) groups. Technical image quality was graded using a four-point Likert scale (1 = non-diagnostic; 2 = diagnostic; 3 = good and 4 = excellent image quality) at the level of the pulmonary trunk and pulmonary arteries. Objective image quality analysis was performed by measuring contrast enhancement in Hounsfield units (HU) at the same levels. Attenuation levels > 180 HU were considered diagnostic. RESULTS All examinations were graded as diagnostic at each level. The individual minimum pulmonary attenuation was 184 and 270 HU for Group 1 and 2, respectively. Mean attenuation was as follows: Group 1: 475 ± 105 HU (40-75 kg) and 402 ± 115 HU (76-117 kg), p < 0.03. Group 2: 424 ± 76 HU (40-75 kg) and 418 ± 100 HU (76-117 kg), p = 0.8. For Group 2, CM volumes were: 55 ± 5 ml (40-75 kg) and 66 ± 5 ml (76-117 kg), leading to 16-51% CM reduction. CONCLUSION Even under emergency conditions, individualized CM protocols can provide diagnostic and robust image quality in CTPA for PE with a substantial reduction of CM volume for lower weight patients, compared with a fixed CM protocol. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE CM volume can substantially be reduced by using individualized CM protocols in CT angiography for PE without compromising the diagnostic image quality.
Consumer preference and willingness to pay for tomato juice

Tomato juice has gained popularity in recent decades. However, little is known about tomato juice consumers in the United States. The goal of this research was to determine consumer attitudes towards current tomato juice offerings and willingness to pay for high flavor quality products. A sensory panel and a nation-wide survey were conducted to learn about consumer preference toward tomato juice consumption. A new “label”, including taste review ratings, was incorporated into a choice experiment to verify whether this information successfully assisted consumers in their purchase decisions. Both the sensory analysis and the consumer online survey showed a demand for tomato juice with better flavor. The results suggest that a premium quality tomato juice with fresh aroma notes and better taste made from a premium tomato will encourage consumer purchase intent. Consumers would be willing to pay up to 30% more if trusted taste review score information was provided.
Randal K Quarles: Liquidity regulation and the size of the Fed's balance sheet

Thank you very much to the Hoover Institution for hosting this important conference and to John Taylor for inviting me to participate. In my capacity as both the Vice Chairman for Supervision at the Board of Governors and a member of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), part of my job is to consider the intersection of regulatory and monetary policy issues, the subject of my discussion today. This topic is a very complex and dynamic nexus, especially as regulation and the implementation of monetary policy continue to evolve.
Low jitter ADPLL insensitive to power supply noise

In this paper an analytical method is presented for estimating the timing jitter of ADPLL due to power supply noise. It leads to the conclusion that jitter heavily depends on the power supply noise frequency and the loop gain. Based on the analytical method, a synthesizable ADPLL with good power supply noise rejection is fabricated in SMIC 0. 13µm standard CMOS process, covering 100MHz–500MHz frequency range. The measured Pk-Pk and RMS jitter are 66.7ps and 11.6ps with the power supply noise of 120.8mv.
Pulse High Volume Hemofiltration

The sepsis syndrome is the most common cause of acute renal failure and multiple organ dysfunction in critically ill subjects and continues to have an alarmingly high mortality. Normal immune homeostasis is interrupted by a complex storm of inflammatory mediators responsible for the deleterious effects. Extracorporeal blood purification techniques can confer benefits in sepsis by proven non-specific removal of these mediators (pro- or anti-inflammatory), and provide a logical and adequate approach to treat this syndrome. High volume hemofiltration (HVHF) has had the most dramatic effect conferring benefits in hemodynamics, reduction in vasopressor doses and improvement in survival. "Pulse HVHF" is the latest approach which may offer the most efficient results: a daily schedule of 6-8 hours followed by standard CVVH. This paper describes the rationale and potential of this technique. Reliability and tolerance of this technique and biological effects are described.
Biological responses to environmental heterogeneity under future ocean conditions

Organisms are projected to face unprecedented rates of change in future ocean conditions due to anthropogenic climate‐change. At present, marine life encounters a wide range of environmental heterogeneity from natural fluctuations to mean climate change. Manipulation studies suggest that biota from more variable marine environments have more phenotypic plasticity to tolerate environmental heterogeneity. Here, we consider current strategies employed by a range of representative organisms across various habitats – from short‐lived phytoplankton to long‐lived corals – in response to environmental heterogeneity. We then discuss how, if and when organismal responses (acclimate/migrate/adapt) may be altered by shifts in the magnitude of the mean climate‐change signal relative to that for natural fluctuations projected for coming decades. The findings from both novel climate‐change modelling simulations and prior biological manipulation studies, in which natural fluctuations are superimposed on those of mean change, provide valuable insights into organismal responses to environmental heterogeneity. Manipulations reveal that different experimental outcomes are evident between climate‐change treatments which include natural fluctuations vs. those which do not. Modelling simulations project that the magnitude of climate variability, along with mean climate change, will increase in coming decades, and hence environmental heterogeneity will increase, illustrating the need for more realistic biological manipulation experiments that include natural fluctuations. However, simulations also strongly suggest that the timescales over which the mean climate‐change signature will become dominant, relative to natural fluctuations, will vary for individual properties, being most rapid for CO2 (~10 years from present day) to 4 decades for nutrients. We conclude that the strategies used by biota to respond to shifts in environmental heterogeneity may be complex, as they will have to physiologically straddle wide‐ranging timescales in the alteration of ocean conditions, including the need to adapt to rapidly rising CO2 and also acclimate to environmental heterogeneity in more slowly changing properties such as warming.