Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haploinsufficiency of the Ammonia Transporter Rhcg Predisposes to Chronic Acidosis

Background: Rhesus proteins transport NH3 and/or NH4+ in heterologous expression systems. Results: Heterozygous Rhcg mice develop delayed metabolic acidosis, whereas homozygous KO mice display severe metabolic acidosis. RhCG functions as an NH3 transporter on apical and basolateral membranes. Conclusion: RhCG is an NH3 but not NH4+ transporter. Significance: Loss or reduced expression of RhCG may underlie inherited or acquired forms of human acidosis. Ammonia secretion by the collecting duct (CD) is critical for acid-base homeostasis and, when defective, causes distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). The Rhesus protein RhCG mediates NH3 transport as evident from cell-free and cellular models as well as from Rhcg-null mice. Here, we investigated in a Rhcg mouse model the metabolic effects of Rhcg haploinsufficiency, the role of Rhcg in basolateral NH3 transport, and the mechanisms of adaptation to the lack of Rhcg. Both Rhcg+/+ and Rhcg+/− mice were able to handle an acute acid load, whereas Rhcg−/− mice developed severe metabolic acidosis with reduced ammonuria and high mortality. However, chronic acid loading revealed that Rhcg+/− mice did not fully recover, showing lower blood HCO3− concentration and more alkaline urine. Microperfusion studies demonstrated that transepithelial NH3 permeability was reduced by 80 and 40%, respectively, in CDs from Rhcg−/− and Rhcg+/− mice compared with controls. Basolateral membrane permeability to NH3 was reduced in CDs from Rhcg−/− mice consistent with basolateral Rhcg localization. Rhcg−/− responded to acid loading with normal expression of enzymes and transporters involved in proximal tubular ammoniagenesis but reduced abundance of the NKCC2 transporter responsible for medullary accumulation of ammonium. Consequently, tissue ammonium content was decreased. These data demonstrate a role for apical and basolateral Rhcg in transepithelial NH3 transport and uncover an incomplete dRTA phenotype in Rhcg+/− mice. Haploinsufficiency or reduced expression of RhCG may underlie human forms of (in)complete dRTA.
Phenology of Native Angiosperms of South Padre Island, Texas

Flowering and fruiting patterns for 74 species of native angios­ penns were studied on South Padre Island, Texas, from May 1984 to May 1986. Four patterns were recognized: 1) a continuous cycle of flowering and fruiting; 2) a cycle limited to spring through autumn; 3) a two season regime, either spring-summer or summer-fall; and 4) a cycle completed in one season or less (spring or fall). Marked year-to-year variation occurred in flowering and fruiting responses within individual species. Only one­ fifth ofthe species exhibited the same monthly patterns in successive years. Number of species in flower or fruit was significantly correlated with mean monthly temperature and photoperiod, but showed no correlation with total monthly precipitation or precipitation with a one month time lag. Insect pollinated species had longer flowering/fruiting periods than wind polli­ nated species. Flowering and fruiting responses were compared among species common to other Gulf of Mexico islands and with species in common with temperate grasslands.
Stimulation of ovine placental transport of calcium and magnesium by mid‐molecule fragments of human parathyroid hormone‐related protein

Perfusion in situ of the placenta of intact or previously parathyroidectomized fetal lambs has been used to assess the ability of three mid‐molecule fragments of the human parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP) molecule to stimulate the placental transport of calcium and magnesium. PTHrP(67‐86 amide) was most effective but some activity was also shown by PTHrP(75‐86 amide) and by PTHrP (75‐84) in decreasing order. This placental action of PTHrP(67‐86 amide) was rapid and could be observed using the placenta from an intact fetus, whereas it was necessary to use the placenta from a previously parathyroidectomized fetus to demonstrate stimulation of placental calcium transport by PTHrP(1‐84). PTHrP(67‐86 amide) may resemble the molecule that activates the placental calcium pump.
Leiomyogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation potential of human adipose -derived stem cells

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in industrialized countries. Strategies to treat atherosclerotic coronary artery disease include coronary artery bypass grafting, which is often complicated by vein graft occlusion or stenosis. Severely occluded vein grafts can completely obstruct blood flow to the myocardium, resulting in a myocardial infarction, and eventually lead to heart failure. Heterotopic heart transplantation remains the treatment of choice for end-stage heart failure, however its widespread applicability is limited by the chronic shortage of donor organs. The therapeutic potential of stem cells in cardiac repair following myocardial infarction has generated a great deal of interest. Many types of stem/progenitor cells including embryonic stem cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used to regenerate the infracted heart with promising results. Adipose tissue is an abundant source of multipotent stem cells that can be easily obtained from liposuction waste tissue. The yield of stem cells per gram of fat is higher when compared with marrow-derived MSCs, making adipose tissue an attractive source of autologous stem cells for cardiovascular cell therapies. The goal of this research effort was to examine the differentiation potential of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) along the leiomyogenic and cardiomyogenic lineages. ASCs were extracted from human subcutaneous adipose tissue from female donors during elective abdominoplasty, cultured in the presence of biomolecules responsible for vascular and cardiac development, and subjected to uniaxial cyclic strain in magnitudes comparable to the in vivo conditions. Protein and gene expression of smooth muscle- and cardiomyocyte-specific markers were assessed via immunoctytochemistry, Western blot analysis, and RT-PCR. Our results indicated that uniaxial cyclic strain inhibited cell proliferation, resulted in alignment of ASCs perpendicular to the direction of strain, and down-regulated protein expression of early smooth muscle cell markers A-SMA and h1-calponin. Transforming growth factor B1 significantly up-regulated the expression of A-SMA and h1-calponin in ASCs. Cardiac-specific proteins sarcomeric A-actinin, troponin-I, troponin-T were undetected in ASCs exposed to demethylation agent 5-azacytidine. Expression of cardiac transcription factors Nkx2.5 and GATA4 were also absent. These results suggest that human ASCs may not be capable of cardiomyogenic differentiation via exposure to 5-azacytidine.
Type III Polyketide Synthases: Functional Classification and Phylogenomics

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) catalyze the sequential condensation of simple acetate units to produce a large class of natural products, including pharmacologically valuable compounds. PKSs are classified into three types on the basis of their domain structures; type III PKSs have the simplest domain structure, although their products have various structures and functions. The sequence–function relationship is fundamental for predicting enzyme functions, but it has not been well investigated in type III PKSs to date. Consequently, the current methods for predicting type III PKS functions are still immature in comparison with those that target type I/II PKSs. In this review we summarize the current functional and phylogenomic knowledge about type III PKSs and propose a new classification of their enzymatic reactions. We also discuss possible directions for the development of better computational tools for functional prediction of type III PKS homologues.
Interplay between Single Resistance-Associated Mutations in the HIV-1 Protease and Viral Infectivity, Protease Activity, and Inhibitor Sensitivity

ABSTRACT Resistance-associated mutations in the HIV-1 protease modify viral fitness through changes in the catalytic activity and altered binding affinity for substrates and inhibitors. In this report, we examine the effects of 31 mutations at 26 amino acid positions in protease to determine their impact on infectivity and protease inhibitor sensitivity. We found that primary resistance mutations individually decrease fitness and generally increase sensitivity to protease inhibitors, indicating that reduced virion-associated protease activity reduces virion infectivity and the reduced level of per virion protease activity is then more easily titrated by a protease inhibitor. Conversely, mutations at more variable positions (compensatory mutations) confer low-level decreases in sensitivity to all protease inhibitors with little effect on infectivity. We found significant differences in the observed effect on infectivity with a pseudotype virus assay that requires the protease to cleave the cytoplasmic tail of the amphotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) Env protein. Additionally, we were able to mimic the fitness loss associated with resistance mutations by directly reducing the level of virion-associated protease activity. Virions containing 50% of a D25A mutant protease were 3- to 5-fold more sensitive to protease inhibitors. This level of reduction in protease activity also resulted in a 2-fold increase in sensitivity to nonnucleoside inhibitors of reverse transcriptase and a similar increase in sensitivity to zidovudine (AZT), indicating a pleiotropic effect associated with reduced protease activity. These results highlight the interplay between enzyme activity, viral fitness, and inhibitor mechanism and sensitivity in the closed system of the viral replication complex.
Long loop prediction using the protein local optimization program

We have developed an improved sampling algorithm and energy model for protein loop prediction, the combination of which has yielded the first methodology capable of achieving good results for the prediction of loop backbone conformations of 11 residue length or greater. Applied to our newly constructed test suite of 104 loops ranging from 11 to 13 residues, our method obtains average/median global backbone root‐mean‐square deviations (RMSDs) to the native structure (superimposing the body of the protein, not the loop itself) of 1.00/0.62 Å for 11 residue loops, 1.15/0.60 Å for 12 residue loops, and 1.25/0.76 Å for 13 residue loops. Sampling errors are virtually eliminated, while energy errors leading to large backbone RMSDs are very infrequent compared to any previously reported efforts, including our own previous study. We attribute this success to both an improved sampling algorithm and, more critically, the inclusion of a hydrophobic term, which appears to approximately fix a major flaw in SGB solvation model that we have been employing. A discussion of these results in the context of the general question of the accuracy of continuum solvation models is presented. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does length matter? A study examining how length of stylus pen helps effective electronic documentation

Stylus pen is often used in documentation for a touchscreen. However, little work has been focused on stylus features to improve usability; no work has examined the effect of the full-length of stylus in creating document. In this paper, we found the satisfaction and efficiency of various stylus lengths' in creating document. Our experiment had two tasks with five styluses (7, 9, 11, 13 and 15cm). Results showed that participants can write documents with 13cm or longer styluses compared to shorter lengths. Among them, participants preferred 13cm stylus. Therefore, we suggest a stylus optimal length in creating document. The results can support the most efficient and comfortable stylus in creating document.
Direct Amplification of rRNA Genes in Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections

ABSTRACT A broad-range bacterial PCR targeting rRNA genes (rDNAs) was used to directly analyze 536 clinical samples obtained from 459 hospitalized patients during a 4-year study period. The molecular diagnosis based on DNA sequencing of the PCR product was compared to that obtained by bacterial culture. The bacteriological diagnosis was concordant for 447 (83%) specimens. Broad-range rDNA PCR was the only method that yielded an etiologic diagnosis for 11 (2.4%) of 459 patients. Compared to culture and clinical assessment, the sensitivity of the PCR method combined with sequencing was 74.2%, and the specificity was between 98.7 and 99.6%. At present, the described molecular approach proved superior to bacterial culture in two clinical situations: infections caused by bacteria with unusual growth requirements and specimens taken during antimicrobial treatment of the patient.
The Impact of Managers' Related Variables and Department Features on Budget Characteristics: The Case of Private Jordanian Universities

This study investigates the influence of manager and department variables on budget characteristics in private Jordanian universities. This paper aims to study the relationship between the departments’ heads characteristics and department features with the budget participation, information sharing, budget adequacy, goal clarity, and budget feedback in private universities in Jordan. It draws on relevant prior studies in the management accounting particularly budget issues to formulate the research questions and implementing survey method with seventy seven functional managers in five private Jordanian universities to shed light upon the perceptions of proposed budget participants. The results indicate that there is no such a relation between the department type and size with the budget characteristics, and no significant association between most of the manager related variables and budget characteristics. In contrast, the results indicate that the experience earned in the university has a significant strong relation with budget characteristics and weak relation has been found between manager budget experience and budget characteristics. The data suggest that the department factors and the manager factors except the experience earned in the university and the budget experience have no impact on budget characteristics. Hence, the budget characteristics may influence other factors such as the management style, departmental autonomy.
Association of Carotid Artery Intima Media Thickness with Traditional Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension

Objective: To examine the association of common carotid intima media thickness (CCA-IMT) with risk factors of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes and hypertension patients. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 14 type 2 diabetes, 15 hypertension and 15 control subjects. CCA-IMT and ankle brachial index (ABI) were measured by ultrasonography. Anthropometric characteristics of each subject were also taken. Results: type 2 diabetes group had higher mean CIMT values as compared to the other two groups. ABI was significantly inversely related to CIMT in type 2 diabetes and hypertension group. Conclusion: CIMT showed association with ABI and duration in type 2 diabetes and hypertension groups
Preconcentration and separation of double‐stranded DNA fragments by electrophoresis in plastic microfluidic devices

We have evaluated double‐stranded DNA separations in microfluidic devices which were designed to couple a sample preconcentration step based on isotachophoresis (ITP) with a zone electrophoretic (ZE) separation step as a method to increase the concentration limit of detection in microfluidic devices. Developed at ACLARA BioSciences, these LabCard™ devices are plastic 32 channel chips, designed with a long sample injection channel segment to increase the sample loading. These chips were designed to allow stacking of the sample into a narrow band using discontinuous ITP buffers, and subsequent separation in the ZE mode in sieving polymer solutions. Compared to chip ZE, the sensitivity was increased by 40‐fold and we showed baseline resolution of all fragments in the ΦX174/HaeIII DNA digest. The total analysis time was 3 min/sample, or less than 100 min per LabCard device. The resolution for multiplexed PCR samples was the same as obtained in chip ZE. The limit of detection was 9 fg/μL of DNA in 0.1×polymerase chain reaction (PCR) buffers using confocal fluorescence detection following 488 nm laser excitation with thiazole orange as the fluorescent intercalating dye.
Disproportionate increases of white matter in right frontal lobe in Tourette syndrome

Objective: Based on previous findings implicating abnormalities of cortico–striatal–thalamo–cortical circuitry in Tourette syndrome (TS), the authors performed a volumetric analysis of frontal and nonfrontal tissue (gray + white matter) in boys with TS, with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Frontal and nonfrontal gray and white matter compartment volumes, obtained by a MRI protocol, were analyzed with a 2 × 2 factorial multivariate analysis of variance approach for associations with a TS or ADHD factor in 11 boys with TS only, 14 with TS + ADHD, 12 with ADHD only, and 26 healthy boys. Results: In subjects with TS, the right frontal lobe showed a larger proportion of white matter. In addition, results were consistent with previous reports of reduced frontal lobe volumes associated with ADHD. Our analyses suggested these reductions to be mainly the consequence of smaller gray matter volumes, particularly on the left. Conclusions: These findings, suggesting the volumetric composition of frontal lobe tissue to be different in TS, support the hypothesis proposing frontostriatal pathway involvement in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Differences in composition of right frontal lobe attributable to white matter do not definitively implicate the hypothesized fiber pathways; however, considered in the context of the unilateral directionality of frontal–striatal circuitry, these results suggest the white matter connections as one explanation for basal ganglia anomalies (loss of normal left > right asymmetry) in TS.
Cascading regulation of histidase activity in Streptomyces griseus

Mutants of Streptomyces griseus unable to utilize histidine as the sole nitrogen source have been isolated and characterized. Using a mutant defective in the production of histidase, we have demonstrated that urocanate functions as the inducer of the histidine utilization system. Another mutant produced histidase that was locked in an inactive form but could be activated by treatment with an extract from the wild-type strain or the histidase-negative strain. This mutant was deficient in the activity of a protein of Mr ca. 90,000 to 100,000 that is required for the activation of histidase. Histidase was synthesized constitutively but was maintained in an inactive form until after histidine or urocanate was added to the medium. At least four components were implicated in the activation of histidase: histidase, the activation protein, urocanate, and a phosphatase that is apparently inactive in cells grown without inducer. The functions of the last three factors could be supplanted in vitro by incubation of histidase with snake venom phosphodiesterase or 5' nucleotidase. The results suggest that histidine utilization by S. griseus is controlled posttranslationally by an activation cascade that involves at least two regulatory proteins.
Insights into the subsurface structure of the Caloris basin, Mercury, from assessments of mechanical layering and changes in long‐wavelength topography

The volcanic plains that fill the Caloris basin, the largest recognized impact basin on Mercury, are deformed by many graben and wrinkle ridges, among which the multitude of radial graben of Pantheon Fossae allow us to resolve variations in the depth extent of associated faulting. Displacement profiles and displacement‐to‐length scaling both indicate that faults near the basin center are confined to a ~ 4‐km‐thick mechanical layer, whereas faults far from the center penetrate more deeply. The fault scaling also indicates that the graben formed in mechanically strong material, which we identify with dry basalt‐like plains. These plains were also affected by changes in long‐wavelength topography, including undulations with wavelengths of up to 1300 km and amplitudes of 2.5 to 3 km. Geographic correlation of the depth extent of faulting with topographic variations allows a first‐order interpretation of the subsurface structure and mechanical stratigraphy in the basin. Further, crosscutting and superposition relationships among plains, faults, craters, and topography indicate that development of long‐wavelength topographic variations followed plains emplacement, faulting, and much of the cratering within the Caloris basin. As several examples of these topographic undulations are also found outside the basin, our results on the scale, structural style, and relative timing of the topographic changes have regional applicability and may be the surface expression of global‐scale interior processes on Mercury.
Leadership: Enhancing Team Adaptability in Dynamic Settings

Abstract : To perform complex. interdependent, and urgent tasks in uncertain, unfamiliar, and often treacherous environments, the U.S. Army must be responsive, agile, versatile, and sustainable. These are the hallmarks of adaptive team performance -- the ability of team members to individually and cooperatively apply their knowledge and skills to the resolution of urgent, complex, novel, and ambiguous problems in dynamic work settings. Theory and research regarding the individual, team, and leader processes and characteristics that foster adaptive team performance are, unfortunately, quite limited. The authors conducted five interrelated research projects, combining research methods and approaches -- including comprehensive foundational literature reviews, theory development, experimental research in a laboratory setting, qualitative case study research, and longitudinal survey research in the field -- to build a new understanding of the ways in which leaders may enhance team learning, coordination, and adaptive performance in dynamic work environments.
Purification and immuno-biochemical characterization of cattle hydatid cyst fluid antigen.

○ INTRODUCTION Hydatidosis is a silent, cyclozoonotic and oldest infection of man and domestic animals and is caused by larvae of the cestode, Echinococcus (Bhatia and Pathak, 1990). The infected human beings and animals loose their normal functional capacities leading to huge economic losses. The diagnosis of hydatid disease is based on clinical, radiological, microscopical and immunological methods of which the last one is most sensitive. The crude or fractionated sterile hydatid cyst fluid obtained from cattle may be used as antigen in a variety of immunoassays. For improving the efficacy of immunodiagnosis of hydatid diseasis in cattles, the purification and characterization of hydatid cyst fluid is essential. Moreover researches so far were performed mostly on diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus in human beings only; relatively less research work hasbeen performed for the early diagnosis of hydatidosis in cattles. Considering the above, the present study is carried out with the objectives of purification and Immunobiochemical characterization of hydatid cyst fluid antigen of cattle. MATERIALS AND METHODS COLLECTION OF SERA AND PREPARATION OF CRUDE CATTLE HYDATID CYST FLUID ANTIGEN (CCHCFA) During the study sera of five positive cases of cattle with presence of visible cysts in their visceral organs and five negetive cases of cattle with the absence of visible cyst in their visceral organs were collected and preserved at -20 C. CCHCFA (Crude Cattle Hydatid Cyst Fluid Antigen) were prepared from fertile hydatid cysts by centrifugation and dialysis. Phenyl Methyl Sulfonyl Fluoride PMSF(0.03mM) was added. The globulinic antigen of the hydatid fluid was obtained by precipitating with ammonium sulfate at half saturation. The protein concentrations of PURIFICATION AND IMMUNO-BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CATTLE HYDATID CYST FLUID ANTIGEN