Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification and Functional Characterization of Rca1, a Transcription Factor Involved in both Antifungal Susceptibility and Host Response in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT The identification of novel transcription factors associated with antifungal response may allow the discovery of fungus-specific targets for new therapeutic strategies. A collection of 241 Candida albicans transcriptional regulator mutants was screened for altered susceptibility to fluconazole, caspofungin, amphotericin B, and 5-fluorocytosine. Thirteen of these mutants not yet identified in terms of their role in antifungal response were further investigated, and the function of one of them, a mutant of orf19.6102 (RCA1), was characterized by transcriptome analysis. Strand-specific RNA sequencing and phenotypic tests assigned Rca1 as the regulator of hyphal formation through the cyclic AMP/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signaling pathway and the transcription factor Efg1, but also probably through its interaction with a transcriptional repressor, most likely Tup1. The mechanisms responsible for the high level of resistance to caspofungin and fluconazole observed resulting from RCA1 deletion were investigated. From our observations, we propose that caspofungin resistance was the consequence of the deregulation of cell wall gene expression and that fluconazole resistance was linked to the modulation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway activity. In conclusion, our large-scale screening of a C. albicans transcription factor mutant collection allowed the identification of new effectors of the response to antifungals. The functional characterization of Rca1 assigned this transcription factor and its downstream targets as promising candidates for the development of new therapeutic strategies, as Rca1 influences host sensing, hyphal development, and antifungal response.
Physical Activity as a Nonpharmacological Treatment for Depression: A Review

Physical activity is increasingly being cited as an alternative to more traditional drug treatments for treating depression. Although an increasing amount of research has investigated this theory, much of the literature has been criticized from a methodological perspective. Given rising concern for the increasing costs of mental health care, it is timely and important to examine valid, reliable, and objective research findings on the potential role of physical activity as a low-cost non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of depression. This article reviews cross-sectional, longitudinal, and randomized studies that investigated the role of physical activity in the prevention and alleviation of depression. The review found that although there is undoubtedly a need for more research with a greater emphasis on methodological strength, the scientific literature is generally supportive of the beneficial effects of aerobic and nonaerobic exercise on depression in clinically and nonclinically depressed adults. Implications for public health are discussed.
Genome Sequence of the Oleaginous Red Yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides MTCC 457

ABSTRACT We report the de novo assembled 20.05-Mb draft genome of the red yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides MTCC 457, predicted to encode 5,993 proteins, 4 rRNAs, and 125 tRNAs. Proteins known to be unique to oleaginous fungi are present among the predicted proteins. The genome sequence will be valuable for molecular genetic analysis and manipulation of lipid accumulation in this yeast and for developing it as a potential host for biofuel production.
Standardized Note Template Improves Screening of Firearm Access and Driving Among Veterans With Dementia

Little is known about screening used in clinical practice to assess driving and firearm safety among patients with dementia. A case-controlled study was performed, including 22 patients with dementia seen in a geriatric evaluation and management clinic and 22 matched patients with dementia seen in a memory assessment clinic. Data about prevalence of firearm use and driving were obtained. In geriatric evaluation and management clinic, 57.9% of patients had dementia, compared with 71.0% in memory assessment clinic, and more patients were diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia in memory assessment clinic (P = .005). In geriatric evaluation and management clinic, 65% of patients had driving screening compared with 100% in memory assessment clinic (P = .07). Four percent in geriatric evaluation and management clinic were screened for firearm access versus 100% in memory assessment clinic (P < .001). In memory assessment clinic, 31.8% had firearms access and 50% were driving. Many patients continued to drive and have access to firearms. The use of templates for the progress note was effective in increasing the screening rate.
Impact of Human Mobility on Opportunistic Forwarding Algorithms

We study data transfer opportunities between wireless devices carried by humans. We observe that the distribution of the intercontact time (the time gap separating two contacts between the same pair of devices) may be well approximated by a power law over the range [10 minutes; 1 day]. This observation is confirmed using eight distinct experimental data sets. It is at odds with the exponential decay implied by the most commonly used mobility models. In this paper, we study how this newly uncovered characteristic of human mobility impacts one class of forwarding algorithms previously proposed. We use a simplified model based on the renewal theory to study how the parameters of the distribution impact the performance in terms of the delivery delay of these algorithms. We make recommendations for the design of well-founded opportunistic forwarding algorithms in the context of human-carried devices
Diabetes gestacional oculta por incumplimiento del protocolo diagnóstico

Objetivo. Este estudio estimo la prevalencia de Diabetes Gestacional (DG) en Tenerife. Metodo. Calculamos la prevalencia de DG y los abandonos del protocolo diagnostico en 12084 gestantes. Resultados. La prevalencia estimada de DG fue del 8.6%. El 10% no cumple con el protocolo. Conclusion. 1 de cada 3 casos de DG se escapa al diagnostico por abandono precoz del protocolo de deteccion establecido.
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Metabolic Abnormalities in Korea Children and Adolescents and Nutrient intakes: Using 2008 the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS), metabolic abnormalities, and nutrient intakes in Korea children and adolescents using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008. Methods: A sample of 838 children and adolescent males (n = 442) and females (n = 396) aged 10-18 was used from the 2008 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey. The diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome subjects was adapted from modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III by Ford. To compare nutrient intakes, we used a judgment sampling. The first group was composed of all children and adolescents (n = 46) with MS. The second one along with the first group had children and adolescents with the same age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) but without MS (n = 46). The control group like the first two had children and adolescents with same sex and same age but with normal BMI and without MS (n = 46). Results: In this randomized controlled controlled trial, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 5.8%. The risk factors was associated with the MS were abdominal obesity 9.4%, hypertriglyceridemia 25.0%, low HDL-cholesterol 10.3%, hypertension 23.4%, and hyperglycemia 7.1%. Among metabolic abnormalities, blood pressure was significantly affected by sex, age and obesity. On the other hand, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and waist circumference were directly linked to obesity. There were no significant differences in nutrient intakes among the three groups.
Indoor Localization Using FM Signals

The major challenge for accurate fingerprint-based indoor localization is the design of robust and discriminative wireless signatures. Even though WiFi received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signatures are widely available indoors, they vary significantly over time and are susceptible to human presence, multipath, and fading due to the high operating frequency. To overcome these limitations, we propose to use FM broadcast radio signals for robust indoor fingerprinting. Because of the lower frequency, FM signals are less susceptible to human presence, multipath, and fading, they exhibit exceptional indoor penetration, and according to our experimental study they vary less over time when compared to WiFi signals. In this paper, we demonstrate through a detailed experimental study in three different buildings across the US, that FM radio signal RSSI values can be used to achieve room-level indoor localization with similar or better accuracy to the one achieved by WiFi signals. Furthermore, we propose to use additional signal quality indicators at the physical layer (i.e., SNR, multipath, etc.) to augment the wireless signature, and show that localization accuracy can be further improved by more than 5 percent. More importantly, we experimentally demonstrate that the localization errors of FM and WiFi signals are independent. When FM and WiFi signals are combined to generate wireless fingerprints, the localization accuracy increases as much as 83 percent (when accounting for wireless signal temporal variations) compared to when WiFi RSSI only is used as a signature.
High-throughput, high-resolution soft X-ray crystal spectrometer for Tokamak-plasma studies

A Johann-type reflection spectrometer with a wavelength resolution of 15000 at 0.229 nm (CrKalpha ) is described. The diffracting crystal is a (310)-quartz plate with 50*30 mm2 total and useful area, bent to a radius of 1380 mm. The use of a novel, simple crystal bending device and of a position-sensitive proportional counter makes this instrument interesting also for other domains of X-ray spectroscopy. Results of extended calculations on diffraction properties of quartz as a function of diffraction plane index and wavelength are also presented.
The Dictyostelium discoideum GPHR Ortholog Is an Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Protein with Roles during Development

ABSTRACT Dictyostelium discoideum GPHR (Golgi pH regulator)/Gpr89 is a developmentally regulated transmembrane protein present on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. Transcript levels are low during growth and vary during development, reaching high levels during the aggregation and late developmental stages. The Arabidopsis ortholog was described as a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for abscisic acid present at the plasma membrane, whereas the mammalian ortholog is a Golgi apparatus-associated anion channel functioning as a Golgi apparatus pH regulator. To probe its role in D. discoideum, we generated a strain lacking GPHR. The mutant had different growth characteristics than the AX2 parent strain, exhibited changes during late development, and formed abnormally shaped small slugs and fruiting bodies. An analysis of development-specific markers revealed that their expression was disturbed. The distributions of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus were unaltered at the immunofluorescence level. Likewise, their functions did not appear to be impaired, since membrane proteins were properly processed and glycosylated. Also, changes in the external pH were sensed by the ER, as indicated by a pH-sensitive ER probe, as in the wild type.
The “Finger,” a Unique Multicellular Morphology of Candida albicans Induced by CO2 and Dependent upon the Ras1-Cyclic AMP Pathway

ABSTRACT Most experiments exploring the basic biology of pathogenic microbes are performed in vitro under conditions that do not usually mimic those of their host niche. Hence, developmental programs initiated by specific host cues may be missed in vitro. We have tested the effects of growing low-density agar cultures of the yeast pathogen Candida albicans in concentrations of CO2 found in the gastrointestinal tract. It is demonstrated that in physiological concentrations of CO2 at 37°C, yeast cells form a heretofore undescribed multicellular “finger” morphology distinct from a previously described stalk-like structure induced by high doses of UV irradiation that kills more than 99.99% of cells. The finger extends aerially, is uniform in diameter, and is visible to the naked eye, attaining lengths of 3 mm. It is composed of a basal yeast cell monolayer adhering to a semispherical crater formed in the agar and connected to a basal bulb of yeast cells at a fragile interface. The bulb extends into the long shaft. We propose that a single, centrally located hypha extending the length of the shaft forms buds at compartment junctions that serve as the source of the yeast cells in the shaft. A mutational analysis reveals finger formation is dependent upon the pathway Ras1→Cdc35→cyclic AMP (cAMP) (PDE2—|)→Tpk2→Tec1. Because of the mechanically fragile interface and the compactness of bulb and shaft, we suggest that the finger may function as a multicellular dispersal mechanism produced in host niches containing high levels of CO2.
Energy-Aware Cooperative Traffic Offloading via Device-to-Device Cooperations: An Analytical Approach

In this paper, we investigate the cooperative traffic offloading among mobiles devices (MDs) which are interested in receiving a common content from a cellular base station (BS). For offloading traffic, the BS first sends the content to some selected MDs which then broadcast the received data to the other MDs, such that each MD can receive the entire content simultaneously. Due to each MD's limited transmit-power and energy budget, the transmission rate of the content should be properly designed, since it strongly influences whether and how long each MD can perform relaying. Therefore, different from most existing MDs cooperative schemes, we focus on a novel joint optimization of the content transmission rate and each MD's relay-duration, with the objective of minimizing the system cost accounting for the energy consumption and the cellular-link usage. To tackle with the technical challenge due to the coupling effect between the content transmission rate and each MD's relay-duration, we exploit the decomposable property of the joint optimization problem, based on which we characterize different possible cases for achieving the optimal solution. We then derive the optimal solution for each case analytically, and further propose an efficient algorithm for finding the globally optimal solution of the original joint optimization problem. Numerical results are provided to validate the proposed algorithm (including its accuracy and computational efficiency) and demonstrate that the optimal MDs' cooperative offloading can significantly reduce the system cost compared to some heuristic schemes. Several interesting insights about the cooperative offloading are also obtained.
Network provisioning as a game against nature: a multicommodity network flow model under uncertain demands

Traditional approaches to network provisioning assume availability of the reliable estimates for the expected demands. This assumption, however, oversimplifies many practical situations when some incomplete information on the expected demands is available, and proper utilization of this information may improve the network performance. In a case of traffic engineering the uncertainty in the expected demands may be a result of sudden changes in the demand pattern, when significant statistical uncertainty in determining the varying demand pattern and possible undesirable transient effects make continuous adjustment of the routing algorithm to varying demands difficult. A long-term network provisioning, e.g., capacity planning, is a subject to uncertainties in the overall economic conditions. Despite the network may be capable of controlling demands through pricing, the overall economic condition affect the priced-demand curve. As the recent sharp downturn in the demand for communication bandwidth demonstrated, making long-term network planning decisions without assessing reliability of the underlying assumptions on the expected demands may lead to disastrous results. Assuming that the expected demand is an unknown mixture of some known scenarios, i.e., demand matrices, this paper proposes a framework for robust network provisioning by guarding against the worst case scenario with respect to the future demands. This framework can be interpreted as a game between the network, e.g., service provider, and nature. The service provider makes the network provisioning decisions in an attempt to minimize losses due to the uncertain future demands, while the nature selects a feasible demand matrix. Solution to this game balances risks of over and under provisioning of the network.
Septin Phosphorylation and Coiled-Coil Domains Function in Cell and Septin Ring Morphology in the Filamentous Fungus Ashbya gossypii

ABSTRACT Septins are a class of GTP-binding proteins conserved throughout many eukaryotes. Individual septin subunits associate with one another and assemble into heteromeric complexes that form filaments and higher-order structures in vivo. The mechanisms underlying the assembly and maintenance of higher-order structures in cells remain poorly understood. Septins in several organisms have been shown to be phosphorylated, although precisely how septin phosphorylation may be contributing to the formation of high-order septin structures is unknown. Four of the five septins expressed in the filamentous fungus, Ashbya gossypii, are phosphorylated, and we demonstrate here the diverse roles of these phosphorylation sites in septin ring formation and septin dynamics, as well as cell morphology and viability. Intriguingly, the alteration of specific sites in Cdc3p and Cdc11p leads to a complete loss of higher-order septin structures, implicating septin phosphorylation as a regulator of septin structure formation. Introducing phosphomimetic point mutations to specific sites in Cdc12p and Shs1p causes cell lethality, highlighting the importance of normal septin modification in overall cell function and health. In addition to discovering roles for phosphorylation, we also present diverse functions for conserved septin domains in the formation of septin higher-order structure. We previously showed the requirement for the Shs1p coiled-coil domain in limiting septin ring size and reveal here that, in contrast to Shs1p, the coiled-coil domains of Cdc11p and Cdc12p are required for septin ring formation. Our results as a whole reveal novel roles for septin phosphorylation and coiled-coil domains in regulating septin structure and function.
Using replicator dynamics for analyzing fMRI data of the human brain

The understanding of brain networks becomes increasingly the focus of current research. In the context of functional magnetic resonance imagery (fMRI) data of the human brain, networks have been mostly detected using standard clustering approaches. In this work, we present a new method of detecting functional networks using fMRI data. The novelty of this method is that these networks have the property that every network member is closely connected with every other member. This definition might to be better suited to model important aspects of brain activity than standard cluster definitions. The algorithm that we present here is based on a concept from theoretical biology called "replicator dynamics. ".
The Small GTPase RacA Mediates Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Production, Polarized Growth, and Virulence in the Human Fungal Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is the predominant mold pathogen in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we present the first characterization of the small GTPase RacA in A. fumigatus. To gain insight into the function of racA in the growth and pathogenesis of A. fumigatus, we constructed a strain that lacks a functional racA gene. The ΔracA strain showed significant morphological defects, including a reduced growth rate and abnormal conidiogenesis on glucose minimal medium. In the ΔracA strain, apical dominance in the leading hyphae is lost and, instead, multiple axes of polarity emerge. Intriguingly, superoxide production at the hyphal tips was reduced by 25% in the ΔracA strain. Treatment of wild-type hyphae with diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, resulted in phenotypes similar to that of the ΔracA strain. These data suggest that ΔracA strain phenotypes may be due to a reduction or alteration in the production of reactive oxygen species. Most surprisingly, despite these developmental and growth abnormalities, the ΔracA strain retained at least wild-type virulence in both an insect model and two immunologically distinct murine models of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. These results demonstrate that in vitro growth phenotypes do not always correlate with in vivo virulence and raise intriguing questions about the role of RacA in Aspergillus virulence.
Divergence of Erv1-Associated Mitochondrial Import and Export Pathways in Trypanosomes and Anaerobic Protists

ABSTRACT In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and animals, the sulfhydryl oxidase Erv1 functions with Mia40 in the import and oxidative folding of numerous cysteine-rich proteins in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS). Erv1 is also required for Fe-S cluster assembly in the cytosol, which uses at least one mitochondrially derived precursor. Here, we characterize an essential Erv1 orthologue from the protist Trypanosoma brucei (TbERV1), which naturally lacks a Mia40 homolog. We report kinetic parameters for physiologically relevant oxidants cytochrome c and O2, unexpectedly find O2 and cytochrome c are reduced simultaneously, and demonstrate that efficient reduction of O2 by TbERV1 is not dependent upon a simple O2 channel defined by conserved histidine and tyrosine residues. Massive mitochondrial swelling following TbERV1 RNA interference (RNAi) provides evidence that trypanosome Erv1 functions in IMS protein import despite the natural absence of the key player in the yeast and animal import pathways, Mia40. This suggests significant evolutionary divergence from a recently established paradigm in mitochondrial cell biology. Phylogenomic profiling of genes also points to a conserved role for TbERV1 in cytosolic Fe-S cluster assembly. Conversely, loss of genes implicated in precursor delivery for cytosolic Fe-S assembly in Entamoeba, Trichomonas, and Giardia suggests fundamental differences in intracellular trafficking pathways for activated iron or sulfur species in anaerobic versus aerobic eukaryotes.
Investigation of Toilet Activities in Elderly Patients With Dementia From the Viewpoint of Motivation and Self-Awareness

Toilet activities of the elderly patients with dementia were observed focusing on care conditions and investigated based on Hull’s drive reduction theory (behavior = drive × habit × incentive) and our self-awareness model (consisting of theory of mind, self-evaluation, and self-consciousness) to evaluate the association between self-awareness and toilet activities in patients with dementia and to explain the time when and the reason why a series of toilet activities as habit once acquired become unfeasible. If theory of mind is lost, awareness of one’s desire and intention becomes vague, and toilet activities begin to collapse. Furthermore, if incentive disappears, one’s intention hardly arises and toilet activities further collapse. If self-evaluation is lost, time sense fades, future goals based on the present time cannot exist, and behavior loses directivity. As a result, toilet activities collapse, and with a decrease in drive toilet activities cease.