Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction of SOS 2 with Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase 2 and Catalases Reveals a Point of Connection between Salt Stress and H 2 O 2 Signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana Paul

SOS2, a class 3 sucrose-nonfermenting 1-related kinase, has emerged as an important mediator of salt stress response and stress signaling through its interactions with proteins involved in membrane transport and in regulation of stress responses. We have identified additional SOS2-interacting proteins that suggest a connection between SOS2 and reactive oxygen signaling. SOS2 was found to interact with the H2O2 signaling protein nucleoside diphosphate kinase 2 (NDPK2) and to inhibit its autophosphorylation activity. A sos2-2 ndpk2 double mutant was more salt sensitive than a sos2-2 single mutant, suggesting that NDPK2 and H2O2 are involved in salt resistance. However, the double mutant did not hyperaccumulate H2O2 in response to salt stress, suggesting that it is altered signaling rather than H2O2 toxicity alone that is responsible for the increased salt sensitivity of the sos2-2 ndpk2 double mutant. SOS2 was also found to interact with catalase 2 (CAT2) and CAT3, further connecting SOS2 to H2O2 metabolism and signaling. The interaction of SOS2 with both NDPK2 and CATs reveals a point of cross talk between salt stress response and other signaling factors including H2O2.
Peak expiratory flow in healthy, young, non-active subjects in seated, supine, and prone postures

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the PEFs in healthy, young, non-active subjects in seated, supine, and prone postures. Methods: A total of 30 healthy volunteers (15 male, mean age 22.7 years, non-smokers, sedentary) underwent a physical examination, spirometry to confirm normal pulmonary function, and PEF using the Mini-Wright Peak Flow Meter while wearing a nose clip. PEF measurements were repeated three times in each of three positions (seated, prone, and supine) in random order and differed by less than 20 L/min for a given position. Paired Student’s t-tests were used to analyze the results, and the significance level was set at 5%. Results: The PEF values obtained when the study participants were in a seated position (481.0 ± 115.1 L/min) were higher than those obtained when participants were in prone (453.7 ± 112.1 L/min) or supine (453.2 ± 114.3 L/min) positions (p < 0.05). No significant difference in PEF values was observed between the prone and supine positions. Conclusion: Body posture affects PEF in healthy, young, non-active subjects. PEFs are higher when subjects are in a seated position compared to prone or supine positions, but no difference in PEF is observed between the prone and supine positions.
TLB performance in multiprocessors

This paper compares the performance, in highly-parallel shared-memory multiprocessors, of locating translation-lookaside buffers (TLBs) at processors with that of locating TLBs at memory. Our performance comparison is based on results of trace-driven simulations of multiprocessors with logN-stage networks interconnecting N processors and N memory modules. For the systems and workloads studied, memory-based TLBs perform better than processor-based TLBs, provided that memory is organized as multiple paging arenas, where the mapping of pages to arenas is fixed. The cost of a processor-based TLB reload is at least logN because of network transit. The cost of a memory-based TLB reload can be made smaller than that of a processor-based TLB reload, since network transits are not required. Furthermore, with multiple paging arenas, the number of reloads is smaller with memory-based TLBs. For memory-based TLBs to continue to outperform processor-based TLBs for large N, it is likely that the number of paging arenas must grow with N. ____________________________________ Supported by U.S. Department of Energy grant number DE-FG02-88ER25052, National Science Foundation grant number MDS-8301768, and the IBM Corporation. Supported in part by U.S. Department of Energy grant DE-FG02-88ER25052 and National Science Foundation grant number MIP-8915488.
Contextualisation of information retrieval process and document ranking task in web search tools

The work presented in this paper takes place in the field of the contextualisation of information retrieval (IR), and makes contributions to two complementary axes: first improving the search process and then enhancing the evaluation of search tools. For this purpose, we use an effective mechanism in our proposals; the context of the various elements around the search process. The goal is to increase the selectivity of search tools and improve the way in which these tools are evaluated. These proposals have been tested, and the gain in terms of returned results relevance was measured using three search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing). The results show that taking into account the context in IR increases the relevance of the returned results and thus reduces both documentary noise and silence.
Demineralized Bone Matrix for Fracture Healing: Fact or Fiction?

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been touted as an excellent grafting material; however, there are no Level I studies that use DBM alone in humans to back up this claim. DBM functions best in a healthy tissue bed but should be expected to have little impact in an anoxic or avascular tissue bed, a situation often encountered in traumatic orthopaedic pathologies. Moreover, there is some evidence of differential potencies of DBM preparations based on donor variability and the manufacturing process. DBM efficacy may also be related to its formulation and the various carriers used. The fact that DBM is an allogeneic material opens up the potential for disease transmission. In addition, DBM activity may be altered by the hormonal status or nicotine use of a patient. In summary, although DBM has proven effective for bone induction in lower form animals, the translation to human clinical use for fracture healing, and the burden of proof, remains.
Estimation of the frequency of occult mutations for an autosomal recessive disease in the presence of genetic heterogeneity: application to genetic hearing loss disorders

The routine testing for pathologic mutation(s) in a patient's DNA has become the foundation of modern molecular genetic diagnosis. It is especially valuable when the phenotype shows genetic heterogeneity, and its importance will grow as treatments become genotype specific. However, the technology of mutation detection is imperfect and mutations are often missed. This can be especially troublesome when dealing with a recessive disorder where the combination of genetic heterogeneity and missed mutation creates an imprecision in the genotypic assessment of individuals who do not appear to have the expected complement of two pathologic mutations. This article describes a statistical approach to the estimation of the likelihood of a genetic diagnosis under these conditions. In addition to providing a means of testing for missed mutations, it also provides a method of estimating and testing for the presence of genetic heterogeneity in the absence of linkage data. Gene frequencies as well as estimates of sensitivity and specificity can be obtained as well. The test is applied to GJB2 recessive nonsyndromic deafness, Usher syndrome types Ib and IIa, and Pendred‐enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome. Hum Mutat 26(5), 462–470, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Discovery DMPK: changing paradigms in the eighties, nineties and noughties

Background: The science of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) plays a critical role in supporting the selection of potent, selective leads that retain the appropriate physicochemical properties to ensure distribution from the site of administration into the tissue or target of interest. Historically, Discovery DMPK has bridged the gap between the disciplines of biology and medicinal chemistry thereby ensuring a clinical focus during the discovery and early development phases. Objective: Here we discuss the fundamentals of DMPK screening in drug discovery from a historical perspective, highlighting DMPK's part in improving the chances of success for novel drug candidates and suggesting new and exciting areas for future development. Conclusions: Such a broad remit has resulted in the development of a wide variety of assays, both in vitro and in vivo, focused on assessing the developability risks associated with a molecule's progression into clinical development, such as likely bioavailability in humans, the potential for drug–drug interactions, human metabolism, interactions with transporters and the potential for metabolism-mediated idiosyncratic toxicity. Arguably DMPK has already adopted many of the concepts now of interest in translational medicine and quantitative pharmacology while scientific and regulatory pressures continue to drive the subject towards better and more integrated approaches, such as systems thinking.
Morphine‐induced Changes of Gene Expression in the Brain

Repeated opiate administration alters gene expression in different brain regions of rodents, an effect which may contribute to plastic changes associated with addictive behaviour. There is increasing evidence that multiple transcription factors are induced in morphine tolerance, sensitization and during morphine withdrawal. Whereas morphine treatment does not lead to major alterations in the expression of μ‐opioid receptors (MOR), there is transcriptional regulation of proteins involved in MOR trafficking such as GRK2 or beta arrestin 2 as well as altered expression of other receptors such as dopamine receptors, NMDA receptors, GABA A receptor and alpha 2A adrenoceptor. Recent gene expression profiling studies reveal additional clusters of morphine‐responsive genes: whereas single dose administration has been shown to predominantly reduce expression of genes involved in metabolic function, ascending morphine doses leading to morphine tolerance revealed induction of genes which alter patterns of synaptic connectivity such as arc or ania‐3. These genes remained elevated after precipitated withdrawal, which also triggered the expression of several transcriptional activators and repressors. In addition, morphine has been shown to be a strong inducer of heat shock protein 70, a cell protective protein which might counter‐regulate opiate‐induced neurotoxicity. Temporal expression profiles during a chronic morphine application schedule revealed discrete and fluctuating expression of gene clusters such as transcription factors, G‐protein‐coupled receptors and neuropeptides. Prolonged abstinence seems to be characterized by up‐regulation of several transcription factors and persistent down‐regulation of ligand gated ion channels such as glutamatergic and GABA‐ergic receptor subunits. These long‐term changes in receptor expression suggest a persistent alteration of synaptic signalling after morphine treatment.
Immunocytochemical localization of GABA‐, cholecystokinin‐, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide‐, and somatostatin‐like immunoreactivity in the area dentata and hippocampus of the rat

Hippocampal neurons containing GABA‐, cholecystokinin(CCK)‐, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP)‐, or somatostatin(SS)‐like immunoreactivity (LI) were localized in sections of rat hippocampus. GABA‐, CCK‐, VIP, and SS‐LI are found exclusively in interneurons of the area dentata and hippocampus. In the area dentata, GABA‐LI occurs in cells of all strata but predominates in type 1 and 2 basket cells. CCK‐LI is present in a subset of these basket cells and some hilar cells. VIP‐LI is present in a distinct subset of dentate interneurons that, unlike the type 1 and 2 basket cells, do not contribute to the fiber plexus in the inner molecular layer. These VIP‐LI interneurons send their axons to nearby granule cells and form a plexus in the hilus. SS‐LI, although rare in cells of the molecular and granular layers, is present in a large population of hilar interneurons that do not exhibit GABA‐, CCK‐, or VIP‐LI. In area CA3 of the hippocampus, a variety of morphologically diverse interneurons containing GABA‐, CCK‐, VIP‐, or SS‐LI are present in all strata. In area CA1, SS‐LI is present mainly in cells of strata oriens and pyramidale. GABA‐CCK‐ and VIP‐LI interneurons are present in all strata of CA1 but, unlike the SS‐LI cells, are most numerous in strata pyramidale and radiatum. These findings in the area dentata, taken together with those of Kosaka et al. (J. Comp. Neurol. 239:967–969, '85), indicate that two main populations of interneurons can be discriminated on the basis of the substances they contain. One is a group of GABA‐LI cells, some of which also contain CCK‐ and/or VIP‐LI. These cells innervate the granule cells and the second group of interneurons, the SS‐LI hilar cells, which apparently form part of the dentate ipsilateral associational/commissural projections.
Modulation of mRNA levels during human keratinocyte differentiation

Cultures of human keratinocytes provide an excellent model system in which to study differentiation. Using the phorbol ester 12‐O‐tetradecanoyl‐phorbol 13‐acetate (TPA) and calcium, two agents known to induce keratinocyte differentiation in vitro, we examined the expression of the genes encoding c‐fos, c‐myc, and c‐jun; involucrin, a protein precursor of the keratinocyte cornified envelope; and L‐7, a ribosomal protein. Overall, at the doses studied, TPA induced a more rapid and profound differentiation than did calcium, as evaluated by culture morphology and northern blot analysis. Our studies showed a constant low level of c‐fos and c‐jun expression in unstimulated cells with no significant change after addition of either TPA or calcium except when transcript breakdown was inhibited by cycloheximide. The c‐myc proto‐oncogene, known to have a high constitutive expression in actively proliferating cells, was strongly downregulated by TPA, but calcium had no effect over a 32 hour period, consistent with the greater growth inhibition of TPA in this system. Involucrin was induced about ninefold by both TPA and calcium as early as 8 hours after stimulation, suggesting transcriptional regulation of this gene during differentiation. L‐7, recently demonstrated to be downregulated in late passage human fibroblasts in an in vitro model of senescence, was also strongly downregulated by either TPA or calcium, consistent with an interrelationship between the basic cellular processes of aging and differentiation. These finding expand our knowledge of the differentiation process in human keratinocytes. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distributed event-triggered cooperative attitude control of multiple rigid bodies with leader–follower architecture

In this note, the distributed event-triggered cooperative attitude control of multiple rigid bodies with leader–follower architecture is investigated, where both the cases of static and dynamic leaders are all considered. Two distributed triggering procedures are first introduced for the followers and leaders, and then the distributed cooperative controllers are designed under the proposed triggering schemes. Under the designed controllers with the event-triggered strategies, it is shown that the orientations of followers converge to the convex hull formed by the desired leaders’ orientations with zero angular velocities. Moreover, the communication pressure in network is reduced and the energy of each agent is saved. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Novel Tonoplast Transporters Identified Using a Proteomic Approach with Vacuoles Isolated from Cauliflower Buds1[W][OA]

Young meristematic plant cells contain a large number of small vacuoles, while the largest part of the vacuome in mature cells is composed by a large central vacuole, occupying 80% to 90% of the cell volume. Thus far, only a limited number of vacuolar membrane proteins have been identified and characterized. The proteomic approach is a powerful tool to identify new vacuolar membrane proteins. To analyze vacuoles from growing tissues we isolated vacuoles from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) buds, which are constituted by a large amount of small cells but also contain cells in expansion as well as fully expanded cells. Here we show that using purified cauliflower vacuoles and different extraction procedures such as saline, NaOH, acetone, and chloroform/methanol and analyzing the data against the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) database 102 cauliflower integral proteins and 214 peripheral proteins could be identified. The vacuolar pyrophosphatase was the most prominent protein. From the 102 identified proteins 45 proteins were already described. Nine of these, corresponding to 46% of peptides detected, are known vacuolar proteins. We identified 57 proteins (55.9%) containing at least one membrane spanning domain with unknown subcellular localization. A comparison of the newly identified proteins with expression profiles from in silico data revealed that most of them are highly expressed in young, developing tissues. To verify whether the newly identified proteins were indeed localized in the vacuole we constructed and expressed green fluorescence protein fusion proteins for five putative vacuolar membrane proteins exhibiting three to 11 transmembrane domains. Four of them, a putative organic cation transporter, a nodulin N21 family protein, a membrane protein of unknown function, and a senescence related membrane protein were localized in the vacuolar membrane, while a white-brown ATP-binding cassette transporter homolog was shown to reside in the plasma membrane. These results demonstrate that proteomic analysis of highly purified vacuoles from specific tissues allows the identification of new vacuolar proteins and provides an additional view of tonoplastic proteins.
Recreation, parks, and the public health agenda: developing collaborative surveillance frameworks to measure leisure time activity and active park use.

BACKGROUND The purposes of this study were to review surveillance of recreation and park use to determine adaptations for tracking leisure time physical activity and increasing collaboration to achieve public health goals. METHODS Surveillance in public health and parks and recreation and discussions at the 2006 Cooper Institute conference were reviewed. RESULTS This review suggested four actions to improve collaborative surveillance of leisure time physical activity and active park use. The proposals are to incorporate more detailed measures of leisure time physical activity and active park visits into park surveillance; include key park, recreation, and leisure items in public health surveillance; assess active park visits and leisure time physical activity more frequently; and establish public health physical activity objectives for parks and recreation and outdoor recreation participation. CONCLUSIONS These proposals can facilitate collaboration between public health and parks and recreation and exploration of active park use and outdoor recreation in relation to health.
Bisubstrate Inhibitors of the Enzyme Catechol O‐Methyltransferase (COMT): Efficient Inhibition Despite the Lack of a Nitro Group

Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalyzes the O-methylation of catechols by S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) in the presence of Mg ions. Inhibition of COMT offers a therapeutic handle to reduce catecholamine metabolism, therefore providing a valuable complement for the treatment of CNS (central nervous system) disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and possibly schizophrenia. The most efficacious therapy for Parkinson’s disease uses l-Dopa. The introduction of COMT-inhibitors (tolcapone (Tasmar8) and entacapone (Comtan8)) as adjuncts to this treatment has resulted in considerable therapeutic improvement, helping to substantially prolong the efficacy of l-Dopa dosage by preventing its catabolism through O-methylation. On the other hand, in some cases, adverse effects of hepatotoxicity have been associated with the use of tolcapone. It has been hypothesized that the hepatotoxic effect may be related to the nitrocatechol core structure of the drug. Therefore, the preparation of COMT inhibitors lacking the nitro group might be of advantage. However, this group is regarded as a key element for tight and reversible binding to the substrate pocket in the active site. Substitution of the nitro group by weaker electron-withdrawing substituents drastically reduces the affinity of catechols to COMT. Furthermore, the electron-withdrawing effect of the nitro group is reflected by a
A Multiscale Approach to Assess the Complex Surface of Polyurethane Catheters and the Effects of a New Plasma Decontamination Treatment on the Surface Properties

Abstract Polyurethane catheters made of Pellethane 2363-80AE® were treated with a low temperature plasma developed for the decontamination of reusable polymer devices in hospitals. We investigated the modifications of the polymer surface by studying the topographic modifications, the chemical modifications, and their consequences on the wettability and bacterial adhesion. This study showed that plasma treatment modified the topography and grafted oxygen and nitrogen species onto the surface, resulting in an increase in the surface polarity. This effect could be correlated to the number of nitrogen atoms interacting with the surface. Moreover, this study demonstrated the significance of multiscale heterogeneities, and the complexity of industrial medical devices made from polymers. Their surface can be heterogeneous, and they contain additives that can migrate and change the surface composition.
Comparision of the BAX® System with an in-house MSRV method for the detection of Salmonella in chicken carcasses and pork meat

A study was performed to compare the analytical procedure of the BAX® System for Salmonella PCR assay with the Modified Semi-Solid Rappaport-Vassiliadis (MSRV) method, for the detection of Salmonella in naturally contaminated chicken carcass samples (n = 762) and raw pork meat (n = 566). The chicken carcasses samples were collected during slaughtering after defeathering or immediately after evisceration and the raw pork meat collected from the deboned head of recently slaughtered pigs and others deboned raw fresh pork meat. The BAX® System detected 134 Salmonella-positive samples in chicken carcasses and 145 samples in pork meat, while the MSRV method isolated 142 and 144 Salmonella-positive samples, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the two methods for chicken carcasses and pork meat, according to McNemar test at the 5% level.
catena-Poly[[trimethyltin(IV)]-μ-3,5-difluorobenzoato-κ2 O:O′]

In the title compound, [Sn(CH3)3(C7H3F2O2)]n, the central Sn atom is coordinated by two O atoms from the anion and three methyl C atoms in a polymeric fashion owing to the presence of bidentate bridging carboxylate ligands. The five-coordinate Sn atom exists in a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal geometry with the molecules connected by weak C—H⋯F intermoleclar interactions, forming supramolecular chains parallel to [010].