Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Anion-Proton Coupling in Mammalian Endosomal CLC Proteins*

Many proteins of the CLC gene family are Cl- channels, whereas others, like the bacterial ecClC-1 or mammalian ClC-4 and -5, mediate Cl-/H+ exchange. Mutating a “gating glutamate” (Glu-224 in ClC-4 and Glu-211 in ClC-5) converted these exchangers into anion conductances, as did the neutralization of another, intracellular “proton glutamate” in ecClC-1. We show here that neutralizing the proton glutamate of ClC-4 (Glu-281) and ClC-5 (Glu-268), but not replacing it with aspartate, histidine, or tyrosine, rather abolished Cl- and H+ transport. Surface expression was unchanged by these mutations. Uncoupled Cl- transport could be restored in the ClC-4E281A and ClC-5E268A proton glutamate mutations by additionally neutralizing the gating glutamates, suggesting that wild type proteins transport anions only when protons are supplied through a cytoplasmic H+ donor. Each monomeric unit of the dimeric protein was found to be able to carry out Cl-/H+ exchange independently from the transport activity of the neighboring subunit. \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}\) \end{document} or SCN- transport was partially uncoupled from H+ countertransport but still depended on the proton glutamate. Inserting proton glutamates into CLC channels altered their gating but failed to convert them into Cl-/H+ exchangers. Noise analysis indicated that ClC-5 switches between silent and transporting states with an apparent unitary conductance of 0.5 picosiemens. Our results are consistent with the idea that Cl-/H+ exchange of the endosomal ClC-4 and -5 proteins relies on proton delivery from an intracellular titratable residue at position 268 (numbering of ClC-5) and that the strong rectification of currents arises from the voltage-dependent proton transfer from Glu-268 to Glu-211.
Abiotic stress protection by ecologically abundant dimethylsulfoniopropionate and its natural and synthetic derivatives: insights from Bacillus subtilis.

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is an abundant osmolyte and anti-stress compound produced primarily in marine ecosystems. After its release into the environment, microorganisms can exploit DMSP as a source of sulfur and carbon, or accumulate it as an osmoprotectant. However, import systems for this ecophysiologically important compatible solute, and its stress-protective properties for microorganisms that do not produce it are insufficiently understood. Here we address these questions using a well-characterized set of Bacillus subtilis mutants to chemically profile the influence of DMSP import on stress resistance, the osmostress-adaptive proline pool and on osmotically controlled gene expression. We included in this study the naturally occurring selenium analogue of DMSP, dimethylseleniopropionate (DMSeP), as well as a set of synthetic DMSP derivatives. We found that DMSP is not a nutrient for B. subtilis, but it serves as an excellent stress protectant against challenges conferred by sustained high salinity or lasting extremes in both low and high growth temperatures. DMSeP and synthetic DMSP derivatives retain part of these stress protective attributes, but DMSP is clearly the more effective stress protectant. We identified the promiscuous and widely distributed ABC transporter OpuC as a high-affinity uptake system not only for DMSP, but also for its natural and synthetic derivatives.
Determinants of Economic Growth in South East Asia: An Analysis for the First Decade of the Third Millennium

This paper examines determinants of economic growth in South East Asia during the first decade of the third millennium -- the 2000s. Building on the growth model initially developed by Loayza et al. (2005), and augmented by Araujo et al. (2014), estimates are obtained for the impact that transitional convergence, structural reforms, stabilization policies, and external conditions had on economic growth in the South East Asian region during the 2000s. The most important driver of economic growth was transitional convergence, accounting for about one half of the region's growth. Improvements in structural reforms and favorable external conditions accounted for about one quarter of growth. Stabilization policies had a negligible impact.
Uncovering the subtype-specific temporal order of cancer pathway dysregulation

Cancer is driven by genetic mutations that dysregulate pathways important for proper cell function. Therefore, discovering these cancer pathways and their dysregulation order is key to understanding and treating cancer. However, the heterogeneity of mutations between different individuals makes this challenging and requires that cancer progression is studied in a subtype-specific way. To address this challenge, we provide a mathematical model, called Subtype-specific Pathway Linear Progression Model (SPM), that simultaneously captures cancer subtypes and pathways and order of dysregulation of the pathways within each subtype. Experiments with synthetic data indicate the robustness of SPM to problem specifics including noise compared to an existing method. Moreover, experimental results on glioblastoma multiforme and colorectal adenocarcinoma show the consistency of SPM’s results with the existing knowledge and its superiority to an existing method in certain cases. The implementation of our method is available at https://github.com/Dalton386/SPM.
Identification of an IP3 receptor in endothelial cells

In this study we have used saponin to permeabilize bovine endothelial cell membranes in order to directly test the involvement of IP3 in regulating internal Ca2+ release. Our results indicate that the release of internal Ca2+ occurs as early as 1–3 seconds after IP3 addition. This IP3‐induced internal Ca2+ release can be inhibited by heparin (an IP3 receptor antagonist). Further binding of [3H]IP3 to saponin‐permeabilized bovine endothelial cells reveals the presence of a single, high affinity class of IP3 receptor with a dissociation constant (Kd) of ≈0.50 (±0.03) nM. Using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against IP3 receptor, we have established that the bovine endothelial cell IP3 receptor (≈260 kDa) displays immunological cross‐reactivity with the rat brain IP3 receptor. Immunofluorescence data indicates that the IP3 receptor is preferentially located at the perinuclear region of the cells. In addition, PCR analysis of first‐strand cDNAs from both bovine endothelial cells and rat brain tissues reveals that the IP3 receptor transcript in bovine endothelial cells belongs to the short non‐neuronal form and not the long neuronal form detected in rat brain tissue. These findings suggest that the IP3 receptor in endothelial cells is both structurally and functionally analogous to that reported in non‐neuronal cell systems and probably plays an important role in agonist‐induced endothelial cell activation. © 1994 wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment methods in human body composition

Purpose of reviewThe present study reviews the most recently developed and commonly used methods for the determination of human body composition in vivo with relevance for nutritional assessment. Recent findingsBody composition measurement methods are continuously being perfected with the most commonly used methods being bioelectrical impedance analysis, dilution techniques, air displacement plethysmography, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and MRI or magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Recent developments include three-dimensional photonic scanning and quantitative magnetic resonance. Collectively, these techniques allow for the measurement of fat, fat-free mass, bone mineral content, total body water, extracellular water, total adipose tissue and its subdepots (visceral, subcutaneous, and intermuscular), skeletal muscle, select organs, and ectopic fat depots. SummaryThere is an ongoing need to perfect methods that provide information beyond mass and structure (static measures) to kinetic measures that yield information on metabolic and biological functions. On the basis of the wide range of measurable properties, analytical methods and known body composition models, clinicians and scientists can quantify a number of body components and with longitudinal assessment, can track changes in health and disease with implications for understanding efficacy of nutritional and clinical interventions, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in clinical settings. With the greater need to understand precursors of health risk beginning in childhood, a gap exists in appropriate in-vivo measurement methods beginning at birth.
Endocochlear potential and endolymphatic K+ changes induced by gap junction blockers

Objective—To examine the effects of gap junction blockers on the endocochlear potential (EP) and endolymphatic potassium concentration ([K+]e). Material and Methods—The EP and [K+]e were monitored using double-barreled ion-selective microelectrodes in the second turn of the guinea pig cochlea during perilymphatic perfusion. Results—When the perilymphatic scalae of the cochlea were perfused with artificial perilymph containing 10 mM n-heptanol the EP was decreased by −8.8±1.4 mV (n=10), and this was accompanied by a decline in the [K+]e of −6.7±2.1 mM (n=6). Perilymphatic application of 10 mM hexanol also produced declines in both the EP and [K+]e. In control studies, perilymphatic perfusion with 10 mM ethanol showed no remarkable changes in either the EP or [K+]e. Anoxia during perfusion with heptanol resulted in the generation of a negative EP, similar to the situation in controls. Conclusions—A decline in the EP together with a lowering of [K+]e induced by long-chain n-alkanols, which act as gap junction blockers, may be explained by an interruption in potassium ion transport related to a gap junction dysfunction.
It's Not All Fiscal: Effects of Income, Fiscal Policy, and Wealth on Private Consumption

We attempt to disentangle income and wealth effects on consumption by disaggregating both the different types of income and wealth. We estimate a consumption function for a panel of quarterly data for 14 advanced economies spanning 1998 to 2012, using an error correction specification. We find a significant long-term relation between consumption and the different components of income and wealth. While fiscal policy had direct effects on consumption, the analysis suggests that wealth effects were sizeable, and therefore need to be kept in mind when analyzing consumption trends going forward.
Efficient calculation of the Greeks for exponential Lévy processes: an application of measure valued differentiation

Monte Carlo simulation methods have become more and more important in the financial sector in the past years. In this paper, we introduce a new simulation method for the estimation of the derivatives of prices of financial contracts with respect to (w.r.t.) certain distributional parameters called the ‘Greeks’. In particular, we assume that the underlying financial process is a Lévy-type process in discrete time. Our method is based on the Measure-Valued Differentiation (MVD) approach, which allows representation of derivatives as differences of two processes, called the phantoms. We discuss the applicability of MVD for different types of option pay-offs in combination with different types of models of the underlying and provide a framework for the applicability of MVD for path-dependent pay-off functions, as Lookback Options or Asian Options.
The Learning for a Sustainable Environment Project: A Case Study of an Action Network for Teacher Education

Education has an enormously important role to play in motivating and empowering citizens to participate in environmental improvement and protection. Nearly three decades ago, Schumacher (1973) described education as our ‘greatest resource’ in his endeavour. In the last decade, major international reports have stressed this also. The theme of the Brundtland Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living (prepared as the World Conservation Strategy for the 1990s) (1991), and Agenda 21 (the Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro) (1992) is that it is possible to sustain ways of living that can redress environmental decline without jeopardising the ecosystem or resources base for the future. Each report speaks to the imperative of education to engender this ethic (see Fien 1995). In the Asia-Pacific region also, education has been identified as a critical factor and countries have adopted a range of strategies for implementing programs in environmental education. Many workshops and training programs have been organised since 1986 Regional Meeting of Experts in Bangkok at which an action plan was developed for environmental education from primary through post graduate levels. Significant work is taking place in redefining environmental education in a Pacific context, particularly to incorporate concepts of sustainable development. Much exploration of how teacher education can rise to the occasion of the great need for environmental education and for teacher education in environmental education is on-going in the region (see Fien & Corcoran 1996).
Expression of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) determines colorectal cancer response to chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important health problem all over the world. A great improvement in the screening and early detection of CRC has been achieved. However, a new molecular prognostic marker is largely required. Glucose regulated protein 78-kDa (GRP78) is the central regulator of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and has an important role in the proliferation, differentiation and resistance to chemotherapy in cancer cells. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of elevated level of GRP78 on CRC prognosis and chemosensitivity. METHODS Sixty eight CRC tissue samples were collected and protein expression of GRP78 was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological factors of the patients were correlated with GRP78 level. RESULTS GRP78 expression increased with the progression from early to advanced CRC stages. In addition, GRP78 level was increased with the progression from early T1-2 to late T3-4 tumor localization (p< 0.05). Moreover, a significant association was found between GRP78 expression and response to chemotherapy (p< 0.05). Association between GRP78 expression and patient's clinical characteristics including lymph node involvement and metastasis was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest the possibility to use GRP78 as a biomarker for progression of CRC and its chemosensitivity to therapy.
Cambio climático y modelado de distribución de especies de Stevia (Asteraceae) en el noroeste de la Argentina

La elevada biodiversidad y riqueza especifica, junto con una gran variedad de ecosistemas, convierten al noroeste de la Argentina (NOA) en un area adecuada para estudiar los posibles efectos del cambio climatico sobre la distribucion de los organismos. Asteraceae es una familia de plantas con flores bien representada en esta area; en especial, el genero Stevia , con 25 especies que habitan diferentes ambientes. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: 1) modelar la aptitud de habitat para cinco especies de Stevia que habitan el noroeste argentino, y 2) proyectar dicha aptitud bajo un posible escenario de emision de gases de efecto invernadero para el ano 2050. Se analizaron las especies S. alpina , S. breviaristata , S. minor , S. vaga y S. yaconensis . Los resultados mostraron que, al comparar los mapas basados en condiciones climaticas actuales y futuras, todas las especies de Stevia sufririan modificaciones en sus rangos de aptitud. Las tendencias observadas en ambos escenarios climaticos futuros son similares, aunque mas drasticas en el modelo rcp8.5. El area de aptitud de Stevia alpina , S. breviaristata y S. minor se veria reducida, mientras que la de S. vaga y S. yaconensis aumentaria. Excepto S. minor , las especies presentaron una tendencia principal a migrar del este al oeste, un fenomeno conocido como desplazamiento en altura. Stevia minor seria la especie mas afectada en un escenario de mayor emision de gases; sufriria una reduccion mayor a 80% para valores de aptitud superiores a 0.65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.17. 27.3. 0.588
Cryopreserved chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells analyzed by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization after optimized mitogen stimulation

We investigated the utility of multicolor in situ fluorescence hybridization (mFISH) on cryopreserved blood cells from 11 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. The results demonstrate that an individually chosen optimized mitogen combination induces proliferation of neoplastic B‐cells after cryopreservation. Abnormal cells were detected in eight samples by mFISH, and, in six samples, the abnormality could be verified by comparative genomic hybridization or interphase FISH. In addition to typical CLL abnormalities, such as del(11q) or +12, several balanced translocations and single‐cell abnormalities were found. Thus, mFISH can reveal new prognostically relevant chromosome aberrations in CLL. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Efficient New Scheme of Fitness Evaluation in Genetic Programming using the R Language

The aim of this paper is to propose and analyze several fitness evaluation schemes for solving regression problems using Genetic Programming. The proposed schemes are designed considering the particularities and characteristics of the R Language, and particularly the capacities of the language for matrix manipulation and mathematical expressions evaluation. Experimental results show that some the proposed schemes are able to reduce until 99% the time spend in fitness evaluation in comparison with the original genetic programming implementation using a traditional tree structure.
Innate, antigen‐independent role for T cells in the activation of the immune system by Propionibacterium acnes

Propionibacterium acnes is a human commensal but also an opportunistic pathogen. In mice, P. acnes exerts strong immunomodulatory activities, including formation of intrahepatic granulomas and induction of LPS hypersensitivity. These activities are dependent on P. acnes recognition via TLR9 and subsequent IL‐12‐mediated IFN‐γ production. We show that P. acnes elicits IL‐12p40 and p35 mRNA expression in macrophages, and IFN‐γ mRNA in liver CD4+ T cells and NK cells. After priming with P. acnes, CD4+ T cells serve as the major IFN‐γ mRNA source. In the absence of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells (regardless of antigenic specificity) or NK cells can produce sufficient IFN‐γ to induce the P. acnes‐driven immune effects. Moreover, in the absence of αβT cells, γδT cells also enable the development of strongly enhanced TNF‐α and IFN‐γ responses to LPS and intrahepatic granuloma formation. Thus, under microbial pressure, different T‐cell types, independent of their antigen specificity, exert NK‐cell‐like functions, which contribute decisively to the activation of the innate immune system.
Effect of ear acupressure on acute postpartum perineal pain: a randomised controlled study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore the effect of ear acupressure in relieving perineal pain in women during the first 48 hours after delivery. BACKGROUND Perineal pain is a common problem during postpartum, and different treatment modalities have been used for relief. Ear acupressure has been reported to have possible benefit on relieving acute postpartum perineal pain. DESIGN This study was designed as a prospective, randomised controlled trial. METHODS Chinese women with a singleton vertex foetus at the gestation of 37 weeks or above were recruited. One hundred and twenty six and 130 women were randomised into the intervention and control groups, respectively. Women in the intervention group received application of tapes and seeds on four designated acupressure points on both ears, while women in the control group received tapes on four irrelevant points. Both groups were instructed to stimulate the points in a similar fashion. Pain perception was assessed by the Verbal Descriptive Pain Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale, and the consumption of analgesics was also reviewed. RESULTS No significant difference in perineal pain perception between the groups was observed in Verbal Descriptive Pain Scale. Although the mean Visual Analogue Scale and the accumulative mean consumption of paracetamol were generally lower in the intervention group, statistical significance was not reached. CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence so far to conclude that ear acupressure can effectively relieve perineal pain based on the statistical results. Further research is suggested to explore whether the effectiveness of pain relief is affected by the frequency and duration of acupressure point stimulation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Training of midwives to perform this intervention is easy to achieve, but further evidence is required to prove its effectiveness.
A Virus-Encoded Inhibitor That Blocks RNA Interference in Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT Nodamura virus (NoV) is a small RNA virus that is infectious for insect and mammalian hosts. We have developed a highly sensitive assay of RNA interference (RNAi) in mammalian cells that shows that the NoV B2 protein functions as an inhibitor of RNAi triggered by either short hairpin RNAs or small interfering RNAs. In the cell, NoV B2 binds to pre-Dicer substrate RNA and RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)-processed RNAs and inhibits the Dicer cleavage reaction and, potentially, one or more post-Dicer activities. In vitro, NoV B2 inhibits Dicer-mediated RNA cleavage in the absence of any other host factors and specifically binds double-stranded RNAs corresponding in structure to Dicer substrates and products. Its abilities to bind to Dicer precursor and post-Dicer RISC-processed RNAs suggest a mechanism of inhibition that is unique among known viral inhibitors of RNAi.
Fast and efficient coding of information sources

The author considers the problem of source coding and investigates the cases of known and unknown statistics. The efficiency of the compression codes can be estimated by three characteristics: 1) the redundancy (r), defined as the maximal difference between the average codeword length and Shannon entropy in case the letters are generated by a Bernoulli source; 2) the size (in bits) of the encoder and the encoder programs (S) when implemented on a computer; and 3) the average time required for encoding and decoding of a single letter (T). He investigates S and T as a function of r when r/spl rarr/0. All known methods may be divided into two classes. The Ziv-Lempel codes and their variants fall under the first class, and the arithmetic code with the Lynch-Davisson code fall under the second one. The codes from the first class need exponential memory size S=0(exp(1/r)) for redundancy r when r/spl rarr/O. The methods from the second class have a small memory size but a low encoding speed: S=0(1/r/sup const/), T=0(log/sup const/(1/r) log log (1/r)). In this paper, the author presents a code that combines the merits of both classes; the memory size is small and the speed is high: S=0(1/r/sup const/),T=0(log/sup const/(1/r) log log (1/r)). >