Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanical stimuli and nutrients regulate rapamycin‐sensitive signaling through distinct mechanisms in skeletal muscle

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been identified as a growth factor and nutrient‐sensitive molecule that controls the translational machinery and cell growth. Rapamycin‐sensitive (RS) signaling events have also been shown to be necessary for mechanical load‐induced growth of skeletal muscle, but the mechanisms involved in the mechanical activation of RS signaling are not known. The finding that mechanical stimuli induce nutrient uptake in skeletal muscle raises the possibility that mechanically induced RS signaling is mediated via a nutrient‐dependent mechanism. To investigate this hypothesis, skeletal muscles (ex vivo) were stimulated with nutrients or intermittent mechanical stretch and the phosphorylation of p70S6k [P‐p70(389)], PKB [P‐PKB], mTOR [P‐mTOR(2481)], and p38 [P‐p38] was assessed. In comparison to vehicle‐treated controls, both nutrient and mechanical stimuli induced P‐p70(389), neither stimulus altered P‐PKB or P‐mTOR(2481), and only mechanical stimuli induced P‐p38. The nutrient and mechanically induced increase in P‐p70(389) was blocked by rapamycin, but only nutrient‐induced signaling to P‐p70(389) was blocked by wortmannin. Furthermore, the mechanically induced increase in P‐p70(389) was not impaired by the removal of exogenous nutrients. Taken together, these results indicate that exogenous nutrients are not required for mechanically induced RS signaling and that nutrient and mechanical stimuli activate RS signaling through distinct upstream mechanisms. J. Cell. Biochem. 97: 1207–1216, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using Public–Private Interplay to Climate-Proof Urban Planning? Critical Lessons from Developing a new Housing District in Karlstad, Sweden

While strengthening public–private interplay is expected to improve the climate profile of urban planning in terms of mitigation and adaptation, less is known about the practice of such new interactive modes of governing. The paper critically examines the role, benefits and limitations of extended public–private interplay in developing a new housing district in Sweden. The developer dialogue between municipal officials and property developers confirms mutual interests, shared understandings and the added value of interacting. However, the closer the dialogue comes to settling agreements, the more difficult it gets for municipal officials to steer the process and its outcomes in favor of climate proofing. Complications with adapting to the new interactive setting means that municipal officials balance between acting as facilitators and/or regulators and property developers between acting as partners, competitors and/or defenders. Refining steering-strategies for sustaining commitments and securing formal agreements are pertinent for using public–private interplay to climate-proof urban planning.
Nostalgia-motivated Thai domestic tourism at Amphawa, Thailand

ABSTRACT Amphawa is the site of a large floating market dating from the eighteenth century. After three decades of dormancy, Amphawa has experienced a revival of tourism development since 2004, and has become a popular weekend destination and a site in an emerging trend of nostalgia-motivated tourism among Thai domestic travellers. Based on interviews with 33 domestic Thai tourists, the paper discusses the role of nostalgia as a motivating factor for Thai visitors to Amphawa, and seeks to understand the elements and aspects of the site that evoke nostalgic emotions. The paper draws on the distinction between restorative nostalgia, which affirms narratives of shared identity, and reflective nostalgia, which draws on individual memories of one’s personal past. This article seeks to contribute to an understanding of the nostalgia-motivated tourism trend within the sociocultural context of contemporary Thailand, and to explore the motivation of Thai domestic tourists at a cultural destination.
Characterization of four types of background potassium channels in rat cerebellar granule neurons

Cerebellar granule neurons express a standing outward (background) K+ current (IK,SO) that regulates the resting membrane potential and cell excitability. As several tandem‐pore (2P) K+ channel mRNAs are highly expressed in cerebellar granule cells, we studied whether, and which, 2P K+ channels contribute to IK,SO. IK,SO was highly sensitive to changes in extracellular pH and was partially inhibited by acetylcholine, as reported previously. In cell‐attached patches from cultured cerebellar granule neurons, four types of K+ channels were found to be active when membrane potential was held at −50 mV or +50 mV in symmetrical 140 mm) KCl. Based on single‐channel conductances, gating kinetics and modulation by pharmacological agents and pH, three K+ channels could be considered as functional correlates of TASK‐1, TASK‐3 and TREK‐2, which are members of the 2P K+ channel family. The fourth K+ channel (Type 4) has not been described previously and its molecular correlate is not yet known. Based on the measurement of channel current densities, the Type 2 (TASK‐3) and the Type 4 K+ channels were determined to be the major sources of IK,SO in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. The Type 1 (TASK‐1) and Type 3 (TREK‐2) activities were relatively low throughout cell growth in culture (1‐10 days). Similar to TASK‐1 and TASK‐3, the Type 4 K+ channel was highly sensitive to changes in extracellular pH, showing a 78 % inhibition by changing the extracellular pH from 7.3 to 6.3. The results of this study show that three 2P K+ channels and an additional pH‐sensing K+ channel (Type 4) comprise the IK,SO in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. Our results also show that the high sensitivity of IK,SO to extracellular pH comes from the high sensitivity of Type 2 (TASK‐3) and Type 4 K+ channels.
Expression profiling of colon cancer cell lines and colon biopsies: towards a screening system for potential cancer-preventive compounds

Interest in mechanisms of colon cancer prevention by food compounds is strong and research in this area is often performed with cultured colon cancer cells. In order to assess utility for screening of potential cancer-preventive (food) compounds, expression profiles of 14 human cell lines derived from colonic tissue were measured using cDNA microarrays with 4000 genes and compared with expression profiles in biopsies of human colon tumours and normal tissue. Differences and similarities in the gene expression profiles of the cell lines were analysed by clustering and principal component analysis (PCA). Cytoskeleton genes and immune response genes are two functional classes of genes that contributed to the differences between the cell lines. A subset of 72 colon cancer-specific genes was identified by comparing expression profiles in human colon biopsies of tumour tissue and normal tissue. A separation of the cell lines based on the tumour stage of the original adenocarcinoma was observed after PCA of expression data of the subset of colon cancer-specific genes in the cell lines. The results of this study may be useful in the ongoing research into mechanisms of cancer prevention by dietary components.
A review of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation in pathology: are T1 and T2 diagnostic?

The longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times of pathological human and animal tissues in the frequency range 1-100 MHz are archived, reviewed, and analyzed as a function of tissue of origin, NMR frequency, temperature, species, and in vivo versus in vitro status. T1 data from specific disease states of the bone, brain, breast, kidney, liver, muscle, pancreas, and spleen can be characterized by simple dispersions of the form T1 = AvB in the range 1-100 MHz with A and B empirically determined pathology-dependent constants. Pathological tissue T2 values are essentially independent of NMR frequency. Raw relaxation data, best-fit T1 parameters A and B, and the mean T2 values, are tabulated along with standard deviations and sample size to establish the normal range of pathological tissue relaxation times applicable to NMR imaging or in vitro NMR examination. Statistical analysis of relaxation data, assumed independent, reveals that most tumor and edematous tissue T1 values and some breast, liver, and muscle tumor T2 values are significantly elevated (p greater than or equal to 0.95) relative to normal, but do not differ significantly from other tumors and pathologies. Statistically significant abnormalities in the T1 values of some brain, breast, and lung tumors, and most pathological tissue T2 values could not, however, be demonstrated in the presence of large statistical errors. Both T1 and T2 in uninvolved tissue from tumor-bearing animals or organs do not demonstrate statistically significant differences from normal when considered as a group, suggesting no appreciable systemic effects associated with the presence of tumors compared to the statistical uncertainty. Statistical prediction analysis for both T1 and T2 indicates that of all the tissues studied, only liver hepatoma can be reliably distinguished from normal liver based on a single T1 measurement (p greater than or equal to 0.95) given the scatter in the current published data. Indeed, data scatter, not easily attributable to temperature, species, in vivo versus in vitro status, the inclusion of implanted or chemical induced tumors, or the possible existence of multiple component relaxation, is recognized as the major factor inhibiting the diagnostic utility of quantitative NMR relaxation measurements. Malignancy indexes that combine T1 and T2 data as a diagnostic indicator suffer similar problems of uncertainty. The literature review reveals a dearth of information on the temperature and frequency dependence of pathological tissue relaxation and the possible existence of multiple relaxation components. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Embracing the complexity of extreme weather events when quantifying their likelihood of recurrence in a warming world

Global-average temperatures are a powerful metric for both long-term climate change policy, and also to measure the aggregate fluctuations in weather experienced around the world. However, here we show how the consideration of anomalies in annual temperatures at the global land-average scale, particularly during extremely hot years, tends to overestimate the perceived severity of extreme heat actually felt by local communities during these events. Thus, when global-mean temperatures are used as a proxy to infer the role of climate change on the likelihood of witnessing hot years, the component of extreme event risk attributed to human influence can also be overstated. This study suggests multiple alternative approaches to characterise extreme weather events which have complex spatial signatures, each of which improve the representation of perceived experiences from the event when compared with the default approach of using area-averaged time-series. However, as the definition of an extreme event becomes more specific to the observed characteristics witnessed, changes are needed in the way researchers discuss the likelihood of witnessing ‘similar events’ with future climate change. Using the example of the 2016 hot year, we propose an alternative framework, termed the ‘Time of Maximum Similarity’, to show that events like the record-breaking annual temperatures of 2016 are most likely to be witnessed between 2010–2037, with hot years thereafter becoming significantly more severe than the heat of 2016.
Measurement, imprecision and uncertainty in financial accounting: Can double entry be understood with fuzzy numbers?

The concepts of measurement and information are central to the accountancy model of the representation of business (Mattesich, 1964; Ijiri, 1967 & 1975; Sterling, 1970). The classical financial accounting remains based on elementary arithmetic (groups of differences constructed on the commutative and cancelling monoid of the real positives supplied by addition) (Ellerman, 1986), and it is not conceived to take into account the imprecision which can vitiate the information with which it is dealing. The underlying measurement is purely quantitative and precise at the same time. In the face of the emergence of a certain number of dysfunctions (Casta, 1993), it is possible to extend the system of financial accountability in double entry to a treatment of a quantitative report which is imprecise, indeed, subjective. The fuzzy-sets theory creates a general framework in theory in order to explore the principle of the limits of such an extension. However, this step, apparently direct, needs a profound re-examination of its own semantic with the accounting context of measuring the assets and the profit or loss
Rethinking organizational resilience and strategic renewal in SMEs

ABSTRACT Building on work that associates organizational resilience with crisis recovery and strategic renewal, I examine how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) vary in the formalisation of activities intended to achieve strategic growth and activities to enhance resilience against acute operational interruptions. Drawing on data from 265 SMEs in the United Kingdom, the main argument of this paper is that variations in formalisation activities reflect differences in firm location, personal networks, the influence of external crisis events, and entrepreneurs’ attitudes towards the prevention of crises. The resulting typology identifies four clusters: Attentive Interventionists, Light Planners, Rooted Strategists and Reliant Neighbours. These findings contrast with prior theorizations of firms as either resilient or vulnerable and further illuminate our understanding of SME resilience and how this is shaped by historical, developmental and strategic factors. The study further develops associations between resilience and social capital, examines how locational choices generate a proximity premium, and develops a growth-survival-maturity perspective on SME resilience. Data reveals an interplay between an ensemble of entrepreneurial activities and decisions about planning, networks, learning, and location. Thus, the study offers a rethinking of prior theorizations about organizational resilience and strategic renewal.
Plant Proteogenomics: Improvements to the Grapevine Genome Annotation

Grapevine is an important perennial fruit to the wine industry, and has implications for the health industry with some causative agents proven to reduce heart disease. Since the sequencing and assembly of grapevine cultivar Pinot Noir, several studies have contributed to its genome annotation. This new study further contributes toward genome annotation efforts by conducting a proteogenomics analysis using the latest genome annotation from CRIBI, legacy proteomics dataset from cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon and a large RNA‐seq dataset. A total of 341 novel annotation events are identified consisting of five frame‐shifts, 37 translated UTRs, 15 exon boundaries, one novel splice, nine novel exons, 159 gene boundaries, 112 reverse strands, and one novel gene event in 213 genes and 323 proteins. From this proteogenomics evidence, the Augustus gene prediction tool predicted 52 novel and revised genes (54 protein isoforms), 11 genes of which are associated with key traits such as stress tolerance and floral and fruity wine characteristics. This study also highlights a likely over‐assembly with the genome, particularly on chromosome 7.
Measurement of motion detection of Wireless Capsule Endoscope inside large intestine

Wireless Capsule Endoscope (WCE) provides a noninvasive way to inspect the entire Gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including large intestine, where intestinal diseases most likely occur. As a critical component of capsule endoscopic examination, physicians need to know the precise position of the endoscopic capsule in order to identify the position of detected intestinal diseases. Knowing how the capsule moves inside the large intestine would greatly complement the existing wireless localization systems by providing the motion information. Since the most recently released WCE can take up to 6 frames per second, it's possible to estimate the movement of the capsule by processing the successive image sequence. In this paper, a computer vision based approach without utilizing any external device is proposed to estimate the motion of WCE inside the large intestine. The proposed approach estimate the displacement and rotation of the capsule by calculating entropy and mutual information between frames using Fibonacci method. The obtained results of this approach show its stability and better performance over other existing approaches of motion measurements. Meanwhile, findings of this paper lay a foundation for motion pattern of WCEs inside the large intestine, which will benefit other medical applications.
Genome scan of human systemic lupus erythematosus: evidence for linkage on chromosome 1q in African-American pedigrees.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by production of autoantibodies against intracellular antigens including DNA, ribosomal P, Ro (SS-A), La (SS-B), and the spliceosome. Etiology is suspected to involve genetic and environmental factors. Evidence of genetic involvement includes: associations with HLA-DR3, HLA-DR2, Fcgamma receptors (FcgammaR) IIA and IIIA, and hereditary complement component deficiencies, as well as familial aggregation, monozygotic twin concordance >20%, lambdas > 10, purported linkage at 1q41-42, and inbred mouse strains that consistently develop lupus. We have completed a genome scan in 94 extended multiplex pedigrees by using model-based linkage analysis. Potential [log10 of the odds for linkage (lod) > 2.0] SLE loci have been identified at chromosomes 1q41, 1q23, and 11q14-23 in African-Americans; 14q11, 4p15, 11q25, 2q32, 19q13, 6q26-27, and 12p12-11 in European-Americans; and 1q23, 13q32, 20q13, and 1q31 in all pedigrees combined. An effect for the FcgammaRIIA candidate polymorphism) at 1q23 (lod = 3.37 in African-Americans) is syntenic with linkage in a murine model of lupus. Sib-pair and multipoint nonparametric analyses also support linkage (P < 0.05) at nine loci detected by using two-point lod score analysis (lod > 2.0). Our results are consistent with the presumed complexity of genetic susceptibility to SLE and illustrate racial origin is likely to influence the specific nature of these genetic effects.
Empirical analysis of user position for various conditions using gnss single frequency receiver

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is a satellite-based navigation and spatial positioning system with global coverage. Out of the many satellite navigation systems developed, the best possible in practice is Global Positioning System (GPS) which is composed of a total of 24 satellites (21 operational and 3 backup). The accuracy of GPS can be improved by Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS). The Indian SBAS is GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation). It supports wide area or regional augmentation using additional satellite broadcast messages. GAGAN is a planned implementation of SBAS by the Indian government. It is a system to improve the accuracy of GNSS receiver by providing reference signals. In this work, experimental data is obtained from JUNO SA single frequency GPS/GAGAN receiver under various conditions such as during morning, afternoon, evening, open-sky, half-sky, heavy canopy and under portico (half open sky). The work is carried out at Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE), University College of Engineering (UCE), Osmania University (OU), Hyderabad (17.4135° N, 78.5287° E). The user position is obtained separately using standalone GPS and GAGAN. It is observed that the parameters such as Accuracy, PDOP (Positional Dilution Of Precision), HAE (height above ellipsoid), etc. differ under various environmental conditions such as during day/night, open sky/heavy canopy, within closed structures etc.
Massification of higher education and youth transition: skills mismatch, informal sector jobs and implications for China

ABSTRACT This study adopts a nationwide survey data set between 2005 and 2013 (Chinese General Social Survey) to explore the influence of the massification of higher education on the transition of Chinese youth into the labour market. Data analysis reveals two major findings. First, the economic returns to college education of recent cohorts of university graduates (those who have graduated from universities not more than 3 years ago) are lower than the cohorts who graduated in 2005 and 2006. Second, recent cohorts of college graduates are likely to work in the urban informal sector, unlike their senior counterparts. These findings could partially be explained by skills mismatch in the labour market but a comprehensive understanding of graduate unemployment in China could be obtained by bringing the broader political economy perspective into the analysis.
The interplay between transient α‐helix formation and side chain rotamer distributions in disordered proteins probed by methyl chemical shifts

The peptide backbones of disordered proteins are routinely characterized by NMR with respect to transient structure and dynamics. Little experimental information is, however, available about the side chain conformations and how structure in the backbone affects the side chains. Methyl chemical shifts can in principle report the conformations of aliphatic side chains in disordered proteins and in order to examine this two model systems were chosen: the acid denatured state of acyl‐CoA binding protein (ACBP) and the intrinsically disordered activation domain of the activator for thyroid hormone and retinoid receptors (ACTR). We find that small differences in the methyl carbon chemical shifts due to the γ‐gauche effect may provide information about the side chain rotamer distributions. However, the effects of neighboring residues on the methyl group chemical shifts obscure the direct observation of γ‐gauche effect. To overcome this, we reference the chemical shifts to those in a more disordered state resulting in residue specific random coil chemical shifts. The 13C secondary chemical shifts of the methyl groups of valine, leucine, and isoleucine show sequence specific effects, which allow a quantitative analysis of the ensemble of χ2‐angles of especially leucine residues in disordered proteins. The changes in the rotamer distributions upon denaturation correlate to the changes upon helix induction by the co‐solvent trifluoroethanol, suggesting that the side chain conformers are directly or indirectly related to formation of transient α‐helices.
Signalling pathways of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding protein-3

Although the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is essential for normal growth and development, its dysregulation has been implicated in a range of pathological states. The peptide growth factors IGF-I and IGF-II exert their effects by binding to cell-surface heterotetrameric tyrosine kinase receptors and activating multiple intracellular signalling cascades, leading to changes in the expression of proteins essential for cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. The IGF system comprises multiple ligands, receptors and high-affinity IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), with added complexity arising from crosstalk between its receptors and other key growth-regulatory pathways such as those activated by steroid hormones, integrins and other receptor tyrosine kinases. The IGFBPs are also increasingly recognised for their intrinsic growth-regulatory activity, and the ability of IGFBP-3 to modulate signalling pathways of nuclear hormone and growth factor receptors, as well as novel receptors, is believed to play a role both in normal physiology and in disease.