Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolución de las empresas de agua y saneamiento de Medellín y Cali en Colombia: ¿Vidas paralelas?

En Colombia las Empresas Municipales de Cali - EMCALI - y las Empresas Públicas de Medellín - EPM - a finales de los 80 tuvieron un desempeño financiero, operacional y administrativo comparable con las mejores empresas del sector privado colombiano y al de las más destacadas en el sector de servicios públicos de América Latina. No obstante, actualmente, EPM es la cabeza del mayor grupo empresarial de servicios públicos domiciliaros en Colombia, tiene presencia en varios países de América Latina y produce cuantiosas utilidades mientras que EMCALI está confinada al mercado de su ciudad, lleva más de doce años de haber sido intervenida por la Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios y aún no ha terminado de honrar el acuerdo de acreedores que la salvó de la quiebra. En el presente artículo se realiza un análisis comparativo en el ámbito de la economía política de las decisiones económicas para el período 1990 - 2010, donde se expone lo ocurrido en el orden institucional y la forma en que ello afectó la evolución de cada una de las empresas. Se observa que ante los choques institucionales de principios de los 90 que alteraron las relaciones de los actores determinantes de su gobernabilidad de largo plazo, en EPM el equilibrio de fuerzas se restableció de forma más o menos rápida y casi sin afectar su desempeño de largo plazo. Por su parte, EMCALI se vio profundamente alterada por una ruptura en el equilibrio de fuerza de los actores con injerencia en la orientación de su actividad.
Critical role for the β regulatory subunits of Cav channels in T lymphocyte function

Calcium ion is a universal signaling intermediate, which is known to control various biological processes. In excitable cells, voltage-gated calcium channels (Cav) are the major route of calcium entry and regulate multiple functions such as contraction, neurotransmitter release, and gene transcription. Here we show that T lymphocytes, which are nonexcitable cells, express both regulatory β and pore-forming Cav1 α1 subunits of Cav channels, and we provide genetic evidence for a critical role of the Cav β3 and Cav β4 regulatory subunits in T lymphocyte function. Cav β-deficient T lymphocytes fail to acquire normal functions, and they display impairment in the T cell receptor-mediated calcium response, nuclear factor of activated T cells activation, and cytokine production. In addition, unlike in excitable cells, our data suggest a minimal physiological role for depolarization in Cav channel opening in T cells. T cell receptor stimulation induces only a small depolarization of T cells, and artificial depolarization of T cells using KCl does not lead to calcium entry. These observations suggest that the Cav channels expressed by T cells have adopted novel regulation/gating mechanisms.
Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of the acyl-CoA-binding Protein in African Trypanosomes*

African trypanosomes are shielded from their hosts' defenses by a coat of variant surface glycoprotein molecules, each of which is attached to the plasma membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. During the later stages of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis, myristic acid is incorporated into the anchor from the donor myristoyl-CoA by a series of unique fatty acid remodeling and exchange reactions. We have cloned and expressed a recombinant trypanosome acyl-CoA-binding protein that has a preference for binding relatively short chain acyl-CoAs and that has a high affinity for binding myristoyl-CoA (K d = 3.5 × 10−10 m). This protein enhances fatty acid remodeling of glycosylphosphatidylinositol precursors in the trypanosome cell-free system. We speculate that the trypanosome acyl-CoA-binding protein plays an active role in supplying myristoyl-CoA to the fatty acid remodeling machinery in the parasite.
Bi-layered RRAM with unlimited endurance and extremely uniform switching

We demonstrate resistive random access memory (RRAM) architecture with bi-layered switching element for reliable resistive switching memory. Based on the modulated Schottky barrier modeling, several key functions to achieve a realiable bipolar switching property are extracted. Our device shows an excellent memory performance such as enduracne of 10<sup>11</sup> cycles at 30ns, data retention of >10<sup>4</sup>s at 200°C, and calculated bit error rate below 10<sup>−11</sup>.
Focal adhesions in osteoneogenesis

Abstract As materials technology and the field of tissue engineering advance, the role of cellular adhesive mechanisms, in particular, interactions with implantable devices, becomes more relevant in both research and clinical practice. A key tenet of medical device technology is to use the exquisite ability of biological systems to respond to the material surface or chemical stimuli in order to help to develop next-generation biomaterials. The focus of this review is on recent studies and developments concerning focal adhesion formation in osteoneogenesis, with an emphasis on the influence of synthetic constructs on integrin-mediated cellular adhesion and function.
Wounding Enhances Expression of AtSUC3, a Sucrose Transporter from Arabidopsis Sieve Elements and Sink Tissues1

The Arabidopsis AtSUC3 gene encodes a sucrose (Suc) transporter that differs in size and intron number from all other Arabidopsis Suc transport proteins. Each plant species analyzed so far possesses one transporter of this special type, and several functions have been discussed for these proteins, including the catalysis of transmembrane Suc transport, and also Suc sensing and regulation of other Suc transporters. Here, we show that the AtSUC3 protein is localized in the sieve elements of the Arabidopsis phloem and is not colocalized with the companion cell-specific AtSUC2 phloem loader. Even stronger AtSUC3 expression is observed in numerous sink cells and tissues, such as guard cells, trichomes, germinating pollen, root tips, the developing seed coat, or stipules. Moreover, AtSUC3 expression is strongly induced upon wounding of Arabidopsis tissue. The physiological role of AtSUC3 in these different cells and tissues is discussed.
Integrated Systems for Biomedical Applications: Silicon-Based RF\/Microwave Dielectric Spectroscopy and Sensing

Recent multi-disciplinary research focuses on expanding the use of integrated electronic circuits and systems in nonelectrical applications such as chemical/biomedical sensors. The global trend in this area is moving toward portable, implantable, and lab-on-chip systems that require 1) complete integration of the system-on-silicon platforms, such as complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes, and 2) self-sustained implementation to achieve stand-alone operation without the need for any external equipment. In other words, self-sustained, integrated systems are necessary for portable and implantable sensors.
Recognition of p63 by the E3 ligase ITCH: Effect of an ectodermal dysplasia mutant

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch mediates the degradation of the p63 protein. Itch contains four WW domains which are pivotal for the substrate recognition process. Indeed, this domain is implicated in several signalling complexes crucially involved in human diseases including Muscular Dystrophy, Alzheimer's Disease, and Huntington Disease. WW domains are highly compact protein-protein binding modules that interact with short proline-rich sequences. The four WW domains present in Itch belong to the Group I type, which binds polypeptides with a PY motif characterized by a PPxY consensus sequence, where x can be any residue. Accordingly, the Itch-p63 interaction results from a direct binding of Itch-WW2 domain with the PY motif of p63. Here, we report a structural analysis of the Itch-p63 interaction by fluorescence, CD and NMR spectroscopy. Indeed, we studied the in vitro interaction between Itch-WW2 domain and p63(534-551), an 18-mer peptide encompassing a fragment of the p63 protein including the PY motif. In addition, we evaluated the conformation and the interaction with Itch-WW2 of a site specific mutant of p63, I549T, that has been reported in both Hay–Wells syndrome and Rapp–Hodgkin syndrome. Based on our results, we propose an extended PPxY motif for the Itch recognition motif (P-P-P-Y-x(4)-[ST]-[ILV]), which includes these C-terminal residues to the PPxY motif.
Inhibition of NADPH Oxidase Activation by 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl Fluoride and Related Compounds*

The elicitation of an oxidative burst in phagocytes rests on the assembly of a multicomponental complex (NADPH oxidase) consisting of a membrane-associated flavocytochrome (cytochrome b 559), representing the redox element responsible for the NADPH-dependent reduction of oxygen to superoxide (O·̄2), two cytosolic components (p47 phox , p67 phox ), and the small GTPase Rac (1 or 2). We found that 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF), an irreversible serine protease inhibitor, prevented the elicitation of O·̄2 production in intact macrophages and the amphiphile-dependent activation of NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system, consisting of solubilized membrane or purified cytochrome b 559 combined with total cytosol or a mixture of recombinant p47 phox , p67 phox , and Rac1. AEBSF acted at the activation step and did not interfere with the ensuing electron flow. It did not scavenge oxygen radicals and did not affect assay reagents. Five other serine protease inhibitors (three irreversible and two reversible) were found to lack an inhibitory effect on cell-free activation of NADPH oxidase. A structure-function study of AEBSF analogues demonstrated that the presence of a sulfonyl fluoride group was essential for inhibitory activity and that compounds containing an aminoalkylbenzene moiety were more active than amidinobenzene derivatives. Exposure of the membrane fraction or of purified cytochrome b 559, but not of cytosol or recombinant cytosolic components, to AEBSF, in the presence of a critical concentration of the activating amphiphile lithium dodecyl sulfate, resulted in a marked impairment of their ability to support cell-free NADPH oxidase activation upon complementation with untreated cytosol or cytosolic components. Kinetic analysis of the effect of varying the concentration of each of the three cytosolic components on the inhibitory potency of AEBSF indicated that this was inversely related to the concentrations of p47 phox and, to a lesser degree, p67 phox . AEBSF also prevented the amphiphile-elicited translocation of p47 phox and p67 phox to the membrane. These results are interpreted as indicating that AEBSF interferes with the binding of p47 phox and/or p67 phox to cytochromeb 559, probably by a direct effect on cytochromeb 559.
Tryptophan is a marker of human postmortem brain tissue quality

Postmortem human brain tissue is widely used in neuroscience research, but use of tissue originating from different brain bank centers is considered inaccurate because of possible heterogeneity in sample quality. There is thus a need for well‐characterized markers to assess the quality of postmortem brain tissue. Toward this aim, we determined tryptophan (TRP) concentrations, phosphofructokinase‐1 and glutamate decarboxylase activities in 119 brain tissue samples. These neurochemical parameters were tested in samples from autopsied individuals, including control and pathological cases provided by 10 different brain bank centers. Parameters were assessed for correlation with agonal state, postmortem interval, age and gender, brain region, preservation and freezing methods, storage conditions and storage time, RNA integrity, and tissue pH value. TRP concentrations were elevated significantly (p = 0.045) with increased postmortem interval; which might indicate increased protein degradation. Therefore, TRP concentration might be one useful and convenient marker for estimating the quality of human postmortem brain tissue.
Ensemble of face/eye detectors for accurate automatic face detection

- In this work we propose a simple yet effective face detector that combines several face/eye detectors that possess different characteristics. Specifically, we report an extensive study for combining face/eye detectors that results in a final system we call FED that combines three face detectors that extract regions of candidate faces from an image with two approaches for eye detection: the enhanced Pictorial Structure (PS) model for coarse eye localization and a new approach proposed here (called PEC) that provides precise eye localization. PEC is an ensemble that utilizes three texture descriptors: multi-resolution local ternary patterns, local phase quantization descriptors, and patterns of oriented edge magnitudes. The extracted features are coupled with support vector machines trained on eye and non-eye samples to perform classification. The proposed framework for face detection could be considered an ad hoc integration of existing methods (the three face detectors and the PS coarse eye detector) that is combined with the proposed novel ensemble for precise eye localization (PEC). The aim of this approach is to maximize performance (not computation time). The quality of the proposed system is validated on three datasets (the well-known BioID and FERET datasets as well as a self-collected dataset). To the best of our knowledge, our system is one of the first fully automatic face detection approaches to obtain an accuracy of almost 100% on the BioID dataset (the most important benchmark dataset for frontal face detection) and 99.1% using the same dataset with only 12 false positives. A MATLAB version of our complete system for face detection can be downloaded from https://www.dei. unipd.it/node/2357.
A Unified Perspective on Copper Deficiency and Cardiomyopathy

Abstract Dietary copper restriction in rats results in cardiomyopathy. In rats fed copper-restricted diets from weaning for 5 to 8 weeks, a concentric hypertrophy is apparent, whereas postweaning copper restriction does produce cardiomyopathy without apparent hypertrophy. Both sets of circumstances appear to affect the integrity of the basal laminae of cardiac myocytes and capillaries. In rats fed copper-restricted diets from weaning, decreases in cytochrome c oxidase are related not only to copper's role as a coenzyme, but also to a marked decrease in the nuclear encoded subunits of the enzyme complex. Decreased levels of the δ-subunit of ATP synthase have been observed. However, such aberrations in mitochondrial enzymes, as well as morphologic alterations, apparently do not affect cardiac levels of ATP. This review suggests mechanisms of cardiac adaptation and initiation factors leading to cardiac hypertrophy. We present a hypothetical working model explaining the events leading to cardiac failure in the copper-deficient rat heart based on the present body of knowledge, and compare the pathology with other models of cardiomyopathies.
Inhibition of the ABL kinase activity blocks the proliferation of BCR/ABL+ leukemic cells and induces apoptosis.

The BCR/ABL fusion protein transforms myeloid stem cells. Both chronic myelogenous leukemias (CML) and a subset of acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) are associated with the expression of BCR/ABL proteins. This knowledge has not yet been translated into any specific tool to control ABL driven neoplastic cells growth. CGP57148B is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of the ABL protein kinase; it has been shown to inhibit the kinase activity of ABL both in vitro and in vivo and to inhibit the growth of v-abl and bcr/abl transfectants, as well as the in vitro formation of bone marrow (BM)-derived colonies in the presence of growth factors in some CML patients. These studies were performed to investigate the activity of CGP57148B on the spontaneous proliferation of both fresh and cultured, leukemic and normal, BCR/ABL positive and negative cells, and to study its mechanism of action. Six cell lines derived from BCR/ABL+ leukemias (K562, BV173, KCL22, KU812, MC3, LAMA84), thirteen BCR/ABL negative lines, both neoplastic (KG1, SU-DHL-1, U937, Daudi, NB4, NB4.306) and derived from normal cells (PHA blasts, LAK, fibroblasts, LCL, renal epithelial cells, endothelial cells, CD34(+) cells), and 14 fresh leukemic samples were tested using a tritiated thymidine uptake assay. The in vivo phosphorylation of the BCR/ABL protein was evaluated by western blot, while apoptosis was detected by the annexin V/propidium binding test. The induction of differentiation was assayed by immunofluorescence using multiple antibodies. All six BCR/ABL+ lines showed a dose dependent inhibition of their spontaneous proliferative rate, which was not accompanied by differentiation. The treatment caused, within minutes, dephosphorylation of the BCR/ABL protein, followed in 16-24 hours by a decrease in cycling cells and induction of apoptosis. No significant inhibition of DNA synthesis was observed in any BCR/ABL negative normal or neoplastic line at concentrations </=3 microM, with the exception of fibroblasts and CD34 cells. Proliferation inhibition was observed also when using fresh samples obtained from two Ph+ ALL and 12 consecutive CML patients. Induction of apoptosis was observed in these samples too. The activity of CGP57148B can be monitored in ex vivo isolated or cultured cells using a simple and reproducible assay, without the need for exogenously added growth factors. This molecule possibly exerts its effects through the inhibition of the kinase activity of BCR/ABL and the subsequent initiation of apoptosis, without inducing cell differentiation. Some normal cells are also affected. These data support the use of CGP57148B in initial clinical studies; possible toxic effects on BM and fibroblast-derived cells will have to be closely monitored. The in vivo monitoring of patients will have to be focused on the induction of apoptosis in leukemic cells.
Myoendothelial contacts in the thoracic aorta of rat fetuses

There is increasing documentation of the presence of endothelial–smooth muscle communication in both small and large arteries. We have found that morphological evidence of these contacts appears early in development. Intimate contacts between endothelial and muscle cells in the thoracic aorta of normal rat fetuses have been studied with transmission electron microscopy. These myoendothelial contacts were seen in the form of cytoplasmic projections passing through fenestrae in the elastic lamellae. Most of these cell processes seem to arise from the muscle cells and they usually have a club‐shaped configuration. The specific nature of the cell–cell contact was predominantly via simple appositions with an intercellular space of 6–15 nm. Myoendothelial contacts are potential sites for electrical and metabolic communication between elements of the intima and media, ensuring that the vessel wall works as a unit. The demonstrated necessity of intact endothelium for smooth muscle cell response to load may depend on this type of contact.
[Hematologic malignancies in internal medicine, University Hospital of Souro Sanou (Burkina Faso)].

INTRODUCTION Hematologic malignancies (HM) in internal medicine remain undocumented, both epidemiological aspects, diagnosis, therapeutic that evolutionary. An inventory of sites, will document these aspects, to identify highly lethal forms, and thus contribute to improving the management of HM in a hospital in a developing country. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional retrospective study referred to descriptive over two and a half years, from review of patients' medical records allowed an exhaustive census of 58 cases of HM admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine of University Hospital Souro Sanou (UHC SS). RESULTS The first reason for consultation were abdominal tumor syndrome (63.7%). The average age of patients was 42 ± 19.7 years with extremes ranging from 16 to 87 years. The sex ratio was 1.42: 1. Hematological disturbances were strongly suspected anemia (89.2%), leukocytosis (64.3%) and thrombocytopenia (46.4%). The HM depending on cytology were dominated by lymphomas (48.2%) followed by chronic myeloid leukemia or 15.5%. Chemotherapy was undertaken in 63.7% of cases. Lethality was 23.1%, was significantly higher for acute leukemia 40% (p = 0.0012). HIV serology was positive in 3 patients among the 13 cases tested. CONCLUSION This study provided a better understanding of HM epidemiology at the UHC SS in the department of internal medicine. It revealed a predominance of lymphomas with difficulties in the initiation of chemotherapy. Improving access to chemotherapy, and technical support enable a reduction in the fatality associated with HM in the department of internal medicine at UHC SS.
Cyclospora species--a new protozoan pathogen of humans.

BACKGROUND Organisms referred to as "cyanobacterium-like bodies" have now been identified worldwide in the feces of both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients with diarrhea. Organisms with a similar appearance have been isolated from Peruvian patients since 1985. From 1988 to 1991 we studied prospectively two cohorts of infants and young children infected with this organism. We now attempt to identify it. METHODS Fecal samples were collected weekly from the children and examined with the use of acid-fast staining and staining with a monoclonal antibody specific for cryptosporidium. Stools positive for cyanobacterium-like bodies were preserved in potassium dichromate and exposed to conditions allowing coccidian sporulation and excystation. Both unsporulated and sporulated oocysts were fixed by freeze-substitution techniques and then examined by electron microscopy. RESULTS Organisms isolated from the feces of Peruvian patients and two patients from the United States were identified as belonging to the coccidian genus cyclospora, after sporulation and excystation of the oocysts according to standard techniques. Complete sporulation occurred within 5 to 13 days in oocysts maintained in potassium dichromate at 25 or 32 degrees C. Complete excystation resulted in the liberation of two sporozoites from the two sporocysts within each oocyst (cryptosporidia have four naked sporozoites within each oocyst). The presence of organelles characteristic of coccidian organisms was confirmed by electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS We have identified organisms of the genus cyclospora that are remarkably similar to cryptosporidia in their morphologic features and the diarrheal disease that they produce in humans. The complete life cycle and epidemiology of this new protozoan parasite remain to be described.
Early Short-Term 9-[2-(R)-(Phosphonomethoxy)Propyl]Adenine Treatment Favorably Alters the Subsequent Disease Course in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Newborn Rhesus Macaques

ABSTRACT Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of newborn macaques is a useful animal model of human pediatric AIDS to study disease pathogenesis and to develop intervention strategies aimed at delaying disease. In the present study, we demonstrate that very early events of infection greatly determine the ultimate disease course, as short-term antiviral drug administration during the initial viremia stage significantly delayed the onset of AIDS. Fourteen newborn macaques were inoculated orally with uncloned, highly virulent SIVmac251. The four untreated control animals showed persistently high virus levels and poor antiviral immune responses; they developed fatal immunodeficiency within 15 weeks. In contrast, SIV-infected newborn macaques which were started on 9-[2-(R)-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine (PMPA) treatment at 5 days of age and continued for either 14 or 60 days showed reduced virus levels and enhanced antiviral immune responses. This short-term PMPA treatment did not induce detectable emergence of SIV mutants with reduced in vitro susceptibility to PMPA. Although viremia increased in most animals after PMPA treatment was withdrawn, all animals remained disease-free for at least 6 months. Our data suggest that short-term treatment with a potent antiviral drug regimen during the initial viremia will significantly prolong AIDS-free survival for HIV-infected infants and adults.