Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Purification of Hsk1, a Minichromosome Maintenance Protein Kinase from Fission Yeast*

Members of the Cdc7 family of protein kinases are essential for the initiation of DNA replication in all eukaryotes, but their precise biochemical function is unclear. We have purified the fission yeast Cdc7 homologue Hsk1 approximately 30,000-fold, to near homogeneity. Purified Hsk1 has protein kinase activity on several substrates and is capable of autophosphorylation. Point mutations in highly conserved regions of Hsk1 inactivate the kinase in vitro and in vivo. Overproduction of two of the mutant hsk1 alleles blocks initiation of DNA replication and deranges the mitotic checkpoint, a phenotype consistent with a role for Hsk1 in the early stages of initiation. The purified Hsk1 kinase can be separated into two active forms, a Hsk1 monomer and a heterodimer consisting of Hsk1 complexed with a co-purifying polypeptide, Dfp1. Association with Dfp1 stimulates phosphorylation of exogenous substrates but has little effect on autokinase activity. We have identified Dfp1 as the fission yeast homologue of budding yeast Dbf4. Purified Hsk1 phosphorylates the Cdc19 (Mcm2) subunit of the six-member minichromosome maintenance protein complex purified from fission yeast. Since minichromosome maintenance proteins have been implicated in the initiation of DNA replication, the essential function of Hsk1 at the G1/S transition may be mediated by phosphorylation of Cdc19. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of critical substrates by Hsk1 kinase is likely regulated by association with a Dbf4-like co-factor.
A Video Comic Drama Based Learning System for Collaborative Learning

In this study, we adopt the concept of freezeframe dramas in transforming the learning objectives in textbooks into the four-cell comic drama performance. Learners utilize tablet computers to record sounds and images to complete their dramas as the means of increasing their motivation in learning. We name such freeze-frame comic dramas on tablets as the Video Comic Drama. In order to enhance students' participation in class, we suggest to perform dramas in groups. We ask instructors to do heterogeneous grouping based on students' learning situations. Students follow the instruction given by the system to complete their own four-cell comics in groups. We have observed that in group activities, group members would create social interdependence within their groups because students had mutual goals to achieve, which helped increase the opportunities for peer discussion. Both overachievers and underachievers have become more engaged in the activities. Moreover, the teacher may soon realize the learning situation of each student with a tablet, and conduct the group work demonstration in class. The demonstration enables students to learn from peers and to do reflexive thinking on their own dramas. The Video Comic Drama has been applied in the fifth-grade English course in an elementary school for one and half years. Both the interviews with teachers and the analysis of questionnaires showed that the Video Comic Drama largely improved all students' learning motivation and participation.
A Note on the Use of Mixture Models for Individual Prediction

Mixture models capture heterogeneity in data by decomposing the population into latent subgroups, each of which is governed by its own subgroup-specific set of parameters. Despite the flexibility and widespread use of these models, most applications have focused solely on making inferences for whole or subpopulations, rather than individual cases. This article presents a general framework for computing marginal and conditional predicted values for individuals using mixture model results. These predicted values can be used to characterize covariate effects, examine the fit of the model for specific individuals, or forecast future observations from previous ones. Two empirical examples are provided to demonstrate the usefulness of individual predicted values in applications of mixture models. The first example examines the relative timing of initiation of substance use using a multiple event process survival mixture model, whereas the second example evaluates changes in depressive symptoms over adolescence using a growth mixture model.
Using STATCOM interfacing of renewable energy source to grid and power quality improvement

A current condition of renewable energy source is helpful part in electrical power generation. The renewable energy source is interface to point of common coupling (PCC), because of increase electrical power generation. In this case we are interface renewable energy source to grid to fulfil the demand. In this paper STATCOM is use for renewable energy source to grid interfacing purpose. A STATCOM is shunt active filter and use of STATCOM is to improve power quality at point of common coupling and interface between renewable energy sources to electrical power grid. A STATCOM is work with the help of controller and proposed system use Icosφ controller. Icosφ controller input is given to grid and output provided to STATCOM, After STATCOM is provided constant output to grid.
Synaesthesia: Discordant male monozygotic twins

Grapheme-color synaesthesia, a condition in which achromatic graphemes elicit vivid experiences of color is believed to be a genetically determined trait. We describe a study of 10-year-old twin brothers who are physically identical in appearance but who have considerably different conscious experiences. A phenotypic analysis that measured the consistency of grapheme-color pairings over test-retest confirmed that one twin has grapheme-color synaesthesia and the other twin does not. A genotypic analysis using sixteen microsatellite loci confirmed that the twins are monozygotic. These findings are problematic for previous suggestions that synaesthesia is an X-linked dominant trait. At the very least, the findings show that the penetrance of the genotype for synaesthesia is incomplete and that any view suggesting that synaesthesia is simply an X-linked dominant trait is therefore also incomplete and possibly even incorrect. The findings also negate a previous suggestion, based on a study of female monozygotic twins, that discordance of synaesthesia in identical twins is due to X-inactivation. In general, the findings raise serious questions regarding whether it is possible at this time to establish the genetic contribution to synaesthesia.
Specific and high-affinity binding of inositol phosphates to an isolated pleckstrin homology domain.

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are found in many signaling molecules and are thought to be involved in specific intermolecular interactions. Their binding to several proteins and to membranes containing 1-alpha-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] has been reported. A region that includes the PH domain has also been implicated in binding of phospholipase C-delta 1 (PLC-delta 1) to both PtdIns(4,5)P2 and D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] [Cifuentes, M. E. , Delaney, T. & Rebecchi, M. J. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 1945-1948]. We report herein that the isolated PH domain from PLC-delta 1 binds to both PtdIns(4,5)P2 and Ins(1,4,5)P3 with high affinity and shows the same binding specificity seen by others with whole PLC-delta 1. Thus the PH domain is functionally and structurally modular. These results demonstrate stereo-specific high-affinity binding by an isolated PH domain and further support a functional role for PH domains in the regulation of PLC isoforms. Other PH domains did not bind strongly to the compounds tested, suggesting that inositol phosphates and phospholipids are not likely physiological ligands for all PH domains. Nonetheless, since all PH-domain-containing proteins are associated with membrane surfaces, several PH domains bind to specific sites on membranes, and PH domains appear to be electrostatically polarized, a possible general role for PH domains in membrane association is suggested.
Roles of different T-cell subsets in control of herpes simplex virus infection determined by using T-cell-deficient mouse-models

Herpes simplex virus infection of the scarified dermis results in infection of the nervous system and, subsequently, a cutaneous lesion in the innervated dermatome. We compared the pathogenesis of such zosteriform lesions in mice lacking or severely depleted of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells because of targeted gene disruption. Mice without CD4+ cells showed markedly increased susceptibility, whereas beta 2 microglobulin knockout mice lacking CD8+ T cells were as resistant to challenge as were immunocompetent mice with the same genetic background. Our results demonstrate that CD4+ T cells are of primary importance in the control of herpes simplex virus infections of the skin and nervous system.
Species-selective analysis by microcolumn multicapillary gas chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection.

A glass rod (5-20 cm long, 2 mm o.d.) containing more than 1200 parallel microchannels (< 40 microns i.d.) was converted into a high-resolution (> 100 theoretical plates cm-1) GC column by coating the inside of each channel in a way that compensated for the dispersion of the channel inner diameter. The columns were evaluated for the separation of mixtures of several organometallic (Hg, Sn, Pb) compounds prior to on-line sensitive metalselective detection by ICPMS. Chromatographic separation conditions were optimized to enable a rapid (within a maximum 30 s) multielemental speciation analysis. Absolute detection limits were 0.1 pg for Hg, 0.05 pg for Sn, and 0.03 pg for Pb using the carrier gas flows of approximately 200 mL min-1. The microcolumn multicapillary GC/ICPMS developed was applied to the analysis of a number of environmental samples. The results were validated with certified reference materials for tin (BCR477, PACS-2) and mercury (DORM-1, TORT-1).
Improvement of macromolecular clearance via lymph flow in hamster gingiva by low‐power carbon dioxide laser‐irradiation

Although therapeutic effects of low‐power laser‐irradiation on periodontal disease have been reported, little is known about the biological effects of laser‐irradiation in the gingiva. Recently we reported that topical warming stimulated macromolecular clearance via lymph flow in hamster gingiva. This study was conducted to investigate whether low‐power laser‐irradiation affects macromolecular clearance via the lymph flow in the gingiva.
Gallbladder emptying in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

AIM To assess gallbladder emptying and its association with cholecystitis and abdominal pain in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). METHODS Twenty patients with PSC and ten healthy subjects were investigated. Gallbladder fasting volume, ejection fraction and residual volume after ingestion of a test meal were compared in patients with PSC and healthy controls using magnetic resonance imaging. Symptoms, thickness and contrast enhancement of the gallbladder wall and the presence of cystic duct strictures were also assessed. RESULTS Median fasting gallbladder volume in patients with PSC [67 (19-348) mL] was twice that in healthy controls [32 (16-55) mL] (P < 0.05). The median postprandial gallbladder volume in patients with PSC was significantly larger than that in healthy controls (P < 0.05). There was no difference in ejection fraction, gallbladder emptying volume or mean thickness of the gallbladder wall between PSC patients and controls. Contrast enhancement of the gallbladder wall in PSC patients was higher than that in controls; (69% +/- 32%) and (42% +/- 21%) (P < 0.05). No significant association was found between the gallbladder volumes and occurrence of abdominal pain in patients and controls. CONCLUSION Patients with PSC have increased fasting gallbladder volume. Gallbladder Mucosal dysfunction secondary to chronic cholecystitis, may be a possible mechanism for increased gallbladder.
RNA‐binding protein insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 expression promotes tumor invasion and predicts early recurrence and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 (IMP3) is an RNA‐binding protein expressed in embryonic tissues and multiple cancers. To investigate the role of IMP3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its protein expression in the surgically resected unifocal tumors of 377 HCC patients (296 men and 81 women) with ages ranging from 7 to 88 years (mean, 55.49 years) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. IMP3 was expressed in 255 (67.6%) of 377 resected unifocal primary HCCs. IMP3 protein was predominantly expressed in tumor border and invasive front, and it was more abundant in the satellite nodules and tumor thrombi than in the main tumors. The expression correlated with high α‐fetoprotein (>200 ng/mL, P < 1 × 10−7), larger tumor size (>5 cm, P = 0.006), high tumor grade (P < 1 × 10−7), and high tumor stage with vascular invasion and various degrees of intrahepatic metastasis (P < 1 × 10−7). IMP3 expression predicted early tumor recurrence (P < 1 × 10−7) and was a strong indicator of poor prognosis (P < 0.0001). Depletion of IMP3 with RNA interference in HCC cell line HA22T caused a decrease in cell motility, invasion, and transendothelial migration. Microarray analysis revealed that IMP3 depletion was associated with downregulation of multiple genes involved in tumor invasion. Conclusion: Our results indicate that IMP3 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis and is a strong prognostic factor for patients with HCC. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Prevention of steroid-induced low bone mineral density in children with renal diseases: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Children with renal diseases who are treated with glucocorticoids are at increased risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures. However, there is no common strategy for prevention of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. The present systematic review was performed to determine whether prevention of bone loss by calcium (Ca), vitamin D (vit D) and/or bisphosphonates is justified, safe and efficacious in children treated with steroids for various renal diseases. METHODS DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, Central were searched from 1961 up to 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies concerning children ≤18 years with renal diseases requiring steroids were included. RESULTS The search strategy retrieved 2482 studies. Four RCTs including 166 patients and one observational study including 100 children met our eligibility criteria. One RCT and the observational study concerned treatment with Ca/vit D, one RCT with bisphosphonates and two RCTs with a combination of both therapies. All described a significant improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) in the treatment group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS Ca combined with vit D is recommended to prevent bone disease in children with renal diseases treated with steroids. Because of side effects, bisphosphonates should be reserved for the treatment of severe osteoporosis when Ca and/or vit D supplementation has failed.
Serial 18F-FDG PET Demonstrates Benefit of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Treatment of Intracerebral Hematoma: A Translational Study in a Primate Model

This study evaluated the efficacy of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in the treatment of intracerebral hematoma (ICH) using a primate model and serial 18F-FDG PET scans. Methods: Twenty-four Macaca fascicularis monkeys (male, 4.2 ± 0.2 kg) were enrolled. The ICH models were established using a stereo-guided injection of 1.5 mL of autologous arterial blood between the right cortex and basal ganglia. One week (early treatment group, n = 8) or 4 wk (late treatment group, n = 8) after an ICH was established, (1–5) ×106 hMSCs were transplanted near the hematoma using a stereotactic method. Control monkeys received saline only, either 1 or 4 wk (n = 4 for each subgroup) after ICH establishment. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated by serial 18F-FDG PET scans (n = 19) and neurologic deficit scoring weekly or biweekly. Pathologic analysis was performed 8 wk after hMSC transplantation. Results: One week after hMSC injection, higher 18F-FDG accumulated at the ipsilateral basal ganglia in both early and late hMSC-treated groups, indicating an early response to the treatment. When recovery reached a plateau, 18F-FDG uptake in the adjacent cortex was significantly higher in the early treatment group (P < 0.05). The neurologic deficit scoring was significantly lower in the hMSC-treated groups, which also indicated better recovery. Pathologic analysis revealed higher vessel density surrounding the remains of hematoma in the hMSC-treated groups. Conclusion: This preliminary study indicates that transplantation of hMSCs may improve the recovery from ICH in a primate model, and early treatment may lead to better results.
Quality of abstracts in 3 clinical dermatology journals.

BACKGROUND Structured abstracts have been widely adopted in medical journals, with little demonstration of their superiority over unstructured abstracts. OBJECTIVES To compare abstract quality among 3 clinical dermatology journals and to compare the quality of structured and unstructured abstracts within those journals. DESIGN AND DATA SOURCES Abstracts of a random sample of clinical studies (case reports, case series, and reviews excluded) published in 2000 in the Archives of Dermatology, The British Journal of Dermatology, and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology were evaluated. Each abstract was rated by 2 independent investigators, using a 30-item quality scale divided into 8 categories (objective, design, setting, subjects, intervention, measurement of variables, results, and conclusions). Items applicable to the study and present in the main text of the article were rated as being present or absent from the abstract. A global quality score (range, 0-1) for each abstract was established by calculating the proportion of criteria among the eligible criteria that was rated as being present. A score was also calculated for each category. Interrater agreement was assessed with a kappa statistic. Mean +/- SD scores were compared among journals and between formats (structured vs unstructured) using analysis of variance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mean quality scores of abstracts by journal and by format. RESULTS Interrater agreement was good (kappa = 0.71). Mean +/- SD quality scores of abstracts were significantly different among journals (Archives of Dermatology, 0.78 +/- 0.07; The British Journal of Dermatology, 0.67 +/- 0.17; and Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 0.64 +/- 0.15; P =.045) and between formats (structured, 0.71 +/- 0.11; and unstructured, 0.56 +/- 0.18; P =.002). The setting category had the lowest scores. CONCLUSIONS The quality of abstracts differed across the 3 tested journals. Unstructured abstracts were demonstrated to be of lower quality compared with structured abstracts and may account for the differences in quality scores among the journals. The structured format should be more widely adopted in dermatology journals.
A sliding window approach to natural hand gesture recognition using a custom data glove

This paper explores the recognition of hand gestures based on a data glove equipped with motion, bending and pressure sensors. We selected 31 natural and interaction-oriented hand gestures that can be adopted for general-purpose control of and communication with computing systems. The data glove is custom-built, and contains 13 bend sensors, 7 motion sensors, 5 pressure sensors and a magnetometer. We present the data collection experiment, as well as the design, selection and evaluation of a classification algorithm. As we use a sliding window approach to data processing, our algorithm is suitable for stream data processing. Algorithm selection and feature engineering resulted in a combination of linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression with which we achieve an accuracy of over 98.5% on a continuous data stream scenario. When removing the computationally expensive FFT-based features, we still achieve an accuracy of 98.2%.
Etiology of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: The Search for the Culprit

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of high titer antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMAs) and destruction of intrahepatic small bile ducts. Despite vigorous efforts in the characterization of autoantibodies and bile duct histopathology, the etiology of this disease is unclear. Although there is no correlation between the titer of AMAs and disease severity, the presence of AMAs usually occurs before symptoms of liver abnormalities. We believe that the production of AMAs is not an epiphenomenon, and an understanding of the mechanism of AMA induction will shed light on the etiology of PBC. Recent studies have suggested that the induction of PBC is multifactorial, in which the primary player involves the xenobiotics modification of mitochondrial proteins or exposure to xenobiotic-modified bacterial mitochondrial protein homologs, leading to breaking of tolerance to the human mitochondrial autoantigens and eventually liver pathology in genetic susceptible individuals. We discuss the immunophysiological characteristics of biliary epithelial cells, biochemistry of the 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex, and environmental and genetic factors relevant to PBC.
A phytochrome from the fern Adiantum with features of the putative photoreceptor NPH1.

In plant photomorphogenesis, it is well accepted that the perception of red/far-red and blue light is mediated by distinct photoreceptor families, i.e., the phytochromes and blue-light photoreceptors, respectively. Here we describe the discovery of a photoreceptor gene from the fern Adiantum that encodes a protein with features of both phytochrome and NPH1, the putative blue-light receptor for second-positive phototropism in seed plants. The fusion of a functional photosensory domain of phytochrome with a nearly full-length NPH1 homolog suggests that this polypeptide could mediate both red/far-red and blue-light responses in Adiantum normally ascribed to distinct photoreceptors.
Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase and the Activation of Antiviral Phosphonate Analogs of Nucleotides: Binding Mode and Phosphorylation of Tenofovir Derivatives

Tenofovir is an acyclic phosphonate analog of deoxyadenylate used in AIDS and hepatitis B therapy. We find that tenofovir diphosphate, its active form, can be produced by human nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK), but with low efficiency, and that creatine kinase is significantly more active. The 1.65 Å x-ray structure of NDPK in complex with tenofovir mono- and diphosphate shows that the analogs bind at the same site as natural nucleotides, but in a different conformation, and make only a subset of the Van der Waals and polar interactions made by natural substrates, consistent with their comparatively low affinity for the enzyme.
The Term Premium as a Leading Macroeconomic Indicator

Forecasting the evolution path of macroeconomic variables has always been of keen interest to policy authorities. A common tool in the relevant forecasting literature is the term spread of Treasury bond interest rates. In this paper we decompose the term spread of treasury bonds into an expectations and a term premium component and we evaluate the informational content of each component in forecasting the real GDP growth rate and inflation (as measured by the GDP deflator) in various forecasting horizons. In doing so, we evaluate alternative decomposition procedures, introduce the nonlinear machine learning Support Vector Regression (SVR) methodology in rolling regressions and examine both point and conditional probability distribution forecasts. We also consider a number of control variables that are typically used in this context. According to our empirical findings neither the term spread nor its decomposition possess the ability to forecast output growth or inflation.