Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relative Functions of the α and β Subunits of the Proteasome Activator, PA28*

PA28 is a 180,000-dalton protein that activates hydrolysis of small nonubiquitinated peptides by the 20 S proteasome. PA28 is composed of two homologous subunits, α and β, arranged in alternating positions in a ring-shaped oligomer with a likely stoichiometry of (αβ)3. Our previous work demonstrated that the carboxyl terminus of the α subunit was necessary for PA28 to bind to and activate the proteasome. The goals of this work were to define the exact structural basis for this effect and to determine the relative roles of the α and β subunits in proteasome activation. Each subunit and various mutants of the α subunit were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. PA28α stimulated the proteasome, but had a much greaterK act than native heteromeric PA28. In contrast, PA28β was unable to stimulate the proteasome. Mutants of the α subunit in which the carboxyl-terminal tyrosine residue was deleted or substituted with charged amino acids could neither bind to nor activate the proteasome. However, substitution of the carboxyl-terminal tyrosine with other amino acids resulted in proteins which could stimulate the proteasome to various extents. Tryptophan mutants stimulated the proteasome as well as did native PA28, whereas serine or phenylalanine mutants stimulated the proteasome much poorer than did wild type PA28α. Deletion of the “KEKE” motif, a 28-amino acid domain near the amino terminus of PA28α, had no effect on proteasome stimulatory activity. Hetero-oligomeric PA28 proteins were reconstituted from isolated wild type and mutant subunits. PA28 reconstituted from wild type subunits had structural and functional properties that were indistinguishable from those of the native hetero-oligomeric protein. PA28 molecules reconstituted from inactive α subunits and wild type β subunits remained inactive. However, PA28 molecules reconstituted from suboptimally active α mutants and wild type β subunits had the same activity as native heteromeric PA28. These results indicate that the β subunit modulates PA28 activity, perhaps by influencing the affinity of PA28 for the proteasome.
Implication of Clear Cell and Mucinous Histology

The incidence of ovarian cancer in 2008 was projected to be 225,500 new cases and 140,200 deaths worldwide, representing 3.7% of all female cancers and 4.2% of all cancer deaths in women [1]. Ovarian cancer, one of the major causes of death from cancer in women, is commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage. Cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy combining platinum and taxane is currently the standard treatment for ovarian cancer [2]. Ovarian cancer is one of the most sensitive solid tumors, with objective responses ranging from 60 to 80% even in patients with advanced stage. However, most patients ultimately recur and develop resistance to platinum and taxane.
Management of the Cutoff for Granting Consumer Credit

Credit issued directly to consumers is processed in volume through credit-scoring computer models that analyze a large number of potential clients in order to eliminate those that have poor payment histories. This avoids financial losses that arise from payment default. However, by refusing consumers who might default based on purely financial criteria, these models also refuse a large number of consumers with potentially good payment behavior, which can also reduce retailers' potential gains. The main objective of this paper is to verify whether corporate earnings can improve by considering the operating margin when defining the cutoff for direct lending to consumers. We used a statistical measure known as the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and the approach offered by Stein (2005) to build simulations around real market values, which allowed us to confirm that by being flexible and taking into account the operating margin, companies may improve net earnings.
Caractérisations génomique et fonctionnelle des gènes bovins ST6Gal II et fut7 : implications dans la réponse inflammatoire

De par leur localisation en peripherie des chaines glycanniques, les acides sialiques sont impliques dans de nombreux types d’interactions et de fonctions physiologiques. Leur transfert est assure par une famille d’enzymes : les sialyltransferases. Nous decrivons ici le clonage et l’analyse fonctionnelle d’un deuxieme gene bovin codant une β-galactoside-α2,6- sialyltransferase, bST6Gal II. Ce gene a une structure tres proche de celles de ses homologues humain et murin, a savoir un decoupage de la region codante en cinq exons. La sialyltransferase qu’il code utilise preferentiellement les oligosaccharides libres comme substrats accepteurs et son affinite pour le LacdiNAc est superieure a celle qu’elle a pour le LacNAc. Le gene bST6Gal II a un profil d’expression tissulaire assez restreint et est principalement retrouve au niveau du cerveau, du poumon, de la rate, du colon et de la glande mammaire. Trois transcrits ont ete identifies, l’un etant retrouve dans tous les tissus ou le gene s’exprime, les deux autres etant specifiques du cerveau. Par ailleurs, nous demontrons que bST6Gal II est surexprime in vitro dans des cellules epitheliales de glande mammaire stimulees par de l’IL-6. Ce gene jouerait donc un role au cours de la reponse inflammatoire, ce qui devra etre confirme in vivo. Parallelement a cela, nous avons identifie la fucosyltransferase bovine responsable de la biosynthese de l’antigene Sialyl-Lewisx. Cette enzyme, FUT7b, est une α1,3- fucosyltransferase stricte qui utilise uniquement les oligosaccharides de type II sialyles comme substrat accepteur. Le gene qui la code presente 80% d’identite avec son homologue humain et est constitue de deux exons. fut7b s’exprime principalement dans les organes lymphoides tels que le thymus et la rate mais a egalement ete retrouve dans le foie et de facon surprenante dans le poumon. Enfin, alors que le gene humain est tres peu polymorphe, nous avons identifie dans un faible panel d’animaux 3 SNPs faux sens dont l’un d’entre eux, situe dans la sequence codant le domaine catalytique, pourrait inactiver l’enzyme.
Avaliação nutricional de mudas de Acacia mangium, Sesbania virgata e Eucalyptus camaldulensis inoculadas com fungos micorrízicos, em casa-de-vegetação e em cava de extração de argila

This work aimed to evaluate, under greenhouse conditions, the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the nutrient uptake of Acacia mangium, Sesbania virgata and Eucalyptus camaldulensis, as well as, the influence of these fungi on the shoot nutrient content of these plant species, when cultivated in single and intercropping systems, under field conditions in an area of clay extraction. Under greenhouse conditions, AMF inoculation increased N, P and Zn content of A. mangium by 22, 71 and 67%, respectively, and in S. virgata the increase of N, P, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn was of 39, 49, 56, 24, 105 and 54%, respectively. Under field conditions, A. mangium,when cultivated together with S. virgata, presented lowest Ca content in shoots. AMF inoculation increased the Mg content in A. mangium by 36%,when the plants were grown together with E. camaldulensis. S. virgata plants in intercrop with A. mangium and/or E. camaldulensis presented lower Mg content than when cultivated in single system. On the other hand, E. camaldulensis plants without AMF inoculation cultivated together with A. mangium and/or S. virgata presented lower N content than the plants grown in single system. No nutritional improvement was observed in E. camaldulensis plants due to intercropping systems.
Biochemical Studies on the χ Mutation of Bacteriophage T4: Differential Inhibition of χ+ and χ DNA Synthesis by Mitomycin C

Biochemical studies were carried out to determine the effect of χ mutation on T4 DNA synthesis. The rate and final extent of DNA synthesis are almost the same with T4D- and T4χ-infected cells, although the burst size of T4χ is about one-sixth that of the wild type. The DNA synthesis of T4χ-infected cells is more readily inhibited by mitomycin C than is that of T4 wild type. When mitomycin C was added during active phage growth, DNA synthesis of T4χ halted almost immediately. T4 DNA polymerases isolated from χ+- and χ-infected cells, however, exhibit no difference with regard to their sensitivities to mitomycin C, priming activities with alkylated or ultraviolet light-irradiated templates and other enzymatic properties.
Study of mechanism of action of Scorpion neurotoxins

Summary Scorpions are important representative of arthropods. They have been well adapted to the extremes of environmental conditions. Scorpions also play a vital role in ecological systems by maintaining balance between different populations in an ecosystem. Apart from their positive role scorpions are responsible for more than 1.2 million stings per year with almost 3000 deaths worldwide per year and thus posing serious threat to public health. Two families of scorpions i.e. Buthida and Hemiscorpiidae are dangerous for humans. Scorpion sting can result in mild effects of redness and pain to very severe and lethal effects which can result failure of multiple organs eventually leading to death. Scorpion venom is composed of many different components such as low molecular weight peptides, nucleotides, lipids and certain enzymes. The diverse detrimental effects of scorpion sting result due to presence of many different types of toxins (neurotoxin, cardiotoxin, nephrotoxin, hemolytic toxin) and different enzymes (phosphodiesterases, phospholipases and hyaluronidases) in their venom. Since scorpions have a long evolutionary history during this long time period scorpions have developed a series of venom peptides that display a diverse range of biological functions. The most widely studied components of scorpion venom are the ion channel-modulating toxins which have been studied and described in detail in literature. Antarease a new class of unique scorpion metalloproteases capable of cleaving SNARE proteins has been described only recently with no previous evidence on presence of such enzymes in scorpions. Up till now SNARE proteins have only been shown to be targets of clostridial neurotoxins. To investigate such a class of metalloproteases we have analyzed the action of different scorpion venoms both on recombinant SNARE proteins as well as in neuronal cell models. Conclusion: This study shows for the first time the presence of antarease like proteins in scorpion species: Buthus eupeus and Orthochirus scrobiculosus. Both of the scorpion species contain active components i.e. metalloproteases that are able to cleave SNARE proteins in a mechanism similar to antarease.
Antibacterial properties of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside isolated from Indian flaxseed cultivars.

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is an important lignan found in flaxseed and is an emerging source in the functional food area. In the present study, antibacterial properties of SDG extracts from hull, endosperm and flour fractions of Indian flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) varieties (LVF-01 and GVF-03) were evaluated. The SDG extracts were tested against the six bacterial species Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli. The maximum SDG and phenolic contents were found to be 16.9 and 12.5 mg/g and 3.18 and 2.70 mg/g in hull fractions of LVF-01 and GVF-03 respectively, when compared to flour and endosperm fractions. Among the fractions, the hull fraction of LVF-01 showed maximum activity 31.5 mm at MIC 100 ppm against E. coli, while minimum inhibitory activity was 3.1 mm with MIC at 300 ppm against B. subtilis. Similarly, in the case of GVF-03, maximum activity (31.9 with MIC 150 ppm) of the hull fraction, whereas, its minimuminhibitory
A field guide for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of African animal trypanosomosis

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Information Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.
Are angiogenic stimuli additive? A study in the rat correlating structure and function

The aim of this study was to elucidate whether two different types of angiogenic stimuli, known to elicit two fundamentally different types of angiogenesis in rat hindlimb skeletal muscle, produce an additive effect when applied simultaneously. When administered in drinking water, the α-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist, prazosin, elevates shear stress causing splitting angiogenesis in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle; surgical extirpation of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, a synergist, induces sprouting angiogenesis in EDL muscle due to overload. We used an in vivo rat preparation to investigate how functional readouts of EDL muscle performance and hindlimb blood flow, upon indirect electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve, were changed, if at all, once these different types of angiogenesis had been induced. Muscle samples were analysed for structural changes and correlated with function changes, for each treatment group.
Differential and Nonredundant Roles of Phospholipase Cγ2 and Phospholipase Cγ1 in the Terminal Maturation of NK Cells1

NK cells play a central role in mediating innate immune responses. Activation of NK cells results in cytotoxicity, cytokine, and chemokine secretions. In this study, we show that in mice with targeted deletion of phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ)2, one of the key signal transducers, there are profound effects on the development and terminal maturation of NK cells. Lack of PLCγ2 significantly impaired the ability of lineage-committed NK precursor cells to acquire subset-specific Ly49 receptors and thereby terminal maturation of NK cells. Overexpression of isozyme, PLCγ1, in PLCγ2-deficient NK cells resulted in the successful Ly49 acquisition and terminal maturation of the NK cells; however, it could only partially rescue NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity with no cytokine production. Furthermore, PLCγ2-deficient NK cells failed to mediate antitumor cytotoxicity and inflammatory cytokine production, displaying a generalized hyporesponsiveness. Our results strongly demonstrate that PLCγ1 and PLCγ2 play nonredundant and obligatory roles in NK cell ontogeny and in its effector functions.
Thermal evolution of ectotherm body size: why get big in the cold?

Introduction Body size has profound consequences for animal life history and ecology (Bonner, 1965; Peters, 1983; Calder, 1984; Schmidt-Neilsen, 1984; Damuth, 1987), so it is very important to understand exactly how natural selection acts in the evolution of this character. Temperature is a crucial aspect of the environment that appears to influence body size in two ways. First, temperature may be an agent of natural selection in producing evolutionary (genetic) changes in the developmental mechanisms that control growth rate and adult size and, second, the thermal conditions during an individual's development may affect its final adult size. Thermal evolution of body size has been discussed mainly in the context of endotherms (principally mammals), where the relationships between the surface area and volume of the body are important in determining rates of heat production and dissipation, and hence in maintaining the standard body temperature. It has long been maintained that endotherms tend to evolve larger body size in colder conditions (Mayr, 1963): an idea traditionally termed ‘Bergmann's rule’ (Bergmann, 1847). This generalisation, however, has since been questioned (Rails & Harvey, 1985), and the relationships between body size and thermal ecology within and between endothermic species await rigorous comparative analysis. Thermal evolution of body size is not restricted to endotherms, however, as several species of ectotherm show clear geographical clines in body size, with the larger individuals found in populations derived from higher latitudes, even when all are reared in standard conditions.
Food for Free

This guide to Britain's wild foods, first published in 1972, reflects ever increasing ecoawareness and popular interest in finding different, and more natural, sources of food. This book opens up an abundant storehouse of free wild food, of powerful and surprising flavours preserved intact in the wild stock whilst increasingly missing from the bland and pre-packed goods found in shops. Each of the 240 types of fruit, nuts, flowers, seaweed, fungi and shellfish featured has its own field identification notes.
The weeds fight back: Individual-based simnulation of evolution of polygenic resistance to herbicides

The management of weeds is often described in military terms, such as ‘winning the war against weeds’ or ‘fighting the green invaders’, with weeds described as a ‘green menace’ or ‘alien invaders’ and those trying to manage them as ‘weed warriors’. Is this a war that the humans can win? Weeds are evolving to be resistant to the herbicides on which world agricultural production relies. The problem appears to be being exacerbated by the wide spread adoption of genetically modified herbicide resistant crops. Weeds are even becoming resistant to herbicides that were previously thought to be difficult to evolve resistance to, such as the world’s most important herbicide: glyphosate. It is difficult to fully understand how weeds evolve resistance in field situations and thus determine optimal strategies for avoiding, minimising or delaying the development of resistance in these situations. To investigate these questions through realistic field trials would require huge experimental areas and long time frames – by the time the answers had been found, it is likely they might no longer be useful as the weeds could already be resistant. Simulation modelling provides a tool for predicting how resistance evolves in field situations and thus for finding optimal control strategies. In this paper, a modelling approach for predicting the possibility and rate of weeds developing polygenic resistance is presented. The approach taken is a stochastic individual-based approach that explicitly takes into account the fact that weed populations consist of individual organisms each of a particular genotype, and that some genotypes may be very rare or absent in a particular population. The overall model dynamics (illustrated in Figure 1) are discussed, followed by explanations of the way the model represents genotype and resistance status, and how it determines death or survival of individual plants, total seed set, and the genotype of new seeds. Two alternative approaches for representing populations and implementing simulation processes are described. One approach represents the population as a list of individuals’ genotypes, and the other represents the population as a list of total numbers of individuals of each genotype. These approaches are then compared in terms of efficiency and usefulness. An example related to polygenic herbicide resistance is presented that deals with the question: does using lower herbicide doses in cropping systems leads to faster or slower rates of development of herbicide resistance in weeds? A description of how the polygenic herbicide resistance model was used to analyse this problem is provided, together with some preliminary results. The paper finishes with some concluding remarks including a list of possible future extensions and additions to the model that would increase the range of questions and situations to which the model could be applied. A list of interesting and important issues and questions that this model of polygenic herbicide resistance could be used to address in future is also provided.
Learning, knowledge and trade union renewal : an analysis of the student experience of the MA in international labour and trade union studies, Ruskin College, Oxford (2006-2016)

2 The MA ILTUS Cohorts 2006-2016 . 4 List of Figures, Pictures and Abbreviations . 8 Acknowledgements . 9 Chapter One: Introduction . 11 1.1 Introductory Statement . 11 1.2 Why this Research and why now? 12 1.3 Key Themes of the Thesis . 17 1.4 The Research Questions . 23 1.5 Theoretical Frameworks . 24 1.6 Thesis Chapters . 29 Chapter Two: Literature Review . 32 2.1 Chapter Overview . 32 2.2 Renewal: A Crisis of Power, Influence and Legitimacy . 34 2.3 The Nature of Trade Union Decline in the United Kingdom . 37 2.4 Imagined Solidarities . 40 2. The Renewal Actor and Embodied Activism . 65 Chapter Three: Thesis Design, Methodology and Conceptual Framework . 79 3.
Host Cell Responses to Coronavirus Infections

This chapter discusses common as well as unique alterations in host gene expression during coronavirus (CoV) infection in vitro, and compares to those in other RNA virus infections. Transcriptional profiling and studies using other approaches have led to a more comprehensive understanding of CoV-induced (immune) responses. The chapter also discusses several common responses on the topics of apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, unfolded-protein response, ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation, autophagy, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleo-protein (hnRNP)-involved viral transcription, and modulation of cellular translation in more detail. To distinguish reference to genes and associated mRNA from reference to proteins, mouse gene and protein nomenclature has been used.
Small mammal community characteristics as indicators of ecological disturbance in the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve, Free State, South Africa

Biodiversity of small mammals has been used as an indicator of disturbance in a natural ecosystem. Small mammal community structure was investigated on eight transects in the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve. The low species richness and diversity of small mammals, and the high proportion of Mastomys coucha in all habitats, indicate a high level of disturbance in the reserve. Possible reasons for this disturbance are discussed together with methods for monitoring and measuring small mammal diversity in Free State ecosystems. This study was also the first study to quantify habitat-specific patterns in terms of Shannon-diversity in the Free State. Such indices are essential to describe and compare mammalian faunas and are increasingly being used in inter alia impact assessments.