Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of S5P α‐helix charge mutants on inactivation of hERG K+ channels

The ether‐à‐go‐go (EAG) family of voltage‐gated K+ channels contains three subfamilies, EAG, ether‐à‐go‐go related (ERG) and ether‐à‐go‐go like (ELK). The human ether‐à‐go‐go related gene (hERG) K+ channel has been of significant interest because loss of function in the hERG channel is associated with a markedly increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias. The hERG channel has unusual kinetics with slow activation and deactivation but very rapid and voltage‐dependent inactivation. The outer pore region of the hERG K+ channel is predicted to be different from that of other members of the voltage‐gated K+ channel family. HERG has a much longer linker between the fifth transmembrane domain (SS) and the pore helix (S5P linker) compared to other families of voltage‐gated K+ channels (43 amino acids compared to 14–23 amino acids). Further, the S5P linker contains an amphipathic α‐helix that in hERG channels probably interacts with the mouth of the pore to modulate inactivation. The human EAG and rat ELK2 channels (hEAG and rELK2) show reduced or no inactivation in comparison to hERG channels, yet both channels are predicted to contain a similarly long S5P linker to that of hERG. In this study, we have constructed a series of chimaeric channels consisting of the S1–S6 of hERG but with the S5P α‐helical region of either hEAG or rELK2, and one consisting of the S1–S6 of rELK2 but with the S5P α‐helical region of hERG to investigate the role of the S5P linker in inactivation. Our studies show that charged residues on the α‐helix of the S5P linker contribute significantly to the differences in inactivation characteristics of the EAG family channels. Further, individually mutating each of the hydrophilic residues on the S5P α‐helix of hERG to a charged residue had significant effects on the voltage dependence of inactivation and the two residues with the greatest affect when mutated to a lysine, N588 and Q592, both lie on the same face of the S5P α ‐helix. We suggest that inactivation of hERG involves the interaction of this face of the S5P α‐helix with a charged residue on the remainder of the outer pore domain of the channel.
A Functional Biology of Free-Living Protozoa

1. The Protozoan Cell. - A. Introduction. - B. Protozoan Systematics. - C. Evolution of Protozoa. - D. Free-living Protozoa. - (i) Mastigophora - The Flagellates. - (ii) Sarcodina - The Amoebae. - (iii) Ciliophora - The Ciliates. - E. The Protozoan Cell. - 2. How Protozoa Obtain Energy. - A. Introduction. - B. Modes of Feeding. - (i) Protozoa With a Cytostome or Cell Mouth. - (ii) Protozoa Lacking a Cytostome. - (iii) Pinocytosis. - C. Food Selection in Protozoa. - D. Digestive Processes. - E. Symbiotic Relationships in Protozoa. - F. Factors Influencing Feeding. - 3. Physiological Functioning of Protozoa. - A. Introduction. - B. Asexual Life-cycle. - (i) Types of Binary Fission. - (ii) Mean Cell Volume Variation. - (iii) Growth and Factors Influencing Growth and Division. - C. Sexual Reproduction. - (i) Factors Stimulating Sexual Reproduction. - (ii) Isogamous Reproduction. - (iii) Anisogamous Reproduction. - D. Respiration. - (i) Aerobic Respiration. - (ii) Anaerobic Respiration. - E. Osmoregulation and Excretion. - 4. Movement. - A. Introduction. - B. The Structure of Locomotory Organelles. - (i) Ciliophora and Mastigophora. - (ii) Sarcodina. - C. Chemical Basis of Movement. - (i) Chemical Processes in Cilia and Flagella. - (ii) Chemical Processes in Amoeboid Movement. - D. Forms of Locomotion. - (i) Locomotion in Ciliates and Flagellates. - (ii) Contractile Movement in Ciliates. - (iii) Locomotion in Sarcodina. - E. Factors Influencing Speed of Movement. - (i) Flagellates. - (ii) Ciliates. - (iii) Sarcodina. - 5. Trophic Relations of Protozoa. - A. Introduction. - B. Protozoan Energetics. - (i) The Energy Equivalents of Protozoa and their Food. - (ii) Energetics. - (iii) How Protozoa Maximise Net Energy Returns from their Feeding Behaviour. - C. r-K Selection in Protozoan Populations. - D. Interactions of Bacterivorous Protozoa with their Food Source. - (i) The Impact of Protozoa on their Bacterial Food Source. - (ii) The Role of Protozoa in Nutrient Recycling. - E. Predators of Protozoa. - 6. Ecology and Adaptability. - A. Introduction. - B. Ecology and Adaptation in the Natural Environment. - C. Encystment. - D. Protozoa in Sewage Treatment. - E. The Role of Protozoa in Polluted Ecosystems. - 7. Conclusions.
Preventing household financial hardship from severe illness : the role of cash transfers

S1. Accepted abstract for 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health. 216 Abstract S2. Accepted abstract for 47th Union World Conference on Lung Health. 218S2. Accepted abstract for 47th Union World Conference on Lung Health. 218 Table S1. Review search terms. 220 Table S2. Maryland Scientific Methods Scale. 221 Table S3. Loss to follow up and missing data in the 2005 Avaliação do Impacto do Bolsa Família dataset. 222 Table S4. Missing data in the 2009 Avaliação do Impacto do Bolsa Família dataset. 227 Table S5. Complete case analysis of severe illness and household per capita weekly labour hours, monthly labour income, and monthly food consumption. 231 Table S6. Complete case analysis of severe illness and household per capita weekly labour hours, monthly labour income, and monthly food consumption, by receipt of conditional cash transfer at study baseline. 232 Table S7. Severe illness reported to be worst in 2009 and household per capita weekly labour hours, monthly labour income, and monthly food consumption. 233 Table S8. Severe illness reported to be worst in 2009 and household per capita weekly labour hours, monthly labour income, and monthly food consumption, by receipt of conditional cash transfer at study baseline. 234 Figure S1. Sample distribution of total DR TB-related costs. 235 Table S9. Summary of univariable association of pre-illness demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and DR TB clinical characteristics with financial hardship. 236 Table S10. Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards checklist for study comparing two cash transfer strategies to prevent catastrophic costs for poor tuberculosis affected households in lowand middle-income countries. 238
Metabolism of methane and propane and the role of the glyoxylate bypass enzymes in Methylocella silvestris BL2

Methylocella silvestris BL2 is a moderately acidophilic facultative methanotroph isolated from forest soil in 2003. Uniquely, it has the ability to grow on a wide range of multi-carbon compounds in addition to methane. An analysis of growth conditions identified the requirements for robust and predictable growth on a wide range of substrates. A simple and effective method of targeted mutagenesis was developed, which relies on electroporation with a linear DNA fragment, and several strains with deletions of key enzymes were constructed using this method. Deletion of isocitrate lyase demonstrated that this enzyme is required for growth on both one-carbon and two-carbon compounds. The second enzyme of the glyoxylate cycle, malate synthase, was shown to be essential for growth on two-carbon compounds. However, surprisingly, deletion of glyoxylate cycle enzymes had a dramatic effect on expression of methanol dehydrogenase. Possible causes of this effect are discussed. Surprisingly, M. silvestris was able to grow on propane and the presence and expression of a gene cluster encoding a putative propane monooxygenase was confirmed. This enzyme was found to be a second soluble diiron monooxygenase (SDIMO) with homology to the propane monooxygenase from Gordonia TY5, identifying M. silvestris as the first known methanotroph to contain SDIMOs from more than one group. Deletion of these enzymes in turn was used to determine the requirement for each during growth on methane or propane. The soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) was found to be capable of oxidising propane, whereas the propane monooxygenase (PrMO) was unable to oxidise methane. However, although a strain lacking the PrMO was capable of growth on 2.5% (v/v) propane, it was unable to grow on this gas at 20% (v/v), and at 2.5%, assimilation into biomass was less efficient in comparison to the wild-type. Evidence is presented that products of oxidation of propane by the sMMO may be toxic to the cell or inhibitory to growth in the absence of the PrMO. Both the sMMO and the PrMO were found to be capable of oxidation of a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, including xenobiotics, suggesting a possible role in bioremediation. M. silvestris BL2 was found to oxidise propane at both terminal and sub-terminal positions, resulting in 1- propanol and 2-propanol respectively, and biochemical methods were used to assay the enzymes of terminal and sub-terminal pathways. Assimilation of 1-propanol was found to be by the methylmalonyl-CoA pathway, and the data suggested that 2- propanol was oxidised to acetone and acetol. The final gene of the PrMO genecluster, predicted to encode a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-containing enzyme with homology to characterised membrane-bound D-gluconate dehydrogenase from Gluconobacter spp. , was found to be essential for growth on 2-propanol and acetone and may be involved in the oxidation of acetol during propane metabolism by the sub-terminal pathway.
Relative expression analysis of Osteogenic Differentiation Genes in Human Dental Stem Cells Derived from Deciduous Teeth and Permanent Teeth

Background: Stem cells are becoming an important biological material in regenerative dentistry. Due to the easy accessibility, dental stem cells have been received much attention in the development of treatments strategies for tooth regeneration. We studied the osteogenic differentiation marker gene expression in Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and stem cells from periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) that are isolated from deciduous teeth and permanent teeth. Material and Methods: Bothe DPSCs and PDLSCs were isolated from deciduous teeth and permanent teeth and compared the differentiation gene expression pattern between deciduous and permanent teeth. Results: Gene expression pattern was signiﬁcantly differed between stem cells derived from deciduous teeth and stem cells derived from permanent teeth. Conclusions: Our study suggest that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) isolated from deciduous teeth have exhibited elevated osteogenic differentiation marker gene expression compared to stem cells isolated from permanent teeth.
Cyclic-AMP reception and cell recognition in dictyostelium discoideum

Single cells of the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, aggregate into a multicellular organism in response to cyclic AMP, which they detect by binding to cellsurface receptors. During the aggregation phase, two different responses to cyclic-AMP are observed. First, the cells orientate by chemotaxis towards the source of a concentration gradient which initially is a group of cells forming an aggregation center. Second, the cells relay pulses which are periodically generated by the centers.
Evolution and Development of the Stickleback Lateral Line

Evolution and Development of the Stickleback Lateral Line Margaret Grace Mills Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Catherine L. Peichel Department of Biology The lateral line sensory system allows fish to sense water movement. It has been implicated in many behaviors, including schooling, prey detection and capture, and rheotaxis. The number and arrangement of neuromasts in the lateral line varies substantially between populations of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). In some cases, variation in the lateral line is correlated with variation in ecological habitat, suggesting that it may be adaptive. Previous work in the Peichel lab identified differences between the adult lateral line patterns of two stickleback populations, a marine population from Japan (JP) and a freshwater benthic lake population from British Columbia (PB), as well as the genetic architecture of those differences. The most striking differences between these two populations are in the number and patterning of neuromasts in the main posterior (Mp) trunk line. For my thesis research, I investigated the developmental and genetic basis of the differences in Mp. PB fish have more neuromasts than JP in the Mp line, and this difference maps to Chromosome XXI. In Chapters 2 and 3, I used a number of techniques to try to identify the gene within the region responsible for the difference in number: recombination mapping, analysis of individual candidate genes, RNA-seq analysis of all genes in the region, and in situ hybridization. I did not identify the causative gene, but I did show that the candidate gene Eya1 is expressed in neuromasts during stickleback development. I also demonstrated that difference in neuromast number between PB and another freshwater population does not map to Chromosome XXI, suggesting that there are other loci that control neuromast number in sticklebacks. A second difference in the Mp line, the arrangement of neuromasts, correlates strongly with the presence of bony lateral plates and maps to Chromosome IV. In Chapter 4, I found that the elaboration of the neuromast pattern coincides with the growth of those plates through postembryonic development. I also used transgenesis to demonstrate that pleiotropic activity of the gene responsible for plate development, Eda, is also responsible for the difference in neuromast pattern.
The potentials for immunostimulatory substances (beta-1,3/1,6 glucans) in pig nutrition.

Two types of experiments (I and II) were carried out to test the potential of (3-1,3/1,6 glucans as immunostimulatory substances in pig feed. In Experiment I , 34 sows were vaccinated against £. coli with 2 ml Nobivac Porcoli (Intervet) 3 weeks pre-partum. The treatment (17 sows) consisted of top dressing the feed daily with 2.5 g MacroGard, 7 days before vaccination until 2 weeks post-partum. No differences were noted in the number of piglets born dead or alive between the 2 groups, but the liveweight of the treated group on day 14 (3.91 kg) was significantly (P<0.01) lower than in the control group (4.50 kg). In addition, health scores in the control group were better than with the treatment (P<0.01). Slightly higher titers (non significant) of all determined antigens (K88ab, K88ac, K99, 987P, LT-toxoid) were found in the colostrum of treated sows while in the milk significantly higher titers of K88ab (P<0.1) and K99 antigens (PO.05) were found in the treated sows. A stimulation of the sow's immunoreaction against vaccination seems therefore possible. Retarded recovery from neonatal diarrhoea in the treated group or lower milk production/consumption compared to the control group could have resulted in the poorer performances observed. In Experiment I I , 2 x 60 piglets on sow farm I (high infection pressure), weaned at 26 days and 2 x 36 piglets on farm II (low infection pressure), weaned at 25 days, received a weaner diet (Milkivit, Trouw, Belgium) ad libitum supplemented or not with 0.05 % MacroGard. On farm I , the weight gain of the piglets in the treated group was significantly (PO.05) higher than in the control group after week 3. Health scores did not differ. Only on day 21 was a significantly lower antibody titer (987P antigen) noted in the serum of the treated piglets. A higher local immunity due to the glucans, resulting in a lower systemic immunity could have resulted in the lower serum titers. On farm I I , no differences were noted for daily weight gain, health status or antibody titer level in the serum. In view of the increased antibody titers in the sow milk it seems possible to stimulate immunity in sows and piglets. On farms with high infection pressure, there may be scope to control the disease level by oral administration of natural (3-1,3/1,6 glucans.
Biomarcadores de estrés laboral en residentes: artículo de revisión

A través del tiempo, se han generado múltiples definiciones para estrés, pero aún no se logra un consenso satisfactorio; en general, es percibido como una amenaza que pone en riesgo la armonía interna. Esta condición genera como respuesta una serie de cambios fisiológicos (respuesta adaptativa) que buscan mantener el equilibrio; con la activación subyacente de ejes como el hipotálamo-hipófisis-suprarrenal, cuyas sustancias liberadas tienen impacto en varios sistemas, lo que explicaría el desarrollo de ciertas enfermedades y justifica el uso de biomarcadores para la medición objetiva del estrés. Los médicos residentes en formación se han identificado como una población en riesgo para presentar estrés, específicamente estrés laboral o burnout (en inglés), el cual es posible medir de manera subjetiva mediante la aplicación de cuestionarios como el Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI), y a través del cual se ha identificado alta prevalencia de la condición; sin embargo, aún no existe consenso respecto a las estrategias de medición objetiva. La presente revisión pretende explorar la literatura existente sobre los biomarcadores como herramientas de medición de estrés laboral en residentes.
Bioassay for evaluating the compatibility of adults of Neoseiulus californicus (Parasitiformes: Phytoseiidae) with some commercial use pesticides under semicontrolled conditions

RESUMEN ABSTRACT Neoseiulus californicus es un depredador de Tetranychus urticae en cultivos comerciales de rosa. Sin embargo, en este cultivo se aplican agroquimicos que no permiten usarlo como con-trolador. Debido a que no existe un protocolo para evaluar la compatibilidad de acaros depredadores con productos quimicos y a que es necesario definir cuales de estos productos podrian emplearse en controles fitosanitarios sin afectar al depredador, el presente trabajo busco determinar una metodologia para evaluar la compatibilidad de algunos de estos agroquimicos con adultos del depredador. Para ello se estandarizo tanto la aplica-cion de los productos como sus metodos de aspersion (superficie tratada y aspersion directa), e igualmente se establecio la planta sustrato mas recomendable para su evaluacion. Finalmente, se determino la compatibilidad de algunos productos quimicos con los acaros depredadores. Se encontro que la especie mas apropiada para los ensayos es la rosa, y que la distancia ideal de aspersion es de 1 m, con tres pases de aplicacion del producto. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los metodos de aspersion (
Considering the use of an equal-weighted index as a benchmark for South African equity investors

We analyse and discuss the use of an equal-weighted index as an alternative to the market capitalisation weighted (cap-weighted) index as a benchmark for active equity portfolios in the South African equity market. Our findings indicate that equal-weighted portfolios are, in general, more efficient than capweighted portfolios and that random active portfolios tend to display significantly improved risk-return characteristics when using an equal-weighted index as a benchmark. We find our results are robust to transaction costs involved with rebalancing.Keywords: Benchmark; risk; capitalisation weight; equal weight; efficiency; rebalancing; costs; returns
Política monetaria y crecimiento económico: ¿qué pueden hacer los bancos centrales? / Monetary Policy and Economic Growth: what can Central Banks do?

ResumenLas controversias en torno a la politica monetaria y el crecimiento economico se explican en torno a las diferentes definiciones sobre la tasa de interes. En este trabajo se adopta el supuesto que la tasa de interes es una variable monetaria que incide principalmente sobre la distribucion del ingreso (rentistas y empresarios), con un bajo impacto sobre el gasto de la inversion. Por consiguiente, el objetivo de la politica monetaria es reducir al maximo el ingreso de los rentistas y su funcion es garantizar recursos financieros para el crecimiento en un ambiente macroeconomico estable. En este contexto se revisan las diferentes reglas heterodoxas de determinacion de las tasas de interes y se discuten sus resultados en el contexto de la economia mexicana, para el periodo 1950-2016. Se encuentra, que la politica monetaria en Mexico, en el periodo senalado, genero diferentes resultados. En el periodo de crecimiento economico acelerado la distribucion del ingreso favorecio a los rentistas mientras en el periodo de globalizacion no incrementan de manera acelerada los ingresos de los rentistas. Abstract The controversies around monetary policy and economic growth are related to the different interest rates definitions. In this paper we assume that the rate of interest is a monetary variable that mostly affects the distribution of income (between rentiers and entrepreneurs) and investment spending is lees affected by this variable. Thereby, the monetary policy objective is to reduce rentiers income and guarantee financial resources for economic growth, within a stable macroeconomic framework. In this context, we discuss the different heterodox rule of interest rate determination and analyse its effects in terms of the Mexican economy between 1950 and 2016. We found that in Mexico, during this period, the income distribution resulted from the interest rules applied were different than in developed economies. In the period of strong and stable economic growth, rentiers’ income increased, while during the globalization era, rentiers income did not increase as expected.
Cold tolerance of insects and other arthropods.

Arthropods, as poikilotherms, adapt to cold environments in a variety of ways that include extension of locomotory activity to low temperatures, enhancement of metabolic rate and maintenance of a positive energy balance whenever possible. The ecological implications for many such animals are extension of the life cycle and a requirement for an individual to overwinter several times. Prolonged sub-zero temperatures increase the risk of tissue freezing, and two main strategies have been evolved, first avoidance of freezing by supercooling, and secondly, tolerance of extracellular ice. In the first strategy, freezing is invariably lethal and extensive supercooling (to -30 $^\circ$ C and below) occurs through elimination or masking of potential ice nucleators in the body and accumulation of cryoprotective substances such as polyhydric alcohols and sugars. Such species are termed freezing intolerant. The second strategy, freezing tolerance, is uncommon in arthropods and other invertebrates, and usually occurs in a single life stage of a species. Freezing of liquid in the extracellular compartment is promoted by proteinaceous ice nucleators. Freezing is therefore protective, and the lethal temperature is well below the supercooling point in freezing tolerant individuals, whereas in most freezing intolerant species it is close to or at the supercooling point. Proteins also act as antifreezes in insects of both strategies, producing a thermal hysteresis by lowering the freezing point of haemolymph in a non-colligative fashion while not affecting the melting point temperature. Recent studies and developments in arthropod cold tolerance are discussed against this background, and a broader approach than hitherto is advocated, which integrates ecological information with physiological data.
Simulation and Evaluation of PM10 in the City of Lima Using the Model WRF-Chem

El texto analiza el estado de la contaminacion del aire en Lima (Peru) por medio de un modelo regional de prediccion del clima con el acoplamiento quimico en linea (WRF-Chem). La obtencion de resultados con las mediciones experimentales tomadas en diez estaciones de monitoreo que pertenecen a la Servicio Nacional de Meteorologia e Hidrologia (SENAMHI) pudo mostrar el comportamiento del aire el cual senala la contaminacion por particulas (PM10) durante 21 dias de verano y 21 dias de invierno durante 2017. Ademas, se examina las diversas variables meteorologicas de impacto significativo en ese contaminante.