Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Aquaporin-4 Water Channels by Phorbol Ester-dependent Protein Phosphorylation*

The molecular mechanisms for regulating water balance in many tissues are unknown. Like the kidney, the eye contains multiple water channel proteins (aquaporins) that transport water through membranes, including two (AQP1 and AQP4) in the ciliary body, the site of aqueous humor production. However, because humans with defective AQP1 are phenotypically normal and because the ocular application of phorbol esters reduce intraocular pressure, we postulated that the water channel activity of AQP4 may be regulated by these agents. We now report that protein kinase C activators, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate strongly stimulate the phosphorylation of AQP4 and inhibit its activity in a dose-dependent manner. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (10 μm) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10 nm) reduced the rate of AQP4-expressing oocyte swelling by 87 and 92%, respectively. Further, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate significantly increased the amount of phosphorylated AQP4. These results demonstrate that protein kinase C can regulate the activity of AQP4 through a mechanism involving protein phosphorylation. Moreover, they suggest important potential roles for AQP4 in several clinical disorders involving rapid water transport such as glaucoma, brain edema, and swelling of premature infant lungs.
Insulin Regulation of Membrane-associated Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (*)

Insulin stimulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes results in rapid activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase followed by autophosphorylation of the receptor and phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), its major substrate. The insulin receptor resides mostly at the cell surface of 3T3-L1 adipocytes under basal conditions, while about two-thirds of IRS-1 fractionates with intracellular membranes and one-third fractionates with cytosol. To test whether insulin receptor internalization is required for optimal tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, 3T3-L1 adipocytes and CHO-T cells were incubated at 4°C which inhibits receptor endocytosis but not its tyrosine kinase activity. Under these conditions, tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in the low density microsome fraction in response to insulin was as intense as that observed at 37°C, indicating that endocytosis of insulin receptors is not necessary for tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 to occur. Surprisingly, at 37°C, insulin action on 3T3-L1 adipocytes progressively decreased the amount of IRS-1 protein associated with the low density microsome fraction and increased that in the cytosol. This redistribution of IRS-1 from the low density microsome fraction to the cytosol in response to insulin was accompanied by decreased electrophoretic mobility of IRS-1 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Incubation of adipocytes at 4°C blocked the appearance of tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 in the cytosol. Taken together, these data indicate that insulin receptors phosphorylate IRS-1 at the cell surface, perhaps in coated pits which are included in the low density microsome fraction. The results also suggest a desensitization mechanism in which the tyrosine-phosphorylated membrane-bound IRS-1, associated with signaling molecules such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, is released into the cytoplasm in concert with its serine/threonine phosphorylation.
Amygdalectomy and disconnection in visual learning for auditory secondary reinforcement by monkeys

Nine monkeys in 3 groups took part in an experiment on visual discrimination learning set in an automatic apparatus. Each new visual discrimination problem was solved using auditory secondary reinforcers. Primary food reinforcement was delivered only after a new problem had been solved to a criterion, and the problem was then replaced by a new one; thus, within-problem learning relied purely on secondary and not on primary reinforcement, but the secondary reinforcers were associated with primary reinforcement. Bilateral amygdalectomy severely retarded within-problem learning. Disconnection of the amygdala from auditory input, by crossed unilateral lesions of amygdala and of auditory cortex combined with forebrain commissurotomy, had a similar effect to that of bilateral amygdalectomy. Disconnection of the amygdala from visual association cortex left learning unimpaired. Thus, for normal performance in this task, interaction of the amygdala with the sensory modality of the secondary reinforcer was essential, but interaction of the amygdala with the sensory modality of the discriminative stimuli was not necessary. It was concluded that the amygdala is involved in associating stimuli with the primary reinforcing attributes of food reward, and not with its other attributes.
Mutations of FUS gene in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Background Mutations in the FUS gene have recently been discovered to be a major cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). Objective To determine the identity and frequency of FUS gene mutations in a large cohort of Italian patients enriched in sporadic cases (SALS). Methods Exons 5, 6, 14 and 15 of the FUS gene were screened for mutations in 1009 patients (45 FALS and 964 SALS). The genetic analysis was extended to the entire coding sequence of FUS in all the FALS and 293 of the SALS patients. Results Seven missense mutations (p.G191S, p.R216C, p.G225V, p.G230C, p.R234C, p.G507D and p.R521C) were identified in nine patients (seven SALS and two FALS), and none in 500 healthy Italian controls. All mutations are novel except for the p.R521C mutation identified in one SALS and one FALS case. Both patients showed a similar unusual presentation, with proximal, mostly symmetrical, upper limb weakness, with neck and axial involvement. With the exception of p.G507D and p.R521C, the mutations identified in SALS patients are all localised in the glycine-rich region encoded by exon 6. In addition, eight different in-frame deletions in two polyglycine motifs were detected, the frequency of which was not significantly different in patients and controls. Conclusions The results show that FUS missense mutations are present in 0.7% of Italian SALS cases, and confirm the previous mutational frequency reported in FALS (4.4%). An unusual proximal and axial clinical presentation seems to be associated with the presence of the p.R521C mutation.
MISSTEV : model for information security shared tacit espoused values

One of the most critical assets in most organisatio ns s information. It is often described as the lifeblood of an organisation. For this reas on, it is vital that this asset is protected through sound information security practices. Howe ver, the incorrect and indifferent behaviour of employees often leads to information a ssets becoming vulnerable. Incorrect employee behaviour could have an extremely negative impact on the protection of information. An information security solution should be a fundam ental component in most organisations. It is, however, possible for an org anisation to have the most comprehensive physical and technical information se curity controls in place, but the operational controls, and associated employee behav iour, have not received much consideration. Therefore, the issue of employee be haviour must be addressed in an organisation to assist in ensuring the protection o f i f rmation assets. The corporate culture of an organisation is largely responsible for the actions and behaviour of employees. Therefore, to address oper ational information security controls, the corporate culture of an organisation should be considered. To ensure the integration of information security into the corporate culture of an organisation, the protection of information should become part of the way the emplo yees conduct their everyday tasks – from senior management, right throughout the entire organisation. Therefore, information security should become an integral comp nent of the corporate culture of the organisation. To address the integration of information security into the corporate culture of an organisation, a model was developed which depicted th learning stages and modes of knowledge creation necessary to transform the corpo rate culture into one that is information security aware.
Cellulose synthase complex organization and cellulose microfibril structure

Cellulose consists of linear chains of β-1,4-linked glucose units, which are synthesized by the cellulose synthase complex (CSC). In plants, these chains associate in an ordered manner to form the cellulose microfibrils. Both the CSC and the local environment in which the individual chains coalesce to form the cellulose microfibril determine the structure and the unique physical properties of the microfibril. There are several recent reviews that cover many aspects of cellulose biosynthesis, which include trafficking of the complex to the plasma membrane and the relationship between the movement of the CSC and the underlying cortical microtubules (Bringmann et al. 2012 Trends Plant Sci. 17, 666–674 (doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2012.06.003); Kumar & Turner 2015 Phytochemistry 112, 91–99 (doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.07.009); Schneider et al. 2016 Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 34, 9–16 (doi:10.1016/j.pbi.2016.07.007)). In this review, we will focus on recent advances in cellulose biosynthesis in plants, with an emphasis on our current understanding of the structure of individual catalytic subunits together with the local membrane environment where cellulose synthesis occurs. We will attempt to relate this information to our current knowledge of the structure of the cellulose microfibril and propose a model in which variations in the structure of the CSC have important implications for the structure of the cellulose microfibril produced. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘New horizons for cellulose nanotechnology’.
Effects of Wind Power on Bulk System Adequacy Evaluation Using the Well-Being Analysis Framework

The well-being analysis framework provides a bridge between the deterministic and probabilistic approaches to bulk power system adequacy and security assessment using the operating states designated as healthy, marginal and at risk. This paper illustrates the effects on the probability, frequency and average duration of the three operating states of adding wind power to a system or replacing some existing conventional generating capacity by wind power. The described studies incorporate the effects of load forecast uncertainty on the operating state reliability indices and are conducted using sequential Monte Carlo simulation.
Is the Great Recession Really Over

Many have argued that the Great Recession is over and that the U.S. labor market is back to where it would have been in the absence of the recession and the shocks that gave rise to it. By the end of 2015, the U.S. unemployment rate had returned to its 2007 level, below 5 percent. Yet the U. S. labor force participation rate and thus the U.S. employment rate (employment-population ratio) remained three percentage points below their 2007 levels. Only half or less of the decline is explained by demographic change. What caused the remaining decline in labor force participation? I attempt to address this question in a recent paper, “Is the Great Recession Really Over? Longitudinal Evidence of Enduring Employment Impacts”. Using micro-data on two million retail workers, I show that local variation in the employment impact of the Great Recession had enduring effects across local areas. Workers in areas that were severely hit in 2007-09 were less likely to be employed in 2014 than similar workers from less affected areas, regardless of where they lived in 2014. This enduring employment impact of a worker’s location at the onset of the Recession cannot be fully explained by nationwide skill-biased technical or trade changes.
Comparative Genomic Analysis and Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and o-, m-, and p-Xylene (BTEX) Degradation Pathways of Pseudoxanthomonas spadix BD-a59

ABSTRACT Pseudoxanthomonas spadix BD-a59, isolated from gasoline-contaminated soil, has the ability to degrade all six BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-, m-, and p-xylene) compounds. The genomic features of strain BD-a59 were analyzed bioinformatically and compared with those of another fully sequenced Pseudoxanthomonas strain, P. suwonensis 11-1, which was isolated from cotton waste compost. The genome of strain BD-a59 differed from that of strain 11-1 in many characteristics, including the number of rRNA operons, dioxygenases, monooxygenases, genomic islands (GIs), and heavy metal resistance genes. A high abundance of phage integrases and GIs and the patterns in several other genetic measures (e.g., GC content, GC skew, Karlin signature, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat [CRISPR] gene homology) indicated that strain BD-a59's genomic architecture may have been altered through horizontal gene transfers (HGT), phage attack, and genetic reshuffling during its evolutionary history. The genes for benzene/toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene degradations were encoded on GI-9, -13, and -21, respectively, which suggests that they may have been acquired by HGT. We used bioinformatics to predict the biodegradation pathways of the six BTEX compounds, and these pathways were proved experimentally through the analysis of the intermediates of each BTEX compound using a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The elevated abundances of dioxygenases, monooxygenases, and rRNA operons in strain BD-a59 (relative to strain 11-1), as well as other genomic characteristics, likely confer traits that enhance ecological fitness by enabling strain BD-a59 to degrade hydrocarbons in the soil environment.
Analysis of transgenic Indian mustard plants for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated mine tailings.

Transgenic Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. ] plants overproducing the enzymes gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (ECS) or glutathione synthetase (GS) were shown previously to have increased levels of the metal-binding thiol peptides phytochelatins and glutathione, and enhanced Cd tolerance and accumulation. Furthermore, transgenic Indian mustard plants overexpressing adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase (APS) were shown to have higher levels of glutathione and total thiols. These results were obtained with a solution culture. To better examine the phytoremediation potential of these transgenics, a greenhouse experiment was performed in which the transgenics were grown on metal-contaminated soil collected from a USEPA Superfund site near Leadville, Colorado. A grass mixture used for revegetation of the site was included for comparison. The ECS and GS transgenics accumulated significantly (P < 0.05) more metal in their shoot than wild-type (WT) Indian mustard, while the APS plants did not. Of the six metals tested, the ECS and GS transgenics accumulated 1.5-fold more Cd, and 1.5- to 2-fold more Zn, compared with wild-type Indian mustard. Furthermore, the ECS transgenics accumulated 2.4- to 3-fold more Cr, Cu, and Pb, relative to WT. The grass mixture accumulated significantly less metal than Indian mustard: approximately 2-fold less Cd, Cu, Mn, and Zn, and 5.7-fold less Pb than WT Indian mustard. All transgenics removed significantly more metal from the soil compared with WT Indian mustard or an unplanted control. While WT did not remove more metal than the unplanted control for any of the metals tested, all three types of transgenics significantly reduced the soil metal concentration, and removed between 6% (Zn) and 25% (Cd) of the soil metal. This study is the first to demonstrate enhanced phytoextraction potential of transgenic plants using polluted environmental soil. The results confirm the importance of metal-binding peptides for plant metal accumulation and show that results from hydroponic systems have value as an indicator for phytoremediation potential.
Biotransformation of arsenic by a Yellowstone thermoacidophilic eukaryotic alga

Arsenic is the most common toxic substance in the environment, ranking first on the Superfund list of hazardous substances. It is introduced primarily from geochemical sources and is acted on biologically, creating an arsenic biogeocycle. Geothermal environments are known for their elevated arsenic content and thus provide an excellent setting in which to study microbial redox transformations of arsenic. To date, most studies of microbial communities in geothermal environments have focused on Bacteria and Archaea, with little attention to eukaryotic microorganisms. Here, we show the potential of an extremophilic eukaryotic alga of the order Cyanidiales to influence arsenic cycling at elevated temperatures. Cyanidioschyzon sp. isolate 5508 oxidized arsenite [As(III)] to arsenate [As(V)], reduced As(V) to As(III), and methylated As(III) to form trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO) and dimethylarsenate [DMAs(V)]. Two arsenic methyltransferase genes, CmarsM7 and CmarsM8, were cloned from this organism and demonstrated to confer resistance to As(III) in an arsenite hypersensitive strain of Escherichia coli. The 2 recombinant CmArsMs were purified and shown to transform As(III) into monomethylarsenite, DMAs(V), TMAO, and trimethylarsine gas, with a Topt of 60–70 °C. These studies illustrate the importance of eukaryotic microorganisms to the biogeochemical cycling of arsenic in geothermal systems, offer a molecular explanation for how these algae tolerate arsenic in their environment, and provide the characterization of algal methyltransferases.
Alcohol and the ability to inhibit behavior in men and women.

OBJECTIVE This experiment tested the impairing effect of alcohol on cognitive inhibitory control of behavior in the absence of any motivational consequences for exhibiting or inhibiting a response. METHOD Men (n = 24) and women (n = 24) were trained on a computerized "go-stop" task that measured response reaction time (RT) to a go signal and inhibitory control by the number of inhibitions to a randomly occurring stop signal. Equal numbers of men (n = 8) and women (n = 8) were assigned to one of three groups (n = 16), and they performed the task alone in a room under either alcohol (A), placebo (P) or no-treatment control (C) conditions. Blood alcohol concentrations of men and women were matched in Group A by administering 0.62 and 0.54 g/kg of alcohol, respectively. RESULTS Alcohol impaired inhibitory control and had no significant effect on response RT. Under P and C conditions, no changes in inhibitions or response RT were observed. In addition, no significant gender effects were found. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that inhibitory control of behavior was impaired by a moderate dose of alcohol that did not affect response RT.
Spinal Cord Dynorphin Precursor Intermediates Decline During Late Gestation

Abstract: This laboratory has previously reported that the maternal opioid analgesia associated with pregnancy and parturition is mediated, at least in part, by a maternal spinal cord dynorphin/κ opioid system. This analgesia is accompanied by an increase in dynorphin peptides (1–17 and 1–8) in the lumbar spinal cord. Levels of trypsin‐generated arginine6‐leucine‐enkephalin (Leu‐Enk‐Arg)‐immunoreactive determinants were also determined and used to reflect the content of dynorphin precursor intermediates. In spinal tissue, the amount of dynorphin A (1–17) contained in the form of precursor is, at a minimum, 10‐fold higher than the content of mature dynorphin A (1–17) or dynorphin (1–8). During gestational day 22, the content of dynorphin precursor is reduced significantly (∼50%). The decline in the magnitude of dynorphin precursor intermediates in the spinal cord of pregnant rats vastly exceeds the magnitude of increase in the content of dynorphin peptides (1–17 and 1–8). This difference can best be explained by postulating a corresponding increase in the rate of release of spinal cord dynorphin (1–17). It is suggested that enhanced processing of dynorphin precursor intermediates represents the initial biochemical level of adaptation of spinal dynorphin neurons to increased demands of pregnancy.
Gender Variations in the Socioeconomic Attainment of Immigrants in Canada

Using data from the 2001 Census of Canada, this study examines gender variations in the socioeconomic attainment of immigrants in Canada aged 30-40. Multivariate regression analysis was carried out to test the research hypotheses. In general, the study finds that male immigrants in Canada aged 30-40 in 2001 are likely to have higher educational attainment, higher occupational prestige and higher income attainment than female immigrants of the same age group, even after controlling for human capital variables. A similar gender differential pattern in socioeconomic attainment also prevails across various sub-groups of immigrants based on marital status and region of birth. The study finds evidence in support of the theory of discrimination rather than the theory of human capital, and it explores the possible implications of these findings.
Mass detection using deep convolutional neural network for mammographic computer-aided diagnosis

In recent years, a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) has attracted great attention due to its outstanding performance in recognition of natural images. However, the DCNN performance for medical image recognition is still uncertain because collecting a large amount of training data is difficult. To solve the problem of the DCNN, we adopt a transfer learning strategy, and demonstrate feasibilities of the DCNN and of the transfer learning strategy for mass detection in mammographic images. We adopt a DCNN architecture that consists of 8 layers with weight, including 5 convolutional layers, and 3 fully-connected layers in this study. We first train the DCNN using about 1.2 million natural images for classification of 1,000 classes. Then, we modify the last fully-connected layer of the DCNN and subsequently train the DCNN using 1,656 regions of interest in mammographic image for two classes classification: mass and normal. The detection test is conducted on 198 mammographic images including 99 mass images and 99 normal images. The experimental results showed that the sensitivity of the mass detection was 89.9 % and the false positive was 19.2 %. These results demonstrated that the DCNN trained by transfer learning strategy has a potential to be a key system for mammographic mass detection computer-aided diagnosis (CAD). In addition, to the best of our knowledge, our study is the first demonstration of the DCNN for mammographic CAD application.