Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary structure of peptides and ion channels

Melittin produces a voltage-dependent increase in the conductance of planar lipid bilayers. The conductance increases when the side of the membrane to which melittin has been added (cis-side) is made positive. This paper reports observations on the effect of modifying two positively charged amino acid residues within the NH2-terminal region of the molecule: lysine at position 7 (K7), and the NH2-terminal glycine (G1). We have synthesized melittin analogues in which K7 is replaced by asparagine (K7-N), Gl is blocked by a formyl group (G1-f), and in which both modifications of the parent compound were introduced (G 1-f, K7-N). The time required to reach peak conductance during a constant voltage pulse was shorter in membranes exposed to the analogues than in membranes modified by melittin. The apparent number of monomers producing a conducting unit for [K7-NI-melittin and [Gl-fl-melittin, eight, was found to be greater than the one for [Gl-fi, K7-N]-melittin and for melittin itself, four. The apparent gating charge per monomer was less for the analogues, 0.5-0.3 than for melittin, one. Essentially similar results were obtained with melittin analogues in which the charge on K7 or G 1 or both was blocked by an uncharged N-linked spin label. These results show that the positive charges in the NH2-terminal region of melittin play a major but not exclusive role in the voltage gating of melittin channels in bilayers.
CALCIUM CHANNEL IN ISOLATED SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM MEMBRANES

Sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane vesicles isolated from frog skeletal muscle display high conductance calcium channels when fused into phospholipid bilayers. The channels are selective for calcium and barium over Tris. The fractional open time was voltage-independent (-40 to +25 mV), but was steeply dependent on the free cis [Ca2"J (P0 = 0.02 at 10 ,uM cis Ca2' and 0.77 at 150 gM Ca2"; estimated Hill coefficient: 1.6). Addition of ATP (1 mM; cis) further increased P0 from 0.77 to 0.94. Calcium activation was reversed by addition of EGTA to the cis compartment. Magnesium (2 mM) increased the frequency of rapid closures and 8 mM magnesium decreased the current amplitude from 3.4 to 1.2 pA at 0 mV, suggesting a reversible fast blockade. Addition of increasing concentrations of inositol (1, 4, 5)-trisphosphate (cis), increased P0 from 0.10 +/ 0.01 (mean +/SEM) in the control to 0.85 +/ 0.02 at 50,M in an approximately sigmoidal fashion, with an apparent half-maximal activation at 15 ,M inositol (1, 4, 5)-trisphosphate in the presence of 40 ,M cis Ca2". Lower concentrations of this agonist were required to produce a significant increase in P0 when 10 ,M or less cis Ca2+ were used. The channel was blocked by the addition to the cis compartment of either 0.5 mM lanthanum, 0.5 ,uM ruthenium red, or 200 nM ryanodine, all known inhibitors of Ca2" release from sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. These results demonstrate the presence of calcium channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum from frog skeletal muscle with a pharmacological profile consistent with a role in excitationcontraction coupling and with the hypothesis that
An Interdisciplinary Approach for Policy Evaluation

Evidence-based policymaking is becoming the norm, but how do we acquire the evidence to inform policies? In their article in the present issue of the Journal , Basu et al. ( Am J Epidemiol . 2016;183(6):531 – 538) used difference-in-difference-in-differences models and a synthetic control approach to examine the effects of the 1996 welfare reforms on health outcomes among single mothers. In the present commentary, we discuss the limitations of observational studies for policy evaluation. Difference-in-differences models, from the field of economics, offer a rigorous approach to cope with those limitations.
Protein kinase R contributes to IFN- α / β production during viral infection by regulating IFN mRNA integrity

Cytosolic recognition of viral RNA by the RNA helicases RIG-I and MDA5 is thought to be the major pathway for IFN- α / β induction by RNA viruses. However, other cytoplasmic RNA sensors have historically been implicated in IFN- α / β production. Here we have re-examined the role of the double-stranded RNA binding protein kinase R (PKR). Using cells expressing non-functional PKR or reduced levels of kinase, we show that PKR is required for production of IFN- α / β proteins in response to a subset of RNA viruses including encephalomyocarditis, Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis and Semliki Forest virus but not influenza or Sendai virus. Surprisingly, induction of IFN- α / β mRNA is largely normal in PKR-deficient cells. However, much of that mRNA lacks the poly A tail, indicating that its integrity is compromised. Our results suggest that PKR plays a non-redundant role in IFN- α / β production in response to some but not all viruses, in part by regulating IFN- α / β mRNA stability.
Estrogen Plus Progestin and Lung Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

Correspondence to: Rowan T. Chlebowski, MD, PhD, Contributors: RTC wrote the analysis proposal and initial draft of the report. He accepts full responsibility for the overall content of the report. All authors contributed to the interpretation of data and the approval of the final report. RTC, GLA, MLS, JEM, JW, JMK, KCJ, MJD, JKO, and FAH additionally collected the data and obtained study funding. GLA and RJR additionally performed the statistical analyses. GLA, RJR, MLS, JEM and JW additionally contributed to Background— In Methods— We conducted post hoc analyses over the full follow-up period of the WHI randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating daily conjugated equine estrogen (CEE, 0.625 mg) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 2.5 mg) influence on lung cancer incidence and mortality in 16,608 postmenopausal women.
Salsalate-induced Changes in Lipid/Lipoprotein/Apoprotein Concentrations in Obese/Overweight, Insulin Resistant, Nondiabetic Individuals

, Abstract Background and Objective— Although salsalate administration consistently lowers plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and/or insulin resistance, changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations have been inconsistent; varying from no change to a significant increase. To evaluate the clinical relevance of this discordance in more detail we directly measured LDL-C, as well as obtained a comprehensive assessment of changes in lipid/lipoprotein/apoprotein concentrations associated with salsalate use in insulin resistant individuals, overweight or obese, but without diabetes , using Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) method. Methods— A single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed in volunteers who were overweight or obese, without diabetes, and insulin resistant on the basis of their steady-state plasma glucose concentration during an insulin suppression test. Participants were randomized 2:1 to receive salsalate 3.5 grams/day (n=27) or placebo (n=14) for 4 weeks. Comprehensive lipid/lipoprotein/apoprotein analysis by VAP was obtained after an overnight fast, before and after study intervention. Results— There was no change in directly measured LDL-C concentration in salsalate-treated individuals. However, salsalate administration was associated with various changes considered to decrease atherogenicity; including decreases in TG and total very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) concentrations, a shift from small denser LDL lipoproteins towards larger, more buoyant LDL particles, decreases in VLDL 1+2 -C and LDL 4 -C, and non-significant decreases in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B . No significant changes occurred in the placebo-treated group. Conclusion— Atherogenicity of the lipid/lipoprotein/apoprotein profile of insulin resistant individuals who were overweight or obese improved significantly in association with salsalate treatment. The clinical importance of this finding awaits further study.
Signaling from p53 to NF- K B Determines the Chemotherapy Responsiveness of Neuroblastoma 1

Neuroblastic (N) type neuroblastoma (NB) is the predominant cell type in NB tumors. Previously, we determined that activated nuclear factor K B (NF- K B) is required for doxorubicin and etoposide to kill N-type NB cells. This study was undertaken to determine how NF- K B is activated by these agents. The results show that p53 protein levels increase within 15 to 30 minutes of treatment. This increase occurs before the degradation of inhibitor of NF- K B (I- K B) A and the NF- K B–dependent activation of gene transcription. Moreover, p53 is necessary for NF- K B activation because cells with inactive p53 were resistant to NF- K B–mediated cell death. This pathway was further defined to show that p53 leads to the activation of MAPK/ERK activity kinase (MEK) 1 through a process that depends on protein synthesis and H-Ras. MEK1, in turn, mediates I- K B kinase activation. Together, these results demonstrate for the first time how NF- K B is activated in NB cells in response to conventional drugs. Furthermore, these findings provide an explanation as to why H-Ras expression correlates with a favorable prognosis in NB and identify intermediary signaling molecules that are targets for discovering treatments for NB that is resistant to conventional agents. Neoplasia (2006) 8, 964–974
Designing optimal watermark signal for a stealthy attacker

Consider a process being controlled remotely by a controller. Let an attacker have access to the communication channel so that she is able to replace the signal transmitted by the controller with any signal she wishes. The attacker wishes to degrade the control performance maximally without being detected. The controller wishes to detect the presence of the attacker by watermarking signaling information in the control input without degrading the control performance. There are no other assumptions on the capabilities of the attacker and the controller. We present an information theoretic formulation of the problem. Our main result is to show that in the one step version of the problem, if the watermark is a Gaussian distributed random variable, then the maximal performance degradation for any given level of stealthiness for the attacker is achieved when the attacker replaces the control input with the realization of a Gaussian random variable. Conversely, we show the watermark signal that minimizes the stealthiness of a Gaussian attacker is also Gaussian.
Research on Unmanned Ship Path Planning based on RRT Algorithm

The increase of water shipping density, coupled with the increasing complexity of the waterway, the ship's intelligent collision avoidance system plays a pivotal role in the transportation safety of shipping. Therefore, it has gradually become the focus of water traffic safety research. In recent years, China is still facing a period of great development in navigation technology, safety, green, digital, intelligent will become the development trend. Although the waterway environment has been improving, the increase of shipping vessels has led to frequent accidents in the waterway, and the traditional management methods and means lack real-time monitoring and scheduling of vessels, and the management lacks intelligence and information technology. In this paper, we solve the ship path problem from the point of path planning of intelligent ships. RRT* algorithm is a common method for path planning, but the traditional RRT* algorithm has problems in ship path planning, slow convergence speed, many path turns and large curvature fluctuations. For these problems, an improved fast extended random tree algorithm (Bi-RRT) is proposed. The improved RRT* algorithm is simulated and verified by MATLAB simulation platform. The simulation results show that the research algorithm can shorten the planning time, reduce the number of iterations, and has better feasibility and effectiveness.
IMPLEMENTING COMPETENCE MANAGEMENT: WORKFORCE EXPECTATIONS IN A GLOBAL PRIVATE BANKING

Although we live in a period of many innovations and technology, people's particularities are seen as a differential that can be very promising if well explored and used by organizations. Nevertheless, it is still very common to find in organizations people who feel under-utilized or, on the contrary, exposed to challenges that they believe are not up to overcoming them. In this sense, competency-based management has been identified as one of the most promising models for achieving the much-desired maximum productivity of employees for the benefit of companies and with benefits for employees. However, there are still opponents at different levels of organizations that are based on prejudice or even lack of information. Thus, this research aimed to study people's perception of a likely implementation of Management by Competence. It was concluded that the workers surveyed are very optimistic about this model of people management and that the obstacles to change are found in management. Due to its methodological limitations, the study does not allow generalizing the results, however, it indicates that current employees are more informed and confident about the benefits of competency management than their managers.
GO-PARTNER ( STUDI KASUS : LAYANAN GO-RIDE )

Abstrak Dalam penelitian ini, peneliti ingin mengetahui pada dampak kepercayaan dan risiko yang dirasakan, namun penelitian ini hanya meniliti satu konstruksi pada perspektif pengemudi pada niat menggunakan aplikasi Gojek. Model konseptual yang digunakan dalam penelitian skripsi ini terdiri dari beberapa variabel yaitu Perceived risk, Institution Based Trust, Trust In Intermediary, Transaction Intention, Propensity To Trust, Prior Positive Experience, Perceived Usefulness, dan Perceived Ease Of Use. Penelitian skripsi ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan teknik Cluster Sampling. Responden yaitu driver transportasi online Go-Partner yang berdomisili di Kota Surabaya dan didapatkan dengan melakukan penyebaran kuesioner offline dan online dan data yang didapatkan diolah menggunakan software WarpPls. Temuan dari penelitian skripsi ini mengungkapkan bahwa perceived risk memiliki pengaruh negatif dan signifikan terhadap transaction intention, institution based trust memiliki pengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap transaction intention, trust in intermediary tidak memiliki pengaruh positif dan tidak signifikan terhadap transaction intention, trust in intermediary memiliki pengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap institution based trust, propensity to trust berpengaruh signifikan terhadap trust in intermediary, prior positive experience berpengaruh signifikan terhadap perceived risk, trust in intermediary, dan transaction intention, perceived usefulness berpengaruh signifikan terhadap transaction intention, dan perceived ease of use memiliki hasil yang tidak signifikan terhadap transaction intention.
When is a hidden variable theory compatible with quantum mechanics?

Abstract. This paper is devoted to a study of some of the basic conditions which have to be satisfied by a hidden variable theory in order that it can reproduce the quantum mechanical probabilities. Of course one such condition, which emerges from the important theorem of Bell, is that a hidden variable theory has to be nonlocal. It is shown that a hidden variable theory is also incompatible with the conventional interpretation of mixed states and the mixing operation in quantum theory. It is therefore concluded that, apart from being non-local, a hidden variable theory would also necessarily violate the usual assumption of quantum theory that the density operator provides an adequate characterization of any ensemble of systems, pure or mixed.
Patterns of Changes in Affect and Adrenocortical Activity over an Extended Periods of Smoking Abstinence

This study examined patterns of changes in post-cessation withdrawal symptoms and basal adrenocortical activity of smokers who were abstinent over a four-week period (n=18) and those who relapsed within the first week (n=35). Participants interested in smoking cessation attended a pre-quit assessment in which they completed multiple forms associated with smoking withdrawal and provided a saliva sample for cortisol and cotinine measures. Then, the participants were asked to set a quit day and were required to abstain from smoking for at least 24 hours. After that, the participants attended 4 weekly follow-up support sessions during which self-report measures on withdrawal symptoms and tobacco use and saliva samples were collected. Smoking status was confirmed biochemically. We found that, overall, the abstinent smokers reported lower withdrawal symptoms, craving, and negative affect than relapsed smokers. Further exploratory analysis indicated that pre-quit withdrawal severity was lower in those who were abstinent relative to those who eventually relapsed. Craving and physical symptoms in abstainers decreased while distress in relapsers increased during the follow-up period. Smoking urges diminished in both groups. Reported numbers of cigarettes per day after a failure of quit attempt were lower than their precessation baseline. Cortisol did not differ by group or by time. Despite using a cross-sectional method, these results may suggest individual differences in negative symptoms while smoking regularly, and abstinence may be associated with reduction of craving and physical symptoms. The findings also suggested that relapsers may not immediately bring back their regular smoking habit after having relapsed.
Inverse Relationship between 15-Lipoxygenase-2 and PPAR- g Gene Expression in Normal Epithelia Compared with Tumor Epithelia 1

15-Lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX-2) synthesizes 15- S -hy-droxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15- S -HETE), an endogenous ligand for the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor- g (PPAR- g ). Several studies have described an inverse relationship between 15-LOX-2 and PPAR- g expression in normal versus tumor samples. To systematically determine if this is a ubiquitous phenomenon, we used a variety of epithelial and nonepithelial cells and some tissues to further evaluate the extent of this inverse relationship. The levels of mRNA or protein were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or Western gray level intensity, whereas distribution was deter-mined by in situ hybridization or immunofluorescence. 15- S -HETE was measured by liquid chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry. Normal epithelial cells/ samples generally expressed high levels of 15-LOX-2 along with the enzyme product 15- S -HETE, but both levels were reduced in cancer cells/samples. In con-trast, most cancer cells expressed highlevelsofPPAR- g mRNA and protein, which were absent from normal epithelial cells. Overall, the inverse relationship between these two genes was primarily restricted to epithelial samples. Forced expression of PPAR- g reduced 15-LOX-2 protein levels in normal cells, whereas forced expression of 15-LOX-2 in tumor cells suppressed PPAR- g protein levels. These results suggest that feedback mechanisms may contribute to the loss of 15-LOX-2 pathway components, which coincide with an increase in PPAR- g in many epithelial cancers. Neoplasia (2005) 7, 280–293
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

High-resolution, solid-state 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques are used for the first time to study germination in imbibed Moravian Ill barley grains. Whereas magic-angle spinning 1H NMR spectra reveal the water and lipid components in barley grains, combined rotation and multiple-pulse spectroscopy techniques provide 'H NMR spectra of grains that reveal the protein and carbohydrate as well as the water and lipid components. Spectra of grains are compared with spectra of model compounds to verify assignments. 1H T1 and T2 measurements using magic-angle spinning only and combined rotation and multiple-pulse spectroscopy techniques provide information about molecular mobility within the grains during imbibition. Some grains were subjected to artificial aging conditions. 1H NMR spectral comparisons are made between normal, viable grains and artificially aged grains.
Neurosensory Deﬁcits Vary as a Function of Point of Care in Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Neurosensory abnormalities are frequently observed following pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (pmTBI) and may underlie the expression of several common concussion symptoms and delay recovery. Importantly, active evaluation of neurosensory functioning more closely approximates real-world (e.g., physical and academic) environments that provoke symptom worsening. The current study determined whether symptom provocation (i.e., during neurosensory examination) improved classiﬁcation accuracy relative to pre-examination symptom levels and whether symptoms varied as a function of point of care. Eighty-one pmTBI were recruited from the pediatric emergency department (PED; n = 40) or outpatient concussion clinic ( n = 41), along with matched (age, sex, and education) healthy controls (HC; n = 40). All participants completed a brief ( * 12 min) standardized neurosensory examination and clinical questionnaires. The magnitude of symptom provocation upon neurosensory examination was signiﬁcantly higher for concussion clinic than for PED patients. Symptom provocation signiﬁcantly improved diagnostic classiﬁcation accuracy relative to pre-examination symptom levels, although the magnitude of improvement was modest, and was greater in the concussion clinic. In contrast, PED patients exhibited worse performance on measures of balance, vision, and oculomotor functioning than the concussion clinic patients, with no differences observed between both samples and HC. Despite modest sample sizes, current ﬁndings suggest that point of care represents a critical but highly under-studied variable that may inﬂuence outcomes following pmTBI. Studies that rely on recruitment from a single point of care may not generalize to the entire pmTBI population in terms of how neurosensory deﬁcits affect recovery.
Fractionated Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

We investigated the use of manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) with fractionated doses as a way to retain the unique properties of manganese as a neuronal contrast agent while lessening its toxic effects in animals. First, we followed the signal enhancement on T 1 -weighted images of the brains of rats receiving 30 mg/kg fractions of MnCl 2 ·4H 2 O every 48 hours and found that the signal increased in regions with consecutive fractionated doses up to about six injections, then saturated. Second, we used T 1 mapping to test whether the amount of MRI-visible manganese that accumulated depended on the driving concentration of manganese in the fractions. For a fixed cumulative dose of 180 mg/kg MnCl 2 ·4H 2 O, increasing fraction doses of 6 × 30 mg/kg, 3 × 60 mg/kg, 2 × 90 mg/kg and 1 × 180 mg/kg produced progressively shorter T 1 values. The adverse health effects, however, also rose with the fraction dose. Thus, fractionated MEMRI can be used to balance the properties of manganese as a contrast agent in animals against its toxic effects.