bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coleta seletiva: percepção e conhecimento sobre o tema – uma pesquisa exploratória
Authors: Beltrame Thiago Favarini , Lhamby Andressa
Published: April 2021

As questões ambientais estão cada vez mais presentes no cotidiano da população e do ambiente empresarial. A fim de obter-se o desenvolvimento sustentável, práticas que visem à sustentabilidade são implantadas a todo o momento. Uma maneira de alcançar-se esse desenvolvimento é a gestão de resíduos sólidos, através da coleta seletiva. A melhor destinação dos resíduos sólidos é capaz de construir uma população sustentável do ponto de vista social e ambiental, através da redução dos resíduos produzidos, da reutilização e reciclagem de materiais como alternativa de renda. Este trabalho possui como objetivo identificar a percepção de um grupo de estudantes em relação ao conhecimento e importância sobre coleta seletiva. Através do estudo constatou-se que os entrevistados possuem conhecimento a respeito da coleta seletiva, porém poucos a realizam. Ainda, percebeu-se que não há uma grande identificação desse tipo de coleta de resíduos sólidos nas cidades dos entrevistados, evidenciando que a mesma necessita ser implantada e divulgada em escalas maiores. Por fim, abordou-se a temática de reciclagem e foi possível constatar que a mesma é considerada importante para os acadêmicos, porém, ainda, há algumas dúvidas em relação ao que seja de fato o ato de reciclar.
COVID-19 E SUAS INFLUÊNCIAS PSÍQUICAS NA PERCEPÇÃO DA EQUIPE DE ENFERMAGEM DA ATENÇÃO PALIATIVA ONCOLÓGICA
Authors: Kirby Endi Evelin Ferraz , Siqueira Alex Sandro de Azeredo , Cunha Daianny Arrais de Oliveira da , Santiago Fernanda Barcellos , Neves Luciene Miguel Lima , Beserra Vanessa dos Santos
Published: April 2021

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar as principais influências psíquicas na percepção da equipe de Enfermagem na atenção paliativa oncológica durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Método: estudo interpretativo de abordagem qualitativa com referencial teórico na psicodinâmica do trabalho de Christophe Dejours. Compuseram a amostra 20 membros da equipe de Enfermagem que atuam na assistência de pacientes em cuidados paliativos oncológicos suspeitos e confirmados para COVID-19. Desenvolvido em uma unidade hospitalar especializada em cuidados paliativos oncológicos na cidade do Rio de Janeiro/Brasil. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas e analisadas com base no referencial metodológico do discurso do sujeito coletivo (DSC). Resultados: emergiram dois discursos do DSC com suas ideias centrais: DSC1 - “influências psíquicas negativas da assistência paliativa oncológica durante a pandemia pela COVID-19 na percepção da equipe de Enfermagem”; e DSC2 - “influências psíquicas positivas da assistência paliativa oncológica durante a pandemia pela COVID-19 na percepção da equipe de Enfermagem”. Conclusão: pôde-se perceber que a carga emocional demandada por esses profissionais,bem como tudo que está envolvido no processo do enfrentamento dessa pandemia, apresenta importante relação com o aparecimento dos sintomas que podem desencadear a síndrome de burnout. Por outro lado, foi possível identificar fatores positivos relacionados ao bem-estar profissional nesse momento de pandemia e fatores protetivos à saúde do trabalhador, tal como se manter na mesma equipe de trabalho visando ao apoio mútuo.
PROCESSO FORMATIVO DE ENFERMEIROS: VISÃO DE EGRESSOS SOBRE PRÁTICA E INSERÇÃO NO MUNDO DO TRABALHO
Authors: Godinho Mônica Lá-Salette da Costa , Clapis Maria José , Dias Adriana , Bitencourt Flávio
Published: April 2021

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar as potencialidades do processo formativo de enfermeiros a partir da visão dos egressos sobre sua prática profissional e inserção no mundo do trabalho. Método: estudo descritivo, exploratório, com abordagem quanti-qualitativa. Participaram do estudo 198 (68,5%) egressos de um curso de Enfermagem do sul de Minas Gerais que responderam a um formulário eletrônico enviado por plataforma digital. Foram realizadas análise estatística descritiva e análise temática. Resultados: os egressos indicaram como potencialidades da sua formação a tradição institucional da universidade, a capacitação docente, a facilidade de relacionamento professor-aluno e a experiência com atividades extracurriculares. Referiram satisfação com a profissão, mas destacaram que a remuneração está a quém das responsabilidades assumidas no trabalho, com consequente desvalorização profissional. Indicaram temas que podem ser fortalecidos durante o percurso acadêmico para inserção profissional, como ampliar a carga horária prática, aperfeiçoar o entrosamento entre academia e preceptoria dos serviços de saúde, fortalecer o ensino de gestão/gerenciamento, autonomia, liderança e tomada de decisão, empoderamento profissional, entre outros. Demonstraram a importância de se prepararem para o trabalho na própria vivência laboral e por meio da educação permanente. Considerações Finais: pesquisas com egressos permitiram avaliar o processo de formação, sendo relevantes para o planejamento e readequação das políticas de educação. Manter políticas de acompanhamento e um canal de comunicação efetivo com os egressos para o seguimento de sua trajetória contribui para que o currículo seja continuamente revisto e reformulado na dinâmica do processo formativo, facilitando a transição entre a academia e o mundo do trabalho.
O “tesouro perdido” da justiça de transição brasileira: a CNV, as comissões universitárias e o trabalho dos historiadores
Authors: Müller Angélica
Published: April 2021

O artigo trata de apresentar e analisar a experiência da autora como coordenadora dos trabalhos da Comissão Nacional da Verdade com as comissões universitárias. Ainda, busca refletir sobre o papel social do historiador e os desafios éticos implicados. Igualmente, procura mostrar a importância da participação dos historiadores nos processos de justiça transicional para além da construção de uma memória histórica e a abertura de novos acervos sobre o passado ditatorial.
Housing markets and housing policy in the Nordics
Authors: Finnsson Páll Tómas
Published: April 2021

The Nordic Economic Policy Review (NEPR) is an annual publication presenting some of the latest and cutting-edge research into selected topics of economic policy. This year’s edition dives into the Nordic housing markets, examining some of the key policy mechanisms behind the rapidly rising housing prices, as well as the impacts on social welfare and social and ethnic segregation. The theme is selected by the NEPR steering group, which consists of representatives from the Nordic Ministries of Finance, Nordregio, and the NEPR editor. This publication provides a short summary of the five NEPR 2021 articles, which seek to answer the following questions: André Anundsen: What is the prevalence of house price bubbles in the Nordics? Erlend Eide Bø: Do buy-to-let investments lead to higher housing prices? Mats Bergman and Sten Nyberg: What explains the large increase in the relative cost of construction? Niku Määttänen: How can housing taxation improve social welfare? Essi Eerola: How do Nordic housing policies affect affordability and integration?
Ultra-low temperature adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator for sub-Kelvin region
Authors: Wang Chang , Li Ke , Shen Jun , Dai Wei , Wang Ya-Nan , Luo Er-Cang , Shen Bao-Gen , Zhou Yuan ,   Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Engineering, Technical Institute of Physical and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China,   University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China,   Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou 341000, China,   State Key Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Published: April 2021

With the development of space observation, quantum technology and other frontier scientific research fields, the demand for ultra-low temperature refrigeration in sub-Kelvin region is increasing. Compared with dilution refrigeration and sorption refrigeration, adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration (ADR) has the outstanding advantages of high efficiency, compact, gravity independence and accessibility of working materials, which make ADR a promising technology for sub-Kelvin cooling.

A single-stage ultro-low temperature adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator is designed and developed. The thermodynamic principle and quantitative analysis are presented, from the macroscopic and microcosmic view, and operating results show good agreement with the theoretical value.

This refrigerator is precooled to 3 K by a GM-type refrigerator, with 252 g gadolinium gallium garnet (monocrystalline) used as a working medium. The maximum magnetic field of 4 T is provided by a superconducting coil. Flexible heat connection is used between the pre-cooler and ADR, so heat generated by vibration decreases. From (3 K, 4 T), the lowest temperature can reach 0.47 K by adiabatic demagnetization, which is consistent with the result drawn from the entropy data. In a constant-temperature-control mode, the demagnetization rate is controlled by a feedback loop, so the temperature can be held in the presence of a load. A cooling capacity of 2.7 J is provided at 1 K, with temperature fluctuation being lower than 0.5 mK, and the second thermodynamic efficiency of adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration is 57%. at 0.8 K, the cooling capacity is 1.2 J.

Future work on improving the performance includes the improving of the on-off ratio of the heat switch, so, the irreversible loss caused by the heat transfer temperature difference in conduction state can be reduced. Improving the heat transfer performance of the salt pill, the heat can be ejected in a shorter period.

This refrigerating machine is the first Chinese adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration system that can be operated in circulation, which is expected to be the 1st stage of a three-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration system in a 50 mK temperature zone. This study lays a foundation for further developing continuous multistage adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration at ultra-low temperature.
Conflicted American Landscapes
Authors: Nye David E.
Published: April 2021

How conflicting ideas of nature threaten to fracture America's identity.

Amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties: Americans invest much of their national identity in sites of natural beauty. And yet American lands today are torn by conflicts over science, religion, identity, and politics. Creationists believe that the biblical flood carved landscapes less than ten thousand years ago; environmentalists protest pipelines; western states argue that the federal government's land policies throttle free enterprise; Native Americans demand protection for sacred sites. In this book, David Nye looks at Americans' irreconcilable ideas about nature.

A landscape is conflicted when different groups have different uses for the same location—for example, when some want to open mining sites that others want to preserve or when suburban development impinges on agriculture. Some landscapes are so degraded from careless use that they become toxic “anti-landscapes.” Nye traces these conflicts to clashing conceptions of nature—ranging from pastoral to Native American to military–industrial—that cannot be averaged into a compromise. Nye argues that today's environmental crisis is rooted in these conflicting ideas about land. Depending on your politics, global warming is either an inconvenient truth or fake news. America's contradictory conceptions of nature are at the heart of a broken national consensus.
Toxoplasma TgATG9 is critical for autophagy and long-term persistence in tissue cysts
Authors: Smith David , Kannan Geetha , Coppens Isabelle , Wang Fengrong , Nguyen Hoa Mai , Cerutti Aude , Olafsson Einar B , Rimple Patrick A , Schultz Tracey L , Mercado Soto Nayanna M , Di Cristina Manlio , Besteiro Sébastien , Carruthers Vern B
Published: April 2021

Many of the world’s warm-blooded species are chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts, including an estimated one-third of the global human population. The cellular processes that permit long-term persistence within the cyst are largely unknown for T. gondii and related coccidian parasites that impact human and animal health. Herein, we show that genetic ablation of TgATG9 substantially reduces canonical autophagy and compromises bradyzoite viability. Transmission electron microscopy revealed numerous structural abnormalities occurring in ∆atg9 bradyzoites. Intriguingly, abnormal mitochondrial networks were observed in TgATG9-deficient bradyzoites, some of which contained numerous different cytoplasmic components and organelles. ∆atg9 bradyzoite fitness was drastically compromised in vitro and in mice, with very few brain cysts identified in mice 5 weeks post-infection. Taken together, our data suggests that TgATG9, and by extension autophagy, is critical for cellular homeostasis in bradyzoites and is necessary for long-term persistence within the cyst of this coccidian parasite.
Methionine restriction breaks obligatory coupling of cell proliferation and death by an oncogene Src in Drosophila
Authors: Nishida Hiroshi , Okada Morihiro , Yang Lynna , Takano Tomomi , Tabata Sho , Soga Tomoyoshi , Ho Diana M , Chung Jongkyeong , Minami Yasuhiro , Yoo Sa Kan
Published: April 2021

Oncogenes often promote cell death as well as proliferation. How oncogenes drive these diametrically opposed phenomena remains to be solved. A key question is whether cell death occurs as a response to aberrant proliferation signals or through a proliferation-independent mechanism. Here, we reveal that Src, the first identified oncogene, simultaneously drives cell proliferation and death in an obligatorily coupled manner through parallel MAPK pathways. The two MAPK pathways diverge from a lynchpin protein Slpr. A MAPK p38 drives proliferation whereas another MAPK JNK drives apoptosis independently of proliferation signals. Src-p38-induced proliferation is regulated by methionine-mediated Tor signaling. Reduction of dietary methionine uncouples the obligatory coupling of cell proliferation and death, suppressing tumorigenesis and tumor-induced lethality. Our findings provide an insight into how cells evolved to have a fail-safe mechanism that thwarts tumorigenesis by the oncogene Src. We also exemplify a diet-based approach to circumvent oncogenesis by exploiting the fail-safe mechanism.
GABAA presynaptic inhibition regulates the gain and kinetics of retinal output neurons
Authors: Nagy Jenna , Ebbinghaus Briana , Hoon Mrinalini , Sinha Raunak
Published: April 2021

Output signals of neural circuits, including the retina, are shaped by a combination of excitatory and inhibitory signals. Inhibitory signals can act presynaptically on axon terminals to control neurotransmitter release and regulate circuit function. However, it has been difficult to study the role of presynaptic inhibition in most neural circuits due to lack of cell type-specific and receptor type-specific perturbations. In this study, we used a transgenic approach to selectively eliminate GABAA inhibitory receptors from select types of second-order neurons – bipolar cells – in mouse retina and examined how this affects the light response properties of the well-characterized ON alpha ganglion cell retinal circuit. Selective loss of GABAA receptor-mediated presynaptic inhibition causes an enhanced sensitivity and slower kinetics of light-evoked responses from ON alpha ganglion cells thus highlighting the role of presynaptic inhibition in gain control and temporal filtering of sensory signals in a key neural circuit in the mammalian retina.
Adiponectin preserves metabolic fitness during aging
Authors: Li Na , Zhao Shangang , Zhang Zhuzhen , Zhu Yi , Gliniak Christy M , Vishvanath Lavanya , An Yu A , Wang May-yun , Deng Yingfeng , Zhu Qingzhang , Shan Bo , Sherwood Amber , Onodera Toshiharu , Oz Orhan K , Gordillo Ruth , Gupta Rana K , Liu Ming , Horvath Tamas L , Dixit Vishwa Deep , Scherer Philipp E
Published: April 2021

Adiponectin is essential for the regulation of tissue substrate utilization and systemic insulin sensitivity. Clinical studies have suggested a positive association of circulating adiponectin with healthspan and lifespan. However, the direct effects of adiponectin on promoting healthspan and lifespan remain unexplored. Here, we are using an adiponectin null mouse and a transgenic adiponectin overexpression model. We directly assessed the effects of circulating adiponectin on the aging process and found that adiponectin null mice display exacerbated age-related glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. Moreover, adiponectin null mice have a significantly shortened lifespan on both chow and high-fat diet. In contrast, a transgenic mouse model with elevated circulating adiponectin levels has a dramatically improved systemic insulin sensitivity, reduced age-related tissue inflammation and fibrosis, and a prolonged healthspan and median lifespan. These results support a role of adiponectin as an essential regulator for healthspan and lifespan.
An agnostic study of associations between ABO and RhD blood group and phenome-wide disease risk
Authors: Dahlén Torsten , Clements Mark , Zhao Jingcheng , Olsson Martin L , Edgren Gustaf
Published: April 2021

Background:

There are multiple known associations between the ABO and RhD blood groups and disease. No systematic population-based studies elucidating associations between a large number of disease categories and blood group have been conducted.

Methods:

Using SCANDAT3-S, a comprehensive nationwide blood donation-transfusion database, we modeled outcomes for 1217 disease categories including 70 million person-years of follow-up, accruing from 5.1 million individuals.

Results:

We discovered 49 and 1 associations between a disease and ABO and RhD blood groups, respectively, after adjustment for multiple testing. We identified new associations such as a decreased risk of kidney stones and blood group B as compared to blood group O. We also expanded previous knowledge on other associations such as pregnancy-induced hypertension and blood groups A and AB as compared to blood group O and RhD positive as compared to negative.

Conclusions:

Our findings generate strong further support for previously known associations, but also indicate new interesting relations.

Funding:

Swedish Research Council.
CRISPR-based functional genomics in human dendritic cells
Authors: Jost Marco , Jacobson Amy N , Hussmann Jeffrey A , Cirolia Giana , Fischbach Michael A , Weissman Jonathan S
Published: April 2021

Dendritic cells (DCs) regulate processes ranging from antitumor and antiviral immunity to host-microbe communication at mucosal surfaces. It remains difficult, however, to genetically manipulate human DCs, limiting our ability to probe how DCs elicit specific immune responses. Here, we develop a CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing method for human monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) that mediates knockouts with a median efficiency of >94% across >300 genes. Using this method, we perform genetic screens in moDCs, identifying mechanisms by which DCs tune responses to lipopolysaccharides from the human microbiome. In addition, we reveal donor-specific responses to lipopolysaccharides, underscoring the importance of assessing immune phenotypes in donor-derived cells, and identify candidate genes that control this specificity, highlighting the potential of our method to pinpoint determinants of inter-individual variation in immunity. Our work sets the stage for a systematic dissection of the immune signaling at the host-microbiome interface and for targeted engineering of DCs for neoantigen vaccination.
Constructing an adult orofacial premotor atlas in Allen mouse CCF
Authors: Takatoh Jun , Park Jae Hong , Lu Jinghao , Li Shun , Thompson PM , Han Bao-Xia , Zhao Shengli , Kleinfeld David , Friedman Beth , Wang Fan
Published: April 2021

Premotor circuits in the brainstem project to pools of orofacial motoneurons to execute essential motor action such as licking, chewing, breathing, and in rodent, whisking. Previous transsynaptic tracing studies only mapped orofacial premotor circuits in neonatal mice, but the adult circuits remain unknown as a consequence of technical difficulties. Here, we developed a three-step monosynaptic transsynaptic tracing strategy to identify premotor neurons controlling vibrissa, tongue protrusion, and jaw-closing muscles in the adult mouse. We registered these different groups of premotor neurons onto the Allen mouse brain common coordinate framework (CCF) and consequently generated a combined 3D orofacial premotor atlas, revealing unique spatial organizations of distinct premotor circuits. We further uncovered premotor neurons that simultaneously innervate multiple motor nuclei and, consequently, are likely to coordinate different muscles involved in the same orofacial motor actions. Our method for tracing adult premotor circuits and registering to Allen CCF is generally applicable and should facilitate the investigations of motor controls of diverse behaviors.
DISGROU: an algorithm for discontinuous subgroup discovery
Authors: Eugenie Reynald , Stattner Erick
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we focus on the problem of the search for subgroups in numerical data. This approach aims to identify the subsets of objects, called subgroups, which exhibit interesting characteristics compared to the average, according to a quality measure calculated on a target variable. In this article, we present DISGROU, a new approach that identifies subgroups whose attribute intervals may be discontinuous. Unlike the main algorithms in the field, the originality of our proposal lies in the way it breaks down the intervals of the attributes during the subgroup research phase. The basic assumption of our approach is that the range of attributes defining the groups can be disjoint to improve the quality of the identified subgroups. Indeed the traditional methods in the field perform the subgroup search process only over continuous intervals, which results in the identification of subgroups defined over wider intervals thus containing some irrelevant objects that degrade the quality function. In this way, another advantage of our approach is that it does not require a prior discretization of the attributes, since it works directly on the numerical attributes. The efficiency of our proposal is first demonstrated by comparing the results with two algorithms that are references in the field and then by applying to a case study.
Comparison of morphology, development and expression patterns of hsf and hsp11.0 of Cotesia chilonis under normal and high temperature
Authors: He Fu-Jing , Zhu Feng , Lu Ming-Xing , Du Yu-Zhou
Published: April 2021

Cotesia chilonis (Munakata) is the dominant parasitic wasp of the rice pest, Chilo suppressalis (Walker), and is a valuable parasitic wasp for the prevention and control of C. suppressalis. In this study, developmental indicators and expression of Cchsp11.0 (heat shock protein 11.0) and Cchsf (heat shock factor) were compared for C. chilonis at 27 °C and 36 °C. Developmental duration, morphology, emergence rate, and number of C. chilonis offspring were shortened at 36 °C while the ratio of females to males increased. Cchsp11.0 and Cchsf were highly expressed in the 1st instar stage at 36 °C, and Cchsp11.0 expression gradually decreased as C. chilonis matured; Cchsf expression was not correlated with Cchsp11.0 expression. Compared with 27 °C, the expression pattern of Cchsp11.0 and Cchsf was also not consistent, and Cchsp11.0 expression increased significantly at the adult stage. In conclusion, mildly high temperatures impact growth, development and reproduction of C. chilonis and stimulate the expression of Cchsp11.0 and Cchsf, and Cchsp11.0 and Cchsf play different roles in different developmental stages of C. chilonis at normal and high temperature.
A novel one-step quick assay for detection of SARS-COV2 antibodies across mammalian species
Authors: Zhou Xianjin
Published: April 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has so far infected almost a hundred of millions of people and caused more than a million of death across the world. Many serological tests have been developed to track down virus infection in community via identification of antibodies against SARS-CoV2 virus. However, the tests vary in sensitivity, specificity, complexity, and speed. Here, I developed a simple, one-step, quick test to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV2 N (scN) nucleocapsid protein via direct visualization of antigen-antibody reaction. A total of 40 serum samples of SARS-CoV2 patients were purchased from RayBiotech. A total of 50 pre-pandemic human serum samples from San Diego Blood Bank were used as negative controls. After performing the one-step quick test of these 90 serum samples, I found that 39 samples are positive for anti-scN antibodies. All of the 39 positives are from the 40 SARS-CoV2 patients, suggesting that the one-step test is more sensitive than the lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), the most widely used rapid antibody test. None of the 50 pre-pandemic samples is positive for anti-scN antibodies, indicating that the one-step test has an excellent specificity. The one-step test takes only ~5 min to detect the antibodies; and 1 ml of Escherichia coli culture can produce reagent proteins sufficient for thousands of the tests. Since the one-step test does not need a secondary antibody, it can be used as a universal test for anti-scN antibodies across different mammalian species to track down both human infection and the animal reservoir of SARS-CoV2 virus.
In Vitro Evaluation of Probiotic Properties of Indigenous Yeasts Isolated from Nigerian Fermented Food Products
Authors: Adesokan I. A. , Sanni A. I. , Kanwar S. S.
Published: April 2021

Probiotics are living microbial food supplements which beneficially affect the host by improving the intestinal microbial balance. Before an organism can be designated as probiotic there are certain criteria that must be fulfilled. These include acid and bile tolerance, antimicrobial activity, ability to co-aggregate, hydrophobicity etc. One hundred and eighty one indigenous yeast isolates recovered from various fermented food products of Nigeria were characterized and grouped using phenotypic methods. Forty two selected yeast isolates were identified using molecular method which involved sequencing of D1 and D2 domain of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA. Then nine indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated for their probiotic characteristics such as acid and bile tolerance, transit in simulated gastric and intestinal juices, autoaggregation and hydrophobicity. Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC10 was included as a positive control. The S. cerevisiae were able to grow in the presence of acidic medium with pH as low as 2 and 3. In the minimum inhibitory concentration test with 0-1% ox bile, all the S. cerevisiae tested were able to grow. The growth for 3% bile tolerance test ranged from 4.81 to 5.35 log cfu/ml. These isolates were able to survive in simulated gastro-intestinal transit. All the yeast isolates exhibited bile salt deconjugation activity against sodium glycodeoxycholate and were able to grow in the presence of all other bile salts investigated. Autoaggregation ability (an adhesive property) of the indigenous yeast isolates ranged from 89.80% for S. cerevisiae BK19 to 99.91% for S. cerevisiae OB03. The native yeast isolates also exhibited high percentage hydrophobicity, another adhesive property of probiotics. The values obtained ranged from 31.62 to 83.45% for isolates AG23A and OB 17. These observations indicate that the native yeast isolates from Nigerian fermented foods have the potential of being use as probiotics for making functional foods.
Sarima Modeling of Monthly Temperature in the Northern part of Ghana
Authors: Ayitey Emmanuel , Kangah Justice , Twenefour Frank B. K.
Published: April 2021

The Sarima model is used in this study to forecast the monthly temperature in Ghana's northern region. The researchers used temperature data from January 1990 to December 2020. The temperature data was found to be stationary using the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test. The ACF and PACF plots proposed six SARIMA models: SARIMA (1,0,0) (1,0,0) (12), SARIMA (2,0,0) (1,0,0) (12), SARIMA (1,0,1) (1,0,0) (12), SARIMA (0,0,1) (1,0,0) (12), SARIMA (0,0,1) (0,0,1) (12), SARIMA (0,0,1) (0,0,1) (12). The best model was chosen based on the lowest Akaike Information Criteria (AICs) and Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC) values. The Ljung-Box data, among others, were used to determine the model's quality. All diagnostic tests are passed by the SARIMA (1,0,0) (1,0,0) (12) model. As a result, the SARIMA (1,0,0) (1,0,0) (12) is the best-fitting model for predicting monthly temperatures in Ghana's northern region.
Forecasting of Kharif Rice and Jute Yield in North Bengal through Statistical Model
Authors: Nandi Kousik , Rai Anwesh , Mondal Soumen , Bandyopadhyay Subhendu , Gupta Deb Sankar
Published: April 2021

Crop yield forecasting under the present climate change scenario needs an effective model and its parameter that how crop respond to the weather variable. A number of weather based models have been developed to estimate the crop yield for the various crops at block, district and state level. Among the different model statistical model is more popular and commonly used. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of statistical model for rice and jute yield forecast of four different district viz. Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Uttar Dinajpurand and Dakhin Dinajpur. Among the four districts Cooch Behar district found superior for kharif rice yield prediction (1.46% error with RMSE 177.68 kg/ha) whereas in case of jute crop its performance was the best in the Jalpaiguri district (-0.44% error with RMSE 217.50 kg/ha).
Direct electrochemical oxidation of Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin
Authors: Armstrong F.A. , Hill H.A.O. , Walton N.J.
Published: July 2002

Rapid oxidation processes relevant to the degradation of [4Fe‐4S] clusters in Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin were studied via direct (unmediated) heterogeneous electron transfer at a pyrolytic graphite electrode. Differential‐pulse voltammograms of native [4Fe‐4S] ferredoxin showed two well‐defined oxidation peaks corresponding to apparent E‐values of +793 and +1120 mV at 5°C. Direct involvement of the cluster was established through parallel experiments with the 2[4Fe‐4Se] derivative for which peak positions were shifted. Square‐wave voltammetry showed that the product of the first electron transfer, which may correspond to the ‘super‐oxidised’ [4Fe‐4S]3+ oxidation level, undergoes rapid degradation (t
½ < 1.6 ms at 5°C). The second oxidation process, as characterised by a significant (⪢100 mV) negative shift upon selenium substitution, very likely represents oxidation of S(Se) still associated with the protein and possibly contained within the remaining FE‐S(Se) substructure.
Specific epidermal growth factor receptors on porcine thyroid cell membranes
Authors: Atkinson S. , Smith P.A. , Taylor J.J. , Kendall-Taylor P.
Published: July 2002

Specific saturable receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) of high affinity (K
a 1.7 × 109 M−1) have been demonstrated on porcine thyroid membranes. Optimal conditions for EGF binding have been determined. TSH and other peptide hormones do not inhibit the binding of 125I‐EGF and EGF does not inhibit 125I‐TSH binding to thyroid membranes. The results suggest that EGF may be involved in the regulation of thyroid follicular cell growth and function.
Changes in L‐ornithine decarboxylase activity in regenerating lung lobes
Authors: Tatár-Kiss Susan , Bardócz Susan , Kertai P.
Published: July 2002

Growth of regenerating lung lobes is preceded by an increase of the activity of L‐ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Mechanical factors play a role in determining both the growth rate and enhancement of activity of ODC in regenerating lung lobes. Hormonal regulation also appears of importance as shown by the increased ODC activity in a transplanted lobe.
Antibodies against a retinal guanine nucleotide‐binding protein cross‐react with a single plasma membrane protein in non‐retinal tissues
Authors: Gierschik Peter , Simons Cyrena , Woodard Charles , Somers Robert , Spiegel Allen
Published: July 2002

Antisera (AS/1‐AS/6) to purified bovine retinal transducin, a guanine nucleotide‐binding protein, were produced in 6 rabbits. Immunoblots showed that the antisera varied in their reactivity with the subunits of transducin; AS/1 reacted strongly with all 3 subunits, while the others reacted with only the β and/or γ subunits. Only AS/1 specifically immunoprecipitated the α subunit radiolabeled with non‐covalently bound guanine nucleotides. Immunostaining of plasma membrane proteins from non‐retinal tissues with AS‐1 revealed a single protein (approx. 35 kDa), most likely representing the β subunit of the guanine nucleotide‐binding proteins (Gs and gi associated with adenylate cyclase. Cerebral cortex showed the highest content of this protein. Antisera against transducin provide a highly specific and sensitive probe for quantitation of the β subunit of Gs and Gi
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 loses its non‐specific affinity for RNA and leaves polyribosomes as a result of ADP‐ribosylation
Authors: Sitikov A.S. , Davydova E.K. , Bezlepkina T.A. , Ovchinnikov L.P. , Spirin A.S.
Published: July 2002

ADP‐ribosylation of rabbit reticulocyte elongation factor 2 (EF‐2) catalyzed by the A fragment of diphtheria toxin leads to a loss of its non‐specific affinity for RNA. The removal of the ADP‐ribose residue from EF‐2 in the reverse reaction with nicotinamide restores its affinity for RNA. ADP‐ribosylation of EF‐2 is accompanied by its dissociation from the complexes with mono‐ and polyribosomes detected in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate at low ionic strength. The loss of the non‐specific affinity of EF‐2 for RNA as a result of ADP‐ribosylation and, as a consequence, its decompartmentation from polyribosomes is assumed to be a reason for the diphtheria toxin‐induced inactivation of the factor in eukaryotic cells.
Some characteristics of a porcine retrovirus from a cell line derived from swine malignant lymphomas
Authors: Suzuka Iwao , Sekiguchi Kiichi , Kodama Michi
Published: July 2002

Template specificity
Divalent cation
Viral RNA
Internal chain cleavage and product heterogeneity during Edman degradation of isosteric peptide analogs lacking the α‐carbonyl function
Authors: Hempel John , Nilsson Klas , Larsson Krister , Jörnvall Hans
Published: July 2002

A synthetic peptide analog, with one peptide carbonyl group replaced by a methylene bridge, was submitted to structural analysis by Edman degradation. Multiple cleavages were obtained in the first cycle, due to phenylthiocarbamylation of the internal secondary amine as well as spontaneous alkaline cyclization and subsequent recoupling with the Edman reagent. Three fragments from cleavage of the peptide analog after a single Edman cycle were purified by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. The results support previous observations in a novel combination. The reactions may also be important with native polypeptides since non‐quantitative alkaline cyclization now encountered can mimic apparent N‐terminal heterogeneity in agreement with earlier data, while quantitative cyclization can mimic loss of N‐terminal residues.
One‐ and two‐dimensional 90.5‐MHz 13C‐NMR spectroscopy of the N‐linked triantennary oligosaccharide units of calf fetuin
Authors: Berman Elisha , Bendel Peter
Published: July 2002

Complete assignments of all anomeric resonances in the proton and carbon spectra of the N‐linked oligosaccharide units of fetuin were made using one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy. We are able to confirm the presence of microheterogeneity in the N‐acetylneuraminic acid linkages to the galactose residues and the presence of a unique triantennary structure which carries a side chain: NeuAcα(1–3)Galβ(1–3) GlcNacβ(1–4)‐. Anomeric carbon chemical shifts changes resulting from long‐range conformational effects were observed.
A monoclonal antibody which recognized the functional site of snake neurotoxins and which neutralizes all short‐chain variants
Authors: Trémeau Odile , Boulain Jean-Claude , Couderc Jacques , Fromageot Pierre , Ménez André
Published: July 2002

We isolated a neurotoxin‐specific monoclonal antibody (Mab) which is capable of recognizing and neutralizing all short‐chain toxin variants that have been tested including those with widely divergent sequences. The epitope incorporates the three invariant residues Lys‐27 Trp‐29 and Lys‐47 which form part of the site by which the toxins bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. To our knowledge this is the first Mab which possesses the universal capacity of neutralizing all natural variants of a toxic protein.
Pecularities of immunoglobulin gene structures as a basis for somatic mutation emergence
Authors: Kolchanov N.A. , Solovyov V.V. , Rogozin I.B.
Published: July 2002

Using the method of contextual analysis, we have studied the collection of somatic mutations in immunoglobulin genes. It has been found that the emergence of somatic mutations can be based on the reparation of complementarity violations in the heteroduplexes corresponding to complementary palindromes or direct repeats of DNA.
Role of acidic phosphoproteins in the partial reconstitution of the active 60 S ribosomal subunit
Authors: Lavergne Jean-Pierre , Conquet François , Reboud Jean-Paul , Reboud Anne-Marie
Published: July 2002

We have recently shown that rat liver 60 S ribosomal subunits active in protein synthesis can be reconstituted from inactive core particles lacking 30% of the total proteins, mainly L10a, L12, L22, L24, A33 and the acidic phosphoproteins P1–P2, obtained by treatment of 60 S subunits with dimethylmaleic anhydride [(1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 163, 15–20]. In this study, an ethanol extract of the 60 S subunit which contains only P1–P2 was also shown to be effective in reconstitution with the DMMA‐core‐particies: it strongly stimulated the EF‐2‐dependent GTP hydrolysis and, to a lesser extent, polyphenylalanine synthesis; like the DMMA wash it shifted the thermal denaturation curve of the DMMA‐core particles towards that of control subunits. Prior dephosphorylation of the ethanol extract by alkaline phosphatase inhibited the reconstruction process.
High homology between a trophoblastic protein (trophoblastin) isolated from ovine embryo and α‐interferons
Authors: Charpigny Gilles , Reinaud Pierrette , Huet Jean-Claude , Guillomot Michel , Charlier Madia , Pernollet Jean-Claude , Martal Jacques
Published: July 2002

Ovine trophoblastic protein B (oTPB), an embryonic protein, is a 20 kDa secretory protein which is synthesized by the ovine conceptus from days 12 to 22 of pregnancy. oTPB was purified by HPLC using ion‐exchange chromatography on a DEAE column and was subsequently chromatographed on a reversed‐phase column. Automated Edman degradation was then used to determine the N‐terminal amino acid sequence up to 45 residues. The sequence data reveal a significant homology between oTPB and bovine interferons α of class II: 64% of the amino acids are identical and 75% are homologous. A highly conserved region including residues 23–44 exhibits 82% homology. Identity between oTPB and either HuIFN‐α.9 or MuIFNα. 1 is 55%. These alignments between oTPB and IFNs occur at the N‐terminus of the mature proteins and proceed without deletion. These results suggest that oTPB is an embryonic interferon.
How do external parameters control fluxes and concentrations of metabolites? An additional relationship in the theory of metabolic control
Authors: Kholodenko B.N.
Published: July 2002

The flux through a metabolic pathway can be controlled by external signals from the environment. These signals are formally described as changes in external parameters, such as concentrations of external metabolites (substrates or effectors) or physical parameters, e.g. temperature, pH, ionic strength. It was proved that the response coefficient of the flux (or of the concentration) to a change in an external parameter is the weighted average of external elasticities of pathway enzymes towards this parameter; weight factors are the control coefficients of corresponding enzymes. As compared with the previously known relationships these ones are applicable to the more common case of parameters acting on more than one enzyme. Along with other applications, the use of the obtained relationships for control analysis of moiety‐conserved cycles is considered.
The ribosomes of Aspergillus giganteus are sensitive to the cytotoxic action of α‐sarcin
Authors: Miller Stephen P. , Bodley James W.
Published: July 2002

Ribosomes in lysates prepared from the mycelia of Aspergillus giganteus MDH 18894, which are actively secreting α‐sarcin, do not contain the α‐sarcin lesion. However, the addition of exogenous α‐sarcin to these same lysates results in cleavage of the 26 S rRNA of the 60 S ribosomal subunit, characteristic of the cytotoxic action of α‐sarcin. We conclude that A. giganteus ribosomes are not inherently resistant to the action of α‐sarcin but are protected in vivo by producing α‐sarcin in an inactive form and/or by the efficient cotranslational secretion of the toxin.
A dicarba analog of β‐atrial natriuretic peptide (β‐ANP) inhibits guanosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate production induced by α‐ANP in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Kambayashi Yoshikazu , Nakajima Shigeyuki , Ueda Motohiko , Inouye Ken
Published: July 2002

The synthesis and biological properties are described of [Asu7,23′]‐β‐ANP‐(7–28) (Asu, L‐α‐aminosuberic acid), a dicarba analog of β‐atrial natriuretic peptide (β‐ANP, an antiparallel dimer of human α‐ANP with the chains linked by 7–23′ and 7′–23 disulfide bonds). This Asu‐analog (referred to as analog III) displaced 125I‐α‐ANP specifically bound to cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) with an apparent K
i of 2.1 × 10−8 M, but did not stimulate formation of intracellular cGMP at 10−8–10−5 M. Analog III inhibited the α‐ANP‐stimulated cGMP production in VSMC competitively with a pA
2 value of 7.45 and behaved as an antagonist of α‐ANP in rat aorta smooth muscle relaxation. In addition, β‐ANP was also shown to inhibit the α‐ANP‐induced cGMP production in a dose‐dependent manner. The mechanism of action of β‐ANP is also discussed.
Magainin 2 amide and analogues Antimicrobial activity, membrane depolarization and susceptibility to proteolysis
Authors: Juretić Davor , Chen Hao-Chia , Brown Judith H. , Morell John L. , Hendler Richard W. , Westerhoff Hans V.
Published: July 2002

We compared the abilities of synthetic magainin 2 amide and its analogues to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and to cause membrane depolarization in E. coli cells and cytochrome oxidase liposomes. The analogue, magainin A, was about 40‐times more active than magainin 2 amide in inhibiting the growth of E. coli and had a much more sustained effect on the membrane potential. In the liposomal system, however, there was only approx. 20% difference between these two peptides in the reduction of membrane potential and uncoupling of respiration. Studies with pronase digestion suggested that the difference in potency may be due to differential susceptibility to proteolysis in the presence of membranes.
Purification of the 22 kDa protein substrate of botulinum ADP‐ribosyltransferase C3 from porcine brain cytosol and its characterization as a GTP‐binding protein highly homologous to the rho gene product
Authors: Braun Ulrich , Habermann Barbara , Just Ingo , Aktories Klaus , Vandekerckhove Joel
Published: July 2002

The 22 kDa protein substrate of botulinum ADP‐ribosyltransferase C3 was purified from porcine brain cytosol by acetone precipitation, CM‐Sephadex, octyl‐Sepharose and TSK phenyl‐5PW HPLC chromatography to apparent homogeneity. ADP‐ribosylation of the protein was increased by guanine nucleotides (GTP, GDP, GTPγS, each 100μM) but not by GMP, ATP or ATPγS. The purified 22 kDa protein bound maximally 0.9 mol [35S]GTPγS and hydrolyzed GTP with the rate 0.007 mol per mol protein. Amino acid sequences were obtained from two tryptic peptides, selected from an in situ digestion of Immobilon electrotransferred, gel purified ADP‐ribosylated substrate. The two sequences obtained, cover 23 residues from the corresponding sequences in human rho.
Detection of low molecular mass GTP‐binding proteins in chromaffin granules and other subcellular fractions of chromaffin cells
Authors: Doucet Jean-Pierre , Fournier Susan , Parulekar Manohar , Trifaró José-María
Published: July 2002

A homogenate of purified chromaffin cells was fractionated, after removal of the nuclear fraction, by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. The presence and subcellular localization of low molecular mass GTP‐binding proteins was explored by incubation of blots of proteins from different subcellular fractions with [α‐32P]GTP in the presence of Mg2+. The fractions enriched in intact chromaffin granule markers, i.e. catecholamines, chromogranin A, chromogranin B and cytochrome b‐561 were also enriched in labelled GTP‐binding proteins. Two major labelled components of 23 and 29 kDa were rapidly detected by autoradiography. Traces of 26 and 27 kDa components were also present. These components were detectable in both plasma and granule membranes. In addition to these components, the cytosolic fraction contained another GTP‐binding protein of about 20 kDa. Binding of [α‐32P]GTP was specific and dependent on Mg2+. By analogy to the findings reported in non‐mammalian systems, the observations described here suggest the involvement of low molecular mass GTP‐binding proteins in the chromaffin cell secretory process.
Interactions between nitrogen oxide‐containing compounds and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors
Authors: Weissman Ben A. , Bolger Gordon T. , Chiang Peter K.
Published: July 2002

Nitrogen oxide‐containing compounds displaced the peripheral benzodiazepine ligand [3H]Ro5‐4864 from guinea pig membrane preparations. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was the most potent (IC
50 = 5.61 ± 1.72 × 10−5 M). Moreover, its ability to bind to these receptors showed marked tissue variability (heart > kidney ⪢ cerebral cortex). When tested on rat atrium, SNP by itself had no effect on basal inotropy or the increase in inotropy induced by (−)‐S‐BAY K 8644. In contrast, Ro5‐4864 potentiated the marked increase in inotropy induced by (−)‐S‐Bay K 8644, and SNP completely abolished the potentiation of inotropy observed with Ro5‐4864. Since peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are associated with calcium mobilization in the heart, these findings may indicate that some of the clinical effects of nitric oxide‐generating drugs could be mediated by these receptors.
Solution conformation of leiurotoxin I (scyllatoxin) by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Martins José C. , Zhang Weiguo , Tartar André , Lazdunski Michel , Borremans Frans A.M.
Published: July 2002

A proton NMR study at 500 MHz of leiurotoxin I in water is presented. Nearly complete sequence‐specific assignments of the individual backbone and side‐chain proton resonances were achieved using through‐bond and through‐space connectivities obtained from standard two‐dimensional NMR techniques. The secondary structure of this toxin is inferred from a combination of short‐range nuclear Overhauser enhancements, scalar couplings and proton/deuteron exchange rates. Three disulflde bridges locate the N‐terminal part (that is α‐helical from residue 6 to 16) on one side of a C‐terminal two stranded antiparallel β sheet (from Leu18 to Val29). The latter features a tight turn at Gly23‐Asp24.