This study describes a bioinformatics approach designed to identify Plasmodium vivax proteins potentially involved in reticulocyte invasion. Specifically, different protein training sets were built ...and tuned based on different biological parameters, such as experimental evidence of secretion and/or involvement in invasion-related processes. A profile-based sequence method supported by hidden Markov models (HMMs) was then used to build classifiers to search for biologically-related proteins. The transcriptional profile of the P. vivax intra-erythrocyte developmental cycle was then screened using these classifiers.
A bioinformatics methodology for identifying potentially secreted P. vivax proteins was designed using sequence redundancy reduction and probabilistic profiles. This methodology led to identifying a set of 45 proteins that are potentially secreted during the P. vivax intra-erythrocyte development cycle and could be involved in cell invasion. Thirteen of the 45 proteins have already been described as vaccine candidates; there is experimental evidence of protein expression for 7 of the 32 remaining ones, while no previous studies of expression, function or immunology have been carried out for the additional 25.
The results support the idea that probabilistic techniques like profile HMMs improve similarity searches. Also, different adjustments such as sequence redundancy reduction using Pisces or Cd-Hit allowed data clustering based on rational reproducible measurements. This kind of approach for selecting proteins with specific functions is highly important for supporting large-scale analyses that could aid in the identification of genes encoding potential new target antigens for vaccine development and drug design. The present study has led to targeting 32 proteins for further testing regarding their ability to induce protective immune responses against P. vivax malaria.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
There are several index insurance methodologies. Most of them rely on linear piece-wise methods. Recently, there has been studies promoting the potential of data-driven methodologies in construction ...index insurance models due to their ability to capture intricate non-linear structures. However, these types of frameworks have mainly been implemented in high-income countries due to the large amounts of data and high-frequency requirements. This paper adapts a data-driven methodology based on high-frequency satellite-based climate indices to explain flood risk and agricultural losses in the Antioquia area (Colombia). We used flood records as a proxy of crop losses, while satellite data comprises run-off, soil moisture, and precipitation variables. We analyse the period between 3 June 2000 and 31 December 2021. We used a logistic regression model as a reference point to assess the performance of a deep neural network. The results show that a neural network performs better than traditional logistic regression models for the available loss event data on the selected performance metrics. Additionally, we obtained a utility measure to derive the costs associated for both parts involved including the policyholder and the insurance provider. When using neural networks, costs associated with the policyholder are lower for the majority of the range of cut-off values. This approach contributes to the future construction of weather insurance indexes for the region where a decrease in the base risk would be expected, thus, resulting in a reduction in insurance costs.
•We have identified and characterized the B. cinerea pmr1 gene, the closest homolog of yeast PMR1.•bcpmr1 gene is a functional homolog of yeast PMR1.•bcpmr1 null mutants displayed a significant ...reduction in conidial production, radial growth and sclerotia diameter.•bcpmr1 null mutants has a weakened cell wall.•Deletion of bcpmr1 affected pathogenicity of B. cinerea on tomato leaves, and apple and tomato fruits.
The cell wall of fungi is generally composed of an inner skeletal layer consisting of various polysaccharides surrounded by a layer of glycoproteins. These usually contain both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides, coupled to the proteins by stepwise addition of mannose residues by mannosyltransferases in the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. In yeast, an essential luminal cofactor for these mannosyltransferases is Mn2+ provided by the Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase known as Pmr1. In this study, we have identified and characterized the Botrytis cinerea pmr1 gene, the closest homolog of yeast PMR1. We hypothesized that bcpmr1 also encodes a Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase that plays an important role in the protein glycosylation pathway. Phenotypic analysis showed that bcpmr1 null mutants displayed a significant reduction in conidial production, radial growth and diameter of sclerotia. Significant alterations in hyphal cell wall composition were observed including a 83% decrease of mannan levels and an increase in the amount of chitin and glucan. These changes were accompanied by a hypersensitivity to cell wall-perturbing agents such as Calcofluor white, Congo red and zymolyase. Importantly, the Δbcpmr1 mutant showed reduced virulence in tomato (leafs and fruits) and apple (fruits) and reduced biofilm formation. Together, our results highlight the importance of bcpmr1 for protein glycosylation, cell wall structure and virulence of B. cinerea.
Purpose
To compare 4 limbal-conjunctival autograft fixation techniques—conventional suture, commercial fibrin glue, autologous fibrin glue, and cautery—in primary nasal pterygium surgery.
Methods
...This is a retrospective and descriptive study. The postoperative patient discomfort, graft edema, ocular inflammation, and other complications of 4 limbal-conjunctival autograft fixation techniques in primary nasal pterygium surgery were evaluated.
Results
Postoperative patient discomfort was significantly lower with the sutureless techniques (p<0.001), with fixation with cautery having the lowest rate of discomfort. Graft edema and ocular inflammation during the early postoperative period were significantly higher when fibrin glue techniques were used (p<0.001). The recurrence rate did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.682) among the 4 groups.
Conclusion
In primary nasal pterygium surgery, limbal-conjunctival autograft fixation using cautery is the technique with the lowest postoperative discomfort rate and without a statistically significant increase in recurrence rate when compared to conventional suture and fibrin glue techniques.
The cell wall of fungi is generally composed of an inner skeletal layer consisting of various polysaccharides surrounded by a layer of glycoproteins. These usually contain both N- and O-linked ...oligosaccharides, coupled to the proteins by stepwise addition of mannose residues by mannosyltransferases in the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. In yeast, an essential luminal cofactor for these mannosyltransferases is Mn(2+) provided by the Ca(2+)/Mn(2+)-ATPase known as Pmr1. In this study, we have identified and characterized the Botrytis cinerea pmr1 gene, the closest homolog of yeast PMR1. We hypothesized that bcpmr1 also encodes a Ca(2+)/Mn(2+)-ATPase that plays an important role in the protein glycosylation pathway. Phenotypic analysis showed that bcpmr1 null mutants displayed a significant reduction in conidial production, radial growth and diameter of sclerotia. Significant alterations in hyphal cell wall composition were observed including a 83% decrease of mannan levels and an increase in the amount of chitin and glucan. These changes were accompanied by a hypersensitivity to cell wall-perturbing agents such as Calcofluor white, Congo red and zymolyase. Importantly, the Δbcpmr1 mutant showed reduced virulence in tomato (leafs and fruits) and apple (fruits) and reduced biofilm formation. Together, our results highlight the importance of bcpmr1 for protein glycosylation, cell wall structure and virulence of B. cinerea.
BACKGROUND
Rac1 upregulation has been implicated in salt-sensitive hypertension as a modulator of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activity. Rac1 could affect the expression of oxidative stress ...markers, such as hemoxigenase-1 (HO-1) or nuclear factor-B (NF-κB), and the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a cytokine upregulated upon MR activation.
AIM
We evaluated RAC1 expression in relation of high salt intake and association with MR, NGAL, HO-1, and NF-κB expression, mineralo- and glucocorticoids levels, and inflammatory parameters.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
We studied 147 adult subjects. A food survey identified the dietary sodium (Na) intake. RAC1 expression was considered high or low according to the value found in normotensive subjects with low salt intake. We determined the gene expression of RAC1, MR, NGAL, HO-1, NF-κB, and 18S, isolated from peripheral leukocytes. We measured aldosterone, cortisol, sodium, potassium excretion, metalloproteinase (MMP9 y MMP2), and C-reactive protein.
RESULTS
We identified 126 subjects with high Na-intake, 18 subjects had high, and 108 low-RAC1 expression. The subjects with high-RAC1 expression showed a significant increase in MR (P = 0.0002), NGAL (P < 0.0001) HO-1 (P = 0.0004), and NF-κB (P < 0.0001) gene expression. We demonstrated an association between RAC1 expression and MR (R
sp 0.64; P < 0.0001), NGAL (R
sp 0.48; P < 0.0001), HO-1 (R
sp 0.53; P < 0.0001), and NF-κB (R
sp0.52; P < 0.0001). We did not identify any association between RAC1 and clinical or biochemical variables.
CONCLUSIONS
RAC1 expression was associated with an increase in MR, NGAL, NF-κB, and HO-1 expression, suggesting that RAC1 could be a mediator of cardiovascular damage induced by sodium, and may also useful to identify subjects with different responses to salt intake.
Objectives To examine the associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and walking for transportation (WT) with the physical and mental dimensions of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) ...among women. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2009 among 1,263 women ages 18–59 years living in neighborhoods with low and middle-low socioeconomic status in the urban area of Cali. HR-QOL was assessed using the Short Form 8 (SF-8). LTPA and WT were measured using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Associations were assessed using linear regression models adjusting for potential confounders. Results Low (10–149 min) and medium–high (at least 150 min) levels of WT were negatively associated with the mental and physical dimensions of HR-QOL. Low (10–149 min of moderate intensity PA, or 10–74 min of vigorous intensity PA) and medium–high (at least 150 or 75 min of moderate or vigorous intensity PA, respectively) levels of LTPA were positively associated with both dimensions. Significant interactions were observed between education level and perceived safety from traffic. Conclusions This study found that WT and LTPA were associated with HR-QOL both in the physical and mental dimensions; however, the direction and magnitude of the association varied by domain. These results highlight the need to better understand the links between PA and HR-QOL in urban contexts from Latin America.
Este trabajo presenta el desarrollo de una metodología para estimar el volumen de microfracturamiento en rocas, utilizando la técnica de tomografía acústica. Se utilizaron cristales piezoeléctricos ...como transductores para la generación de ondas acústicas secundarias o de corte a través de muestras de estudio. El tiempo de propagación de la onda es obtenido utilizando tratamiento digital de señales en MATLAB y finalmente se obtiene las distancias de cada una de las trayectorias entre los cristales, de esta manera se almacenan los valores de velocidad de onda en arreglos numéricos matriciales. La técnica empleada en este trabajo consiste en realizar tomografía acústica en función de la velocidad de la onda de corte, donde se logra diferenciar la matriz y las microfracturas de las rocas analizadas, a partir del contraste de las velocidades. Las imágenes tomográficas se generan a través de la renderización de las matrices de velocidades en MATLAB. Para poder validar esta investigación fue necesario utilizar plugs sintéticos de concreto como modelos controlados, donde se simularon discontinuidades por medio de inclusiones huecas hechas con prototipos de cauchos; finalmente los resultados obtenidos, muestran un error máximo de 7.06 % fundamentando la confiabilidad de la técnica generada.
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