Broad-Band, Intensity-Dependent Absorption In Tetravalent Chromium-Doped Crystals

Cr4+ -doped Y2SiO5 and Ca2Al2SiO7 have been investigated as broadband, solid state saturable absorbers. Saturation properties in the near infrared as well as a demonstration of tunable, passive Q switching of a flash-lamp pumped Cr:LiSAF laser are discussed

Dynamic, but not necessarily disordered, human-virus interactions mediated through slims in viral proteins

Most viruses have small genomes that encode proteins needed to perform essential enzy-matic functions. Across virus families, primary enzyme functions are under functional constraint; however, secondary functions mediated by exposed protein surfaces that promote interactions with the host proteins may be less constrained. Viruses often form transient interactions with host proteins through conformationally flexible interfaces. Exposed flexible amino acid residues are known to evolve rapidly suggesting that secondary functions may generate diverse interaction potentials between viruses within the same viral family. One mechanism of interaction is viral mimicry through short linear motifs (SLiMs) that act as functional signatures in host proteins. Viral SLiMs display specific patterns of adjacent amino acids that resemble their host SLiMs and may occur by chance numerous times in viral proteins due to mutational and selective processes. Through mimicry of SLiMs in the host cell proteome, viruses can interfere with the protein interaction network of the host and utilize the host-cell machinery to their benefit. The overlap between rapidly evolving protein regions and the location of functionally critical SLiMs suggest that these motifs and their functional potential may be rapidly rewired causing variation in pathogenicity, infectivity, and virulence of related viruses. The following review provides an overview of known viral SLiMs with select examples of their role in the life cycle of a virus, and a discussion of the structural properties of experimentally validated SLiMs highlighting that a large portion of known viral SLiMs are devoid of predicted intrinsic disorder based on the viral SLiMs from the ELM database

Expression of collagenase-3 in the rat ovary during the ovulatory process.

We have examined the expression of the murine counterpart of human collagenase-3, a matrix metalloproteinase produced by breast carcinomas, in the course of processes which involve extensive tissue remodeling. By using Northern blot analysis, we have found that collagenase-3 is expressed in the rat ovary, but not in the remaining analyzed tissues including brain, kidney, liver, lung, mammary gland, uterus, bladder, heart, intestine, prostate, spleen, testis and thymus. Collagenase-3 mRNA was detected at high levels in rat ovaries at proestrus and estrus, was at a minimum at metestrus and started to increase during diestrus through to proestrus. In addition, collagenase-3 was also detected on day 21 of pregnancy, which is approximately one day before parturition. However, no significative expression was detected in RNA from ovaries taken immediately after parturition, or on days 1, 5 or 30 postpartum. Northern blot analysis also revealed that collagenase-3 was not expressed at significant levels, compared with ovarian expression, in the uterus or in the mammary gland during pregnancy or after parturition. When follicular granulosa cells were separated from Northern blot, it was seen that collagenase-3 was not expressed by the granulosa cells but was present in the residual tissue containing interstitial and thecal tissues, growing follicles and corpora lutea. Immunohistochemical studies also confirmed, at the protein level, the localization of collagenase-3 in rat ovary. Gonadotropic stimulation of ovulation in immature rats by priming with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin and stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin failed to induce the expression of collagenase-3, suggesting that additional factors which are not present in the immature stimulated rats are needed for completely effective induction of the expression of this matrix metalloproteinase. On the basis of these results, together with the comparative analysis of expression of different matrix metalloproteinases in the rat ovary, we propose that collagenase-3 is a major ovarian metalloproteinase potentially involved in ovarian function during the reproductive cycle.Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (SAF94-0892

Amazonian States Map Threatened Borderlands

Recently, the Regional Initiative to Integrate South America has begun promoting a transboundary road that would bisect the forested borderlands and connect the two largest cities in the region, while the state governments seek to promote a direct ecological railroad alternative. Both transportation initiatives promise to alter forests and rivers and transform economies and cultures, but these projects also lack the base geographic information necessary to understand their potential transboundary impacts and benefits

TRYPANOSOMA EVANSI AND NEOSPORA CANINUM AMONG WATER BUFFALOES (BUBALUS BUBALIS) IN THE PHILIPPINES

The study determined the positivity rate of Trypanosoma evansi and Neospora caninum antibodies in water buffaloes in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for T. evansi and competitive Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (cELISA) for N. caninum antibodies . A total of 100 whole blood and 100 serum samples were collected to test for T. evansi and N. caninum , respectively. Rotat 1.2 VSG gene was target using PCR for T. evansi detection. Neospora caninum antibody detection was done from the serum samples using cELISA test kit.Results revealed that the positivity rate of T. evansi in Nueva Ecija was 11% (11/100). The positive animals identified were from the municipalities of Muñoz (4/16; 25%), Sta. Rosa (3/13; 23.08%) and Talugtug (4/16; 25%). The seropositive rate of Nueva Ecija for N. caninum. was 46% (46/100), seropositive animals were identified in Cabanatuan City, 57.14% (4/7); Science City of Muñoz, 43.14% (22/51); Sta. Rosa, 40% (4/10); Sto. Sunday, 50% (6/12); and Talugtug 50% (10/20). The seropositivity rate of N. caninum and the presence of T. evansi in Nueva Ecija may contribute to the cases of abortions in the province and further studies should be employed to confirm the association of these organisms to abortion cases on water buffaloes

CUTLL1, a novel human T-cell lymphoma cell line with t(7;9) rearrangement, aberrant NOTCH1 activation and high sensitivity to c-secretase inhibitors

Activating mutations in NOTCH1 are present in over 50% of human T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) samples and inhibition of NOTCH1 signaling with c-secretase inhibitors (GSI) has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this disease. Here, we report a new human T-cell lymphoma line CUTLL1, which expresses high levels of activated NOTCH1 and is extremely sensitive to c-secretase inhibitors treatment. CUTLL1 cells harbor a t(7;9)(q34;q34) translocation which induces the expression of a TCRB-NOTCH1 fusion transcript encoding a membrane-bound truncated form of the NOTCH1 receptor. GSI treatment of CUTLL1 cells blocked NOTCH1 processing and caused rapid clearance of activated intracellular NOTCH1. Loss of NOTCH1 activity induced a gene expression signature characterized by the downregulation of NOTCH1 target genes such as HES1 and NOTCH3. In contrast with most human T-ALL cell lines with activating mutations in NOTCH1, CUTLL1 cells showed a robust cellular phenotype upon GSI treatment characterized by G1 cell cycle arrest and increased apoptosis. These results show that the CUTLL1 cell line has a strong dependence on NOTCH1 signaling for proliferation and survival and supports that T-ALL patients whose tumors harbor t(7;9) should be included in clinical trials testing the therapeutic efficacy NOTCH1 inhibition with GSIs. Leukemia (2006) 20, 1279–1287. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2404258; published online 11 May 200

PanCancer analysis of somatic mutations in repetitive regions reveals recurrent mutations in snRNA U2

Current somatic mutation callers are biased against repetitive regions, preventing the identification of potential driver alterations in these loci. We developed a mutation caller for repetitive regions, and applied it to study repetitive non protein-coding genes in more than 2200 whole-genome cases. We identified a recurrent mutation at position c.28 in the gene encoding the snRNA U2. This mutation is present in B-cell derived tumors, as well as in prostate and pancreatic cancer, suggesting U2 c.28 constitutes a driver candidate associated with worse prognosis. We showed that the GRCh37 reference genome is incomplete, lacking the U2 cluster in chromosome 17, preventing the identification of mutations in this gene. Furthermore, the 5'-flanking region of WDR74, previously described as frequently mutated in cancer, constitutes a functional copy of U2. These data reinforce the relevance of non-coding mutations in cancer, and highlight current challenges of cancer genomic research in characterizing mutations affecting repetitive genes.© 2022. The Author(s)

Pleiotropic functions of the tumor- and metastasis-suppressing Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 in mammary cancer in MMTV-PyMT transgenic mice

Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8; neutrophil collagenase) is an important regulator of innate immunity which has onco-suppressive actions in numerous tumor types

Marketing digital y fidelización de clientes en el desarrollo de la sostenibilidad comercial de la región Junín

Objective. To determine the relationship between digital marketing and customer loyalty in the development of commercial sustainability in the province of Tarma, Junín region (Peru). Methods. The research had a quantitative approach and was of basic type, correlational level and non-experimental-cross-sectional design; two instruments were used: the digital marketing questionnaire and the customer loyalty questionnaire. The first questionnaire consisted of 12 items referring to the dimensions of digital marketing and the second consisted of 15 items referring to the dimensions of customer loyalty. The sample consisted of 120 customers of commercial establishments in the province of Tarma. Results. 47.5 % of respondents considered that the implementation of digital marketing in commercial establishments is regular, 36.7 % considered that there is a low implementation and only 15.8 % considered that there is a high implementation of digital marketing. Referring to the customer loyalty questionnaire, 63.3 % considered that customer loyalty in commercial establishments occurs regularly, 21.7 % considered that customer loyalty is high and 15 % considered that customer loyalty is low. Conclusion. There is a direct and statistically significant relationship between digital marketing and customer loyalty in the development of sustainability in the province of Tarma, Junín region.Objetivo. Determinar la relación entre marketing digital y fidelización de clientes en el desarrollo de la sostenibilidad comercial de la provincia de Tarma, región Junín (Perú). Métodos. La investigación tuvo un enfoque cuantitativo y fue de tipo básico, nivel correlacional y diseño no experimental-transversal; se emplearon dos instrumentos: el cuestionario de marketing digital y el cuestionario de fidelización de clientes. El primer cuestionario constó de 12 ítems referidos a las dimensiones de marketing digital y el segundo constó de 15 ítems referidos a las dimensiones de la fidelización de clientes. La muestra estuvo conformada por 120 clientes de establecimientos comerciales de la provincia de Tarma. Resultados. El 47,5 % de encuestados consideró que la implementación del marketing digital en los establecimientos comerciales se da de forma regular, el 36,7% consideró que hay una baja implantación y solo el 15,8 % consideró que hay una alta implantación del marketing digital. Referente al cuestionario de fidelización de clientes, el 63,3 % consideró que la fidelización de clientes en los establecimientos comerciales se da de forma regular, el 21,7 % consideró que la fidelización de clientes es alta y el 15% considera que la fidelización de clientes es baja. Conclusión. Existe relación directa y estadísticamente significativa entre marketing digital y fidelización de clientes en el desarrollo de la sostenibilidad de la provincia de Tarma, región Junín

Generating Random Logic Programs Using Constraint Programming

Testing algorithms across a wide range of problem instances is crucial to ensure the validity of any claim about one algorithm's superiority over another. However, when it comes to inference algorithms for probabilistic logic programs, experimental evaluations are limited to only a few programs. Existing methods to generate random logic programs are limited to propositional programs and often impose stringent syntactic restrictions. We present a novel approach to generating random logic programs and random probabilistic logic programs using constraint programming, introducing a new constraint to control the independence structure of the underlying probability distribution. We also provide a combinatorial argument for the correctness of the model, show how the model scales with parameter values, and use the model to compare probabilistic inference algorithms across a range of synthetic problems. Our model allows inference algorithm developers to evaluate and compare the algorithms across a wide range of instances, providing a detailed picture of their (comparative) strengths and weaknesses.Comment: This is an extended version of the paper published in CP 202