DOES REAL EXCHANGE RATE MATTER FOR EMERGING MARKETS’ INTERNATIONAL TRADE? A GRAVITY MODEL APPROACH FOR TURKEY

From its perspective, we apply the gravity panel data model (log of OLS and REM models) to Turkey’s bilateral trade flows over 1990-2005, using annual data. In our augmented gravity model, we test the model for the effects of real exchange rate (RER), and a set of dummy variables (Costum Union (COSTUM), The crisis of 1994 (D_94) and 2001 (D_01), either facilitating or restricting trade between pairs of countries, on trade performance of Turkey, as well as the core variables; distance (DIST), incomes (GDPs or PPP) and populations (POPs) of the trading countries, as quoted in standart models

Investigation of protein secretion and secretion stress in Ashbya gossypii

Background: Ashbya gossypii is a filamentous Saccharomycete used for the industrial production of riboflavin that has been recently explored as a host system for recombinant protein production. To gain insight into the protein secretory pathway of this biotechnologically relevant fungus, we undertook genome-wide analyses to explore its secretome and its transcriptional responses to protein secretion stress. Results: A computational pipeline was used to predict the inventory of proteins putatively secreted by A. gossypii via the general secretory pathway. The proteins actually secreted by this fungus into the supernatants of submerged cultures in minimal and rich medium were mapped by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, revealing that most of the A. gossypii secreted proteins have an isoelectric point between 4 and 6, and a molecular mass above 25 kDa. These analyses together indicated that 1-4% of A. gossypii proteins are likely to be secreted, of which less than 33% are putative hydrolases. Furthermore, transcriptomic analyses carried out in A. gossypii cells under recombinant protein secretion conditions and dithiothreitol-induced secretion stress unexpectedly revealed that a conventional unfolded protein response (UPR) was not activated in any of the conditions, as the expression levels of several well-known UPR target genes (e.g. IRE1, KAR2, HAC1 and PDI1 homologs) remained unaffected. However, several other genes involved in protein unfolding, endoplasmatic reticulum-associated degradation, proteolysis, vesicle trafficking, vacuolar protein sorting, secretion and mRNA degradation were up-regulated by dithiothreitol-induced secretion stress. Conversely, the transcription of several genes encoding secretory proteins, such as components of the glycosylation pathway, was severely repressed by dithiothreitol Conclusions: This study provides the first insights into the secretion stress response of A. gossypii, as well as a basic understanding of its protein secretion potential, which is more similar to that of yeast than to that of other filamentous fungi. Contrary to what has been widely described for yeast and fungi, a conventional UPR was not observed in A. gossypii, but alternative protein quality control mechanisms enabled it to cope with secretion stress. These data will help provide strategies for improving heterologous protein secretion in A. gossypii.This work was financially supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Portugal, through: PhD grant SFRH/BD/30229/2006 to OR, MIT-Portugal Program PhD grant SFRH/BD/39112/2007 to TQA, Project AshByofactory (PTDC/EBB-EBI/101985/2008 - FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-009701), Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 - FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462, Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and Project BioInd (NORTE-07-0124-FEDER000028) co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. We thank Dominik Mojzita and Mari Hakkinen from VTT Finland for their assistance with the microarray sample preparation, hybridization and data acquisition

Comparison of protein coding gene contents of the fungal phyla Pezizomycotina and Saccharomycotina

BACKGROUND: Several dozen fungi encompassing traditional model organisms, industrial production organisms and human and plant pathogens have been sequenced recently and their particular genomic features analysed in detail. In addition comparative genomics has been used to analyse specific sub groups of fungi. Notably, analysis of the phylum Saccharomycotina has revealed major events of evolution such as the recent genome duplication and subsequent gene loss. However, little has been done to gain a comprehensive comparative view to the fungal kingdom. We have carried out a computational genome wide comparison of protein coding gene content of Saccharomycotina and Pezizomycotina, which include industrially important yeasts and filamentous fungi, respectively. RESULTS: Our analysis shows that based on genome redundancy, the traditional model organisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Neurospora crassa are exceptional among fungi. This can be explained by the recent genome duplication in S. cerevisiae and the repeat induced point mutation mechanism in N. crassa. Interestingly in Pezizomycotina a subset of protein families related to plant biomass degradation and secondary metabolism are the only ones showing signs of recent expansion. In addition, Pezizomycotina have a wealth of phylum specific poorly characterised genes with a wide variety of predicted functions. These genes are well conserved in Pezizomycotina, but show no signs of recent expansion. The genes found in all fungi except Saccharomycotina are slightly better characterised and predicted to encode mainly enzymes. The genes specific to Saccharomycotina are enriched in transcription and mitochondrion related functions. Especially mitochondrial ribosomal proteins seem to have diverged from those of Pezizomycotina. In addition, we highlight several individual gene families with interesting phylogenetic distributions. CONCLUSION: Our analysis predicts that all Pezizomycotina unlike Saccharomycotina can potentially produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites and secreted enzymes and that the responsible gene families are likely to evolve fast. Both types of fungal products can be of commercial value, or on the other hand cause harm to humans. In addition, a great number of novel predicted and known enzymes are found from all fungi except Saccharomycotina. Therefore further studies and exploitation of fungal metabolism appears very promising

Succession of physiological stages hallmarks the transcriptomic response of the fungus Aspergillus niger to lignocellulose.

BackgroundUnderstanding how fungi degrade lignocellulose is a cornerstone of improving renewables-based biotechnology, in particular for the production of hydrolytic enzymes. Considerable progress has been made in investigating fungal degradation during time-points where CAZyme expression peaks. However, a robust understanding of the fungal survival strategies over its life time on lignocellulose is thereby missed. Here we aimed to uncover the physiological responses of the biotechnological workhorse and enzyme producer Aspergillus niger over its life time to six substrates important for biofuel production.ResultsWe analysed the response of A. niger to the feedstock Miscanthus and compared it with our previous study on wheat straw, alone or in combination with hydrothermal or ionic liquid feedstock pretreatments. Conserved (substrate-independent) metabolic responses as well as those affected by pretreatment and feedstock were identified via multivariate analysis of genome-wide transcriptomics combined with targeted transcript and protein analyses and mapping to a metabolic model. Initial exposure to all substrates increased fatty acid beta-oxidation and lipid metabolism transcripts. In a strain carrying a deletion of the ortholog of the Aspergillus nidulans fatty acid beta-oxidation transcriptional regulator farA, there was a reduction in expression of selected lignocellulose degradative CAZyme-encoding genes suggesting that beta-oxidation contributes to adaptation to lignocellulose. Mannan degradation expression was wheat straw feedstock-dependent and pectin degradation was higher on the untreated substrates. In the later life stages, known and novel secondary metabolite gene clusters were activated, which are of high interest due to their potential to synthesize bioactive compounds.ConclusionIn this study, which includes the first transcriptional response of Aspergilli to Miscanthus, we highlighted that life time as well as substrate composition and structure (via variations in pretreatment and feedstock) influence the fungal responses to lignocellulose. We also demonstrated that the fungal response contains physiological stages that are conserved across substrates and are typically found outside of the conditions with high CAZyme expression, as exemplified by the stages that are dominated by lipid and secondary metabolism

Low interleukin-2 concentration favors generation of early memory T cells over effector phenotypes during chimeric antigen receptor T-cell expansion

Errata: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2017.06.003Background. Adoptive T-cell therapy offers new options for cancer treatment. Clinical results suggest that T-cell persistence, depending on T-cell memory, improves efficacy. The use of interleukin (IL)-2 for in vitro T-cell expansion is not straightforward because it drives effector T-cell differentiation but does not promote the formation of T-cell memory. We have developed a cost-effective expansion protocol for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells with an early memory phenotype. Methods. Lymphocytes were transduced with third-generation lentiviral vectors and expanded using CD3/CD28 microbeads. The effects of altering the IL-2 supplementation (0-300 IU/mL) and length of expansion (10-20 days) on the phenotype of the T-cell products were analyzed. Results. High IL-2 levels led to a decrease in overall generation of early memory T cells by both decreasing central memory T cells and augmenting effectors. T memory stem cells (T-SCM, CD95(+)CD45RO(-)CD45RA(+)CD27(+)) were present variably during T-cell expansion. However, their presence was not IL-2 dependent but was linked to expansion kinetics. CD19-CART cells generated in these conditions displayed in vitro antileukemic activity. In summary, production of CART cells without any cytokine supplementation yielded the highest proportion of early memory T cells, provided a 10 fold cell expansion and the cells were functionally potent. Discussion. The number of early memory T cells in a T-cell preparation can be increased by simply reducing the amount of IL-2 and limiting the length of T-cell expansion, providing cells with potentially higher in vivo performance. These findings are significant for robust and cost:effective T-cell manufacturing.Peer reviewe

Effects of different feeding strategies on the growth of young rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study investigated the effects of different feeding strategies on the growth, conditions and food conversion rate of young rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The groups set up are as follows: a control group (Gc), which was fed every day for the week, a group with no feeding on Monday and Thursday (GMon-Thu), a group with no feeding on Saturday and Sunday (GSat-Sun), and a group that alternated feeding one day and no feeding the next (GF-NF). At the end of the study, the mean (±SD) weight and food conversion ratio of groups were found to be: 83.51 ± 5.43 g and 1.09; 87.38 ± 5.95 g and 1.14; 83.50 ± 5.97 g and 1.15; and 76.66 ± 4.56 g and 1.26, respectively. Group GF-NF showed significantly slower growth than the others, and it exhibited a higher food conversion ratio value than groups GMon-Thu and GSat-Sun (P<0.05). The condition factors of the groups were similar (P>0.05). This study showed that the two groups that did not feed for two days a week (GMon-Thu and GSat-Sun) did not exhibit negative growth performance, whether they were not fed on consecutive days or different days of the week, while group GF-NF exhibited negative growth performance.Key words: Rainbow trout, feeding strategy, food conversation rate

A novel EBG structure to improve isolation in MIMO antenna

25th Signal Processing and Communications Applications Conference, SIU 2017 -- 15 May 2017 through 18 May 2017 -- 128703A new, and advanced Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structure is reported to reduce the mutual coupling between two tightly spaced rectangular patch antennas. The EBG structure provides more than 20 dB reduction in mutual coupling without degrading far-field patterns, gain, or bandwidth.IEEE Antennas & Propagation SocietyInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporatio

‘VARLIK’ YA DA ‘MUTABAKAT’: ‘HAK’ KAVRAMININ ASLI VE ‘ALÊTHEİA’

İslâm düşüncesinin önemli kavramlarını birbirine bağlayan hak kelimesi, Kur’ân’da otuzdan fazla anlama gelecek şekilde istihdam edilmiştir. Ayrıca hak kelimesi ahlak, hukuk, bilgi, sanat ve bilimsel konulara ait farklı söylem ve bağlam ilişkileri içinde sıklıkla yer bulmaktadır. Bu yoğun anlam ilişkileri içinde hak kelimesinin asıl anlamının ne olduğu meselesi tam olarak belirtilmiş değildir. Bununla birlikte hak kelimesinin aslının mutâbakât olduğu konusunda yaygın bir kanâat oluşmuştur. Arap dilinin önemli sözlüklerinde de asıl anlam olarak mutâbakât manası ön plana çıkarılmıştır. Bu durum zamanla mutâbakât manasının hak kavramının asıl anlamının yerine geçmesine sebebiyet vermiştir. Gerçekte hak kelimesinin asıl manası kendisinde hiçbir kuşku olmayan salt varlıktır. Fakat henüz tahakkuk etmemiş makdurâtı da kapsadığı için mevcud kavramından daha kapsamlıdır. Asıl anlam imiş gibi gösterlen mutabakat manası ise bilgi, değer ve estetik durumlarının var olana göre belirlenmesi sonucunda üretilmiştir. Bu varsayım ile tasarlanmış çalışmamızda hak kelimesinin asıl anlamının varlık olduğu tezi gerekçelendirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Bu anlamı belirlemek için de farklı dillerde varlık ve oluş kavramlarını belirten kelimelerle irtibat kurulmuştur. Bunun dışında Müslümanların varlık tasavvuruna yön veren kurucu görüşlere müracaât edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak hak kelimesinin aslının varlık olduğu, bu mânânın bilgi, değer ve estetik biçimlerine mutâbakât anlamı ile kaynaklık ettiği hususu tespit edilmiştirİslâm düşüncesinin önemli kavramlarını birbirine bağlayan hak kelimesi, Kur’ân’da otuzdan fazla anlama gelecek şekilde istihdam edilmiştir. Ayrıca hak kelimesi ahlak, hukuk, bilgi, sanat ve bilimsel konulara ait farklı söylem ve bağlam ilişkileri içinde sıklıkla yer bulmaktadır. Bu yoğun anlam ilişkileri içinde hak kelimesinin asıl anlamının ne olduğu meselesi tam olarak belirtilmiş değildir. Bununla birlikte hak kelimesinin aslının mutâbakât olduğu konusunda yaygın bir kanâat oluşmuştur. Arap dilinin önemli sözlüklerinde de asıl anlam olarak mutâbakât manası ön plana çıkarılmıştır. Bu durum zamanla mutâbakât manasının hak kavramının asıl anlamının yerine geçmesine sebebiyet vermiştir. Gerçekte hak kelimesinin asıl manası kendisinde hiçbir kuşku olmayan salt varlıktır. Fakat henüz tahakkuk etmemiş makdurâtı da kapsadığı için mevcud kavramından daha kapsamlıdır. Asıl anlam imiş gibi gösterlen mutabakat manası ise bilgi, değer ve estetik durumlarının var olana göre belirlenmesi sonucunda üretilmiştir. Bu varsayım ile tasarlanmış çalışmamızda hak kelimesinin asıl anlamının varlık olduğu tezi gerekçelendirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Bu anlamı belirlemek için de farklı dillerde varlık ve oluş kavramlarını belirten kelimelerle irtibat kurulmuştur. Bunun dışında Müslümanların varlık tasavvuruna yön veren kurucu görüşlere müracaât edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak hak kelimesinin aslının varlık olduğu, bu mânânın bilgi, değer ve estetik biçimlerine mutâbakât anlamı ile kaynaklık ettiği hususu tespit edilmiştir

Rauta ja Ristilukki : Vilho Helasen salapoliisiromaanisarja

Vilho Helanen (1899 1952) was a right-wing opinion leader in interwar Finland. But following the Second World War, the political situation in the country changed dramatically, and Helanen lost his job as well as his influential social station. He began to write detective fiction, and between 1946 and 1952 published seven novels (one had already been published in 1941). The novels protagonist is Kaarlo Rauta, a lawyer who acts as a private investigator. This doctoral dissertation analyzes the Rauta series from three different points of view. It investigates the extent to which the author s life and his strong political background appears in the series. The study also situates the series within Finnish society during and after the war. Finally, the study examines the Rauta series in terms of the genre conventions of detective fiction, that is, the study compares the Rauta series with other Finnish crime fiction and international crime fiction written during the 1940s. The Iron and The Cross Spider uses the term citizenship education when analyzing how Helanen implicitly continued his political teaching when writing crime fiction. The series includes a didactic register, which instructs the middle class in appropriate behaviour and manners, and the social roles entailed by gender. A special area of focus in this didacticism are norms of correct masculinity and femininity. The study devotes specific attention to the status of character in the series. The masculine detective and his beautiful wife are prominent, as is the fictive community and the tensions that criss-cross it. After the war, the Rauta series takes on a positive tone. Men can earn their place in society by fighting at the front, and after the war a homosocial bond exists between all the former soldiers. Women are shut out of the war experience. The detective hero has served in the war, but he is physically and psychologically untouched by it. The community is threatened by artists and immoral bohemians, but not the working class. Artists have affairs outside of marriage and abnormal sexual habits. The members of the upper class are also described as immoral in the series. Sadistic sexuality is often characteristic of the criminals, who are mostly femme fatales in the fashion of hard-boiled detective stories and film noir. Also, strong feelings have a negative connotation in the series, and showing them is forbidden behaviour. Men become criminals when they are insufficiently masculine or when they have not carried out their duty by fighting in the war. Helanen portrayed the communists, his political opponents from the 1930s, as criminals in his post-war series, but they were not openly represented as Russians or communists. Instead, Helanen used the cross spider as their symbol, a symbol which the readers of the time would recognize.FT Vilho Helanen (1899 1952) oli aktiivinen oikeistolainen poliittinen vaikuttaja Suomessa 1920-luvulta aina 1940-luvulle saakka. Hän toimi näkyvästi Akateemisessa Karjala-Seurassa ja oli tunnettu, kiistelty mielipidejohtaja, mutta yhteiskunnallisten olosuhteiden muututtua jatkosodan päättymisen jälkeen hän jäi sivuun poliittisesta elämästä ja elätti perheensä kirjoittamalla salapoliisiromaaneja. Helanen julkaisi seitsemän romaania (yksi oli ilmestynyt jo sodan aikana) vuosina 1946 1952 varatuomari Kaarlo Raudan tutkimuksista, ja näistä muodostui ensimmäinen merkittävä suomalainen salapoliisiromaanisarja. Väitöskirja tarkastelee Rauta-sarjaa yhteydessä toisen maailmansodan jälkeiseen suomalaiseen yhteiskuntaan ja kirjailijan elämänvaiheisiin sekä hänen aatteelliseen taustaansa. Helanen kirjoitti salapoliisiromaaneja lajin murrosaikana, jolloin suomalainen traditio oli vielä ohut, joten tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan myös Helasen salapoliisiromaanien yhteyksiä salapoliisiromaanin lajipiirteisiin sekä sarjan eroja ja yhtäläisyyksiä kotimaisen 1940-luvun rikoskirjallisuuden ja ajan ulkomaisen rikoskirjallisuuden kanssa. Rauta-sarjalla oli sodan jälkeisinä vuosina paljon lukijoita ja sen läpäiseväksi tematiikaksi muodostuivat sodan vaikutukset ja positiivinen usko suomalaisten perusarvojen säilymiseen ja sodasta toipumiseen. Tutkimuksessa keskeisiksi nousevat sankari ja tämän vaimo joka auttaa miestään tutkimuksissa sekä salapoliisiromaanien kuvaama yhteisö. Aviopari Rauta edustaa sallittua, avioliittoon kytkeytyvää seksuaalisuutta. Sarjan kuvaamassa yhteisössä rajoja rikkovat boheemit, moraalittomat taiteilijat, mutta myös sivistyneistön ja yläluokan jäsenet on osittain kuvattu avoimen turmeltuneina. Avioliiton ulkopuolinen, sadistinen seksuaalisuus on sarjassa rikollisten ominaisuus. Myös voimakkaiden tunteiden tunteminen ja niiden näyttäminen on epätoivottavaa käytöstä sarjassa. Naishahmot ovat usein rikollisia ja heihin liittyy niin itsenäisen, ammatissa toimivan, modernin uuden naisen piirteitä kuin kohtalokkaan viettelijättären, femme fatalen ominaisuuksia. Miehet ansaitsevat paikkansa yhteisössä osallistumalla sotaan ja sodan jälkeen rintamakokemus yhdistää heitä. Naiset sen sijaan on suljettu sotakokemuksen ulkopuolelle. Miehistä tulee sarjassa rikollisia, kun he eivät ole osallistuneet sotaan tai kun he pyrkivät pois luontaiselta paikaltaan yhteisössä. Rikollisiin liittyy myös vahvasti kytkös kommunismiin ja vasemmistolaisuuteen, vaikka sitä ei toisen maailmansodan jälkeen olekaan esitetty lukijoille suoraan. Rikollisen hahmon, Ristilukin Helanen kytkee venäläisyyteen viittaamalla Sibeliuksen sävellykseen Laulu ristilukista