Markedly different ATP requirements for rRNA synthesis and mtDNA light strand transcription versus mRNA synthesis in isolated human mitochondria

In isolated mitochondria from HeLa cells, the ATP requirements for mitochondral DNA (mtDNA) transcription and RNA processing can be satisfied by either endogenous synthesis, mainly through oxidative- phosphorylation, or by exogenous supply. The pattern of RNA synthesis changes dramatically depending upon the level of ATP available. At the low intramitochondrial ATP levels produced from endogenous ADP in the presence of an oxidizable substrate and phosphate, the mRNA species are labeled to a substantial extent, whereas there is only a marginal labeling of the rRNA species and light (L) strand transcripts. By contrast, high ATP levels, either provided exogenously or produced endogenously in the presence of an oxidizable substrate, phosphate, and exogenous ADP, strongly stimulate rRNA synthesis (about 10-fold) and light (L) strand transcription (greater than 10-fold), with only a slight increase in mRNA synthesis

Linear stability analysis of magnetized relativistic rotating jets

We carry out a linear stability analysis of a magnetized relativistic rotating cylindrical jet flow using the approximation of zero thermal pressure. We identify several modes of instability in the jet: Kelvin-Helmholtz, current driven and two kinds of centrifugal-buoyancy modes -- toroidal and poloidal. The Kelvin-Helmholtz mode is found at low magnetization and its growth rate depends very weakly on the pitch parameter of the background magnetic field and on rotation. The current driven mode is found at high magnetization, the values of its growth rate and the wavenumber, corresponding to the maximum growth, increase as we decrease the pitch parameter of the background magnetic field. This mode is stabilized by rotation, especially, at high magnetization. The centrifugal-buoyancy modes, arising due to rotation, tend also to be more stable when magnetization is increased. Overall, relativistic jet flows appear to be more stable with respect to their non-relativistic counterpart.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, accepted for pubblication in MNRA

Toward music-based data discrimination for cybercrime investigations

In this paper we describe an approach to data interpretation in which ‘raw’ data is analysed quantitatively in terms of textual content and the results of this analysis ‘converted’ to music. The purpose of this work is to investigate the viability of projecting complex text-based data, via textual analysis, to a musical rendering as a means for discriminating data sets ‘by ear’. This has the potential of allowing non-domain experts to make distinctions between sets of data based upon their listening skills. We present this work as a research agenda, since it is based upon earlier exploration of the underlying concept of mapping textual analyses to music, and explore possible areas of application in the domains of information security and digital forensics

Framework for global stability analysis of dynamical systems

Dynamical systems, that are used to model power grids, the brain, and other physical systems, can exhibit coexisting stable states known as attractors. A powerful tool to understand such systems, as well as to better predict when they may ``tip'' from one stable state to the other, is global stability analysis. It involves identifying the initial conditions that converge to each attractor, known as the basins of attraction, measuring the relative volume of these basins in state space, and quantifying how these fractions change as a system parameter evolves. By improving existing approaches, we present a comprehensive framework that allows for global stability analysis on any dynamical system. Notably, our framework enables the analysis to be made efficiently and conveniently over a parameter range. As such, it becomes an essential complement to traditional continuation techniques, that only allow for linear stability analysis. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on a variety of models, including climate, power grids, ecosystems, and more. Our framework is available as simple-to-use open-source code as part of the DynamicalSystems.jl library

Adaptive forecasting in the presence of recent and ongoing structural change

We consider time series forecasting in the presence of ongoing structural change where both the time series dependence and the nature of the structural change are unknown. Methods that downweight older data, such as rolling regressions, forecast averaging over different windows and exponentially weighted moving averages, known to be robust to historical structural change, are found to be also useful in the presence of ongoing structural change in the forecast period. A crucial issue is how to select the degree of downweighting, usually defined by an arbitrary tuning parameter. We make this choice data dependent by minimizing forecast mean square error, and provide a detailed theoretical analysis of our proposal. Monte Carlo results illustrate the methods. We examine their performance on 191 UK and US macro series. Forecasts using data-based tuning of the data discount rate are shown to perform well

INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA IN LYMPHOMA: A COMPARISON IN HEALTY DOGS AND DOGS WITH NON HODGKIN LYMPHOMA

Background and objectives Animal models play a key role in understanding the importance of gut microbiome in immune development and composition as well as to reinforce the relationship between the microbiota and health and disease. Intestinal bacteria have been implicated in several types of cancer. Regardless, microbes influence immune cells directly, indirectly, or both, and increased lymphocyte proliferation can lead to a higher chance of aberrant DNA replication. This particularly occurs with some B lymphocytes which are innately vulnerable to genetic instability and activation. Methods We analyzed the microbiome (by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and qPCR assays) of naturally voided fecal samples from 12 healthy and 12 Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) dogs in order to evaluate the microbiota composition using a dysbiosis index. An index value greater than 2 indicates dysbiosis, while below 0 indicates normal microbiota. Results. Significant differences were observed when comparing the fecal microbiota structure of all healthy dogs vs NHL dogs (ANOSIM; P<0.05). Specifically, differences were observed for Faecalibacterium (P<0.001) with concentrations higher in healthy vs NHL dogs. The dysbiosis index was significantly lower (p=0.007) in healthy vs NHL dogs (mean, SD: H2.6, 2.0 vs 1.7, 3.2), respectively. Conclusion Interestingly, lower levels of Fecalibacterium prausnitzii were recently found in humans with some chronic colonic conditions as well as colorectal cancer (P < 0.001) compared with healthy subjects. This study showed that NHL have a increased dysbiosis index, indicating dysbiosis. Animal models of cancer can be critical in order to demonstrate a link between the microbiome and carcinogenesis

Fecal microbiota differences in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) affected dogs: preliminary results.

Animal models play an essential role in understanding the importance of gut microbiome in immune development and composition, and play a key role to reinforce the relationship between the microbiome and health and disease [3]. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematopoietic malignancy in dogs, caused by clonal proliferation of lymphocytes in solid organs [2]. Whether microbes influence immune cells directly, indirectly, or both, increased lymphocyte proliferation can lead to a higher chance of aberrant DNA replication, particularly in some B lymphocytes which are innately vulnerable to genetic instability and activation. Oxidative stress caused by intestinal microbiota, either directly or indirectly through the immune system, can also affect tumorigenesis, thus, the microbiota can affect several pathways associated with lymphomagenesis [4]. The optimal responses to cancer therapy require an intact commensal microbiota that mediates its effects, by modulating myeloid derived cell functions in the tumour microenvironment [1]. In our study design we analysed the microbiome (by using 16S rRNA gene 454-pyrosequencing and qPCR assays) of naturally voided fecal samples from 6 healthy dogs, 8 NHL dogs before and 4 NHL (of the eight) dogs after induction phase of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone) plus probiotics (Sivoy TM). Several statistical significances were observed compared the fecal microbiome of healthy dogs vsNHL dogs before chemotherapy. In particular, differences were observed for Bifidobacteria (p=0.0001), Lactobacillus (p=0.0001), Faecalibacterium (p=0.0005), Bacteroidetes (p=0.0480), and Fusobacterium (p=0.0025), which concentrations were higher in healthy dogs compared to NHL dogs. On the contrary, the concentration of Clostridium perfrigens was greater in NHL dogs compared to healthy dogs (p=0.0326). No statistical differences for total bacteria, Escherichia coli, Blautia, and Ruminococcaceae were found. Microbiome shift (total bacteria, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacterium, Escherichia coli, Blautia, Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridium perfrigens) of fecal samples were also compared before and after induction phase of chemotherapy plus probiotics (Sivoy TM probiotic mix Slab51, containing 8 strains of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria dosed at 200 billion per stick) but no statistical significance was found. In order to understand microbiome’s changes in NHL affected dogs treated with standard protocol plus probiotics, a larger number of stool samples before and after treatment, from a greater number of animals, should be investigated. The fact that an increased number of lymphomas are becoming associated with bacterial infections underscores the need for more studies involving microbes and lymphoma and about the use of probiotics to restore normal microbiota in affected dogs

Analysis of differentiation strategy and profitability of business auto parts industry in Brazil

O objetivo desta pesquisa é investigar quanto os custos e as despesas explicam a rentabilidade da empresa com ênfase na Análise Estatística da Estratégia de Diferenciação em Qualidade de Produto. A revisão da literatura indica que a rentabilidade da empresa depende da estratégia genérica adotada por esta para lidar com as forças estruturais da indústria. Dentre essas estratégias, a de diferenciação deve enfocar características únicas e valoradas pelos compradores e, ao mesmo tempo, tentar aos custos. Este estudo foi feito usando os valores dos custos, despesas, patrimônio líquido e vendas de sete empresas, extraídos originalmente dos demonstrativos contábeis das mesmas, divulgados pela BM&F BOVESPA. As análises feitas via regressão múltipla indicam que custos e despesas explicam a rentabilidade na indústria de autopeças quando adotada a gestão estratégica genérica de diferenciação em qualidade do produto.The objective of this research is to investigate how costs and expenses explain the profitability of the company with emphasis on Statistical Analysis of Differentiation Strategy in Product Quality. The literature review indicates that the company's profitability depends on the generic strategy adopted to deal with this structural force in the industry. Among these strategies should focus on the differentiating features unique and valued by the purchasers and at the same time, attempt to costs. This study was done using the values of costs, expenses, and net sales of seven companies, \ud originally extracted from the financial statements of the same, published by BM&F BOVESPA. These analyzes via multiple regression indicate that costs and expenses explain the profitability in the auto parts industry when it adopted the generic strategy of differentiation management in product quality