Search

Two genes, gusB and gusC, from a natural fecal isolate of Escherichia coli are shown to encode proteins responsible for transport of [beta]-glucuronides with synthetic [[14.sup.C]]phenyl-l-thio-[beta]-D-glucuronide as the substrate. These genes are located in the gus operon downstream of the gusA gene on the E. coli genome, and their expression is induced by a variety of [[beta]-glucuronides. Measurements of transport in right-side-out subcellular vesicles show the system has the characteristics of secondary active transport energized by the respiration-generated proton motive force. When the genes were cloned together downstream of the tac operator-promoter in the plasmid pTTQ18 expression vector, transport activity was increased considerably with isopropylthiogalactopyranoside as the inducer. Amplified expression of the GusB and GusC proteins enabled visualization and identification by N-terminal sequencing of both proteins, which migrated at ca. 32 kDa and 44 kDa, respectively. Separate expression of the GusB protein showed that it is essential for glucuronide transport and is located in the inner membrane, while the GusC protein does not catalyze transport but assists in an as yet unknown manner and is located in the outer membrane. The output of glucuronides as waste by mammals and uptake for nutrition by gut bacteria or reabsorption by the mammalian host is discussed.

Methods in which cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CP-MAS) solid state nuclear magnetic response (NMR) is exploited to measure rigorous parameters for binding of (sup 13)C-labeled substrates to membrane transport proteins are devised. The methods are applied to two proteins from Esherichia coli, nucleoside transporter, NupC, and a glucuronide transporter, GusB.

Background. Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT), a newly developed pretrained artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, is able to interpret and respond to user-generated questions. As such, many questions have been raised about its potential uses and limitations. While preliminary literature suggests that ChatGPT can be used in medicine as a research assistant and patient consultant, its reliability in providing original and accurate information is still unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to conduct a review on the utility of ChatGPT in plastic surgery. Methods. On August 25, 2023, a thorough literature search was conducted on PubMed. Papers involving ChatGPT and medical research were included. Papers that were not written in English were excluded. Related papers were evaluated and synthesized into 3 information domains: generating original research topics, summarizing and extracting information from medical literature and databases, and conducting patient consultation. Results. Out of 57 initial papers, 8 met inclusion criteria. An additional 2 were added based on the references of relevant papers, bringing the total number to 10. ChatGPT can be useful in helping clinicians brainstorm and gain a general understanding of the literature landscape. However, its inability to give patient-specific information and act as a reliable source of information limit its use in patient consultation. Conclusion. ChatGPT can be a useful tool in the conception of and execution of literature searches and research information retrieval (with increased reliability when queries are specific); however, the technology is currently not reliable enough to be implemented in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological advances are changing the litigation landscape, especially in the discovery context. For nearly two decades, technologies have reinvented document searches in complex litigation, normalizing the use of machine learning algorithms under the umbrella of "Technology-Assisted Review" ("TAR"). The latest technological developments are placing discovery beyond attorney understanding and firmly in the realm of computer science and engineering. As lawyers struggle to keep up, a creeping sense of anxiety is spreading in the legal profession about a lack of transparency and the potential for discovery abuse. Judges, attorneys, bar associations, and scholars warn that lawyers need to closely supervise the technical aspects of TAR and avoid the dangers of sabotage, intentional hacking, or abuse. But commentators have not fully defined what the risks entail, described in detail the potential dangers, or delineated the boundaries of debate. This Article provides a systematic assessment of the potential for abuse in TAR and offers three contributions. First, our most basic aim is to provide a technical but accessible assessment of vulnerabilities in the typical TAR process. To do so, we use the latest computer science research to identify and catalogue the different ways that TAR can go awry, either due to intentional abuse or mistakes. Second, with a better understanding of how discovery can be subverted, we then map potential remedies and reassess current debates in a more helpful light. The upshot is that abuse of technology-assisted discovery is possible but can be preventable if the right review processes are in place. Finally, we propose reforms to improve the system in the short and long term, with an emphasis on improved metrics that can more fully measure the quality of TAR. By exploring the technical background of discovery abuse, the Article demystifies the engineering substrate of modern discovery. Undertaking this study shows that with the right technical knowledge and assistance, lawyers can safeguard technology-assisted discovery without surrendering professional jurisdiction to engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]