We present BAF-Logic, a system of logic for reasoning over beliefs held by an agent. In BAF-Logic arguments are formulated for and against believing in a proposition. A series of inference rules may then be applied to deduce the truth of a proposition. Beliefs in the proposition and other related propositions may then be reinforced or eroded accordingly, giving us a powerful tool for defeasible...

Secretion of organic cations (OCs) across renal proximal tubules (RPTs) involves basolateral OC transporter (OCT)2-mediated uptake from the blood followed by apical multidrug and toxin extruder (MATE)1/2-mediated efflux into the tubule filtrate. Whereas OCT2 supports electrogenic OC uniport, MATE is an OC/H(+) exchanger. As assessed by epifluorescence microscopy, cultured Chinese hamster ovary ...

Regulatory programs that control the specification of serotonergic neurons have been investigated by genetic mutant screens in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Loss of a previously uncloned gene, ham-3, affects migration and serotonin antibody staining of the hermaphrodite-specific neuron (HSN) pair. We characterize these defects here in more detail, showing that the defects in serotonin an...

Signal transduction by the growth hormone receptor (GHR) occurs through growth hormone (GH)-induced dimerization of two GHRs to form a trimeric complex. It is thought that dimerization alone is sufficient for signaling, since monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the extracellular domain of the GHR elicit proliferation of FDC-P1 cells transfected with a chimeric receptor comprising the extracell...

To achieve productive infection, the reverse transcribed cDNA of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is inserted in the host cell genome. The main protein responsible for this reaction is the viral integrase. However, studies indicate that the virus is assisted by cellular proteins, or co-factors, to achieve integration into the infected cell. The barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF)...

Axotomized neurons have several characteristics that are different from intact neurons. Here we show that, unlike established cultures, the axotomized sympathetic neurons deprived of NGF become committed to die before caspase activation, since the same proportion of NGF-deprived neurons are rescued by NGF regardless of whether caspases are inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor Boc-Asp(O-methyl...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a pervasive class of brominated flame retardants that are present in the environment at particularly high levels, especially in the United States. Their environmental stability, propensity for bioaccumulation, and known potential for neurotoxicity has evoked interest regarding their effects on the developing nervous system. Exposure to PBDEs has been s...

I n the large volume of an oocyte, chromosomes huddle together before the meiotic spindle forms. Fashioning this huddled mass—called a karyosome—requires that chromosomes fi rst be released from the nuclear envelope, according to results from Lancaster et al. Because oocytes lack centrosomes, they assemble spindle microtubules from chromatin. By clustering chromosomes together, karyosomes help ...

BACKGROUND Nucleosome translocation along DNA is catalyzed by eukaryotic SNF2-type ATPases. One class of SNF2-ATPases is distinguished by the presence of a C-terminal bromodomain and is conserved from yeast to man and plants. This class of SNF2 enzymes forms rather large protein complexes that are collectively called SWI/SNF complexes. They are involved in transcription and DNA repair. Two broa...