Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shugoshin Prevents Dissociation of Cohesin from Centromeres During Mitosis in Vertebrate Cells

Cohesion between sister chromatids is essential for their bi-orientation on mitotic spindles. It is mediated by a multisubunit complex called cohesin. In yeast, proteolytic cleavage of cohesin's α kleisin subunit at the onset of anaphase removes cohesin from both centromeres and chromosome arms and thus triggers sister chromatid separation. In animal cells, most cohesin is removed from chromosome arms during prophase via a separase-independent pathway involving phosphorylation of its Scc3-SA1/2 subunits. Cohesin at centromeres is refractory to this process and persists until metaphase, whereupon its α kleisin subunit is cleaved by separase, which is thought to trigger anaphase. What protects centromeric cohesin from the prophase pathway? Potential candidates are proteins, known as shugoshins, that are homologous to Drosophila MEI-S332 and yeast Sgo1 proteins, which prevent removal of meiotic cohesin complexes from centromeres at the first meiotic division. A vertebrate shugoshin-like protein associates with centromeres during prophase and disappears at the onset of anaphase. Its depletion by RNA interference causes HeLa cells to arrest in mitosis. Most chromosomes bi-orient on a metaphase plate, but precocious loss of centromeric cohesin from chromosomes is accompanied by loss of all sister chromatid cohesion, the departure of individual chromatids from the metaphase plate, and a permanent cell cycle arrest, presumably due to activation of the spindle checkpoint. Remarkably, expression of a version of Scc3-SA2 whose mitotic phosphorylation sites have been mutated to alanine alleviates the precocious loss of sister chromatid cohesion and the mitotic arrest of cells lacking shugoshin. These data suggest that shugoshin prevents phosphorylation of cohesin's Scc3-SA2 subunit at centromeres during mitosis. This ensures that cohesin persists at centromeres until activation of separase causes cleavage of its α kleisin subunit. Centromeric cohesion is one of the hallmarks of mitotic chromosomes. Our results imply that it is not an intrinsically stable property, because it can easily be destroyed by mitotic kinases, which are kept in check by shugoshin.
Shredding of environmental signals by sediment transport

Landscapes respond to climate, tectonic motions and sea level, but this response is mediated by sediment transport. Understanding transmission of environmental signals is crucial for predicting landscape response to climate change, and interpreting paleo‐climate and tectonics from stratigraphy. Here we propose that sediment transport can act as a nonlinear filter that completely destroys (“shreds”) environmental signals. This results from ubiquitous thresholds in sediment transport systems; e.g., landsliding, bed load transport, and river avulsion. This “morphodynamic turbulence” is analogous to turbulence in fluid flows, where energy injected at one frequency is smeared across a range of scales. We show with a numerical model that external signals are shredded when their time and amplitude scales fall within the ranges of morphodynamic turbulence. As signal frequency increases, signal preservation becomes the exception rather than the rule, suggesting a critical re‐examination of purported sedimentary signals of external forcing.
Dynamic F-Wave Study Aids in Diagnosis of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a type of brachial plexopathy caused by recurrent microinjury in the region between the base of the neck and the armpit. Electrophysiologic diagnosis of TOS remains a challenge [1]. A number of electrodiagnostic approaches have been explored including nerve conduction studies (NCS), electromyography (EMG), and C8 nerve root stimulation [2-4]. Abnormal findings of medial antebrachial sensory in NCS and denervation changes in C8-T1 myotomeson EMG may provide electrophysiologic evidence to support the diagnosis [2,3,5]. Unfortunately, the frequency of the electrodiagnostic yield is usually low. Use of routine F-wave study and somatosensory evoked potential are of limited value [5-7]. Imaging studies including ultrasound, MRI, or CT angiography may show pathology in severe cases, but in early stages sensitivity of such testing is low [8]. Recently, CuevasTrisan and Cruz-Jimenez reported that provocative F waves may help in early diagnosis [9]. However, no significant changes in provocative F waves in the diagnosis of nonspecific neurogenictype thoracic outlet syndrome were lately reported, indicating absence of acceptable sensitivity in this regard [10]. Here we report that measurements of the mean latency difference in dynamic F-wave study may increase the diagnostic sensitivity and aid in the diagnosis of TOS.
Hybridization and endangered species protection in the molecular era

After decades of discussion, there is little consensus on the extent to which hybrids between endangered and nonendangered species should be protected by US law. As increasingly larger, genome‐scale data sets are developed, we can identify individuals and populations with even trace levels of genetic admixture, making the ‘hybrid problem’ all the more difficult. We developed a decision‐tree framework for evaluating hybrid protection, including both the processes that produced hybrids (human‐mediated or natural) and the ecological impact of hybrids on natural ecosystems. We then evaluated our decision tree for four case studies drawn from our own work and briefly discuss several other cases from the literature. Throughout, we highlight the management outcomes that our approach provides and the nuances of hybridization as a conservation problem.
Suicidality in Depressive Patients

Aim: The aim of this research was to examine the frequency of the incidence of suicides in patients with depressive disorders that were hospitalized at the Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek during 2015 and 2016, and to determine whether there is a significant relationship between sociality and parameters measured in this research. Methods: This research included 325 depressive patients hospitalized in the Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek during 2015 and 2016. Data were collected from medical records of patients diagnosed with depressive disorders. To collect data, we used a questionnaire drafted for the purposes of this research with the following information: age, gender, employment status, marital status, qualifications, number of children, the existence of suicide attempts or repeated suicide attempts, the way in which the suicide was attempted, number of hospitalizations and treatment duration in years, number of suicide attempts, motive for attempted suicide, way of suicide attempt, psychiatric heredity, co morbidity. Results: (36.6%) patients of the total number of 119 respondents (n=325) had suicidal behavior pattern in the past, significantly more in 2015 (Fisher’s exact test, P<0,001). At present the suicidal behavior pattern was present at 134 patients, significantly more in 2015 (Fisher’s exact test, P=0.04). 80 (24.6%) respondents attempted suicide. 33 (41.3%) of 80 (24.6%) respondents who attempted suicide were men and 47 (58.8%) women. The existence of psychiatric heredity or attempted suicide in the family does not affect the suicide attempt of the respondents. Conclusion: Suicidal behavior patterns in depressive patients are common. Key words: depressive disorders, suicidality, hospitalization
The Medicago truncatula ortholog of Arabidopsis EIN2, sickle, is a negative regulator of symbiotic and pathogenic microbial associations.

SUMMARY The plant hormone ethylene negatively regulates bacterial infection and nodule formation in legumes in response to symbiotic rhizobia, but the molecular mechanism(s) of ethylene action in symbiosis remain obscure. We have identified and characterized multiple mutant alleles of the MtSkl1 gene, which controls both ethylene sensitivity and nodule numbers. We show that this locus encodes the Medicago truncatula ortholog of the Arabidopsis ethylene signaling protein EIN2. In addition to the well-characterized role of MtSkl1 in rhizobial symbiosis, we show that MtSkl1 is involved in regulating early phases of the symbiotic interaction with mycorrhizal fungi, and in mediating root responses to cytokinin. MtSkl1 also functions in the defense against Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora medicaginis, with the latter interaction likely to involve positive feedback amplification of ethylene biosynthesis. Overexpression of the C-terminal domain of MtEIN2 is sufficient to block nodulation responses, consistent with previous reports in Arabidopsis on the activation of ethylene signaling. This same C-terminal region is uniquely conserved throughout the EIN2 homologs of angiosperms, which is consistent with its role as a higher plant-specific innovation essential to EIN2 function.
Executive dysfunction in substance dependent individuals during drug use and abstinence: An examination of the behavioral, cognitive and emotional correlates of addiction

Increasing evidence indicates that substance-dependent individuals (SDI) are impaired in executive control tasks relying on different systems within the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Three different functional systems have been described: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) circuits. Dysfunction within each PFC system is associated with different behavioral, cognitive, and emotional abnormalities. Few studies have conducted an exhaustive examination of all these different factors in SDI. In this study, SDI (including alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine polysubstance users, n = 35) were compared with healthy controls (n = 36) on a series of behavioral (Frontal Systems Behaviour Scale, FrSBe), cognitive (N-back, Go-No Go, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Tasks), and emotional (International Affective Picture System, IAPS) tasks, each of which was thought to tax a different component of these PFC functional systems. SDI showed greater behavioral problems in the apathy, disinhibition, and executive dysfunction subscales of the FrSBe. Behavioral deficits were significantly associated with several real-life domains in which SDI typically have problems. SDI also showed poorer performance on cognitive tests of working memory, response inhibition and mental flexibility, and abnormal processing of affective images from the IAPS. Cognitive, behavioral, and emotional measures were moderately correlated.This study was conducted in the Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA (JINS, 2006, 12, 405–415.)
An examination of the relationship between primary school students environmental awareness and basic science process skills

The aim of the research was to examine the relationship between primary school students’ environmental awareness and basic science process skills based on various variances. Within relational research model, the research was conducted with 332 grade 3 and 4 students. Primary School Environmental Awareness Scale and Basic Skills Scale were used to collect data. Demographic features were employed to determine the students’ educational level, gender and class. In light of the results, the significant relationship between their basic science skills and environmental awareness was detected. A significant difference between the total scores of life in nature and environmental awareness scale was observed in favor of female students. Any significant difference was not found between sub-dimensions and total scores of environmental awareness over class level. The type of school significantly impacted their basic science process skills and level of environmental awareness. The differences which were found were in favor of private schools for both scales. Key words: Environmental awareness, primary school, science process skills.
Relationship between vascular age and classic cardiovascular risk factors and arterial stiffness.

BACKGROUND We aimed at establishing if the substitution of vascular age (VA) for chronological age (CA) causes a change in the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) categories. Sex differences in predictors of increased VA among cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and arterial stiffness (AS) parameters were identifi ed. METHODS In 187 asymptomatic subjects with CV risk factors, classifi ed into 3 FRS categories the VA was derived from the nomograms of the carotid intima-media thickness. Two groups: 1 - subjects whose VA has exceeded CA for at least 5 years and 2 - others were established. Carotid AS parameters were obtained from echo-tracking. RESULTS Substitution of VA for CA changed the FRS category into the higher one in 11.8% of subjects. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was the predictor of increased VA in both sexes, while metabolic syndrome (MS) only in women. The cut-off values of AS parameters that allow for prediction of increased VA were determined from the ROC-curve analysis - in men: b > 7.3, Ep > 103 kPa, AC < 0.61 mm2/kPa after adjustment for DM, BMI > 29.1 kg/m2, WHR > 0.85 and CA > 51 years; in women: b > 9.6, Ep > 126 kPa, AC < 0.75 mm2/kPa, PWV-b > 7.4 m/s after adjustment for DM, BMI > 25.8 kg/m2, WHR > 0.80 and CA > 60 years. CONCLUSIONS The substitution of VA for CA may increase the FRS category. Sex differences in predictors of increased VA were identifi ed. AS parameters proved to be predictors of increased VA besides the classic risk factors.
Black girls speak STEM: Counterstories of informal and formal learning experiences

This study presents the interpretations and perceptions of Black girls who participated in I AM STEM – a community-based informal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program. Using narrative inquiry, participants generated detailed accounts of their informal and formal STEM learning experiences. Critical race methodology informed this research to portray the dynamic and complex experiences of girls of color, whose stories have historically been silenced and misrepresented. The data sources for this qualitative study included individual interviews, student reflection journals, samples of student work, and researcher memos, which were triangulated to produce six robust counterstories. Excerpts of the counterstories are presented in this article. The major findings of this research revealed that I AM STEM ignited an interest in STEM learning through field trips and direct engagement in scientific phenomena that allowed the girls to become agentic in continuing their engagement in STEM activities throughout the year. This call to awaken the voices of Black girls to speak casts light on their experiences and challenges as STEM learners ⎯ from their perspectives. The findings confirm that when credence and counterspaces are given to Black girls, they are poised to reveal their luster toward STEM learning. This study provided a space for Black girls to reflect on their STEM learning experiences, formulate new understandings, and make connections between the informal and formal learning environments within the context of their everyday lives, thus offering a more holistic approach to STEM learning that occurs across settings and over a lifetime.
Why is Santa so kind to hedge funds? The December return puzzle!

Hedge fund managers are compensated by incentive fees and the investors’ money flows into hedge funds are based on their prior performance. These provide managers with both explicit and implicit incentives to improve performance as the year draws to a close. Consistent with this, we document that the average returns during December are two-and-a-half times their average returns during the rest of the year. We find that this December spike cannot be fully explained by increase in the funds’ risk exposures, or by higher factor risk premiums, or by funds’ free-riding on end-of-year gaming by mutual funds. Our results suggest that this spike arises due to funds potentially managing their returns upwards in December. This spike seems to be achieved by (i) adding back in December the under-reported returns during earlier months of the year, and (ii) by borrowing from future returns. We find that the spike is more pronounced among funds whose incentive fee contracts are near-the-money and whose performance lags their peers, indicating that incentives may be driving the return management behavior.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Somatic Cells

Somatic cell nuclear transfer allows trans-acting factors present in the mammalian oocyte to reprogram somatic cell nuclei to an undifferentiated state. We show that four factors (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, and LIN28) are sufficient to reprogram human somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells that exhibit the essential characteristics of embryonic stem (ES) cells. These induced pluripotent human stem cells have normal karyotypes, express telomerase activity, express cell surface markers and genes that characterize human ES cells, and maintain the developmental potential to differentiate into advanced derivatives of all three primary germ layers. Such induced pluripotent human cell lines should be useful in the production of new disease models and in drug development, as well as for applications in transplantation medicine, once technical limitations (for example, mutation through viral integration) are eliminated.
Task maps in humanoid robot manipulation

This paper presents an integrative approach to solve the coupled problem of reaching and grasping an object in a cluttered environment with a humanoid robot. While finding an optimal grasp is often treated independently from reaching to the object, in most situations it depends on how the robot can reach a pregrasp pose while avoiding obstacles. We tackle this problem by introducing the concept of task maps which represent the manifold of feasible grasps for an object. Rather than defining a single end-effector goal position, a task map defines a goal hyper volume in the task space. We show how to efficiently learn such maps using the rapidly exploring random tree algorithm. Further, we generalise a previously developed motion optimisation scheme, based on a sequential attractor representation of motion, to cope with such task maps. The optimisation procedure incorporates the robotpsilas redundant whole body controller and uses analytic gradients to jointly optimise the motion costs (including criteria such as collision and joint limit avoidance, energy efficiency, etc.) and the choice of the grasp on the manifold of valid grasps. This leads to a preference of grasps which are easy to reach. The approach is demonstrated in two reach-grasp simulation scenarios with the humanoid robot ASIMO.
The Near-Infrared Number Counts and Luminosity Functions of Local Galaxies

This study presents a wide-field near-infrared (K-band) survey in two fields: SA 68 and Lynx 2. The survey covers an area of 0.6 deg2, complete to K = 16.5. A total of 867 galaxies are detected in this survey of which 175 have available redshifts. The near-infrared number counts to K = 16.5 mag are estimated from the complete photometric survey and are found to be in close agreement with other available studies. The sample is corrected for incompleteness in redshift space, using selection function in the form of a Fermi-Dirac distribution. This is then used to estimate the local near-infrared luminosity function (IRLF) of galaxies. A Schechter fit to the infrared data gives M*K=-25.1±0.3, α = -1.3 ± 0.2, and ϕ* = (1.5 ± 0.5) × 10-3 Mpc-3 (for H0 = 50 km s-1 Mpc-1 and q0 = 0.5). When reduced to α = -1, this agrees with other available estimates of the local IRLF. We find a steeper slope for the faint end of the infrared luminosity function when compared to previous studies. This is interpreted as being due to the presence of a population of faint but evolved (metal-rich) galaxies in the local universe. However, it is not from the same population as the faint blue galaxies found in the optical surveys. The characteristic magnitude (M*K) of the local IRLF indicates that the bright red galaxies (MK ~ -27 mag) have a space density of ≤5 × 10-5 Mpc-3 and, hence, are not likely to be local objects.
مراجعة كتاب الإطار المرجعي الأوروبي المشترك للغات: دراسة، تدريس، تقييم / The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment

الإطار المرجعي الأوروبي المشترك للغات ويرمز له اختصارا ب: ) CEFR (، هو وثيقة أعدها مجلس أوروباضمن مشروع «تعلم اللغات من أجل المواطنة الأوروبية » بين عامي 1989 و 1996 م. وصدرت الطبعةالإنجليزية عام 2000 ، وقد أوصى مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي، في نوفمبر 2001 ، باستخدام ) CEFR ( لإقامةنظم التحقق من القدرة اللغوية. وقد نشرت الطبعة العربية الأولى منه عام 2008 م مترجمة عن الطبعةالألمانية الصادرة عام 2001 م، وقد صدرت عن تعاون بين معهد جوتة ودار إلياس للطباعة والنشر بالقاهرةويقع الكتاب في 264 صفحة من القطع الكبير ويحمل رقم 4- 313 - 304 - ISBN 977 . وهذا الكتابيمكن اعتباره من نوع الكتب «الأدلة » التي يرجع إليها العاملون في حقل تعليم اللغات الأجنبية علىاختلاف تخصصاتهم، ومن الجدير بالذكر أن هذا الإطار الأوروبي مناظر - من حيث كونه معيار تقييم-لمعايير سابقة عليه مثل معايير معهد الخدمة الخارجية الأمريكي المسماة ILR ومعايير المجلس الأمريكيلتعليم اللغات الأجنبية Actfl والمعايير الأسترالية ) ISLPR ( وغيرها. ترجع أهمية هذا الكتاب لكونه قد صار دستور تعليم اللغات في أوروبا وفي كثير من دول العالم بما فيهامؤسسات تعليم العربية للناطقين بغيرها، حيث يستند لهذا الإطار في عمليات بناء المناهج والمواد التعليمية والتقييم اللغوي، وهذا هو السبب الرئيس الذي دفع الباحث للكتابة عنه ولتعريف المهتمين بتعليم اللغةالعربية به.
Prevalence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Background: This study evaluates the prevalence of cardiovascular events in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. Methods: We distributed surveys to 1,439 subjects from our ADPKD research database. In total, 426 subjects completed and returned surveys; 7 of these were from children and were excluded from the study. Results: The patients who responded were female (63.2%), nonHispanic (88.1%) and white (93.6%). The mean age of the total group was 53.2 ± 13.7 years; 82.8% had a family history of ADPKD and 32.5% had reached end-stage renal disease (ESRD). With respect to cardiovascular risk factors, 86.6% were hypertensive with a mean age at diagnosis of 36.9 ± 12.9 years and hypertension was significantly more prevalent in males. In addition, 19.6% of the subjects were obese, 20.8% were smokers, 8.7% had diabetes, 45.7% had high cholesterol and 17.8% were sedentary. The most prevalent self-reported cardiovascular events were arrhythmias (25.9%), evidence of peripheral vascular disease (16.5%), heart valve problems (14.4%), cardiac enlargement (9.5%), stroke or cerebral bleeding (7.5%), myocardial infarction (6%) and brain aneurysm (5.0%). The most commonly used antihypertensive medications were renin-angiotensin inhibitors used by 75% of ADPKD patients. Older ADPKD patients and those at ESRD had a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular events. Conclusion: These findings support the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and events in ADPKD patients which contribute to a greater mortality risk. Due to the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the ADPKD population, early diagnosis and clinical intervention are recommended.
Tarnishing Silver Bullets: Bt Technology Adoption, Bounded Rationality and the Outbreak of Secondary Pest Infestations in China

As with other technologies, adoption of Bt seed requires technology specific knowledge. Growing secondary pest populations have slowly eroded the benefits of Bt technology in China. We illustrate the effects of introducing Bt technology among farmers with an imperfect knowledge of secondary pest problems using a simple dynamic model. The stochastic dominance tests based on primary household data from 1999-2001 and 2004 in China provide strong evidence that secondary pests, if unanticipated, could completely erode all benefits from Bt cotton cultivation. Our empirical tests also suggest that planting refuge concurrent with Bt adoption provides for the sustainable development of Bt technology.