Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate—induced levels of ap‐1 proteins: a 46‐kda protein immunoprecipitated by anti‐fra‐1 and induced in promotion‐resistant but not promotion‐sensitive JB6 cells

Neoplastic transformation and transcriptional activation by activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) complex are stimulated by tumor‐promoting agents in promotion‐sensitive (P+) but not promotion‐resistant (P‐) mouse epidermal JB6 cells in culture. This implicates AP‐1 as a specific regulator of signal transduction pathways in the promotion phase of neoplastic transformation. We therefore hypothesized that the defective P‐ responsiveness may be due to limiting levels of AP‐1 protein components in those cells. In this investigation, steady‐state levels of AP‐1 protein components were measured by immunoprecipitating proteins from 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA)‐treated P+ and P‐ cells to discern what may limit the AP‐1 response. Whereas the AP‐1 proteins junB, junD, and fosB did not show differential basal or TPA‐inducible levels in P+ and P‐ cells, a 46‐kDa species precipitated by anti‐fra‐1 antibody was TPA‐inducible in P‐ cells but not in P+ cells, and c‐jun protein was present at higher levels in TPA‐treated and untreated P+ cells than in P‐ cells. These data raise the possibility that the 46‐kDa fra‐1‐related protein may be a negative modulator of AP‐1 activity and suggest that elevated levels of this 46‐kDa species and limiting levels of c‐jun may significantly impair AP‐1 function or transformation response in P‐ cells or both. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ex ante assement of varietal innovations in winter pea (Pisum sativum L.): Modelling approach at the plot and farm scales

In France, areas sown in pea have been significantly decreasing since 1993. This phenomenon is mainly due to the greatly yield variability of spring pea varieties (90% of pea areas), consequences of numerous limiting factors such as compacted soil structure because of high soil water content at sowing and hydric and thermic stress during yield elaboration. New winter pea cultivars - more reactive to photoperiod and with a longer duration of frost resistant - are nowadays under selection to revive the interest of this crop. These new cultivars can be sown since the beginning of October, which should contribute to decrease both the risk of both soil compaction at sowing and, hydric and thermic stress at the end of the growth cycle. A priori, these two characteristics are should favour yield stability. However, the beginning of autumn is a busy period in farms: these new cultivars should thus not be sown in optimal conditions, without expression of the two previous advantages. Moreover, the modification of sowing period, due to the use of these new winter pea cultivars, should have consequences on nitrogen balance and water consumption of the crop. The global aim of this work was to develop a methodology to assess the agronomic and environmental interests of these new winter pea cultivars before marketing, and to determine the characteristic it should combine to guarantee these advantages. Three stages were conducted. Firstly, four experiments (2 years and 2 sites) were carried out to determine the effects of soil structure, sowing period and cultivar on growth (aerial and root) of a pea crop. Secondly, the results obtained - completed with other data bases - were used to complete and assess a dynamic pea crop model, which predicts yield, grain protein content, part of nitrogen derived from fixation, nitrogen balance and water consumption at the plot scale. Thirdly, this model was used to assess different potential candidate cultivars. In this last stage, the model was coupled with two main models. The first one was a model of work organisation at farm scale to determine the possible sowing periods for pea cultivars, considering the problems of tasks' competition in autumn. The second one was a model simulating soil structure evolution according to the soil water content to determine the risk of soil compaction under pea and the consequences on the yield. This work increased the knowledge on root system development for different sowing and soil structure conditions. A crop model for spring and winter cultivars and sowing period, which takes into account the variability of nitrogen availability and soil structure, is usable. Finally, the combined used of different models showed that the results of the assessments of potential cultivars were different depending on whether constraints at farm scale were taken into account or not. The whole work proposes to breeders potential cultivars that present agronomic and environmental interests in farm.
Radio{optically selected clusters of galaxies I. The radiogalaxy sample

In order to study the status and the possible evolution of clusters of galaxies at intermediate redshifts ($z \sim$ 0.1-0.3), as well as their spatial correlation and relationship with the local environment, we built a sample of candidate groups and clusters of galaxies using radiogalaxies as tracers of dense environments. This technique -complementary to purely optical or X-ray cluster selection methods -represents an interesting tool for the selection of clusters in a wide range of richness, so to make it possible to study the global properties of groups and clusters of galaxies, such as their morphological content, dynamical status and number density, as well as the effect of the environment on the radio emission phenomena. In this paper we describe the compilation of a catalogue of ~16 000 radio sources in the region of the South Galactic Pole extracted from the publicly available NRAO VLA Sky Survey maps, and the optical identification procedure with galaxies brighter than $b_\mathrm{J} = 20.0$ in the EDSGC Catalogue. The radiogalaxy sample, valuable for the study of radio source populations down to low flux levels, consists of 1288 identifications and has been used to detect candidate groups and clusters associated to NVSS radio sources. In a companion paper we will discuss the cluster detection method, the cluster sample as well as first spectroscopic results.
The current state of investigations regarding the thermospheric midnight temperature maximum ( MTM )

The thermospheric midnight temperature maximum (MTM) is an upper atmospheric e-ect found at low latitudes. It is accompanied by an increase in pressure and a signature poleward abatement or reversal in the meridional neutral winds. The MTM exhibits a poleward propagation away from the geographic equator with two secondary maxima developing at approximately±15◦ latitude. In this paper, we review early works and recent e-orts regarding the MTM. Outstanding questions dealing with seasonal and longitudinal dependencies of the MTM’s basic characteristics are discussed. All-sky imaging systems at Arequipa and El Leoncito observed the propagation of 6300 6 A airglow enhancements related to the MTM past 35◦S latitude. This provides useful information on the upper latitude limit of the MTM. TIEGCM modeling e-orts simulate the MTM through upward propagating semi-diurnal tides but have di8culty reproducing accurately its amplitude and occurrence time. It is suggested that the role of the terdiurnal tidal mode may be more important than previously thought. Recent comparative observation and modeling studies of MTM related 6300 6 A emission proved unsuccessful. We report that the amplitude of the modeled MTM was not strong enough to instigate the ‘midnight collapse’ of the F-region needed to produce the airglow signature. c © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Evolution of Cartesian Genetic Programs for Development of Learning Neural Architecture

Although artificial neural networks have taken their inspiration from natural neurological systems, they have largely ignored the genetic basis of neural functions. Indeed, evolutionary approaches have mainly assumed that neural learning is associated with the adjustment of synaptic weights. The goal of this paper is to use evolutionary approaches to find suitable computational functions that are analogous to natural sub-components of biological neurons and demonstrate that intelligent behavior can be produced as a result of this additional biological plausibility. Our model allows neurons, dendrites, and axon branches to grow or die so that synaptic morphology can change and affect information processing while solving a computational problem. The compartmental model of a neuron consists of a collection of seven chromosomes encoding distinct computational functions inside the neuron. Since the equivalent computational functions of neural components are very complex and in some cases unknown, we have used a form of genetic programming known as Cartesian genetic programming (CGP) to obtain these functions. We start with a small random network of soma, dendrites, and neurites that develops during problem solving by repeatedly executing the seven chromosomal programs that have been found by evolution. We have evaluated the learning potential of this system in the context of a well-known single agent learning problem, known as Wumpus World. We also examined the harder problem of learning in a competitive environment for two antagonistic agents, in which both agents are controlled by independent CGP computational networks (CGPCN). Our results show that the agents exhibit interesting learning capabilities.
Epistemological beliefs and learners in a tablet classroom

Using studies reporting evidence that a learner's personal epistemological beliefs may influence their acceptance and success in learning, this small study compares learner satisfaction with their epistemological beliefs, gender and age to investigate their adaptation to the use of new mobile technologies for learning. Very early indications from an ongoing study of a mobile tablet classroom are that this learning environment has the potential to service all students regardless of their individual characteristics.
Developing Scenario-based Serious Games for Complex Cognitive Skills Acquisition: Design, Development and Evaluation of the EMERGO Platform

Serious games are considered to provide powerful and attractive ways to acquire complex cognitive skills for education and training. But existing platforms for development of game-based e-learning often appear either not to be very user-friendly or too rigid or costly. This article addresses the design, development and evaluation of a generic platform for fast and flexible development and delivery of a wide variety of scenario-based games that enables complex cognitive skills acquisition. We present the requirements for the EMERGO platform and which common components it offers to cater for most of the needed functionalities within scenario-based games. We explain how users in various roles can use the platform to manage, develop, deliver and play a broad variety of scenario-based games. Evaluation data are presented to back up the claim that the platform indeed allows for faster, more user-friendly and less costly development and delivery of scenario-based games. Seven years after the platform has been launched, it until now has proven successful and still continues to evolve. We close off with some conclusions and needs for further development.
Collective Dynamics of Active Cytoskeletal Networks

Self organization mechanisms are essential for the cytoskeleton to adapt to the requirements of living cells. They rely on the intricate interplay of cytoskeletal filaments, crosslinking proteins and molecular motors. Here we present an in vitro minimal model system consisting of actin filaments, fascin and myosin-II filaments exhibiting pulsatile collective dynamics and superdiffusive transport properties. Both phenomena rely on the complex competition of crosslinking molecules and motor filaments in the network. They are only observed if the relative strength of the binding of myosin-II filaments to the actin network allows exerting high enough forces to unbind actin/fascin crosslinks. This is shown by varying the binding strength of the acto-myosin bond and by combining the experiments with phenomenological simulations based on simple interaction rules.
Neurotensin is a Versatile Modulator of In Vitro Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell (PDAC) Migration

Background: While the neurotensin (NT) roles in pancreatic cancer growth are well documented, its effects on pancreatic cancer cell migration have not been described. Methods: The NT-induced effects on the migration process of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells (PDACs) were characterized by means of various assays including computer-assisted video-microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, ELISA-based, small GTPase pull-down and phosphorylation assays. Results: The NT-induced modifications on in vitro PDACs migration largely depended on the extra-cellular matrix environment and cell propensity to migrate collectively or individually. While NT significantly reduced the level of migration of collectively migrating PDACs on vitronectin, it significantly increased the level of individually migrating PDACs. These effects were mainly mediated through the sortilin/NTR3 receptor. Neurotensin both induced altered expression of αV and β5 integrin subunits in PDACs cultured on vitronectin resulting in modified adhesion abilities, and caused modifications to the organization of the actin cytoskeleton through the NT-mediated activation of small Rho GTPases. While the NT effects on individually migrating PDACs were mediated at least through the EGFR/ERK signaling pathways, those on collectively migrating PDACs appeared highly dependent on the PI 3-kinase pathway. Conclusion: This study strongly suggests the involvement of neurotensin in the modulation of human PDAC migration.
Narrative in Virtual Environments - Towards Emergent Narrative

In this paper we consider the clash between the pre-scripted character of much narrative and the freedom afforded by a Virtual Environment. We discuss the concept of emergent narrative as a possible way of avoiding this clash. We examine the role of a VE user in a narrative and consider the concept of social presence as a means of reconciling the freedom of the user with the constraints of an emergent narrative.
The effect of drought stress on inbreeding depression in four populations of the Mediterranean outcrossing plant Crepis sancta (Asteraceae)

The effect of physiological stress on the magnitude of inbreeding depression in plants has been the subject of few studies and is currently controversial because of contradictory results. We measured the inbreeding depression at three drought stress levels, precisely defined by a preliminary physiological experiment. We also tested the hypothesis that more highly self-compatible populations exhibit reduced inbreeding depression due to purging of deleterious mutations. The study was conducted on two populations of the annual and allogamous plant Crepis sancta collected from the French Mediterranean region and two other populations from marginal areas with various self-incompatibility levels. Drought stress did not increase inbreeding depression in terms of plant mortality but significantly increased the inbreeding depression for the date of first flowering, number of heads per plant and relative growth rate. The most self-fertile marginal population showed an absence of inbreeding depression in most of the measured traits indicating that purging could have taken place in this population. The three others populations showed relatively low and similar estimates of inbreeding depression (δ ≈ 0.35). The relatively low values obtained compared to the results found in allogamous plants suggests that the absence of competition for C. sancta in our experiment probably underestimated the effects of inbreeding in natural populations where competition occurs.
Protective effects of the Chinese prescription Hachimi‐jio‐gan against diabetic oxidative stress

We used rats with streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes to investigate the effects of Hachimi‐jiogan on diabetic oxidative stress. Oral administration of Hachimi‐jio‐gan, at a dose of 50, 100 or 200 mg kg−1 (body weight) daily, for 10 days to rats with STZ‐induced diabetes resulted in significant dose‐dependent decreases in serum levels of glucose and glycosylated protein, implying that Hachimi‐jio‐gan improves the abnormal glucose metabolism that leads to oxidative stress. Hachimi‐jio‐gan also showed a tendency to reduce the urine volume and significantly reduced the elevated urinary protein level. Moreover, rats with STZ‐induced diabetes had high serum levels of superoxide and nitrite/nitrate. However, the administration of Hachimi‐jio‐gan dose‐dependently reduced the overproduction of radicals associated with diabetes, suggesting the role of Hachimi‐jio‐gan as a radical scavenger that could protect against diabetic oxidative stress. Furthermore, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substance levels in serum and hepatic and renal mitochondria were dose‐dependently lower in the Hachimi‐jio‐gan‐treated groups than in the control diabetic group, which implies that Hachimi‐jio‐gan would alleviate the oxidative stress associated with diabetes through the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. These results indicate that Hachimi‐jio‐gan is a potential therapeutic agent that will reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress involved in diabetes.
Optimisation of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based strategy for the detection and quantification of human herpesvirus 6 DNA in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may cause severe complications after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Monitoring this virus and providing precise, rapid and early diagnosis of related clinical diseases, constitute essential measures to improve outcomes. A prospective survey on the incidence and clinical features of HHV-6 infections after HSCT has not yet been conducted in Brazilian patients and the impact of this infection on HSCT outcome remains unclear. A rapid test based on real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been optimised to screen and quantify clinical samples for HHV-6. The detection step was based on reaction with TaqMan® hydrolysis probes. A set of previously described primers and probes have been tested to evaluate efficiency, sensitivity and reproducibility. The target efficiency range was 91.4% with linearity ranging from 10-106 copies/reaction and a limit of detection of five copies/reaction or 250 copies/mL of plasma. The qPCR assay developed in the present study was simple, rapid and sensitive, allowing the detection of a wide range of HHV-6 loads. In conclusion, this test may be useful as a practical tool to help elucidate the clinical relevance of HHV-6 infection and reactivation in different scenarios and to determine the need for surveillance.
Serum level of soluble CD30 correlates with the aggressiveness of adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma

Adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a highly aggressive disease with poor prognosis. CD30+ cells are frequently observed in lymph node cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of ATL patients. In order to elicit the role of CD30+ cells in ATL development, we investigated expression of the membrane type of CD30 (mCD30) and the soluble form of CD30 (sCD30) on ATL cells. Both mCD30 and sCD30 are expressed on various numbers of ATL cells in vivo as well as cell lines such as MT‐2, L540 and Karpas 299. The level of serum sCD30 in each clinical stage showed an elevated level in patients with acute type (mean ± standard error; 545.2 ± 18.6 U/mL) rather than with lymphoma type ATL (327.62 ± 94.85 U/mL). In four patients whose sera were stored and examined longitudinally, the levels decreased following the response to chemotherapy but not in patients with chemotherapy resistance. Thus, our results imply that sCD30 levels may be another useful marker for the activity and aggressiveness of ATL. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 810–815)
La Crosse Encephalitis Virus Infection in Field-Collected Aedes albopictus, Aedes japonicus, and Aedes triseriatus in Tennessee

Abstract La Crosse virus (LACV) is a mosquito-borne virus and a major cause of pediatric encephalitis in the USA. La Crosse virus emerged in Tennessee and other states in the Appalachian region in 1997. We investigated LACV infection rates and seasonal abundances of the native mosquito vector, Aedes triseriatus, and 2 recently introduced mosquito species, Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus, in an emerging disease focus in Tennessee. Mosquitoes were collected using multiple trapping methods specific for Aedes mosquitoes at recent human case sites. Mosquito pools were tested via reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the S segment to detect multiple Bunyamwera and California serogroup viruses, including LACV, as well as real-time RT-PCR of the M segment. A total of 54 mosquito pools were positive, including wild-caught adult females and laboratory-reared adults, demonstrating transovarial transmission in all 3 species. Maximum likelihood estimates (per 1,000 mosquitoes) were 2.72 for Ae. triseriatus, 3.01 for Ae. albopictus, and 0.63 for Ae. japonicus. We conclude that Ae. triseriatus and Ae. albopictus are important LACV vectors and that Ae. japonicus also may be involved in virus maintenance and transmission.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Noninvasive Methods of Diagnosing Hepatic Steatosis

Hepatic steatosis is the buildup of lipids within hepatocytes. It is the simplest stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It occurs in approximately 30% of the general population and as much as 90% of the obese population in the United States. It may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is a state of hepatocellular inflammation and damage in response to the accumulated fat. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard tool to diagnose and stage NAFLD. However, it comes with the risk of complications ranging from simple pain to life-threatening bleeding. It is also associated with sampling error. For these reasons, a variety of noninvasive radiological markers, including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the controlled attenuation parameter using transient elastography and Xenon-133 scan have been proposed to increase our ability to diagnose NAFLD, hence avoiding liver biopsy. The aim of this review is to discuss the utility and accuracy of using available noninvasive diagnostic modalities for fatty liver in NAFLD.