Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic structure and diversity of the selfing model grass Brachypodium stacei (Poaceae) in Western Mediterranean: out of the Iberian Peninsula and into the islands

Annual Mediterranean species of the genus Brachypodium are promising model plants for energy crops since their selfing nature and short-life cycles are an advantage in breeding programs. The false brome, B. distachyon, has already been sequenced and new genomic initiatives have triggered the de-novo genome sequencing of its close relatives such as B. stacei, a species that was until recently mistaken for B. distachyon. However, the success of these initiatives hinges on detailed knowledge about the distribution of genetic variation within and among populations for the effective use of germplasm in a breeding program. Understanding population genetic diversity and genetic structure is also an important prerequisite for designing effective experimental populations for genomic wide studies. However, population genetic data are still limited in B. stacei. We therefore selected and amplified 10 nuclear microsatellite markers to depict patterns of population structure and genetic variation among 181 individuals from 19 populations of B. stacei occurring in its predominant range, the western Mediterranean area: mainland Iberian Peninsula, continental Balearic Islands and oceanic Canary Islands. Our genetic results support the occurrence of a predominant selfing system with extremely high levels of homozygosity across the analyzed populations. Despite the low level of genetic variation found, two different genetic clusters were retrieved, one clustering all SE Iberian mainland populations and the island of Minorca and another one grouping all S Iberian mainland populations, the Canary Islands and all Majorcan populations except one that clustered with the former group. These results, together with a high sharing of alleles (89%) suggest different colonization routes from the mainland Iberian Peninsula into the islands. A recent colonization scenario could explain the relatively low levels of genetic diversity and low number of alleles found in the Canary Islands populations while older colonization events are hypothesized to explain the high genetic diversity values found in the Majorcan populations. Our study provides widely applicable information about geographical patterns of genetic variation in B. stacei. Among others, the genetic pattern and the existence of local alleles will need to be adequately reflected in the germplasm collection of B. stacei for efficient genome wide association studies.
Large Online Social Footprints--An Emerging Threat

We study large online social footprints by collecting data on 13,990 active users. After parsing data from 10 of the 15 most popular social networking sites, we find that a user with one social network reveals an average of 4.3 personal information fields. For users with over 8 social networks, this average increases to 8.25 fields. We also investigate the ease by which an attacker can reconstruct a person’s social network profile. Over 40% of an individual’s social footprint can be reconstructed by using a single pseudonym (assuming the attacker guesses the most popular pseudonym), and an attacker can reconstruct 10% to 35% of an individual’s social footprint by using the person’s name. We also perform an initial investigation of matching profiles using public information in a person’s profile.
Barriers and Facilitators to Providing Incarcerated Youth With a Quality Education

The authors aimed to compile a list of barriers and facilitators to providing incarcerated youth with a quality education. They asked 78 teachers in the juvenile justice system what they perceived to be the top 3 barriers and facilitators to providing incarcerated youth with a quality education. The authors used the constant comparative method to analyze the data, and they developed the following 9 themes: personnel concerns, academics, student concerns, discipline, materials and supplies, parental involvement, funding, communication, and facilities. These themes serve as a foundation for discussing how to improve the quality of education for incarcerated youth. The authors discuss results in terms of what teachers and administrators can do to improve the quality of education of incarcerated youth.
Development of modified siRNA molecules incorporating 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine residues to enhance cytotoxicity

Therapeutic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are composed of chemically modified nucleotides, which enhance RNA stability and increase affinity in Watson–Crick base pairing. However, the precise fate of such modified nucleotides once the siRNA is degraded within the cell is unknown. Previously, we demonstrated that deoxythymidine release from degraded siRNAs reversed the cytotoxicity of thymidylate synthase (TS)-targeted siRNAs and other TS inhibitor compounds. We hypothesized that siRNAs could be designed with specific nucleoside analogues that, once released, would enhance siRNA cytotoxicity. TS-targeted siRNAs were designed that contained 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (FdU) moieties at various locations within the siRNA. After transfection, these siRNAs suppressed TS protein and messenger RNA expression with different efficiencies depending on the location of the FdU modification. FdU was rapidly released from the siRNA as evidenced by formation of the covalent inhibitory ternary complex formed between TS protein and the FdU metabolite, FdUMP. These modified siRNAs exhibited 10–100-fold greater cytotoxicity and induced multiple DNA damage repair and apoptotic pathways when compared with control siRNAs. The strategy of designing siRNA molecules that incorporate cytotoxic nucleosides represents a potentially novel drug development approach for the treatment of cancer and other human diseases.
Human Development and Managerial Effectiveness

Managerial effectiveness can be explained from a human development point of view. Recent research links structural theories of adult development to decision making and leadership performance. The implications are far-reaching for the management development professions. Applying what is known about human development would mean major changes in goals and methods for management education in universities, management training in organizations, and the practice of organization development.
Predictors of Reminiscence: A Lifespan Perspective

ABSTRACT Age (18–81 years), sex, and personality (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to Experience) variables were used as predictors of four dimensions of reminiscence behaviour. Contrary to theoretical assumptions, age did not predict reminiscence frequency. Neither were there age differences in terms of emotional tone or philosophical content of reminiscence. Memory remoteness, however, was predicted by age. Personality traits, in contrast, were significant predictors for all four reminiscence dimensions. Finally, sex predicted reminiscence frequency. The results are discussed from a lifespan perspective. RÉSUMÉ Les variables ayant trait à l'âge (de 18 à 81 ans), au sexe et à la personnalité (extraversion, névrose, ouverture à l'expérience) ont été utilisées comme prédicteurs de quatre dimensions du comportement de réminiscence. Contrairement aux hypothèses théoriques, l'âge n'a pu déterminer la fréquence de réminiscence. Il n'existe pas non plus de différence d'âge en ce qui touche le degré d'émotivité ou le contenu philosophique de la réminiscence. Cependant, la perte de mémoire pouvait être prédite avec l'âge. Les traits de personnalité, par contre, représentaient des prédicteurs importants pour les quatre dimensions de la réminiscence. Finalement, le sexe pouvait influencer la fréquence de la réminiscence. Les résultats sont discutés en fonction de l'espérance de vie.
The Anticancer Drug Cisplatin Interacts with the Human Erythrocyte Membrane

Drugs which exert their effects by interacting with DNA cause structural and functional membrane alterations which may be essential for growth inhibition by these agents. This paper describes the interaction of cisplatin with the human erythrocyte membrane and models constituted by bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) and diacylphosphatidylserine (DAPS), representative of phospholipid classes located in the inner monolayer of the erythrocyte membrane, and of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), a class present in its outer monolayer. Cisplatin ability to perturb DMPE, DAPS and DMPC bilayer structures was determined by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectroscopy. Electron microscopy disclosed that human erythrocytes incubated with 35 μм cisplatin, which is its therapeutical concentration in serum, developed cup-shaped forms (stomatocytes). According to the bilayer couple hypothesis, this means that the drug is inserted into the inner monolayer of the erythrocyte membrane, a conclusion supported by the studies on model systems.
Actions of Sympathomimetic Amines on the Ca2+ Transients and Contractions of Rabbit Myocardium: Reciprocal Changes in Myofibrillar Responsiveness to Ca2+ Mediated Through α‐ and β‐Adrenoceptors

The effects of Sympathomimetic amines on Ca2+ transients and isometric contractions were assessed in isolated rabbit papillary muscles in which multiple superficial cells had been microinjected with the calcium-sensitive bioluminescent protein aequorin. In the presence of β-adrenoceptor blockade, the α-receptor agonist phenylephrine increased both the amplitude of the aequorin signals and the force of contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the maximum increase in the aequorin signals was less than 10% of that produced by the β-receptor agonist isoproterenol, while the maximum increase in force of contraction produced by α-stimulation was about 50% of that elicited via β-adrenoceptors. For a given increase in the force of contraction, stimulation of α-adrenoceptors produced much less change in the amplitude of the aequorin signals than did elevation of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration; we interpret this to mean that the positive inotropic effect of α-adrenoceptor stimulation is in large part the result of an increase in myofibrillar sensitivity to Ca2+. Stimulation of α-adrenoceptors produced little change or a slight decrease in the duration of the aequorin signal and an increase in the duration of contraction, while stimulation of β-adrenoceptors significantly decreased the time to peak and duration of both the aequorin signals and the contractions. For a given level of inotropic effect, high concentrations of isoproterenol often increased the aequorin signals more than did elevations of Ca2+, which is consistent with other evidence that the cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of troponin I leads to a decrease in myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity. However, concentrations of isoproterenol that did not produce evidence of this sort of desensitization also abbreviated the contractions much more than they did the aequorin signals. This suggests that the traditionally accepted mechanisms — a decrease in the Ca2+ affinity of troponin C and an acceleration of Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum — may not be sufficient to account for the actions of β-receptor stimulation on the time course of contraction. In the absence of blocking agents, the naturally occurring catecholamines norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine appear to influence the function of the rabbit papillary muscle through both α- and β-adrenoceptors. Dopamine has a relatively greater effect on α-adrenoceptors than the other catecholamines.
The effect of cash and other financial inducements on the response rate of general practitioners in a national postal study.

BACKGROUND Low response rates are acknowledged as a potential source of bias in survey results. Response rates are a particular problem in surveys of GPs. Thus, the methods used to encourage response to mailed surveys and the influence of inducements in maximizing response rates are fundamental issues to be examined when addressing the problem of response bias. AIM To increase the overall response rate to a national study of GPs and to explore the effects of financial and non-financial inducements on response rates. METHODS Two mailing waves of a postal questionnaire to a 20% random sample of all GPs in England and Wales had achieved a 33% response rate. For the third mailing wave, the non-responding GPs were then divided into a control group, a group who were offered a donation to charity to complete the questionnaire and a group who were offered cash. The charity and cash groups were further subdivided into 5 pounds and 10 pounds groups to assess the effect of the size of the inducement offered. For the control group, a fourth wave was sent the offer of a 5 pounds or 10 pounds incentive. RESULTS Response was positively affected by the offer of an inducement. Cash, however, had a more substantial effect than the offer of a donation to charity. Older GPs were less likely to participate overall, whereas male GPs were more likely to respond to a cash inducement. Doctors who had seen more patients were less likely to reply earlier and were more likely to respond to the offer of cash. CONCLUSIONS Primary care is going through many changes, some of which have increased the workload of the GP. It may now be that, to achieve the response rates needed to validate policy-related research, the offer of inducements will become a necessary part of the research process.
Exploring and Implementing Participatory Action Synthesis

This article presents participatory action synthesis as a new approach to qualitative synthesis which may be used to facilitate the promotion and use of qualitative research for policy and practice. The authors begin by outlining different forms of qualitative research synthesis and then present participatory action synthesis, a collaborative approach to data analysis, synthesis, interpretation and knowledge construction, enabling individual data generation and its analysis to be offered for communal analysis. The principles and practice of participatory action synthesis are presented prior to a short case study which illustrates how it has been used to date. The final section of the article outlines the challenges and opportunities of this approach, suggesting that it can facilitate the raising of the profile of qualitative synthesis among the disciplines.
A Sea-Floor Spreading Event Captured by Seismometers

Two-thirds of Earth's surface is formed at mid-ocean ridges, yet sea-floor spreading events are poorly understood because they occur far beneath the ocean surface. At 9°50'N on the East Pacific Rise, ocean-bottom seismometers recently recorded the microearthquake character of a mid-ocean ridge eruption, including precursory activity. A gradual ramp-up in activity rates since seismic monitoring began at this site in October 2003 suggests that eruptions may be forecast in the fast-spreading environment. The pattern culminates in an intense but brief (∼6-hour) inferred diking event on 22 January 2006, followed by rapid tapering to markedly decreased levels of seismicity.
Mesocorticolimbic Glutamatergic Pathway

The mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system plays important roles in reward, motivation, learning, memory, and movement. This system arises from the A10 region, comprising the ventral tegmental area and three adjacent midline nuclei (caudal linear nucleus, interfascicular nucleus, and rostral linear nucleus of the raphe). DAergic and GABAergic neurons are intermingled in this region with recently discovered glutamatergic neurons expressing the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2). Here, we show by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry that there are two subpopulations of neurons expressing VGluT2 mRNA in the A10 region: (1) a major subpopulation that expresses VGluT2 but lacks tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; VGluT2-only neurons), present in each nucleus of the A10 region, and (2) a smaller subpopulation that coexpresses VGluT2 and TH (VGluT2-TH neurons). By quantitative real-time PCR, we determined the mRNA copy numbers encoding VGluT2 or TH in samples of individual microdissected TH immunoreactive (IR) neurons. Data from both in situ hybridization and from mRNA quantification showed that VGluT2 mRNA is not present in every TH-IR neuron, but restricted to a subset of TH-IR neurons located in the medial portion of the A10 region. By integration of tract tracing, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, we found that VGluT2-only neurons and VGluT2-TH neurons each innervate both the prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens. These findings establish that in addition to the well-recognized mesocorticolimbic DA-only and GABA-only pathways, there exist parallel mesocorticolimbic glutamate-only and glutamate-DA pathways.
Critical discourse analysis and internet research

Abstract Many institutions have taken advantage of the proliferation of computer mediated communication networks (CMCs) to improve communication between members and/or interested individuals by establishing online discussion groups or listservs. Once established, the virtual communities that form around CMCs can often provide an increased sense of a participatory democracy. However, for authorities who manage these listservs, they can present new modes of governance that manifest themselves in the discursive practices revealed in online dialogue. Therefore, a new imperative has emerged for discourse analysts to develop a ‘toolkit’ designed to deconstruct these distinctive texts that are the artefacts of virtual discussion groups. This article explores the methodological issues that emerge when applying CDA (Critical Discourse Analysis) to a particular set of online texts through a critical evaluation of Fairclough's (2003) model of interdiscursive analysis. The virtual context in which this analysis occurs is the FRAMEWORK listserv, established and monitored by Education Queensland to assist in implementing the New Basics Trial in a selection of state schools. The results from this application of CDA are discussed with reference to some discursive practices observed in virtual communities. The implications of these research findings are explored in relation to the broader context of educational governance.
The civic-social media disconnect: exploring perceptions of social media for engagement in the daily life of college students

The emergence of social media tools and technologies to facilitate daily information and communication needs has called into question the relationship between these new spaces and traditional formulations of engagement in daily life. Recent scholarship has exposed both the newfound connectivity that social networks provide, and at the same time questioned the value of these spaces for meaningful participation in social and civic life. This study attempts to provide an insight into the perceptions of young adults toward their social media habits and dispositions. In the 2010/2011 academic year, a survey was administered to over 800 university students, asking about their social media habits across six categories: news, politics, privacy, leisure, education, and relationships. Additionally, focus groups conducted with 71 study participants explored how students saw the role of social media in their personal and civic lives. The results show a population that increasingly uses social media spaces and for all information and communication needs, but that conceptualizes these platforms as primarily social outlets. The emerging disconnects located in the survey and focus group exploration recommends further inquiry into how social media can be positioned as an inclusive tool for engagement in daily life.
Effects of Personality Types on the Use of Television Genre

This study examined the role of three personality characteristics, Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism (PEN), on viewers' level of attention to five different genres of television programming: news, soap operas, reality shows, talk shows, and crime dramas. A survey of 381 college students showed psychoticism to be negatively related to attention to news and reality show programming. There was a positive relationship between extraversion and attention to reality programming. Finally, neuroticism was positively associated with attention to all genres assessed. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.
Individual Differences in the School Performance of 2nd-Grade Children Born to Low-Income Adolescent Mothers: Findings From an 8-year Longitudinal Study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that contribute to individual differences in the school performance of 2nd-grade children born to adolescent mothers. The sample for this study was 90 low-income adolescent mothers and their children. Data were collected from the adolescent mothers and their first-born children, now in 2nd grade, by interviewing the mothers and assessing the children at home and in the classroom. The paraprofessional family advocates who provided services to the families also assessed the parenting practices of the adolescent mothers. The children's school performance in 2nd grade relative to their peers was rated by their teachers at the end of the year in three different areas: social adjustment, academic performance, and academic motivation. Results showed that early home environment and parenting skills predicted children's social adjustment at the end of 2nd grade, and the relation was mediated by receptive vocabulary at 54 months, academic performance at the beginning of school entry, and social adjustment in 1st grade. Similar results were obtained when academic achievement and academic motivation were the outcomes of interest. Children who lived in a more supportive home environment during the preschool years were more competent prior to school entry, which in turn, predicted school performance in 1st and 2nd grade.
Larval myogenesis in Echinodermata: conserved features and morphological diversity between class‐specific larval forms of Echinoidae, Asteroidea, and Holothuroidea

The myogenesis of class‐specific larval forms of three classes belonging to the phylum Echinodermata (Echinoidae, Asteroidea, and Holothuroidea) was investigated via gross‐anatomy and comparative morphology of larval muscles. Using staining with phalloidin and antibodies against the muscle proteins, with subsequent CLSM and 3D imaging, we have examined myogenesis in the larvae from the gastrula stage to pre‐metamorphosis larval stages. We have shown that temporal and spatial expression of muscle proteins is similar in echinoidea and asteroidea larvae but differs in holothuroidea larvae at early developmental stages. New insights regarding the protein composition of maturing muscular fibrils during development in echinoderm larvae were detected. The first differentiating muscle structures in all tested classes have been found to be circular esophageal muscles that are associated with larval feeding. During early differentiation of echinoderm larval muscle cells, we observed that the expression patterns of the muscle proteins were not uniform but with a characteristic diffuse distribution, which is typical for smooth muscle. An unusual pattern of expression of the muscle proteins was detected in larval sphincters: the thick muscle proteins were first expressed during the early developmental stages, whereas F‐actin appeared at later stages. In addition, paired star‐shaped muscles were revealed in the mature Echinoidae plutei, but were absent in the Asteroidea, and Holothuroidea larvae. All tested species of Echinodermata exhibited both conserved features of muscle morphology during development indicating a common life history strategy and a planktonic habitat, and also an extensive morphological diversity representing specific anatomical adaptations during development.