Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AVP-Induced Increase in AQP2 and p-AQP2 Is Blunted in Heart Failure during Cardiac Remodeling and Is Associated with Decreased AT1R Abundance in Rat Kidney

Aim The objective was to examine the renal effects of long-term increased angiotensin II and vasopressin plasma levels in early-stage heart failure (HF). We investigated the regulations of the V2 vasopressin receptor, the type 1A angiotensin II receptor, the (pro)renin receptor, and the water channels AQP2, AQP1, AQP3, and AQP4 in the inner medulla of rat kidney. Methods HF was induced by coronary artery ligation. Sixty-eight rats were allocated to six groups: Sham (N = 11), HF (N = 11), sodium restricted sham (N = 11), sodium restricted HF (N = 11), sodium restricted sham + DDAVP (N = 12), and sodium restricted HF + DDAVP (N = 12). 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (0.5 ng h-1 for 7 days) or vehicle was administered. Pre- and post-treatment echocardiographic evaluation was performed. The rats were sacrificed at day 17 after surgery, before cardiac remodeling in rat is known to be completed. Results HF rats on standard sodium diet and sodium restriction displayed biochemical markers of HF. These rats developed hyponatremia, hypo-osmolality, and decreased fractional excretion of sodium. Increase of AQP2 and p(Ser256)-AQP2 abundance in all HF groups was blunted compared with control groups even when infused with DDAVP and despite increased vasopressin V2 receptor and Gsα abundance. This was associated with decreased protein abundance of the AT1A receptor in HF groups vs. controls. Conclusion Early-stage HF is associated with blunted increase in AQP2 and p(Ser256)-AQP2 despite of hyponatremia, hypo-osmolality, and increased inner medullary vasopressin V2 receptor expression. Decreased type 1A angiotensin II receptor abundance likely plays a role in the transduction of these effects.
A J-Like Protein Influences Fatty Acid Composition of Chloroplast Lipids in Arabidopsis

A comprehensive understanding of the lipid and fatty acid metabolic machinery is needed for optimizing production of oils and fatty acids for fuel, industrial feedstocks and nutritional improvement in plants. T-DNA mutants in the poorly annotated Arabidopsis thaliana gene At1g08640 were identified as containing moderately high levels (50-100%) of 16∶1Δ7 and 18∶1Δ9 leaf fatty acids and subtle decreases (5-30%) of 16∶3 and 18∶3 (http://www.plastid.msu.edu/). TLC separation of fatty acids in the leaf polar lipids revealed that the chloroplastic galactolipids monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) were the main lipid types affected by this mutation. Analysis of the inferred amino acid sequence of At1g08640 predicted the presence of a transit peptide, three transmembrane domains and an N-terminal J-like domain, and the gene was named CJD1 for Chloroplast J-like Domain 1. GFP reporter experiments and in vitro chloroplast import assays demonstrated CJD1 is a chloroplast membrane protein. Screening of an Arabidopsis cDNA library by yeast-2-hybrid (Y2H) using the J-like domain of CJD1 as bait identified a plastidial inner envelope protein (Accumulation and Replication of Chloroplasts 6, ARC6) as the primary interacting partner in the Y2H assay. ARC6 plays a central role in chloroplast division and binds CJD1 via its own J-like domain along with an adjacent conserved region whose function is not fully known. These results provide a starting point for future investigations of how mutations in CJD1 affect lipid composition.
Several Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serotype 4,5,12:i:− Phage Types Isolated from Swine Samples Originate from Serotype Typhimurium DT U302

ABSTRACT Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, plasmid profiling, and phage typing were used to characterize and determine possible genetic relationships between 48 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolates of pig origin collected in Catalonia, Spain, from 1998 to 2000. The strains were grouped into 23 multidrug-resistant fljB-lacking S. enterica serovar 4,5,12:i:− isolates, 24 S. enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates, and 1 S. enterica serovar 4,5,12:−:− isolate. After combining the XbaI and BlnI macrorestriction profiles (XB profile), we observed 29 distinct subtypes which were grouped into seven main patterns. All 23 of the 4,5,12:i:− serovar strains and 10 serovar Typhimurium isolates were found to have pattern AR, and similarities of >78% were detected among the subtypes. Three of the serovar Typhimurium DT U302 strains (strains T3, T4, and T8) were included in the same 4,5,12:i:− serovar cluster and shared a plasmid profile (profile I) and a pattern of multidrug resistance (resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamide, tetracycline, gentamicin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) commonly found in monophasic isolates. This led us to the conclusion that strains of the S. enterica 4,5,12:i:− serovar might have originated from an S. enterica serovar Typhimurium DT U302 strain.
Development of a contextual thinking engine in mobile devices

This paper introduces a framework of contextual thinking in mobile devices. It is based on real-time sensing of local time, significant locations, location-dwelling states, and user states to infer significant activities. A significant activity is a well-defined activity to be inferred, for example, waiting for a bus, having a meeting, working in office, taking a break in a coffee shop et al. A significant location is defined as a geofence, which can be a node associated with a circle, or a polygon. A location-dwelling state is defined as enter into a significant location, the location-dwelling duration, or exit from a significant location. A user state is a combination of user mobility states, user actions, user social states and event psychological states. With this initial study, we just focus on the user motion states including static, slow walking, walking and fast moving that can be fast walking or driving. However, the framework and the activity inference algorithm are flexible for adopting other user states in the future. Using the measurements of the built-in sensors and radio signals in mobile devices, we can capture a snapshot of a contextual tuple for every second, which includes a time tag, an ID of a significant location, a location-dwelling duration, and a user state. The sequence of contextual tuples is used as the inputs for inferring the user significant activities. The contextual thinking engine will evaluate the posteriori probability of each significant activity for each given contextual tuple using a Bayesian approach. An "un-defined" activity is adopted to cover all activities other than the selected significant activities. A prototype of the contextual thinking engine has been developed in the Geospatial Computing Lab at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. A test environment was setup on the campus. Six significant activities were defined and tested by two different testers for three days using two different smartphones. These significant activities include: 1) working in an office; 2) having a meeting; 3) having a lunch, 4) having a coffee break, 5) visiting the library, and 6) waiting for a bus. An "un-defined" activity was included to cover all activities other than the selected significant activities. The inferred activities were then compared with the labeled activities to assess the performance of the contextual thinking engine. We demonstrated that the success rate of inference was more than 90% on average. We recognized that the positioning accuracy plays a significant role in the inference algorithm because it has direct impact to two elements in the contextual tuple: the significant location and the location-dwelling duration.
Butyrophilin 3 A 1 Plays an Essential Role in Prenyl Pyrophosphate Stimulation of Human V g 2 V d 2 T Cells

Most human gd T cells express Vg2Vd2 TCRs and play important roles in microbial and tumor immunity. Vg2Vd2 T cells are stimulated by self-and foreign prenyl pyrophosphate intermediates in isoprenoid synthesis. However, little is known about the molecular basis for this stimulation. We find that a mAb specific for butyrophilin 3 (BTN3)/CD277 Ig superfamily proteins mimics prenyl pyrophosphates. The 20.1 mAb stimulated Vg2Vd2 T cell clones regardless of their functional phenotype or developmental origin and selectively expanded blood Vg2Vd2 T cells. The gd TCR mediates 20.1 mAb stimulation because IL-2 is released by b 2 Jurkat cells transfected with Vg2Vd2 TCRs. 20.1 stimulation was not due to isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) accumulation because 20.1 treatment of APC did not increase IPP levels. In addition, stimulation was not inhibited by statin treatment, which blocks IPP production. Importantly, small interfering RNA knockdown of BTN3A1 abolished stimulation by IPP that could be restored by re-expression of BTN3A1 but not by BTN3A2 or BTN3A3. Rhesus monkey and baboon APC presented HMBPP and 20.1 to human Vg2Vd2 T cells despite amino acid differences in BTN3A1 that localize to its outer surface. This suggests that the conserved inner and/or top surfaces of BTN3A1 interact with its counterreceptor. Although no binding site exists on the BTN3A1 extracellular domains, a model of the intracellular B30.2 domain predicts a basic pocket on its binding surface. However, BTN3A1 did not preferentially bind a photoaffinity prenyl pyrophosphate. Thus, BTN3A1 is required for stimulation by prenyl pyrophos-phates but does not bind the intermediates with high affinity. U nconventional T cells, such as gd T cells, ab iNKT cells, and mucosal-associated invariant ab T cells, have distinct recognition properties. Conventional CD8 and CD4 T cells use diverse ab TCRs to recognize foreign and self-peptides presented by MHC class I and class II molecules. The peptides are derived from proteins and loaded into MHC molecules through distinct intracellular processing and loading pathways. The number of ab T cells recognizing a particular peptide– MHC complex is generally very low such that expansion of re-active cells is required to mount effective T cell immunity. In contrast, gd TCRs recognize nonpeptide compounds or self-cell surface molecules. Humans and mice have limited numbers of Vg and Vd gene segments, and many gd TCRs exhibit limited or no junctional diversity. Thus, although gd T cells constitute a minor subpopulation among human and murine T cells, the actual precursor frequencies for …
Firm-Manager Matching and the Costs and Benefits of Hiring an Accounting Expert CFO *

Prior papers provide evidence that CFO accounting expertise can improve firm financial reporting outcomes. However, there is limited evidence of the costs, if any, associated with accounting expertise. In this paper, we examine the firm and industry characteristics associated with hiring accounting expert CFOs to provide evidence on the costs and benefits to firms that hire accounting expert CFOs. Our findings suggest that acquiring accounting expertise requires a trade-off in terms of acquiring other skills and knowledge (e.g., operational knowledge) and, consistent with this trade-off, the firm’s hiring decisions are a function of its needs for accounting vs. non-accounting related expertise. We also find that firms change their organizational structure to compensate for these trade-offs, consistent with managerial expertise influencing the composition of the top management team. The results of several additional tests provide additional validation of our interpretation of the findings. * We thank Wayne Guay (editor), an anonymous reviewer, Joe Schroeder (AAA discussant), workshop participants at Cornell University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Iowa State University, Louisiana State University, The Ohio State University and University of Colorado – Boulder, as well as Lucile Faurel and Zhejia Ling for helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. Ge and Matsumoto thank the Moss Adams Professorship and the Gerhard Mueller Professorship, respectively, at the University of Washington for financial support.
Neighborhood Safety and Major Depressive Disorder in a National Sample of Black Youth; Gender by Ethnic Differences

Adolescence is a developmental period marked by increased stress, especially among Black youth. In addition to stress related to their developmental transition, social factors such as a perceived unsafe neighborhood impose additional risks. We examined gender and ethnic differences in the association between perceived neighborhood safety and major depressive disorder (MDD) among a national sample of Black youth. We used data from the National Survey of American Life - Adolescents (NSAL-A), 2003–2004. In total, 1170 Black adolescents entered the study. This number was composed of 810 African American and 360 Caribbean Black youth (age 13 to 17). Demographic factors, perceived neighborhood safety, and MDD (Composite International Diagnostic Interview, CIDI) were measured. Logistic regressions were used to test the association between neighborhood safety and MDD in the pooled sample, as well as based on ethnicity by gender groups. In the pooled sample of Black youth, those who perceived their neighborhoods to be unsafe were at higher risk of MDD (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.25; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.02-1.51). The perception that one’s neighborhood is unsafe was associated with a higher risk of MDD among African American males (OR=1.41; 95% CI = 1.03–1.93) but not African American females or Caribbean Black males and females. In conclusion, perceived neighborhood safety is not a universal psychological determinant of MDD across ethnic by gender groups of Black youth; however, policies and programs that enhance the sense of neighborhood safety may prevent MDD in male African American youth.
A Semi-Analytical Approach for the Contact Dynamics of Ancient Columns Modeled as Rigid Blocks

The problem of conservation and protection of architectural heritage against dynamic inputs such as the case of earthquakes has represented for years an important task in the field of structural engineering with the aim of describing and understanding the behaviour of monumental structures. This work deals with monumental structures made of large and heavy stone blocks, simply supported to each other, a typical technology used to build the Greek temples. The plane dynamics of a rigid rectangular block simply supported on a horizontally moving ground, with friction and unilateral constraints at ground contact, is modeled by means of a new semi-analytical approach for non-smooth contact dynamics recently developed by one of the authors [1]. The dynamics - formulated as a contact problem governed by Signorini's and Coulomb's laws - is converted into an equivalent problem of static balance by making use of specific projective techniques in the configurations space. The procedure is then applied to a numerical model, so that a code can be implemented where the dynamics of the block is fully modeled according to the various possible mechanisms considering both phases of smooth and non-smooth contact dynamics, moreover normal and tangential contact reactions during smooth dynamics, and corresponding impulses during non-smooth, are estimated at each step. Either extended or single point contacts are then possible with consequent sliding, rocking or sliding-rocking modes, so as the possibility of impacts and also of free dynamics when contact is lost. Analyses are conduced and then compared to corresponding cases previously treated in literature, in order to validate the proposed numerical method for the rocking mode. Moreover, dynamic evolution of the block is represented graphically in order to observe different configurations at each instant of time. The goal is to understand the dynamic behaviour of the block under several input intensities in order to prevent excessive sliding or overturning and to localize with sufficient precision the position of the block after the earthquake.
Performance of Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties under Water Harvesting Technologies in the Coastal Region of Kenya

ABSTRACT The average annual rainfall in coastal Kenya is 450–700 mm per annum in most places while the total annual evapotranspiration is 1200–1800 mm. In arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), farmers grow maize varieties for medium to high rainfall zones without considering the need for water harvesting to enhance crop yield. To address the moisture constraint, a study was conducted to evaluate the performance of drought tolerant maize varieties under different water harvesting technologies (Zai pits, tied ridges and conventional). The treatments were laid out in a split - plot design with water harvesting methods as the main plots and maize varieties as the sub-plots. The response of four maize varieties (DK8031, DUMA 43, KDV1 and PH4) to three water harvesting technologies was evaluated. Variety Duma 43 produced the highest grain yield (P < 0.05) compared to the other varieties whereas yields for Zai pits and tied ridges were higher (P < 0.05) than for conventional treatment. Economic analysis revealed a higher gross margin for tied ridges than for Zai pits. Conventional planting showed a negative gross margin under the ASAL conditions. The variety DUMA 43 was selected for yield and cob size components whereas PH4 was selected for grain recovery when pounded and high stover biomass.
Soy Protein, Isoflavones, and Cardiovascular Health: A Summary of a Statement for Professionals From the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee

This editorial summarizes the recent American Heart Association (AHA) Science Advisory on soy protein and isoflavones (phytoestrogens) published in the February 21, 2006, issue of Circulation . 1 Soy protein and isoflavones have gained considerable attention for their potential role in improving risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This scientific advisory report assesses the more recent work published on soy protein and its component isoflavones. In 22 randomized trials, isolated soy protein with isoflavones compared with milk or other proteins decreased LDL cholesterol concentrations in most studies; the average effect was approximately 3%. This reduction is very small compared with the large amount of soy protein tested in these studies, averaging 50 g, approximately half the usual total daily protein intake. No significant effects were evident on HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), or blood pressure. Among 19 studies of soy isoflavones, the average effect on LDL cholesterol and other lipid risk factors was nil. Soy protein or isoflavones have not been shown to lessen vasomotor symptoms of menopause, and results are mixed regarding slowing of postmenopausal bone loss. The efficacy and safety of soy isoflavones for preventing or treating cancer of the breast, endometrium, and prostate are not established; evidence from clinical trials is meager and cautionary as regards a possible adverse effect. For this reason, use of isoflavone supplements in food or pills is not recommended. Thus, earlier research indicating that soy protein compared with other proteins has clinically important favorable effects has not enjoyed confirmation. In contrast, many soy products should be beneficial to cardiovascular and overall health because of their high content of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and low content of saturated fat. In October 1999, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved labeling for foods containing soy protein as protective against coronary heart disease.2 …
Alteration Heterogeneities in Peridotites Exhumed on the Southern Wall of the Atlantis Massif (IODP Expedition 357)

Serpentinized and metasomatized peridotites intruded by gabbros and dolerites have been drilled on the southern wall of the Atlantis Massif (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N) during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 357. They occur in seven holes from five sites making up an east-west trending, spreading-parallel profile that crosscuts this exhumed detachment footwall. Here we have taken advantage of this sampling to study heterogeneities of alteration at scales less than a kilometer. We combine textural and mineralogical observations made on 77 samples with in situ major and trace element analyses in primary and serpentine minerals to provide a conceptual model for the development of alteration heterogeneities at the Atlantis Massif. Textural sequences and mineralogical assemblages reveal a transition between an initial pervasive phase of serpentinization and subsequent serpentinization and metasomatism focused along localized pathways preferentially used by hydrothermal fluids. We propose that these localized pathways are interconnected and form 100 m- to 1 km-sized cells in the detachment footwall. This change in fluid pathway distribution is accompanied by variable trace element enrichments in the serpentine textures: deep, syn-serpentinization fluid-peridotite interactions are considered the source of Cu, Zn, As, and Sb enrichments, whereas U and Sr enrichments are interpreted as markers of later, shallower fluid-serpentinized peridotite interaction. Alteration of gabbros and dolerites emplaced in the peridotite at different lithospheric levels leads to the development of amphibole, chlorite and, or, talc-bearing textures as well as enrichments in LREE, Nb, Y, Th, Ta in the serpentine textures of the surrounding peridotites. Combining these observations, we propose a model that places the drill holes in a conceptual frame involving mafic intrusions in the peridotites and heterogeneities during progressive alteration and emplacement on the seafloor.
Latent Variable Models of Selectional Preference

This paper describes the application of so-called topic models to selectional preference induction. Three models related to Latent Dirichlet Allocation, a proven method for modelling document-word cooccurrences, are presented and evaluated on datasets of human plausibility judgements. Compared to previously proposed techniques, these models perform very competitively, especially for infrequent predicate-argument combinations where they exceed the quality of Web-scale predictions while using relatively little data.
Equity Sensitivity and Employee Retention through the Lenses of Social Exchange Theory among Specialist Doctors in Malaysia

Purpose: Specialist doctors are the indispensable human resource asset of the healthcare industry due to their unique expertise built over time. They are the industry leaders in medical research and play a crucial role in providing specialized care producing better outcomes in overall patients’ treatment. Therefore, the increasing number of specialists leaving government health services has been concerning. In this regard, most research in specialist retention has focused on individual and job factors. However, there is scant research exploring the individual differences that may influence the intention to stay of specialists. Hence, this paper looks to contribute to the literature on specialist doctors’ retention by focusing on the role of equity sensitivity. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study first establishes the problem of specialist doctors’ retention thru analysis of current reports, secondly investigates the past literature in the constructs relationship and theoretical underpinning to establish the theoretical basis and direction of this study. Proposition: This paper heeds the limited theoretical precision of social exchange theory highlighted by previous studies to further specify the distinction between hedonically positive and negative values within equity sensitivity construct and in its relations with employee retention. Implications/Originality/Value: This paper presents the theoretical ambiguity of social exchange theory suggested by prior studies in articulating the bipolarity within equity sensitivity and employee retention research and presents a proposal for the way forward from the challenges in this area of study