Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salmonella Evades d-Amino Acid Oxidase To Promote Infection in Neutrophils

ABSTRACT Neutrophils engulf and kill bacteria using oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms. Despite robust antimicrobial activity, neutrophils are impaired in directing Salmonella clearance and harbor viable intracellular bacteria during early stages of infection that can subsequently escape to more-permissive cell types. The mechanisms accounting for this immune impairment are not understood. We report that Salmonella limits exposure to oxidative damage elicited by d-amino acid oxidase (DAO) in neutrophils by expressing an ABC importer specific for d-alanine, a DAO substrate found in peptidoglycan stem peptides. A Salmonella dalS mutant defective for d-alanine import was more susceptible to killing by DAO through exposure to greater oxidative stress during infection. This fitness defect was reversed by selective depletion of neutrophils or by inhibition of DAO in vivo with a small-molecule inhibitor. DalS-mediated subversion of neutrophil DAO is a novel host-pathogen interaction that enhances Salmonella survival during systemic infection. IMPORTANCE Neutrophils engulf Salmonella during early stages of infection, but bacterial killing is incomplete. Very little is known about how Salmonella survives in neutrophils to gain access to other cell types during infection. In this study, we show that d-amino acid oxidase (DAO) in neutrophils consumes d-alanine and that importing this substrate protects Salmonella from oxidative killing by neutrophil DAO. Loss of this importer results in increased bacterial killing in vitro, in neutrophils, and in a mouse model of infection, all phenotypes that are lost upon inhibition of DAO. These findings add mechanistic insight into a novel host-pathogen interaction that has consequences on infection outcome. Neutrophils engulf Salmonella during early stages of infection, but bacterial killing is incomplete. Very little is known about how Salmonella survives in neutrophils to gain access to other cell types during infection. In this study, we show that d-amino acid oxidase (DAO) in neutrophils consumes d-alanine and that importing this substrate protects Salmonella from oxidative killing by neutrophil DAO. Loss of this importer results in increased bacterial killing in vitro, in neutrophils, and in a mouse model of infection, all phenotypes that are lost upon inhibition of DAO. These findings add mechanistic insight into a novel host-pathogen interaction that has consequences on infection outcome.
Differences in Identity Style and Process: Can Less be More

This study examines relationships between identity status and process measure scores that advance our understanding of methodological characteristics in the context of gender and age. A sample of 391 adolescents and adults (215 males, 176 females) completed the Identity Style Inventory (ISI; Berzonsky, 1992) and Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ; Balisteri, Busch-Rossnagel, & Geisinger, 1995). Two of three identity processing styles were related significantly with age; moderated by gender and status. Exploration and commitment were significantly associated with informational and normative style, respectively. The two commitment measure scores were significantly related. Informational identity style and the exploration and commitment measures increased with age. Identity diffused orientation decreased over time and was more prevalent among males. Support was limited for the stability of identity style over time. These findings, founded on a broad age range, help test assumptions regarding the role of maturation and the identity style model in particular.
Diffusion of User-Generated Content in a Social Network Structure

The instant diffusion of digital contents via the Internet, especially on portal web sites such as YouTube, is phenomenal. The large audience (demand) pool and the potential of content’s diffusion via the vast users’ network give a promising market to companies willing to distribute their digital contents online. However, not all video contents are successful. While some of the contents get instant recognition, some others simply die away getting little traffic. Thus, to get any useful implementation of social network in digital content market, it is important to understand the characteristics of the diffusion of digital contents via such networks. We gather data from YouTube to understand the role of social influence on the diffusion of user-generated content. To describe the diffusion process of user-generated content in YouTube, we adopt standard Bass diffusion model with the addition of social network component.
Message Expression Effects in Online Social Communication

Framed within the O-S-R-O-R (Orientations-Stimulus-Reasoning-Orientations-Response) communication mediation framework, this study examines the bi-directional effects of personal message expression on individuals' cognitive elaboration, message learning, and attitudes when exposed to social campaign messages in blogs (anti-drunk driving). Findings from an online-based experiment, expression of personal message (yes and no), and perceived homophily to message audiences (yes and no) revealed that expressing personal messages significantly affects the amount of cognitive effort expended by individuals and message learnt, but only slightly affects their attitudes. The role of perceived homophily varies; significantly affecting cognitive effort but with no significant effects on learning and attitude. Findings show that even though influence on individual attitudes is insignificant, simultaneously receiving and expressing a message online as compared to being mere receivers of messages may impact thinking and learning of the message, at the least.
Death Anxiety: An Empirical Test of a Blended Self Report and Projective Measurement Model

Data from a sample of 392 adults (M age=34.3) were used to empirically establish a blended psychometric and projective measurement model of overt and covert death anxiety. Two equally plausible measurement models were derived. Based on a randomly selected sample of 196, both a two-factor model, Overt Death Anxiety-Self and Covert Death Anxiety, and a three-factor, Overt Death Anxiety-Self, Overt Death Anxiety-Other, and Covert Death Anxiety, fit the data. Data from a second randomly selected subsample of 196 adults was also consistent with a two-factor measurement model, as well as a three-factor model. On the basis of parsimony, the two-factor model of death anxiety was retained for both the development and cross validation samples. Those data substantiate a view of death anxiety which suggests that is best defined in terms of its conscious (overt) and unconscious (covert) components. These components are in varying degrees interrelated and reflect the dynamic nature of death anxiety in adulthood.
Inhibition of Hypoxia-Induced Retinal Angiogenesis by Specnuezhenide, an Effective Constituent of Ligustrum lucidum Ait., through Suppression of the HIF-1α/VEGF Signaling Pathway

Specnuezhenide (SPN), one of the main ingredients of Chinese medicine “Nü-zhen-zi”, has anti-angiogenic and vision improvement effects. However, studies of its effect on retinal neovascularization are limited so far. In the present study, we established a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) secretion model of human acute retinal pigment epithelial-19 (ARPE-19) cells by exposure of 150 μM CoCl2 to the cells and determined the VEGFA concentrations, the mRNA expressions of VEGFA, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) & prolyl hydroxylases 2 (PHD-2), and the protein expressions of HIF-1α and PHD-2 after treatment of 3-(5′-hydroxymethyl-2′-furyl)-1-benzylindazole (YC-1, 1.0 μg/mL) or SPN (0.2, 1.0 and 5.0 μg/mL). Furthermore, rat pups with retinopathy were treated with SPN (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) in an 80% oxygen atmosphere and the retinal avascular areas were assessed through visualization using infusion of ADPase and H&E stains. The results showed that SPN inhibited VEGFA secretion by ARPE-19 cells under hypoxia condition, down-regulated the mRNA expressions of VEGFA and PHD-2 slightly, and the protein expressions of VEGFA, HIF-1α and PHD-2 significantly in vitro. SPN also prevented hypoxia-induced retinal neovascularization in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy in vivo. These results indicate that SPN ameliorates retinal neovascularization through inhibition of HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway. Therefore, SPN has the potential to be developed as an agent for the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Mathematics Teacher Identity: a framework for understanding secondary school mathematics teachers’ learning through practice

Abstract The United States has engaged in intensive reform efforts in school mathematics education in the decade since the publication of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ Standards for School Mathematics. This context has generated interest in how to best develop reform–oriented teachers. In this article the authors describe their thinking towards the development of a framework for the qualitative study of secondary school mathematics teachers’ learning to teach through practice. Their need for such a framework occurred in the context of their work with teachers who during their teacher preparation program participated in multiple communities where individuals shared a common goal of reforming instruction. The framework combines the following theoretical constructs: (a) Shulman's heuristic of important teacher knowledge, (b) Wenger's conception of learning as identity development in social situations, and (c) cognitive notions of thinking as residing in one's head.
It is all in the face: carotenoid skin coloration loses attractiveness outside the face

Recently, the importance of skin colour for facial attractiveness has been recognized. In particular, dietary carotenoid-induced skin colour has been proposed as a signal of health and therefore attractiveness. While perceptual results are highly consistent, it is currently not clear whether carotenoid skin colour is preferred because it poses a cue to current health condition in humans or whether it is simply seen as a more aesthetically pleasing colour, independently of skin-specific signalling properties. Here, we tested this question by comparing attractiveness ratings of faces to corresponding ratings of meaningless scrambled face images matching the colours and contrasts found in the face. We produced sets of face and non-face stimuli with either healthy (high-carotenoid coloration) or unhealthy (low-carotenoid coloration) colour and asked participants for attractiveness ratings. Results showed that, while for faces increased carotenoid coloration significantly improved attractiveness, there was no equivalent effect on perception of scrambled images. These findings are consistent with a specific signalling system of current condition through skin coloration in humans and indicate that preferences are not caused by sensory biases in observers.
Identification and Reconstruction of Complete Gait Cycles for Person Identification in Crowded Scenes

This paper addresses the problem of gait recognition in the presence of occlusions. Recognition of people using their gait has been an active research area and many successful algorithms have been presented. However to this point non of the methods addresses the problem of occlusion. Most of the current algorithms need a full gait cycle for recognition. In this paper we present a scheme for reconstruction of full gait cycles, which can be used as preprocessing step for any state-of-the-art gait recognition method. We test this on the TUM-IITKGP gait recognition database and show a significant performance gain in the case of occlusions.
Maximum expiration activates the abdominal muscles during side bridge exercise.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have indicated that maximum expiration could be a useful way of performing challenging exercises that include coactivation of the deep and superficial abdominal muscles. However, little is known about the effect of maximum expiration on the activity of the abdominal muscles during lumbar stabilizing exercise. OBJECTIVES The purpose of our study was to quantify changes in the activities of the abdominal muscles during side bridge exercise in combination with maximum expiration. DESIGN Experimental laboratory study. METHODS The activities of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) muscles were measured using electromyography in 12 healthy men performing 3 tasks: holding the breath after maximum expiration in the prone position, holding the breath after resting expiration during side bridge exercise, and holding the breath after maximum expiration during side bridge exercise. RESULTS Significant increases in the activities of the abdominal muscles (RA, EO, and IO) occurred with maximum expiration when compared with resting expiration during side bridge exercise (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION This is the first study to demonstrate the effect of maximum expiration on abdominal muscle activities during a stabilizing exercise, thus contributing to existing knowledge about therapeutic exercise for alternative core training.
Behavioral Response Generation and Selection of Rejected-Reactive Aggressive, Rejected-Nonaggressive, and Average Status Children

ABSTRACT Examined response decision processes of rejected-reactive aggressive, rejected-nonaggressive and average children in terms of the presence or absence of behavioral response alternatives. This study is an extension of the Dodge and Coie (1987) work. In the present study, 116 third- and fourth-grade children were identified as rejected-reactive aggressive, rejected-nonaggressive, or average status on the basis of peer sociometric nominations and the Teacher Checklist of Social Behavior (Dodge & Coie, 1987). Of this sample, 75 children participated in a hypothetical situation task to assess assignment of intent and response decision processes. Congruent with previous research, rejected-reactive aggressive children made significantly more hostile attributions and generated a higher number of aggressive responses than nonaggressive peers. When presented with response alternatives, rejected-reactive aggressive children's selection of aggressive responses for hypothetical behavioral enactment declined significantly and they did not differ significantly from nonaggressive peers in their response decisions. Results are discussed in terms of developing potentially successful components for intervention programs with rejected-aggressive and rejected-nonaggressive youth.
Shape understanding: knowledge generation and learning

A method of knowledge generation as part of a shape-understanding method is presented. The proposed method of knowledge generation consists of: learning the description of new a posteriori classes, learning the concept of visual objects, and generation of the visual representation of "inner" objects. The visual concept, as part of the concept of the visual object, is expressed as a set of symbolic names that refers to possible classes of shape. The visual concept can be used to find the visual similarities between different visual objects, perform visual transformations as part of visual thinking capabilities of a system, and memorize a visual object as a symbolic representation. The knowledge obtained in the process of knowledge generation is integrated with an existing knowledge of a shape understanding system and used in the explanatory process. This system of shape understanding (SUS), that is, the implementation of the shape understanding method, is designed to imitate the visual thinking capabilities of the human visual system. The SUS consists of different types of experts that perform different processing and reasoning tasks and is designed to perform visual diagnosis in medical applications.
Beta-Amyloid Impairs Reelin Signaling

Reelin is a signaling protein increasingly associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease that relevantly modulates tau phosphorylation. We have previously demonstrated that β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) alters reelin expression. We have now attempted to determine whether abnormal reelin triggered by Aβ will result in signaling malfunction, contributing to the pathogenic process. Here, we show that reelin forms induced by β-amyloid are less capable of down-regulating tau phosphorylation via disabled-1 and GSK3β kinase. We also demonstrate that the scaffold protein 14-3-3 that increases tau phosphorylation by modulating GSK3β activity, is up-regulated during defective reelin signaling. Binding of reelin to its receptor, mainly ApoER2 in the brain, relays the signal into the cell. We associate the impaired reelin signaling with inefficiency of reelin in forming active homodimers and decreased ability to bind efficiently to its receptor, ApoER2. More remarkably, reelin from Alzheimer cortex shows a tendency to form large complexes instead of homodimers, the active form for signaling. Our results suggest that reelin expression is altered by Aβ leading to impaired reelin signaling.
Standing out and fitting in: a report on a support group for individuals with Asperger syndrome using a personal account

In this article, Andrea MacLeod, lecturer in autism studies at the University of Birmingham, and Paula Johnston, a woman with Asperger syndrome who now focuses on writing and speaking about her condition, consider the function of specialist group interventions for individuals with Asperger syndrome. These authors report on one model - a discussion and support group aimed primarily at young adults. The self-report of a former participant, a woman with Asperger syndrome, is used as a case study to illustrate issues and processes. Her report suggests that peer support and peer learning should be recognised as significant goals of such interventions and that interventions should be planned to respond to the needs that follow diagnosis. The authors suggest that clinical and educational services need to work together to ensure that children and young people have immediate access to such support models, which should be viewed as preventative therapies. This article provides evidence that first-hand accounts can offer new insights into how such interventions are experienced by those involved. Andrea MacLeod and Paula Johnston argue that future research in this area should seek to employ participatory methodologies.
Choice, Accountability, and Effortful Processing in Escalation Situations

Many studies on escalation of commitment observe only a single decision following negative feedback, although theoretical approaches to escalation behavior depict escalation as a progression over time. The present paper builds on Brockner and Rubin’s (1985) “tunnel vision” account that suggests a distinction between early and late stages of the escalation process. We used a dynamic paradigm, observing repeated decisions following negative feedback and manipulated choice and accountability in order to examine effects of justification on the progression of escalation behavior. Furthermore, reading times are used as a measure of effortful processing to investigate the mediating cognitive processes that lead to escalation behavior. Results show that the combination of choice with accountability leads to escalation behavior at later stages of the escalation process and that effortful processing mediates this interaction of choice, accountability, and escalation behavior.
Recognition of DNA interstrand cross-links of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) and its trans isomer by DNA-binding proteins.

Recognition and processing by cellular proteins of DNA modified by platinum complexes have been suggested to be relevant to the mechanism of their antitumor activity. Platinum complexes form on DNA various mono- and bifunctional adducts. It has already been described by other authors that intrastrand cross-links formed on DNA by antitumor cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) between neighboring purine residues are recognized by several DNA-binding proteins. In contrast, these proteins do not recognize the intrastrand cross-links formed on DNA by cisplatin or its clinically ineffective trans isomer (transplatin) between nonadjacent base residues. An eventuality heretofore not addressed is that DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) of platinum compounds may be recognized by and bound to DNA-binding proteins. DNA probes of 110 base pairs (bp) were constructed containing five equally spaced ICLs of cisplatin or transplatin. These ICLs were formed at specific sites at which these adducts are preferentially formed in natural DNA. Gel electrophoresis mobility shift and competition assays with these probes were used to investigate the specific recognition and binding of the calf thymus HMG1 protein to the DNA ICLs of both platinum isomers. The ICL of antitumor cisplatin was recognized by and bound to the HMG1 protein with a similar affinity as the 1,2-intrastrand d(GpG) cross-link of this drug. The protein binding to the ICL is selective for the DNA modification by cisplatin, but not by chemotherapeutically inactive transplatin. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Creating Successful Academic Programs for Chicana/o High School Migrant Students: The Role of Advocate Educators

This qualitative case study examines the educational struggles of Texas based Chicana/o high school migrant students and the noteworthy array of actions, responses, and relationship dynamics that result from the work of advocate educators. As migrant students move across our nation and enroll in high schools, they demand unique approaches that are rooted in educators' abilities to understand the migrant community and the curricular, instructional and support system needs of migrancy. Findings suggest that the participants included in this study had inherent and explicit understandings of the interplay between themselves and the Chicana/o high school migrant students they served. Likewise we also contend that they knew how to alter or circumvent detrimental schooling practices by acting as agents of change, developing alternative schooling experiences, and valuing the human resources found within the migrant educational community. The archetype of an advocate educator yields an approach and understanding that promotes an indispensable duality in serving Chicana/o high school migrant students.
Therapeutic Discovery Silencing IL-13 R a 2 Promotes Glioblastoma Cell Death via Endogenous Signaling

Glioblastomamultiforme (GBM) is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with a survival rate of only 13% to 27%within 2 years of diagnosis despite optimal medical treatment. We hypothesize that the presence of a unique IL-13Ra2 decoy receptor prevents GBM apoptosis. This receptor has a high affinity for interleukin13 (IL-13), binds the cytokine, and competitively inhibits the intracellular signaling cascade initiated by IL-13. In cells lacking the IL-13Ra2 decoy receptor, IL-13 initiates the production of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1), which has been implicated in cellular apoptosis. Our group and others have shown that induction of 15-LOX-1 correlates with tumor cell death in colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. How 15-LOX-1 induces apoptosis remains unclear. Preliminary evidence in GBM cells implicates an apoptotic process mediated by PPARg . 15-LOX-1 metabolites can modulate PPARg and activation of PPARg can suppress tumor growth. We hypothesize that in GBM, IL-13 can induce 15-LOX-1, which regulates cell apoptosis via signaling through PPARg and that expression of IL-13Ra2 prevents apoptosis and contributes to tumor growth. Our in vitro and in vivo data support this. Knocking down IL-13Ra2 with short interfering RNA dramatically induces 15-LOX-1 expression, promotes apoptosis, and reduces GBM tumor growth in vivo. These findings identify a mechanism for eliminating the blockade of endogenous IL-13 signaling and for promotion of apoptosis, and characterize a role for 15-LOX-1 in GBM apoptosis. Identifying a mechanistic pathway that can be targeted for pharmacologic intervention will have applied implications to developing novel and effective treatments of GBM. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(7); 1149–60. 2011 AACR.