Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recurrent and Sporadic Listeria monocytogenes Contamination in Alheiras Represents Considerable Diversity, Including Virulence-Attenuated Isolates

ABSTRACT Microbiological characterization of alheiras, traditional smoked meat sausages produced in northern Portugal, had previously shown that more than 60% of the lots analyzed were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes at levels higher than 100 CFU/g. In order to better understand L. monocytogenes contamination patterns in alheiras, we characterized 128 L. monocytogenes isolates from alheiras using a variety of subtyping techniques (i.e., molecular serotyping; arsenic, cadmium, and tetracycline resistance typing; and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE]). Subtyping of isolates from products collected on two separate dates provided evidence for the persistence of specific L. monocytogenes PFGE types in the production and distribution chains of alheiras from four different processors. A subset of 21 isolates was further characterized using ribotyping and Caco-2 cell invasion assays to evaluate the pathogenic potential of L. monocytogenes present in alheiras. Caco-2 invasion assays revealed seven isolates with invasion efficiencies that were less than 20% of that of the control strain 10403S. All seven isolates had premature stop codons in inlA that represented three distinct mutations, which had previously been observed in isolates from the United States or France. Our findings indicate the need for a comprehensive approach to control L. monocytogenes in alheiras, including strategies to reduce persistence. The presence of considerable diversity in invasion phenotypes among L. monocytogenes strains present in alheiras, including the presence of subtypes likely to be virulence attenuated, may provide an opportunity to initially focus control strategies on the subtypes most likely to cause human disease.
fMRI Activity Patterns in Human LOC Carry Information about Object Exemplars within Category

The lateral occipital complex (LOC) is a set of areas in the human occipito-temporal cortex responding to objects as opposed to low-level control stimuli. Conventional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis methods based on regional averages could not detect signals discriminative of different types of objects in this region. Here, we examined fMRI signals using multivariate pattern recognition (support vector classification) to systematically explore the nature of object-related information available in fine-grained activity patterns in the LOC. Distributed fMRI signals from the LOC allowed for above-chance discrimination not only of the category but also of within-category exemplars of everyday man-made objects, and such exemplar-specific information generalized across changes in stimulus size and viewpoint, particularly in posterior subregions. Object identity could also be predicted from responses of the early visual cortex, even significantly across the changes in size and viewpoint used here. However, a dissociation was observed between these two regions of interest in the degree of discrimination for objects relative to size: In the early visual cortex, two different sizes of the same object were even better discriminated than two different objects (in accordance with measures of pixelwise stimulus similarity), whereas the opposite was true in the LOC. These findings provide the first evidence that direct evoked fMRI activity patterns in the LOC can be different for individual object exemplars (within a single category). We propose that pattern recognition methods as used here may provide an alternative approach to study mechanisms of neuronal representation based on aspects of the fMRI response independent of those assessed in adaptation paradigms.
Perceptual changes in the anterior maxilla after placement of endosseous implants.

BACKGROUND The innervation of skin and oral mucosa plays a major physiologic role in exteroception. It is also of interest clinically, as illustrated by sensory changes after neurosurgical procedures. PURPOSE The goal of this study was to assess the perception of mechanical stimuli applied to the anterior maxilla in denture wearers and subjects rehabilitated with osseointegrated implants compared with that in subjects with a natural dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five groups of subjects were selected and tested in the maxillary region only. Test groups included patients with a complete denture, an implant-supported fixed prosthesis (full or partial), or a single-tooth replacement. Light-touch sensation and two-point discrimination were performed on the buccal side of the alveolar mucosa and vibrotactile function was determined for natural teeth, full dentures, or implant-supported prostheses. RESULTS For light-touch sensation, no significant differences could be found between the groups. For two-point discrimination, full-denture patients showed higher threshold levels than the other groups. The threshold levels for vibrotactile function were higher in both full dentures and implant-supported prostheses compared with natural dentitions. CONCLUSION Natural dentitions offer superior vibrotactile function compared to any other dental status. Full dentures often show a stronger deterioration of the (vibro)tactile function compared with implant-supported prostheses.
Impossible or Improbable

Prior research has investigated children’s ability to distinguish between possible and impossible events in our own world, but relatively little empirical research has investigated adults’ intuitions about the boundaries or limitations of imaginary worlds. Here, we presented participants with brief scenarios that were either Morally Deviant, Factually Unlikely, or Conceptually Contradictory. Participants rated how easy it was for them to imagine a world in which each description held true and assessed whether such a world was improbable or impossible. Worlds in which morality operates differently were significantly harder to imagine than worlds that contained unlikely events and significantly easier to imagine than worlds that contained inherent conceptual contradictions. When forced to choose whether Morally Deviant worlds were impossible or improbable, a significant majority of individuals classified them as improbable; however, among individuals who rated these worlds as maximally difficult to imagine, they were seen as impossible.
Evaluating the performance of Automated Text Scoring systems

Various measures have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of automated text scoring (ATS) systems with respect to a human gold standard. However, there is no systematic study comparing the efficacy of these metrics under different experimental conditions. In this paper we first argue that measures of agreement are more appropriate than measures of association (i.e., correlation) for measuring the effectiveness of ATS systems. We then present a thorough review and analysis of frequently used measures of agreement. We outline desirable properties for measuring the effectiveness of an ATS system, and experimentally demonstrate using both synthetic and real ATS data, that some commonly used measures (e.g., Cohen’s kappa) lack these properties. Finally, we identify the most appropriate measures of agreement and present general recommendations for best evaluation practices.
Task Rule-Congruency and Simon-Like Effects in Switching between Spatial Tasks

In task switching, a response indicated as correct by both task rules is executed more quickly than one for which the rules disagree. This rule-congruency, so far demonstrated unequivocally only in nonspatial tasks, shows that the currently irrelevant task set is kept active. However, in spatial task-switching, rule-congruency could potentially reflect a preexperimental tendency that contributes to a Simon-like effect. In the present study, participants switched between RIGHT–LEFT and UP–DOWN tasks with either a standard key arrangement (e.g., upper key = UP) or a mapping-reversed arrangement (e.g., up = DOWN), which reverses the direction of the potential Simon-like effect but leaves potential rule-congruency effects unchanged. Mapping-reversal did not modulate any other effect, including rule-congruency, and therefore indicated rule-congruency unequivocally. Finally, implications concerning generality versus domain specificity of control processes in task switching are discussed.
Qiliqiangxin Protects Against Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Activation of the mTOR Pathway

Background/Aims: Qiliqiangxin (QL) has been used for the treatment of chronic heart failure in China. Accumulating evidence suggests QL's cardio-protective effects on continuous myocardial ischemia. However, it is unclear whether QL has beneficial effects on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: A mouse model of cardiac I/R was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 minutes followed by reperfusion. The mice were treated with QL for three days before surgery and continually after I/R. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, echocardiography and Masson's trichrome staining were used to determine infarct size, cardiac function, and fibrosis, respectively. Expression levels of phospho-mTOR (Ser2448), mTOR, phospho-4EBP (Ser65), 4EBP, phospho-Akt (Ser473) and Akt were detected by Western blotting. Results: At 1 day after I/R, QL treatment significantly reduced the infarct size of mice exposed to I/R. At 7 days after I/R, mortality was reduced in QL treated animals in comparison with the control group. In addition, QL treated mice showed increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) at 1 and 7 days after I/R. In agreement, Masson's trichrome staining demonstrated that interstitial fibrosis was less pronounced in QL treated mice compared with controls, suggesting that adverse left ventricular remodeling is attenuated in QL treated mice. Moreover, western blotting analysis demonstrated that QL activated the mTOR pathway, while mTOR inhibition via Rapamycin abolished the protective effects of QL against I/R injury. Conclusion: This study suggests that QL attenuates the progression of cardiac remodeling after I/R likely via mTOR activation. This represents a new application for QL in the prevention of I/R injury.
Targeted Recruitment of Histone Modifications in Humans Predicted by Genomic Sequences

Histone modifications are important epigenetic regulators and play a critical role in development. The targeting mechanism for histone modifications is complex and still incompletely understood. Here we applied a computational approach to predict genome-scale histone modification targets in humans by the genomic DNA sequences using a set of recent ChIP-seq data. We found that a number of histone modification marks could be predicted with high accuracy. On the other hand, the impact of DNA sequences for each mark is intrinsically different dependent upon the target- and tissue-specificity. Diverse patterns are associated with different repetitive elements. Unexpectedly, we found that non-overlapping, functionally opposite histone modification marks could share similar sequence features. We propose that these marks may target a common set of loci but are mutually exclusive and that the competition may be important for developmental control. Taken together, we show that our computational approach has provided new insights into the targeting mechanism of histone modifications.
Immunotherapy of Hodgkin's lymphoma

Abstract: Many new treatment approaches have given promising results in experimental Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) models. Early clinical trials evaluating antibody based compounds as immunotoxins (ITs), radioimmunotherapy (RIT), bispecific molecules (BSMs), and recently monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), have demonstrated some clinical efficacy in patients with advanced refractory or relapsed HL. In addition, cellular immunotherapy is evolving. Although it seems unlikely to cure chemotherapy resistant patients with larger tumor masses by either of these approaches alone, the combination with conventional chemotherapy might help to overcome resistance of Hodgkin‐/Reed‐Sternberg (H‐RS) cells. Another rationale for the development of these immunotherapies is to eliminate residual disease and thereby to prevent relapses from the disease. Currently, several clinical studies are running. A murine MAb (Ki‐4) based 131 Iodine conjugate has shown efficacy in refractory HL patients in a phase II study, but less toxic constructs using alternate MAbs or isotopes should be developed. A humanized as well as a fully human anti‐CD30 MAb are being tested in clinical phase I/II studies. These MAbs could engage the human immune system against the H‐RS cells. In addition, these MAbs could be then combined with conventional chemotherapy in order to improve the treatment of HL.
Testosterone-Dependent Primer Pheromone Production in the Sebaceous Gland of Male Goat1

Abstract To test the hypothesis that the primer pheromone responsible for inducing the “male effect” is produced in the sebaceous gland androgen dependently, we examined the correlation between morphological changes of sebaceous glands and the pheromone activity in skin samples taken from castrated goats that had been treated with testosterone. Five castrated goats were implanted s.c. with testosterone capsules to maintain physiological levels of plasma testosterone for four weeks. Skin samples were obtained from the head region on Day 0 (the day of testosterone implant), Day 7, Day 14, Day 28 (the day of testosterone removal), Day 36, Day 42, and Day 56. Matched blood samples were also collected for measurement of testosterone concentration. The pheromone activity of the ether-extracts of the upper dermal layer containing sebaceous glands was assessed by its stimulatory effect on the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator, which was monitored for changes of specific multiple unit activity (MUA) in ovariectomized estradiol-primed goats as described previously. The sebaceous gland enlarged during the testosterone treatment but reduced in size after testosterone removal. The pheromone activity first appeared in 2 out of 5 goats on Day 7 and in all the 5 goats by Day 28. Fourteen days after testosterone removal (Day 42), the pheromone activity was no longer detectable in any of the 5 goats. In short, the sebaceous gland size and the pheromone activity shifted almost in parallel. The present results provide strong support for the view that the primer pheromone is produced testosterone dependently in the sebaceous gland of the male goat.
QUALITY OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS: THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES AND GENDER-ROLE ORIENTATIONS

Since the whole human population are products of the family, it may be deduced that a substantial proportion of the social-vices besieging the modern world emanate from maladaptive socialization process of the family domain. To achieve a capable and positive functioning socialization process, harmonious and healthy relationships must be ensured among and between each member of the family. Taking into consideration the overarching positive influence of valuable family relationship on healthy family lives, it is highly essential to investigate the predicting factors of good family relationships. Accordingly, this study tested whether family structures and gender role orientations would predict quality of family relationships. Ninety-eight participants who were selected using cluster sampling method from Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, completed self-report instruments comprising of Index of Family Relations (IFR), Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Personal Data Sheet (PDS). Hypotheses were tested using one-way ANOVA and multiple regressions. Findings suggest that participants from traditional marriage families reported better family relationships than those from single-parent, divorced and court/legal marriage families. Additionally, the expression of feminine traits by family members (regardless of sex) seems to account for a well knitted family relationship than the expression of the nearly feminine trait, androgynous trait and nearly masculine trait. Results were discussed in line with previous literature and it was recommended that traditional/customary marriage should not be jettisoned in the process of family formation but should be done in conjunction with court/legal marriage. Similarly, the expression of feminine traits by each family member regardless of their sex should be encouraged to forestall family conflicts and ensure good family relations.
Trust Me, Principal, or Burn Out! The Relationship Between Principals’ Burnout and Trust in Students and Parents

The purpose of this study was to determine the primary school principals’ views on trust in students and parents and also, to explore the relationships between principals’ levels of professional burnout and their trust in students and parents. To this end, Principal Trust Survey and Friedman Principal Burnout scales were administered on 119 primary school principals (F=7, M=112) working in Malatya, a city located in the eastern part of Turkey. Research results revealed that principals’ views on trust in students differ significantly in terms of school size. It was revealed that principals working in small schools get the lowest scores from burnout scale, while principals working in big schools get the highest. It was also found that, contrary to the burnout, principals working in small schools get the highest scores from “ trust in students ” subscale, while principals working in big schools get the lowest. Results also showed that principal trust in parents and students variables altogether account for approximately 21% of the total variance in exhaustion, 22 % of the total variance in depersonalization, and 6% of the total variance in accomplishment. L’objectif de cette etude etait de connaitre la perception qu’ont les directeurs d’ecoles primaires de la confiance en les eleves et les parents. L’etude visait egalement le rapport entre les niveaux d’epuisement professionnel des directeurs et la confiance de ceux-ci en les eleves et les parents. A 119 directeurs d’ecoles primaires (F=7, M=112) travaillant a Malatya, une ville dans l’est de la Turquie, nous avons fait passer un sondage portant sur la confiance chez les directeurs (Principal Trust Survey) et avons administre les echelles d’epuisement professionnel de Friedman. Les resultats suggerent que les perceptions des directeurs quant a la confiance en les eleves different de facon significative selon la taille de l’ecole. Les directeurs des plus petites ecoles avaient les taux les plus bas d’epuisement professionnel alors que ceux des plus grandes ecoles affichaient les taux les plus eleves. Contrairement aux taux d’epuisement, la confiance des directeurs envers les eleves etait la plus elevee chez ceux des petites ecoles et la plus basse chez ceux des grandes ecoles. Les donnees ont egalement demontre que la confiance des directeurs en les parents et les eleves representait 21% de la variance totale de l’epuisement, 22% de la variance totale de la depersonnalisation et 6% de la variance totale du rendement.
Performance Analysis and System Design for Hierarchical Modulated BICM-ID

Hierarchical modulation (HM) enables unequal priority transmissions using a signal constellation of non-uniformly spaced constellation points, which is an important property for broadcast systems. Using bit interleaved coded modulation (BICM) and iterative decoding (ID), the performance of HM systems can be further improved. In this paper, we study HM system with BICM-ID or HM-BICM-ID. Since the performance of BICM-ID depends on signal mapping rules, we derive a mapping rule based on distance properties to minimize the bit error rate (BER). Furthermore, we perform the BER performance analysis for HM-BICM-ID based on binary erasure channel (BEC) modeling, which provides BER prediction without time-consuming simulations. Based on the derived BER prediction scheme, we can also perform system design and optimization for applications of HM-BICM-ID. For example, we are able to optimize the constellation priority parameter in a broadcast system to maximize the throughput.
Properties of ecdysteroid receptors from diverse insect species in a heterologous cell culture system – a basis for screening novel insecticidal candidates

Insect development is driven by the action of ecdysteroids on morphogenetic processes. The classic ecdysteroid receptor is a protein heterodimer composed of two nuclear receptors, the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and Ultraspiracle (USP), the insect ortholog of retinoid X receptor. The functional properties of EcR and USP vary among insect species, and provide a basis for identifying novel and species‐specific insecticidal candidates that disrupt this receptor’s normal activity. A heterologous mammalian cell culture assay was used to assess the transcriptional activity of the heterodimeric ecdysteroid receptor from species representing two major insect orders: the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera), and the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera). Several nonsteroidal agonists evoked a strong response with the L. decemlineata heterodimer that was consistent with biochemical and in vivo evidence, whereas the D. melanogaster receptor’s response was comparatively modest. Conversely, the phytoecdysteroid muristerone A was more potent with the D. melanogaster heterodimer. The additional presence of juvenile hormone III potentiated the inductive activity of muristerone A in the receptors from both species, but juvenile hormone III was unable to potentiate the inductive activity of the diacylhydrazine methoxyfenozide (RH2485) in the receptor of either species. The effects of USP on ecdysteroid‐regulated transcriptional activity also varied between the two species. When it was tested with D. melanogaster EcR isoforms, basal activity was lower and ligand‐dependent activity was higher with L. decemlineata USP than with D. melanogaster USP. Generally, the species‐based differences validate the use of the cell culture assay screen for novel agonists and potentiators as species‐targeted insecticidal candidates.