Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polarized Growth in the Absence of F-Actin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Exiting Quiescence

Background Polarity establishment and maintenance are crucial for morphogenesis and development. In budding yeast, these two intricate processes involve the superposition of regulatory loops between polarity landmarks, RHO GTPases, actin-mediated vesicles transport and endocytosis. Deciphering the chronology and the significance of each molecular step of polarized growth is therefore very challenging. Principal Findings We have taken advantage of the fact that yeast quiescent cells display actin bodies, a non polarized actin structure, to evaluate the role of F-actin in bud emergence. Here we show that upon exit from quiescence, actin cables are not required for the first steps of polarized growth. We further show that polarized growth can occur in the absence of actin patch-mediated endocytosis. We finally establish, using latrunculin-A, that the first steps of polarized growth do not require any F-actin containing structures. Yet, these structures are required for the formation of a bona fide daughter cell and cell cycle completion. We propose that upon exit from quiescence in the absence of F-actin, secretory vesicles randomly reach the plasma membrane but preferentially dock and fuse where polarity cues are localized, this being sufficient to trigger polarized growth.
Tonantzitlolone cytotoxicity toward renal cancer cells is PKCθ- and HSF1-dependent

Elucidating the targets and mechanism of action of natural products is strategically important prior to drug development and assessment of potential clinical applications. In this report, we elucidated the main targets and mechanism of action of the natural product tonantzitlolone (TZL) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). We identified TZL as a dual PKCα and PKCθ activator in vitro, although in CCRCC cells its activity was mostly PKCθ-dependent. Through activation of PKCθ, TZL induced an insulin resistant phenotype by inhibiting IRS1 and the PI3K/Akt pathway. Simultaneously, TZL activated the heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) transcription factor driving glucose dependency. Thus, similar to the selective PKCθ activator englerin A, TZL induces a metabolic catastrophe in CCRCC, starving cells of glucose while simultaneously increasing their glycolytic dependency.
Biological and Clinical Aspects of Lanthanide Coordination Compounds

The coordinating chemistry of lanthanides, relevant to the biological, biochemical and medical aspects, makes a significant contribution to understanding the basis of application of lanthanides, particularly in biological and medical systems. The importance of the applications of lanthanides, as an excellent diagnostic and prognostic probe in clinical diagnostics, and an anticancer material, is remarkably increasing. Lanthanide complexes based X-ray contrast imaging and lanthanide chelates based contrast enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are being excessively used in radiological analysis in our body systems. The most important property of the chelating agents, in lanthanide chelate complex, is its ability to alter the behaviour of lanthanide ion with which it binds in biological systems, and the chelation markedly modifies the biodistribution and excretion profile of the lanthanide ions. The chelating agents, especially aminopoly carboxylic acids, being hydrophilic, increase the proportion of their complex excreted from complexed lanthanide ion form biological systems. Lanthanide polyamino carboxylate-chelate complexes are used as contrast enhancing agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Conjugation of antibodies and other tissue specific molecules to lanthanide chelates has led to a new type of specific MRI contrast agents and their conjugated MRI contrast agents with improved relaxivity, functioning in the body similar to drugs. Many specific features of contrast agent assisted MRI make it particularly effective for musculoskeletal and cerebrospinal imaging. Lanthanide-chelate contrast agents are effectively used in clinical diagnostic investigations involving cerebrospinal diseases and in evaluation of central nervous system. Chelated lanthanide complexes shift reagent aided 23Na NMR spectroscopic analysis is used in cellular, tissue and whole organ systems.
The Bayesian Description Logic BALC

We introduce the probabilistic Description Logic BEL. In BEL, axioms are required to hold only in an associated context. The probabilistic component of the logic is given by a Bayesian network that describes the joint probability distribution of the contexts. We study the main reasoning problems in this logic; in particular, we (i) prove that deciding positive and almost-sure entailments is not harder for BEL than for the BN, and (ii) show how to compute the probability, and the most likely context for a consequence.
Methods for studying dominance and inequality in population health

This paper reviews methods for studying dominance and inequality in health economics. It concentrates on “pure inequality” as opposed to inequality which is related to income or some other measure of household resources. The paper reviews methods for cases when health can be measured cardinally and ordinally. There is also a brief review of statistical inference in this area.
Age and sex differences in the cerebellum and the ventral pons: a prospective MR study of healthy adults.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The human brain exhibits a complex pattern of differential aging. The purpose of this study was to examine whether age differences in the volume of cerebellar regions and the ventral pons are differential or generalized, whether the age-related shrinkage is linear or exponential, and whether there are sex differences in the size of the cerebellum and pons. METHODS The volumes of the cerebellar hemispheres (excluding the vermis and the peduncles), the vermis, and the ventral pons were estimated from the prospectively acquired MR scans of 190 healthy volunteers (aged 18-81 years). The relation between regional volumes, age, and sex was assessed while taking into account differences in body size (height). RESULTS We found a moderate age-related reduction in the volume of the cerebellar hemispheres and the cerebellar vermis. In contrast to previous findings that suggested differential vulnerability of the posterior vermis, the age-related shrinkage of the vermian lobules was uniform-about 2% per decade. In accord with all reports in the literature, the size of the ventral pons was unrelated to age. The volume of the cerebellar hemispheres, the vermis, and the ventral pons were larger in men, even after adjustment for height. The magnitude of the sex difference was the largest in the hemispheres and the anterior vermis, and the smallest in the lobules VI-VII (declive-folium-tuber). CONCLUSION Moderate age-related shrinkage of the cerebellum and lack of age-related differences in the ventral pons are robust phenomena. However, in all likelihood, the effects of age on the cerebellum are not differential but uniform. The cerebellum and the pons are larger in men than in women and the difference is especially pronounced in the cerebellar hemispheres and the anterior vermis.
Social desirability bias in software piracy research: Evidence from pilot studies

Social desirability bias (SDB) is the under-or over-reporting of behaviors by a respondent in order to appear more acceptable, or gain the approval of others. The presence of SDB in studies of software piracy behavior has been suspected for long. However, few studies have explicitly addressed this issue in detail. In the current article, results from a set of pilot studies are reported. These pilot studies compare software piracy behavior in experimental studies to responses of intentions to pirate in paper-based scenarios, under equivalent conditions. The comparisons provide valuable preliminary insights into the understanding of SDB in software piracy, and suggest the need to account for SDB research in software piracy studies.
Perinatal Asphyxia Affects Rat Auditory Processing: Implications for Auditory Perceptual Impairments in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Perinatal asphyxia, a naturally and commonly occurring risk factor in birthing, represents one of the major causes of neonatal encephalopathy with long term consequences for infants. Here, degraded spectral and temporal responses to sounds were recorded from neurons in the primary auditory cortex (A1) of adult rats exposed to asphyxia at birth. Response onset latencies and durations were increased. Response amplitudes were reduced. Tuning curves were broader. Degraded successive-stimulus masking inhibitory mechanisms were associated with a reduced capability of neurons to follow higher-rate repetitive stimuli. The architecture of peripheral inner ear sensory epithelium was preserved, suggesting that recorded abnormalities can be of central origin. Some implications of these findings for the genesis of language perception deficits or for impaired language expression recorded in developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, contributed to by perinatal asphyxia, are discussed.
Origin of multikinks in dispersive nonlinear systems

We develop {\em the first analytical theory of multikinks} for strongly {\em dispersive nonlinear systems}, considering the examples of the weakly discrete sine-Gordon model and the generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model with a piecewise parabolic potential. We reveal that there are no $2\pi$-kinks for this model, but there exist {\em discrete sets} of $2\pi N$-kinks for all N>1. We also show their bifurcation structure in driven damped systems.
Simultaneous Boundary Partitioning and Cameras Synchronization for Optimal Video Surveillance

This paper proposes a real-time distributed algorithm for a team of smart cameras to self-organize and perform video surveillance of an open boundary. In particular, our algorithm simultaneously partitions the boundary among the cameras, and synchronizes the motion of the cameras to optimize the surveillance performance. We focus on the detection of smart intruders, who are aware of the cameras configuration at each time instant, and who schedule their motion to avoid detection for as long as possible. We consider both the worst-case and the average detection times of smart intruders. Our algorithm achieves minimum worst-case detection time, and, under some reasonable assumptions, constant-factor optimal average detection time.
Dispersion analysis of the strange vector form factors of the nucleon

We analyze the nucleon matrix element of the strange quark vector current in a nucleon-model-independent dispersive approach with input from the current world data set for the isoscalar electromagnetic form factors. The update of Jaffe{close_quote}s minimal three-pole {ital Ansatz} for the spectral functions yields a 40{percent} larger (Sachs) strangeness radius (r{sub s}{sup 2}){sub Sachs}=0.20 fm{sup 2} and a by 20{percent} reduced magnitude of the strangeness magnetic moment {mu}{sub s}={minus}0.26. In the pole approximation these values are shown to be upper bounds. After extending the {ital Ansatz} in order to implement the asymptotic QCD momentum dependence (which the three-pole form factors cannot reproduce), we find the magnitude of the three-pole results reduced by up to a factor of 2.5. The signs of the leading moments originate primarily from the large {phi}-meson couplings and are generic in the pole approximation. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
ODAR: On-Demand Anonymous Routing in Ad Hoc Networks

Routing in wireless ad hoc networks are vulnerable to traffic analysis, spoofing and denial of service attacks due to open wireless medium communications. Anonymity mechanisms in ad hoc networks are critical security measures used to mitigate these problems by concealing identification information, such as those of nodes, links, traffic flows, paths and network topology information from harmful attackers. We propose ODAR, an On-Demand Anonymous Routing protocol for wireless ad hoc networks to enable complete anonymity of nodes, links and source-routing paths/trees using Bloom filters. We simulate ODAR using J-Sim, and compare its performance with AODV in certain ad hoc network scenarios
Quantification of Inflammation Within Rabbit Atherosclerotic Plaques Using the Macrophage-Specific CT Contrast Agent N1177: A Comparison with 18F-FDG PET/CT and Histology

Macrophages play a key role in atherosclerotic plaque rupture. The iodine-based contrast agent N1177 accumulates in macrophages, allowing for their detection with CT. In this study, we tested whether the intensity of enhancement detected with CT in the aortic wall of rabbits injected with N1177 correlated with inflammatory activity evaluated with 18F-FDG PET/CT and macrophage density on histology. Methods: Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the aorta of New Zealand White rabbits (n = 7) by a repeated balloon injury (4 wk apart) and 4 mo of hyperlipemic diet. Noninjured rabbits, fed a chow diet, were used as controls (n = 3). A CT scan of the aorta (n = 10) was acquired in each rabbit before, during, and at 2 h after intravenous injection of N1177 (250 mg of iodine/kg). One week later, the same rabbits underwent PET/CT 3 h after injection of 18F-FDG (37 MBq/kg [1 mCi/kg]). CT enhancement was calculated as the difference in aortic wall densities between images obtained before and images obtained at 2 h after injection of N1177. Mean standardized uptake values were measured on PET axial slices of the aorta in regions of interest encompassing the vessel wall. Macrophage density was measured by immunohistology (anti-RAM-11 antibody) on corresponding aortic cross-sections. Results: N1177-enhanced CT measured stronger enhancement in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rabbits than in control rabbits (10.0 ± 5.2 vs. 2.0 ± 2.1 Hounsfield units, respectively; P < 0.05). After the injection of 18F-FDG, PET detected higher standardized uptake values in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rabbits than in control rabbits (0.61 ± 0.12 vs. 0.21 ± 0.02; P < 0.05). The intensity of enhancement in the aortic wall measured with CT after injection of N1177 correlated with 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT (r = 0.61, P < 0.001) and macrophage density on immunohistology (r = 0.63, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The intensity of enhancement detected with CT in the aortic wall of rabbits injected with N1177 correlates with intense uptake of 18F-FDG measured with PET and with macrophage density on histology, suggesting a role for N1177 in noninvasive identification of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques with CT.
Parent’s knowledge and management of their children’s ailments in Malaysia

Minor ailments like sore throat, fever, cough and diarrhea can be relieved with over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as paracetamol or other traditional remedies, without seeking for consultation from general practitioners. Parents usually take the responsibility to come up with some kind of treatment for their children. Objective (1) to evaluate the parents’ medical knowledge about OTC medicines which are usually used by the parents to treat their children and (2) to evaluate the parents’ management in dealing with their children’s ailments, and (3) to evaluate the association between medical knowledge and the management of children’s ailments related to medicine use among the parents. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted to measure the parents’ knowledge about their children’s ailments. Subjects were selected and information was obtained in September 2008. Non-probability convenient sampling method was used. Parents were recruited from the general public to answer the questionnaires. Results 197 parents filled in the questionnaires. From the total respondents, 48.2% of them were male. This study showed that most respondents have medium knowledge (6.11 SD=3.6) and a moderate management (4.39 SD=2.7). The results showed that there is a significant difference between the knowledge and the management level of ailments (P=0.033). Regarding the education level of the parents and the socioeconomic status, the p-value showed there was a significant difference between parents’ knowledge and their education level (P=0.012). Conclusion This study showed that parents have inadequate knowledge and some misconception about how to go about treating their children when they are unwell. It is hoped that by identifying weak areas in parents’ management to their children’s ailments, better planned educational and behavioral modification efforts can be made to elevate the knowledge level among the parents when they medically treat their children.
Quorum Sensing Regulation of the Two hcp Alleles in Vibrio cholerae O1 Strains

Background The type VI secretion system (T6SS) has emerged as a protein secretion system important to several Gram-negative bacterial species. One of the common components of the system is Hcp, initially described as a hemolysin co-regulated protein in a serotype O17 strain of Vibrio cholerae. Homologs to V. cholerae hcp genes have been found in all characterized type VI secretion systems and they are present also in the serotype O1 strains of V. cholerae that are the cause of cholera diseases but seemed to have non-functional T6SS. Methodology/Principal Findings The serotype O1 V. cholerae strain A1552 was shown to express detectable levels of Hcp as determined by immunoblot analyses using polyclonal anti-Hcp antiserum. We found that the expression of Hcp was growth phase dependent. The levels of Hcp in quorum sensing deficient mutants of V. cholerae were compared with the levels in wild type V. cholerae O1 strain A1552. The expression of Hcp was positively and negatively regulated by the quorum sensing regulators HapR and LuxO, respectively. In addition, we observed that expression of Hcp was dependent on the cAMP-CRP global transcriptional regulatory complex and required the RpoN sigma factor. Conclusion/Significance Our results show that serotype O1 strains of V. cholerae do express Hcp which is regarded as one of the important T6SS components and is one of the secreted substrates in non-O1 non-O139 V. cholerae isolates. We found that expression of Hcp was strictly regulated by the quorum sensing system in the V. cholerae O1 strain. In addition, the expression of Hcp required the alternative sigma factor RpoN and the cAMP-CRP global regulatory complex. Interestingly, the environmental isolates of V. cholerae O1 strains that showed higher levels of the HapR quorum sensing regulator in comparison with our laboratory standard serotype O1 strain A1552 where also expressing higher levels of Hcp.
The Brussels-Frankfurt-Washington Consensus. Old and New Tradeoffs in Economics

The application of the policies prescribed by the Washington Consensus in developing countries is the subject of a vast literature. What is much less known is that there exist only one pure laboratory experiment implementing the Washington Consensus in the western world: Europe. The aim of this paper is to show that Europe has gone very far in the internalisation of the Washington Consensus; in fact, it has devised constitutionally a form of government that has no choice but to implement it. What appears then clearly is that this attempt was not a success story (.).
A Dynamic Index Model for Large Cross Sections

This paper shows how standard methods can be used to formulate and estimate a dynamic index model for random fields - stochastic processes indexed by time and cross section where the time-series and cross section dimensions are comparable in magnitude. We use these study dynamic co-movements of sectoral employment in the US economy. The dynamics of employment in sixty sectors is well explained using only two unobservable factors; those factors are also strongly correlated with GNP growth.
Explaining the Location of Economic Activity. Is there a Spatial Employment Structure in Belgium

This paper focuses on the importance of market access for firms location decisions. I estimate a structural parameters equation, a spatial wage and a spatial employment equation for Belgium, in line with the work of Hanson (1998, 2005) for the US, Mion (2004) for Italy, Garcia Pires (2005) and Paluzie et al (2009) for Spain and Brakman, Garretsen and Schramm (2002, 2004) and Roos (2001) for Germany. The findings suggest that linkages between firms and consumers are important for location decisions, as predicted by the New Economic Geography developed by (Krugman (1991)). However, conducting an Analysis of Variance on the estimation results, I conclude that firm-consumer linkages remain complementary with respect to other location theories. The last contribution of the paper is the estimation of spatial employment equations at regional and sectoral level. Firm-consumer linkages appear more important for the Northern than for the Southern part of Belgium while they turn out to be equally important for the service and manufacturing sector.
Collective and Random Fining versus Tax/Subsidy - Schemes to Regulate Non-Point Pollution: An Experimental Study

In this paper we present results of an experimental study on the performance of three mechanisms which are designed to deal with non-point source pollution : collective fining, random fining, and a tax-subsidy scheme. Our results show that collective and random fining schemes do not induce the subjects to play the efficient equilibrium. Experience from participation in similar treatments further enforces the tendency to under-abate. The taxsubsidy mechanism, by contrast, induces the efficient equilibrium action to be played more frequently than the fining mechanisms, with a slight tendency to over-abate. Experience enforces this tendency. Controlling for the subjects? risk attitude, we find that for risk averse subjects the random fining mechanism outperforms the collective fine.