Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
miR-204 Targeting of Ankrd13A Controls Both Mesenchymal Neural Crest and Lens Cell Migration

Loss of cell adhesion and enhancement of cell motility contribute to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during development. These processes are related to a) rearrangement of cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion molecules; b) cross talk between extra-cellular matrix and internal cytoskeleton through focal adhesion molecules. Focal adhesions are stringently regulated transient structures implicated in cell adhesion, spreading and motility during tissue development. Importantly, despite the extensive elucidation of the molecular composition of focal adhesions, the complex regulation of their dynamics is largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate, using live-imaging in medaka, that the microRNA miR-204 promotes both mesenchymal neural crest and lens cell migration and elongation. Overexpression of miR-204 results in upregulated cell motility, while morpholino-mediated ablation of miR-204 activity causes abnormal lens morphogenesis and neural crest cell mislocalization. Using a variety of in vivo and in vitro approaches, we demonstrate that these actions are mediated by the direct targeting of the Ankrd13A gene, which in turn controls focal cell adhesion formation and distribution. Significantly, in vivo restoration of abnormally elevated levels of Ankrd13A resulting from miR-204 inactivation rescued the aberrant lens phenotype in medaka fish. These data uncover, for the first time in vivo, the role of a microRNA in developmental control of mesenchymal cell migration and highlight miR-204 as a “master regulator” of the molecular networks that regulate lens morphogenesis in vertebrates.
Black hole superradiance signatures of ultralight vectors

The process of superradiance can extract angular momentum and energy from astrophysical black holes (BHs) to populate gravitationally-bound states with an exponentially large number of light bosons. We analytically calculate superradiant growth rates for vectors around rotating BHs in the regime where the vector Compton wavelength is much larger than the BH size. Spin-1 bound states have superradiance times as short as a second around stellar BHs, growing up to a thou- sand times faster than their spin-0 counterparts. The fast rates allow us to use measurements of rapidly spinning BHs in X-ray binaries to exclude a wide range of masses for weakly-coupled spin-1 particles, $5 \times 10^{-14} - 2 \times 10^{-11}$ eV; lighter masses in the range $6 \times 10^{-20} - 2 \times 10^{-17}$ eV start to be constrained by supermassive BH spin measurements at a lower level of confidence. We also explore routes to detection of new vector particles possible with the advent of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy. The LIGO-Virgo collaboration could discover hints of a new light vector particle in statistical analyses of masses and spins of merging BHs. Vector annihilations source continuous monochromatic gravitational radiation which could be observed by current GW observatories. At design sensitivity, Advanced LIGO may measure up to thousands of annihilation signals from within the Milky Way, while hundreds of BHs born in binary mergers across the observable universe may superradiate vector bound states and become new beacons of monochromatic gravitational waves.
Research Paper Series Globalisation and Labour Markets Programme Globalization, Employment, and Income: Analyzing the Adjustment Process the Centre Acknowledges Financial Support from the Leverhulme Trust under Programme Grant F114/bf Globalization, Employment, and Income: Analyzing the Adjustment P

Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge useful comments and suggestions provided to us by Rodney Falvey and other participants at the Conference on Globalisation and Labour Markets held at the University of Nottingham, July 7-8, 2000. We are fully responsible for the shortcomings that remain in this paper. Abstract In this paper we construct and analyze a general equilibrium trade model that explicitly accounts for the dynamic aspects of labor market adjustment that occur when trade is liberalized. We show how empirically observable parameters of the labor market determine the rate at which labor is released from the contracting sector and is absorbed into the expanding sector and therefore influence the magnitude and extent of the losses associated with trade reform. We also show that the economy may overshoot the new steady state during adjustment and that the length of the adjustment process is likely to be non-trivial.
Distinct perceptual rhythms for feature and conjunction searches

Feature and conjunction searches are widely used to study attentional deployment. However, the spatiotemporal behavior of attention integration in these tasks remains under debate. Are multiple search stimuli processed in parallel or sequentially? Does sampling of visual information and attentional deployment differ between these two types of search? If so, how? We used an innovative methodology to estimate the distribution of attention on a single-trial basis for feature and conjunction searches. Observers performed feature- and conjunction-search tasks. They had to detect and discriminate a tilted low-spatial-frequency grating among three low-spatial-frequency vertical gratings (feature search) or low-spatial-frequency vertical gratings and high-spatial-frequency tilted gratings (conjunction search). After a variable delay, two probes were flashed at random locations. Performance in reporting the probes was used to infer attentional deployment to those locations. By solving a second-degree equation, we determined the probability of probe report at the most (P1) and least (P2) attended locations on a given trial. Were P1 and P2 equal, we would conclude that attention had been uniformly distributed across all four locations. Otherwise, we would conclude that visual information sampling and attentional deployment had been nonuniformly distributed. Our results show that processing was nonuniformly distributed across the four locations in both searches, and was modulated periodically over time at ∼5 Hz for the conjunction search and ∼12 Hz for the feature search. We argue that the former corresponds to the periodicity of attentional deployment during the search, whereas the latter corresponds to ongoing sampling of visual information. Because different locations were not simultaneously processed, this study rules out a strict parallel model for both search types.
A Social Embeddedness Perspective on Turnover Intention: The Role of Informal Networks and Social Identity Evidence From South Korea

This study examines turnover intention through a social embeddedness perspective proposing that turnover intention may be a function of the degree to which an organization’s members are attached to one another in terms of relational ties and emotional bonds. Drawing on network theory and social identity theory, it was hypothesized that peripheral positions in informal networks (solidarity ties and instrumental ties) and marginal identity in the workplace may influence higher turnover intention. Sequential mixed methods design was utilized to explore the context-specific bases upon which informal networks and social identities can form and to test the generality of the link between the explored bases and turnover intention against larger samples using Ordered Logistic Model. The results showed that (a) peripherally positioned individuals in informal networks will likely have high turnover intention and (b) individuals with marginal identity in the workplace will likely have high turnover intention. The study results suggest that the social factors accrued from informal networks and social identities deserve enhanced attention in both theorization and personnel management.
Short and Long-Term Effects of a Mathematics Tablet Intervention for Low Performing Second Graders

Using a randomized placebo controlled design, we examined the direct and follow-up effects (at 6 and 12 months) of a mathematics tablet intervention. Math training focused primarily on basic arithmetic (addition and subtraction facts up to 12), and secondarily on number knowledge and word problems. We investigated the moderating effects of IQ and socioeconomic factors, and additive effects of working memory (WM) training. A representative sample of 283 low performing second-grade students were randomly assigned to control (n = 52), reading placebo (n = 78), math intervention (MA; n = 76), or math plus WM training (MA + WM; n = 77). Both math conditions scored significantly higher than control and placebo on the posttest of basic arithmetic, but not on arithmetic transfer and problem solving. WM training did not show additive effects. Given the virtually identical patterns, we collapsed the control and placebo, respectively, MA and MA + WM conditions. The collapsed MA/MA + WM condition demonstrated significant medium-sized effects (d = 0.53–0.67) on basic arithmetic compared with the collapsed control/placebo condition at posttest. There was a fadeout of effects at 6-month follow-up (d = 0.18–0.28), that declined further at 12 months (d = 0.03–0.13). IQ was a significant moderator of direct and long-term effects on addition up to 12 and subtraction up to 18, where students with lower IQ benefitted more than higher IQ students. Socioeconomic factors did not moderate outcome. The intervention effectively improved basic arithmetic among low performing second graders. Although the effects waned at 6-month follow-up, there was some indication that children with lower IQ demonstrated sustained gains.
Accessible On-Line Floor Plans

Better access to on-line information graphics is a pressing need for people who are blind or have severe vision impairment. We present a new model for accessible presentation of on-line information graphics and demonstrate its use for presenting floor plans. While floor plans are increasingly provided on-line, people who are blind are at best provided with only a high-level textual description. This makes it difficult for them to understand the spatial arrangement of the objects on the floor plan. Our new approach provides users with significantly better access to such plans. The users can automatically generate an accessible version of a floor plan from an on-line floor plan image quickly and independently by using a web service. This generates a simplified graphic showing the rooms, walls, doors and windows in the original floor plan as well as a textual overview. The accessible floor plan is presented on an iPad using audio feedback. As the users touch graphic elements on the screen, the element they are touching is described by speech and non-speech audio in order to help them navigate the graphic.
Effects of Reading Styles on African-American Preschoolers of Disadvantage.

This study investigated the effects of two styles of storybook reading within the storybook reading event (SBRE) upon African-American preschoolers of disadvantage (AAP-D). One style, performance-oriented, was thought to be closer to cultural frameworks familiar for this population. This style was contrasted with the interactive style familiar to children of middle-class. Each style was utilized with two groups of five children (ten children per condition) across three storybooks, which were each read six times. Preand posttesting were used to determine changes in language (semantic and discourse ability, as measured by retelling), literacy, and world knowledge. A control group of five children received only pretesting and posttesting and no storybook reading. Weekly probes further examined retelling changes and response to comprehension questions with each book, and amount of engagement within the storybook reading event. Analysis of variance was employed in this quantitative study. Subjects ranged in age from 3 years, 9 months to 4 years, 9 months. Pretest-posttest measures of literacy knowledge and world knowledge indicated reliably greater gains by the groups receiving storybook reading as compared to the control group. Differences approached significance for story retelling between experimental and control groups. Means for the interactive condition were slightly higher than for performance-oriented on all measures, but both conditions resulted in improvements in retelling, literacy, and world knowledge. These results suggest
Effect of two alternated teaching units of invasion team sports on the tactical learning in primary schoolchildren

Abstract The “alternated teaching units” (ATU) is an innovative proposal that consists of delivering two related contents alternatively during the Physical Education (PE) classes, making students aware that both contents are based on the same learning’s principles, increasing the students’ global learning time and making the students perceive one unique learning. This study aimed to compare the use of ATU with traditional teaching units (TTU) on the achieved tactical learning for invasion team sports in primary school students. The sample consisted of 104 students (49 girls and 55 boys; average age = 10.62 ± 0.62 years). Ten PE lessons of soccer and basketball were consecutively (TTU) and alternatively (ATU) delivered. Results showed that the ATU participants had a statistically significant increase in the scores of adjust, guard/mark and general performance indices in basketball, soccer and overall invasion sports compared with the TTU participants (r = 0.24 to 0.64; p < 0.05). Additionally, the ATU participants had a statistically significant higher change of scores in decision-making index in overall invasion sports than the TTU participants (r = 0.25; p < 0.05). ATU applied to related sports should be considered instead of delivering consecutively and unconnectedly blocks of teaching in PE.
Local Effects of Regulatory T Cells in MUC1 Transgenic Mice Potentiate Growth of MUC1 Expressing Tumor Cells In Vivo

MUC1 transgenic (MUC1.Tg) mice have widely been used as model recipients of cancer immunotherapy with MUC1. Although MUC1.Tg mice have previously been shown to be immunologically tolerant to MUC1, the involvement of regulatory T (Treg) cells in this phenotype remains unclear. Here, we showed that numbers of Treg cells in MUC1-expressing tumors were greater in MUC1.Tg mice than in control C57BL/6 (B6) mice, and that the growth of tumor cells expressing MUC1, but not that of control cells, in MUC1. Tg mice was faster than in B6 mice. The MUC1.Tg mice appeared to develop MUC1-specific peripheral tolerance, as transferred MUC1-specific T cells were unable to function in MUC1.Tg mice but were functional in control B6 mice. The suppressive function of CD4+CD25high cells from MUC1.Tg mice was more potent than that of cells from control B6 mice when Treg cell activity against MUC1-specific T cells was compared in vitro. Therefore, the enhanced growth of MUC1-expressing tumor cells in MUC1.Tg mice is likely due to the presence of MUC1-specific Treg cells.
Matrix Product State for Feature Extraction of Higher-Order Tensors

This paper introduces matrix product state (MPS) decomposition as a computational tool for extracting features of multidimensional data represented by higher-order tensors. Regardless of tensor order, MPS extracts its relevant features to the so-called core tensor of maximum order three which can be used for classification. Mainly based on a successive sequence of singular value decompositions (SVD), MPS is quite simple to implement without any recursive procedure needed for optimizing local tensors. Thus, it leads to substantial computational savings compared to other tensor feature extraction methods such as higher-order orthogonal iteration (HOOI) underlying the Tucker decomposition (TD). Benchmark results show that MPS can reduce significantly the feature space of data while achieving better classification performance compared to HOOI.
Non-response in a nationwide follow-up postal survey in Finland: a register-based mortality analysis of respondents and non-respondents of the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) Study

Objective To examine difference in mortality between postal survey non-respondents and respondents. Design A prospective cohort study with baseline survey in 1998 and comprehensive linkage to national mortality registers until 2005, the Health and Social Support study. Setting A population-based postal survey of the working-aged population in Finland in 1998. Participants The original random sample comprised 64 797 working-aged individuals in Finland (20–24, 30–34, 40–44, 50–54 years of age; 32 059 women and 32 716 men), yielding 25 898 (40.0%) responses in the baseline postal survey in 1998. Primary outcome measure Registry-based primary causes of death encoded with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Results In women, HR for total mortality was 1.75 (95% CI 1.40 to 2.19) times higher among the non-respondents compared with the respondents. In men, non-response was associated with a 1.41-fold (1.21–1.65) excess risk of total mortality. Non-response associated in certain age groups with deaths due to diseases in women and with deaths due to external causes in men. The most prominent excess mortality was seen for total mortality for both genders and for mortality due to external causes among men. Conclusions Postal surveys result in slight underestimation of illness prevalence.
ATP-dependent movement of myosin in vitro: characterization of a quantitative assay

Sheetz and Spudich (1983, Nature (Lond.), 303:31-35) showed that ATP- dependent movement of myosin along actin filaments can be measured in vitro using myosin-coated beads and oriented actin cables from Nitella. To establish this in vitro movement as a quantitative assay and to understand better the basis for the movement, we have defined the factors that affect the myosin-bead velocity. Beads coated with skeletal muscle myosin move at a rate of 2-6 micron/s, depending on the myosin preparation. This velocity is independent of myosin concentration on the bead surface for concentrations above a critical value (approximately 20 micrograms myosin/2.5 X 10(9) beads of 1 micron in diameter). Movement is optimal between pH 6.8 and 7.5, at KCl concentrations less than 70 mM, at ATP concentrations greater than 0.1 mM, and at Mg2+ concentrations between 2 and 6 mM. From the temperature dependence of bead velocity, we calculate activation energies of 90 kJ/mol below 22 degrees C and 40 kJ/mol above 22 degrees C. Different myosin species move at their own characteristic velocities, and these velocities are proportional to their actin-activated ATPase activities. Further, the velocities of beads coated with smooth or skeletal muscle myosin correlate well with the known in vivo rates of myosin movement along actin filaments in these muscles. This in vitro assay, therefore, provides a rapid, reproducible method for quantitating the ATP- dependent movement of myosin molecules on actin.
Prevalence and genotype of Chlamydia psittaci in faecal samples of birds from zoos and pet markets in Kunming, Yunnan, China

Chlamydia psittaci is an important zoonotic pathogen in birds and may be transmitted to humans and result in severe respiratory disease. To assess the prevalence and genotype of C. psittaci in birds in Kunming, Yunnan, China, a total of 136 specimens of psittacine birds involving 8 species were collected from the city’s zoos (n=60) and pet markets (n=76). The frequency of C. psittaci infection was 19.9% (27/136) in the psittacine birds. The prevalence of C. psittaci was higher in pet birds (26.3%; 20/76) than in zoo birds (11.7%; 7/60) (P=0.034). In particular, among Agapornis fischeri, the C. psittaci infection (50%; 10/20) was significantly more frequent in the pet markets than in the zoos (P=0.006). In addition, the highest prevalence of 41.2% (7/17) was found in Ara ararauna. To determine the genotype of C. psittaci, 23 OmpA gene fragments (about 1.4 kb) in 27 positive samples were successfully amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the 23 strains belonged to genotype A. Our results demonstrate the high prevalence of C. psittaci genotype A infection in psittacine birds in Yunnan Province, suggesting a potential threat to human health in this area. Therefore, it is necessary to take effective measures to prevent the spread of C. psittaci among psittacine birds, as well as among employees and customers. 概要目 的调查云南省昆明市动物园和宠物市场的鹦形目鸟类中鹦鹉热衣原体的流行情况。 创新点首次在云南地区开展鹦形目鸟类中鹦鹉热衣原体的流行病学调查, 发现该地区鹦形目鸟类中具有较高的鹦鹉热衣原体感染率。 方 法本研究共采集 8 种鹦形目鸟类的新鲜粪便样本 136 份, 其中动物园样本 60 份, 宠物市场样本 76 份。 首先, 利用高灵敏和高特异性的 TaqMan MGB 探针荧光定量聚合酶链反应 (qPCR) 方法检测粪便样品中鹦鹉热衣原体的感染率, 然后针对阳性样品, 利用 PCR 技术进行鹦鹉热衣原体 OmpA 基因扩增、 纯化、 测序以及基因型分析。 结 论本实验结果显示: 鹦鹉热衣原体的感染率为 19.9% (27/136), 其中宠物市场鸟类中鹦鹉热衣原体的感染率(26.3%; 20/76)明显高于动物园(11.7%; 7/60)(P=0.034); 金刚鹦鹉中感染率最高, 达 41.2% (7/17)。 同缘关系进化树分析表明, 这些鹦鹉热衣原体都属于易于由鸟向人跨物种传播的 A 型。 综上所述, 昆明地区鹦形目鸟类中具有较高的鹦鹉热衣原体流行, 给饲养人员和观鸟者的健康带来了潜在的威胁。
Fetuin-A (AHSG) prevents extraosseous calcification induced by uraemia and phosphate challenge in mice.

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with vascular and tissue calcification. The extent of vascular calcification has been identified as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular death in patients on haemodialysis. METHODS We studied the role of fetuin-A in CKD-associated calcification using a mouse model of graded renal insufficiency generated by nephrectomy and high phosphate diet. We used wild-type and fetuin-A-deficient mice on the calcification resistant genetic background C57BL/6 to study the influence on calcification of CKD, dietary phosphate and fetuin deficiency. Hyperphosphataemia, elevated BUN, hyperparathyroidism and von Kossa histochemistry served as indicators of calcification disease. The expression of osteopontin, a marker of osteoblast-like cell differentiation was analyzed by realtime PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS We detected tissue and genotype-specific susceptibility for calcification. Fetuin-A-deficient mice with CKD and high phosphate diet had only a moderately elevated serum calcium phosphate product (6.9 +/- 1.4 mmol(2)/l(2)), but suffered severe calcification of kidney, heart and lung. In contrast, wild-type mice under the same conditions developed renal calcinosis only despite an elevated serum calcium phosphate product (9.6 +/- 0.9 mmol(2)/l(2)). Calcification was preceded by the local induction of osteopontin, a marker for osteoblast-like cell differentiation. CONCLUSION Fetuin-A deficiency, CKD and high phosphate diet act synergistically in the pathogenesis of extraosseous calcification.