Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Transcription Factor Erg Controls Endothelial Cell Quiescence by Repressing Activity of Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB p65*

Background: In quiescent endothelial cells, the transcription factor Erg regulates cell homeostasis by repressing expression of proinflammatory genes. Results: Erg represses NF-κB p65-dependent transcription of ICAM-1, partly by inhibiting p65 binding to DNA. Conclusion: Erg acts as a gatekeeper in quiescent endothelial cells to inhibit basal NF-κB activity. Significance: Novel pathway controlling endothelial cell activation and inflammation. The interaction of transcription factors with specific DNA sequences is critical for activation of gene expression programs. In endothelial cells (EC), the transcription factor NF-κB is important in the switch from quiescence to activation, and is tightly controlled to avoid excessive inflammation and organ damage. Here we describe a novel mechanism that controls the activation of NF-κB in EC. The transcription factor Erg, the most highly expressed ETS member in resting EC, controls quiescence by repressing proinflammatory gene expression. Focusing on intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM)-1 as a model, we identify two ETS binding sites (EBS −118 and −181) within the ICAM-1 promoter required for Erg-mediated repression. We show that Erg binds to both EBS −118 and EBS −181, the latter located within the NF-κB binding site. Interestingly, inhibition of Erg expression in quiescent EC results in increased NF-κB-dependent ICAM-1 expression, indicating that Erg represses basal NF-κB activity. Erg prevents NF-κB p65 from binding to the ICAM-1 promoter, suggesting a direct mechanism of interference. Gene set enrichment analysis of transcriptome profiles of Erg and NF-κB-dependent genes, together with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies, reveals that this mechanism is common to other proinflammatory genes, including cIAP-2 and IL-8. These results identify a role for Erg as a gatekeeper controlling vascular inflammation, thus providing an important barrier to protect against inappropriate endothelial activation.
Paternity and paternity assurance behaviour in the bluethroat,
 Luscinias.svecica
 


Abstract Genetic parentage was examined in the territorial and predominantly monogamous bluethroat, by means of multilocus DNA fingerprinting. Thirty-five per cent (11/31) of nests contained one or more offspring sired by extra-pair males, in total 20% (30/150) of all offspring. The frequency of extra-pair paternity was similar in the two study years. All offspring were genetically related to their putative mother, thus no evidence for intraspecific brood parasitism was found. Extra-pair offspring were not randomly distributed, but were clustered in certain broods, in which on average 54% of the young were sired by extra-pair males. Ten copulations were seen, one of which was an extra-pair copulation. Males guarded their mate intensely around the start of egg laying, staying within 1 m of her for more than 60% of the time. The male typically followed the female, and not vice versa. Hence, mate guarding was not a cooperative behaviour of the two sexes. Male singing activity declined gradually during the breeding season without reaching a peak during the females’ fertile period. Male bluethroats thus apparently use mate guarding and not song as their primary paternity guard. For a subset of pairs (N=8) the observed behaviour could be related to paternity. These data indicated that, during the fertile period, there were more intrusions in territories with extra-pair offspring than in territories with only legitimate offspring. There was also a non-significant tendency for males with full paternity in their nest to mate guard more intensely than males with reduced paternity.
Shrinkage inverse regression estimation for model‐free variable selection

Summary. The family of inverse regression estimators that was recently proposed by Cook and Ni has proven effective in dimension reduction by transforming the high dimensional predictor vector to its low dimensional projections. We propose a general shrinkage estimation strategy for the entire inverse regression estimation family that is capable of simultaneous dimension reduction and variable selection. We demonstrate that the new estimators achieve consistency in variable selection without requiring any traditional model, meanwhile retaining the root n estimation consistency of the dimension reduction basis. We also show the effectiveness of the new estimators through both simulation and real data analysis.
A Heritable Defect in IL-12 Signaling in B10.Q/J Mice. I. In Vitro Analysis

B10.Q mice are normally susceptible to the induction of collagen-induced arthritis. We noted that one subline of B10.Q mice, B10.Q/J, was completely resistant to disease induction when immunized with collagen in CFA. B10.Q/J mice have a global defect in the generation of Th1 responses, and Ag-specific T cells derived from this strain failed to produce IFN-γ. Because T cells from these mice could produce normal amounts of IFN-γ when activated by IL-12/IL-18-independent stimuli, the defect appeared to be a failure to respond to IL-12. This defect extended to NK cells, which also failed to produce IFN-γ when stimulated by IL-12. The capacity of NK cells, but not activated T cells, to produce IFN-γ in response to IL-12 could be partially restored by IL-18. The expression of the IL-12R β1- and β2-chains on T cells and NK cells from B10.Q/J mice was normal. However, activated T cells from B10.Q/J mice did not signal normally through the IL-12R and manifested a defect in their capacity to phosphorylate Stat4. This defect was partial in that it could be overcome by increasing both the concentration of IL-12 and the incubation times in the Stat4 phosphorylation assays. Because Stat4 function is apparently intact in B10.Q/J mice, the defect in IL-12 signaling can be localized between the IL-12R complex and Stat4. This subtle abnormality in IL-12 responsiveness results in a profound defect in the generation of Th1 cells and the development of autoimmune disease.
Evolution, Appearance, and Occupational Success

Visual characteristics, including facial appearance, are thought to play an important role in a variety of judgments and decisions that have real occupational outcomes in many settings. Indeed, there is growing evidence suggesting that appearance influences hiring decisions and even election results. For example, attractive individuals are more likely to be hired, taller men earn more, and the facial appearance of candidates has been linked to real election outcomes. In this article, we review evidence linking physical appearance to occupational success and evaluate the hypothesis that appearance based biases are consistent with predictions based on evolutionary theories of coalition formation and leadership choice. We discuss why appearance based effects are so pervasive, addressing ideas about a “kernel of truth” in attributions and about coalitional psychology. We additionally highlight that appearance may be differently related to success at work according to the types of job or task involved. For example, leaders may be chosen because the characteristics they possess are seen as best suited to lead in particular situations. During a time of war, a dominant-appearing leader may inspire confidence and intimidate enemies while during peace-time, when negotiation and diplomacy are needed, interpersonal skills may outweigh the value of a dominant leader. In line with these ideas, masculine-faced leaders are favored in war-time scenarios while feminine-faced leaders are favored in peace-time scenarios. We suggest that such environment or task specific competencies may be prevalent during selection processes, whereby individuals whose appearance best matches perceived task competences are most likely selected, and propose the general term “task-congruent selection” to describe these effects. Overall, our review highlights how potentially adaptive biases could influence choices in the work place. With respect to certain biases, understanding their origin and current prevalence is important in order to potentially reduce discrimination in the work place.
Accurate increment identification and the spatial extent of the common signal in five Arctica islandica chronologies from the Fladen Ground, northern North Sea

[1] The creation of networks of shell-based chronologies which can provide regionally extensive high-resolution proxies for the marine environment depends on the spatial extent of the common environmental signal preserved in the shell banding and on the reliability of the dating model. Here Arctica islandica chronologies from five neighboring sites in the North Sea are compared, and the strength of the common environmental signal across distances up to 80 km is analyzed using statistical techniques derived from dendrochronology. The signal is found to be coherent across these distances. In a linked study, chronologies based on one of the same sites but constructed by two different research teams are compared. Methodological differences in increment interpretation are found to lead to slippage in the dating models. Systematic inclusion or exclusion of intermittently occurring increments results in the two chronologies becoming misaligned by 4 years over a 70-year period. Comparisons with neighboring chronologies indicate that such increments can generally be regarded as genuine annual increments even if they are not visible in all shells.
An Interactive e-Government Question Answering System

Services for citizens provided by the government are often complex and related with various requirements. Citizens usually have a lot of questions traditionally answered by human experts. In this paper, we describe an information retrieval-based question answering (QA) system for the e-government domain. The QA system is capable of giving direct answers to questions in German concerning governmental services. The system successfully handles ambiguous questions by combining retrieval methods, task trees and a rule-based approach. We evaluate our approach in a scenario tailored to the needs of the administration of a big German city. The preliminary results show that our system provides high-quality answers for the most questions.
Channel selection and effective communication for managerial decision making

New office technologies provide a range of alternatives to traditional channels for corporate communications. This paper explores the effectiveness of print, electronic messaging, and videotape along both objective and subjective dimensions. While electronic messaging and videotape were not found to improve significantly over print either the recall of information or the quality of decisions made based on it, some interesting patterns were observed. The use of electronic messaging resulted in improved recall of information . Videotape tended toward the extremes: It was either the most or the least effective in disseminating information for learning. Subjects' l'ttitudes about the influence of each channel on the quality of information were contrasted with the disposition toward use. In general, subjects had positive attitudes toward both electronic messaging and videotape. When asked about the likelihood of choosing a particular channel, given emphasis on certain information attributes, however, subjects consistentlypreferred print. These results suggest that both the communication context and user preconceptions must be taken into account when plann ing for the introduction of new technologies.
Understanding Mass-Market Mobile TV Behaviors in the Streaming Era

Despite claims of Mobile TV's mainstream arrival in 2010, it took until 2017 for watching professionally-produced television content on mobile phones to truly become a mass-market phenomenon in America, with half of all TV content expected to be watched on mobile phones by 2020. But what professionally produced content are people watching on their phones and when are they watching it? Are there any clusters of behavior that emerge in the broader population when it comes to watching TV on the phone? We set out to answer these questions through two surveys deployed to representative samples of online Americans. We discuss our findings on the mass-market arrival of mobile TV viewing and differences from how the HCI community has previously envisioned mobile video. We conclude with implications for the design of future mobile TV systems.
RNA polymerase II trigger loop residues stabilize and position the incoming nucleotide triphosphate in transcription

A structurally conserved element, the trigger loop, has been suggested to play a key role in substrate selection and catalysis of RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription elongation. Recently resolved X-ray structures showed that the trigger loop forms direct interactions with the β-phosphate and base of the matched nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) through residues His1085 and Leu1081, respectively. In order to understand the role of these two critical residues in stabilizing active site conformation in the dynamic complex, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of the wild-type pol II elongation complex and its mutants in explicit solvent. In the wild-type complex, we found that the trigger loop is stabilized in the “closed” conformation, and His1085 forms a stable interaction with the NTP. Simulations of point mutations of His1085 are shown to affect this interaction; simulations of alternative protonation states, which are inaccessible through experiment, indicate that only the protonated form is able to stabilize the His1085-NTP interaction. Another trigger loop residue, Leu1081, stabilizes the incoming nucleotide position through interaction with the nucleotide base. Our simulations of this Leu mutant suggest a three-component mechanism for correctly positioning the incoming NTP in which (i) hydrophobic contact through Leu1081, (ii) base stacking, and (iii) base pairing work together to minimize the motion of the incoming NTP base. These results complement experimental observations and provide insight into the role of the trigger loop on transcription fidelity.
The Late Afterglow and Host Galaxy of GRB 990712

We present deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging, as well as ground-based imaging and spectroscopy, of the optical afterglow associated with the long-duration gamma-ray burst GRB 990712 and its host galaxy. The data were obtained 48-123 days after the burst occurred. The magnitudes of the host (R = 21.9, V = 22.5) and optical afterglow (R = 25.4, V = 25.8, 47.7 days after the burst) favor a scenario in which the optical light follows a pure power-law decay with an index of α ~ -1.0. We find no evidence for a contribution from a supernova like SN 1998bw. This suggests that either there are multiple classes of long-duration gamma-ray bursts or that the peak luminosity of the supernova was more than 1.5 mag fainter than SN 1998bw. The HST images and EFOSC2 spectra indicate that the gamma-ray burst was located in a bright, extended feature (possibly a star-forming region) 1.4 kpc from the nucleus of a 0.2L galaxy at z = 0.434, possibly a Seyfert 2 galaxy. The late-time afterglow and host galaxy of GRB 990712 bear some resemblance to those of GRB 970508.
The Effects of a Stronger Dollar on U.S. Prices

Since 2014:Q3, the U.S. dollar has experienced the third-fastest appreciation in over 30 years, with its nominal exchange and real exchange rate rising 15 percent against almost all foreign currencies (as measured by the Major Currencies Dollar Index). This sudden and rapid gain has engendered concerns about how a stronger dollar will affect U.S. export and import prices and ultimately, consumer prices and inflation in the United States. This paper assembles a rich database, spanning the period from 1985:Q1 through 2014:Q4, that combines several measures of prices and exchange rates in order to examine the likely outlook for U.S. import and export prices and consumer prices in the short run (one quarter) and over a 24-month period.
Tarskian set constraints

We investigate set constraints over set expressions with Tarskian functional and relational operations. Unlike the Herbrand constructor symbols used in recent set constraint formalisms, the meaning of a Tarskian function symbol is interpreted in an arbitrary first order structure. We show that satisfiability of Tarskian set constraints is decidable in nondeterministic doubly exponential time. We also give complexity results and open problems for various extensions of the language.
Proximal Region of the Gene Encoding Cytadherence-Related Protein Permits Molecular Typing of Mycoplasma genitalium Clinical Strains by PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

ABSTRACT Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the PCR-amplified proximal region of the gene encoding cytadherence accessory protein P110 (MG192) revealed DNA sequence divergences among 54 Mycoplasma genitalium clinical strains isolated from the genitourinary tracts of women attending a sexually transmitted disease-related health clinic, plus one from the respiratory tract and one from synovial fluid. Seven of 56 (12.5%) strains exhibited RFLPs following digestion of the proximal region with restriction endonuclease MboI or RsaI, or both. No sequence variability was detected in the distal portion of the gene.
Structural Modeling of Safety Performance in Construction Industry

Abstract Background With rapid economic development and industrialization, the construction industry continues to rank among the most hazardous industries in the world. Therefore, construction safety is always a significant concern for both practitioners and researchers. The objective of this study was to create a structural modeling of components that influence the safety performance in construction projects. Methods We followed a two-stage Structural Equation Model based on a questionnaire study (n=230). In the first stage, we applied the Structural Equation Model to the proposed model to test the validity of the observed variables of each latent variable. In the next stage, we modified the proposed model. The LISREL 8.8 software was used to conduct the analysis of the structural model. Results A good-fit structural model (Goodness of Fit Index=0.92; Root Mean Square Residual=0.04; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=0.04; Comparative Fit Index=0.98; Normalized Fit Index=0.96) indicated that social and organizational constructs influence safety performance via the general component of the safety climate. Conclusion The new structural model can be used to provide better understanding of the links between safety performance indicators and contributing components, and make stronger recommendations for effective intervention in construction projects.
Magnetips: Combining Fingertip Tracking and Haptic Feedback for Around-Device Interaction

Around-device interaction methods expand the available interaction space for mobile devices; however, there is currently no way to simultaneously track a user's input and provide haptic feedback at the tracked point away from the device. We present Magnetips, a simple, mobile solution for around-device tracking and mid-air haptic feedback. Magnetips combines magnetic tracking and electromagnetic feedback that works regardless of visual occlusion, through most common materials, and at a size that allows for integration with mobile devices. We demonstrate: (1) high-frequency around-device tracking and haptic feedback; (2) the accuracy and range of our tracking solution which corrects for the effects of geomagnetism, necessary for enabling mobile use; and (3) guidelines for maximising strength of haptic feedback, given a desired tracking frequency. We present technical and usability evaluations of our prototype, and demonstrate four example applications of its use.
Specific Strains of Escherichia coli Are Pathogenic for the Endometrium of Cattle and Cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in Cattle and Mice

Background Escherichia coli are widespread in the environment and pathogenic strains cause diseases of mucosal surfaces including the female genital tract. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID; metritis) or endometritis affects ∼40% of cattle after parturition. We tested the expectation that multiple genetically diverse E. coli from the environment opportunistically contaminate the uterine lumen after parturition to establish PID. Methodology/Principal Findings Distinct clonal groups of E. coli were identified by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) from animals with uterine disease and these differed from known diarrhoeic or extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli. The endometrial pathogenic E. coli (EnPEC) were more adherent and invasive for endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, compared with E. coli isolated from the uterus of clinically unaffected animals. The endometrial epithelial and stromal cells produced more prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-8 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) purified from EnPEC compared with non-pathogenic E. coli. The EnPEC or their LPS also caused PID when infused into the uterus of mice with accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages in the endometrium. Infusion of EnPEC was only associated with bacterial invasion of the endometrium and myometrium. Despite their ability to invade cultured cells, elicit host cell responses and establish PID, EnPEC lacked sixteen genes commonly associated with adhesion and invasion by enteric or extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, though the ferric yersiniabactin uptake gene (fyuA) was present in PID-associated EnPEC. Endometrial epithelial or stromal cells from wild type but not Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) null mice secreted prostaglandin E2 and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) in response to LPS from EnPEC, highlighting the key role of LPS in PID. Conclusions/Significance The implication arising from the discovery of EnPEC is that development of treatments or vaccines for PID should focus specifically on EnPEC and not other strains of E. coli.
The Acute Effect of Different Half Squat Set Configurations on Jump Potentiation

Abstract Boullosa, DA, Abreu, L, Beltrame, LGN, and Behm, DG. The acute effect of different half squat set configurations on jump potentiation. J Strength Cond Res 27(8): 2059–2066, 2013—The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effect of a half squat exercise performed with different set configurations on jump potentiation. Twelve resistance-trained men were evaluated on 3 occasions separated by 48–96 hours. First, they performed a 5 repetitions maximum (5RM) test. Subsequently, they performed in a randomized order 2 sessions: one session with 5RM until failure and the other with the same workload but with 30-second rest intervals between repetitions (i.e., cluster set [CS]). Countermovement jump performance was examined during the second and third sessions for jump height and force-time parameters using a force platform at the following time intervals: before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 minutes. Separate comparisons for each variable at the different time intervals were analyzed using analysis of variance, effect size, and qualitative inferences. The majority of the parameters improved independently of the time they occurred, except for peak force and vertical stiffness after a set until failure. For peak power, it appears that the cluster treatment resulted in superior potentiation at 1 minute, whereas the 5RM treatment resulted in greater potentiation at 9 minutes. Effect size analysis and qualitative outcomes revealed an improvement in vertical stiffness and a lowering in the depth of the countermovement in CS. There were significant correlations between participants’ 5RM relative performance and various force-time parameters only in CS. It appears that a CS induces greater peak power than a 5RM set at 1 minute, although the reverse occurs at 9 minutes. Delayed potentiation associated with the 5RM may be attributed to greater fatigue versus the CS approach. Therefore, it follows that the optimal method for inducing peak power potentiation is dependent on the available time between heavy half squat exercise and the subsequent jump performance.