Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural and Functional Characterization of a Single-Chain Form of the Recognition Domain of Complement Protein C1q

Complement C1q is a soluble pattern recognition molecule comprising six heterotrimeric subunits assembled from three polypeptide chains (A–C). Each heterotrimer forms a collagen-like stem prolonged by a globular recognition domain. These recognition domains sense a wide variety of ligands, including pathogens and altered-self components. Ligand recognition is either direct or mediated by immunoglobulins or pentraxins. Multivalent binding of C1q to its targets triggers immune effector mechanisms mediated via its collagen-like stems. The induced immune response includes activation of the classical complement pathway and enhancement of the phagocytosis of the recognized target. We report here, the first production of a single-chain recombinant form of human C1q globular region (C1q-scGR). The three monomers have been linked in tandem to generate a single continuous polypeptide, based on a strategy previously used for adiponectin, a protein structurally related to C1q. The resulting C1q-scGR protein was produced at high yield in stably transfected 293-F mammalian cells. Recombinant C1q-scGR was correctly folded, as demonstrated by its X-ray crystal structure solved at a resolution of 1.35 Å. Its interaction properties were assessed by surface plasmon resonance analysis using the following physiological C1q ligands: the receptor for C1q globular heads, the long pentraxin PTX3, calreticulin, and heparin. The 3D structure and the binding properties of C1q-scGR were similar to those of the three-chain fragment generated by collagenase digestion of serum-derived C1q. Comparison of the interaction properties of the fragments with those of native C1q provided insights into the avidity component associated with the hexameric assembly of C1q. The interest of this functional recombinant form of the recognition domains of C1q in basic research and its potential biomedical applications are discussed.
Specificity characteristics of 7 commercial creatinine measurement procedures by enzymatic and Jaffe method principles.

BACKGROUND Standardized calibration does not change a creatinine measurement procedure's susceptibility to potentially interfering substances. METHODS We obtained individual residual serum or plasma samples (n = 365) from patients with 19 different disease categories associated with potentially interfering substances and from healthy controls. Additional sera at 0.9 mg/dL (80 μmol/L) and 3.8 mg/dL (336 μmol/L) creatinine were supplemented with acetoacetate, acetone, ascorbate, and pyruvate. We measured samples by 4 enzymatic and 3 Jaffe commercially available procedures and by a liquid chromatography/isotope dilution/mass spectrometry measurement procedure against which biases were determined. RESULTS The number of instances when 3 or more results in a disease category had biases greater than the limits of acceptability was 28 of 57 (49%) for Jaffe and 14 of 76 (18%) for enzymatic procedures. For the aggregate group of 59 diabetes samples with increased β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, or glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A(1c)), the enzymatic procedures had 10 biased results of 236 (4.2%) compared with 89 of 177 (50.3%) for the Jaffe procedures, and these interferences were highly procedure dependent. For supplemented sera, interferences were observed in 11 of 24 (46%) of groups for Jaffe and 8 of 32 (25%) of groups for enzymatic procedures and were different at low or high creatinine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS There were differences in both magnitude and direction of bias among measurement procedures, whether enzymatic or Jaffe. The influence of interfering substances was less frequent with the enzymatic procedures, but no procedure was unaffected. The details of implementation of a method principle influenced its susceptibility to potential interfering substances.
An examination of the relationships between social anxiety dimensions and alcohol-related outcomes: The mediating role of drinking context

ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . iv LIST OF TABLES . viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION . 1 Drinking Patterns among College Students . 2 Protective Behavioral Strategies . 3 Social Anxiety: A Biopsychosocial Perspective . 8 Social Anxiety and Problematic Drinking Patterns . 11 Social Anxiety and Safe Drinking Behaviors . 16 Drinking Context . 18 Present Study . 23 Question 1 . 25 Question 2 . 26 Question 3 . 27 CHAPTER II – METHODOLOGY. 28 Participants and Procedures . 28 Measures . 29 Demographic Questionnaire . 29 vi Social Anxiety . 29 Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) and Social Phobia Scale (SPS). 30 Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE) . 31 Negative Drinking Patterns . 32 Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ). 32 Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). 32 Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI). 32 Safe Drinking Behaviors . 33 Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-revised (PBSS-r). 33 Strategies Questionnaire (SQ). 34 Drinking Context . 35 Drinking Context Scale (DCS). 35 Data Analytic Approach . 36 CHAPTER III RESULTS . 40 Structural Equation Model . 42 Global fit statistics. 42 Social anxiety, drinking context, and alcohol consumption. 49 Social anxiety, drinking context, and hazardous drinking. 49 Social anxiety, drinking context, and negative consequences. 50 Social anxiety, drinking context, and controlled consumption PBS. 51 vii Social anxiety, drinking context, and serious harm reduction PBS. 52 Social anxiety, drinking context, and alternatives to drinking. 53 Multigroup Invariance Testing . 53 Model fit and invariance statistics. 53 Male and female multigroup analyses. 56 White and Black multigroup analyses. 59 CHAPTER IV – DISCUSSION. 61 REFERENCES . 77
Environment and self-regulation in galaxy formation

The environment is known to affect the formation and evolution of galaxies considerably best visible through the well-known morphology-density relationship. It is less clear, though, whether the environment is equally important at a given galaxy morphology. In this paper we study the effect of environment on the evolution of early-type galaxies as imprinted in the fossil record by analysing the stellar population properti es of 3,360 galaxies morphologically selected by visual inspection from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in a narrow redshift range (0.05 6 z 6 0.06). The morphological selection algorithm is critical as it d oes not bias against recent star formation. We find that the distribution of ages is bimodal with a strong peak at old ages and a secondary peak at young ages around � 2.5 Gyr containing about 10 per cent of the objects. This is analogue to ’red sequence’ and ’blue cloud’ identified in galaxy populations usually containing both early and late type galaxies. The fraction of the young, rejuvenated galaxies increases with both decreasing galaxy mass and decreasing environmental density up to about 45 per cent, which implies that the impact of environment increases with decreasing galaxy mass. The rejuvenated galaxies have lower �/Fe ratios than the average and most of them show signs of ongoing star formation through their emission line spectra. All objects that host AGN in their centres with out star formation are part of the red sequence population. We confirm and statistically stren gthen earlier results that luminosity weighted ages, metallicities, and �/Fe element ratios of the red sequence population correlate well with velocity dispersion and galaxy mass. Most interestingly, however, these scaling relations are not sensitive to environmental densities and are only driven by galaxy mass. We infer that early-type galaxy formation has undergone a phase transition a few billion years ago aroundz � 0.2. A self-regulated formation phase without environmental dependence has recently been superseded by a rejuvenation phase, in which the environment plays a decisive role possibly through galaxy mergers and interactions.
The effect of varying the time interval between equal and opposite coriolis accelerations.

Abstract : The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of varying the time interval between two equal and opposite Coriolis accelerations upon the duration of the subjective responses evoked by the second stimulus. It was also designed to evaluate certain predictions generated from a 'torsion pendulum' model of the neural events mediating these subjective phenomena. Theoretical curves derived from the torsion pendulum model approximated fairly closely the way in which the reported durations of the subjective phenomena increased as a function of the time interval between the two Coriolis accelerations. This result supported the a priori assumption that the neural events underlying the subjective phenomena are closely linked to mechanical events occurring within the cupula-endolymph system. However, an explanation resting entirely upon peripheral phenomena would be inadequate to account for two additional findings: (1) The estimated time constants of signal decay were shorter than those expected on the basis of the known mechanics of the semicircular canal system, and (2) the persistence of the Coriolis sensation (feelings of apparent whole body motion without visual reference) was greater at all intervals than the Coriolis oculogyral illusion. Adequate explanation of these findings requires the postulation of additional central mechanisms. (Author)
Finding Common Ground: Identifying and Eliciting Metacognition in ePortfolios Across Contexts

Research has suggested ePortfolios reveal and support students’ metacognition, that is, their awareness, tracking, and evaluation of their learning over time. However, due to the wide variety of purposes and audiences for ePortfolios, it has been unclear whether there might be common criteria for identifying and assessing metacognition in ePortfolios across varied contexts. The purpose of this study was to identify evidence of metacognition across ePortfolios of three distinct populations of students: traditional-age undergraduates, graduate Education students, and adults returning to school to complete a bachelor’s degree. We set out to explore if and how ePortfolios could support these different learners’ growth as reflective, intentional learners and professionals. Through a qualitative coding process, we identified four key metacognition markers across students’ ePortfolios in these three populations. We conclude students can be guided to engage in metacognition in concrete ways through thoughtful assignment design and assessment process, no matter their context.
The Optimal Class Size for Object-Oriented Software

A growing body of literature suggests that there is an optimal size for software components. This means that components that are too small or too big will have a higher defect content (i.e., there is a U-shaped curve relating defect content to size). The U-shaped curve has become known as the “Goldilocks Conjecture”. Recently, a cognitive theory has been proposed to explain this phenomenon, and it has been expanded to characterize object-oriented software. This conjecture has wide implications for software engineering practice. It suggests (1) that designers should deliberately strive to design classes that are of the optimal size, (2) that program decomposition is harmful, and (3) that there exists a maximum (threshold) class size that should not be exceeded to ensure fewer faults in the software. The purpose of the current paper is to evaluate this conjecture for object-oriented systems. We first demonstrate that the claims of an optimal component/class size (1 above) and of smaller components/classes having a greater defect content (2 above) are due to a mathematical artifact in the analyses performed previously. We then empirically test the threshold effect claims of this conjecture (3 above). To our knowledge, the empirical test of size threshold effects for object-oriented systems has not been performed thus far. We perform an initial study with an industrial C++ system, and replicated it twice on another C++ system and on a commercial Java application. Our results provide unambiguous evidence that there is no threshold effect of class size. We obtained the same result for three systems using 4 different size measures. These findings suggest that there is a simple continuous relationship between class size and faults, and that optimal class size, smaller classes are better, and threshold effects conjectures have no sound theoretical nor empirical basis.
Movement and stability dysfunction--contemporary developments.

A good understanding of the control processes used to maintain stability in functional movements is essential for clinicians who attempt to treat or manage musculoskeletal pain problems. There is evidence of muscle dysfunction related to the control of the movement system. There is a clear link between reduced proprioceptive input, altered slow motor unit recruitment and the development of chronic pain states. Dysfunction in the global and local muscle systems is presented to support the development of a system of classification of muscle function and development of dysfunction related to musculoskeletal pain. The global muscles control range of movement and alignment, and evidence of dysfunction is presented in terms of imbalance in recruitment and length between the global stability muscles and the global mobility muscles. Direction related restriction and compensation to maintain function is identified and related to pathology. The local stability muscles demonstrate evidence of failure of adequate segmental control in terms of allowing excessive uncontrolled translation or specific loss of cross-sectional area at the site of pathology. Motor recruitment deficits present as altered timing and patterns of recruitment. The evidence of local and global dysfunction allows the development of an integrated model of movement dysfunction.
Same-sex parent families in Italy: Validation of the Coparenting Scale-Revised for lesbian mothers and gay fathers

Abstract Even though Italy is still struggling to establish equal rights and access to assisted reproduction techniques for sexual minorities, an increasing number of lesbian women and gay men are now becoming parents. There are only a few studies that have evaluated coparenting in same-sex couples. However, these addressed adoptive couples and not the lesbian and gay parent families through donor insemination or surrogacy, respectively. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Coparenting Scale-Revised and its relationship with dyadic adjustment, discipline management, and internalized sexual stigma in Italian same-sex-planned families. The factor structure showed a satisfactory internal consistency and criterion validity with correlates of coparenting behaviours. While Family Integrity factor was confirmed, Disparagement and Reprimand dimensions collapsed into Conflict factor. Non-genetic parents showed lower levels of conflict than genetic parents. Most importantly, coparenting emerged as a significant function not shaped by gender, but influenced by parental status and internalized sexual stigma.
Face detection from cluttered images using a polynomial neural network

We propose a new method for face detection from cluttered images. We use a polynomial neural network (PNN) for separation of face and non-face patterns while the complexity of the PNN is reduced by principal component analysis (PCA). In face detection, the PNN is used to classify sliding windows in multiple scales and label the windows that contain a face. The PNN is shown to be powerful in discriminating between face and non-face patterns when trained with a large number of samples. In experiments on images with simple or complex backgrounds, the proposed method has achieved high detection rate and low false positive rate.
A phase-' eld theory of dislocation dynamics , strain hardening and hysteresis in ductile single crystals

A phase-'eld theory of dislocation dynamics, strain hardening and hysteresis in ductile single crystals is developed. The theory accounts for: an arbitrary number and arrangement of dislocation lines over a slip plane; the long-range elastic interactions between dislocation lines; the core structure of the dislocations resulting from a piecewise quadratic Peierls potential; the interaction between the dislocations and an applied resolved shear stress 'eld; and the irreversible interactions with short-range obstacles and lattice friction, resulting in hardening, path dependency and hysteresis. A chief advantage of the present theory is that it is analytically tractable, in the sense that the complexity of the calculations may be reduced, with the aid of closed form analytical solutions, to the determination of the value of the phase 'eld at point-obstacle sites. In particular, no numerical grid is required in calculations. The phase-'eld representation enables complex geometrical and topological transitions in the dislocation ensemble, including dislocation loop nucleation, bow-out, pinching, and the formation of Orowan loops. The theory also permits the consideration of obstacles of varying strengths and dislocation line-energy anisotropy. The theory predicts a range of behaviors which are in qualitative agreement with observation, including: hardening and dislocation multiplication in single slip under monotonic loading; the Bauschinger e;ect under reverse loading; the fading memory e;ect, whereby reverse yielding gradually eliminates the in<uence of previous loading; the evolution of the dislocation density under cycling loading, leading to characteristic ‘butter<y’ curves; and others. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Restriction of HIV-1 Replication in Monocytes Is Abolished by Vpx of SIVsmmPBj

Background Human primary monocytes are refractory to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) or transduction with HIV-1-derived vectors. In contrast, efficient single round transduction of monocytes is mediated by vectors derived from simian immunodeficiency virus of sooty mangabeys (SIVsmmPBj), depending on the presence of the viral accessory protein Vpx. Methods and Findings Here we analyzed whether Vpx of SIVsmmPBj is sufficient for transduction of primary monocytes by HIV-1-derived vectors. To enable incorporation of PBj Vpx into HIV-1 vector particles, a HA-Vpr/Vpx fusion protein was generated. Supplementation of HIV-1 vector particles with this fusion protein was not sufficient to facilitate transduction of human monocytes. However, monocyte transduction with HIV-1-derived vectors was significantly enhanced after delivery of Vpx proteins by virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from SIVsmmPBj. Moreover, pre-incubation with Vpx-containing VLPs restored replication capacity of infectious HIV-1 in human monocytes. In monocytes of non-human primates, single-round transduction with HIV-1 vectors was enabled. Conclusion Vpx enhances transduction of primary human and even non-human monocytes with HIV-1-derived vectors, only if delivered in the background of SIVsmmPBj-derived virus-like particles. Thus, for accurate Vpx function the presence of SIVsmmPBj capsid proteins might be required. Vpx is essential to overcome a block of early infection steps in primary monocytes.
The Equity Wealth Effects of Method of Payment in Takeover Bids for Privately Held Firms

In takeover bids for unlisted firms, the typically more closely-knit target shareholders have the bargaining power and incentives to force the bidder's managers to disclose their private information about the value of their firm's shares. The acceptance of share-based offers by private-target shareholders thus conveys favourable information about the net present value of the takeover, unlike the case in share-based bids for listed targets. We document that successful bids for private targets are associated with significantly positive abnormal returns to bidders over the announcement period, a result that diverges from findings based on bids for public targets. Contrary to Chang (1998), share-based bids for Australian private targets are not associated with higher abnormal returns to bidders. Most bids by listed companies for private companies are cash-based and generate a positive return. Our results are consistent with the explanation that lower competition for private targets allows acquirers to capture more of the economic rent from takeovers by offering cash bids.
Dependence of the non-linear mass power spectrum on the equation of state of dark energy

We present N-body simulation calculations of the dependence of the power spectrum of non-linear cosmological mass density fluctuations on the equation of state of the dark energy, w = p/p. At fixed linear theory power, increasing w leads to an increase in non-linear power, with the effect increasing with k. By k = 10h Mpc -1 ,a model with w = -0.75 has ∼ 12 per cent more power than a standard cosmological constant model (w = -1), while a model with w = -0.5 has ∼33 per cent extra power (at = 0). The size of the effect increases with increasing dark energy fraction, and to a lesser extent increasing power spectrum normalization, but is insensitive to the power spectrum shape (the numbers above are for Ω m = 0.281 and σ 8 = 0.897). A code quantifying the non-linear effect of varying w, as a function of k, z and other cosmological parameters, which should be accurate to a few per cent for k ≤ 10h Mpc -1 for models that fit the current observations, is available at http://www.c ita.utoronto. ca/∼pmcdonal/code.html. This paper also serves as an example of a detailed exploration of the numerical convergence properties of ratios of power spectra for different models, which can be useful because some kinds of numerical error cancel in a ratio. When precision calculations based on numerical simulations are needed for many different models, efficiency may be gained by breaking the problem into a calculation of the absolute prediction at a central point, and calculations of the relative change in the prediction with model parameters.
Myelin proteolipid proteins promote the interaction of oligodendrocytes and axons

Although proteolipid protein (PLP) and its DM20 isoform are the major membrane proteins of CNS myelin, their absence causes surprisingly few developmental defects. In comparison, missense mutations of the X‐linked Plp gene cause severe dysmyelination. Previous studies have established roles for PLP/DM20 in the formation of the intraperiod line and in maintaining axonal integrity. We now show that a normal number of oligodendrocytes are present in mice lacking PLP/DM20. However, in heterozygous females, which are natural chimeras for X‐linked genes, oligodendrocytes lacking PLP/DM20 are in direct competition with wild‐type oligodendrocytes that have a distinct advantage. PLP+ oligodendrocytes and PLP+ myelin sheaths make up the greater majority, and this feature is generalised in the CNS throughout life. Moreover, in the absence of PLP/DM20, a proportion of small‐diameter axons fails to myelinate, remaining ensheathed but lacking a compact sheath, or show delayed myelination. These findings suggest that PLP/DM20 is also involved in the early stages of axon–oligodendrocyte interaction and wrapping of the axon. J. Neurosci. Res. 63:151–164, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.