Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activity, Growth, Reproduction, and Population Structure of Desert Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata luteola) at the Northern Edge of the Chihuahuan Desert

Abstract Gathering natural history information on a species is a necessary first step in understanding its ecology, which can lead to hypothesis generation and the data necessary for its conservation. I studied desert box turtles (Terrapene ornata luteola) at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico at the northern periphery of this subspecies in the Chihuahuan Desert. I recorded locations and marked all box turtles found in the northeastern part of the refuge over 23 yrs during trips to the site in 1986–1989, 1998, and 2008. I found that desert box turtles at the site sometimes were active in May and early June, but were most active in late June or early July into early October, with greatest activity in July and August. Numbers of box turtles on roads were significantly correlated with air temperature but not precipitation. Daily activity was bimodal during peak activity months. Growth was fairly rapid until about 10 yrs of age and then leveled off dramatically. The largest adults were about 125–130 mm carapace length (CL), and females were significantly longer than males in 2 of 3 survey periods. By 2008, I found a number of adults that were 30–40 yrs old, and several might have been older than 40 yrs. The mean number of eggs in a clutch varied from 2.67 to 3.55, there was no indication of multiple clutches being produced, and variation in egg number was only weakly explained by the CL of the female. Despite low reproductive rates, the population on the Sevilleta has persisted and likely will do well into the future in this protected reserve.
Exploring the Psychopolitical Dynamics of Advisory Relations: The Carter Administration's "Crisis of Confidence"

A president's personality is an important variable which affects the selection of individuals from whom he seeks counsel and influences both the advice he is given as well as the extent to which this advice is followed. Using personality theory as a tool and the Carter presidency as a case study, this research delineates five advisory relation types: reality testing, bolstering, reality testingbolstering (mixed), compensatory, and proxy. The data show that advisory types differ in the ways in which they respond to a president's political and psychological needs. We conclude that Carter's personality permitted him, under normal circumstances, to maintain close relationships with reality testing aides who gave him information that would question his own modus vivendi. But under conditions of threat to his personal prestige and power, those advisers who bolstered his own view of himself would have the most impact.
Sparse Signal Processing Concepts for Efficient 5G System Design

As it becomes increasingly apparent that 4G will not be able to meet the emerging demands of future mobile communication systems, the question what could make up a 5G system, what are the crucial challenges, and what are the key drivers is part of intensive, ongoing discussions. Partly due to the advent of compressive sensing, methods that can optimally exploit sparsity in signals have received tremendous attention in recent years. In this paper, we will describe a variety of scenarios in which signal sparsity arises naturally in 5G wireless systems. Signal sparsity and the associated rich collection of tools and algorithms will thus be a viable source for innovation in 5G wireless system design. We will also describe applications of this sparse signal processing paradigm in Multiple Input Multiple Output random access, cloud radio access networks, compressive channel-source network coding, and embedded security. We will also emphasize an important open problem that may arise in 5G system design, for which sparsity will potentially play a key role in their solution.
Acute Vhl Gene Inactivation Induces Cardiac HIF-Dependent Erythropoietin Gene Expression

Von Hippel Lindau (Vhl) gene inactivation results in embryonic lethality. The consequences of its inactivation in adult mice, and of the ensuing activation of the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), have been explored mainly in a tissue-specific manner. This mid-gestation lethality can be also circumvented by using a floxed Vhl allele in combination with an ubiquous tamoxifen-inducible recombinase Cre-ERT2. Here, we characterize a widespread reduction in Vhl gene expression in Vhlfloxed-UBC-Cre-ERT2 adult mice after dietary tamoxifen administration, a convenient route of administration that has yet to be fully characterized for global gene inactivation. Vhl gene inactivation rapidly resulted in a marked splenomegaly and skin erythema, accompanied by renal and hepatic induction of the erythropoietin (Epo) gene, indicative of the in vivo activation of the oxygen sensing HIF pathway. We show that acute Vhl gene inactivation also induced Epo gene expression in the heart, revealing cardiac tissue to be an extra-renal source of EPO. Indeed, primary cardiomyocytes and HL-1 cardiac cells both induce Epo gene expression when exposed to low O2 tension in a HIF-dependent manner. Thus, as well as demonstrating the potential of dietary tamoxifen administration for gene inactivation studies in UBC-Cre-ERT2 mouse lines, this data provides evidence of a cardiac oxygen-sensing VHL/HIF/EPO pathway in adult mice.
Curcumin-containing chitosan nanoparticles as a potential mucoadhesive delivery system to the colon

In the present study, we investigate the mucoadhesive characteristics and release of the anticancer agent curcumin, contained in chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs). Such a system has potential therapeutic benefits in the treatment of colon cancer through prolonged retention and delivery. The CS-NPs were ionically gelled with tripolyphosphate (TPP) and registered an isoelectric pH of 6.2 (z-average diameter of 214 nm ± 1.0 nm). pH variations around the isoelectric point caused a reduction in CS-NPs electrical charge which correspondingly increased the z-average due to agglomeration. Curcumin release from CS-NPs was slowest at chitosan to TPP weight ratio of 3:1, with a significant retention (36%) at the end of 6 h. Adsorption isotherms of mucin on CS-NPs fitted both the Freundlich and Langmuir models, suggesting a monolayer-limited adsorption on heterogeneous sites with varied affinities. Encapsulated curcumin exerted an influence on the adsorption of mucin due to H-bonding as well as π-π interactions between the phenolic moieties of curcumin and mucin.
Children with Psychological Distress or Epilepsy: Somatization and Adaptive Skills

Children with Psychological Distress or Epilepsy: Somatization and Adaptive Skills. (August 2012) Nichole Wicker Villarreal, B.A., The University of Texas at Austin; M.A., Texas State University Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. William A. Rae Dr. Cynthia A. Riccio The following study examines two samples of children; children diagnosed as having a chronic illness, and children experiencing psychological distress. Children from both samples are at risk for similar things: poor social skills, challenges in establishing peer relationships, and the later development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Adding to these negative outcomes is the development of somatic complaints within each sample. Little research has examined children experiencing psychological distress prior to diagnosis, nor has a comprehensive study been conducted on children with epilepsy examining each of the adaptive skill areas. Further study of the adaptive skill areas for each group provides a foundation for understanding the strengths and weaknesses that each sample has. The following study is a quantitative, multisource, retrospective research project using parent/guardian completed rating scales relating to child behaviors; medical history information was also obtained from the chronic illness group. The relationship between somatic complaints and adaptive skills for children
Expansive algebraic actions of discrete residually finite amenable groups and their entropy

We prove an entropy formula for certain expansive actions of a countable discrete residually finite group $\Gamma$ by automorphisms of compact abelian groups in terms of Fuglede–Kadison determinants. This extends an earlier result proved by the first author under somewhat more restrictive conditions. The main tools for this generalization are a representation of the $\Gamma$-action by means of a ‘fundamental homoclinic point’ and the description of entropy in terms of the renormalized logarithmic growth rate of the set of $\Gamma_n$-fixed points, where $(\Gamma_n,n\ge1)$ is a decreasing sequence of finite index normal subgroups of $\Gamma$ with trivial intersection.
Intrinsic religion and authoritarianism: A differentiated relationship.

Intrinsic religious orientation was related to six factor scales from the California F scale items for denominational college students. The results cross validated a prioritem analysis of the entire F scale. Only two factors ("conventionalism" and "superstition and stereotypy") accounted for the previously-reported relationship between authoritarianism and intrinsic religion, and these factors were independently judged to be highly salient for "sincerely but traditionally religious Baptists. "
Evaluation of SNPs in the Mitochondrial DNA Using NanoChip Microarrays in the Turkish Population

Abstract The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping technology was developed to analyze the currently increasing number of genetic variations associated with diseases and for genetic identification of individuals. This paper describes a novel assay for genotyping of SNPs at the displacement loop (D-loop) in mitochondrial DNA using the Nanogen, NanoChip Technology. The researchers selected the most common four SNPs in the mitochondrial DNA from population data around the world. The researchers developed assay conditions for SNPs including, 73 A→Q 16304 T→C, 16311 T→C, and 16362 T→C. This paper carried out SNP genotyping including the first and second hypervariable regions of unrelated 72 samples of the Turkish population. All the identified genotypes were compared with results obtained previously from DNA sequencing of the same individuals. These findings demonstrated that the assay was accurate, reliable and reproducible for individual identification in the forensic and anthropology fields and to determine the risk of various diseases.
Problems and adaptive functioning reported by adults in 17 societies

This study tested for similarities and differences across societies in self-ratings of problems, personal strengths, and aspects of adaptive functioning on the Adult Self- Report (ASR) for nonclinical samples of adults ages 18 to 59 in 17 societies (N _ 10,197). Results indicated considerable consistency across societies regarding mean ratings on the ASR problem items. Most effect sizes (ESs) for societal differences in problem scales were small (2–5%). Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses indicated that culture clusters and society accounted for small percentages of variance in Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problems scores, with most of the variation accounted for by individual differences within societies. In contrast to the small effects of society on problem scores, for the ASR Personal Strengths scale the societal ES was 34% and culture cluster accounted for 12% of the variance. Worse reported relations with spouse/partner were associated with higher problem scores. Overall, findings indicated considerable similarity but also some important differences in self-reported problems and adaptive functioning across 17 societies.
Polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18 and the risk of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE Recent studies of ovarian cancer have suggested a role for inflammation in carcinogenesis. Data from a population-based case-control study in Hawaii were examined to assess the relation between polymorphisms in cytokines involved with the inflammatory response, specifically members of the interleukin (IL) family and the incidence of ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The analysis of 182 epithelial ovarian cancer cases and 219 controls focused on the polymorphisms in the following genes: IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18. Genotype data were obtained from blood samples collected in participants' homes, and reproductive, demographic, and lifestyle histories were collected during interview. RESULTS There were no significant odds ratios (ORs) for ovarian cancer by allelic variants in any of the IL genes after adjusting for age, ethnicity, education, oral contraceptive pill use, pregnancy, and history of tubal ligation. Although there was a significantly reduced risk of ovarian cancer risk among women with an IL-1alpha (-4845) T allele compared to women with two G alleles (OR: 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.97) after adjustment for age and ethnicity, the trend was not significant (p = 0.10). Further examination of the data suggested that women with at least one IL-18 variant allele (a G to C transition at position -137) were at significantly decreased risk of advanced ovarian cancer (OR: 0.51; 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.90) compared to women with the IL-18 GG genotype. There was a significant difference in the risk of ovarian cancer associated with the IL-18 C allele by stage at diagnosis (p = 0.04 for homogeneity in the ORs): cases with IL-18 GC or CC genotypes were less likely to be diagnosed at regional/distant stages. Analysis of the data within ethnic subgroups revealed a significant positive association of the heterozygous IL-18 GC genotype with ovarian cancer risk among Native Hawaiian women (OR: 9.96; 95% CI: 1.88-52.90). The OR for ovarian cancer was not significant for Native Hawaiian women homozygous for the IL-18 C allele, but only one case and control had the IL-18 CC genotype. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study does not support an association of selected IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, or IL-18 polymorphisms with the risk for ovarian cancer. However, the IL-18 G137C variant may be a marker for ovarian cancer progression or metastasis.
Effect of Drain Pressure in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose. To study the effect of drain suction pressure on drainage volume, decrease in haemoglobin level, blood transfusion, and wound complications following total knee arthroplasty. Methods. Primary total knee arthroplasty for degenerative osteoarthritis was performed in 60 (49 female and 11 male) patients. Patients were randomised for high-pressure (600 mm Hg) or low-pressure (350 mm Hg) postoperative suction drainage. Drain output was recorded daily and the drain removed after 48 hours. Postoperative haemoglobin level was measured on the evening of the operation day and on postoperative day 2. Results. The high-pressure group had a significantly higher drainage volume and decrease in haemogloblin level than the low-pressure group. However, there was no significant difference between groups in the transfusion rate, number of units of blood transfused, wound discharge, or Knee Society knee and function scores. No wound infection was detected in any patient. Conclusion. Low-pressure suction drainage results in less blood loss without a significant increase in wound complications.
RETROTRANSPOSON MYS IS CONCENTRATED ON THE SEX CHROMOSOMES: IMPLICATIONS FOR COPY NUMBER CONTAINMENT

Chromosomal distribution of the mys retrotransposon was examined by in situ hybridization with a biotinylated probe. Thirty‐six mice from four species of the Peromyscus leucopus/maniculatus complex were examined. Mys hybridized to every chromosome in all individuals examined. However, the pattern of hybridization was nonrandom. Mys elements were excluded from C‐banding regions of the autosomes, and hybridized preferentially to G‐bands. The most prominent feature of these hybridizations was the preferential accumulation of mys on the X and Y chromosomes of all four species examined. Accumulation of mys on the X is incompatible with the hypothesis that selection acting on deleterious mutations is the major mechanism regulating the copy number of this element. Rather, this supports the Langley model for containment of transposable element copy number by unequal exchange during meiosis.
Coupling of Glucose Deprivation with Impaired Histone H2B Monoubiquitination in Tumors

Metabolic reprogramming is associated with tumorigenesis. However, glucose metabolism in tumors is poorly understood. Here, we report that glucose levels are significantly lower in bulk tumor specimens than those in normal tissues of the same tissue origins. We show that mono-ubiquitinated histone H2B (uH2B) is a semi-quantitative histone marker for glucose. We further show that loss of uH2B occurs specifically in cancer cells from a wide array of tumor specimens of breast, colon, lung and additional 23 anatomic sites. In contrast, uH2B levels remain high in stromal tissues or non-cancerous cells in the tumor specimens. Taken together, our data suggest that glucose deficiency and loss of uH2B are novel properties of cancer cells in vivo, which may represent important regulatory mechanisms of tumorigenesis.
Regulation of TRPP3 Channel Function by N-terminal Domain Palmitoylation and Phosphorylation*

Transient receptor potential polycystin-3 (TRPP3) is a cation channel activated by calcium and proton and is involved in hedgehog signaling, intestinal development, and sour tasting. How TRPP3 channel function is regulated remains poorly understood. By N-terminal truncation mutations, electrophysiology, and Xenopus oocyte expression, we first identified fragment Asp-21–Ser-42 to be functionally important. We then found that deletion mutant Δ1–36 (TRPP3 missing fragment Met-1–Arg-36) has a similar function as wild-type TRPP3, whereas Δ1–38 is functionally dead, suggesting the importance of Val-37 or Cys-38. Further studies found that Cys-38, but not Val-37, is functionally critical. Cys-38 is a predicted site of palmitoylation, and indeed TRPP3 channel activity was inhibited by palmitoylation inhibitor 2-bromopalmitate and rescued by palmitoylation substrate palmitic acid. The TRPP3 N terminus (TRPP3NT, Met-1–Leu-95) localized along the plasma membrane of HEK293 cells but stayed in the cytoplasm with 2-bromopalmitate treatment or C38A mutation, indicating that TRPP3NT anchors to the surface membrane through palmitoylation at Cys-38. By acyl-biotin exchange assays, we showed that TRPP3, but not mutant C38A, is indeed palmitoylated. When putative phosphorylation sites near Cys-38 were mutated to Asp or Glu to mimic phosphorylation, only T39D and T39E reduced TRPP3 function. Furthermore, TRPP3NT displayed double bands in which the upper band was abolished by λ phosphatase treatment or T39A mutation. However, palmitoylation at Cys-38 and phosphorylation at Thr-39 independently regulated TRPP3 channel function, in contrast to previous reports about correlated palmitoylation with a proximate phosphorylation. Palmitoylation at Cys-38 represents a novel mechanism of functional regulation for TRPP3.
Causes and Consequences of Expectation Trajectories

Although expectations are key theoretical antecedents of emotion and behavior, expectations are typically examined as static properties without deep consideration of their temporal dynamics. We surveyed residents of California over five time points, during the month preceding a public ballot initiative on cannabis legalization (California Proposition 19) and after the election, to examine both the causes and the consequences of residents’ expectation trajectories regarding the vote’s outcome. Our results point to the importance of changes in individuals’ expectations over time. Specifically, well-informed voters were likely to lower their expectations regarding the measure’s passage as the vote neared, in line with polling results, but being informed about the initiative had less impact on expectation trajectories among voters who favored the measure than among those who opposed it. Furthermore, supporters who maintained their optimism about the initiative’s outcome over time were more likely to vote and were more disappointed following the measure’s failure, compared with supporters who became more pessimistic. The findings suggest that temporal changes in people’s optimism and expectations play a unique role in social behavior.
Biomechanical Evaluation of a Locking and Nonlocking Reconstruction Plate in an Osteoporotic Calcaneal Fracture Model

Background: This study evaluated the effects of locking vs nonlocking configuration on the biomechanical performance of a calcaneal reconstruction plate in an osteoporotic cadaveric model. Materials and Methods: A Saunders II B type calcaneal fracture was created in ten matched pair of cadaveric calcanei. Each pair was fixed with the Ascension calcaneal reconstruction plate using either locking or nonlocking screws in the same hole pattern. Specimens were axially loaded for 1000 cycles through the talus followed by load to failure. Statistical comparisons were made between the locking and nonlocking constructs on the displacements during cyclic loading as well as construct stiffness and load achieved at selected fragment displacements. Results: No significant difference was detected between the locking and nonlocking constructs in displacement during cyclic loading (p >0.2) for the numbers available. Similarly no significant difference was found in stiffness of the constructs between the groups: 445.7 ± 148.8 (N/mm ± SD) for the locking plate and 395.2 ± 127.7 for the nonlocking plate (p >0.14). The load achieved at 2 mm displacement of the posterior fragment for the two groups were not different: locking plate at 744.6 ± 237.2 N and nonlocking plate at 739.3± 269.7 N (p >0.99). Conclusion: This study did not reveal a mechanical advantage to locking technology for calcaneal fractures with the selected plate and fracture model. Clinical Relevance: While locking plate technology has shown mechanical advantages for fracture management in other osteoporotic models, in our fracture model and plating construct, this was not found. It is still unclear which fixation technique is most beneficial in these calcaneal fractures.
A multimodal analysis of compliment sequences in everyday English interactions

This study offers a multimodal analysis of turns in everyday English interactions that are used for making compliments, i.e. for positively evaluating the appearance, personal qualities or actions of (a) co-present participant(s) in the present situation. We first identify the most frequent linguistic formats recurrently occurring in compliments in our data. We then focus on the sequential interactional analysis of compliment sequences, i.e. the production of the compliment and the response it receives. While a range of bodily-visual displays and prosodic features can be identified as co-constructing compliment activity, we argue that gaze direction has a specific role in the production of both compliments and their responses. The data come from a database of approximately 8 hours of video–recorded casual face-to-face conversations in English. The study employs the methodology of conversation analysis, maintaining that social interaction in face-to-face conversations is a multimodal achievement, where participants’ use of language, embodied actions and material objects are variously combined to build coherent courses of action (Goodwin 2000). The aim of the study is to provide a description of how embodied actions enter into the design of social action formats for compliments.