Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calreticulin-melatonin. An unexpected relationship.

Increasing evidence suggests that melatonin can exert some effect at nuclear level. Previous experiments using binding techniques clearly showed the existence of specific melatonin binding sites in cell nucleus of rat liver. To further identify these sites, nuclear extracts from rat hepatocytes were treated with different percentages of ammonium sulfate and purified by affinity chromatography. Subsequent ligand blot analysis shows the presence of two polypeptides of approximately 60 and approximately 74 kDa that bind specifically to melatonin. N-Terminal sequence analysis showed that the 60 kDa protein shares a high homology with rat calreticulin, whereas the 74 kDa protein shows no homology with any known protein. The binding of melatonin to calreticulin was further characterized incubating 2-[125I]melatonin with recombinant calreticulin. Binding kinetics show a Kd = 1.08 +/- 0.2 nm and Bmax = 290 +/- 34 fmol.mg protein-1, compatible with other binding sites of melatonin in the cell. The presence of calreticulin was further identified by Western blot analysis, and the lack of endoplasmic reticulum contamination in our material was assessed by Western blot and immunostaining with anti-calnexin Ig. The results suggest that calreticulin may represent a new class of high-affinity melatonin binding sites involved in some functions of the indoleamine including genomic regulation.
Comparison of trabecular metal cups and titanium fiber-mesh cups in primary hip arthroplasty

Background Trabecular metal has shown promising results in experimental studies of bone ingrowth. Several clinical studies support these results. However, until now, no randomized clinical radiostereometric analysis (RSA) studies have been published. In this randomized RSA trial, we compared a new acetabular cup with a surface made of tantalum trabecular metal and a cup with a titanium fiber-mesh surface. Patients and methods Between 2004 and 2006, we operated 60 patients with noninflammatory hip arthritis. The patients were randomized to receive either an uncemented cup with a titanium fiber-mesh surface (Trilogy cup) or a cup with a trabecular tantalum surface (Monoblock cup). After 2 years, 50 patients had completed the study. The primary endpoint was cup migration within the first 2 years after surgery; the secondary endpoints were change in bone mineral density and Harris hip score at 3 months. Results Both cup types showed excellent fixation. RSA revealed minimal translation and rotation at 2 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the cup types with regard to translation. However, less rotation along the transverse axis was seen in the trabecular metal cups than in the fiber mesh cups: mean –0. 01º (95% CI: –0.11 to 0.12) for trabecular metal cups and –0. 60º (–0.72 to –0.48) for fiber-mesh cups (p = 0.04). The degree of periprosthetic bone loss was similar between the cup types in any of the regions of interest at 2 years of follow-up. 3 months postoperatively, we found a similar increase in Harris hip score in both groups: from around 50 to over 90. Interpretation We found promising early results concerning fixation of trabecular metal components to the acetabular host bone. However, we recommend a longer observation period to evaluate the outcome of this new cup design.
Innovation and the limits of the selection logic: Introducing generative capacity as a complement to absorptive capacity

The relation between competitiveness and innovation has become indisputable in large firms. However, innovative concepts often have difficulties surviving in the efficient NPD processes. This paper argues that there are two basic assumptions in the selection logic that they are based on, availability of sufficient knowledge and availability of opportunities to select from. It is further argued that this is not true in innovative situations and therefore a dual model for innovative capabilities is suggested where absorptive capacity is complemented with a generative capacity. This paper is based on exploratory studies of managerial practices in the automotive the pharmaceutical industries.
The distribution of stellar mass in the low‐redshift Universe

We use a complete and uniform sample of almost half a million galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to characterize the distribution of stellar mass in the low-redshift Universe. Galaxy abundances are well determined over almost four orders of magnitude in stellar mass and are reasonably but not perfectly fit by a Schechter function with characteristic stellar mass m(*) = 6.7 x 1010 M(circle dot) and with faint-end slope alpha = -1.155. For a standard cosmology and a standard stellar initial mass function, only 3.5 per cent of the baryons in the low-redshift Universe are locked up in stars. The projected autocorrelation function of stellar mass is robustly and precisely determined for r(p) < 30 h-1 Mpc. Over the range 10 h-1 kpc < r(p) < 10 h-1 Mpc, it is extremely well represented by a power law. The corresponding three-dimensional autocorrelation function is xi*(r) = (r/6.1 h-1 Mpc)-1.84. Relative to the dark matter, the bias of the stellar mass distribution is approximately constant on large scales, but varies by a factor of 5 for r(p) < 1 h-1 Mpc. This behaviour is approximately but not perfectly reproduced by current models for galaxy formation in the concordance Lambda cold dark matter cosmology. Detailed comparison suggests that a fluctuation amplitude Sigma(8) similar to 0.8 is preferred to the somewhat larger value adopted in the Millennium Simulation models with which we compare our data. This comparison also suggests that observations of stellar mass autocorrelations as a function of redshift might provide a powerful test for the nature of Dark Energy.
Molecular epidemiology of adenovirus type 4 infections in US military recruits in the postvaccination era (1997-2003).

BACKGROUND Military recruits are at a higher risk of respiratory infection than their civilian counterparts. Continuous outbreaks of adenovirus (Ad)-associated acute respiratory disease were documented among US trainees before the implementation of serotype 4 (Ad4) and serotype 7 vaccines in 1971. The discontinuation of Ad vaccination programs in 1999 precipitated the reemergence of Ad in training sites, with Ad4 accounting for 98% of all diagnosed cases. METHODS A total of 724 Ad4 strains isolated from recruits presenting with febrile respiratory illness at 8 training sites nationwide between 1997 and 2003 were genome typed by restriction enzyme analysis. RESULTS Seven genome types were identified, all of which were distinct from the prototype Ad4p and the vaccine type 4p1. Results showed very different, and often stable, genome type distributions at different geographic sites, despite the homogeneity of the recruit source population. CONCLUSIONS The data support the hypothesis that reservoirs for Ad outbreaks are within recruit training sites or in their immediate environments, not in the incoming recruit population. Molecular characterization beyond serotype is critical to understanding the transmission dynamics of Ad infection in these unique susceptible populations and to the implementation of effective prevention approaches.
Does Living Near a Superfund Site Contribute to Higher Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure?

We assessed determinants of cord serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels among 720 infants born between 1993 and 1998 to mothers living near a PCB-contaminated Superfund site in Massachusetts, measuring the sum of 51 PCB congeners (∑PCB) and ascertaining maternal address, diet, sociodemographics, and exposure risk factors. Addresses were geocoded to obtain distance to the Superfund site and neighborhood characteristics. We modeled log10(∑PCB) as a function of potential individual and neighborhood risk factors, mapping model residuals to assess spatial correlates of PCB exposure. Similar analyses were performed for light (mono–tetra) and heavy (penta–deca) PCBs to assess potential differences in exposure pathways as a function of relative volatility. PCB-118 (relatively prevalent in site sediments and cord serum) was assessed separately. The geometric mean of ∑PCB levels was 0.40 (range, 0.068–18.14) ng/g serum. Maternal age and birthplace were the strongest predictors of ∑PCB levels. Maternal consumption of organ meat and local dairy products was associated with higher and smoking and previous lactation with lower ∑PCB levels. Infants born later in the study had lower ∑PCB levels, likely due to temporal declines in exposure and site remediation in 1994–1995. No association was found between ∑PCB levels and residential distance from the Superfund site. Similar results were found with light and heavy PCBs and PCB-118. Previously reported demographic (age) and other (lactation, smoking, diet) correlates of PCB exposure, as well as local factors (consumption of local dairy products and Superfund site dredging) but not residential proximity to the site, were important determinants of cord serum PCB levels in the study community.
Opposite Cannabis-Cognition Associations in Psychotic Patients Depending on Family History

The objective of this study is to investigate cognitive performance in a first-episode psychosis sample, when stratifying the interaction by cannabis use and familial or non-familial psychosis. Hierarchical-regression models were used to analyse this association in a sample of 268 first-episode psychosis patients and 237 controls. We found that cannabis use was associated with worse working memory, regardless of family history. However, cannabis use was clearly associated with worse cognitive performance in patients with no family history of psychosis, in cognitive domains including verbal memory, executive function and global cognitive index, whereas cannabis users with a family history of psychosis performed better in these domains. The main finding of the study is that there is an interaction between cannabis use and a family history of psychosis in the areas of verbal memory, executive function and global cognition: that is, cannabis use is associated with a better performance in patients with a family history of psychosis and a worse performance in those with no family history of psychosis. In order to confirm this hypothesis, future research should explore the actual expression of the endocannabinoid system in patients with and without a family history of psychosis.
Exploiting Human Motor Skills for Training Bipedal Robots Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Although machine learning, reinforcement learning, and learning from demonstration have improved the rate and accuracy at which robots can gain intelligence from humans, they haven’t reached the rapid rate at which humans are able to acquire new knowledge. Many systems that exploit imitation learning use simple positive and negative reinforcement, and place the burden of learning completely on the computer. This neglects the expressive capabilities of humans, as well as their remarkable ability to quickly refine motor skills. While passive dynamics offers the most human-like locomotion for bipedal robots, it also relies on particular design specifications. This thesis presents a general Framework for Interactive Control of a Humanoid by Motion Capture (FICHMC ), that offers rapid motion development for large classes of bipedal robots. Essentially, a human in a motioncapture laboratory “puppets” a biped, with a real-time mapping from human to robot. The training process requires no technical knowledge and provides a natural interface for humans to directly transfer skills to robots.
Twitter Use During TV: A Full-Season Analysis of #serviziopubblico Hashtag

Several recent reports pointed out how the practice of using a “second screen” while following a television program is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomenon. When the secondary device is used to read or to comment about a watched program, most of the discussion takes place on popular social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Previous research has shown that the analysis of these contents could lead to a better understanding of the behavior of networked publics and of the structure of the show itself. Nevertheless most of the existing research is focused on the content only and focused on a single episode analysis or on big media events. Leveraging this background, this article presents instead a study focused on the relationships between content and users across an entire airing season of a TV program. Through a quantitative network analysis of the tweets produced during 25 episodes of the Italian political talks show Servizio Pubblico, we identified a small loyal group of viewers. Despite the differences in quantity of content produced, the loyal viewers do not show any sign of forming a community-like structure. We also performed a qualitative analysis of the tweets produced during one specific episode and discussed the elements of the TV show that generated the higher level of engagement on Twitter.
A survey on the channel assignment problem in wireless networks

Efficient allocation of channels for wireless communication in different network scenarios has become an extremely important topic of recent research. The main challenge lies in the fact that the channel allocation problem is NP-complete. Because of a maximum allowable time limit imposed in practical situations for allocation of channels, sometimes we may need to be satisfied with a near-optimal solution. In this correspondence, we present a discussion on the various challenges and approaches that have been used by different researchers to solve the problem of channel allocation taking into account different interference issues and efficient utilization of available communication channels for cellular mobile (including multimedia communication) environment and cognitive radio based networks. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing Nonarbitrary Metrics for Risk Communication

Nominal risk categories for actuarial risk assessment information should be grounded in nonarbitrary, evidence-based criteria. The current study presents numeric indicators for interpreting one such tool, the Risk Matrix 2000, which is widely used to assess the recidivism risk of sexual offenders. Percentiles, risk ratios, and 5-year recidivism rates are presented based on an aggregated sample (N = 3,144) from four settings: England and Wales, Scotland, Germany, and Canada. The Risk Matrix 2000 Sex, Violence, and Combined scales showed moderate accuracy in assessing the risk of sexual, non-sexual violent, and violent recidivism, respectively. Although there were some differences across samples in the distributions of risk categories, relative increases in recidivism for ascending risk categories were remarkably consistent. Options for presenting percentiles, risk ratios, and absolute recidivism estimates in applied evaluations are offered, with discussion of the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of these risk communication metrics.
Easy and Effective Streaming for Introductory Programming Courses

The benefits of small-group hands-on teaching are well known in computer programming education. Unfortunately, with a heterogeneous student population, group members may work at very different speeds, and prefer very different levels of tutor interaction. This makes practical sessions cumbersome for the tutor and frustrating for the students. A more productive educational atmosphere can be achieved if students are placed in groups based on their abilities. At Otago Polytechnic we recently trialled a simple method for streaming students into one of three laboratory groups for a first-year programming course. During the first class session, students were given a short quiz that emphasised their understanding of basic conceptual issues in program structure: flow of control, data operations and data assignment. On the basis of their mark on this quiz, they were assigned to one of three lab groups. Compared to previous instantiations of the course, this streaming improved the character of practical teaching for both students and tutors, demonstrating that a very simple assessment tool can be used to greatly enhance the educational experience. The strong correlation between performance on the streaming quiz and eventual course mark also highlights the importance of an understanding of basic structural principles to a student’s ability to learn more complex programming concepts.
The JAK-STAT Pathway Controls Plasmodium vivax Load in Early Stages of Anopheles aquasalis Infection

Malaria affects 300 million people worldwide every year and 450,000 in Brazil. In coastal areas of Brazil, the main malaria vector is Anopheles aquasalis, and Plasmodium vivax is responsible for the majority of malaria cases in the Americas. Insects possess a powerful immune system to combat infections. Three pathways control the insect immune response: Toll, IMD, and JAK-STAT. Here we analyze the immune role of the A. aquasalis JAK-STAT pathway after P. vivax infection. Three genes, the transcription factor Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT), the regulatory Protein Inhibitors of Activated STAT (PIAS) and the Nitric Oxide Synthase enzyme (NOS) were characterized. Expression of STAT and PIAS was higher in males than females and in eggs and first instar larvae when compared to larvae and pupae. RNA levels for STAT and PIAS increased 24 and 36 hours (h) after P. vivax challenge. NOS transcription increased 36 h post infection (hpi) while this protein was already detected in some midgut epithelial cells 24 hpi. Imunocytochemistry experiments using specific antibodies showed that in non-infected insects STAT and PIAS were found mostly in the fat body, while in infected mosquitoes the proteins were found in other body tissues. The knockdown of STAT by RNAi increased the number of oocysts in the midgut of A. aquasalis. This is the first clear evidence for the involvement of a specific immune pathway in the interaction of the Brazilian malaria vector A. aquasalis with P. vivax, delineating a potential target for the future development of disease controlling strategies.
Scheduling slack time in fixed priority pre-emptive systems

This paper addresses the problem of jointly scheduling tasks with both hard and soft time constraints. We present a new analysis which builds upon previous research into slack stealing algorithms. Our analysis determines the maximum processing time which may be stolen from hard deadline periodic or sporadic tasks, without jeopardising their timing constraints. It extends to tasks with characteristics such as synchronization, release jitter and stochastic execution times, as well as forming the basis for a family of optimal and approximate slack stealing algorithms. <<ETX>>
Extinction curves expected in young galaxies

We investigate the extinction curves of young galaxies in which dust is supplied from Type II supernovae (SNe II) and/or pair instability supernovae (PISNe). We adopt Nozawa et al. (2003) for compositions and size distribution of grains formed in SNe II and PISNe. We find that the extinction curve is quite sensitive to internal metal mixing in supernovae (SNe). The extinction curves predicted from the mixed SNe are dominated by SiO2 and are characterized by a steep rise from infrared to ultraviolet (UV). The dust from unmixed SNe shows a shallower extinction curve, because of the contribution from large-sized (∼0.1 µm) Si grains. However, the progenitor mass is important in unmixed SNe II: if the progenitor mass is smaller than ∼20 M� , the extinction curve is flat in UV; otherwise, the extinction curve rises towards the short wavelength. The extinction curve observed in a high-redshift quasar (z = 6.2) favours the dust production by unmixed SNe II. We also provide some useful observational quantities, so that our model might be compared with future high-z extinction curves. Ke yw ords: supernovae: general ‐ dust, extinction ‐ galaxies: evolution ‐ galaxies: highredshift ‐ galaxies: ISM ‐ quasars: individual: SDSS J104845.05+463718.3.
Persistent Inequality

When human capital accumulation generates pecuniary externalities across professions, and capital markets are imperfect, persistent inequality in utility and consumption is inevitable in any steady state. This is true irrespective of the degree of divisibility in investments. However, divisibility (or fineness of occupational structure) has implications for both the multiplicity and Pareto-efficiency of steady states. Indivisibilities generate a continuum of inefficient and efficient steady states with varying per capita income. On the other hand, perfect divisibility typically implies the existence of a unique steady state distribution which is Pareto-efficient.
Gene Expression Profiling and Association with Prion-Related Lesions in the Medulla Oblongata of Symptomatic Natural Scrapie Animals

The pathogenesis of natural scrapie and other prion diseases remains unclear. Examining transcriptome variations in infected versus control animals may highlight new genes potentially involved in some of the molecular mechanisms of prion-induced pathology. The aim of this work was to identify disease-associated alterations in the gene expression profiles of the caudal medulla oblongata (MO) in sheep presenting the symptomatic phase of natural scrapie. The gene expression patterns in the MO from 7 sheep that had been naturally infected with scrapie were compared with 6 controls using a Central Veterinary Institute (CVI) custom designed 4×44K microarray. The microarray consisted of a probe set on the previously sequenced ovine tissue library by CVI and was supplemented with all of the Ovis aries transcripts that are currently publicly available. Over 350 probe sets displayed greater than 2-fold changes in expression. We identified 148 genes from these probes, many of which encode proteins that are involved in the immune response, ion transport, cell adhesion, and transcription. Our results confirm previously published gene expression changes that were observed in murine models with induced scrapie. Moreover, we have identified new genes that exhibit differential expression in scrapie and could be involved in prion neuropathology. Finally, we have investigated the relationship between gene expression profiles and the appearance of the main scrapie-related lesions, including prion protein deposition, gliosis and spongiosis. In this context, the potential impacts of these gene expression changes in the MO on scrapie development are discussed.
Well-posedness properties in variational analysis and its applications

WELL-POSEDNESS PROPERTIES IN VARIATIONAL ANALYSIS AND ITS APPLICATIONS by WEI OUYANG August 2015 Advisor: Prof. Boris S. Mordukhovich Major: Mathematics (Applied) Degree: Doctor of Philosophy This dissertation focuses on the study and applications of some significant properties in well-posedness and sensitivity analysis, among which the notions of uniform metric regularity, higher-order metric subregularity and its strong subregularity counterpart play an essential role in modern variational analysis. We derived verifiable sufficient conditions and necessary conditions for those notions in terms of appropriate generalized differential as well as geometric constructions of variational analysis. Concrete examples are provided to illustrate the behavior and compare the results. Optimality conditions of parametric variational systems (PVS) under equilibrium constraints are also investigated via the terms of coderivatives. We derived necessary optimality and suboptimality conditions for various problems of constrained optimization and equilibria such as MPECs with amenable/full rank potentials and EPECs with closed preferences in finite-dimensional spaces.