Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNAs Differentially Expressed in Postnatal Aortic Development Downregulate Elastin via 3′ UTR and Coding-Sequence Binding Sites

Elastin production is characteristically turned off during the maturation of elastin-rich organs such as the aorta. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that down-regulate target mRNAs by binding to miRNA regulatory elements (MREs) typically located in the 3′ UTR. Here we show a striking up-regulation of miR-29 and miR-15 family miRNAs during murine aortic development with commensurate down-regulation of targets including elastin and other extracellular matrix (ECM) genes. There were a total of 14 MREs for miR-29 in the coding sequences (CDS) and 3′ UTR of elastin, which was highly significant, and up to 22 miR-29 MREs were found in the CDS of multiple ECM genes including several collagens. This overrepresentation was conserved throughout mammalian evolution. Luciferase reporter assays showed synergistic effects of miR-29 and miR-15 family miRNAs on 3′ UTR and coding-sequence elastin constructs. Our results demonstrate that multiple miR-29 and miR-15 family MREs are characteristic for some ECM genes and suggest that miR-29 and miR-15 family miRNAs are involved in the down-regulation of elastin in the adult aorta.
Remaking Our Identities

Previous qualitative research findings have discussed motivations, decision-making, stigma, and resistance to pronatalism among voluntarily childless (VC) men and women. The current study placed such elements of the lifeworlds of VC individuals and dyads within the context of a life story of (re)making of the VC identity. Twelve life history and semistructured interviews with six VC men and women in three heterosexual couples in Canada were analyzed using thematic analysis. The VC choice was expressed as a decision to accept one’s essential voluntary childlessness. The construction of the VC participants’ bodies through their stories entailed episodes of conflict and resistance central to gendered experiences. We propose that this pattern of themes, in a pronatalist sociocultural context, points to a remaking of the figure of an extraordinary person from childhood, through to their current partnership, and into the future. These findings have implications for practitioners working with VC couples as they construct their identities, partnerships, reproductive decisions, life trajectories, and life projects.
Acute Response of Circulating Vascular Regulating MicroRNAs during and after High-Intensity and High-Volume Cycling in Children

Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyze the response of vascular circulating microRNAs (miRNAs; miR-16, miR-21, miR-126) and the VEGF mRNA following an acute bout of HIIT and HVT in children. Methods:Twelve healthy competitive young male cyclists (14.4 ± 0.8 years; 57.9 ± 9.4 ml·min−1·kg−1 peak oxygen uptake) performed one session of high intensity 4 × 4 min intervals (HIIT) at 90–95% peak power output (PPO), each interval separated by 3 min of active recovery, and one high volume session (HVT) consisting of a constant load exercise for 90 min at 60% PPO. Capillary blood from the earlobe was collected under resting conditions, during exercise (d1 = 20 min, d2 = 30 min, d3 = 60 min), and 0, 30, 60, 180 min after the exercise to determine miR-16, -21, -126, and VEGF mRNA. Results: HVT significantly increased miR-16 and miR-126 during and after the exercise compared to pre-values, whereas HIIT showed no significant influence on the miRNAs compared to pre-values. VEGF mRNA significantly increased during and after HIIT (d1, 30′, 60′, 180′) and HVT (d3, 0′, 60′). Conclusion: Results of the present investigation suggest a volume dependent exercise regulation of vascular regulating miRNAs (miR-16, miR-21, miR-126) in children. In line with previous data, our data show that acute exercise can alter circulating miRNAs profiles that might be used as novel biomarkers to monitor acute and chronic changes due to exercise in various tissues.
Accidents, Liability Obligations and Monopolized Markets for Spare Parts

Abstract We analyze the effects of accidents and liability obligations on the incentives of car manufacturers to monopolize the markets for their spare parts. We show that monopolized markets for spare parts lead to inefficiently high prices for spare parts. Furthermore, monopolization induces the manufacturers to choose inefficiently high qualities. The key for these results is the observation that high prices for spare parts entail a negative external effect inasmuch as liability obligations imply that consumers of competing products have to pay the high prices as well.
The Hubble Deep Field: Observations, data reduction, and galaxy photometry

The Hubble Deep Field (HDF) is a Director's Discretionary program on HST in Cycle 5 to image an undistinguished field at high Galactic latitude in four passbands as deeply as reasonably possible. These images provide the most detailed view to date of distant field galaxies and are likely to be important for a wide range of studies in galaxy evolution and cosmology. In order to optimize observing in the time available, a field in the northern continuous viewing zone was selected and images were taken for ten consecutive days, or approximately 150 orbits. Shorter 1-2 orbit images were obtained of the fields immediately adjacent to the primary HDF in order to facilitate spectroscopic follow-up by ground-based telescopes. The observations were made from 18 to 30 December 1995, and both raw and reduced data have been put in the public domain as a community service. We present a summary of the criteria for selecting the field, the rationale behind the filter selection and observing times in each band, and the strategies for planning the observations to maximize the exposure time while avoiding earth-scattered light. Data reduction procedures are outlined, and images of the combined frames in each band are presented. Objects detected in these images are listed in a catalog with their basic photometric parameters.
The future of English

The Future of English? takes stock of the present, apparently unassailable, position of English in the world and asks whether we can expect its status to remain unchanged during the coming decades of unprecedented social and economic global change. The book explores the possible long-term impact on English of developments in communications technology, growing economic globalisation and major demographic shifts. The Future of English? examines the complex mix of material and cultural trends which will shape the global destiny of the English language and concludes that the future is more complex and less predictable than has usually been assumed.
Time Dysperception Perspective for Acquired Brain Injury

Distortions of time perception are presented by a number of neuropsychiatric illnesses. Here we survey timing abilities in clinical populations with focal lesions in key brain structures recently implicated in human studies of timing. We also review timing performance in amnesic and traumatic brain injured patients in order to identify the nature of specific timing disorders in different brain damaged populations. We purposely analyzed the complex relationship between both cognitive and contextual factors involved in time estimation, as to characterize the correlation between timed and other cognitive behaviors in each group. We assume that interval timing is a solid construct to study cognitive dysfunctions following brain injury, as timing performance is a sensitive metric of information processing, while temporal cognition has the potential of influencing a wide range of cognitive processes. Moreover, temporal performance is a sensitive assay of damage to the underlying neural substrate after a brain insult. Further research in neurological and psychiatric patients will clarify whether time distortions are a manifestation of, or a mechanism for, cognitive and behavioral symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Association of NCF2, IKZF1, IRF8, IFIH1, and TYK2 with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex trait characterised by the production of a range of auto-antibodies and a diverse set of clinical phenotypes. Currently, ∼8% of the genetic contribution to SLE in Europeans is known, following publication of several moderate-sized genome-wide (GW) association studies, which identified loci with a strong effect (OR>1.3). In order to identify additional genes contributing to SLE susceptibility, we conducted a replication study in a UK dataset (870 cases, 5,551 controls) of 23 variants that showed moderate-risk for lupus in previous studies. Association analysis in the UK dataset and subsequent meta-analysis with the published data identified five SLE susceptibility genes reaching genome-wide levels of significance (Pcomb<5×10−8): NCF2 (P comb = 2.87×10−11), IKZF1 (P comb = 2.33×10−9), IRF8 (P comb = 1.24×10−8), IFIH1 (P comb = 1.63×10−8), and TYK2 (P comb = 3.88×10−8). Each of the five new loci identified here can be mapped into interferon signalling pathways, which are known to play a key role in the pathogenesis of SLE. These results increase the number of established susceptibility genes for lupus to ∼30 and validate the importance of using large datasets to confirm associations of loci which moderately increase the risk for disease.
Evolution of Slantwise Vertical Motions in NCEP’s Mesoscale Eta Model

Numerical forecasts from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s mesoscale version of the h coordinate‐based model, hereafter referred to as MESO, have been analyzed to study the roles of conditional symmetric instability (CSI) and frontogenesis in copious precipitation events. A grid spacing of 29 km and 50 layers are used in the MESO model. Parameterized convective and resolvable-scale condensation, radiation physics, and many other physical processes are included. Results focus on a 24-h forecast from 1500 UTC 1 February 1996 in the region of a low-level front and associated deep baroclinic zone over the southeastern United States. Predicted precipitation amounts were close to the observed, and the rainfall in the model was mainly associated with the resolvable-scale condensation. During the forecast deep upward motion amplifies in a band oriented west-southwest to east-northeast, nearly parallel to the mean tropospheric thermal wind. This band develops from a sloping updraft in the low-level nearly saturated frontal zone, which is absolutely stable to upright convection, but susceptible to CSI. The updraft is then nearly vertical in the middle troposphere where there is very weak conditional instability. We regard this occurrence as an example of model-produced deep slantwise convection (SWC). Negative values of moist potential vorticity (MPV) occur over the entire low-level SWC area initially. The vertical extent of SWC increases with the lifting upward of the negative MPV area. Characteristic features of CSI and SWC simulated in some high-resolution nonhydrostatic cloud models also develop within the MESO. As in the nonhydrostatic SWC, the vertical momentum transport in the MESO updraft generates a subgeostrophic momentum anomaly aloft, with negative absolute vorticity on the baroclinically cool side of the momentum anomaly where outflow winds are accelerated to the north. Contribution of various processes to frontogenesis in the SWC area is investigated. The development of indirect circulation leads to low-level frontogenesis through the tilting term. The axis of frontogenesis nearly coincides with the axis of maximum vertical motion when the SWC is fully developed. Results suggest that strong vertical motions in the case investigated develop due to release of symmetric instability in a moist atmosphere (CSI), and resultant circulations lead to weak frontogenesis in the SWC area.
Production of scalar and tensor perturbations in inflationary models.

Scalar (density) and tensor (gravity-wave) perturbations provide the basis for the fundamental observable consequences of inflation, including CBR anisotropy and the formation of structure in the Universe. These perturbations are nearly scale invariant (Harrison-Zel'dovich spectrum), though a slight deviation from scale invariance ( tilt'') can have significant consequences for both CBR anisotropy and structure formation. In particular, a slightly tilted spectrum of scalar perturbations may improve the agreement of the cold dark matter scenario with the observational data. The amplitude and spectrum of the scalar and tensor perturbations depend upon the shape of the inflationary potential in the small interval where the scalar field responsible for inflation was between about 46 and 54 [ital e]-folds before the end of inflation. By expanding the inflationary potential in a Taylor series over this interval we show that the amplitudes of the perturbations and the power-law slopes of their spectra can be expressed in terms of the value of the potential 50 [ital e]-folds before the end of inflation, [ital V][sub 50], its steepness [ital x][sub 50][equivalent to][ital m][sub Pl][ital V50][sup [prime]]/[ital V][sub 50], and the rate of change of its steepness, [ital x][sub 50][sup [prime]] (a prime denotes a derivative with respectmore » to the scalar field). In addition, the power-law index of the cosmic-scale factor at this time is [ital q][sub 50][equivalent to][[ital d]ln[ital R]/[ital d]ln[ital t]][sub 50][congruent]16[pi]/[ital x][sub 50][sup 2]. « less
Is there a bilingual advantage in phonetic and phonological acquisition? The initial learning of word-final coronal stop realization in a novel accent of English

Research question: We address the question of whether the cognitive advantage of the bilingual mind, already demonstrated in the case of auditory processing or novel word acquisition, also applies to other linguistic domains, specifically to phonetic and phonological learning. Design: We compare the performance of 17 monolinguals and 25 bilinguals from Canada in a production experiment with two tasks: imitation and spontaneous reproduction of a novel foreign accent, specifically Sussex English. Data and analysis: To eliminate potential sources of variability, our focus is on a sound already existing in the subjects’ production (the glottal stop), but differently mapped to surface representations in the novel accent to which they were exposed (i.e., as an allophone of coronal stops in word-final position). We measured the glottal stop rates of our subjects in baseline, training, and post-training. Results: The two groups behaved differently, with bilinguals showing a larger increase of their glottal stop rate post-training. Our results are thus consistent with a bilingual advantage in phonetic and phonological learning. Originality: We interpret these findings in light of recent psycholinguistic work and conclude that echoic memory strategies, possibly underlain by stronger subcortical encoding of sound in bilinguals, may account for our results by facilitating the re-mapping between existing mental representations of sounds and existing articulatory command configurations. Significance: Our study adds to the body of work suggesting that there may be an advantage of bilingualism in second dialect learning in adulthood, and provides an explanation in terms of perceptual strategies in which echoic memory is involved. We also contribute to the body of research suggesting that imitation of an action can result in improved understanding of that action.
Bufalin Induces Apoptosis of Human Osteosarcoma U-2 OS Cells through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Caspase- and Mitochondria-Dependent Signaling Pathways

Bone cancer is one of the cancer-related diseases, and there are increased numbers of patients with bone cancer worldwide. Therefore the efficacy of treatment of bone cancer is considered extremely vital. Bufalin has been showed to have biological activities including anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. However, the exact associated mechanisms for bufalin induced apoptosis in human bone cancer cells are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of bufalin on the cytotoxic effects in U-2 OS human osteosarcoma cells. For examining apoptotic cell deaths, we used flow cytometry assay, Annexin V/PI double staining, and TUNNEL assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and caspase-8, -9 and -3 activities were measured by flow cytometry assay. Furthermore, western blotting and a confocal laser microscopy examination were used for measuring the alterations of apoptotic associated protein expression and translocation, respectively. The results indicated that bufalin induced cell morphological changes, decreased the viable cell number, induced apoptotic cell death, and increased the apoptotic cell number, and affected apoptotic associated protein expression in U-2 OS cells. Bufalin increased apoptotic proteins such as Bak, and decreased anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-x in U-2 OS cells. Furthermore, bufalin increased the protein levels of cytochrome c (Cyto c), AIF (Apoptosis inducing factor) and Endo G (Endonuclease G) in cytoplasm that were also confirmed by confocal microscopy examination. Based on those findings, bufalin induced apoptotic cell death in U-2 OS cells may be via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, caspase-, and mitochondria-dependent pathways; thus, we may suggest that bufalin could be used as an anti-cancer agent for the treatment of osteosarcoma in the future, and further in vivo studies are needed.
Music sight-reading expertise, visually disrupted score and eye movements

Previous studies have shown that performance at a defined level of music sight reading for pianists (6 th Grade) is predictive of eye movement patterns (Waters, 1998) and that such patterns resemble those of text reading experts (Furneaux & Land, 1999; Sloboda, 1974; Truitt, 1997; Wolf, 1976). However, little is known about how expertise might affect eye movement patterns when the score has been visually disrupted using notational features that are unexpected or outside conventional presentation. The current project examined the effect of altering features of the music score on eye movement patterns of expert and non-expert music sight readers. Participants sight read specifically composed musical excerpts, which were then re-presented with the bar-lines removed, altered inter-note spacing and unpredictable beaming directions. Fixation and saccade characteristics were measured and compared between the two performances. It was expected that expert music sight readers would be most affected when the score was disrupted as they would be less capable of grouping notes into familiar, single units for efficient visual processing. Expert sight readers performed significantly faster than non-experts in both conditions: p<0.0001. Saccadic latency increased significantly for experts in the disrupted condition: p=0.0259, while non-experts increased slightly, not reaching significance. This suggests that the disruption of visual expectation was sufficient to cause a lengthening of saccade programming in the experts - an indication of interference with the chunking process. The resultant EM patterns for the non-experts demonstrated heightened non-expert behaviours: increased fixations of shorter duration.
Modulation of TLR Signaling by Multiple MyD88-Interacting Partners Including Leucine-Rich Repeat Fli-I-Interacting Proteins1

Emerging evidences suggest TLR-mediated signaling is tightly regulated by a specific chain of intracellular protein-protein interactions, some of which are yet to be identified. Previously we utilized a dual-tagging quantitative proteomics approach to uncover MyD88 interactions in LPS-stimulated cells and described the function of Fliih, a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein that negatively regulates NF-κB activity. Here we characterize two distinct LRR-binding MyD88 interactors, LRRFIP2 and Flap-1, and found that both are positive regulators of NF-κB activity. Upon LPS stimulation, LRRFIP2 was also found to positively regulate cytokine production in macrophages, suggesting a functional role in TLR4-mediated inflammatory response. Furthermore, we observed that immediately following LPS stimulation both LRRFIP2 and Flap-1 compete with Fliih for interacting with MyD88 to activate the signaling. By using a novel multiplex quantitative proteomic approach, we found that at endogenous levels these positive and negative regulators interact with MyD88 in a timely and orderly manner to differentially mediate the NF-κB activity through the course of signaling from initiation to prolongation, and to repression. Based on these data, we describe a mechanistic model in which selective modulation of TLR signaling is achieved by temporal and dynamic interactions of MyD88 with its regulators.
Adaptive noise reduction toward low-dose computed tomography

An efficient noise treatment scheme has been developed to achieve low-dose CT diagnosis based on currently available CT hardware and image reconstruction technologies. The scheme proposed includes two main parts: filtering in sinogram domain and smoothing in image domain. The acquired projection sinograms were first treated by our previously proposed Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) domain penalized weighted least-square (PWLS) filtering, which fully utilizes the prior statistical noise property and three-dimensional (3D) spatial information for an accurate restoration of the low-dose projections. To treat the streak artifacts due to photon starvation, we also incorporated an adaptive filtering into our PWLS framework, which selectively smoothes those channels contributing most to the streak artifacts. After the sinogram filtering, the image was reconstructed by the conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) method. The image is assumed as piecewise regions each has a unique texture. Therefore, an edge-preserving smoothing (EPS) with locally-adaptive parameters to the noise variation was applied for further noise reduction in image domain. Experimental phantom projections acquired by a GE spiral computed tomography (CT) scanner under 10 mAs tube current were used to evaluate the proposed smoothing scheme. The reconstructed imaged demonstrated that the smoothing scheme with appropriate control parameters provides a significant improvement on noise suppression without sacrificing the spatial resolution.
Correlation between Violent Games and Aggressive Behaviors in Adolescents

The objective is to study any correlations between violent computer games, time spent playing videogames and aggressive behaviors in adolescents. The sample group used for the study was composed of junior high-school students and senior high-school students aged 12-19. The 400 samples recruited for the study were both males and females. The instruments employed in data collection were composed of the following: 1) Socio-demographic Data Questionnaire and 2) Aggressive behavior Measurement Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. According to the findings, the samples playing violent games were found to score a higher mean on overall aggressive behavior and individual aggressive behaviors than the samples who played non-violent games. Moreover, violent games and time spent playing video games were found to be positively correlated with aggressive behaviors in adolescents, with statistical significance . 01 (r = .952, r = .542, p < 0.01 respectively). Keywords: Violent and Non-violent Games, Adolescents, Aggressive Behaviors