Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of the Prolonged Activation and Anticipatory Race-Related Stress Scale

This article describes two separate studies that were conducted to develop and validate a measure of the prolonged stress activation and anticipatory race-related stress response in African American adults (Prolonged Activation and Anticipatory Race-Related Stress Scale [PARS]). In Study 1, an exploratory factor analytic procedure (N = 292) resulted in a17-item measure with four underlying factors: (a) Perseverative Cognition, (b) Secondary Appraisal, (c) Anticipatory Race-Related Stress Scale–Psychological, and (d) Anticipatory Race-Related Stress Scale–Physiological. In Study 2 (N = 227), a confirmatory factor analytic procedure was conducted to evaluate and compare the underlying factor structure for several competing models of the PARS. This procedure supported a four-factor oblique solution as having the best fit to the data. Study 2 also provided evidence for the convergent validity of the PARS in that its factor scores correlated, in the anticipated direction, with scores on measures of related constructs.
Bayesian networks: Real-time applicable decision mechanisms for intelligent agents in interactive drama

The growing use of intelligent agents in virtual realities calls for agents that can interact with users in a fluent and believable way. Intelligent agents are expected to react in an increasingly human like manner, showing distinct characteristics and to express emotion. Which calls for increasingly larger datasets for the agents to make informed and plausible decisions. Intelligent agents need to be able to process large knowledge bases and make decisions based on a wide range of relevant factors in real-time in order for the user to find them believable. This is very important for autonomous agents in emergent interactive drama because they need to respond fluently to user interactions in a manner that resembles that of a real actor. Bayesian networks (BNs) are particularly suitable to implement intelligent agents decision mechanism because they support transient emotions and decision making and accommodate for conflicts between the virtual agents goals. In their basic form, BN reasoning algorithms do not scale well, since the cost of updating values in a BN is NP-hard in the worst case. We propose efficient and scalable BN techniques using relevance reasoning, that are suitable for the needs of our autonomous agents in directed emergent drama and allow for real-time decision making.
Contribution of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 to the medium and slow afterhyperpolarization currents

Benign familial neonatal convulsion (BNFC) is a neurological disorder caused by mutations in the potassium channel genes KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, which are thought to contribute to the medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP). Despite their importance in normal brain function, it is unknown whether they invariably function as heteromeric complexes. Here, we examined the contribution of KCNQ3 and KCNQ2 in mediating the apamin-insensitive mAHP current (ImAHP) in hippocampus. The ImAHP was not impaired in CA1 pyramidal neurons from mice genetically deficient for either KCNQ3 or KCNQ2 but was reduced ≈50% in dentate granule cells. While recording from KCNQ-deficient mice, we observed that the calcium-activated slow afterhyperpolarization current (IsAHP) was also reduced in dentate granule cells, suggesting that KCNQ channels might also contribute to this potassium current whose molecular identity is unknown. Further pharmacological and molecular experiments manipulating KCNQ channels provided evidence in support of this possibility. Together our data suggest that multiple KCNQ subunit compositions can mediate the ImAHP, and that the very same subunits may also contribute to the IsAHP. We also present data suggesting that the neuronal calcium sensor protein hippocalcin may allow for these dual signaling processes.
Handedness and the Laterality Of Breast Cancer in Women

In a pilot study of 138 women with mastectomies that explored the consistent finding of more left breast cancer in American women, associations were found among handedness, initial breast cancer laterality, and age. To test these findings further, 889 subjects were added to the original sample. The resulting sample of 1,027 consisted of 861 right-handed, 94 ambihanded, and 72 left-handed subjects aged 21 to 84. A chi-square test showed a statistically significant association between ipsilateral breast cancer before age 45 and contralateral breast cancer after age 44 in right-handers, x2 (1, n= 861) = 4.169, p<. 05. The association was also significant for left-handers, x2 (1 n= 72) = 4.036, p <. 05. In addition, a chi-square test showed a statistically significant association between handedness and earlier development of breast cancer, x2 (1, n = 933) = 13.9, p <01. Almost twice as high a percentage of left-handers as right-handers developed breast cancer before age 45. Log-linear analysis demonstrated no significant associations of nodes with either handedness or age. Overall, there was no statistically significant association between the laterality of breast cancer and a history of breast cancer in a primary relative, x2 (1, n = 1,024) = 1.38, p > . 05. In some presently unknown way, lateral asymmetries of neurotransmitters may contribute to an explanation of the findings.
Radio Resource Management in MBMS Enabled 3 G Mobile Cellular Networks : A New Handover Control Approach

Radio Resource Management (RRM) algorithms are needed to guarantee Quality of Service (QoS), to maintain the planned coverage area, and to offer high capacity. The family of RRM algorithms can be divided into Handover Control, Power Control, Admission Control, Load Control and Packet Scheduling functionalities. Using the existing RRM algorithms in 3rd Generation (3G) Cellular Networks supporting multicast and broadcast multimedia services (MBMS) might prove inefficient due to the new aspects introduced. Here, we focus our research on Handover Control. We investigate and highlight the inefficiencies caused when a mobile terminal is receiving an MBMS service and performs a handover using the existing Handover Control approach. We therefore propose and evaluate a specific MBMS Handover approach to compensate for the issues highlighted in our analysis. In this paper, using a different approach, we extend previous work to Non-homogeneous cell boundaries and Non-Line of Sight transmission.
Polymorphisms of the Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1 in African Green Monkey Kidney Cells Result in Antigenic Variants That Do Not React with Protective Monoclonal Antibody 190/4

ABSTRACT Monoclonal antibody (MAb) 190/4 blocks binding of hepatitis A virus (HAV) to the HAV cellular receptor 1 (havcr-1) and protects African green monkey kidney (AGMK) clone GL37 cells (GL37 cells) against HAV infection. BS-C-1 and CV-1 cells, two widely used AGMK cell lines, did not react with MAb 190/4 but expressed havcr-1, as judged by Western blot analysis. The cDNA coding for havcr-1 was amplified from BS-C-1 and CV-1 total cellular RNA by reverse transcription-PCR. Alignment of the amino acid sequences inferred from the cDNA nucleotide sequences showed that BS-C-1 and CV-1 havcr-1 differed from GL37 havcr-1 by having two substitutions in the Cys-rich region, N48H and K108Q, and 10 to 11 additional substitutions plus the insertion of 18 to 22 amino acids in the mucin-like region. Studies with chimeras of GL37 havcr-1 and BS-C-1 havcr-1 showed that the K108Q substitution was responsible for the lack of reaction of MAb 190/4 with BS-C-1 and CV-1 cells. Binding studies indicated that HAV bound to dog cell transfectants expressing the BS-C-1 havcr-1 as well as the GL37/BS-C-1 havcr-1 chimeras. These results indicate that antigenic variants of havcr-1 are expressed in AGMK cells and that binding of HAV to these havcr-1 variants tolerates changes in protective epitope 190/4.
An Ammonia Spectral Atlas of Dense Cores in Perseus

We present ammonia observations of 193 dense cores and core candidates in the Perseus molecular cloud made using the Robert F. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. We simultaneously observed the NH3(1,1), NH3(2,2), C2S (21→ 10), and C342S(21→ 10) transitions near ν = 23 GHz for each of the targets with a spectral resolution of δ v ≈ 0.024 km s−1. We find ammonia emission associated with nearly all of the (sub)millimeter sources, as well as at several positions with no associated continuum emission. For each detection, we have measured physical properties by fitting a simple model to every spectral line simultaneously. Where appropriate, we have refined the model by accounting for low optical depths, multiple components along the line of sight, and imperfect coupling to the GBT beam. For the cores in Perseus, we find a typical kinetic temperature of Tk = 11 K, a typical column density of NNH3 ≈ 1014.5 cm −2, and velocity dispersions ranging from σv = 0.07 to 0.7 km s−1. However, many cores with σv > 0.2 km s−1 show evidence for multiple velocity components along the line of sight.
A transcriptomic signature mediated by HOXA9 promotes human glioblastoma initiation, aggressiveness and resistance to temozolomide

Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor, exhibiting remarkable resistance to treatment. Here we investigated the oncogenic potential of HOXA9 in gliomagenesis, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which HOXA9 renders glioblastoma more aggressive, and how HOXA9 affects response to chemotherapy and survival. The prognostic value of HOXA9 in glioblastoma patients was validated in two large datasets from TCGA and Rembrandt, where high HOXA9 levels were associated with shorter survival. Transcriptomic analyses identified novel HOXA9-target genes with key roles in cancer-related processes, including cell proliferation, DNA repair, and stem cell maintenance. Functional studies with HOXA9-overexpressing and HOXA9-silenced glioblastoma cell models revealed that HOXA9 promotes cell viability, stemness and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis. Additionally, HOXA9 promoted the malignant transformation of human immortalized astrocytes in an orthotopic in vivo model, and caused tumor-associated death. HOXA9 also mediated resistance to temozolomide treatment in vitro and in vivo via upregulation of BCL2. Importantly, the pharmacological inhibition of BCL2 with the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 reverted temozolomide resistance in HOXA9-positive cells. These data establish HOXA9 as a driver of glioma initiation, aggressiveness and resistance to therapy. In the future, the combination of BH3 mimetics with temozolomide should be further explored as an alternative treatment for glioblastoma.
The role of persuasive arguments in changing affirmative action attitudes and expressed behavior in higher education.

The research reported in this article examined the conditions under which persuasive arguments are most effective in changing university students' attitudes and expressed behavior with respect to affirmative action (AA). The conceptual framework was a model that integrated the theory of reasoned action and the elaboration likelihood model of persuasion. Studies 1 and 2 established effective manipulations of positive? negative AA information, and peripheral? central routes of processing. Study 3 implemented these techniques, and a path analysis was carried out testing the differential effects of valence of information processed via different routes on AA evaluative beliefs, attitudes, intention, and expressed behavior. Results indicated that positive AA messages processed centrally (i.e., for meaning) resulted in significantly more positive evaluative beliefs. Modifications to the original model resulted in a final model with excellent fit to the data that supported the mediating role of intention in the AA attitude? behavior relationship, as predicted by the theory of reasoned action. The findings highlight potential benefits of interventions for improving support for AA policies, provided that positive information is processed at a central, evaluative level.
BMP-7 Does Not Protect against Bleomycin-Induced Lung or Skin Fibrosis

Bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-7 is a member of the BMP family which are structurally and functionally related, and part of the TGFβ super family of growth factors. BMP-7 has been reported to inhibit renal fibrosis and TGFβ1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in part through negative interactions with TGFβ1 induced Smad 2/3 activation. We utilized in vivo bleomycin-induced fibrosis models in the skin and lung to determine the potential therapeutic effect of BMP-7. We then determined the effect of BMP-7 on TGFβ1-induced EMT in lung epithelial cells and collagen production by human lung fibroblasts. We show that BMP-7 did not affect bleomycin-induced fibrosis in either the lung or skin in vivo; had no effect on expression of pro-fibrotic genes by human lung fibroblasts, either at rest or following exposure to TGFβ1; and did not modulate TGFβ1 -induced EMT in human lung epithelial cells. Taken together our data indicates that BMP-7 has no anti-fibrotic effect in lung or skin fibrosis either in vivo or in vitro. This suggests that the therapeutic options for BMP-7 may be confined to the renal compartment.
Cognitive assessment of elderly people in long-stay institutions : a cross-sectional study

Aim: To evaluate the cognition of elderly residents in long-term institutions and the association of cognitive status to sociodemographic variables and the domain of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study. Data were collected from 161 elderly, using the MMSE, between January and March 2013 and were analyzed using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: 39.8% of the elderly had cognitive impairment, and worse cognitive performance occurred in females. The domains of the MMSE had a statistically significant association with cognitive decline, and orientation, attention, and calculation and evoked memory had greater influence on the presence of cognitive impairment. Conclusion: MMSE is a practical tool for cognitive evaluation of the elderly, and it can guide nursing interventions in order to foster standardization of the goals to be achieved in the attention to the institutionalized elderly. Descriptors: Health of Institutionalized Elderly; Cognition; Homes for the Aged; Geriatric Nursing; Aged.
What is LiFi?

Light-Fidelity (LiFi) takes visible light communication (VLC) further by using light emitting diodes (LEDs) to realise fully networked wireless systems. Synergies are harnessed as lights become LiFi attocells resulting in enhanced wireless capacity for the Internet-of-Things (IoT), 5G and beyond.
Association between Extracellular Matrix Accumulation and Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Chondrocytes Cultured on 3D-Porous Scaffolds in Static versus Dynamic Cultures

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) secreted and the level of apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in porcine chondrocytes cultured on two different biodegradable PCL/PHBV scaffolds: one had primary pores solely, while the other possessed both primary and secondary pores, namely PCL/PHBV/0%NaCl and PCL/PHBV/50%NaCl scaffolds, respectively. The scaffolds with an average primary pore size of 200 μm were primarily fabricated by a fused deposition modeling (FDM) machine, and secondary pores on the material surface were then generated after NaCl leaching in a sodium hydroxide solution. The investigation was performed comparatively under static and dynamic environments. In static culture study, more pronounced GAG accumulation was found on the PCL/PHBV/50%NaCl scaffold, suggesting that the secondary pores could promote the chondrogenic function of chondrocytes, and the primary pores could further accommodate the cells to grow and function more productively. Meanwhile, the significant reductions in the levels of apoptosis of chondrocytes, studied in a H2O2-dose dependent manner (0-2 mM), were observed with a use of a flow cytometer when the chondrocytes were cultured on the PCL/PHBV/50%NaCl scaffold in which more GAG content was found. In dynamic culture study, although the total GAG content detected on the PCL/PHBV/50%NaCl scaffold was still significantly higher than that measured on the PCL/PHBV/0%NaCl scaffold, these GAG accumulations were tremendously greater than those found in the static culture. As a consequence, far less oxidative stress-induced apoptotic death was observed in the cells cultured under the dynamic culture. Moreover, cells seemed to be well protected from apoptosis, in the presence of considerable amounts of GAGs; similar degrees of apoptosis (~25%) were observed on the cells cultured on each scaffold at all H2O2 concentrations studied. The obtained results had demonstrated that the degree of chondrocyte apoptosis was somehow related to the level of GAG accumulation.
Appraisal in the Emotion System: Coherence in Strategies for Coping

Emotions can be understood as a coherent, integrated system of general-purpose coping strategies, guided by appraisal, for responding to situations of crisis and opportunity (when specific-purpose motivational systems may be less effective). This perspective offers functional explanations for the presence of particular emotions in the emotion repertoire, and their elicitation by particular appraisal combinations. Implications of the Emotion System model for debated issues, such as the dimensional vs. discrete nature of appraisals and emotions, are also discussed.
Long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis reduces the expression of CD11b, CD14, CD16, and CD64 on peritoneal macrophages.

OBJECTIVE To characterize phenotypically the macrophages from nocturnal peritoneal effluent (NPE) in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and to determine the influence of the length of this therapy on macrophage (M phi) function. DESIGN Cross-sectional descriptive study. PATIENTS Fifty-five patients on CAPD who were classified into short-, medium-, and long-term groups according to their time on CAPD. Peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) were also characterized in 7 patients at the time of catheter placement, and there were 13 normal controls. INTERVENTIONS Macrophages were collected from NPE by centrifugation. MEASUREMENTS Membrane receptor expression was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the expression of CD11b, CD16, CD64, and CD14 on NPE macrophages was reduced during the course of CAPD treatment, reaching levels which represented a 40%-50% reduction of the cell surface expression detected at the start of the treatment or on normal control macrophages. Both normal and CAPD PM phi expressed CD4, CD69, and CD71 very weakly and lacked CD25. No changes in HLA-DR or in other adhesion protein (CD11a, CD11c, CD18, CD54) expression were detected, and levels were similar in both patients and normal controls. CONCLUSION Our results show that long-term CAPD might affect Fc gamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis by reducing the expression of CD16, CD64, and CD11b. Lower CD11b and CD14 expression would also impair PM phi adhesion to mesothelial structures.
Tannat: the positioning of a wine grape as symbol and ‘referent’ of a nation's gastronomic heritage

Cultural traditions, including local gastronomy (food and beverage), can be maintained and reinforced through iconic products representing the character of the region or country. The growing importance of wine, food and other forms of tourism in some rural areas can help build a new image – or strengthen an existing one – of a region's culinary heritage. This study examines the dimension represented by wine and food heritage in the context of Uruguay's wine industry. Data were gathered from winery owners, managers, wine makers, and from representatives of Wines of Uruguay and the Routes of Wine. The importance of ‘Tannat’, a varietal grown locally for more than two centuries, is emphasised as the nation's signature wine and symbol of its wine industry. Increasing awareness of the country's culinary heritage has led to efforts to provide a gastronomic concept for consumers seeking local foods and unique gastronomic experiences. Respondents, therefore, perceive that the ‘marriage’ between Tannat and Uruguay' traditional foods is helping in establishing a gastronomic image virtually unexploited before. These findings have important implications for the further development of Uruguay's food and wine industry, heritage and tourism, as well as for that of other regions striving for ‘recognition’ of their gastronomic heritage.
The Role of Neuropeptide Y in the Expression and Extinction of Fear-Potentiated Startle

Neuropeptides are a promising target for novel treatments for anxiety and other psychiatric disorders and neuropeptide Y (NPY) has emerged as a key component of anxiolytic circuits in the brain. For this reason, we have evaluated the role of NPY in the expression and extinction of conditioned fear. We found that intracerebroventricular administration of NPY inhibits both baseline acoustic startle and the expression of fear-potentiated startle. Infusion of NPY (10 pmol/side) into the basolateral, but not the medial, nucleus of the amygdala reproduced the intracerebroventricular effect. Central administration of NPY (10 μg) also enhanced within-session extinction of fear-potentiated startle. This finding, coupled with the growing body of literature correlating NPY with resilience in humans, led us to the hypothesis that NPY may enhance the extinction of conditioned fear. When NPY (10 μg) is administered intracerebroventricularly before extinction training, extinction retention for both the contextual and cued components of conditioned fear is enhanced when tested 48 h later off drug. Additionally, we found that intra-basolateral amygdala administration of the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBO 3304 (200 pmol/side) before extinction training led to a profound deficit in extinction retention. This is the first evidence that NPY facilitates and an NPY antagonist blocks the extinction of conditioned fear. We believe that the role of NPY in the extinction of conditioned fear may, at least in part, explain the mechanism underlying the association between NPY and psychobiological resilience in humans.
Tissue‐resident memory T cells: Local guards of the thymus

T‐cell surveillance of nonlymphoid tissues has traditionally been ascribed to recirculating memory T cells that continuously patrol the body. Extending this concept, recent evidence suggests that T cells also exist as nonmigratory memory cells that provide local immune protection in a broad range of peripheral tissues, including barrier locations such as skin and mucosa. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Pircher and colleagues [Eur. J. Immunol. 2013. 43: 2295–2304] demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of such permanently tissue‐resident CD8+ memory T (TRM) cells in a primary lymphoid organ, the thymus. TRM cells in this location provide potent local immunity, which may help to preserve thymic integrity and normal T‐cell development in the face of infection with thymus‐invading pathogens.