Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient translesion replication in the absence of Escherichia coli Umu proteins and 3'-5' exonuclease proofreading function.

Translesion replication (TR) past a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer in Escherichia coli normally requires the UmuD'2C complex, RecA protein, and DNA polymerase III holoenzyme (pol III). However, we find that efficient TR can occur in the absence of the Umu proteins if the 3'-5' exonuclease proofreading activity of the pol III epsilon-subunit also is disabled. TR was measured in isogenic uvrA6 DeltaumuDC strains carrying the dominant negative dnaQ allele, mutD5, or DeltadnaQ spq-2 mutations by transfecting them with single-stranded M13-based vectors containing a specifically located cis-syn T-T dimer. As expected, little TR was observed in the DeltaumuDC dnaQ+ strain. Surprisingly, 26% TR occurred in UV-irradiated DeltaumuDC mutD5 cells, one-half the frequency found in a uvrA6 umuDC+mutD5 strain. lexA3 (Ind-) derivatives of the strains showed that this TR was contingent on two inducible functions, one LexA-dependent, responsible for approximately 70% of the TR, and another LexA-independent, responsible for the remaining approximately 30%. Curiously, the DeltaumuDC DeltadnaQ spq-2 strain exhibited only the LexA-independent level of TR. The cause of this result appears to be the spq-2 allele, a dnaE mutation required for viability in DeltadnaQ strains, since introduction of spq-2 into the DeltaumuDC mutD5 strain also reduces the frequency of TR to the LexA-independent level. The molecular mechanism responsible for the LexA-independent TR is unknown but may be related to the UVM phenomenon [Palejwala, V. A. , Wang, G. E. , Murphy, H. S. & Humayun, M. Z. (1995) J. Bacteriol. 177, 6041-6048]. LexA-dependent TR does not result from the induction of pol II, since TR in the DeltaumuDC mutD5 strain is unchanged by introduction of a DeltapolB mutation.
Triple-A: Secure RGB image steganography based on randomization

A new image-based steganography technique - called triple-A algorithm - is proposed in this paper. It uses the same principle of LSB, where the secret is hidden in the least significant bits of the pixels, with more randomization in selection of the number of bits used and the color channels that are used. This randomization is expected to increase the security of the system and also increase the capacity. This technique can be applied to RGB images where each pixel is represented by three bytes to indicate the intensity of red, green, and blue in that pixel.
On the Origins of the Violent Neighborhood: A Study of the Nature and Predictors of Crime‐Type Differentiation across Chicago Neighborhoods

Little of the literature on crime at the neighborhood level examines whether and why some crime types predominate in a given neighborhood over other types. Many macro‐level theories do make predictions about the sort of crimes that occur in some neighborhoods, although they remain largely untested. This study focuses on one of these theories, differential opportunity, and its predictions about the making of violent neighborhoods. Drawing on various data sources, this inquiry determines whether crime profiles differ across Chicago neighborhoods—that is, whether there is significant variation across neighborhoods on ratio of violent crimes to other crime types. Next, it also investigates whether the structural factors implicated in the differential opportunity perspective distinguish these neighborhoods or only predict the incidence of crime. The results reveal significant differences in the distribution of crimes across neighborhoods, as well as show that certain factors identify neighborhoods that favor violence over other crimes.
A "Meta-Analysis" of Multibrand, Multioutlet Channel Systems

In today's multibrand, multichannel marketplace, optimal channel design involves issues such as distribution intensity, channel exclusivity, vertical and horizontal coordination, and online–offline mixed structures. We investigate how a firm's choice in these design issues affects its profitability under varying levels of brand and outlet differentiation. Our spatial model explicitly captures heterogeneous consumer preference for brand position, store location, and outlet type, under various consumer behavior assumptions. We apply this same underlying model to 10 different channel structures, deriving associated demand functions and equilibrium solutions. We perform a meta-analysis over the entire set of results to estimate a general model that summarizes the linkages among the factors shaping optimal channel structure decisions in a multibrand, multioutlet market. This general model efficiently describes the complex interactions of channel characteristics with industry structure and consumer characteristics, providing new findings as well as greater clarity to some results in the literature. A predictive analysis applied to additional channel structures exhibits strong generalizability in qualitative findings. This paper was accepted by by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Engineering anti-individualism : a case study in social epistemology

This dissertation is a contribution to two fields of study: applied social epistemology and the philosophy of technology. That is, it is a philosophical study, based on empirical fieldwork research, of social and technical knowledge. Social knowledge here is defined as knowledge acquired through the interactions between epistemic agents and social institutions. Technical knowledge is here defined as knowledge about technical artefacts (including how to design, produce, and operate them). I argue that the two must be considered collectively both in the sense that they are best considered in the light of collectivist approaches to knowledge and in the sense that they must be considered together as part of the same analysis. An analysis solely of the interactions between human epistemic agents operating within social institutions does not give adequate credit to the technological artefacts that help to produce knowledge; an analysis of technical knowledge which does not include an analysis of how that technical knowledge is generated within a rich and complex social network would be similarly incomplete. I argue that it is often inappropriate to separate analyses of technical knowledge from social knowledge and that although not all social knowledge is technical knowledge, all technical knowledge is, by definition, social. Further, the influence of technology on epistemic cultures is so pervasive that it also forms or ̳envelops‘ what we consider to be an epistemic agent. Engineering anti-individualism: a case study in social epistemology 4
TRPV1 and Endocannabinoids: Emerging Molecular Signals that Modulate Mammalian Vision

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) subunits form a polymodal cation channel responsive to capsaicin, heat, acidity and endogenous metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids. While originally reported to serve as a pain and heat detector in the peripheral nervous system, TRPV1 has been implicated in the modulation of blood flow and osmoregulation but also neurotransmission, postsynaptic neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity within the central nervous system. In addition to its central role in nociception, evidence is accumulating that TRPV1 contributes to stimulus transduction and/or processing in other sensory modalities, including thermosensation, mechanotransduction and vision. For example, TRPV1, in conjunction with intrinsic cannabinoid signaling, might contribute to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axonal transport and excitability, cytokine release from microglial cells and regulation of retinal vasculature. While excessive TRPV1 activity was proposed to induce RGC excitotoxicity, physiological TRPV1 activity might serve a neuroprotective function within the complex context of retinal endocannabinoid signaling. In this review we evaluate the current evidence for localization and function of TRPV1 channels within the mammalian retina and explore the potential interaction of this intriguing nociceptor with endogenous agonists and modulators.
A Correlational and Factor Analytic Study of Four Questionnaire Measures of Organizational Culture

A review of the literature revealed four major self-report measures of organizational culture measuring organizational behavioral norms or values. This study set out to compare these different measures by correlational and factor analysis. The results of the correlational analysis showed the convergent validity of the questionnaires in a number of significant correlations among the overlapping subscales intended to measure the same theoretical construct in each of the four questionnaires. Finally, the factor analysis yielded six readily interpretable factors providing an eclectic framework of the organizational culture dimensions which is supported by the relevant literature. Results are discussed in terms of different frameworks and measures of organizational culture.
Effect of Postoperative Irradiation on Free Skin Flaps: An Experimental Study in Rats

The modern treatment of musculoskeletal malignant tumours often requires different combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Although combination treatments have allowed reconstruction of more complex defects, the risk of complications also rises. In clinical series the complication rate is influenced by the characteristics of the defect and the quality of the radiation used. The flap survival is high, but the overall complication rate is more than 25%. In this study we looked at the healing of microvascular free skin flaps exposed to postoperative irradiation in a rat model. Epigastric microvascular free skin flap were exposed to a single dose of 20 Gy radiation one week postoperatively ( n = 8). A comparison was made with free epigastric skin flaps without postoperative radiation ( n = 8). The healing was assessed histologically at four weeks and by measuring the tensile strength of the wound. Biochemical total nitrogen and hydroxyproline contents were also measured. Results showed that histologically the interfaces healed similarly with only minimal histomorphological changes. Neither the mechanical strength of the healing interface nor the biochemical markers altered significantly. Postoperative irradiation with a single dose of 20 Gy does not affect the survival of free skin flaps in rats. In the future the model described could be used to study the effects of combination therapy of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy more closely to find the optimal control of malignancies with limited damage to treated tissue.
Differential Transfer Benefits of Increased Practice for Constant, Blocked, and Serial Practice Schedules

Abstract The effects of practice schedule and amount of practice on the development of the generalized motor program (GMP) and on parameter estimation were investigated. Participants (N = 108) practiced the same relative timing but different absolute durations of a multisegment timing task. Practice schedules (constant, blocked, or serial) were crossed with amounts of practice (low and high). Inclusion of a constant practice condition allowed the authors to investigate the variability of practice prediction. Participants practiced the same proportional durations in a serial or a blocked schedule, which enabled the authors to examine contextual interference. A constant practice schedule enhanced GMP performance when task parameters remained the same, but varied practice schedules were beneficial when task parameters changed. A serial as opposed to a blocked practice schedule was superior when the performance of a task governed by a different GMP was required. Increased practice led to a consolidated task representation that was unavailable for updating.
Treatment of Atypical Depression With Cognitive Therapy or Phenelzine A Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background Patients with atypical depression are more likely to respond to monoamine oxidase inhibitors than to tricyclic antidepressants. They are frequently offered psychotherapy in the absence of controlled tests. There are no prospective, randomized, controlled trials, to our knowledge, of psychotherapy for atypical depression or of cognitive therapy compared with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Since there is only 1 placebo-controlled trial of cognitive therapy, this trial fills a gap in the literature on psychotherapy for depression. Methods Outpatients with DSM-III-R major depressive disorder and atypical features (N=108) were treated in a 10-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing acute-phase cognitive therapy or clinical management plus either phenelzine sulfate or placebo. Atypical features were defined as reactive mood plus at least 2 additional symptoms: hypersomnia, hyperphagia, leaden paralysis, or lifetime sensitivity to rejection. Results With the use of an intention-to-treat strategy, the response rates (21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score, ≤9) were significantly greater after cognitive therapy (58%) and phenelzine (58%) than after pill placebo (28%). Phenelzine and cognitive therapy also reduced symptoms significantly more than placebo according to contrasts after a repeated-measures analysis of covariance and random regression with the use of the blind evaluator's final Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score. The scores between cognitive therapy and phenelzine did not differ significantly. Supplemental analyses of other symptom severity measures confirm the finding. Conclusions Cognitive therapy may offer an effective alternative to standard acute-phase treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor for outpatients with major depressive disorder and atypical features.
Local Phylogeny Mapping of Quantitative Traits: Higher Accuracy and Better Ranking Than Single-Marker Association in Genomewide Scans

We present a new method, termed QBlossoc, for linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping of genetic variants underlying a quantitative trait. The method uses principles similar to a previously published method, Blossoc, for LD mapping of case/control studies. The method builds local genealogies along the genome and looks for a significant clustering of quantitative trait values in these trees. We analyze its efficiency in terms of localization and ranking of true positives among a large number of negatives and compare the results with single-marker approaches. Simulation results of markers at densities comparable to contemporary genotype chips show that QBlossoc is more accurate in localization of true positives as expected since it uses the additional information of LD between markers simultaneously. More importantly, however, for genomewide surveys, QBlossoc places regions with true positives higher on a ranked list than single-marker approaches, again suggesting that a true signal displays itself more strongly in a set of adjacent markers than a spurious (false) signal. The method is both memory and central processing unit (CPU) efficient. It has been tested on a real data set of height data for 5000 individuals measured at ∼317,000 markers and completed analysis within 5 CPU days.
Two Different Macaviruses, ovine herpesvirus-2 and caprine herpesvirus-2, Behave Differently in Water Buffaloes than in Cattle or in Their Respective Reservoir Species

The ongoing global spread of “exotic” farm animals, such as water buffaloes, which carry their native sets of viruses, may bear unknown risks for the animals, into whose ecological niches the former are introduced and vice versa. Here, we report on the occurrence of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) on Swiss farms, where “exotic” water buffaloes were kept together with “native” animals, i.e. cattle, sheep, and goats. In the first farm with 56 water buffaloes, eight cases of MCF due to ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) were noted, whereas additional ten water buffaloes were subclinically infected with either OvHV-2 or caprine herpesvirus-2 (CpHV-2). On the second farm, 13 water buffaloes were infected with CpHV-2 and two of those succumbed to MCF. In neither farm, any of the two viruses were detected in cattle, but the Macaviruses were present at high prevalence among their original host species, sheep and goats, respectively. On the third farm, sheep were kept well separated from water buffaloes and OvHV-2 was not transmitted to the buffaloes, despite of high prevalence of the virus among the sheep. Macavirus DNA was frequently detected in the nasal secretions of virus-positive animals and in one instance OvHV-2 was transmitted vertically to an unborn water buffalo calf. Thus, water buffaloes seem to be more susceptible than cattle to infection with either Macavirus; however, MCF did not develop as frequently. Therefore, water buffaloes seem to represent an interesting intermediate-type host for Macaviruses. Consequently, water buffaloes in their native, tropic environments may be vulnerable and endangered to viruses that originate from seemingly healthy, imported sheep and goats.
Evidence‐based practice and teacher action‐research: a reflection on the nature and direction of ‘change’

This study was conceived as an opportunity to reflect on the place of action-research in the contested landscape of educational change in the UK where increasing emphasis has been put on the use of evidence to drive reform. In the context of a government-sponsored project in Scotland, this study looked at the impact of a scholarship initiative supporting classroom teachers to undertake action-research projects on a topic of their own choice with the assistance of a mentor. Data collected from interviews with teachers and analysis of teacher action-research reports pointed to a multi-faceted concept of practice unfolding from individual inquiry and dialogical conversations with colleagues and university mentors. The study argues for further analysis of the use of action-research as a means to develop teachers’ knowledge and to recover the value of collective and creative engagements in education to guide reform.
Early emotional instability, prosocial behaviour, and aggression: some methodological aspects

The internal consistency of Emotional Instability, Prosocial Behaviour, and Aggression scales was examined in elementary school children aged between 7 and 10 years. Multiple informants (self‐report, teacher rating, mother rating, and peer nomination) were obtained on the above three dimensions. Relationships between the scales were first examined within the single informant frame of reference and then between informants. The concurrent validity was assessed using sociometric measures (popularity, rejection, social impact, and social preference) and the Achenbach and Edelbrock Child Behavior Checklist (teacher and parent form). The results confirm the internal validity of the three scales measuring emotional instability, prosocial behaviour, and aggression in child self‐report, teacher rating, and mother rating. The use of self‐report measures seems promising within the multiple informant strategy of research on child behaviour. Correlational results show satisfactory concurrent validity for the three scales, especially for teacher rating and peer nomination. The strict relation between emotional instability and aggression poses problems of discriminant validity which need to be further investi gated.
Alcohol Abuse and Depression in Children and Adolescents

ABSTRACT This study examines gender differences in patterns of the co-occurrence of alcohol abuse and depression in youth. Data were from 1,458 youth (ages 9–17) randomly selected from the community. The child and one parent/guardian in each household were interviewed regarding childhood psychopathology, alcohol and drug use, and a wide array of risk factors. The findings showed that: (1) alcohol abuse/dependence was associated with elevated rates of depression in youth; (2) comorbidity between depression and alcohol use/abuse could be partially explained by shared risk factors; and (3) gender differences were found in the patterns of comorbidity. After controlling for other factors, the relationship between depression and alcohol abuse/dependence was no longer significant for girls, but it remained significant for boys. Among girls, however, cigarette smoking emerged as significantly related to depression. In the prevention of substance abuse and the treatment of depressive and addictive disorders, comorbidity of alcohol abuse and depression should be taken into account. Other clinical and policy implications are also discussed.
xygen uptake kinetics at work onset : Role of cardiac output and of hosphocreatine breakdown

The hypothesis that variability in individual’s cardiac output response affects the kinetics of pulmonary O2 uptake (V̇O2 ) was tested by investigating the time constants of cardiac output (Q̇ ) adjustment ( Q), of PCr splitting ( PCr), and of phase II pulmonary O2 uptake ( VO2 ) in eight volunteers. V̇O2 , Q̇ , and gastrocnemius [PCr] (by 31P-MRS) were measured at rest and during low intensity two-legged exercise. Steady state V̇O2 and Q̇ increased ( V̇ s O2 = 182 ± 58 mL min−1; Q̇ = 1.3 ± 0.4 L min−1), whereas [PCr] decreased significantly (21 ± 8%). VO2 , PCr and Q were significantly different from each other (38.3 ± 4.0, 23.9 ± 2.5, 11.6 ± 4.6 s, respectively; p < 0.001). PCr assumed to be equal to the time constant of V̇O at the muscle 2 level ( mVO2 ), was not related to Q, whereas VO2 and Q were significantly related (p < 0.05) as were VO2 and PCr (p < 0.05). Venous blood O2 stores changes, as determined from arterio-to-mixed-venous O2 content, were essentially equal to those estimated as ( VO2 – PCr) • V̇s O2 . This suggests that cardiac output responses affect O2 stores utilization and hence VO2 : thus VO2 is not necessarily a good estimate of mVO2 .
Effects of Isokinetic Exercise on Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of isokinetic resistance exercise on torque development and movement time of individuals with cerebral palsy. Subjects (N = 30) 10 to 20 years of age were matched and assigned to one of three treatment groups: IR, isokinetic resistance; NR, repetitive practice with no resistance; and C, control. The treatment protocol consisted of exercising the tricep extensor group with 3 sets of 10 maximal speed repetitions, 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Data were collected for movement time on the Dekan Performance Analyzer with adapted photoelectric switches. Torque data were collected on the Cybex II with dual channel recorder. Significant differences (p < .05) occurred on both movement time and torque development for the isokinetically trained group. It was concluded that isokinetic resistance exercise affected neuromuscular performance in these youths with cerebral palsy similar to the nonhandicapped population.
Deconstructing adults’ and children's discourse on children's play: listening to children's voices to destabilise deficit narratives

This study used discourse analysis to compare the language adults use to discuss contemporary children's play and children's narratives of their own play experiences. Adult discourse was analysed to determine whether they positioned children through deficit or strength and the attributions of responsibility embedded within their language choices (e.g. assuming responsibility is with the child, family or society). Interviews were completed with 98 children (3–17) living in the USA and interviews and surveys were completed with 135 adults (18–88) from 21 different countries. Children emphasise interconnection with others, being outdoors and using open-ended toys to imagine and explore when discussing their play with little mention of technology. A majority of adults (78%) used deficit discourse and few used strengths-based language to discuss children's play (21%). Adult discourse differed significantly from children's descriptions of their own play. Findings suggest the importance of including children's perspectives in research on children's play.