Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic fluoxetine administration inhibits extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation in rat brain

Accumulating evidence indicates that antidepressants alter intracellular signalling mechanisms resulting in long‐term synaptic alterations which probably account for the delay in clinical action of these drugs. Therefore, we investigated the effects of chronic fluoxetine administration on extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2, a group of MAPKs that mediate signal transduction from the cell surface downstream to the nucleus. Our data demonstrate that 3‐week fluoxetine treatment resulted in long‐lasting reduction of phospho‐ERK 1 and 2. Such an effect depends on the length of the treatment given that no changes were observed after a single drug injection or after 2 weeks of treatment and it is region specific, being observed in hippocampus and frontal cortex but not in striatum. Finally, phospho‐ERK 1 and 2 were differently modulated within nucleus and cytosol in hippocampus but similarly reduced in the same compartments of the frontal cortex, highlighting the specific subcellular compartmentalization of fluoxetine. Conversely, imipramine did not reduce the hippocampal phosphorylation of both ERK subtypes whereas it selectively increased ERK 1 phosphorylation in the cytosolic compartment of frontal cortex suggesting a drug‐specific effect on this intracellular target. These results point to modulation of phosphorylation, rather than altered expression, as the main target in the action of fluoxetine on this pathway. The reduction of ERK 1/2 function herein reported may be associated with the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine in the treatment of depression.
Epigenetic silencing of the WNT antagonist Dickkopf 3 disrupts normal Wnt/β-catenin signalling and apoptosis regulation in breast cancer cells

Dickkopf‐related protein 3 (DKK3) is an antagonist of Wnt ligand activity. Reduced DKK3 expression has been reported in various types of cancers, but its functions and related molecular mechanisms in breast tumorigenesis remain unclear. We examined the expression and promoter methylation of DKK3 in 10 breast cancer cell lines, 96 primary breast tumours, 43 paired surgical margin tissues and 16 normal breast tissues. DKK3 was frequently silenced in breast cell lines (5/10) by promoter methylation, compared with human normal mammary epithelial cells and tissues. DKK3 methylation was detected in 78% of breast tumour samples, whereas only rarely methylated in normal breast and surgical margin tissues, suggesting tumour‐specific methylation of DKK3 in breast cancer. Ectopic expression of DKK3 suppressed cell colony formation through inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of breast tumour cells. DKK3 also induced changes of cell morphology, and inhibited breast tumour cell migration through reversing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and down‐regulating stem cell markers. DKK3 inhibited canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling through mediating β‐catenin translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm and membrane, along with reduced active‐β‐catenin, further activating non‐canonical JNK signalling. Thus, our findings demonstrate that DKK3 could function as a tumour suppressor through inducing apoptosis and regulating Wnt signalling during breast tumorigenesis.
A Quantitative Relationship between Signal Detection in Attention and Approach/Avoidance Behavior

This study examines how the domains of reward and attention, which are often studied as independent processes, in fact interact at a systems level. We operationalize divided attention with a continuous performance task and variables from signal detection theory (SDT), and reward/aversion with a keypress task measuring approach/avoidance in the framework of relative preference theory (RPT). Independent experiments with the same subjects showed a significant association between one SDT and two RPT variables, visualized as a three-dimensional structure. Holding one of these three variables constant, further showed a significant relationship between a loss aversion-like metric from the approach/avoidance task, and the response bias observed during the divided attention task. These results indicate that a more liberal response bias under signal detection (i.e., a higher tolerance for noise, resulting in a greater proportion of false alarms) is associated with higher “loss aversion. ” Furthermore, our functional model suggests a mechanism for processing constraints with divided attention and reward/aversion. Together, our results argue for a systematic relationship between divided attention and reward/aversion processing in humans.
4F Decreases IRF5 Expression and Activation in Hearts of Tight Skin Mice

The apoAI mimetic 4F was designed to inhibit atherosclerosis by improving HDL. We reported that treating tight skin (Tsk−/+) mice, a model of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with 4F decreases inflammation and restores angiogenic potential in Tsk−/+ hearts. Interferon regulating factor 5 (IRF5) is important in autoimmunity and apoptosis in immune cells. However, no studies were performed investigating IRF5 in myocardium. We hypothesize that 4F differentially modulates IRF5 expression and activation in Tsk−/+ hearts. Posterior wall thickness was significantly increased in Tsk−/+ compared to C57Bl/6J (control) and Tsk−/+ mice with 4F treatment assessed by echoradiography highlighting reduction of fibrosis in 4F treated Tsk−/+ mice. IRF5 in heart lysates from control and Tsk/+ with and without 4F treatment (sc, 1 mg/kg/d, 6–8 weeks) was determined. Phosphoserine, ubiquitin, ubiquitin K63 on IRF5 were determined on immunoprecipitates of IRF5. Immunofluorescence and TUNEL assays in heart sections were used to determine positive nuclei for IRF5 and apoptosis, respectively. Fluorescence-labeled streptavidin (SA) was used to determine endothelial cell uptake of biotinylated 4F. SA-agarose pulldown and immunoblotting for IRF5 were used to determine 4F binding IRF5 in endothelial cell cytosolic fractions and to confirm biolayer interferometry studies. IRF5 levels in Tsk−/+ hearts were similar to control. 4F treatments decrease IRF5 in Tsk−/+ hearts and decrease phosphoserine and ubiquitin K63 but increase total ubiquitin on IRF5 in Tsk−/+ compared with levels on IRF5 in control hearts. 4F binds IRF5 by mechanisms favoring association over dissociation strong enough to pull down IRF5 from a mixture of endothelial cell cytosolic proteins. IRF5 positive nuclei and apoptotic cells in Tsk−/+ hearts were increased compared with controls. 4F treatments decreased both measurements in Tsk−/+ hearts. IRF5 activation in Tsk−/+ hearts is increased. 4F treatments decrease IRF5 expression and activation in Tsk−/+ hearts by a mechanism related to 4F’s ability to bind IRF5.
Die Entwicklung des prospektiven Gedächtnisses über die Lebensspanne

Zusammenfassung. Das prospektive Gedachtnis bezeichnet das Zusammenspiel jener kognitiven Fahigkeiten, die daran beteiligt sind, intendierte Handlungen zu planen und sie spater zur adaquaten Gelegenheit selbststandig zu realisieren. In dieser Ubersichtsarbeit werden Befunde von Studien erortert, welche die Entwicklung des prospektiven Erinnerns im Kindes- und Jugendalter und vom jungeren zum hoheren Erwachsenenalter untersuchten. Neben der Identifikation erster konsistenter Trends wird auserdem auf eine paradoxe und bisher noch ungeklarte Befundlage bezuglich des alterskorrelierten Ausfuhrens intendierter Handlungen im Labor und im Alltagsleben hingewiesen. Uber die Deskription hinausgehend werden in einem zweiten Teil potenzielle Erklarungsmechanismen der Entwicklung des prospektiven Gedachtnisses uber die Lebensspanne identifiziert und kritisch diskutiert.
Bully/Victim Problems and Their Association With Psychological Constructs in 8- to 12-Year-Old Greek Schoolchildren

The aim of the present study was to replicate some of the already existing findings regarding the assessment of bully/victim problems in a sample of Greek primary school pupils using the Bullying Behaviour Scale and the Peer Victimisation Scale [Austin S, Joseph S (1996): British Journal of Educational Psychology 66: 447-456] and to extend the investigation of the association between bully/victim problems and personality by examining the self-esteem, Machiavellianism, and locus of control of children who are classified as bullies, victims, or both bullies and,victims. Associations with the Self-Perception Profile for Children [Harter S (1985): University of Denver] were also examined for the same purpose. The results suggest that what sets bully/victims apart from bullies or victims is their low social acceptance and their high level of Machiavellianism and negative self-esteem, Implications for interventions against bullying are briefly discussed.
Language Motivation Revisited.

The addition of the concept of motivation to models of second language learning has been a major contribution of social psychologists, especially Wallace Lambert and Robert Gardner, and an illustration of the sometimes ignored fact that educational linguistics applies more than just linguistics. Returning to Lambert's original formulation of the notion, one finds that he postulated that integrative motivation affected advanced levels of phonology and semantics. The paper notes that this hypothesis has not been fully explored. It says also that Lambert himself seemed to have been open to the more discursive methods now favored by scholars toot satisfied with using only questionnaires to gather data. It calls therefore for triangulation of methodology, using also hard sociolinguistic data and personal statements of second language learners, and provides some examples taken from studies of Palestinian Arabic and from studies of immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union learning Hebrew
Inhibitory control and visuo-spatial reversibility in Piaget's seminal number conservation task: a high-density ERP study

The present high-density event-related potential (ERP) study on 13 adults aimed to determine whether number conservation relies on the ability to inhibit the overlearned length-equals-number strategy and then imagine the shortening of the row that was lengthened. Participants performed the number-conservation task and, after the EEG session, the mental imagery task. In the number-conservation task, first two rows with the same number of tokens and the same length were presented on a computer screen (COV condition) and then, the tokens in one of the two rows were spread apart (INT condition). Participants were instructed to determine whether the two rows had an identical number of tokens. In the mental imagery task, two rows with different lengths but the same number of tokens were presented and participants were instructed to imagine the tokens in the longer row aligning with the tokens in the shorter row. In the number-conservation task, we found that the amplitudes of the centro-parietal N2 and fronto-central P3 were higher in the INT than in the COV conditions. In addition, the differences in response times between the two conditions were correlated with the differences in the amplitudes of the fronto-central P3. In light of previous results reported on the number-conservation task in adults, the present results suggest that inhibition might be necessary to succeed the number-conservation task in adults even when the transformation of the length of one of the row is displayed. Finally, we also reported correlations between the speed at which participants could imagine the shortening of one of the row in the mental imagery task, the speed at which participants could determine that the two rows had the same number of tokens after the tokens in one of the row were spread apart and the latency of the late positive parietal component in the number-conservation task. Therefore, performing the number-conservation task might involve mental transformation processes in adults.
Stability and change in paternal involvement among urban African American fathers

Urban African American fathers' involvement with their children born outside of marriage is assessed through maternal reports. Multivariable composites of paternal involvement indicate that about half of unmarried fathers are highly involved at the time of birth and when children are preschool age, and half are uninvolved. However, nearly 40% of fathers move into or out of active parenting during this time. Multinomial logit analyses indicate that paternal education and employment increase the likelihood that fathers will be highly involved as children age and decrease the odds of a loss of paternal involvement. Strong or harmonious mother-father relations (romantic or not) increase the odds of fathers' being highly involved and mediate the impact of fathers residential and marita: status. Finally, neither new maternal partners nor highly involved grandmothers deter paternal involvement.
Nestling mouth colour: ecological correlates of a begging signal

The mouths of begging nestlings vary widely in colour, ranging from yellow in robins, Erithacus rubecula, to red in reed buntings, Emberiza schoeniclus. Two functions have been suggested for bright nestling mouth colour: (1) it may improve the detectability of chicks, particularly in poorly lit nests and (2) within species, it may signal need. We tested these hypotheses in a comparative analysis, measuring the mouth colours of nestlings from 31 species under conditions of standardized light availability and food deprivation. Changes in mouth colour signalled need only among the seed-regurgitating finches. In these species there was a 'red flush' at the onset of begging, which became redder with increasing food deprivation. No other species showed these changes, including the closely related chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs, which feeds its young insects. We found no evidence that mouth colour was correlated with the light available in the nest. We did find, however, that nestlings in darker nests improved their conspicuousness through the relative colour and size of the flange that borders their brightly coloured mouths. Nestlings from darker nests had relatively wider flanges, which were whiter and less densely coloured in relation to their mouth colour, than those of chicks reared in better illuminated nests. Clutch size was not related to mouth or flange colour, or relative flange size. We suggest that nestling mouth colour has not been selected to make chicks detectable, but that this is the function of the surrounding flange. We also discuss reasons why signals of need through mouth colour are not more widespread. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
The predictability of data values

The predictability of data values is studied at a fundamental level. Two basic predictor models are defined: computational predictors perform an operation on previous values to yield predicted next values. Examples we study are stride value prediction (which adds a delta to a previous value) and last value prediction (which performs the trivial identity operation on the previous value). Context based predictors match recent value history (context) with previous value history and predict values based entirely on previously observed patterns. To understand the potential of value prediction we perform simulations with unbounded prediction tables that are immediately updated using correct data values. Simulations of integer SPEC95 benchmarks show that data values can be highly predictable. Best performance is obtained with context based predictors; overall prediction accuracies are between 56% and 91%. The context based predictor typically has an accuracy about 20% better than the computational predictors (last value and stride). Comparison of context based prediction and stride prediction shows that the higher accuracy of context based prediction is due to relatively few static instructions giving large improvements; this suggests the usefulness of hybrid predictors. Among different instruction types, predictability varies significantly. In general, load and shift instructions are more difficult to predict correctly, whereas add instructions are more predictable.
What Makes Ms. Johnson Teach? A Study of Teacher Motivation

The need configurations underlying the motivations of public school teachers are examined here with regard to teacher perceptions of pay equity relative to other factors such as work autonomy, intrinsic work elements, and satisfaction of so-called higher-order needs. A Q sort forced distributions research instrument containing 37 attitudinal statements was administered to a group of 167 teachers of a medium-sized city in Oklahoma. The survey netted 135 usable questionnaires (76%). The data were R factor analyzed producing six clear factors, which dealt with: social variables and collegial support; positive supervisor relations; gratification from intrinsic work elements and dissatisfaction with extrinsic elements such as pay and benefits; interesting work and appropriate responsibility levels; opportunities for learning and development combined with negative attitudes about day-to-day duties; and job security, clear expectations, and excessive workloads. The study concluded that teacher motivation is based in the freedom to try new ideas, achievement of appropriate responsibility levels, and intrinsic work elements. The latter were of transcendent importance to our respondents. Based upon our findings, schemes such as merit pay were predicted to be counterproductive in service organizations which employ professionally trained people.
Occlusion based interaction methods for tangible augmented reality environments

Traditional Tangible Augmented Reality (Tangible AR) interfaces combine a mixture of tangible user interface and augmented reality technology, complementing each other for novel interaction methods and real world anchored visualization. However, well known conventional one and two dimensional interaction methods such as pressing buttons, changing slider values, or menu selections are often quite difficult to apply to Tangible AR interfaces. In this paper we suggest a new approach, occlusion based interaction, in which visual occlusion of physical markers are used to provide intuitive two dimensional interaction in Tangible AR environments. We describe how to implement occlusion based interfaces for Tangible AR environments, give several examples of applications and describe results from informal user studies.
Dissociations between serial position and number of letters effects in lateralised visual word recognition

Some previous studies of visual word recognition have reported an interaction between visual field and word length (measured by number of letters), such that recognition is affected more by word length for words presented in the left than for words presented in the right visual field. However, when manipulating serial position of letters in words to measure length effects, there are also reports of symmetrical word length effects in the two visual fields. Here we report two experiments, presenting four- and seven-letter words, suggesting that the serial position and length effects in the hemispheres are separable and task dependent. For tasks that rely more heavily on letter-level processing such as letter search (Experiment 1), performance in both hemifields showed similar effects of serial position; however, when comparing four- and seven-letter words, an effect of word length was evident only in the left visual field, in line with the well-established interaction between word length and hemifield. An interaction between word length and hemifield was confirmed for the same stimuli when they were employed in a lexical decision task, which forced whole-word processing (Experiment 2). We conclude that the effects of serial position and number of letters in the two visual fields are separable, and are selectively affected by task type.
The Best of Times and the Worst of Times: Structural Adjustment Programs and Uneven Development in Africa: The Case Of Ghana

Since 1983, Ghana has been undergoing World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) sponsored Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs). The implementation of the SAPs, it is claimed, has arrested Ghana's economy from complete collapse, resulted in consistent growth in GDP averaging 6% over the past decade, reduced inflation levels, created budget surplus, and increased export earnings. Compared to the 1970s, these are the best of times indeed. But while these SAPs-derived improvements in the national economy have been recorded at the macro level, the benefits at the micro level are a matter of considerable debate. This study revisits the issue of socioeconomic and spatial disparities that have characterized Ghana since colonial times, emphasizing the period from 1983 when Ghana's SAPs began. It examines current patterns of socioeconomic disparities with emphasis on the distribution of, and access to, health, education, basic services, and the like. The study focuses on urban-rural as well as interregional disparities in the country.
The Status of Program Evaluation Expectations in State School Counselor Certification Requirements

State-level school counselor certification requirements are discussed with respect to program evaluation expectations. Certification offices of all 50 states and Washington, DC, were asked to supply current school counselor knowledge and skill requirements. Nineteen states and Washington, DC, require some form of program evaluation knowledge and skills. Only Colorado and Washington specifically require program evaluation standards recommended by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs for their school counseling programs. These findings suggest that the nation may be producing school counselors deficient in the program evaluation skills needed to meet their professional responsibilities. Several recommendations are made for ameliorating the current training deficiencies of pre-service school counselors and for using in-service training to remediate the program evaluation knowledge and skill gap of practicing school counselors. Implications for the larger evaluation community are discussed.
Title I Schoolwide Programs: A Synthesis of Findings From Recent Evaluation

Recent federal legislation, including the 1994 Improving America’s Schools Act, has enabled broad expansion of Title I schoolwide programs to over 8,000 schools across the nation. These regulatory changes are intended to reduce the historically fragmented or categorical character of title I programs and improve the effectiveness of entire schools rather than targeting services to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged subpopulations. Despite the dramatic increase in the number of schoolwide programs, there is little comprehensive information about them and their effectiveness relative to traditional Title I programming. This article presents a synthesis of what is known about Title I schoolwide programs, focusing on three aspects: characteristics of schools and districts implementing schoolwide programs, programmatic and organizational characteristics of schoolwide program schools and districts, and evidence of the effectiveness of schoolwide program schools, particularly in terms of student performance. In addition to reviewing these evaluation findings, we present several cautions related to their interpretation. Finally, we suggest implications for future evaluations and discuss policy implications for school improvement.
The quality of social support: Measures of family and work relationships

This paper describes the development of indices of the quality of social support in the family (FRI) and work (WRI) environments. Respondents were a randomly selected community sample of 267 men and 267 women adult family members. The FRI and WRI were found to have high reliability and good concurrent and construct validity. The FRI and WRI (for male respondents) were negatively related to physical and psychological symptoms, and both indices showed moderate positive relationships to a traditional measure of social support.