Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vitronectin Increases Vascular Permeability by Promoting VE-Cadherin Internalization at Cell Junctions

Background Cross-talk between integrins and cadherins regulates cell function. We tested the hypothesis that vitronectin (VN), a multi-functional adhesion molecule present in the extracellular matrix and plasma, regulates vascular permeability via effects on VE-cadherin, a critical regulator of endothelial cell (EC) adhesion. Methodology/Principal Findings Addition of multimeric VN (mult VN) significantly increased VE-cadherin internalization in human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) monolayers. This effect was blocked by the anti-αVβ3 antibody, pharmacological inhibition and knockdown of Src kinase. In contrast to mult VN, monomeric VN did not trigger VE-cadherin internalization. In a modified Miles assay, VN deficiency impaired vascular endothelial growth factor-induced permeability. Furthermore, ischemia-induced enhancement of vascular permeability, expressed as the ratio of FITC-dextran leakage from the circulation into the ischemic and non-ischemic hindlimb muscle, was significantly greater in the WT mice than in the Vn −/− mice. Similarly, ischemia-mediated macrophage infiltration was significantly reduced in the Vn −/− mice vs. the WT controls. We evaluated changes in the multimerization of VN in ischemic tissue in a mouse hindlimb ischemia model. VN plays a previously unrecognized role in regulating endothelial permeability via conformational- and integrin-dependent effects on VE-cadherin trafficking. Conclusion/Significance These results have important implications for the regulation of endothelial function and angiogenesis by VN under normal and pathological conditions.
Correlation of Choroidal Thickness and Volume Measurements with Axial Length and Age Using Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Low-Coherence Reflectometry

Purpose. To report choroidal thickness and volume in healthy eyes using swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods. A prospective observational study of 122 patients examined with swept source OCT (DRI-OCT, Topcon, Japan). In each eye, we performed 256 horizontal scans, 12 mm in length and centered on the fovea. We calculated choroidal thickness manually with a built-in caliper and automatically using DRI-OCT mapping software. Choroidal volume was also automatically calculated. We measured axial length with optical low-coherence reflectometry (Lenstar LS 900, Haag-Streit, Switzerland). Results. The choroid has focally increased thickness under the fovea. Choroid was thinnest in the outer nasal quadrant. In stepwise regression analysis, age was estimated as the most significant factor correlating with decreased choroidal thickness (F = 23.146, P < 0.001) followed by axial length (F = 4.902, P = 0.03). Refractive error was not statistically significant (F = 1.16, P = 0.28). Conclusions. SS-OCT is the first commercially available system that can automatically create choroidal thickness and volume maps. Choroidal thickness is increased at the fovea and is thinnest nasally. Age and axial length are critical for the estimation of choroidal thickness and volume. Choroidal measurements derived from SS-OCT images have potential value for objectively documenting disease-related choroidal thickness abnormalities and monitoring progressive changes over time.
OsPEX11, a Peroxisomal Biogenesis Factor 11, Contributes to Salt Stress Tolerance in Oryza sativa

Peroxisomes are single membrane-bound organelles, whose basic enzymatic constituents are catalase and H2O2-producing flavin oxidases. Previous reports showed that peroxisome is involved in numerous processes including primary and secondary metabolism, plant development and abiotic stress responses. However, knowledge on the function of different peroxisome genes from rice and its regulatory roles in salt and other abiotic stresses is limited. Here, a novel prey protein, OsPEX11 (Os03g0302000), was screened and identified by yeast two-hybrid and GST pull-down assays. Phenotypic analysis of OsPEX11 overexpression seedlings demonstrated that they had better tolerance to salt stress than wild type (WT) and OsPEX11-RNAi seedlings. Compared with WT and OsPEX11-RNAi seedlings, overexpression of OsPEX11 had lower level of lipid peroxidation, Na+/K+ ratio, higher activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT) and proline accumulation. Furthermore, qPCR data suggested that OsPEX11 acted as a positive regulator of salt tolerance by reinforcing the expression of several well-known rice transporters (OsHKT2;1, OsHKT1;5, OsLti6a, OsLti6b, OsSOS1, OsNHX1, and OsAKT1) involved in Na+/K+ homeostasis in transgenic plants under salinity. Ultrastructural observations of OsPEX11-RNAi seedlings showed that they were less sensitive to salt stress than WT and overexpression lines. These results provide experimental evidence that OsPEX11 is an important gene implicated in Na+ and K+ regulation, and plays a critical role in salt stress tolerance by modulating the expression of cation transporters and antioxidant defense. Thus, OsPEX11 could be considered in transgenic breeding for improvement of salt stress tolerance in rice crop.
Improving Prediction Algorithms for Cardiometabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents

Clustering of abnormal metabolic traits, the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), has been associated with an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Several algorithms including the MetS and other risk factors exist for adults to predict the risk of CVD. We discuss the use of MetS scores and algorithms in an attempt to predict later cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents and offer suggestions for developing clinically useful algorithms in this population. There is little consensus in how to define the MetS or to predict future CVD risk using the MetS and other risk factors in children and adolescents. The MetS scores and prediction algorithms we identified had usually not been tested against a clinical outcome, such as CVD, and they had not been validated in other populations. This makes comparisons of algorithms impossible. We suggest a simple two-step approach for predicting the risk of adult cardiometabolic disease in overweight children. It may have advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness since it uses simple measurements in the first step and more complex, costly measurements in the second step. It also takes advantage of the continuous distributions of the metabolic features. We suggest piloting and validating any new algorithms.
Use of Digital Stories to Develop Listening Comprehension Skills.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of digital stories on the Turkish (mother language) listening skills of fourth grade students. The study used a mixed methods and was conducted in two fourth grade classrooms (ages 9-10 years) in a primary school in Eskisehir city, Turkey, during the 2014-2015 spring semester. During the 8-week application process, Turkish lessons were conducted using digital stories and activities were designed depending on the digital stories. While the lesson plans were put into action by the classroom teacher, the researcher observed the process. Research data were obtained also from a listening comprehension test, and teacher and student interviews. Quantitative data from the listening comprehension test was analysed using ttests, and the qualitative data was subjected to descriptive analysis. A significant difference was found between the post-test listening comprehension scores for the experimental and control groups. The qualitative data from student and teacher interviews, and from classroom observations, showed that digital stories, listening activities based on the stories, and the creation of a more engaging and motivating classroom environment had positive effects on listening comprehension skills in the experimental group.
Languages and Genes: Reflections on Biolinguistics and the Nature-Nurture Question

We are concerned with the impact of rapid progress in genetics and cognitive neuroscience on linguists’ conceptions of the biological bases of language and on the overarching issue of nature and nurture in linguistics. The particular focus of our discussion is the recent claim (Dediu & Ladd 2007) that there is a causal relationship between genetic and linguistic diversities at the population level, involving two brain growth-related genes and linguistic tone. Our broader aim, however, is to consider the implications of such relationships — assuming that they actually exist — for those who are “seriously engaged in discovering the properties of grammar” and for those who are attempting to “provide explicit answers to [necessarily interdisciplinary] questions” about language as a biological phenomenon. We argue that broad biological findings and insights must eventually inform the work of those whose interests and activities in biolinguistics are covered by Boeckx & Grohmann’s weak sense of the term.
A Steep Trajectory: An Educational Autoethnography of a Working Class Late Bloomer

ii Acknowledgements . iii Dedication . v CHAPTER ONE: THE JOURNEY BEGINS . 1 Background (and) Story . 1 Educational Trajectories . 3 Educational Trajectories of Working Class Students . 6 Introduction to Theory . 10 Family History: Conditions that Condition Me . 12 Hisand HerStories . 14 A Curriculum Vitae for Analysis. 20 Research Purpose and Questions . 28 CHAPTER TWO: A (NON) REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE . 30 Who is “Working Class? ”. 32 Theoretical Framework. 40 Linking Theory to Method Through Epistemology . 47 CHAPTER THREE: A METHOD/OLOGY FOR OUTLIERS . 49 Data Collection and Analysis . 53 Ethical Considerations . 60 Establishing Credibility . 65 Researcher Assumptions . 67 Scope of the Study . 69 The Study . 70 CHAPTER FOUR: DEMYSTIFYING THE SELF . 72 Linguistic Capital or Unrecognized Currency? 78 Rurality . 96 Whiteness by Degree: Between Privilege and Passing . 123 CHAPTER FIVE: A HARD HABITUS TO BREAK . 161 Summary and Discussion . 161 Implications for Practice . 170 Final Thoughts . 172 References . 174
Potential theory method for 3D crack and contact problems of multi-field coupled media: A survey

This paper presents an overview of the recent progress of potential theory method in the analysis of mixed boundary value problems mainly stemming from three-dimensional crack or contact problems of multi-field coupled media. This method was used to derive a series of exact three dimensional solutions which should be of great theoretical significance because most of them usually cannot be derived by other methods such as the transform method and the trial-and-error method. Further, many solutions are obtained in terms of elementary functions that enable us to treat more complicated problems easily. It is pointed out here that the method is usually only applicable to media characterizing transverse isotropy, from which, however, the results for the isotropic case can be readily obtained.
Regret as a Modulatory System: How Imagined Futures Become Real Pasts

The goal of this research was to empirically test a proposed theory that was developed to explain how humans simulate future undesirable outcomes, evaluate their past behaviors, and potentially grow from these experiences through anticipated and retrospective regret. Using a longitudinal design, we measured students’ study habit quality, study habit quantity, study goals, anticipated regret, retrospective regret, and behavior-goal inconsistency. From this, we proposed four specific hypotheses: (a) conscientiousness will moderate the relationship between study habits and anticipated regret, (b) anticipated regret will positively predict study habits mediated through anticipated inconsistency, (c) the consistency-fit mediation findings from Seta et al. (2001) will replicate such that poor decisions will predict increased levels of retrospective regret, mediated through behavioral-goal inconsistency (d) retrospective regret will predict future anticipated regret will be mediated through a desire to change future behavior. We found that conscientiousness may moderate the relationship between anticipated regret and study habits (though it does uniquely predict study habits), anticipated regret does positively predict study habits mediated through anticipated inconsistency, the consistency-fit mediation findings were replicated, and the relationship between retrospective regret and anticipated regret is moderated by a desire to change future behavior. These findings suggest that regret indeed plays an important and functional role in day-to-day selfregulation and goal-setting.
Lightning surge impedance measurement on control building using Electromagnetic Transient Program

This paper demonstrates the electromagnetic behavior of transient response of lightning surge strike on control building and power system. Surge responses of control building are analyzed using electromagnetic transient program (EMTP). A direct lightning stroke to a building may cause damages or interference in the operation of electronic equipment inside the structure and even be dangerous for the people in the more critical case. In order to decide on an efficient lightning protection system, it is very important to determine the lightning current distribution in the building. The accuracy of this method is shown to be satisfactory with the simulation result based on the numerical electromagnetic code (NEC-2) that were carried out on control building as reduced scale model. Lightning over-voltages must be taken into account when designing a control building. In the world, especially in Japan various studied, therefore, have been done to measure the characteristics of the line components and to develop their equivalent circuit models for the electromagnetic transient program (EMTP) simulations. Surge impedance is calculated by both the vertical and horizontal stroke analyses method.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Sensitizes Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Lines to Paclitaxel and Cisplatin

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor, encoded by the MET oncogene, is expressed in ∼70% of human ovarian carcinomas and overexpressed in 30% of cases. Because HGF is known to protect cells from apoptosis, we investigated whether receptor expression modifies ovarian cancer cell response to chemotherapy. The apoptotic effect of the front-line chemotherapeutic drugs paclitaxel and cisplatin on cells treated with HGF was studied. In ovarian cancer cell lines, pretreatment with HGF surprisingly enhances the apoptotic response to low doses of paclitaxel and cisplatin. HGF empowers specifically the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, whereas it protects cells from extrinsic Fas-induced apoptosis. Chemotherapy sensitization is specific for HGF because another growth factor (e.g., epidermal growth factor) increases ovarian cancer cell survival. In nonovarian cancer cell models, as expected, HGF provides protection from drug-induced apoptosis. These data show that HGF sensitizes ovarian carcinoma cells to low-dose chemotherapeutic agents. This suggests that HGF may be used to improve response to chemotherapy in a set of human ovarian carcinomas molecularly classified based on the MET oncogene expression.
The influence of individual difference variables on vocal emotion processing

Extensive research has been done on vocal emotion processing and it has been repeatedly argued that individual difference variables can influence emotion processing. Few studies have, however, examined these differences systematically and comprehensively in the vocal emotion domain. Thus, three studies using different research paradigms were performed to explore how individual differences might impact on vocal emotion perception; Study 1 examined influences of individual differences on vocal emotion recognition accuracy of emotionally intoned, semantically neutral sentences, as well perceived speaker intensity; Study 2 examined the time-course of vocal emotion processing using pseudo-utterance stimuli. Finally, Study 3 studied event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to examine brain responses to vocal emotions. In all three studies, self-reports were collected on individual differences (stable personality traits, short-term fluctuations in mood, differences in affect intensity, and general life satisfaction). Results from all three studies showed that there was no systematic relationship between vocal emotion processing and the various self-reported measures. The current project is the first attempt to explore the relationship between vocal emotion processing and individual differences in a systematic and comprehensive manner; combined results suggest that the continuously proposed influence of individual differences might have been overemphasised in the previous literature at least for the vocal domain.
The Gait Deviation Index Is Associated with Hip Muscle Strength and Patient-Reported Outcome in Patients with Severe Hip Osteoarthritis—A Cross-Sectional Study

Background The Gait Deviation Index summarizes overall gait ‘quality’, based on kinematic data from a 3-dimensional gait analysis. However, it is unknown which clinical outcomes may affect the Gait Deviation Index in patients with primary hip osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between Gait Deviation Index as a measure of gait ‘quality’ and hip muscle strength and between Gait Deviation Index and patient-reported outcomes in patients with primary hip osteoarthritis. Method Forty-seven patients (34 males), aged 61.1 ± 6.7 years, with BMI 27.3 ± 3.4 (kg/m2) and with severe primary hip osteoarthritis underwent 3-dimensional gait analysis. Mean Gait Deviation Index, pain after walking and maximal isometric hip muscle strength (flexor, extensor, and abductor) were recorded. All patients completed the ‘Physical Function Short-form of the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS-Physical Function) and the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscales for pain (HOOS-Pain) and quality-of-life (HOOS-QOL). Results Mean Gait Deviation Index was positively associated with hip abduction strength (p<0.01, r = 0.40), hip flexion strength (p = 0.01, r = 0.37), HOOS-Physical Function (p<0.01, r = 0.41) HOOS-QOL (p<0.01, r = 0.41), and negatively associated with HOOS-Pain after walking (p<0.01, r = -0.45). Adjusting the analysis for walking speed did not affect the association. Conclusion Patients with the strongest hip abductor and hip flexor muscles had the best gait ‘quality’. Furthermore, patients with higher physical function, quality of life scores and lower pain levels demonstrated better gait ‘quality’. These findings indicate that interventions aimed at improving hip muscle strength and pain management may to a moderate degree improve the overall gait ‘quality’ in patients with primary hip OA.
Adoptive transfer of murine syngeneic graft‐vs.‐host disease by CD4+ T cells

Syngeneic graft‐vs.‐host disease (SGVHD) develops in rodents following the treatment of lethally irradiated, bone marrow (BM) reconstituted animals with a short course of the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine A (CsA). Using an in vivo depletion approach, we recently demonstrated that CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells participated in inducing SGVHD. Studies were therefore undertaken to adoptively transfer SGVHD into lethally irradiated, syngeneic BM reconstituted secondary recipients. Whole T cell populations as well as purified CD4+T cells isolated from SGVHD, but not normal or transplant control, animals mediated the transfer of SGVHD into secondary recipients. These cells have an apparent specificity for enteric bacterial antigens. The pathologic process that developed was identical to that observed in the animals with de novo SGVHD after syngeneic BMT and CsA therapy. It was shown that a radiation‐sensitive mechanism prevented the transfer of SGVHD into normal, nonirradiated secondary recipients. The ability to reproducibly transfer SGVHD into secondary recipients will enhance our ability to study regulatory mechanisms that are altered during CsA therapy and permit the development of murine CsA‐induced SGVHD.
Human Behavior as Language: Some Thoughts on Wittgenstein

Language has been traditionally considered as a special psychological or behavioral phenomenon, with a logical status similar to other phenomena such as learning, memory, and thinking. Based on Wittgenstein's notion of language game, I argue that language is not limited to a psychological phenomenon, but rather it constitutes the functional dimensions under which human behavior develops and becomes meaningful. I propose three dimensions of language relevant to human behavior: a) as a medium, b) as an instrument, and c) as a form of life. Psychology, in its endeavor to understand human behavior, has been involved in the analysis of language as the crucial characteristic distinguishing human from sub-human behavior (Mowrer, 1980; Piaget, 1952; Skinner, 1957; Slobin, 1971; Watson, 1924). Although this concern has been approached from positions highly diverse regarding assumptions about language, most (if not all) share a common belief: language is a psychological phenomenon, and its morphology is central to any attempt to understand it. The conception of language as a psychological phenomenon has to do with two different sets of assumptions: a) language is seen as behavior (covert or overt) or as a special kind of environmental event (verbal stimuli), or b) language is seen as an external indicator of the structure of cognitive processes dealing with functions such as communicating, imagining, remembering, learning, perceiving, and so on.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN.

Hong Kong's new airport covers an area of 1248 ha, of which three quarters has been reclaimed from the sea. This paper describes the civil engineering design for the HK$ 50 billion project including the reclamation, runways, 550 000 m2 passenger terminal building, ground transportation centre and supporting infrastructure. It covers the early site selection and the factors affecting the layout of the airport. It details the leading role taken by the Authority in the prediction of reclamation settlement and how this was accounted for in the design and construction of the works. It concludes with a brief description of the wide-ranging environmental initiatives which were applied at all stages of this massive project.
GM crops : The global economic and environmental impact-The first nine years 1996-2004

2005 represents the tenth planting season since genetically modified (GM) crops were first grown in 1996. This milestone provides the opportunity to critically assess the impact this technology is having on global agriculture. This study examines specific global economic impacts on farm income and environmental impacts of the technology with respect to pesticide usage and greenhouse gas emissions for each of the countries where GM crops have been grown since 1996. The analysis shows that there have been substantial net economic benefits at the farm level amounting to a cumulative total of $27 billion. The technology has reduced pesticide spraying by 172 million kg and has reduced the environmental footprint associated with pesticide use by 14%. The technology has also significantly reduced the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, which is equivalent to removing five million cars from the roads.