Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Promoter-dependent Synergy between Glucocorticoid Receptor and Stat5 in the Activation of β-Casein Gene Transcription*

Steroid hormone receptors and Stat factors comprise two distinct families of inducible transcription factors. Activation of a member of each family, namely the glucocorticoid receptor by glucocorticoids and Stat5 by prolactin, is required for the efficient induction of the expression of milk protein genes in the mammary epithelium. We have studied the mode of interaction between Stat5 and the glucocorticoid receptor in the activation of β-casein gene transcription. The functional role of potential half-palindromic glucocorticoid receptor-binding sites mapped previously in the promoter region was investigated. β-Casein gene promoter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs containing mutations and deletions in these sites were tested for their responsiveness to the synergistic effect of prolactin and dexamethasone employing COS-7 cells or HC11 mammary epithelial cells. Synergism depended on promoter regions containing intact binding sites for the glucocorticoid receptor and Stat5. The carboxyl-terminal transactivation domains of Stat5a and Stat5b were not required for this synergism. Our results suggest that in lactogenic hormone response elements glucocorticoid receptor molecules bound to nonclassical half-palindromic sites gain competence as transcriptional activators by the interaction with Stat5 molecules binding to vicinal sites.
Automating the generation of coordinated multimedia explanations

An explanation system developed to overcome the disadvantages of conventional authoring in multimedia applications is presented. This experimental test bed for the automated generation of multimedia explanations is called COMET (coordinated multimedia explanation testbed), and has as its goal the coordinated, interactive generation of explanations that combine text and three-dimensional graphics, all of which is generated on the fly. In response to a user request for an explanation, COMET dynamically determines the explanation's content using constraints based on the type of request, the information available in a set of underlying knowledge bases, and information about the user's background and goals. Having determined what to say, COMET also determines how to express it at the time of generation. A brief overview of COMET's domain and architecture is followed by a description of the specific ways in which COMET can coordinate its text and graphics. The current status and limitations of COMET are discussed. <<ETX>>
Specific neural substrate linking respiration to locomotion

When animals move, respiration increases to adapt for increased energy demands; the underlying mechanisms are still not understood. We investigated the neural substrates underlying the respiratory changes in relation to movement in lampreys. We showed that respiration increases following stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) in an in vitro isolated preparation, an effect that persists in the absence of the spinal cord and caudal brainstem. By using electrophysiological and anatomical techniques, including whole-cell patch recordings, we identified a subset of neurons located in the dorsal MLR that send direct inputs to neurons in the respiratory generator. In semi-intact preparations, blockade of this region with 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and (2R)-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid greatly reduced the respiratory increases without affecting the locomotor movements. These results show that neurons in the respiratory generator receive direct glutamatergic connections from the MLR and that a subpopulation of MLR neurons plays a key role in the respiratory changes linked to movement.
Potential of Nanotechnology in Environmental Soil Science

Nanotechnology could be applied in environmental soil science with respect to slow-release fertilizers and organic and inorganic pollutant remediation. This paper reviews our work on naturally occurring and synthetic nanoporous materials as novel slow-release fertilizers to prevent pollution of surface as well as ground water. One synthetic and several naturally occurring zeolites (nanoporous, but strictly speaking they are "microporous" i.e., pores of 4 NO 3 and/or KNO 3 by an occlusion process in the void space of these nanoporous materials. Although NH 4 exchanged zeolites have been previously proposed as slow-release fertilizers, the idea of fertilizer salt occlusion in nanoporous materials is a novel idea as the latter process more or less doubles the nitrogen content of these slow-release fertilizers. Nanoporous synthetic laycred double hydroxides or anionic clays with nitrate ions in their interlayers have also been proposed by us as slow-release nitrate fertilizers. These fertilizers are not expected to be cost-effective for general crops but could be used for home lawns and golf greens. The design and synthesis of these slow-release fertilizers as well as their nutrient release properties for remediation of organic pollutants such as acetaldehyde, chlorinated organic solvents, organochlorine pesticides etc. The synthesis and property evaluation of these nanocomposites will be prsented.
Cyclic αvβ6‐targeting peptide selected from biopanning with clinical potential for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

A cyclic peptide‐displaying phage library was used for biopanning on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells to identify cancer‐targeting peptides. This study was designed to characterize the receptor specificity of a candidate phage clone/peptide (phage/peptide‐29) and to explore the clinical potential of this peptide.
Cefepime- Induced Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus (NCSE)

Cefepime is a fourth-generation B-lactam cephalosporin, commonly used in immunosuppressed patients. Neurotoxicity, which present as nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), has been reported previously especially in adult patients with impaired renal function. We present a case of cefepime induced NCSE after recovering from acute renal failure. A 71-year-old woman was hospitalized for right lower lobe lobectomy after diagnosis of lung cancer. Although she had successful lobectomy, she underwent several post operative complication including operation site bleeding, acute renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and atypical pneumonia. Her renal failure was prerenal type after massive operation site bleeding, and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) were started for renal replacement treatment. After 5 days of renal replacement therapy, her serum creatinine level was much improved from 2.7 mg/dL to 1.33 mg/dL. Cefepime renal dose were started, when atypical pneumonia became resistant to imipenem and vancomycin. After 5th day of cefepime use, the patient became stupor and developed one episode of brief generalized myoclonic seizure. Her electroencephalograph (EEG) revealed 2–3 Hz generalized sharp and with impression of NCSE, she was started on anti-epileptic treatment. Clinical symptoms improved 3 days after discontinuation of cefepime. She was than diagnosed with cefepime induced non convulsive status epilepticus. Anti-epileptic treatments were than discontinued uneventfully. Awareness of the potential neurotoxic clinical manifestations of various antibiotics and high degree of vigilance in critically ill patients is essential in identifying a potentially serious though reversible complication of antibiotic therapy.
The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism

In 1989 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism initiated the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA), a large-scale, multidisciplinary research program to investigate the genetic components of the susceptibility to alcohol abuse and dependence. COGA involves six research centers located across the United States. The following articles by leading COGA investigators provide an overview of the design of this study and its components and of the challenges inherent to an endeavor of this scope. The authors also present some of the results obtained through COGA to date. Although sometimes still preliminary in nature, these findings reflect COGA’s potential for greatly improving our knowledge of the complex disorder of alcoholism.
Crystal Structure of Thermotoga maritima 0065, a Member of the IclR Transcriptional Factor Family*

Members of the IclR family of transcription regulators modulate signal-dependent expression of genes involved in carbon metabolism in bacteria and archaea. TheThermotoga maritima TM0065 gene codes for a protein (TM-IclR) that is homologous to the IclR family. We have determined the crystal structure of TM-IclR at 2.2 Å resolution using MAD phasing and synchrotron radiation. The protein is composed of two domains: the N-terminal DNA-binding domain contains the winged helix-turn-helix motif, and the C-terminal presumed regulatory domain is involved in binding signal molecule. In a proposed signal-binding site, a bound Zn2+ ion was found. In the crystal, TM-IclR forms a dimer through interactions between DNA-binding domains. In the dimer, the DNA-binding domains are 2-fold related, but the dimer is asymmetric with respect to the orientation of signal-binding domains. Crystal packing analysis showed that TM-IclR dimers form a tetramer through interactions exclusively by signal-binding domains. A model is proposed for binding of IclR-like factors to DNA, and it suggests that signal-dependent transcription regulation is accomplished by affecting an oligomerization state of IclR and therefore its affinity for DNA target.
Looking for the bouba-kiki effect in prelexical infants

Adults and toddlers systematically associate certai n pseudowords, such as ‘bouba’ and ‘kiki’, with round and spiky shapes, respectively. The ontological origin of thi s so-called bouba-kiki effect is unknown: it could be an unlear ned aspect of perception, appear with language exposure, or only emerge with the ability to produce speech sounds (i.e., babblin g). We report the results of three experiments with five- and six -month-olds that found no bouba-kiki effect at all. We discuss the consequences of these findings for the emergence of cross-modal associations in infant speech perception. Index Terms : sound symbolism, bouba-kiki effect, prelexical infants, early language acquisition
Causal Type System for Ambient Movements

The Ambient Calculus was developed by Cardelli and Gordon as a formal framework to study issues of mobility and migrant code. We present a type system for the calculus, parameterized by a set of security constraints: static ones concerning where a given ambient may reside, and dynamic ones expressing where a given ambient may be dissolved. A subject reduction property then guarantees that a well-typed process never violates these constraints; additionally it ensures that communicating subprocesses agree on their “topic of conversation”. The type system employs a notion of causality in that processes are assigned “behaviors”. We argue that this significantly increases the precision of the analysis and compensates for the lack of “cocapabilities” (an otherwise increasingly popular extension to the ambient calculus); also it allows (in contrast to other approaches) an ambient to hold multiple topics of conversation. Based on techniques borrowed from finite automata theory, type checking of type-annotated processes is decidable. Under certain quite natural restrictions, type inference is also possible.
The effect of achievement goals on moral attitudes in young athletes.

The purpose of the study is to assess the hypothesis that achievement goal orientations will predict sportpersonship attitudes among young athletes, namely that task orientation will predict socially positive attitudes and ego orientation will predict socially negative attitudes. For hundred and eighty two athletes, aged 13 to 16 years completed the Portuguese versions of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQp) and of the Sports Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQp). Bivariate correlations were used to examine the relationships between TEOSQp and SAQp. Afterwards, relationships between ego orientation and score agreement in cheating and gamesmanship as well as task orientation and score agreement in convention and commitment were examined through EQS (version 5.7). For the estimation of the model, the maximum likelihood method was used. A matrix correlation between the variables (task orientation, ego orientation, cheating, gamesmanship, convention and commitment) showed positive correlations between task orientation and convention (r = 0.29, p < 0.01) and commitment (r = 0. 40, p < 0.01). Ego orientation appeared to be positively correlated with cheating (r = 0.30, p < 0.01) and gamesmanship (r = 0.33, p < 0.01), and negatively with convention (r = -0.16, p < 0.01). The fit of the model was evaluated using the CFI (0.97) and SRMR (0.04). The hypothesized model was confirmed. Task and ego orientations produced a significant effect on prosocial attitudes and on antisocial attitudes, respectively. Task-oriented goals in youth sport programs can represent a relevant framework for promoting prosocial attitudes and consequentely increment the effectiveness of educational interventions. Key pointsSport seems to be an important component of daily physical activity in children and adolescents and its importance is often viewed as positive.Literature suggests that a high task orientation has a positive link with moral variables and a high ego orientation is likely to promote inappropriate behaviours.Task orientation will predict pro-social sport attitudes, and to assess the hypothesis that ego orientation will predict anti-social sport attitudes among young athletes.It is possible to suggest a pattern in which the self-referenced achievement goals can promote the expression of sportspersonship attitudesEnvironmental factors can be more influential than dispositional orientations when it comes to sportspersonship.
Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Activates the MAPK and NFκB Pathways That Converge on Elk-1 to Control Production of Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 by Human Adult Articular Chondrocytes*

The pathology of joint destruction is associated with elevated production of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13). In osteoarthritic joint disease, expression of bFGF and MMP-13 in chondrocytes and their release into the synovial fluid are significantly increased. We have previously found that the capacity for cartilage repair in human adult articular chondrocytes is severely compromised by minimal exposure to bFGF because bFGF reduces responsiveness to bone morphogenetic protein-7 and insulin-like growth factor-1 and induces MMP-13 through protein kinase Cδ-dependent activation of multiple mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Here we show using biochemical and molecular approaches that transcription factor Elk-1, a direct downstream target of MAPK, is a critical transcriptional activator of of MMP-13 by bFGF in human articular chondrocytes. We also provide evidence that Elk-1 is a direct target of NFκB and induces MMP-13 expression upon activation of the NFκB signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that elevated expression of MMP-13 occurs through Elk-1 activation of both MAPK and NFκB signaling pathways, thus revealing a two-pronged biological mechanism by which bFGF controls the production of catabolic enzymes that are associated with excessive degradation of the cartilage matrix in degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.
A multivariate model for predicting segmental body composition

The aims of the present study were to propose a multivariate model for predicting simultaneously body, trunk and appendicular fat and lean masses from easily measured variables and to compare its predictive capacity with that of the available univariate models that predict body fat percentage (BF%). The dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) dataset (52 % men and 48 % women) with White, Black and Hispanic ethnicities (1999–2004, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) was randomly divided into three sub-datasets: a training dataset (TRD), a test dataset (TED); a validation dataset (VAD), comprising 3835, 1917 and 1917 subjects. For each sex, several multivariate prediction models were fitted from the TRD using age, weight, height and possibly waist circumference. The most accurate model was selected from the TED and then applied to the VAD and a French DXA dataset (French DB) (526 men and 529 women) to assess the prediction accuracy in comparison with that of five published univariate models, for which adjusted formulas were re-estimated using the TRD. Waist circumference was found to improve the prediction accuracy, especially in men. For BF%, the standard error of prediction (SEP) values were 3·26 (3·75) % for men and 3·47 (3·95) % for women in the VAD (French DB), as good as those of the adjusted univariate models. Moreover, the SEP values for the prediction of body and appendicular lean masses ranged from 1·39 to 2·75 kg for both the sexes. The prediction accuracy was best for age < 65 years, BMI < 30 kg/m2 and the Hispanic ethnicity. The application of our multivariate model to large populations could be useful to address various public health issues.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Ehrlichia chaffeensis Variable-Length PCR Target: an Antigen-Expressing Gene That Exhibits Interstrain Variation

ABSTRACT A clone expressing an immunoreactive protein with an apparent molecular mass of 44 kDa was selected from an Ehrlichia chaffeensis Arkansas genomic library by probing with anti-E. chaffeensis hyperimmune mouse ascitic fluid. Nucleotide sequencing revealed an open reading frame (ORF) capable of encoding a 198-amino-acid polypeptide. The ORF contained four imperfect, direct, tandem 90-bp repeats. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences did not show close homologies to entries in the molecular databases. PCR with primers whose sequences matched the sequences flanking the ORF was performed with DNA samples extracted from cell cultures infected with nine different isolates of E. chaffeensis, blood samples from seven patients with monocytic ehrlichiosis, and Amblyomma americanumticks collected in four different states. The resulting amplicons varied in length, containing three to six repeat units. This gene, designated the variable-length PCR target, is useful for PCR detection of E. chaffeensis and differentiation of isolates.
Observing Flattery: A Social Comparison Perspective

This research investigates how observers react when they see someone else being given a compliment that is flattering but that appears sincere. Prior work suggests that to the extent the compliment is perceived to be genuine, observers will not judge the source negatively. Merging insights from social comparison research and dual attitudes theory, this article presents a novel conceptualization of observer reactions to flattery. Specifically, while observers' deliberative attitudes toward apparently sincere flattery may be positive, a spontaneous process of comparing oneself with the target will produce an implicit negative reaction rooted in the unpleasant sensation of envy. This conceptualization yields a host of related implications, successfully predicting observers' reactions toward insincere as well as sincere flattery and toward the flattery target as well its source, and also explaining how their envy-based negative reaction may ironically induce observers to behave in a manner consistent with the flatterer's interests. Convergent findings across four experiments provide a multifaceted understanding of observer reactions to flattery, while also informing the literature on social comparison and envy.
Design and Calibration of an Objective Flickermeter

Measurement of light flicker according to current standard EN ISO 61000-4-15 is performed through measurement of voltage variations filtered by a model of a 60 W/230 V incandescent lamp. Hence, differences in current illumination systems technology can determine discrepancies between light flicker measurements performed under the same voltage flicker. In the paper, a method to measure light flicker with a low cost digital device, based on light intensity measurements, is proposed, thus including the lamp itself in the measurement process. In this way an objective measurement of light flicker is obtained. The metrological characterization of the device has been implemented by means of an automatic testing station which includes a standard IEC flickermeter (Norma D6000) as reference instrument. Thanks to its portability, the instrument can be used to measure light flicker no matter the illumination system used, over a wide range of environments spanning from home/office to industrial locations, and including the environmental condition (i.e., ambient light and reflection by walls and objects) in the measurement process
Validation and reproducibility of an Australian caffeine food frequency questionnaire

Abstract The aim of this study was to measure validity and reproducibility of a caffeine food frequency questionnaire (C-FFQ) developed for the Australian population. The C-FFQ was designed to assess average daily caffeine consumption using four categories of food and beverages including; energy drinks; soft drinks/soda; coffee and tea and chocolate (food and drink). Participants completed a seven-day food diary immediately followed by the C-FFQ on two consecutive days. The questionnaire was first piloted in 20 adults, and then, a validity/reproducibility study was conducted (n = 90 adults). The C-FFQ showed moderate correlations (r = .60), fair agreement (mean difference 63 mg) and reasonable quintile rankings indicating fair to moderate agreement with the seven-day food diary. To test reproducibility, the C-FFQ was compared to itself and showed strong correlations (r = .90), good quintile rankings and strong kappa values (κ = 0.65), indicating strong reproducibility. The C-FFQ shows adequate validity and reproducibility and will aid researchers in Australia to quantify caffeine consumption.
Randomness, Computability, and Density

We study effectively given positive reals (more specifically, computably enumerable reals) under a measure of relative randomness introduced by Solovay [32] and studied by Calude, Hertling, Khoussainov, and Wang [7], Calude [3], Slaman [28], and Coles, Downey, and LaForte [14], among others. This measure is called domination or Solovay reducibility, and is defined by saying that α dominates β if there are a constant c and a partial computable function ϕ such that for all positive rationals q < α we have ϕ(q) ↓ < β and β - ϕ(q) ≤ c(α - q). The intuition is that an approximating sequence for α generates one for β whose rate of convergence is not much slower than that of the original sequence. It is not hard to show that if α dominates β then the initial segment complexity of α is at least that of β. In this paper we are concerned with structural properties of the degree structure generated by Solovay reducibility. We answer a long-standing question in this area of investigation by establishing the density of the Solovay degrees. We also provide a new characterization of the random c.e. reals in terms of splittings in the Solovay degrees. Specifically, we show that the Solovay degrees of computably enumerable reals are dense, that any incomplete Solovay degree splits over any lesser degree, and that the join of any two incomplete Solovay degrees is incomplete, so that the complete Solovay degree does not split at all. The methodology is of some technical interest, since it includes a priority argument in which the injuries are themselves controlled by randomness considerations.