Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shape and shift changes related to the function of leukocyte integrins LFA‐1 and Mac‐1

Integrin activity on leukocytes is controlled tightly, ensuring that ligand binding occurs only when leukocytes are in contact with their targets. For an integrinlike LFA‐1, this ligand‐binding activity comes about as a result of increased integrin clustering. Affinity regulation of integrins also plays a role, but the conformational changes giving rise to increased affinity appear to be secondary to clustering. Conformationally altered LFA‐1 can be created artificially by deletion of the I domain, which is the key domain involved in ligand binding for many but not all integrins. Although I domain‐deleted LFA‐1 (ΔI‐LFA‐1) cannot bind ligand, it is able to signal constitutively into the cell. One measure of this signaling activity is the ability of ΔI‐LFA‐1 to activate β1 integrins on the same T lymphocyte. Leukocytes use LFA‐1 to migrate across the endothelium. Active β1 integrins may be required subsequently to bind the matrix proteins encountered by leukocytes as they continue their voyage into the tissue interior.
Mutations in the BLOC-1 Subunits Dysbindin and Muted Generate Divergent and Dosage-dependent Phenotypes*

Background: Genetic defects affecting subunits of protein complexes are presumed to generate identical diseases in mammals. Results: Two mouse mutants in genes belonging to the BLOC-1 complex have divergent brain and pigmentation phenotypes. Conclusion: Genetic defects affecting subunits of a complex manifest by partially overlapping clinical features. Significance: Disease resulting from mutations in protein complexes may generate a wide range of clinically presentations. Post-mortem analysis has revealed reduced levels of the protein dysbindin in the brains of those suffering from the neurodevelopmental disorder schizophrenia. Consequently, mechanisms controlling the cellular levels of dysbindin and its interacting partners may participate in neurodevelopmental processes impaired in that disorder. To address this question, we studied loss of function mutations in the genes encoding dysbindin and its interacting BLOC-1 subunits. We focused on BLOC-1 mutants affecting synapse composition and function in addition to their established systemic pigmentation, hematological, and lung phenotypes. We tested phenotypic homogeneity and gene dosage effects in the mouse null alleles muted (Bloc1s5mu/mu) and dysbindin (Bloc1s8sdy/sdy). Transcripts of NMDA receptor subunits and GABAergic interneuron markers, as well as expression of BLOC-1 subunit gene products, were affected differently in the brains of Bloc1s5mu/mu and Bloc1s8sdy/sdy mice. Unlike Bloc1s8sdy/sdy, elimination of one or two copies of Bloc1s5 generated indistinguishable pallidin transcript phenotypes. We conclude that monogenic mutations abrogating the expression of a protein complex subunit differentially affect the expression of other complex transcripts and polypeptides as well as their downstream effectors. We propose that the genetic disruption of different subunits of protein complexes and combinations thereof diversifies phenotypic presentation of pathway deficiencies, contributing to the wide phenotypic spectrum and complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Comparison of Total Phenolic Content and Total Antioxidant Activity in Local Red Wines Determined by Spectrophotometric Methods

In this study, the antioxidant activity of local red wines was determined by four different analytical methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS·+) radical cation decolourisation, ferric reducing/antioxidants power (FRAP) and cupric ion reducing capacity in the presence of neocuproine (CUPRAC) for the evaluation of reducing power (PR). They were correlated with the total phenolic content (TPC) determined with the Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent using gallic acid as a standard. The total polyphenol concentration was found to vary from 2599.90 to 4846.57 mg/L gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The total antioxidant activity determined by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and CUPRAC methods was found to vary from 7.49 - 15.93 mmol/L, 12.02 - 24.73 mmol/L, 12.65 - 27.68 mmol/L and 13.19 - 31.07 mmol/L, respectively. The total phenolic contents of red wine samples exhibited a good correlation (p < 0.01) with antioxidant properties.
Moral Virtues, Fairness Heuristics, Social Entities, and Other Denizens of Organizational Justice.

Abstract Recent years have seen a burgeoning interest in the study of organizational justice. Employee perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice have been related to a variety of important work outcomes, such as performance, citizenship behaviors, and job attitudes. Despite the health and vigor of justice research, the rapid growth of this literature has made salient a variety of new issues. In the present paper, we discuss these concerns as three questions: How do workers formulate appraisals of justice? ; Why do individuals do so? ; and What precisely is being appraised? Each of these three questions provides a framework for reviewing the current state of our knowledge, proposing new research paradigms, and providing directions for future inquiry.
Inhibition of 2A-mediated ‘cleavage’ of certain artificial polyproteins bearing N-terminal signal sequences

Where 2A oligopeptide sequences occur within ORFs, the formation of the glycyl–prolyl peptide bond at the C‐terminus of (each) 2A does not occur. This property can be used to concatenate sequences encoding several proteins into a single ORF: each component of such an artificial polyprotein is generated as a discrete translation product. 2A and ‘2A‐like’ sequences have become widely utilised in biotechnology and biomedicine. Individual proteins may also be co‐ and post‐translationally targeted to a variety of sub‐cellular sites. In the case of polyproteins bearing N‐terminal signal sequences we observed, however, that the protein downstream of 2A (no signal) was translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We interpreted these data as a form of ‘slipstream’ translocation: downstream proteins, without signals, were translocated through a translocon pore already formed by the signal sequence at the N‐terminus of the polyprotein. Here we show this effect is, in fact, due to inhibition of the 2A reaction (formation of fusion protein) by the C‐terminal region (immediately upstream of 2A) of some proteins when translocated into the ER. Solutions to this problem include the use of longer 2As (with a favourable upstream context) or modifying the order of proteins comprising polyproteins.
A New Tool to Estimate Inundation Depths by Spatial Interpolation (RAPIDE): Design, Application and Impact on Quantitative Assessment of Flood Damages

Rapid tools for the prediction of the spatial distribution of flood depths within inundated areas are necessary when the implementation of complex hydrodynamic models is not possible due to time constraints or lack of data. For example, similar tools may be extremely useful to obtain first estimates of flood losses in the aftermath of an event, or for large-scale river basin planning. This paper presents RAPIDE, a new GIS-based tool for the estimation of the water depth distribution that relies only on the perimeter of the inundation and a digital terrain model. RAPIDE is based on a spatial interpolation of water levels, starting from the hypothesis that the perimeter of the flooded area is the locus of points having null water depth. The interpolation is improved by (i) the use of auxiliary lines, perpendicular to the river reach, along which additional control points are placed and (ii) the possibility to introduce a mask for filtering interpolation points near critical areas. The reliability of RAPIDE is tested for the 2002 flood in Lodi (northern Italy), by comparing the inundation depth maps obtained by the rapid tool to those from 2D hydraulic modelling. The change of the results, related to the use of either method, affects the quantitative estimation of direct damages very limitedly. The results, therefore, show that RAPIDE can provide accurate flood depth predictions, with errors that are fully compatible with its use for river-basin scale flood risk assessments and civil protection purposes.
Invariant NKT cells inhibit development of the Th17 lineage

T cells differentiate into functionally distinct effector subsets in response to pathogen encounter. Cells of the innate immune system direct this process; CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, for example, can either promote or inhibit Th1 and Th2 responses. Recently, a new subset of CD4+ T helper cells, called Th17, was identified that is implicated in mucosal immunity and autoimmune disorders. To investigate the influence of iNKT cells on the differentiation of naïve T cells we used an adoptive transfer model of traceable antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. Transferred naïve CD25−CD62L+ CD4+ T cells were primed by antigen immunization of the recipient mice, permitting their expansion and Th17 differentiation. This study establishes that in vivo activation of iNKT cells during T-cell priming impedes the commitment of naïve T cells to the Th17 lineage. In vivo cytokine neutralization experiments revealed a role for IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in the iNKT-cell-mediated regulation of T-cell lineage development. Moreover, by comparing IL-17 production by antigen-experienced T cells from unmanipulated wild-type mice and iNKT-cell-deficient mice, we demonstrate an enhanced Th17 response in mice lacking iNKT cells. This invigorated Th17 response reverts to physiological levels when iNKT cells are introduced into Jα18−/− mice by adoptive transfer, indicating that iNKT cells control the Th17 compartment at steady state. We conclude that iNKT cells play an important role in limiting development of the Th17 lineage and suggest that iNKT cells provide a natural barrier against Th17 responses.
ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT AND VALUE CREATION: INITIAL FINDINGS AMONGST NON-FINANCIAL PUBLIC LISTED COMPANIES IN MALAYSIAN BOURSE

This study aims to highlight whether the implementation of Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance (MCCG) in 2000 and the revise version in 2007 gives impact to enterprise risk management (ERM) and creates value for companies listed in the Malaysian Bourse. Using a standard and reliable variables with acceptable testing methods provide justifiable methodology of testing. From test result, it is found that MCCG2000 produces more impact compares to MCCG2007. Nonetheless, caveat should be in place as these are only initial findings with a long road ahead for confirmation.
Mobile Robot Localization from Large-Scale Appearance Mosaics

A new practical, high-performance mobile robot localization technique is described that is motivated by the fact that many man-made environments contain substantially flat, visually textured surfaces of persistent appearance. While the tracking of image regions is much studied in computer vision, appearance is still a largely unexploited localization resource in commercially relevant applications. We show how prior appearance models can be used to enable highly repeatable mobile robot guidance that, unlike commercial alternatives, is both infrastructure-free and free-ranging. Very large-scale mosaics are constructed and used to localize a mobile robot operating in the modeled environment. Straightforward techniques from vision-based localization and mosaicking are used to produce a field-relevant AGV guidance system based only on vision and odometry. The feasibility, design, implementation, and precommercial field qualification of such a guidance system are described.
Results from 200 billion iris cross-comparisons

Statistical results are presented for biometric recognition of persons by their iris patterns, based on 200 billion cross-comparisons between different eyes. The database consisted of 632,500 iris images acquired in the Middle East, in a national border-crossing protection programme that uses the Daugman algorithms for iris recognition. A total of 152 different nationalities were represented in this database. The set of exhaustive cross-comparisons between all possible pairings of irises in the database shows that with reasonable acceptance thresholds, the False Match rate is less than 1 in 200 billion. Recommendations are given for the numerical decision threshold policy that would enable reliable identification performance on a national scale in the UK.
Inherited Sialoglycoprotein Deficiencies in Human Erythrocytes of Type En(a ‐)

We have investigated the membranes of erythrocytes from a family in which there is a genetic defect (previously described as the En(a ‐) condition) resulting in the loss of the major erythrocyte sialoglycoprotein (PAS‐1). The results show that two different types of sialoglycoprotein deficiency can be distinguished within this family. We suggest that the En(a ‐) group of variants is more appropriately described as a class of sialoglycoprotein deficient erythrocytes.
The aurora experimental framework for the performance evaluation of speech recognition systems under noisy conditions

This paper describes a database designed to evaluate the performance of speech recognition algorithms in noisy conditions. The database may either be used for the evaluation of front-end feature extraction algorithms using a defined HMM recognition back-end or complete recognition systems. The source speech for this database is the TIdigits, consisting of connected digits task spoken by American English talkers (downsampled to 8kHz) . A selection of 8 different real-world noises have been added to the speech over a range of signal to noise ratios and special care has been taken to control the filtering of both the speech and noise. The framework was prepared as a contribution to the ETSI STQ-AURORA DSR Working Group [1]. Aurora is developing standards for Distributed Speech Recognition (DSR) where the speech analysis is done in the telecommunication terminal and the recognition at a central location in the telecom network. The framework is currently being used to evaluate alternative proposals for front-end feature extraction. The database has been made publicly available through ELRA so that other speech researchers can evaluate and compare the performance of noise robust algorithms. Recognition results are presented for the first standard DSR feature extraction scheme that is based on a cepstral analysis.
Stimulus-Dependent Adjustment of Reward Prediction Error in the Midbrain

Previous reports have described that neural activities in midbrain dopamine areas are sensitive to unexpected reward delivery and omission. These activities are correlated with reward prediction error in reinforcement learning models, the difference between predicted reward values and the obtained reward outcome. These findings suggest that the reward prediction error signal in the brain updates reward prediction through stimulus–reward experiences. It remains unknown, however, how sensory processing of reward-predicting stimuli contributes to the computation of reward prediction error. To elucidate this issue, we examined the relation between stimulus discriminability of the reward-predicting stimuli and the reward prediction error signal in the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Before main experiments, subjects learned an association between the orientation of a perceptually salient (high-contrast) Gabor patch and a juice reward. The subjects were then presented with lower-contrast Gabor patch stimuli to predict a reward. We calculated the correlation between fMRI signals and reward prediction error in two reinforcement learning models: a model including the modulation of reward prediction by stimulus discriminability and a model excluding this modulation. Results showed that fMRI signals in the midbrain are more highly correlated with reward prediction error in the model that includes stimulus discriminability than in the model that excludes stimulus discriminability. No regions showed higher correlation with the model that excludes stimulus discriminability. Moreover, results show that the difference in correlation between the two models was significant from the first session of the experiment, suggesting that the reward computation in the midbrain was modulated based on stimulus discriminability before learning a new contingency between perceptually ambiguous stimuli and a reward. These results suggest that the human reward system can incorporate the level of the stimulus discriminability flexibly into reward computations by modulating previously acquired reward values for a typical stimulus.
The intention‐to‐treat principle in clinical trials and meta‐analyses of leukoreduced blood transfusions in surgical patients

BACKGROUND: The scientific method requires that only experiments actually and correctly performed be used to draw conclusions. The intention‐to‐treat principle requires that all patients, even those not or improperly treated, be included. In clinical trials and meta‐analyses investigating leukoreduced blood transfusions to reduce postoperative infections, the intention‐to‐treat principle and the scientific method have been variably applied.
CIRS: Cluster Infall Regions in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. I. Infall Patterns and Mass Profiles

We use the Fourth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to test the ubiquity of infall patterns around galaxy clusters and measure cluster mass profiles to large radii. The Cluster and Infall Region Nearby Survey (CAIRNS) found infall patterns in nine clusters, but the cluster sample was incomplete. Here we match X-ray cluster catalogs with SDSS, search for infall patterns, and compute mass profiles for a complete sample of X-ray-selected clusters. Very clean infall patterns are apparent in most of the clusters, with the fraction decreasing with increasing redshift due to shallower sampling. All 72 clusters in a well-defined sample limited by redshift (ensuring good sampling) and X-ray flux (excluding superpositions) show infall patterns sufficient to apply the caustic technique. This sample is by far the largest sample of cluster mass profiles extending to large radii to date. Similar to CAIRNS, cluster infall patterns are better defined in observations than in simulations. Further work is needed to determine the source of this difference. We use the infall patterns to compute mass profiles for 72 clusters and compare them to model profiles. Cluster scaling relations using caustic masses agree well with those using X-ray or virial mass estimates, confirming the reliability of the caustic technique. We confirm the conclusion of CAIRNS that cluster infall regions are well fitted by Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) and Hernquist profiles and poorly fitted by singular isothermal spheres. This much larger sample enables new comparisons of cluster properties with those in simulations. The shapes (specifically NFW concentrations) of the mass profiles agree well with the predictions of simulations. The mass in the infall region is typically comparable to or larger than that in the virial region. Specifically, the mass inside the turnaround radius is on average 2.19 ± 0.18 times that within the virial radius. This ratio agrees well with recent predictions from simulations of the final masses of dark matter halos.
Mental Health in Sport (MHS): Improving the Early Intervention Knowledge and Confidence of Elite Sport Staff

Mental illnesses are as prevalent among elite athletes as in the general population. Despite this, there is little research examining how to enhance mental health literacy or helping behaviors in elite sport environments. A Mental Health in Sport (MHS) workshop was therefore developed and its effects on mental health literacy and confidence studied in 166 coaches and support staff working with elite athletes and teams in Australia. Results indicated that participants increased their knowledge of the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses and were more confident in helping someone who may be experiencing a mental health problem. We conclude that even a very brief intervention can be effective in improving the mental health literacy and confidence of key persons in elite sport environments, and may promote early intervention and timely referral of elite athletes with mental health concerns to appropriate professionals.
The use of the computerized version of quality of life and health status questionnaires in a community sample in southern Brazil

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Computerized data collection is an efficient process and well accepted by patients with different disorders. Although computer-based systems have been used to assess health status and quality of life in various areas of healthcare, there is a lack of studies to investigate the effectiveness of these instruments in Brazil. The aims here were to assess the usability of the Portuguese-language versions of the Personal Health Scale (PHS) and the Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI) in southern Brazil and to determine the correlation between these two questionnaires. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional community-based survey in which participants completed computerized versions of these two questionnaires. METHODS: In a survey conducted in 16 different locations, 458 volunteers completed both questionnaires. Pearson correlation coefficients were generated between the scores of the two questionnaires. The inclusion criteria allowed all volunteers who were able to understand the questions in both questionnaires to participate in the study. RESULTS: The percentage of proper data collection via the computerized versions of the two questionnaires combined was 97.45%. A significant correlation (P < 0.01) between the PHS and the MQLI was observed. CONCLUSION: The computerized versions of the PHS and MQLI demonstrated efficient data collection patterns during the field survey trials. Health-related issues were significantly correlated with the overall experience of wellbeing and quality of life. The computerized versions of the PHS and MQLI are valid tools for research and clinical use in Brazil.
Ethanol Inhibition ofN-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors Is Reduced by Site-directed Mutagenesis of a Transmembrane Domain Phenylalanine Residue*

N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NRs) are ionotropic receptors activated by glutamate and the co-agonist glycine. Ethanol inhibits NMDA receptor function, although its site of action is undefined. We hypothesized that ethanol acts at specific amino acids contained within the transmembrane (TM) domains of the receptor. In this study, NR1 and NR2A subunits were altered by mutagenesis and tested for sensitivity to ethanol. Three NR1 mutants (W636A, F817A, and L819A) and one NR2A mutant (F637A) failed to generate functional receptors. Pre-TM1 (I546A, L551A, F554A, and F558A), TM1 (W563A), and TM2 (W611A) NR1 mutations did not affect ethanol sensitivity of heteromeric receptors. In contrast, altering a TM3 phenylalanine to alanine (F639A) reduced the ethanol inhibition of NMDA receptors expressed in oocytes and human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Mutation of the nearby methionine (M641) to alanine did not affect ethanol sensitivity, whereas changing Phe639 to tryptophan slightly enhanced ethanol inhibition. NR1(F639A) did not alter the agonist potency of glutamate but did produce a leftward shift in the glycine concentration response for receptors containing NR2A and NR2B subunits. NR1(F639A) also reduced the potency of the competitive glycine antagonist 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid and increased the efficacy of the glycine partial agonist 3-amino-1-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone ((+)-HA-966). These results suggest that ethanol may interact with amino acids contained in the TM3 domain of NMDA subunits that are involved in transducing agonist binding to channel opening.