Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intracellular BMP signaling regulation in vertebrates: pathway or network?

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), members of the TGF-beta superfamily of secreted signaling molecules, have important functions in many biological contexts. They bind to specific serine/threonine kinase receptors, which transduce the signal to the nucleus through Smad proteins. The question of how BMPs can have such diverse effects while using the same canonical Smad pathway has recently come closer to an answer at the molecular level. Nuclear cofactors have been identified that cooperate with the Smads in regulating specific target genes depending on the cellular context. In addition, the pivotal role BMP signaling plays is underscored by the identification of factors that regulate members of this pathway at the cell surface, in the cytoplasm, and in the nucleus. Many of these factors are BMP-inducible and inhibit the BMP pathway, thus establishing negative feedback loops. Members of the BMP-Smad pathway can also physically interact with components of other signaling pathways to establish crosstalk. Finally, there is accumulating evidence that an alternative pathway involving MAP kinases can transduce BMP signals. The evidence and implications of these findings are discussed with an emphasis on early embryonic development of Xenopus and vertebrates.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Skin Whitening among Female University Students in Northeastern Nigeria

Introduction: Skin whitening is the act of brightening the skin complexion by using substances that are applied on the skin or administered into the body by other means. The use of skin whitening agents has its drawback in terms of causing harmful effects such as skin disorders like depigmentation, rashes, pimples, discolorations, kidney damaged, cancers, neurological and psychiatric disorders depending on how the agents for skin whitening are used. Objective: The paper examines the knowledge, attitude and practice of skin whitening by university female students in north eastern Nigeria, where some dark skinned women in particular tend to bleach their skin. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study. Results: The awareness level of the students about skin whitening agents and their harmful effects was found to be high among the students and little below, half of them are already users of such agents mainly for beautification. Few of them think the use of skin whitening agents can be addictive and lead to social stigma but they don’t believe that the use of such agents should be restricted to medical only. Conclusion: Majority of the female students in the Universities in north-eastern Nigeria bleach their skin with dangerous chemical agents meant for other reasons mainly to attract the opposite sex despite having high knowledge of the harmful effects. Government is highly recommended to take the necessary steps to curtail such menace.
Discovery of a Nearly Edge-on Disk around HD 32297

We report the discovery of a nearly edge-on disk about the A0 star HD 32297 seen in light scattered by the disk grains revealed in NICMOS PSF-subtracted coronagraphic images. The disk extends to a distance of at least 400 AU (3.″3) along its major axis with a 1.1 μm flux density of 4.81 ± 0.57 mJy beyond a radius of 0. ″3 from the coronagraphically occulted star. The fraction of 1.1 μm starlight scattered by the disk, 0.0033 ± 0.0004, is comparable to its fractional excess emission at 25 + 60 μm of ~0.0027 as measured from IRAS data. The disk appears to be inclined 10. °5 ± 2. °5 from an edge-on viewing geometry, with its major axis oriented 236. °5 ± 1° eastward of north. The disk exhibits unequal brightness on opposing sides and a break in the surface brightness profile along the NE-side disk major axis. Such asymmetries might implicate the existence of one or more (unseen) planetary mass companions.
Put on the Wig, It’s Time to Ball: Experiences of a Collegiate Men’s Basketball Fan Group

The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of a collegiate men’s basketball fan group. Little research has been undertaken exploring student fan groups, especially using ethnographic methods. The primary researcher attended two men’s home basketball games at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, home of the student fan group, Orange Krush. The researcher also interviewed eleven Orange Krush members about their motivations and experiences in the group. The findings include a new benefit not previously found in the literature: Insider Access. An additional apparent theme was the importance of sport rituals, and the perception by the students that these rituals impact the outcome of the game. Finally, students indicated how the group improved their sense of community and diversity on campus. Implications of this research include sport management professionals emphasizing the importance of fan attendance on game success and ensuring fans feel they are closely connected to the teams so t.
Cytosolic Phospholipase A2: Targeting Cancer through the Tumor Vasculature

Purpose: In vascular endothelial cells, low doses of ionizing radiation trigger the immediate activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). This event initiates prosurvival signaling that could be responsible for radioresistance of tumor vasculature. Thus, the development of radiosensitizers targeting these survival pathways may enhance tumor response to radiation therapy. Arachidonyltrifluoromethyl Ketone (AACOCF3), a specific cPLA2 inhibitor, was studied as a potential radiosensitizer. Experimental Design: Vascular endothelial cells (3B11 and MPMEC) and lung tumor cells (LLC and H460) were treated with 1 μmol/L AACOCF3 for 30 minutes prior to irradiation. Treatment response was evaluated by clonogenic survival, activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), tubule formation, and migration assays. For in vivo experiments, mice with LLC or H460 tumors in the hind limbs were treated for 5 consecutive days with 10 mg/kg AACOCF3 administered daily 30 minutes prior to irradiation. Treatment response was assessed by tumor growth delay, Power Doppler Sonography, and immunohistochemistry. Results: In cell culture experiments, inhibition of cPLA2 with AACOCF3 prevented radiation-induced activation of ERK1/2 and decreased clonogenic survival of irradiated vascular endothelial cells but not the lung tumor cells. Treatment with AACOCF3 also attenuated tubule formation and migration in irradiated vascular endothelial cells. In both tumor mouse models, treatment with AACOCF3 prior to irradiation significantly suppressed tumor growth and decreased overall tumor blood flow and vascularity. Increased apoptosis in both tumor cells and tumor vascular endothelium was determined as a possible mechanism of the observed effect. Conclusion: These findings identify cPLA2 as a novel molecular target for tumor sensitization to radiation therapy through the tumor vasculature.
The Supply Chain Effects of Bankruptcy

This paper examines how a firm's financial distress and the legal environment regarding the ease of bankruptcy reorganization can alter product market competition and supplier-buyer relationships. We identify three effects-predation, bail-out, and abetment-that can change firms' behavior from their actions in the absence of financial distress. The predation effect increases competition before potential bankruptcy as the nondistressed competitor behaves as if it has some first-mover advantage that could benefit a supplier with price control. The bail-out effect reflects the supplier's incentive to grant the distressed firm concessions to preserve competition, improving supply chain efficiency and providing support for the exclusivity rule in Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code when the supplier and the distressed firm are financially linked. The abetment effect is that the supplier may deliberately abet the competitor's predation, leading to increased operational disadvantages for the distressed firm before bankruptcy. Together these effects stress that a firm's bankruptcy potential can hurt its competitors and benefit its suppliers/customers. They also provide guidelines for firms' operational decisions in such situations, a rationale for observed firm actions surrounding bankruptcies, and motivation for policies supporting reorganization and relaxing broad enforcement of nondiscriminatory pricing regulations. This paper was accepted by Serguei Netessine, operations management.
A qualitative investigation of masculine identity after traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT Men are twice as likely as women to experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI), suggesting that aspects of masculine identity contribute to how people acquire their brain injuries. Research also suggests that masculine identity impacts on how people manage their health experiences. The current study aimed to explore the experience of masculine identity following TBI. Individual interviews were conducted with 10 men aged 21–67 years who had experienced a TBI. All were living in the community. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to consider lived experiences and to explore the meaning of the TBI experience in relation to masculine identity. Three superordinate themes emerged from the analysis: doing life and relationships differently, self-perceptions and the perceived view of others, and managing the impact of TBI as a man. These themes are considered in relation to how participants' experiences interacted with dominant social ideals of masculine identity. The findings highlighted how masculine identity may be a valuable aspect of self in considering threats to and reconstruction of self-identity after TBI. Aspects of gender identity should be considered in order to promote engagement, support adjustment and achieve meaningful outcomes in rehabilitation.
Pedagogical Content Knowledge: Conceptions and Findings in Physical Education.

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is a frequently used concept in the educational community. Its usage is so widespread it appears to function as a “lingua franca” across different subject areas and among researchers within a subject area. Critiques of PCK have suggested it may function at best as a heuristic and at worst as a masquerade; because there has been little consensus on its conceptualization and in many studies there is no operational definition of PCK provided. Recent studies, however, have moved both the conceptualization and measurement of PCK forward in ways that allow the concept to be operationalized. In this article we examine how PCK has evolved since Shulman’s (1986) initial conceptualization, and discuss how the concept has been used in physical education. We describe and examine five recurring research findings for PCK in physical education. These are that PCK can be described on continuums of maturity and effectiveness; is learned, is specific to content and context; and is strong.
2 Hearing on Climate Change Legislation : Allowance and Revenue Distribution

This testimony focuses on the allocation of emissions allowances to consumers through their local distribution companies. This provision and some other features of the proposal are designed to protect consumers from the adverse impacts of price increases and reduce regional inequities. However, this approach also raises the overall cost of achieving emissions reductions. The degree to which it raises the costs will depend on how public utility commissions at the state level incorporate the allowance value into their rate design. The outcome at this juncture is uncertain and beyond the reach of legislative language included in H.R. 2454.
EBV persistence without its EBNA3A and 3C oncogenes in vivo

The oncogenic Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infects the majority of the human population and usually persists within its host for life without symptoms. The EBV oncoproteins nuclear antigen 3A (EBNA3A) and 3C (EBNA3C) are required for B cell transformation in vitro and are expressed in EBV associated immunoblastic lymphomas in vivo. In order to address the necessity of EBNA3A and EBNA3C for persistent EBV infection in vivo, we infected NOD-scid γcnull mice with reconstituted human immune system components (huNSG mice) with recombinant EBV mutants devoid of EBNA3A or EBNA3C expression. These EBV mutants established latent infection in secondary lymphoid organs of infected huNSG mice for at least 3 months, but did not cause tumor formation. Low level viral persistence in the absence of EBNA3A or EBNA3C seemed to be supported primarily by proliferation with the expression of early latent EBV gene products transitioning into absent viral protein expression without elevated lytic replication. In vitro, EBNA3A and EBNA3C deficient EBV infected B cells could be rescued from apoptosis through CD40 stimulation, mimicking T cell help in secondary lymphoid tissues. Thus, even in the absence of the oncogenes EBNA3A and 3C, EBV can access a latent gene expression pattern that is reminiscent of EBV persistence in healthy virus carriers without prior expression of its whole growth transforming program.
Role of Candida albicans-Secreted Aspartyl Proteinases (Saps) in Severe Early Childhood Caries

Candida albicans is strongly associated with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). However, the roles of secreted aspartyl proteinases (Saps), an important virulence factor of C. albicans, in the progress of S-ECC are not clear. In our study, the Saps activities were evaluated by the yeast nitrogen base–bovine serum albumi (YNB–BSA) agar plate method and by the MTT method with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the substrate. Genotypes of C. albicans and gene expression of Sap1–5 were evaluated. The relationships of Saps activities and genotypes with S-ECC were analyzed. The results showed that enzyme activities of Saps in the S-ECC group were significantly higher than those in the caries free (CF) group (p < 0.05). Genotypes A, B and C were detected in the S-ECC group, and genotypes A and C were detected in the CF group. In the genotype A group, Saps activity in the S-ECC group was significantly different from that in the CF group (p < 0.05). The gene expression level of Sap1 in the S-ECC group was significantly higher than that in the CF group (p = 0.001), while Sap4 expression was significantly lower than that in the CF group (p = 0.029). It can be concluded that Sap1–5 are the predominant proteinase genes expressed in C. albicans from dental biofilm and Sap1 may play an important role in the development of S-ECC.
The microbead occlusion model: a paradigm for induced ocular hypertension in rats and mice.

PURPOSE Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is an important risk factor for glaucoma. Animal models often involve techniques for IOP elevation that are surgically invasive. Here the authors describe a novel and relatively simple method for inducing a highly consistent, modest, and repeatable elevation in IOP for rats and mice. METHODS IOP was elevated unilaterally by injection of polystyrene microbeads into the anterior chamber to occlude aqueous outflow in rats (2.5-7 microL) and mice (1 microL). The fellow eye received an equivalent saline injection as internal control. The authors used tonometry to measure microbead-induced IOP elevations. Optic nerves were processed histologically to determine axon loss. RESULTS For rats, a single injection of microbeads raised IOP by 21% to 34%, depending on volume, for approximately 2 weeks, though they were not tracked to full recovery. IOP in the saline-injected eye was constant. An additional injection (5 microL) extended the elevation to 8 weeks. Cumulative pressure exposure for both injections increased linearly. For mice, a single 1-microL injection of microbeads elicited a highly regular 30% elevation in IOP that persisted for more than 3 weeks, with a linear rise in cumulative pressure exposure. For both rats and mice, interanimal variability on a given day was modest, approximately 5% of the mean IOP measurement. Extended elevations (4-5 weeks) induced approximately a 20% loss of axons in both rats and mice. CONCLUSIONS These data support a novel and flexible model of modest ocular hypertension with axon loss. The maximal duration of IOP elevation will be further characterized in future studies.
Selective Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitors: Antinociceptive versus Cannabimimetic Effects in Mice

The endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) plays an important role in a variety of physiologic processes, but its rapid breakdown by monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) results in short-lived actions. Initial MAGL inhibitors were limited by poor selectivity and low potency. In this study, we tested JZL184 [4-nitrophenyl 4-[bis(2H-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)(hydroxy)methyl]piperidine-1-carboxylate] and MJN110 [2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl 4-(bis(4-chlorophenyl)methyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate], MAGL inhibitors that possess increased selectivity and potency, in mouse behavioral assays of neuropathic pain [chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve], interoceptive cannabimimetic effects (drug-discrimination paradigm), and locomotor activity in an open field test. MJN110 (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) and JZL184 (16 and 40 mg/kg) significantly elevated 2-AG and decreased arachidonic acid but did not affect anandamide in whole brains. Both MAGL inhibitors significantly reduced CCI-induced mechanical allodynia with the following potencies [ED50 (95% confidence limit [CL]) values in mg/kg: MJN110 (0.43 [0.30–0.63]) > JZL184 (17.8 [11.6–27.4])] and also substituted for the potent cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55,940 [2-[(1R,2R,5R)-5-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexyl]-5-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenol] in the drug-discrimination paradigm [ED50 (95% CL) values in mg/kg: MJN110 (0.84 [0.69–1.02]) > JZL184 (24.9 [14.6–42.5])]; however, these compounds elicited differential effects on locomotor behavior. Similar to cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor agonists, JZL184 produced hypomotility, whereas MJN110 increased locomotor behavior and did not produce catalepsy or hypothermia. Although both drugs substituted for CP55,940 in the drug discrimination assay, MJN110 was more potent in reversing allodynia in the CCI model than in producing CP55,940-like effects. Overall, these results suggest that MAGL inhibition may alleviate neuropathic pain, while displaying limited cannabimimetic effects compared with direct CB1 receptor agonists.
D-instantons and twistors

Finding the exact, quantum corrected metric on the hypermultiplet moduli space in Type II string compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds still poses an outstanding open problem. We address this issue by relating the quaternionic-Kahler metric on the hypermultiplet moduli space to the complex contact geometry on its twistor space. In this framework, Euclidean D-brane instanton contributions are captured by contact transformations between different locally flat patches. We derive those by recasting the previously known A-type D2-instanton corrections in the language of contact geometry, covariantizing the result under electro-magnetic duality, and using mirror symmetry. As a result, we are able to express the effects of all D-instantons in Type II compactifications concisely as a sum of dilogarithm functions. We conclude with some comments on the relation to microscopic degeneracies of four-dimensional BPS black holes and to the wall-crossing formula of Kontsevich and Soibelman, and on the form of the yet unknown NS5-brane instanton contributions.
Alien forest insects in a warmer world and a globalised economy: impacts of changes in trade, tourism and climate on forest biosecurity.

This paper examines the effects of changing world trends on the introduction, establishment and spread of exotic insects associated with woody plants. Three aspects are considered: (i) commercial trade; (ii) tourism and consumer behaviour; and (iii) climate change. The current literature indicates that there are two key pest pathways: movement of wood ( (including solid-wood packaging), and the ornamental plant trade. The number of pests introduced along these routes is positively correlated with the volume and source of imports. It is likely, therefore, that improvements in regulation of the movement of wood will lead to a decrease in pest entry via this pathway. However, complexities associated with the ornamental plant trade will ensure that it remains a high risk route. There is evidence to suggest that numbers of interceptions at airports are positively related to the volume of air traffic from the countries from which passengers originate. Shifts in climatic conditions are likely to affect the survival, fecundity, development and dispersal of native insect species. However, it is difficult to entirely disentangle the effect of climate change from that of other physical or chemical factors, and/or other biotic causes. Improved monitoring of imports/exports, more knowledge about possible pests, and the impacts of climate change are needed to prevent the arrival of foreign pests in the future.
Functional Characterization of Chemosensory Proteins in the Scarab Beetle, Holotrichia oblita Faldermann (Coleoptera: Scarabaeida)

Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) play important roles in chemical communication by insects, as they recognize and transport environmental chemical signals to receptors within sensilla. In this study, we identified HoblCSP1 and HoblCSP2 from a cDNA library of Holotrichia oblita antennae, successfully expressed them in E. coli and purified them by Ni ion affinity chromatography. We then measured the ligand-binding specificities of HoblCSP1 and HoblCSP2 to 50 selected ligands in a competitive binding assay. These results demonstrated that HoblCSP1 and HoblCSP2 have similar ligand-binding spectra. Both proteins displayed the highest affinity for β-ionone, α-ionone and cinnamaldehyde, indicating that they prefer binding to odorants other than sex pheromones. Additionally, immuno-localization revealed that HoblCSP1 is highly concentrated in sensilla basiconica, while HoblCSP2 is specifically localized to sensilla placodea. In conclusion, HoblCSP1 and HoblCSP2 are responsible for binding to general odorants with slightly different specificities due to their different in vivo environments.
Don’t stress: What do we really know about teaching gifted children to cope with stress and anxiety?

ABSTRACT Gifted children may experience additional stressors due to their unique characteristics. While empirical evidence suggests otherwise, qualitative studies and clinical observations indicate that gifted individuals may suffer from higher levels of stress due to perfectionistic tendencies, heightened sensitivity, social challenges, and additional external pressures. Nevertheless, empirical research regarding counseling and stress-reducing intervention outcomes remains scant. The few interventions conducted, such as Gaesser’s (2014) work using Cognitive Behavioral and Emotional Freedom techniques with gifted students, have demonstrated promising results. Recommendations include offering incentives in the form of grants and funding to researchers interested in investigating intervention outcomes and investigating stress-reducing methods and approaches, such as mindfulness, which have shown positive impact.