Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II‐γ (CaMKIIγ) negatively regulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular remodeling

Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) expresses calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)‐δ and ‐γ isoforms. CaMKIIδ promotes VSM proliferation and vascular remodeling. We tested CaMKIIγ function in vascular remodeling after injury. CaMKIIγ protein decreased 90% 14 d after balloon injury in rat carotid artery. Intraluminal transduction of adenovirus encoding CaMKIIγC rescued expression to 35% of uninjured controls, inhibited neointima formation (>70%), inhibited VSM proliferation (>60%), and increased expression of the cell‐cycle inhibitor p21 (>2‐fold). Comparable doses of CaMKIIδ2 adenovirus had no effect. Similar dynamics in CaMKIIγ mRNA and protein expression were observed in ligated mouse carotid arteries, correlating closely with expression of VSM differentiation markers. Targeted deletion of CaMKIIγ in smooth muscle resulted in a 20‐fold increase in neointimal area, with a 3‐fold increase in the cell proliferation index, no change in apoptosis, and a 60% decrease in p21 expression. In cultured VSM, CaMKIIγ overexpression induced p53 mRNA (1.7 fold) and protein (1.8‐fold) expression; induced the p53 target gene p21 (3‐fold); decreased VSM cell proliferation (>50%); and had no effect on expression of apoptosis markers. We conclude that regulated CaMKII isoform composition is an important determinant of the injury‐induced vasculoproliferative response and that CaMKIIγ and ‐δ isoforms have non‐equivalent, opposing functions. —Saddouk, F. Z. , Sun, L. ‐Y. , Liu, Y. F. , Jiang, M. , Singer, D. V. , Backs, J., Van Riper, D. , Ginnan, R. , Schwarz, J. J., Singer, H. A. , Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II‐γ (CaMKIIγ) negatively regulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular remodeling. FASEB J. 30, 1051–1064 (2016). www.fasebj. org
Divorce Disclosures and Adolescents' Physical and Mental Health and Parental Relationship Quality

Two studies were constructed to examine the associations between custodial parents' negative disclosures about the other parent after a divorce and parent–adolescent relational quality (closeness and satisfaction) and adolescents' physical and mental health. In general, the results suggested that even though negative disclosures about the other parent might be associated with more cohesive relationships between custodial parents and adolescents, it does not mean that adolescents are immune to the physical and psychological effects of such disclosures. In Study 2, negative disclosures about the other parent were associated with adolescents' increased reports of physical and mental health symptoms. The results revealed a similar effect for general divorce information and adolescents' mental health. However, there was no association for catharsis and adolescents' physical and mental health. The results from both studies also revealed that adolescents perceived that their custodial parents disclosed more negative information about the other parent than the parents perceived that they disclosed. This project was partially funded by research grants from the College of Liberal Arts and the Children, Youth, and Family Consortium at Pennsylvania State University.
Altered State and Phenomenology of Consciousness in Schizophrenia

The present study sought: 1) to determine whether schizophrenia represents an altered state of consciousness; and 2) to identify the unique phenomenology of the psychotic state using a multidimensional, quantitative assessment system. Fourteen schizophrenic patients, 19 psychiatric non-psychotic patients, and 29 undergraduate students completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory, that assesses 10 major and 14 associated minor dimensions of consciousness. As hypothesized, compared to the ordinary state of consciousness the psychotic experience was found to represent an altered state associated, however, only with the differential organization of the putative minor components of consciousness. In addition, the psychiatric non-psychotic state was also found to represent an altered state, compared to ordinary consciousness, that was specifically associated with the major components of consciousness. The phenomenology of the psychotic experience was characterized by expected differences relative to the ordinary state, involving more altered awareness and experience (perceptual changes and unusual meanings), greater negative affect (anger, sadness, fear), and diminished volitional control and rationality, as well as greater arousal and decreased attention. The phenomenology of the psychiatric non-psychotic state proved highly similar to that of psychosis. Results highlight the importance of multidimensional mapping in studying the functioning of consciousness in schizophrenia and of controlling for other pathologies.
Antioxidant Mechanism of Rutin on Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Cell Proliferation

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathologic process of pulmonary arterial hypertension as either mediators or inducers. Rutin is a type of flavonoid which exhibits significant scavenging properties on oxygen radicals both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we proposed that rutin attenuated hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation by scavenging ROS. Immunofluorescence data showed that rutin decreased the production of ROS, which was mainly generated through mitochondria and NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). Western blot results provided further evidence on rutin increasing expression of Nox4 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Moreover, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry indicated that proliferation of PASMCs triggered by hypoxia was also repressed by rutin. However, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of ROS, abolished or diminished the capability of rutin in repressing hypoxia-induced cell proliferation. These data suggest that rutin shows a potential benefit against the development of hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension by inhibiting ROS, subsequently preventing hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation.
Femmes et marchés fonciers urbains : mesures et déterminants d'une percée à Bamako, Mali

Une presence accrue des citadines parmi les candidats a l’appropriation de terrains et les acquereurs de parcelles residentielles sur differents segments du marche foncier malien nous interroge sur les determinants de cette percee feminine, egalement sur les horizons geographiques et temporels dans lesquels des epargnes sont mobilisees, et de nouvelles concurrences s’etablissent entre hommes et femmes. L’article envisage les variables economiques, politiques et sociologiques qui font apparaitre la categorie tres en vogue du « genre » a la fois comme pertinente et limitee dans le contexte bamakois. La variete des situations confere a l’analyse une necessite typologique certaine.
Inward rectification in rat olfactory receptor neurons

Inwardly rectifying currents in enzymically dissociated olfactory receptor neurons of rat were studied by using patch-clamp techniques. Upon hyperpolarization to membrane potentials more negative than —100 mV, small inward-current relaxations were observed. Activation was described by a single exponential with a time constant that decreased e-fold for a 21 mV hyperpolarization. The current was not reduced by the external application of 5 mM Ba2+, but was abolished by the addition of 5 mM Cs+ to the bath solution. Increasing the external K+ concentration ([K+]0) to 25 mM dramatically enhanced the current without affecting the voltage range or the kinetics of activation. In 25 mM [K+]0, tail currents reversed at —26 mV, significantly more positive than the K+ equilibrium potential of — 44 mV. These characteristics are consistent with those of a mixed Na+/K + inward rectification that has been reported in several types of neuronal, cardiac and smooth muscle cells. The current may contribute to controlling cell excitability during the response to some odorants.
Notes: Privatized Delivery of Instructional Services for Urban Public School Students Placed at Risk

The privatization “revolution” of the last decade of the 20th century has not left public education unchallenged. While much of the recent debate has focused on “school choice” and voucher plans, there has been growing discussion of privatization within public schools. Most studies have noted the lack of evidence of student achievement gains under privatization models. In this research note we evaluate the effectiveness of private delivery of instructional services to public school students by analyzing the impact on student achievement of reading and math instruction delivered by a private company in a large urban public school system on the East Coast. Analyses of score data from the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (Fourth Edition) indicate differential effects of instructional service delivery by this private company, depending on subject matter (reading vs. math), grade level, and student characteristics (especially gender). The impact on student achievement is particularly notable in mathematics, but we found no evidence that reading comprehension achievement is significantly improved by this private remedial reading program in high poverty urban schools. This study underscores the importance of formal evaluation of privatization efforts to ascertain impacts on student achievement, since there has been considerable expansion of privatized delivery of instructional services to urban school districts, using Title I (Chapter I) funds, with little solid evidence of the effectiveness of these programs.
Hyperuricemia Inversely Correlates with Disease Severity in Taiwanese Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Patients

Background & Aims Asians are more susceptible to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as well as metabolic disorder than other ethnicities. We aimed to assess the interaction between metabolic factors and fibrosis in Taiwanese NASH patients. Methods A total of 130 biopsy-proven Taiwanese NASH patients (94 males, age = 43.0 ± 13.0 years) were consecutively enrolled. Their demographic, metabolic profiles and histopathological manifestations were analyzed. Results Twenty-four (18.5%) NASH patients were non-obese. Thirty-three (25.4%) patients had significant fibrosis (F2) or more: 22 (16.9%) patients were of F2, whilst 11 (8.5%) patients were of advanced fibrosis (F3-4). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, diabetes and hypertension were 60.8%, 39.4%, and 61.5%, respectively. There was a significant inverse correlation between hyperuricemia and fibrosis stages, ranging from 48.4% of F0-1, 33.3% of F2, and 9.1% of F3-4, respectively (P = 0.01, linear trend). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a decreased serum albumin level (OR = 40.0, 95% CI = 4.5–300, P = 0.001) and normal uric acid level (OR = 5.6, 95% CI = 1.5–21.7, P = 0.01) were the significant factors associated with significant fibrosis. Conclusions Hyperuricemia inversely predicts fibrosis stages. Females might carry a more disease severity than males in Taiwanese NASH patients.
Monitoring the Corrosion Process of Reinforced Concrete Using BOTDA and FBG Sensors

Expansion and cracking induced by the corrosion of reinforcement concrete is the major factor in the failure of concrete durability. Therefore, monitoring of concrete cracking is critical for evaluating the safety of concrete structures. In this paper, we introduce a novel monitoring method combining Brillouin optical time domain analysis (BOTDA) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG), based on mechanical principles of concrete expansion cracking. BOTDA monitors concrete expansion and crack width, while FBG identifies the time and position of cracking. A water-pressure loading simulation test was carried out to determine the relationship between fiber strain, concrete expansion and crack width. An electrical accelerated corrosion test was also conducted to evaluate the ability of this novel sensor to monitor concrete cracking under practical conditions.
Personality Configurations in Self-Managed Teams: A Natural Experiment on the Effects of Maximizing and Minimizing Variance in Traits

In this study, we examined the impact of seeding teams to create maximal and minimal levels of extroversion and conscientiousness variance. Using the theories of complementary and supplementary fit, we make predictions regarding the main and interactive effects of extroversion and conscientiousness variance on performance. Testing our hypotheses in a longitudinal study of MBA teams, our results demonstrate that the combination of minimizing conscientiousness variance (consistent with complementary fit) and maximizing extroversion variance (consistent with supplementary fit) produced the highest levels of short-term and long-term performance. jasp_778 1701.1732
Effects of Photographs on the Selective Reading of News Reports

Respondents examined an experimental news magazine composed of manipulated and unmanipulated articles about relevant social issues. The manipulated articles either featured no photograph, an innocuous photograph, or a photograph depicting others' impending or manifest victimization. Respondents were free to read whatever they deemed of interest. Time restriction did not allow them, however, to read all available articles in their entirety. Under these selective-exposure conditions, article preferences and reading times were unobtrusively recorded. Additionally, an information-acquisition test was administered after the reading of the magazine. It was found that the text of articles accompanied by photographs, especially by photographs depicting victimization, was read for longer periods of time. Moreover, the acquisition of textual information was markedly facilitated by the presence of photographs depicting victimization.
Responses of human primary sensorimotor and supplementary motor areas to internally triggered unilateral and simultaneous bilateral one‐digit movements. A high‐resolution EEG study

We modelled the responses of human primary sensorimotor areas and supplementary motor area to simple, self‐initiated unilateral and simultaneous bilateral middle finger movements using a novel high‐resolution electroencephalography technology. The results support the view that these cortical motor areas are involved in parallel and present similar activity in the preparation, initiation, and execution of the contralateral and bilateral movements. Furthermore, the left primary sensorimotor area (dominant hemisphere) appears to be activated more than the right primary sensorimotor area during the preparation and performance of the ipsilateral movements.
A Formal Model of Trust Based on Outcomes

The study of trust has occupied scholars from a number of disciplines, who have made limited attempts at integrating the different streams. One reason for lack of integration is that no clear definition of trust exists. In this article we grapple with this issue by going back to first principles to derive a mathematically precise and statistically rigorous definition of trust. In giving a rigorous meaning of trust, we also capture the key elements of the concept as highlighted by various disciplinary lenses. Our definition of trust, although rationally based, is consistent with many of the findings of earlier behavioral and sociological research. Its contribution is in adding precision and richness to our understanding of how trust is created and maintained in various social and economic interactions.
Cross-National Gender Gaps in Political Knowledge

Although the majority of studies on political knowledge document lingering gender-based differences in advanced industrial democracies, most contributors have drawn such conclusions from a single or a handful of countries, using limited batteries of political information items. Exploiting a pooled data set of the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems encompassing 106 post-election surveys in forty-seven countries between 1996 and 2011, this article demonstrates that survey instrument–related factors, such as question format and content, as well as the overall difficulty of questions, are more consequential in shaping the size of gender gaps in political knowledge than institutional factors, such as electoral rules or opportunity structures. The research design of this article draws from almost three hundred different items measuring factual political knowledge using the broadest country coverage and most comprehensive approach to measurement to date.
Probability estimation with machine learning methods for dichotomous and multicategory outcome: Theory

Probability estimation for binary and multicategory outcome using logistic and multinomial logistic regression has a long‐standing tradition in biostatistics. However, biases may occur if the model is misspecified. In contrast, outcome probabilities for individuals can be estimated consistently with machine learning approaches, including k‐nearest neighbors (k‐NN), bagged nearest neighbors (b‐NN), random forests (RF), and support vector machines (SVM). Because machine learning methods are rarely used by applied biostatisticians, the primary goal of this paper is to explain the concept of probability estimation with these methods and to summarize recent theoretical findings. Probability estimation in k‐NN, b‐NN, and RF can be embedded into the class of nonparametric regression learning machines; therefore, we start with the construction of nonparametric regression estimates and review results on consistency and rates of convergence. In SVMs, outcome probabilities for individuals are estimated consistently by repeatedly solving classification problems. For SVMs we review classification problem and then dichotomous probability estimation. Next we extend the algorithms for estimating probabilities using k‐NN, b‐NN, and RF to multicategory outcomes and discuss approaches for the multicategory probability estimation problem using SVM. In simulation studies for dichotomous and multicategory dependent variables we demonstrate the general validity of the machine learning methods and compare it with logistic regression. However, each method fails in at least one simulation scenario. We conclude with a discussion of the failures and give recommendations for selecting and tuning the methods. Applications to real data and example code are provided in a companion article (doi:10.1002/bimj.201300077).
Multicompetence and Second Language Teaching

The idea of multicompetence as the compound state of a mind with two grammars has many implications for syllabus designers and teachers as envisioned by Vivian Cook (2002). Cook sees L2 users as fundamentally different than monolingual L1 users, and suggests that language teachers should recognize and celebrate this distinction. Too often, he suggests, teachers and SLA researchers regard L2 users as deficient, not merely different, when compared to native speakers. Since L2 users can never become native speakers, comparing them to native speakers sets a standard that is unattainable, and even undesirable. Multicompetent people can do things that no monolingual person can, and knowledge of an L2 not only affects their knowledge of the L1, but also enhances other perceptions and abilities as well. This paper will review some of the pedagogical implications of multicompetence as described by Cook (1999, 2002).
An Analysis of the Media Response to the Spitzer Study

ABSTRACT This study is an attempt to “connect the dots” between the political, cultural, and psychotherapeutic worlds that collide when the issue of “ex-gays” and “reparative therapies and ministries” become part of the public discourse. In May 2001, Robert L. Spitzer, MD, presented a study on sexual orientation which claimed that some highly motivated individuals, employing religious or psychotherapeutic means, could make substantial changes in more than one indicator of sexual orientation. Before the study's findings were presented at the annual gathering of the American Psychiatric Association in New Orleans, the study and its conclusions–although they had not yet been peer reviewed, let alone published–were leaked to the news media. Promoters of so-called “conversion therapies” and organized opponents of gay and lesbian civil rights claimed Spitzer's study validated what they'd been saying all along: that gays and lesbians “choose” homosexuality and that they can be “cured. ” Voices from the gay community criticized the study's author, methodology and conclusions, and focused attention on the exploitation of the study by antigay political groups. After the story broke, news coverage focused on Spitzer's study as the latest development in the ongoing struggle around gay and lesbian civil rights, with pro-gay and antigay spokespeople debating the issues on television and in print. To examine the impact of media coverage of “reparative therapy” and “conversion ministries,” this paper explores the nature of the “ex-gay” movement itself; previous efforts of the ex-gay movement to frame the issues of the debate; the routines of the media institutions that are the primary conduits of this debate; and as a case study, media coverage of the Spitzer study and public response to that coverage. This paper concludes that media routines dictate that coverage of scientific issues which intersect with political or cultural ones tend to minimize the science and focus instead on the political or cultural “conflict. ” Unfortunately, this tendency marginalizes legitimate scientific insights and promotes simplistic, misrepresentative interpretations of complex issues.
Relationships between Learning Styles and Performance on Problem-Solving Tasks

A computerized problem-solving task was employed to study the relationships among problem-solving behaviors and learning styles. College students made choices to find their way home in a simulated “lost in the woods” task and wrote their. reasons at each choice point. Time to read relevant information and time to make decisions were measured by the computer clock. These variables were correlated with learning style variables from Schmeck's (1977) questionnaire. The findings indicated that subjects who perceived themselves as competent learners take more time on the problem-solving task, use more information and make fewer wrong choices.
A Holistic Framework for Trust in Online Transactions

This paper systematically reviews previous studies of trust from social, economic and technological perspectives and develops a holistic framework for trust, which can be used to analyse the establishment and maintenance of trust in online transactions, and identify the mechanisms that can be used to increase trust. Trust plays a crucial role in the formation of dependent relationships represented by online transactions, and a holistic treatment of trust is necessary because of the gap that exists between the developments in information systems and our understanding of their social and economic implications, and the impact on the perceived trust of the transacting parties. This review enables us to depict an online transaction through its attributes and context, and systematically map these to identified trust antecedents. The key components and processes of the framework are outlined, and three strands of empirical work are discussed to develop it further. The framework highlights the critical role of institutions in the establishment and maintenance of trust in online transactions, which informs the development of e‐commerce and e‐business platforms and the underpinning information systems, and facilitates the establishment of mechanisms to induce additional institutions to increase trust in online transactions.