Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structures of androgen receptor bound with ligands: advancing understanding of biological functions and drug discovery

ABSTRACT Introduction: Androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor and a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. It plays a vital role in male sexual development and regulates gene expression in various tissues, including prostate. Androgens are compounds that exert their biological effects via interaction with AR. Binding of androgens to AR initiates conformational changes in AR that affect binding of co-regulator proteins and DNA. AR agonists and antagonists are widely used in a variety of clinical applications (i.e. hypogonadism and prostate cancer therapy). Areas covered: This review provides a close look at structures of AR-ligand complexes and mutations in the receptor that have been revealed, discusses current challenges in the field, and sheds light on future directions. Expert opinion: AR is one of the primary targets for the treatment of prostate cancer, as AR antagonists inhibit prostate cancer growth. However, these drugs are not effective for long-term treatment and lead to castration-resistant prostate cancer. The structures of AR-ligand complexes are an invaluable scientific asset that enhances our understanding of biological functions and mechanisms of androgenic and anti-androgenic chemicals as well as promotes the discovery of superior drug candidates.
Sensor Management with Non-Ideal Sensor Dynamics

We describe a theoretically foundational but potentially practical control-theoretic basis for multisensormultitarget sensor management using a comprehensive, intuitive, system-level Bayesian paradigm based on random set theory. We focus on mobile sensors whose states are observed indirectly by internal actuator sensors. We determine optimal controls (future sensor states) using a "probabilistically natural” sensor management objective function, the posterior expected number of targets (PENT). PENT is constructed using a new “maxiPIMS” optimization strategy to hedge against unknowable future observation-collections. It is used in conjunction with the PHD or MHC approximate multitarget filters.
Modeling the Housing Market in OECD Countries

Recent episodes of housing bubbles, which occurred in several economies after the burst of the United States housing market, suggest studying the evolution of housing prices from a global perspective. We utilise a theoretical model for the purposes of this contribution, which identifies the main drivers of housing price appreciation, such as, for example, income, residential investment, financial elements, fiscal policy and demographics. In a second stage of our analysis, we test our theoretical hypothesis by means of a sample of 18 OECD countries from 1970 to 2011. We employ the vector error correction econometric technique in terms of our empirical analysis, which permits us to model the long-run equilibrium relationship and the short-run dynamics, which also helps to account for endogeneity and reverse causality problems.
(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)(2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)methanone and its derivatives as carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes inhibitors

In this study, we have synthesised (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)(2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)methanone and a series of its derivatives (5, 13–16) and tested the ability of these compounds to inhibit two metalloenzyme human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes, hCA I and hCA II. The synthesised compounds showed inhibitory effect on hCA I and hCA II isozymes. The results showed that synthesised compounds (5, 13–16) demonstrated the best inhibition activity against hCA I (IC50: 3.22–54.28 μM) and hCA II (IC50: 18.52–142.01 μM). The compound 14 showed the highest inhibiton effect against hCA I (IC50: 3.22 μM; Ki: 1.19 ± 1.4 μM). On the other hand, the compound 13 showed the highest inhibiton effect against hCA II (IC50: 18.52 μM; Ki: 3.25 ± 1.13 μM).
Lasting Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Induces Epileptic Focus in the Rat Somatosensory Cortex

Perturbations in the integrity of the blood-brain barrier have been reported in both humans and animals under numerous pathological conditions. Although the blood-brain barrier prevents the penetration of many blood constituents into the brain extracellular space, the effect of such perturbations on the brain function and their roles in the pathogenesis of cortical diseases are unknown. In this study we established a model for focal disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the rat cortex by direct application of bile salts. Exposure of the cerebral cortex in vivo to bile salts resulted in long-lasting extravasation of serum albumin to the brain extracellular space and was associated with a prominent activation of astrocytes with no inflammatory response or marked cell loss. Using electrophysiological recordings in brain slices we found that a focus of epileptiform discharges developed within 4-7 d after treatment and could be recorded up to 49 d postoperatively in >60% of slices from treated animals but only rarely (10%) in sham-operated controls. Epileptiform activity involved both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission. Epileptiform activity was also induced by direct cortical application of native serum, denatured serum, or albumin-containing solution. In contrast, perfusion with serum-adapted electrolyte solution did not induce abnormal activity, thereby suggesting that the exposure of the serum-devoid brain environment to serum proteins underlies epileptogenesis in the blood-brain barrier-disrupted cortex. Although many neuropathologies entail a compromised blood-brain barrier, this is the first direct evidence that it may have a role in the pathogenesis of focal cortical epilepsy, a common neurological disease.
Phonological priming in children's picture naming

Two experiments examined phonological priming in children and adults, using a cross-modal picture-word interference task. Pictures of familiar objects were presented on a computer screen, while interfering words (IWs) were presented over headphones. In terms of their relation to target pictures, IWs were either phonologically related, unrelated, neutral (the word go), or identical. Ninety children (30 aged 4;11 to 5;11, 30 aged 6;11 to 7;11, and 30 aged 9;5 to 11;9) and 30 adults were instructed to name the pictures as quickly as possible while ignoring the IWs. In Experiment 1, related IWs shared onset consonants with the names of the pictures. Across ages, participants named pictures faster with related IWs than with unrelated IWs. In Experiment 2, related IWs rhymed with the targets. Here, only the youngest children (five to seven-year-olds) named pictures faster with related IWs than with unrelated IWs. The results indicate that priming effects reach a peak during a time when articulatory information is being consolidated in the output phonological buffer. The disappearance of the rhyme priming effect with age may reflect the gradual emergence of the onset as an organizing structure in speech production. This increased prominence of the onset can be viewed as one component of a just-in-time, incrementalist approach to speech production that allows adults to speak more fluently than children.
A comparison of Waldorf and non-Waldorf student-teachers’ social-emotional competencies: can arts engagement explain differences?

Abstract Teachers are confronted with complex and unexpected classroom situations that not only demand knowledge but also social–emotional competencies. Consequently, researchers have tried to identify conditions that support the development of relevant abilities in this domain. This study examined the frequently stated, but not yet empirically investigated, idea of immersion in the arts as a facilitator of aspects of empathy and tolerance of ambiguity (ToA). The paper compares Waldorf student-teachers who are strongly immersed in arts activities in their training with non-Waldorf student-teachers who do not participate in the arts on the constructs of empathy and ToA. Results indicated higher scores in the Waldorf group on both emotional and cognitive dimensions of the empathy construct and marginally higher scores on ToA. The results of this study and subsequent discussion suggest a new perspective on the relation between arts engagement and the specific domain of social–emotional competencies.
Detecting water yield variability due to the small proportional land use and land cover changes in a watershed on the Loess Plateau, China

Soil conservation practices have been widely implemented on the Loess Plateau to reduce severe soil erosion in north‐central China over the past three decades. However, the hydrologic impacts of these practices are not well documented and understood. The objective of this study was to examine how water yield has changed after implementing soil conservation practices that resulted in changes in land use and land cover in a small agriculture‐dominated watershed, the LuErGou Watershed in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, China. We collected 23 years of hydro‐meteorological data along with three land use surveys of 1982, 1989, and 2000. The land use survey in 2000 suggested that the soil conservation efforts resulted in a 16·6%, 4%, and 16% increase in area of grassland, forested land, and terraces respectively over the two periods from 1982 to 1988 (baseline) and 1989 to 2003 (soil conservation measures implemented). Rainfall–runoff regression models developed for both time periods at the annual and monthly time steps were used to examine the significance of change in water yield in the second time period. The averaged annual run‐off coefficient over 1989–2003 did not change significantly (at the α = 0·05 level) as compared to that in the period 1982–1988. However, we found that soil conservation practices that included re‐vegetation and terracing reduced water yield during wet periods. This study highlights the importance of the precipitation regime in regulating hydrologic effects of soil conservation measures in a semi‐arid environment. We concluded that adequately evaluating the effects of land use change and soil conservation measures on water yield must consider the climatic variability under an arid environment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychometric properties of Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation - Comparison of BFNE and BFNE-S

Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) is one of the most commonly used measures of social anxiety. Previous findings support the validity and reliability of BFNE. Present study examined the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of BFNE, respectively its abbreviated version BFNE-S. Scale was administered to a sample of 322 undergraduate college students. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supports two factor model (positive vs. negative scored items). Internal consistency for both scales was excellent (α =.914, α =.929, respectively). Correlation between BFNE and BFNE-S was=. 965. Based on the results of our analysis, we recommend using the abbreviated version (BFNE-S) which has comparable psychometric properties to BFNE, it is less time consuming, and without losing important information. Implications for future research are discussed.
Aspergillus pericarditis: Clinical and pathologic features in the immunocompromised patient

There has been a proliferation of infectious complications due to Aspergillus in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer and transplantation; however, aspergillus pericarditis has been rarely described. Reported here are the clinical and pathologic findings of Aspergillus pericarditis in six immunocomprised patients who came to autopsy in the past 11 years. Five had leukemia, one had received a renal transplant. All had pulmonary aspergillosis. Two had clinically overt pericarditis leading to cardiac tamponade and death. Pulmonary aspergillosis preceded development of pericardial signs. Chest radiographs, serial electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms showed abnormality but were nonspecific. Pericardiocentesis was performed in one patient but proved nondiagnostic and yielded only transient hemodynamic improvement; postmortem Gram stain of the spun sediment of that pericardial fluid revealed branched hyphae. Although five patients received Amphotericin B, whether it entered the pericardial space is uncertain. Postmortem examination revealed extensive pericardial involvement by Aspergillus associated with effusions as large as 1000 ml Aspergillus penetrated the pericardium by rupture of myocardial abscesses and invasion from contiguous pulmonary foci into the pericardial space. A clinical diagnosis of Aspergillus pericarditis was never established, and at least two died of their pericardial disease. Aspergillus pericarditis is a lethal cardiac infection, which is likely to increase in frequency, and should be considered in the hemodynamically unstable immunocompromised patient, especially when signs of pericarditis or pulmonary aspergillosis are present.
Automated Gravimetric Calibration to Optimize the Accuracy and Precision of TECAN Freedom EVO Liquid Handler

High-throughput screening technologies are increasingly integrated into the formulation development process of biopharmaceuticals. The performance of liquid handling systems is dependent on the ability to deliver accurate and precise volumes of specific reagents to ensure process quality. We have developed an automated gravimetric calibration procedure to adjust the accuracy and evaluate the precision of the TECAN Freedom EVO liquid handling system. Volumes from 3 to 900 µL using calibrated syringes and fixed tips were evaluated with various solutions, including aluminum hydroxide and phosphate adjuvants, β-casein, sucrose, sodium chloride, and phosphate-buffered saline. The methodology to set up liquid class pipetting parameters for each solution was to split the process in three steps: (1) screening of predefined liquid class, including different pipetting parameters; (2) adjustment of accuracy parameters based on a calibration curve; and (3) confirmation of the adjustment. The run of appropriate pipetting scripts, data acquisition, and reports until the creation of a new liquid class in EVOware was fully automated. The calibration and confirmation of the robotic system was simple, efficient, and precise and could accelerate data acquisition for a wide range of biopharmaceutical applications.
Association of HMOX1 and NQO1 Polymorphisms with Metabolic Syndrome Components

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is among the most important public health problems worldwide, and is recognized as a major risk factor for various illnesses, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, oxidative stress has been suggested as part of MetS aetiology. The heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) genes are crucial mediators of cellular defence against oxidative stress. In the present study, we analysed the associations of HMOX1 (GT)n and NQO1 C609T polymorphisms with MetS and its components. Our study population comprised 735 Mexican Mestizos unrelated volunteers recruited from different tertiary health institutions from Mexico City. In order to know the HMOX1 (GT)n and NQO1 C609T allele frequencies in Amerindians, we included a population of 241 Amerindian native speakers. Their clinical and demographic data were recorded. The HMOX1 (GT)n polymorphism was genotyped using PCR and fluorescence technology. NQO1 C609T polymorphism genotyping was performed using TaqMan probes. Short allele (<25 GT repeats) of the HMOX1 polymorphism was associated with high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the T allele of the NQO1 C609T polymorphism was associated with increased triglyceride levels and decreased HDL-c levels, but only in individuals with MetS. This is the first study to analyse the association between MetS and genes involved in oxidative stress among Mexican Mestizos. Our data suggest that polymorphisms of HMOX1 and NQO1 genes are associated with a high risk of metabolic disorders, including high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-c levels in Mexican Mestizo individuals.
Prevalence of early childhood caries among preschool children in Trivandrum and its association with various risk factors

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a severe form of dental decay with multi-factorial origin. Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and related risk factors of ECC among preschool children residing in rural and urban areas of Trivandrum district in Kerala. Methods: A sample size of 1329 preschool children of <60 months of age was randomly selected from rural and urban areas of Trivandrum and decayed missing filled teeth indices were recorded. A standardized questionnaire was distributed to the parents. The data were subjected to SPSS version 16 and statistically analyzed with Chi-square test. Results: Prevalence of ECC in the study sample was found to be 54%. Furthermore, a positive association was obtained between ECC and age of the child, location of residence, dietary habits, and oral hygiene habits. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to implement preventive and curative oral health programs for preschool children in rural and urban areas.
Next-Generation Sequencing of Microbial Communities in the Athabasca River and Its Tributaries in Relation to Oil Sands Mining Activities

ABSTRACT The Athabasca oil sands deposit is the largest reservoir of crude bitumen in the world. Recently, the soaring demand for oil and the availability of modern bitumen extraction technology have heightened exploitation of this reservoir and the potential unintended consequences of pollution in the Athabasca River. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential impacts of oil sands mining on neighboring aquatic microbial community structure. Microbial communities were sampled from sediments in the Athabasca River and its tributaries as well as in oil sands tailings ponds. Bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes were amplified and sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology (454 and Ion Torrent). Sediments were also analyzed for a variety of chemical and physical characteristics. Microbial communities in the fine tailings of the tailings ponds were strikingly distinct from those in the Athabasca River and tributary sediments. Microbial communities in sediments taken close to tailings ponds were more similar to those in the fine tailings of the tailings ponds than to the ones from sediments further away. Additionally, bacterial diversity was significantly lower in tailings pond sediments. Several taxonomic groups of Bacteria and Archaea showed significant correlations with the concentrations of different contaminants, highlighting their potential as bioindicators. We also extensively validated Ion Torrent sequencing in the context of environmental studies by comparing Ion Torrent and 454 data sets and by analyzing control samples.
Parallel Multiscale Feature Extraction and Region Growing: Application in Retinal Blood Vessel Detection

This paper presents a parallel implementation based on insight segmentation and registration toolkit for a multiscale feature extraction and region growing algorithm, applied to retinal blood vessels segmentation. This implementation is capable of achieving an accuracy (Ac) comparable to its serial counterpart (about 92%), but 8 to 10 times faster. In this paper, the Ac of this parallel implementation is evaluated by comparison with expert manual segmentation (obtained from public databases). On the other hand, its performance is compared with previous published serial implementations. Both these characteristics make this parallel implementation feasible for the analysis of a larger amount of high-resolution retinal images, achieving a faster and high-quality segmentation of retinal blood vessels.
Null Subjects in Early Icelandic

This paper investigates the possibility of subject omission in the history of Icelandic, including the syntactic and pragmatic conditions under which it could arise. Based on regression analysis of substantial data drawn from the IcePaHC corpus, we provide robust quantitative support for Hjartardóttir's (1987) claim that null subjects persist until a very late stage in Icelandic. We also argue, contra Sigurðsson (1993), that only one licensing mechanism is needed for null subjects in early Icelandic. Moreover, on the basis of the position of the null subjects and their person features, we argue that the modern stage, where (predominantly 3rd person) pro-drop yields to a system permitting topic drop of all persons, arises in Icelandic in the early twentieth century. *
Determination of the Chromosomal Relationship between mecA and gyrA in Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci

ABSTRACT mecA, the gene that mediates methicillin resistance, and its accompanying mec locus DNA, insert near thegyrA gene in Staphylococcus aureus. To investigate whether there is a similar relationship betweenmecA and gyrA in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), mecA- and gyrA-specific DNA fragments were used to probe methicillin-resistant isolates ofStaphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) (n = 11) and Staphylococcus haemolyticus (MRSH) (n= 11). The gyrA probe hybridized to the sameSmaI DNA fragment as the mecA probe in all strains tested. However, since the size of the SmaI fragments containing mecA and gyrA varied from 73 to 600 kb, the distance between the two genes was determined more precisely. Cloned mecA or gyrA fragments plus vector sequences each containing a SmaI site were introduced into the chromosome of three isolates each of MRSE and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and the sizes of the generated SmaI fragments were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The distance between gyrAand mecA was found to be between 38 and 42 kb in both MRSE and MRSA, and the two genes were in the same relative orientation in all strains. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns around the gyrA gene in CNS were identical, but species specific, for all 10 MRSE and 10 MRSH isolates examined. In contrast, 8 of 11 methicillin-susceptible S. epidermidis isolates and 7 of 7 methicillin-susceptible S. haemolyticus isolates had different gyrA RFLP patterns. These data show thatmecA is site and orientation specific, relative togyrA, in both MRSE and MRSA. In addition, the local environment around gyrA in methicillin-resistant CNS, in contrast to methicillin-susceptible isolates, is similar, suggesting clonality or the requirement for specific DNA sequences with which themec complex must interact for chromosomal integration to occur.