Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the Antisense Overlap between Genes for Thyroid Hormone Receptor and Rev-erbα and Characterization of an Exonic G-Rich Element That Regulates Splicing of TRα2 mRNA

The α-thyroid hormone receptor gene (TRα) codes for two functionally distinct proteins: TRα1, the α-thyroid hormone receptor; and TRα2, a non-hormone-binding variant. The final exon of TRα2 mRNA overlaps the 3’ end of Rev-erbα mRNA, which encodes another nuclear receptor on the opposite strand of DNA. To understand the evolution of this antisense overlap, we sequenced these genes and mRNAs in the platypus Orthorhynchus anatinus. Despite its strong homology with other mammals, the platypus TRα/Rev-erbα locus lacks elements essential for expression of TRα2. Comparative analysis suggests that alternative splicing of TRα2 mRNA expression evolved in a stepwise fashion before the divergence of eutherian and marsupial mammals. A short G-rich element (G30) located downstream of the alternative 3’splice site of TRα2 mRNA and antisense to the 3’UTR of Rev-erbα plays an important role in regulating TRα2 splicing. G30 is tightly conserved in eutherian mammals, but is absent in marsupials and monotremes. Systematic deletions and substitutions within G30 have dramatically different effects on TRα2 splicing, leading to either its inhibition or its enhancement. Mutations that disrupt one or more clusters of G residues enhance splicing two- to three-fold. These results suggest the G30 sequence can adopt a highly structured conformation, possibly a G-quadruplex, and that it is part of a complex splicing regulatory element which exerts both positive and negative effects on TRα2 expression. Since mutations that strongly enhance splicing in vivo have no effect on splicing in vitro, it is likely that the regulatory role of G30 is mediated through linkage of transcription and splicing.
[Evaluation of early alterations in transmitral diastolic flow and tissue Doppler findings of the Basal segments of both ventricles in early period after coronary angioplasty].

OBJECTIVE Diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) appears to be the earliest manifestation of myocardial ischemia. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that both early and late improvements of diastolic function occur after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Because of the limited utility of transmitral flow profile in the evaluation of the LV diastolic function, recently, assessment of myocardial velocities by Doppler tissue imaging is gaining importance. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of pulsed wave tissue Doppler (PWTD) pattern from the mitral and tricuspid annulus motion in the evaluation of early alterations of the LV diastolic function after revascularization with PTCA in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS Pulsed wave tissue Doppler in combination with conventional pulsed-Doppler indices were used to evaluate LV diastolic function before and 24 hours after PTCA. Examinations were performed on 31 patients with chronic ischemic heart disease underwent elective first PTCA. As conventional Doppler indices, early diastolic mitral velocity (e), and its deceleration time (Edt), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), late diastolic mitral velocity (a) were measured. Using 2-dimensional echocardiography four chamber apical window, mitral annulus septal and lateral site and tricuspid annulus lateral site were viewed, and PWTD velocity profile were used to calculate; early diastolic maximum velocity and time, late diastolic maximum velocity and time, systolic maximum velocity and time, IVRT and isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) from each site. RESULTS After PTCA only 2 transmitral conventional pulsed-Doppler indices were changed significantly (IVRT; from 139.7+/-22.2 msec to 120.0+/-15.9 msec, p=0.0001; Edt; from 279+/-11 msec to 248+/-36 msec, p=0.005). However, PWTD (mitral annulus lateral site) analyses showed significant improvement in most of the diastolic parameters: e/a ratio - from 0.80+/-0.26 to 0.89+/-0.22, p=0.012; s wave - from 11.6+/-3.1 cm/sec to 13.2+/-3.6 cm/sec, p=0.03; IVRT - from 130+/-37 msec to 108+/-29 msec, p=0,0001; IVCT - from 84.1+/-19.2 msec to 75.6+/-12.2 msec, p=0.02. Similar significant changes were also observed in the PWTD diastolic parameters of both the mitral annulus septal and tricuspid annulus sites. Peak systolic velocities that reflect the LV systolic functions, of three annular sites significantly improved early after PTCA, however ejection fraction was not changed as much as tissue Doppler parameters (s maximum velocity before PTCA: 11.7+/-3.1 cm/sec versus 13.2+/-3.6 cm/sec after PTCA, p=0.03). CONCLUSION Tissue Doppler indices of the mitral annulus reflecting both the diastolic and systolic functions, improve early after successful PTCA in patients with coronary artery disease.
Decreased responsiveness to reward in depression

We have interpreted the literature showing left anterior hypoactivation in depression as reflecting a decrease in approach-related motivation and behaviour among depressed subjects. In support of this model, we have previously demonstrated a decreased responsiveness to reward in subclinically depressed dysphoric subjects. The current study was designed to replicate and extend those findings. Clinically depressed subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for major depression were compared to a group of nondepressed control subjects on a verbal memory task under three monetary payoff conditions: neutral, reward, and punishment. Although control subjects changed their pattern of responding in both the reward and punishment conditions, relative to the neutral condition, so as to maximise their earnings, depressed subjects did not do so during reward. The two groups did not differ during the punishment condition. These findings provide additional evidence of a decreased responsiveness to reward in depressed individuals, and are consistent with the hypothesis that the left prefrontal hypoactivation observed in depression reflects a deficit in approach-related behaviour.
A recursive, explicit and fair method to efficiently and fairly adjust TCP windows in satellite networks

As originally specified, TCP did not perform well over satellite network systems, systems known with their rapidly time-varying network topologies. This paper addresses some vexing attributes that impair TCP performance in LEO satellite networks. The paper proposes a scheme that allows satellite systems to automatically adapt to the number of active TCP flows, the free buffer size and the bandwidth-delay product of the network. The proposed scheme controls the efficiency of the system by matching the aggregate traffic rate to the sum of the link capacity and total buffer size. This attribute helps to adjust TCP's aggressiveness and to prevent persistent queues from forming. The system min-max fairness is achieved by allocating bandwidth among individual flows in proportion with their RTTs. Simulation results elucidate that the proposed scheme substantially improves the system fairness, reduces the number of packet drops and makes better utilization of the bottleneck link. The results demonstrate also that the proposed scheme works properly in more complicated environments where connections traverse multiple bottlenecks and the available bandwidth may change over data transmission time.
Exclusion and Marginalisation in Adolescence: The Experience of School Exclusion on Drug Use and Antisocial Behaviour

Young people excluded from school are a group at an increased risk of drug use and antisocial behaviour during adolescence and later marginalisation and exclusion from society in adulthood. As part of the Belfast Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of the onset and development of adolescent drug use, young people who entered post-primary school in 2000 (aged 11/12 years) were surveyed annually on four occasions. This paper reports on findings from this survey in relation to a supplementary group of young people who were surveyed because they had been excluded from school. The findings show higher levels of drug use and antisocial behaviour among school excludees, lower levels of communication with their parents/guardians, higher levels of contact with the criminal justice system and increased likelihood of living in communities characterised with neighbourhood disorganisation. This lifestyle perhaps suggests these young people are leading a life that is already taking them towards the margins of society.
Leadership coaching experiences of clients with Alexithymia

Orientation: Leaders who find it difficult to connect emotionally with colleagues are often seen as incompetent, the idea that they may suffer from alexithymia – an inability to feel – is not taken into account. This coaching model seemed to be not successful in changing this behaviour pattern. Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to describe the coaching experiences of leaders with symptoms of alexithymia and to formulate hypotheses around their leadership experiences. Motivation for the study: Effective leadership is strongly associated with emotional connections with colleagues. Leaders suffering from alexithymia, struggle with making these connections. It was thought that coaching might help them bridge the gap towards building effective relationships. Research design, approach and method: A qualitative research design using case studies was used. Three participants underwent 10 months of systems psychodynamic leadership coaching, including role analysis. Researcher’s field notes and participant essays were discourse analysed. The researcher’s unconscious experiences were included in the interpretations. Main findings: Five themes manifested themselves namely, leaders’ difficult experiences with coaching, the dynamics underlying their normative, experiential and phenomenal roles and the coach’s unconscious experiences affecting the relationship. The research hypothesis referred to the differences between the role parts and the resulting anxiety. Practical/managerial implications: This coaching model did not provide sufficient opportunities for the participating leaders with regard to emotional reactivity and regulation. Contribution/value-add: The research created awareness of how alexithymia amongst leaders manifests in organisations. Unfortunately the coaching was unsuccessful in addressing the emotional task. Other ways need to be explored.
What is the role of histone H1 heterogeneity? A functional model emerges from a 50 year mystery

For the past 50 years, understanding the function of histone H1 heterogeneity has been mired in confusion and contradiction. Part of the reason for this is the lack of a working model that tries to explain the large body of data that has been collected about the H1 subtypes so far. In this review, a global model is described largely based on published data from the author and other researchers over the past 20 years. The intrinsic disorder built into H1 protein structure is discussed to help the reader understand that these histones are multi-conformational and adaptable to interactions with different targets. We discuss the role of each structural section of H1 (as we currently understand it), but we focus on the H1’s C-terminal domain and its effect on each subtype’s affinity, mobility and compaction of chromatin. We review the multiple ways these characteristics have been measured from circular dichroism to FRAP analysis, which has added to the sometimes contradictory assumptions made about each subtype. Based on a tabulation of these measurements, we then organize the H1 variants according to their ability to condense chromatin and produce nucleosome repeat lengths amenable to that compaction. This subtype variation generates a continuum of different chromatin states allowing for fine regulatory control and some overlap in the event one or two subtypes are lost to mutation. We also review the myriad of disparate observations made about each subtype, both somatic and germline specific ones, that lend support to the proposed model. Finally, to demonstrate its adaptability as new data further refines our understanding of H1 subtypes, we show how the model can be applied to experimental observations of telomeric heterochromatin in aging cells.
Reliability and Validity Evidence of the Chinese Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale Scores Among Taiwanese Children

The Piers—Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale—Second Edition (Piers—Harris 2) was designed to measure self-concept among children and adolescents. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the scores of the Chinese version of the Piers—Harris 2 (Chinese Piers—Harris). The Chinese Piers—Harris 2 was administered to 243 Taiwanese students in Grades 1 to 4. The results of factor analysis indicated a six-factor promax solution was the most appropriate solution for the Chinese Piers—Harris 2. The results also revealed acceptable internal consistency and test score stability of the Chinese Piers—Harris 2 scores. In addition, the scores of the Chinese Piers—Harris 2 had significant correlations with the scores of the Elementary School Children’s Self-Concept Scale and the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale. Overall, the findings indicate that the Chinese Piers—Harris 2 scores have good psychometric properties for a sample of Taiwanese children.
Ultrasonic characterization of mesoporous thin films

Thin films are now used in several fields, such as coating, sensors, material tuning. Yet, the determination of mechanical parameters of these films is still a challenge and most of the characterization methods are electromagnetic or electric. In previous works, it has been shown that the transmission spectrum is very sensitive to etching. In this study, investigation of the feasibility of the characterization of thin film deposited on silicon substrate is proposed. The theoretical transmission spectrum is calculated using an unidimensional model. This model is based on normal incidence of the ultrasonic beam. The porosity of the thin film is taken into account using a homogenization model based on Biots theory. Measurements are performed with high frequency transducers (from 20 to 50 MHz) using the insertion-substitution method. The optimization between theoretical and experimental spectra is performed using a genetic algorithm in order to avoid premature convergence on a local solution. Measurements have been performed on 300 nm thick TiO2:SiO2 film which has been deposited using a sol gel method on 500 μm thick silicon substrate. Transmission spectra of the reference (without sample) and with the sample are plotted in the figure below. Another reference is made using the transmission spectrum through the substrate only to characterize more precisely the substrate. A shift of the resonance frequency can be observed, due to the thickness variation induced by the thin film.
Revitalising Indigenous Languages in Homogenising Times

The world's linguistic and cultural diversity is endangered by the forces of globalisation, which work to homogenise and standardise even as they segregate and marginalise. Here, I focus on the struggle to conserve linguistic and cultural diversity among Indigenous groups in the United States. Native languages are in drastic decline. Yet even as more Native American children come to school speaking English, they are likely to be stigmatised as 'limited English proficient' and placed in remedial programmes. This situation has motivated bold new approaches to Indigenous schooling that emphasise immersion in the heritage language. This article presents data on these developments and their impacts on students' self-efficacy and school performance, analysing these data in light of critical theory and current knowledge in the field of bilingual education. Indigenous language reclamation efforts must not only confront a legacy of colonialism, but also mounting pressures for standardisation and English monolingualism. I conclude with an examination of these power relations as they are manifest in the struggle for Indigenous self-determination and linguistic human rights.
Influence of ventilation strategies on survival in severe controlled hemorrhagic shock

Objective:To investigate the effect of different ventilation settings on hemodynamic stability in severe controlled hemorrhagic shock. Design:Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. Setting:Research laboratory in a university hospital. Subjects:Approximately 35–45 kg domestic pigs. Interventions:Twenty-four domestic pigs were bled 45 mL/kg (estimated 65% of their calculated blood volume) and then ventilated with either 0 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure and a respiratory rate of 14 ventilations/min (positive end-expiratory pressure 0 respiratory rate 14), or with 5 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure, a respiratory rate of 28 ventilations/min, and a tidal volume reduced by half (positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 28), or with 5 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure and a respiratory rate of 14 ventilations/min (positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 14). After 1 hr study phase surviving animals, received fluid resuscitation and were monitored for further 1 hr. Measurements and Main Results:Pulmonary variables, hemodynamic variables, and short-term survival. There were no significant differences in mean arterial blood pressure and cardiac index after hemorrhage. After 20 mins of different ventilation strategies mean arterial blood pressure was 40 ± 3 mm Hg in the positive end-expiratory pressure 0 respiratory rate 14 group, vs. 24 ± 6 mm Hg the positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 28 group (p < 0.05) vs. 19 ± 3 mm Hg in the positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 14 group (p < 0.01). Cardiac index was 65 ± 5 mL/min/kg in the positive end-expiratory pressure 0 respiratory rate 14 group vs. 37 ± 5 mL/min/kg in the positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 28 group(p < 0.01) and 20 ± 3 mL/min/kg in the positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 14 group (p < 0.01). Mean airway pressure and positive end-expiratory pressure correlated strongly with mean arterial blood pressure and cardiac index. None of the positive end-expiratory pressure 0 respiratory rate 14 animals died in the study phase, whereas six of seven positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 28 animals, and all seven positive end-expiratory pressure 5 respiratory rate 14 animals died. Conclusions:In this porcine model of severe hemorrhagic shock, reduction of positive end-expiratory pressure was the most important ventilation strategy component influencing hemodynamic stability. Reducing mean airway pressure by decreasing tidal volumes and increasing respiratory rates seemed to have less influence on cardiopulmonary function and survival than 0 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure.
Phonological Processing of Second Language Phonemes: A Selective Deficit in a Bilingual Aphasic

We present a case study of a Russian-Hebrew bilingual transcortical sensory aphasic. In general, aphasic symptoms are similar in the 2 languages, with Hebrew being somewhat more impaired. However, the patient reveals a difference in her ability to perceive phonemes in the context of Hebrew words that is dependent on whether they are presented in a Russian or a native accent. This finding is interpreted as showing that a mediating mechanism that assimilates second language phonemes to native language phonological categories is differentially damaged. Implications for models of speech perception in general and second language phonetic perception in particular are discussed.
Why Do Some Children Bully at School?

The tendency for school children to bully others was conceived as lying along a continuum of frequency, ranging from zero to very high. To examine social factors that may influence the position of individual students on this continuum, questionnaires were administered to Australian school children attending state coeducational schools: primary (N = 200) and secondary (N = 200). They completed measures to assess: (i) frequency of engaging in bullying others; (ii) attitudes towards victims of bullying and (iii) the extent to which they believed specified others expected them to support victims of bullying. Those specified included mother, father, friends and teachers. Multiple regression analyses indicated that negative attitudes to victims and the perceived expectations of friends were associated with self-reported bullying behaviour (p < 0.001); in addition, boys were more likely to report bullying others than girls (p < 0.01). Reporting bullying others was related to perceived expectations of parents for girls only; for neither sex was there evidence that the perceived expectations of teachers influenced reported bullying behaviour. The attitudes students have developed towards victims and the views of their peers may be critical. Anti-bullying programs promoting empathic attitudes to victims and ways of mobilizing peer influence to counter bullying are supported.
Rhythmic patterns during conversational repairs in speakers with aphasia

Background: Investigations of prosodic tempos during conversations between non‐disordered persons have revealed changes in tempo during conversational repairs. The present study investigates fluctuations in prosodic parameters of speakers with aphasia during conversational repairs to study how changes in prosodic tempo are associated with the speakers' ability to make comprehensible corrections. Aims: Previous investigators have found that non‐disordered speakers will alter prosodic tempo based on the type of repair: faster for self‐initiated repairs and slower for other‐initiated repairs (Couper‐Kuhlen, 1993). Others have shown that speech rate can influence the comprehension of verbal information by persons with aphasia during structured interactions such as in story telling or map directions (Laskey, Weidner, & Johnson, 1976; Salvatore & Davis, 1979). This study examines changes in prosodic patterns made by speakers with aphasia during repair episodes in informal conversations with non‐disordered partners. The influence of partner familiarity and perceived comprehensibility of the repair are also examined. Methods & Procedures: Conversations between speakers with aphasia and familiar and unfamiliar non‐disordered partners were recorded and acoustically analysed. Prosodic tempo is operationally defined as fluctuations in fundamental frequency (f0) and sound pressure levels (SPL), and is modelled with sine waves overlaid on graphic displays of f0 and SPL tracings during repair episodes. Listener judgements of repair success were then compared to the changes in prosodic tempo from pre‐ to post‐repair talk. Outcomes & Results: Analysis of the pre‐ to post‐repair prosodic tempo yielded results suggesting that speakers with aphasia respond differently during conversational repairs with familiar and unfamiliar partners, whereas non‐disordered speakers respond differently based on the type of repair (self‐initiated or other‐initiated). The successful resolution of the repairs was not found to be associated with a slower tempo. However, an analysis of the magnitude of change between pre‐ and post‐repair rhythm suggests that perceived success of repair is associated with the amount of change. Conclusions: The results of the acoustic analysis method used in the study were compatible with results obtained by previous studies using perceptual analyses (Couper‐Kuhlen, 1993). There was a significant difference in prosodic tempo between self‐ and other‐initiated repairs for the non‐disordered speakers who slowed down during other‐initiated repairs and sped up during self‐initiated repairs. In contrast, speakers with aphasia changed prosodic tempo based on partner familiarity. They used faster tempo with unfamiliar partners and slower tempo with familiar partners during repairs. Although slower tempo did not aid in the successful resolution of the repair, magnitude of change was found to be significantly greater during successful repairs compared to unsuccessful repairs.