Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Active Stabilization of Human Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase mRNA by hnRNP E1 Protects against Antisense RNA and MicroRNAs

ABSTRACT Human endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA is highly stable in endothelial cells (ECs). Posttranscriptional regulation of eNOS mRNA stability is an important component of eNOS regulation, especially under hypoxic conditions. Here, we show that the human eNOS 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) contains multiple, evolutionarily conserved pyrimidine (C and CU)-rich sequence elements that are both necessary and sufficient for mRNA stabilization. Importantly, RNA immunoprecipitations and RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) revealed the formation of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein E1 (hnRNP E1)-containing RNP complexes at these 3′-UTR elements. Knockdown of hnRNP E1 decreased eNOS mRNA half-life, mRNA levels, and protein expression. Significantly, these stabilizing RNP complexes protect eNOS mRNA from the inhibitory effects of its antisense transcript sONE and 3′-UTR-targeting small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), as well as microRNAs, specifically, hsa-miR-765, which targets eNOS mRNA stability determinants. Hypoxia disrupts hnRNP E1/eNOS 3′-UTR interactions via increased Akt-mediated serine phosphorylation (including serine 43) and increased nuclear localization of hnRNP E1. These mechanisms account, at least in part, for the decrease in eNOS mRNA stability under hypoxic conditions. Thus, the stabilization of human eNOS mRNA by hnRNP E1-containing RNP complexes serves as a key protective mechanism against the posttranscriptional inhibitory effects of antisense RNA and microRNAs under basal conditions but is disrupted under hypoxic conditions.
Effects of Cohort Selection on the Results of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Disease-Modifying Drugs for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Decision-analytic cost-effectiveness models are used to determine the most cost-effective treatment option on the basis of the best available data. Guidelines for pharmacoeconomic model development indicate that models should be updated as new evidence becomes available. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the appropriateness of the clinical data that were selected for Goldberg et al.s 2009 model of cost-effectiveness in multiple sclerosis and calculate results based on a revised cohort selection method for intramuscular (IM) interferon (IFN) beta-1a. METHODS: The original model compared cost per relapse avoided for IM IFN beta-1a, subcutaneous (SC) IFN beta-1a, IFN beta-1b, and glatiramer acetate (GA) based on intent-to-treat (ITT) results from clinical trials. However, due to lower-than-expected subject dropout rates, the IM IFN beta-1a trial had sufficient statistical power to be terminated early and was subsequently found to have met its primary endpoint, time to sustained 1.0-point Expanded Disability Status Scale progression. Within the all-patient (ITT) cohort (n=301), approximately 43% of patients were followed for less than 2 years; 172 patients were followed for 2 years or more. In contrast, the proportions of patients followed for at least 2 years in the clinical trials of IFN beta-1b, SC IFN beta-1a, and GA were 92%, 90%, and 86%, respectively. To test the impact of data selection on the cost-effectiveness model results, we recreated the original model using both the all-patient and 2-year cohorts from the IM IFN beta-1a pivotal trial. We then compared our results with those of the original model. RESULTS: In the original model, costs per relapse avoided were $141,721 for IM IFN beta-1a, $80,589 for SC IFN beta-1a, $87,061 for SC IFN beta-1b, and $88,310 for GA. In the reanalysis using the 2-year completer data for IM IFN beta-1a, costs per relapse avoided were $77,980 for IM IFN beta-1a, $80,121 for SC IFN beta-1a, $86,572 for IFN beta-1b, and $87,767 for GA. The cost per relapse avoided for IM IFN beta-1a was approximately 45% lower than in the original analysis, whereas the recreated results for the other 3 therapies differed from the original results by less than 1%. Sensitivity analyses showed that the recreated model was robust and that the rank order of cost-effectiveness results was unaffected by changes to any univariate parameter. CONCLUSIONS: The current study highlights the importance of data selection in cost-effectiveness analyses. After limiting the pivotal trial data for IM IFN beta-1a to patients followed for at least 2 years, we found that IM IFN beta-1a was more cost-effective than in the original analysis, while results for the other first-line disease-modifying drugs remained stable.
Increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Enterobacteriaceae uropathogens in Bangui, Central African Republic.

BACKGROUND Because of the previous high prevalence of resistance to usual antibiotics among uropathogens in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), a survey focused on Enterobacteriaceae, the most prevalent group responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs), was conducted. The aim was to help health authorities revise antibiotic policies. METHODOLOGY We performed a retrospective analysis of all cases of confirmed UTIs due to Enterobacteriaceae in outpatients attending the Institut Pasteur de Bangui (IPB), CAR, between 2004 and 2006. RESULTS During the study period, 560 (10.9% of urine submissions) UTIs were confirmed and 443 Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated, representing 79% of the causative agents for UTIs. Among these 560 strains, E. coli was the most common, representing 64% of the isolates, followed by K. pneumoniae (10%) and other Enterobacteriaceae (5%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae significantly increased from five (3.7%) to thirty-three (19.3%) between 2004 and 2006. A significantly increased resistance rate to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin was observed in ESBL-nonproducing Enterobacteriaceae over the study period. CONCLUSIONS Empiric treatment for UTIs in Bangui should be reconsidered and prudent use of antibiotics, particularly ciprofloxacin, is highly recommended. The recent spread of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in central African outpatients is striking and underlines the need for further studies.
Subspace Gaussian Mixture Models for vectorial HMM-states representation

In this paper we present a vectorial representation of the HMM states that is inspired by the Subspace Gaussian Mixture Models paradigm (SGMM). This vectorial representation of states will make possible a large number of applications, such as HMM-states clustering and graphical visualization. Thanks to this representation, the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) states can be seen as sets of points in multi-dimensional space and then can be studied using statistical data analysis techniques. In this paper, we show how this representation can be obtained and used for tying states of an HHM-based automatic speech recognition system without any use of linguistic or phonetic knowledge. In experiments, this approach achieves significant and stable gain, while conserving the classical approach based on decision trees. We also show how it can be used for graphical visualization, which can be useful in other domains like phonetics or clinical phonetics.
A Caldero–Chapoton map for infinite clusters

We construct a Caldero-Chapoton map on a triangulated category with a cluster tilting subcategory which may have infinitely many indecomposable objects. The map is not necessarily defined on all objects of the triangulated category, but we show that it is a (weak) cluster map in the sense of Buan-Iyama-Reiten-Scott. As a corollary, it induces a surjection from the set of exceptional objects which can be reached from the cluster tilting subcategory to the set of cluster variables of an associated cluster algebra. Along the way, we study the interaction between Calabi-Yau reduction, cluster structures, and the Caldero-Chapoton map. We apply our results to the cluster category D of Dynkin type A infinity which has a rich supply of cluster tilting subcategories with infinitely many indecomposable objects. We show an example of a cluster map which cannot be extended to all of D. The case of D also permits us to illuminate results by Assem-Reutenauer-Smith on SL_2-tilings of the plane.
Old Is an Attitude --- Age Is a Concept: A Qualitative Study on Aging and Ageism with Guidelines for Expressive Therapies Literature

Mental health professionals who work with people over 65 have been shown to exhibit subtle and overt ageist attitudes. Many of these misconceptions were based on societal perceptions and ageism stereotypes arising from contemporary research performed on a non-representative portion of people over 65. Nursing home residents representing only 4.2% of the older adult population have been studied and the results of those studies have been generalized to represent all older adults. Few studies have given voice to the 95.8% of well older adults living independently. It was held if older adults were listened to, guiding information could be gained which could help professionals working with older adults to become more aware of the trappings of ageism and age stereotypes. A qualitative study was employed to explore the lived experience of aging through the analysis and coding of interviews with ten independent people over 65 years old living in diverse locations around the world. Though some of the findings supported old age stereotypes, it was found that the participants held an “inner age” that was 30-40 years younger than their physical age, that the participants did not see themselves as “old,” that “old” meant physical disability or poor attitude, and that “connectedness” was important in life fulfillment. The findings were used to develop a set of guidelines for critiquing expressive therapies literature about working with older adults. Applications of the guidelines to a selection of expressive therapies literature was performed and
Body image, body dissatisfaction and weight status of Pacific adolescents from different ethnic communities: a cross-sectional study in New Caledonia

ABSTRACT Objective(s): The prevalence of adolescent obesity is high among the various ethnic groups native to the Pacific region (European, Melanesian and Polynesian). An important factor of weight gain or loss is body size satisfaction; however, little is known about adolescent body self-perception in the Pacific region. Design: Body dissatisfaction was evaluated using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale in a sample of 699 adolescents from rural and urban areas of New Caledonia. The socio-demographic factors associated with higher body dissatisfaction were determined by multiple linear regression modeling. Results: Our results showed a high rate of body dissatisfaction (over 70%) in the adolescents. Body dissatisfaction was strongly related to the body mass index z-score. Melanesians boys had higher body dissatisfaction scores when they felt ‘too thin’ while Melanesian girls showed lower body dissatisfaction when they felt ‘too fat. ’. Conclusion: These results showed that social pressure for thinness or musculature may be different among adolescents living in New Caledonia. These results should be taken into account in education overweight prevention programs.
Effects of Demographics on the Relationship between Optimism and Work Engagement among Employees of State Agencies in Kenya

Organizations desire highly engaged employees for higher productivity. Both personal and organizational factors drive work engagement. Work engagement in the public sector is low globally. In a survey of 389 managerial employees in 32 state agencies in Kenya, the study explored whether optimism and demographic factors influence the level of work engagement.325 returned questionnaires were analyzed to derive descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 21. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire items were checked. Work engagement levels was high (mean 4.14), Optimism was moderate (mean 3.44). Work engagement positively and significantly correlated with optimism (r=0.257, p< 0.01). Age positively and significantly correlated with work engagement (r=0.153, p<0.01). Optimism and demographics predicted 6.6% and 3.5% of work engagement respectively. The study demonstrated evidence that optimism influence work engagement more than demographic factors. Employees can exhibit high levels of work engagement when they are psychologically positive about their future. Keywords : Optimism, Work engagement, Positive organizational behaviour, Public sector.
‘Holding the torch’ for gifted and talented students in New Zealand primary schools: Insights from gifted and talented coordinators

The New Zealand Government recognises the importance of supporting all students in their learning to assist them to reach their full potential. This recognition is inclusive of gifted and talented students. Furthermore, boards of trustees, through their principal and staff, are required under the National Administration Guidelines, to demonstrate how they are catering for gifted and talented students. Notwithstanding this requirement, The Education Review Office (2008) report entitled Schools’ Provision for Gifted and Talented Students, confirms that a major challenge for school leadership is sustaining momentum of gifted and talented provisions and programmes. Despite this mandated intent, what happens in practice at the school level remains problematic. Teachers and schools welcomed the Talent Development Initiative (TDI), a Ministry of Education (MOE) Initiative, as it held some promise for developments in gifted and talented education. The first round of the initiative ran between 2003 and 2005 and the second from 2006 to 2008. Funding to support innovation and special developments in gifted education has been provided to 38 programmes nationwide. This initiative serviced some schools and educational bodies but a large number of others were left without an extra layer of support beyond their schools’ leadership actions. This study focuses on the school level, in particular teachers who are given additional responsibility, namely those with a coordination role. Moreover, my thesis is about how work to meet the needs of gifted and talented students can be sustained in schools to ensure the gifted and talented ‘torch’ can continue to ‘burn brightly’ over time. To gain an understanding of coordinators’ insights on what it takes to overcome the problem of sustaining provisions and programmes, this study adopts a qualitative, case study approach. I selected a purposive sample of six teachers with experience working in a gifted and talented coordinator role. The main source of data collection was individual semi-structured interviews (refer to Appendix A). I asked them questions about their role and how provisions were made for gifted and talented students at their schools. Further questions were asked about the support they received for their roles, particularly professional learning and development to enhance their practice.
Effect of an integrated reality orientation programme in acute care on post-traumatic amnesia in patients with traumatic brain injury

Primary objective: To assess the effect of an integrated reality orientation programme (North Star Project) in acute care on the duration of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) of patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). It was hypothesized that those patients having participated in this programme would show a shorter PTA than those patients that did not. Method: Duration of PTA for 12 patients with TBI who were part of the North Star Project was compared with that of 26 patients matched for initial GCS and age for whom this approach was not available (control group). Results: Length of PTA was shorter by 5 days for the North Star patients. This result was not statistically significant (p = 0.19) but is clinically relevant. No between-group difference was found for Glasgow Coma Scale. Conclusions: Consequences of shorter PTA would include increased and more appropriate patient interaction and earlier transfer to rehabilitation. The North Star project also allows the family to become more actively involved in the treatment of their loved one. Further study is required to evaluate this intervention strategy to improve orientation for the patient with TBI.
Genome-Wide Pharmacogenomic Study on Methadone Maintenance Treatment Identifies SNP rs17180299 and Multiple Haplotypes on CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L Associated with Plasma Concentrations of Methadone R- and S-enantiomers in Heroin-Dependent Patients

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is commonly used for controlling opioid dependence, preventing withdrawal symptoms, and improving the quality of life of heroin-dependent patients. A steady-state plasma concentration of methadone enantiomers, a measure of methadone metabolism, is an index of treatment response and efficacy of MMT. Although the methadone metabolism pathway has been partially revealed, no genome-wide pharmacogenomic study has been performed to identify genetic determinants and characterize genetic mechanisms for the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers. This study was the first genome-wide pharmacogenomic study to identify genes associated with the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers and their respective metabolites in a methadone maintenance cohort. After data quality control was ensured, a dataset of 344 heroin-dependent patients in the Han Chinese population of Taiwan who underwent MMT was analyzed. Genome-wide single-locus and haplotype-based association tests were performed to analyze four quantitative traits: the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers and their respective metabolites. A significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs17180299 (raw p = 2.24 × 10−8), was identified, accounting for 9.541% of the variation in the plasma concentration of the methadone R-enantiomer. In addition, 17 haplotypes were identified on SPON1, GSG1L, and CYP450 genes associated with the plasma concentration of methadone S-enantiomer. These haplotypes accounted for approximately one-fourth of the variation of the overall S-methadone plasma concentration. The association between the S-methadone plasma concentration and CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L were replicated in another independent study. A gene expression experiment revealed that CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L can be activated concomitantly through a constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activation pathway. In conclusion, this study revealed new genes associated with the plasma concentration of methadone, providing insight into the genetic foundation of methadone metabolism. The results can be applied to predict treatment responses and methadone-related deaths for individualized MMTs.
Variations in the Perceptions of Peer and Coach Motivational Climate

This study examined (a) variations in the perceptions of peer- and coach-generated motivational climate within and between teams and (b) individual- and group-level factors that can account for these variations. Participants were 483 athletes between 12 and 16 years old. The results showed that perceptions of both peer- and coach-generated climate varied as a function of group-level variables, namely team success, coach's gender (except for peer ego-involving climate), and team type (only for coach ego-involving climate). Perceptions of peer- and coach-generated climate also varied as a function of individual-level variables, namely athletes' task and ego orientations, gender, and age (only for coach task-involving and peer ego-involving climate). Moreover, within-team variations in perceptions of peer- and coach-generated climate as a function of task and ego orientation levels were identified. Identifying and controlling the factors that influence perceptions of peer- and coach-generated climate may be important in strengthening task-involving motivational cues.
Gauge invariance in a Z 2 hamiltonian lattice gauge theory

We propose an efficient variational method for Z2 lattice gauge theory based on the matrix product ansatz. The method is applied to ladder and square lattices. The Gauss law needs to be imposed on quantum states to guarantee gauge invariance when one studies gauge theory in hamiltonian formalism. On the ladder lattice, we identify gauge invariant low-lying states by evaluating expectation values of the Gauss law operator after numerical diagonalization of the gauge hamiltonian. On the square lattice, the second order phase transition is well reproduced.
Unreasonable Foundations: David Gauthier on Property Rights, Rationality, and the Social Contract

Critique du programme contractualiste qui affirme le droit a la propriete avant l'interaction et le consensus social et qui s'appuie sur le seul critere de la rationalite et de l'action rationnelle. Rejetant le role fondateur des droits a la propriete soutenu par D. Gauthier dans «Morals by agreement» (1986) a partir de la raison instrumentale, l'A. defend la possibilite d'un contractualisme limite, fonde sur la situation initiale et contextualisee d'une cooperation sociale raisonnable au sens de Rawls, qui conditionne la clause lockienne de la propriete privee utilisee par Nozick
Surgery for seizures.

Of the approximately 2 million Americans with a diagnosis of epilepsy who are treated with antiepileptic drugs, 20 percent continue to have seizures1; this group of patients accounts for over 75 percent of the cost of epilepsy in the United States.2 For many of those with medically refractory epilepsy, their disability can be completely eliminated by surgical intervention. Only a small percentage of potential surgical candidates, however, are currently referred to epilepsy-surgery centers.3 Overview The classic 1886 paper of Victor Horsley4 heralded the modern era of epilepsy surgery, and the introduction of electroencephalography (EEG) in the first half of .
Synaptic and axonal remodeling of mossy fibers in the hilus and supragranular region of the dentate gyrus in kainate‐treated rats

Seizures evoked by kainic acid and a variety of experimental methods induce sprouting of the mossy fiber pathway in the dentate gyrus. In this study, the morphological features and spatial distribution of sprouted mossy fiber axons in the dorsal dentate gyrus of kainate‐treated rats were directly shown in granule cells filled in vitro with biocytin and in vivo with the anterograde lectin tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL). Sprouted axon collaterals of biocytin‐filled granule cells projected from the hilus of the dentate gyrus into the supragranular layer in both transverse and longitudinal directions in kainate‐treated rats but were not observed in normal rats. The sprouted axon collaterals projected into the supragranular region for 600–700 μm along the septotemporal axis. Collaterals from granule cells in the infrapyramidal blade crossed the hilus and sprouted into the supragranular layer of the suprapyramidal blade. Sprouted axon segments in the supragranular layer had more terminal boutons per unit length than the axon segments in the hilus of both normal and kainate‐treated rats but did not form giant boutons, which are characteristic of mossy fiber axons in the hilus and CA3. Mossy fiber axons in the hilus of kainate‐treated rats had more small terminal boutons, fewer giant boutons, and there was a trend toward greater axon length compared with mossy fibers in the hilus of normal rats. With the additional length of supragranular sprouted collaterals, there was an overall increase in the length of mossy fiber axons in kainate‐treated rats. The synaptic and axonal remodeling of the mossy fiber pathway could alter the functional properties of hippocampal circuitry by altering synaptic connectivity in local circuits within the hilus of the dentate gyrus and by increasing the divergence of the mossy fiber terminal field along the septotemporal axis. J. Comp. Neurol. 390:578–594, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.