Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interplay of DNA Repair Pathways Controls Methylation Damage Toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Methylating agents of SN1 type are widely used in cancer chemotherapy, but their mode of action is poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how the primary cytotoxic lesion, O6-methylguanine (MeG), causes cell death. One hypothesis stipulates that binding of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins to MeG/T mispairs arising during DNA replication triggers cell-cycle arrest and cell death. An alternative hypothesis posits that MeG cytotoxicity is linked to futile processing of MeG-containing base pairs by the MMR system. In this study, we provide compelling genetic evidence in support of the latter hypothesis. Treatment of 4644 deletion mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the prototypic SN1-type methylating agent N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) identified MMR as the only pathway that sensitizes cells to MNNG. In contrast, homologous recombination (HR), postreplicative repair, DNA helicases, and chromatin maintenance factors protect yeast cells against the cytotoxicity of this chemical. Notably, DNA damage signaling proteins played a protective rather than sensitizing role in the MNNG response. Taken together, this evidence demonstrates that MeG-containing lesions in yeast must be processed to be cytotoxic.
Intraoperative Length and Tension Curves of Human Eye Muscles: Including Stiffness in Passive Horizontal Eye Movement in Awake Volunteers

• Intraoperative continuous-registration length and tension curves of attached and detached eye muscles were made in 18 strabismic patients under general anesthesia. For relaxed eye muscles, we found an exponential relation between length and tension. An increased stiffness was quantified in Duane's syndrome, Graves' disease, orbital-floor fracture, and superior oblique palsy. The stiffnesses of agonist and antagonist were remarkably similar, not only in uncomplicated squint, but also when only one of the two had initially become stiffer. After intravenous administration of succinylcholine chloride, the eye muscles contracted, and the exponential length and tension curve changed into a set of straight, parallel lines. In addition, we measured stiffness in passive horizontal eye movement in awake volunteers and found 0.52 to 1.26 g/degrees (other eye in 5° of adduction), confirming other published results.
PENGARUH KEMUDAHAN PENGGUNAAN, PERSEPSI KEGUNAAN, DAN COMPUTER SELF EFFICACY PADA MINAT PENGGUNAAN E-SPT

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of ease of use, perceived usefulness, and computer self efficacy in interest in the use of e-SPT. The population in this study is the taxpayer effectively on KPP Pratama Badung Utara with total 3076 Taxpayer. Based on the population, the sample in this study is 97 Taxpayers are calculated using the formula Slovin. The data collection technique used was accidental sampling in accordance with the criteria of sampling. Data analysis technique used is multiple linear regression. The result shows that the ease of use positively influence the interest of e-SPT usage, perception of usefulness positively influence the interest of e-SPT usage, and computer self efficacy positively influence the interest of e-SPT usage.
Genetic Variation in Wild and Cultivated Populations of the Haploid– Diploid Red Alga Gracilaria chilensis: How Farming Practices Favor Asexual Reproduction and Heterozygosity

Abstract The extent of changes in genetic diversity and life-history traits associated with farming was investigated in the haploid–diploid red alga, Gracilaria chilensis, cultivated in Chile. This alga belongs to one of the most frequently cultivated seaweed genera around the world. Fifteen farmed populations, 11 wild populations, and two subspontaneous populations were sampled along the Chilean coast. The frequency of reproductive versus vegetative individuals and of haploid versus diploid individuals was checked in each population. In addition, the distribution of genetic variation in wild and cultivated populations was analyzed using six microsatellite markers. Our results first demonstrated that farmed populations are maintained almost exclusively by vegetative propagation. Moreover, the predominance of diploid individuals in farms showed that farming practices had significantly modified life-history traits as compared to wild populations. Second, the expected reduction in genetic diversity due to a cultivation bottleneck and subsequent clonal propagation was detected in farms. Finally, our study suggested that cultural practices in the southern part of the country contributed to the spread of selected genotypes at a local scale. Altogether, these results document for the first time that involuntary selection could operate during the first step of domestication in a marine plant.
Air cooling for an interstitial microwave hyperthermia antenna: theory and experiment

Microwave antennas are inserted through brachytherapy catheters implanted in a tumor to deliver interstitial hyperthermia cancer therapy. Theoretical calculations show that a cooling rate on the order of 0.1 W/cm length of catheter will significantly improve the radial uniformity of the temperature distribution of single antennas or arrays. Experiments and theoretical calculations show that air passing through the annulus between the antenna and the catheter at 10 L/min or less will produce such a cooling rate in a 2.2-mm OD catheter that has both ends accessible. To maintain uniformity of cooling rate along the catheter, it is better to control the cooling rate by preheating the air entering the catheter to 30-40 degrees C than it is to control the flow rate of room-temperature air. Ohmic heating of the antenna feedline does not confound the air cooling action significantly. <<ETX>>
Texture analysis and morphological processing of magnetic resonance imaging assist detection of focal cortical dysplasia in extra‐temporal partial epilepsy

In many patients, focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is characterized by minor structural changes that may go unrecognized by standard radiological analysis. To increase the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of subtle lesions of FCD, we developed voxel‐based image postprocessing methods, including first‐order texture analysis and morphological processing modeled on known MRI features of FCD. We selected 16 patients with histologically proven FCD. Image processing features were calculated over a neighborhood for each voxel in the three‐dimensional T1‐weighted MRI. Three feature maps were generated: (1) gray matter thickness map to model cortical thickening, (2) gradient map to model blurring of the gray matter–white matter junction, and (3) relative intensity map to model the hyperintense signal within the lesion. Two observers detected lesions on conventional MRI in 8/16 and on ratio maps in 14/16 patients. Sensitivity was 87.5% (14/16) for the ratio maps compared to 50% (8/16) for MRI (p < 0.003). Specificity was 95% (19/20) for ratio maps and 100% (20/20) for MRIs. Cohen's kappa was 0.53 for MRIs, indicating moderate agreement, and 0.83 for ratio maps, indicating strong agreement beyond chance between the 2 observers. The image‐processing methods developed in this study improve visual detection of FCD, even in cases where no lesion is obvious on MRI. These techniques could increase the number of patients with partial epilepsy who could benefit from surgery.
Gatekeeper: Rebuilding Privacy for Online Social Networks

In order to maintain privacy on online social networks, such as Facebook, users must define a privacy policy through an arduous multi-step process for each status update and each of an average of 338 friends. Despite the functionality to set privacy policies per status update, a recent survey found 36% of Facebook users still strongly disliked others sharing too much about themselves and 27% of users still strongly disliked someone seeing posts or comments they did not mean for them to see. Much of the state-of-the-art has revolved around clustering users based on observable friendships lists, which is no longer feasible; in this work, we present empirical results from our method of clustering users into friendship groups without access to friendship lists. We also show that utilising knowledge about these groups can generate topic models that are competitive with LDA. We present a probabilistic model for predicting whom a user would want to share a real-time status update with, utilising these topic models. Our results show this ordering over a user’s friends is accurate 82.6% 97.4% of the time. We implemented a plugin for Facebook based on our model for audience prediction and topic modelling. Our approach can be generalised to any data with an assumption that authors or publishers know one another. For example, in this work we use data from Facebook, Twitter, and a screenplay. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Emil Lupu, who listened to my ideas nine months ago, saw potential in them, and brought in guidance and support in the form of both Dr. Daniele Sgandurra and Dr. Luke Dickens. I am indebted to all three for the countless hours spent inspiring, encouraging and critiquing. Thank you to my friends and family for offering support and thanks to those who offered intimate anecdotes, putting personal meaning behind this project.
A comparative evaluation of three accelerometry-based physical activity monitors.

PURPOSE Accelerometry-based activity monitors offer promise for the assessment of free-living physical activity. They provide an objective record of frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity with minimal burden on participants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the absolute and relative validity of three contemporary activity monitors (Computer Science and Applications, Inc. [CSA], Tritrac, and Biotrainer) under both laboratory and field conditions. METHODS Fifty-two participants completed two 30-min choreographed routines designed to simulate a variety of lifestyle physical activities. Three different treadmill paces were completed in both routines to evaluate reliability and validity under laboratory conditions. Six different lifestyle activities were also examined to evaluate the validity of the monitors under field conditions. During each routine, the activity levels of participants were monitored with the three activity monitors as well as by indirect calorimetry systems. RESULTS The correlations between the monitors and measured VO2 were higher for treadmill activity (mean r = 0.86) compared with lifestyle activity (mean r = 0.55). Correlations among the different monitors were high for both treadmill (r = 0.86) and lifestyle activities (r = 0.70), suggesting that the monitors provide similar information under both conditions. Under laboratory conditions, the CSA yielded accurate predictions of energy expenditure (EE), whereas the Tritrac and Biotrainer tended to overestimate the EE (101-136% of measured value). The Tritrac, however, was found to have less error in individual estimates of EE. Under field conditions, all of the monitors underestimated EE (range: 42-67% of measured value). CONCLUSION The observed differences among the monitors were attributed primarily to differences in the accuracy of the calibration equations rather than to the monitors themselves. Further research is needed to better understand how to use these devices for field-based assessments of physical activity.
A "dirty secret": the abuse of children with disabilities.

The media and professional and lay literature are replete with the tragic stories of the abuse and neglect of children. Limited references, however, are made to the even more unbelievable reality that children with disabilities are maltreated at a rate that may be as great as four to ten times that of children without disabilities. The characteristics that make children with disabilities more vulnerable to abuse, the nature of the abuse, the variation by gender, the financial costs of abuse and the reality that this abuse may occur in the "best of families" are reviewed in an effort to increase practitioner awareness of the "dirty secret. "
What Are Students Learning About Trauma, Memory, and Dissociation?

While recently lecturing in a graduate level psychopathology course, I was describing the reported trauma history of a dissociative disordered client. One of the students in the class (a first year clinical student) spoke up that, when presented with such information by a client, the first thing that he would do is question whether or not it had really happened. This reaction was quite disturbing and disappointing; however, it is actually not that surprising when one considers what undergraduate students have learned (or not learned) about trauma, dissociation, and memory in recent years. As an academic psychologist involved with training future clinicians and researchers, I have serious concerns about what undergraduate students are being taught about these topics. My concerns have to do with what they are learning both explicitly and implicitly. First, in terms of the explicit learning, I am referring to what they learn from textbooks and other readings. In two recent editions of the
Determinants of Psychological Functioning in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Descriptive Study

ABSTRACT This study sought to confirm the literature reports on psychological well-being during radiotherapy treatment using a population across multiple clinical sites, resulting in a larger population (N = 156) than has typically been followed in quality of life descriptive studies of radiotherapy, and a more varied one in terms of diagnosis. This study is unique in its individual differences perspective, whereby it aimed to identify those demographic variables that predict baseline levels of psychological distress as well as changes in distress during treatment. The data used were the control data from a previous study assessing the effectiveness of a stress management intervention. Participants completed the SF-36, STAI-S, and CES-D scales at baseline and after Weeks 1, 2, and 3 of treatment. Consistent with prior studies, this study found that, on average, patients began with a low level of psychological distress, as indicated by the scale norms. However, this study found considerable variation in anxiety levels, with some patients beginning treatment with a relatively high level of anxiety. For those with relatively high levels of baseline anxiety, anxiety decreased during treatment. A patient's baseline psychological distress level was predicted by marital status, diagnosis, gender, education level, and income range. In addition, cancer type, income level, and education level predicted changes in distress levels over treatment.
Effect of Laser Treatments on the Microstructure and Physical Properties of Bi-2212 and Gd-123 Bulk Samples

A laser furnace (LF) apparatus, which applies laser irradiation to the surface of a material while it is moving inside a high temperature roller furnace, has been recently patented and demonstrated unprecedented potential in the development of ceramic materials. This apparatus has been used in this study to texture Bi-2212 bulk samples in planar geometries with dimensions of several centimeters. The process can be scaled-up to dimensions that could be interesting from a technological point of view. The influence of laser emission and furnace processing parameters, as well as the application of an electrical current, has been studied to define parameters which yield an improvement of the superconducting properties. These studies have also been initiated in Gd-123 bulk samples, analyzing the changes that a LF treatment is able to induce in their microstructure using an infiltration approach.
Flux barrier and skew design optimisation of reluctance synchronous machines

In this paper an investigation into an alternative reluctance synchronous machine rotor flux barrier topology creation technique is presented. The technique investigated implements a high number of flux barrier variables with an alternative asymmetric rotor structure topology in combination with optimisation and finite element analysis. The investigation focuses on maximising average torque and minimising torque ripple in order to study the possibility of achieving acceptable torque ripple machine parameters without implementing rotor skew as torque ripple reduction technique. A further investigation into the effect of rotor skew on the proposed topology is conducted followed by the manufacturing of the proposed flux barrier prototype and testing.
Effects of Stress and Task Difficulty on Working Memory and Cortical Networking

This study investigated interactive effects of stress and task difficulty on working memory and cortico-cortical communication during memory encoding. Thirty-eight adolescent participants (mean age of 15.7 ± 1.5 years) completed easy and hard working memory tasks under low- and high-stress conditions. We analyzed the accuracy and reaction time (RT) of working memory performance and inter- and intrahemispheric electroencephalogram coherences during memory encoding. Working memory accuracy was higher, and RT shorter, in the easy versus the hard task. RT was shorter under the high-stress (TENS) versus low-stress (no-TENS) condition, while there was no difference in memory accuracy between the two stress conditions. For electroencephalogram coherence, we found higher interhemispheric coherence in all bands but only at frontal electrode sites in the easy versus the hard task. On the other hand, intrahemispheric coherence was higher in the left hemisphere in the easy (versus hard task) and higher in the right hemisphere (with one exception) in the hard (versus easy task). Inter- and intracoherences were higher in the low- versus high-stress condition. Significant interactions between task difficulty and stress condition were observed in coherences of the beta frequency band. The difference in coherence between low- and high-stress conditions was greater in the hard compared with the easy task, with lower coherence under the high-stress condition relative to the low-stress condition. Stress seemed to cause a decrease in cortical network communications between memory-relevant cortical areas as task difficulty increased.
Some Lessons from the Recent Experience on Greenhouse Effect

This contribution draws some general conclusions from current experience of energy studies on the impact of mitigation or prevention policies of greenhouse effect on the energy section. Its aims are to draw attention to the gap between analyses carried out in terms of pure economic efficiency, and the requirements of procedural efficiency where a minimum agreement for action has to be reached in a context of scientific controversies, of debates on equity without a commonly accepted international authority. It shows the intrinsic deadlocks of emission quotas, and the limits of nego­ tiation on a carbon tax, as long as some ambiguities remain on the definition of "no-regret" strategies. Recognising the necessity of an international incen­ tive system, it argues for an inversion on negotiation guidelines. This inversion consists, first, of focusing on research for a more highly diversified institutional framework, that is better able to handle the heterogeneity of untapped "no regret" potentials and to motive each country to take collective action. This would eaSe,
What Friends are Made of: Bilateral Linkages and Domestic Drivers of Foreign Policy Alignment with China

With China’s emergence as a global economic and political power, it is commonly assumed that its leadership’s influence in international politics has increased considerably. However, systematic studies of China’s impact on the foreign policy behavior of other states are rare and generally limited to questions regarding economic capabilities and the use of coercive power. This paper seeks to contribute to the literature on China’s global political rise by taking a broader perspective. Drawing on voting data from the UN General Assembly for the last two decades, it explores the plausibility of different explanations for foreign policy similarity: economic, diplomatic and military linkages; domestic institutional similarities; and parallel problem-solving processes. The logistic regression analyses find that high similarity levels correlate with shared regime characteristics and comparable patterns of sociopolitical globalization. The results further indicate that foreign aid and arms trading seem to help buy support in global politics.
Susceptibility of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in the lower St Lawrence region, Quebec.

OBJECTIVE To determine the susceptibility of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) in the lower St Lawrence region, Quebec to different antibiotics, particularly macrolides, and to compare different antibiogram methods (disk diffusion, E-test and microdilution) and incubation atmospheres (ambient air and 5% carbon dioxide). METHODS A total of 384 strains of GABHS isolated from 377 patients (throat 335; other sites 49) from three hospitals in the lower St Lawrence region were analyzed for their susceptibility to erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, penicillin, clindamycin, cephalothin, rifampin and vancomycin by disk diffusion on Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar supplemented with 5% defibrinated sheep blood (MHB) at 35ºC in 5% carbon dioxide. Strains that were found to be intermediately resistant or resistant to one of the antibiotics by disc diffusion, strains from sites other than throat, and a sample of 97 pharyngeal strains were evaluated by E-test on MHB (35ºC, 5% carbon dioxide) for their susceptibility to the antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, penicillin, clindamycin and ceftriaxone. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for erythromycin and azithromycin by broth microdilution using MH broth supplemented with 2.5 % of lysed horse blood (35ºC, ambient air) on strains that were resistant or intermediately resistant to the macrolides (erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin). An evaluation was also carried out on these strains to determine the influence of the incubating atmosphere (ambient air versus 5% carbon dioxide) on susceptibility results obtained by disk diffusion (erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin) and E-test (erythromycin and azithromycin) methods. RESULTS Nine strains (2%) from nine patients (throat eight, pus one) were resistant to all macrolides as tested by three different techniques (disk diffusion, E-test and microdilution). All strains were susceptible to all the other antibiotics tested. For the strains intermediately resistant or resistant to macrolides, incubation in a 5% carbon dioxide atmosphere was associated with a reduction in the diameter of inhibition determined by disk diffusion (P<0.001) with frequent minor variations in interpretation, and with an increase in the MIC by E-test (P<0.001), which had no impact on interpretation. CONCLUSIONS Resistance of GABHS to macrolides was not common (2%) in the lower St Lawrence Region. GABHS susceptibility to erythromycin seemed to predict the susceptibility to the other macrolides. Significant variation in antibiogram results (disk diffusion and E-test) of GABHS susceptibility to macrolides was related to the incubation atmosphere and may have an impact on the interpretation of disk diffusion results.
Vibrissae tactile stimulation: (14C) 2‐deoxyglucose uptake in rat brainstem, thalamus, and cortex

The right mystacial vibrissae of awake, adult rats were stroked at 4–6 times/second and brain regions which increased (14C) 2‐deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake were mapped autoradiographically. The ventral parts of the ipsilateral spinal trigeminal nuclei pars caudalis (Sp5c), pars interpolaris (Sp5i), pars oralis (Sp5o), and the principal trigeminal sensory (Pr5) nuclei were activated. The lateral part of the ipsilateral facial (VII) nucleus (the region which innervates the vibrissae muscles) was also activated possibly via excitatory, trigeminal (Sp5c, Sp5i, Sp5o, Pr5) sensory afferents.