Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nucleosome Arrays Reveal the Two-Start Organization of the Chromatin Fiber

Chromatin folding determines the accessibility of DNA constituting eukaryotic genomes and consequently is profoundly important in the mechanisms of nuclear processes such as gene regulation. Nucleosome arrays compact to form a 30-nanometer chromatin fiber of hitherto disputed structure. Two competing classes of models have been proposed in which nucleosomes are either arranged linearly in a one-start higher order helix or zigzag back and forth in a two-start helix. We analyzed compacted nucleosome arrays stabilized by introduction of disulfide cross-links and show that the chromatin fiber comprises two stacks of nucleosomes in accord with the two-start model.
Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use

Background: Meta-analysis of randomized studies using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed large, significant effects for LSD efficacy compared to control conditions. Clinical studies suggest potential anti-addiction effects of LSD and mechanistically-related classic psychedelics for alcohol and other substance use disorders. Aims: To supplement clinical studies, reports of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings can provide further data regarding potential effects of psychedelics on alcohol use. Methods: An anonymous online survey of individuals with prior AUD reporting cessation or reduction in alcohol use following psychedelic use in non-clinical settings. Results: 343 respondents, mostly White (89%), males (78%), in the USA (60%) completed the survey. Participants reported seven years of problematic alcohol use on average before the psychedelic experience to which they attributed reduced alcohol consumption, with 72% meeting retrospective criteria for severe AUD. Most reported taking a moderate or high dose of LSD (38%) or psilocybin (36%), followed by significant reduction in alcohol consumption. After the psychedelic experience 83% no longer met AUD criteria. Participants rated their psychedelic experience as highly meaningful and insightful, with 28% endorsing psychedelic-associated changes in life priorities or values as facilitating reduced alcohol misuse. Greater psychedelic dose, insight, mystical-type effects, and personal meaning of experiences were associated with a greater reduction in alcohol consumption, controlling for prior alcohol consumption and related distress. Conclusions: Although results cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that naturalistic psychedelic use may lead to cessation or reduction in problematic alcohol use, supporting further investigation of psychedelic-assisted treatment for AUD.
Infiltrate Tumor Lesions In Vivo T Cells and Limits Their Ability to + by CD8 Stat6 Signaling Suppresses VLA-4 Expression

VLA-4 plays a critical role in T cell trafﬁcking into inﬂammatory sites. Our recent studies have suggested that VLA-4 expression on CD8 (cid:1) T cells is negatively controlled by IL-4 and serves as a functionally distinguishing variable for why Type-1, but not Type-2, CD8 (cid:1) T cells are able to trafﬁc into tumors. In this study, using in vitro culture of murine CD8 (cid:1) T cells under Type-1 and Type-2 cytokine conditions, we show that IL-4-mediated down-regulation of VLA-4 expression is completely abrogated in Stat6-deﬁcient CD8 (cid:1) T cells. Conversely, CD8 (cid:1) T cells expressing a constitutively active mutant form Stat6 (Stat6VT) failed to express VLA-4 even in the absence of IL-4-stimulation. Notably, Type-2 CD8 (cid:1) T cells developed from Stat6 (cid:2) / (cid:2) but not wild-type mice were competent to migrate into tumor lesions in vivo. These results suggest that Stat6-signaling is necessary and sufﬁcient to restrict CD8 (cid:1) T cell expression of VLA-4 (by IL-4), thereby serving as a regulator for CD8 (cid:1) T cell inﬁltration into tumors. The Journal of Immunology, 2008, 181: 104–108.
Prevalence of early childhood caries among very young urban Boston children compared with US children.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to compare prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in 1- to 3-year-old children seeing primary-care pediatricians at two urban medical centers in Boston to the prevalence of ECC in similarly aged US children surveyed as part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and to assess risk factors for ECC among this cohort of children compared with risk factors among similarly aged US children. METHODS Characteristics of 787 1- to 3-year-old children from two urban Boston medical centers were compared with those of 3,644 similarly aged US children surveyed as part of NHANES III. Demographic and social characteristics and ECC prevalence by putative risk factors were compared. A multiple logistic regression model was fit to assess putative risk factors and difference between groups simultaneously. RESULTS Race, age, previous dental visit, parents' education, and household income were significantly associated with ECC prevalence. Parents' place of birth was a significant effect modifier with lower ECC among Boston children of immigrants than among US children of immigrants. CONCLUSIONS Lower ECC prevalence among urban Boston children of immigrant parents compared with US children of immigrant parents may reflect changing immigrant composition in the United States since NHANES III or a different immigrant composition in the Boston area compared with the United States. This finding reinforces the need for further research of immigrants in order to understand cultural practices that may affect oral health. Finally, low ECC prevalence among very young children reinforces the importance of early intervention in reducing ECC.
Time-Series Variation in Dividend Pricing

Ex-dividend day returns vary over time. The ex-day returns of high-yield stocks are persistently positive for some time periods and negative for others; in contrast, ex-day returns of low-yield stocks are always positive and less variable. The authors are unable to explain the variation with changes in the tax code but they do find a strong effect for the introduction of negotiated commissions. The authors find evidence that corporate dividend capturing is affecting ex-day returns and confirm the findings of R. H. Gordon and D. F. Bradford (1980) that the price of dividends is countercyclical. Copyright 1994 by American Finance Association.
A Decade of Hip Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Players: An Epidemiologic Study Using National Collegiate Athletic Association Surveillance Data.

CONTEXT The complex, high-energy nature of football puts players at risk for hip injuries. OBJECTIVE To analyze National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program data for men's football hip injuries from 2004-2005 through 2013-2014. DESIGN Descriptive epidemiologic study. SETTING National Collegiate Athletic Association football teams. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Data on collegiate football players was provided by the NCAA Injury Surveillance System from 2004-2005 through 2013-2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The incidence, risk factors, rates, and distribution of hip injuries over the 10-year period from 2004-2005 through 2013-2014 were determined. Rates and distribution of injuries were analyzed by injury type, time loss, event type, time of season, recurrence, mechanism of injury, player position, and if surgery was required. Injury rate ratios were calculated to compare rates between event types and by time of season. RESULTS A total of 1618 hip injuries occurred during 3 121 380 athlete-exposures (AEs), resulting in an overall hip injury rate of 5.18 per 10 000 AEs. Adductor strains (38.63%) were the most common type, followed by hip-flexor strains (28.55%) and hip contusions (18.23%). Players were 3.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.19, 3.98) times more likely to sustain a hip injury during competitions compared with practices. They were 2.37 (95% CI = 2.15, 2.62) and 3.56 (95% CI = 2.49, 5.08) times more likely to sustain a hip injury during the preseason than in-season or the postseason, respectively. CONCLUSIONS During the 10-year period, NCAA football players sustained higher rates of hip injuries during competitions and the preseason. The majority were noncontact injuries, resulted in time loss of less than 6 days, and did not require surgery. The injuries varied with player position and occurred most often to defensive backs. Muscle strains were the most frequent group of hip injuries, while adductor strains, hip-flexor strains, and hip contusions were the most common injury types.
Cannabinoid agonist-induced sensitisation to morphine place preference in mice

The influence of the endocannabinoid system on the sensitisation to the rewarding effects of morphine in the place conditioning paradigm was evaluated. In mice pretreated with morphine this drug induces place preference with lower doses. Pretreatment with non-rewarding doses of the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) induces sensitisation to the rewarding effects of morphine. However, the pretreatment with the cannabinoid antagonist SR 144716A plus morphine or WIN 55,212-2 blocks it. Our results suggest the existence of cross-talk between cannabinoids and opiates on the sensitisation to morphine and the implication of the endocannabinoid system in the process of sensitisation to opiates.
The Impacts of LRT, Neighbourhood Characteristics, and Self-selection on Auto Ownership: Evidence from Minneapolis-St. Paul

There is a growing interest in exploring the relationships between the built environment and auto ownership and a number of studies have investigated the impact of rail transit on travel behaviour. However, few have disentangled the impact of rail transit on auto ownership from the influences of the built environment and residential self-selection. Using the light rail transit (LRT) in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, USA, this study applies the statistical control approach and quasi-longitudinal design to examine the effects of LRT, neighbourhood design and self-selection on auto ownership. It is found that residential self-selection influences auto ownership; backyard size, off-street parking and business density marginally affect auto ownership; and the LRT does not have an independent impact on auto ownership beyond neighbourhood design and self-selection. The results point to the importance of neighbourhood design in rail transit development.
[Effects of dexmedetomidine on propofol dosage in target-controlled infusion and hemodynamics during laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia].

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on propofol dosage in target-controlled infusion (TCI) and hemodynamics in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. METHODS Sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into control group (n=30) and the Dex group (n=30). The patients in Dex group received a loading dose of Dex (1 µg/kg, infused within 10 min) before the surgery followed by continuous infusion at the rate of 0.3 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1) till the end of the surgery, and the control patients received saline infusion in the same manner. Heart rate, blood pressure, bispectral index (BIS), and propofol dose in TCI were recorded during induction and maintenance of anesthesia. The incidence of hypotension and bradycardia were observed during and after the surgery. RESULTS No difference was found in the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia between the control group and Dex group (P>0.05), but heart rate and blood pressure were lower in Dex group during extubation (P<0.05). The dose of propofol in TCI was significantly less in Dex group than in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Dex can reduce hemodynamic abnormalities caused by extubation and decrease the dosage of propofol in TCI, and may serve as an ideal adjuvant drug for general anesthesia.
Use of plasmid analysis and determination of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes to characterize isolates from an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We compared disk susceptibility, plasmid analysis, aminoglycoside resistance patterns, and DNA hybridization for their usefulness in characterizing isolates from a hospital outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Fifteen isolates were susceptible (group 1) and 28 were resistant (group 2) to gentamicin. A total of 15 of 15 (100%) group 1 and 22 of 28 (79%) group 2 isolates carried a 21.5-megadalton plasmid. All group 2 isolates and none of the group 1 isolates possessed a 33-megadalton plasmid. Aminoglycoside resistance pattern determinations revealed the presence of the ANT(4')-I enzyme (aminoglycoside 4' adenyltransferase) in all group 1 isolates but was unable to demonstrate presence of this enzyme in group 2 organisms. The APH(2") + AAC(6')-II enzyme (aminoglycoside 2" phosphotransferase plus 6' acetyltransferase) was found in all of the group 2 isolates but in none of the group 1 isolates. Use of DNA hybridization revealed the presence of the ANT(4')-I enzyme in both groups (group 1, 14 of 15; group 2, 26 of 28). In this hospital outbreak, we found good correlation between disk susceptibility, plasmid profile, aminoglycoside resistance patterns, and DNA hybridization results. It was difficult to predict the presence of the ANT(4')-I enzyme in the presence of the bifunctional [APH(2") + AAC(6')-II] enzyme by the aminoglycoside resistance pattern method because of overlap of the substrate profile.
Monetization and Growth in Colonial New England, 1703-1749

We examine econometrically the real effects of paper money's introduction into colonial New England over the 1703–1749 period. Departing from earlier analyses that focus primarily on the depreciation of paper money in the region, we show that expansion of the money stock promoted growth in modern sector activity and not the other way around. We also find that bills emitted for seigniorage purposes had a positive effect on the modern sector, while bills issued through loan banks did not.
Increased tenascin expression in melanocytic tumors

Tenascin is a large extracellular matrix glycoprotein which is widely distributed in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic tissues. Its function is unknown but it has been associated with the epithelial‐stromal interactions, such as cell adhesion and movement which take place, e.g. in morphogenesis, cellular proliferation and neoplasia. In this study, we investigated tenascin expression in 70 benign, dysplastic and malignant melanocytic tumors by using immunohistochemistry and monoclonal anti‐tenascin L43DB7C8 antibody on paraffin sections. In all types of benign nevi, both intradermal, compound and functional, there was a moderate expression of tenascin at the dermoepidermal junction and in the papillary dermis. In dysplastic nevi, the fibrotic areas in the papillary clermis also showed a moderate staining for tenascin. Invasive malignant melanomas showed the strongest expression of tenascin. In addition to the staining at the dermo‐epidermal junction and in the papillary clermis, there was a variable expression of tenascin in the reticular dermis. Intracyloplasmic tenascin was detected both in primary melanomas and melanoma metastases. In conclusion, we have shown that tenascin expression is moderately increased in benign and dysplastic melanocytic tumors and greatly increased in malignant melanomas and melanoma metastases. The function of tenascin may be related to the cellular‐stromal interactions and it is possibly associated with the proliferation and spread of the melanocytic tumors.
Elevated synaptic vesicle release probability in synaptophysin/gyrin family quadruple knockouts

Synaptophysins 1 and 2 and synaptogyrins 1 and 3 constitute a major family of synaptic vesicle membrane proteins. Unlike other widely expressed synaptic vesicle proteins such as vSNAREs and synaptotagmins, the primary function has not been resolved. Here, we report robust elevation in the probability of release of readily releasable vesicles with both high and low release probabilities at a variety of synapse types from knockout mice missing all four family members. Neither the number of readily releasable vesicles, nor the timing of recruitment to the readily releasable pool was affected. The results suggest that family members serve as negative regulators of neurotransmission, acting directly at the level of exocytosis to dampen connection strength selectively when presynaptic action potentials fire at low frequency. The widespread expression suggests that chemical synapses may play a frequency filtering role in biological computation that is more elemental than presently envisioned. Editorial note: This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
How to enhance student's entrepreneurial skills: An academia's perspective

Human factor comprises the most important element of any balanced and sustainable development. As a result, educational institutions play a very crucial role in supplying today’s societies with much needed, adequately skilled and reasonably competent human resources. The main purpose of this study was to investigate how universities could be manipulated towards polishing entrepreneurial skills of their graduates. Based on Krejcie and Morgan sample size table, a group of 110 academics out of an access population (N=382) of Bu-Ali Sina academic staff were randomly selected. A questionnaire was designed and then validated asking a panel of experts for their comments. Reliability of the instrument calculated to be 0.90 in alpha Cronbach’s scale. Results of the enquiry indicated that cooperation of universities with other local organizations (for example, outreach programs), elaborately directed apprenticeship courses, up-to- date educational content (in response to cutting edge technologies) and use of creativity- centered methods of teaching were mentioned to be the most effective enhancing entrepreneurial skills of graduates, according to BASU academic staff. An exploratory factor analysis that followed revealed that a number of activities labeled as orientation and a group of variables named auxiliary proved to be the most and the least influential factors, respectively, towards having university graduates with enhanced entrepreneurial skills. Key words: Entrepreneurship, university, graduates, entrepreneurial skills.
Evaluating VEGFR1 genetic polymorphisms as a predisposition to AMD in a cohort from northern China

ABSTRACT Objective: The association among genetic variants in VEGFR1 and a predisposition to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a northern cohort from China was evaluated. Methods: A retrospective case-control correlation study was conducted on 432 cases and 906 gender-and ethnicity-matched controls. Whole DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples after the individuals underwent detailed eye examinations. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in VEGFR1 genes were genotyped for all individuals using a MALDI-TOF technique. The distribution of genotypes was analyzed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the relationships among the genotype and allele frequencies with AMD were evaluated by age-adjusted logistic regression analysis. The measurement of linkage disequilibrium (LD) was carried out by Haploview 4.2. Bonferroni testing was employed to correct for multiple comparisons. Results: Among the SNPs genotyped, p values of six SNPs were less than 0.05 between AMD cases and unaffected controls. However, after Bonferroni correction, the genotype and allele distributions of only two SNPs, rs9554322 and rs9582036 differed significantly between the controls and AMD patients. Further, the rs9554322 CC genotype conferred strong susceptibility to AMD (OR = 6.057, 95% CI: 3.099–11.839). Rs9943922 was also found to be significantly associated with AMD in the distributions for the genotype and allele recessive model (p = 0.004). The specific haplotype CA of rs9582036 and rs9554320 was associated with AMD (p = 0.035), but the correlation did not remain after correction. Conclusions: The SNPs rs9554322, rs9582036 and rs9943922 were correlated with AMD. Gene variants in VEGFR1 were linked to a pronounced emerging risk for AMD in a population in northern China.
The Location of Japanese Investments in China: Agglomeration Effects, Keiretsu, and Firm Heterogeneity

Abstract Conditional logit analysis of locational choices by Japanese electronics manufacturers in China's regions and provinces during 1990–1995 confirms a major impact of general industry, Japanese, and keiretsu-specific agglomeration benefits. The effects of key determinants of locational choice vary substantially by investor size and market orientation of manufacturing plants. Small and medium-sized enterprises are more sensitive to Japanese agglomeration and prefer locations closer to Japan than larger firms, but appear to benefit less from region-specific investment incentives. Export-oriented plants are more responsive than local-market-oriented plants to Japanese (keiretsu) agglomeration and the presence of seaports, but appear less responsive to regional demand and region-specific incentives. J. Japan. Int. Econ. , June 2002, 16 (2) pp. 194–211. Department of Management Science, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Maastricht, University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: F23, R30.
Changing Class: Size Transition in European Firms

The paper tests the hypothesis that the upsizing and downsizing processes may be a broken mirror. Using a wide sample of European firms in the period 2001-2008, stemming from the combination of a survey on a large set of qualitative firm characteristics (Efige) and the Amadeus databank, we test the hypothesis that firm growth is governed by distinct determinants than shrinking. Descriptive evidence suggests that downsizing is quantitatively as relevant as upsizing and contribute to explain aggregate productivity dynamics. Multinomial logit estimates reveal that the upsizing process is associated mainly to structural, economic and financial characteristics of the firm. In particular, upsizing firms are younger, exhibit higher labour productivity and capital intensity, have better access to credit, a more articulated internationalization and a higher propensity to innovate. Downsizing firms are to some extent specular to the upsizers (i.e. they are the less productive and innovative and more financially constrained), but they mostly exhibit peculiar characteristics, such as lower wages (suggesting lower quality of the labour force), negative profit performance and a specific governance structure. In particular, not being part of a group or be a family-owned firm are significantly associated with substantial downsizing.