Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pyrimidine dimers block simian virus 40 replication forks

UV light produces lesions, predominantly pyrimidine dimers, which inhibit DNA replication in mammalian cells. The mechanism of inhibition is controversial: is synthesis of a daughter strand halted at a lesion while the replication fork moves on and reinitiates downstream, or is fork progression itself blocked for some time at the site of a lesion? We directly addressed this question by using electron microscopy to examine the distances of replication forks from the origin in unirradiated and UV-irradiated simian virus 40 chromosomes. If UV lesions block replication fork progression, the forks should be asymmetrically located in a large fraction of the irradiated molecules; if replication forks move rapidly past lesions, the forks should be symmetrically located. A large fraction of the simian virus 40 replication forks in irradiated molecules were asymmetrically located, demonstrating that UV lesions present at the frequency of pyrimidine dimers block replication forks. As a mechanism for this fork blockage, we propose that polymerization of the leading strand makes a significant contribution to the energetics of fork movement, so any lesion in the template for the leading strand which blocks polymerization should also block fork movement.
Chordoid Glioma of the Third Ventricle: An Ultrastructural Study of Three Cases With a Histogenetic Hypothesis

Chordoid glioma is a rare neoplasm occurring in the third ventricle and, as the name implies, having a chordoid appearance. It is currently considered a glial neoplasm of uncertain histogenesis with distinct clinicopathologic features. We report three cases of chordoid glioma with a focus on the ultrastructural appearance. The patients were two men and one woman aged, respectively, 34, 40, and 43 years. Immunohistochemically, all tumors showed strong and diffuse reactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin, whereas immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin was focal. Ultrastructurally, they showed features of ependymal differentiation for the presence of an apical pole with microvilli and a basal pole characterized, as in normal ependyma, by many hemidesmosomelike structures connecting cell membranes to the underlying basal lamina. Constant features were a submicroscopic cell body zonation (i.e., perinuclear, intermediate, subapical, and apical regions) and the presence of secretory granules. These findings were similar to those described for the secretory ependymal cells of the subcommissural organ, a small structure located in a dorsocaudal region of the third ventricle that undergoes regression after birth in humans. Our observations suggest that chordoid glioma may represent a subtype of ependymoma whose cells resemble the highly specialized ependyma of the subcommissural organ.
Bet-hedging dispersal strategy of a specialist marine herbivore: a settlement dimorphism among sibling larvae of Alderia modesta

Dispersal polymorphisms are known from many terrestrial organisms that inhabit fluc- tuating environments, but they are not well-recognized among marine invertebrates. An unusual form of variation was found in the settlement behavior of lecithotrophic larvae of the mollusc Alderia modesta (Loven, 1844) that markedly altered the dispersal potential of sibling larvae. Most clutches contained, in variable proportions, larvae that spontaneously metamorphosed in the egg mass or within 2 d of hatching, and larvae that delayed metamorphosis until encountering the obligate adult food, the yellow-green alga Vaucheria longicaulis. The proportion of larvae undergoing spontaneous metamorphosis within a clutch was highly variable, ranging from 0 to 90%, and was unrelated to adult size. The proportion of intracapsular metamorphosis was also variable, ranging from 0 to 32%. The percentage of spontaneous metamorphosis per clutch was phenotypically plastic: when adults were starved, there was a significant tendency for each successive clutch to have a lower percentage of spontaneous metamorphosis, thus increasing the dispersal potential of the offspring. The decrease in spontaneous metamorphosis was significant after only 24 h of starvation. There was no significant increase in the cumulative level of spontaneous metamorphosis after the 2nd day post-hatching, but larval mortality increased as a linear function after the 5th day. Most larvae that did not sponta- neously settle in the first 2 d delayed metamorphosis until they were exposed to the adult host alga, V. longicaulis. When 2 d old larvae were exposed to 17 species of macroalgae and sediment from the adult habitat, only V. longicaulis induced significant metamorphosis (93.3 ± 6.7%); all other species of algae and field sediment induced no metamorphosis or low levels (0-9%) that were not signifi- cantly higher than sea water controls. There was no difference in the settlement specificity of 2 and 9 d old larvae when tested against 2 different algae, nor in their ability to complete metamorphosis. The high initial percentage of spontaneous metamorphosis reduces the dispersal potential of some larvae in each clutch relative to their siblings that delay metamorphosis until stimulated by V. longi- caulis; this settlement dimorphism represents a novel bet-hedging strategy among marine inverte- brates.
Physicians' attentional performance following a 24-hour observation period: do we need to regulate sleep prior to work?

Background The tradition of physicians working while sleep deprived is increasingly criticised. Medical regulatory bodies have restricted resident physician duty-hours, not addressing the greater population of physicians. We aimed to assess factors such as sleep duration prior to a 24-hour observation period on physicians' attention. Methods We studied 70 physicians (mean age 38 years old (SD 10.8 years)): 36 residents and 34 faculty from call rosters at the University of Alberta. Among 70 physicians, 52 (74%) performed overnight call; 18 did not perform overnight call and were recruited to control for the learning effect of repetitive neuropsychological testing. Attentional Network Test (ANT) measured physicians' attention at the beginning and end of the 24-hour observation period. Participants self-reported ideal sleep needs, sleep duration in the 24 hours prior to (ie, baseline) and during the 24-hour observation period (ie, follow-up). Median regression models examined effects on ANT parameters. Results Sleep deprivation at follow-up was associated with reduced attentional accuracy following the 24-hour observation period, but only for physicians more sleep deprived at baseline. Other components of attention were not associated with sleep deprivation after adjusting for repetitive testing. Age, years since medical school and caffeine use did not impact changes in ANT parameters. Conclusions Our study suggests that baseline sleep before 24 hours of observation impacts the accuracy of physicians' attentional testing at 24 hours. Further study is required to determine if optimising physician sleep prior to overnight call shifts is a sustainable strategy to mitigate the effects of sleep deprivation.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and vine (Vitis vinifera) leaves

The antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of rosemary extracts were compared to those of vine leaf extracts. The phenolics were quantified by HPLC. Rosemary extracts were stronger in reducing power than vine leaf extracts but possessed weaker superoxide anion radical(O2·−) scavenging capability. The antimicrobial activity was confirmed by the broth microdilution test using minimal inhibitory (MIC) concentrations against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes)and gram-negative bacteria (Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Infantis, Escherichia coli O157:H7). The kinetics of survival was assessed using the broth macrodilution method. The study confirmed the stronger antibacterial activity of rosemary extracts, especially against gram-positive bacteria and C. jejuni. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of vine leaf extracts did not correlate with their contents of flavan-3-ols and flavonols. For rosemary extracts the absence of a correlation between their activities and the content of carnosic acid suggests that protective efficiency is achieved through interactions among phenolic constituents.
Free Riding, Upsizing, and Energy Efficiency Incentives in Maryland Homes

We use a unique dataset that combines an original survey of households, information about the structural characteristics of their homes, utility-provided electricity usage records and program participation status, to study the uptake of energy efficiency incentives and their effect on residential electricity consumption. Attention is restricted to homes where heating and cooling is provided exclusively by air-source heat pumps. We deploy a difference-in-difference study design and find that replacing a heat pump with a new one does reduce electricity usage by 8% on average. The effect differs dramatically across households based upon whether they receive an incentive towards the purchase of a new heat pump. Among incentive recipients, the effect is small, and the larger the incentive, the smaller the reduction in electricity usage. These findings suggest that capital costs are incorporated into the (long-term) cost of energy, generating an apparent rebound effect that is much more pronounced for incentive recipients.
Investigating Student Perceptions of Vocabulary and Learning in Middle School Science

Science courses are all too often taught as a litany of facts leading many students to focus on rote memorization of terminologies instead of developing deep conceptual understanding (Groves, 1995). The frequent use of a textbook can contribute to the problem. The purpose of this teacher classroom research study was to investigate the vocabulary demands and students’ perceptions of instructional strategies in an 8 th grade physical science class. The findings indicate that 21 formal science vocabulary terms were presented for 17 relevant pages of the textbook. Students’ perceived “expanding vocabulary” and discussing examples of items as the most helpful instructional strategies for developing understanding. Students believed the pre-test of vocabulary content and reading and discussing vocabulary passages from the textbook at the onset of instruction were the least helpful instructional strategies. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the types of instructional strategies that students’ believe encourage vocabulary learning. Keywords: Vocabulary Teaching, Action Research, Middle School Science
Parkinsonian tremor and simplification in network dynamics

We explore the behavior of richly connected inhibitory neural networks under parameter changes that correspond to weakening of synaptic efficacies between network units, and show that transitions from irregular to periodic dynamics are common in such systems. The weakening of these connections leads to a reduction in the number of units that effectively drive the dynamics and thus to simpler behavior. We hypothesize that the multiple interconnecting loops of the brain’s motor circuitry, which involve many inhibitory connections, exhibit such transitions. Normal physiological tremor is irregular while other forms of tremor show more regular oscillations. Tremor in Parkinson’s disease, for example, stems from weakened synaptic efficacies of dopaminergic neurons in the nigro-striatal pathway, as in our general model. The multiplicity of structures involved in the production of symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and the reversibility of symptoms by pharmacological and surgical manipulation of connection parameters suggest that such a neural network model is appropriate. Furthermore, fixed points that can occur in the network models are suggestive of akinesia in Parkinson’s disease. This model is consistent with the view that normal physiological systems can be regulated by robust and richly connected feedback networks with complex dynamics, and that loss of complexity in the feedback structure due to disease leads to more orderly behavior.
Models of the dust structures around Vega-excess stars

ABSTRA C T We present models of the submillimetre dust emission around four Vega-excess stars. The results are adjusted to fit simultaneously the spectral energy distribution from millimetre through to optical wavelengths, as well as the submillimetre image. The combination of spatially resolved images with continuum fluxes over a range of wavelengths can remove some of the previous ambiguities in estimating the dust emission characteristics and circumstellar distributions.
Antibody to the outer membrane proteins is the dominant opsonic antibody in normal human serum against H. influenzae type b.

We hypothesized that the predominant opsonic antibody of normal serum is directed against outer membrane proteins (OMP). Sera from 10 normal adults were tested for their opsonic capacity against Haemophilus influenzae b (Eagan strain) by the luminol-enhanced neutrophil chemiluminescence elicited on incubation with serum-opsonized bacteria, and the ability to deposit C3 on the bacterial surface. Peak chemiluminescence correlated with the amount of C3 on the bacterial surface (r = 0.71, P less than 0.025) and this, in turn, correlated with the concentration of IgG directed against outer membrane proteins, (r = 0.75, P less than 0.01), but not with the concentration of anticapsular polysaccharide antibody. Two groups of sera were easily distinguished based on the chemiluminescence experiments: a high opsonic group (greater than 50,000 peak counts per second; c.p.s.) and a low opsonic group (less than 10,000 c.p.s.). The IgG fraction from the high opsonic sera could augment C3 deposition when added to a low opsonic serum, but could not after absorption of the anti-OMP antibody by affinity chromatography. We conclude that the predominant opsonin of normal serum is antibody to outer membrane proteins, a finding which could be significant for the development of future vaccines against H. influenzae b.
Survey of thermal infrared remote sensing for Unmanned Aerial Systems

As Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) technology matures, the list of potential civilian applications continues to grow substantially. Currently, the majority of applications are centered around providing optical imagery, either in real-time video or high resolution mapping. But as more sophisticated applications are desired, the limitations of simple imagery are becoming more evident, especially for precision agricultural applications. However, recent advancements in UAS based precision agriculture have demonstrated the effectiveness of including thermal infrared (TIR) cameras. In many situations, decision support indicators are evident in the TIR spectrum, whereas they are undetectable in the visible light and near-infrared spectrum. In this paper, a survey of some of the applications under development utilizing TIR imagery is presented along with implementation strategies to provide guidance for researchers wishing to add TIR imagery into their applications.
Characterization of translocation pores inserted into plasma membranes by type III‐secreted Esp proteins of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Many mucosal pathogens use type III secretion systems for the injection of effector proteins into target cells. The type III‐secreted proteins EspB and EspD of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) are inserted into the target cell membrane. Together with EspA, these proteins are supposed to constitute a molecular syringe, channelling other effector proteins into the host cell. In this model, EspB and EspD would represent the tip of the needle forming a pore into target cell membranes. Although contact‐dependent and Esp‐mediated haemolytic activity by EPEC has already been described, the formation of a putative pore resulting in haemolysis has not been demonstrated so far. Here, we show that (i) diffusely adhering (DA)‐EPEC strains exhibit a type III‐dependent haemolytic activity too; (ii) this activity resides in the secreted proteins and, for DA‐EPEC strains, in contrast to EPEC strains, does not require bacterial contact; and (iii) pores are introduced into the target cell membrane. Osmoprotection revealed a minimal pore size of 3–5 nm. The pores induced by type III‐secreted proteins of DA‐EPEC were characterized by electron microscopy techniques. Analysis by atomic force microscopy demonstrated the pores to be composed of six to eight subunits with a lateral extension of 55–65 nm and to be raised 15–20 nm above the membrane plane. We could also demonstrate an association of EspB and EspD with erythrocyte membranes and an interaction of both proteins with each other in vitro. These results, together with the homologies of EspB and EspD to proposed functional domains of other pore‐forming proteins (Yop/Ipa), strongly support the idea that both proteins are directly involved in pore formation, which might represent the type III secretion system translocon.
Children of Misfortune: Early Adversity and Cumulative Inequality in Perceived Life Trajectories1

Adversity early in life may alter pathways of aging, but what interpretive processes can soften the blow of early insults? Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, the authors analyze trajectories of life evaluations and then consider whether early adversity offsets favorable expectations for the future. Results reveal that early adversity contributes to more negative views of the past but rising expectations for the future. Early adversity also has enduring effects on life evaluations, offsetting the influence of buoyant expectations. The findings draw attention to the limits of human agency under the constraints of early adversity—a process described as biographical structuration.
Progressive rise in gut hormone levels after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass suggests gut adaptation and explains altered satiety

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for achieving long‐term weight loss in morbidly obese patients. This study investigated prospective changes in gut hormones and metabolic indices after Roux‐en‐$\font\ss=cmss10 scaled 1000 \hbox{\ss Y}$ gastric bypass (RYGB).
The Impact of Differential Patterns of Physical Violence and Stalking on Mental Health and Help-Seeking Among Women With Protective Orders

This study examined the severity of partner violence on women’s mental health and help-seeking as well as perceptions of safety and protective-order effectiveness. Three groups based on partner violence victimization in the past year were compared: (a) women who reported experiencing moderate physical violence but no history of severe violence or stalking (n = 102), (b) women who experienced severe violence but no history of stalking (n = 142), and (c) women who experienced severe violence and stalking (n = 145). Results suggest that stalking has a unique impact on victims’ mental health and perceived safety, and that protections afforded by protective orders may not be adequate for women experiencing stalking.
Breakup Distress and Loss of Intimacy in University Students

Breakup distress and reasons for breakup including affiliation, intimacy, sexuality and autonomy reasons were stud-ied in 119 university students who had experienced a recent breakup of a romantic relationship. The sample was di-vided into high and low breakup distress groups based on a median score on the Breakup Distress Scale. The groups were then compared on their responses on the Breakup Reasons Scale. Only the intimacy subscale differentiated the high versus low breakup distress groups. These data highlight the importance of intimacy for romantic relationships and the loss of intimacy as a reason for breakups.
Effects of Morphine Pellet Implantation in Neonatal Rats

Summary A morphine pellet implantation method has been modified for use in very young rats. Compared to P-implanted controls, implantation of an M pellet on either Day 5 or 11 results in diminished body weight for periods at least up to 15 weeks. Such treatment on Day 11 is associated with reduced sensitivity to the analgesic action of morphine (10 mg/kg) when tested on Day 48 using the hot-plate technique. Resting pituitary-adrenal activity in animals implanted with morphine on Day 5 or 11 was within normal limits when examined on Day 43. Corticosterone responses to a challenge dose of morphine (40 mg/kg) on Day 68 failed to demonstrate tolerance unequivocally. These findings are consistent with those obtained earlier with daily injections of morphine and demonstrate that the long-lasting ponderal effect and tolerance to the analgesic actions of morphine may be produced without the confounding effects of daily handling and stress of abrupt withdrawal in neonatally addicted rats. This convenient method of prolonged early morphine exposure in young rats may be used as an experimental model for the study of long-range effects of neonatal exposure to narcotics. We wish to thank Mr. Andrew Baldwin for his valuable technical assistance. This work was supported in part by USPHS Grant No. DA 826 and NIH Biomedical Research Support Grant No. RR-07055.
Estrogen Receptors Alpha (ESR1) and Beta (ESR2) Are Expressed in Circulating Human Lymphocytes

Bone marrow thymocytes in part mediate the bone-preserving effects of estrogen by decreasing their production of osteoclast growth factors such as interleukin-1 and -6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the presence of physiological amounts of estradiol. Although several in vitro studies implicate the T-lymphocyte as a candidate mediator of estrogen signaling in the skeleton, whether these cells or any lymphocytes ordinarily express one or both nuclear estrogen receptors was previously unresolved. The purpose of our investigation was therefore to ascertain, by using real-time PCR, immmunoblotting, and cytometric techniques, if any of the nuclear estrogen receptors could be detected in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) collected from healthy volunteers. The results of immunoblotting experiments revealed that both estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and beta (ESR2) proteins are expressed in nuclei, but not in the cytoplasm of PBMNC harvested from all of the 15 healthy male and female volunteers (aged 23–50 years) we tested. PBMNCs contained mRNA coding for the two major full-length isoforms of ESR2 and the expression of ESR2 protein was localized within a lymphocyte subpopulation by cytometric analysis. Our data provide further evidence that lymphocytes and monocytes are responsive to estrogen and underscore its importance in modulating the immune response, as well as the vascular and skeletal health of men and women.
Cubic Pyrochlore Bismuth Zinc Niobate Thin Films for Antifuse Applications

Characteristics of a novel antifuse structure with cubic pyrochlore bismuth zinc niobate (BZN) thin film are investigated. A structure of Ti/Pt/BZN/Al for the BZN antifuses was proposed. The influence of various electric field directions, which were used for rupturing and programming the antifuses, on the BZN antifuse was analyzed, and the electric field direction of up to down was opted to program the antifuses. Excellent properties of the BZN antifuses were illustrated, including low leakage current, high off-state resistance, low programming voltage and time, moderate programming current, low on -state resistance, and tight distribution of on-state resistance. The BZN antifuse will be the most promising alternative to the gate oxide antifuses.