Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fecal analysis of ovarian cycles in female black‐handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was applied to characterize the reproductive endocrinology of adult female black‐handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Analysis of paired urine and fecal samples, collected from two females housed at San Diego Zoo, confirmed that the EIAs employed provided quantitative measurements of ovarian sex steroid hormones. Fecal metabolite levels were significantly correlated with those in urine, confirming that feces are a valid source of steroid metabolites in this species. The excretion of these metabolites in feces lagged urinary excretion by 1–2 days. The ovarian cycle profiles of the two captive females and five free‐ranging females are comparable, with an average length of approximately 20–23 days. Cyclical bleeding, as previously reported, was observed in one of the two captive females. Pregnancy was detected in four free‐ranging females, and early fetal loss for one female was indicated by hormonal data. Am. J. Primatol. 54:79–89, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exploring the influence of gender and gaming competence on attitudes towards using instructional games

Digital games are evolving beyond the solitary context into a ubiquitous, social and collaborative experience. Addressing beliefs about technology and attitudes towards technology-mediated processes is fundamental to the successful implementation of any innovation. In collaborative gaming, attitude towards gaming influences learners' interactions along the domain, technology and community dimensions. Building on various seminal works, an instrument was developed for measuring four components of attitude towards gaming—affective components, perceived control, perceived usefulness and behavioural components. The survey, including 21 statements each scored on a 5-point Likert scale, was used with a sample of college students to investigate the influence of gender and gaming competence on attitude towards gaming. The pedagogical implications of the different attitude components are discussed in relation to game design and to the different interactions triggered by the gaming context.
Contrasting patterns of population connectivity between regions in a commercially important mollusc Haliotis rubra: integrating population genetics, genomics and marine LiDAR data

Estimating contemporary genetic structure and population connectivity in marine species is challenging, often compromised by genetic markers that lack adequate sensitivity, and unstructured sampling regimes. We show how these limitations can be overcome via the integration of modern genotyping methods and sampling designs guided by LiDAR and SONAR data sets. Here we explore patterns of gene flow and local genetic structure in a commercially harvested abalone species (Haliotis rubra) from southeastern Australia, where the viability of fishing stocks is believed to be dictated by recruitment from local sources. Using a panel of microsatellite and genomewide SNP markers, we compare allele frequencies across a replicated hierarchical sampling area guided by bathymetric LiDAR imagery. Results indicate high levels of gene flow and no significant genetic structure within or between benthic reef habitats across 1400 km of coastline. These findings differ to those reported for other regions of the fishery indicating that larval supply is likely to be spatially variable, with implications for management and long‐term recovery from stock depletion. The study highlights the utility of suitably designed genetic markers and spatially informed sampling strategies for gaining insights into recruitment patterns in benthic marine species, assisting in conservation planning and sustainable management of fisheries.
miR-200c Targets CDK2 and Suppresses Tumorigenesis in Renal Cell Carcinoma

miRNA expression profiles are widely investigated in the major cancers, but their specific roles and functions in cancers have not yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, miRNA expression profiles were determined in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) and in matched normal kidney tissues by using a miRNA microarray platform which covers a total of 851 human miRNAs. Differential expression of 74 miRNAs were identified between ccRCC specimens and their matched adjacent noncancerous tissues, of which 30 were significantly upregulated in ccRCCs, and the other 44 were downregulated (fold change ≥ 2, P < 0.05). Interestingly, miR-200c was commonly downregulated in ccRCC specimens and ccRCC cell lines with significant functional consequences. Growth curve and FACS assay indicated that overexpression of miR-200c suppressed cell growth and induced cell-cycle arrest at G0–G1 phases in SN12-PM6 and 786-O cells. Furthermore, miR-200c could suppress in vivo tumor growth of SN12-PM6 cells in mice. Bioinformatics exposed cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) as a potential target of miR-200c, which was validated using a luciferase reporter assay. Mechanistic investigations revealed that miR-200c was directly responsible for suppressing the expression of CDK2 in ccRCC cell lines and xenografts. Taken together, miR-200c plays an antioncogenic role in ccRCC, through controlling cell growth and cell-cycle progression by downregulating the G1–S regulator CDK2. Implications: miR-200c exerts its novel antioncogenic function in renal cell carcinoma by controlling CDK2-dependent cell growth and cell-cycle progression. Mol Cancer Res; 13(12); 1567–77. ©2015 AACR.
The Activity of the Maize Opaque 2 Transcriptional Activator Is Regulated Diurnally 1

The maize (Zea mays L.) Opaque2 (O2) protein is an endospermspecific transcriptional activator whose DNA-binding activity is regulated diurnally by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism. We show that the O2 transcript undergoes pronounced oscillations during the day-night cycle. The highest level of the O2 message is present at midday and the lowest level at midnight. The level of O2 transcript follows a diurnal rhythm that appears controlled by the circadian clock. Two different endosperm-expressed DNA-binding proteins, PBF (prolamin box-binding factor) and OHP1 (O2-heterodimerizing protein 1), were also analyzed. While the PBF message levels oscillate diurnally, the steady-state levels of OHP1 transcript were constant through the day and night. We present data showing that the seed is not directly involved in the perception of the light signal, but presumably responds to diurnal fluxes of nutrients into the endosperm. Moreover, we show that the O2 protein is not involved in the regulation of its own transcript levels. These data indicate that O2 activity is down-regulated at night by both a reduction in O2 transcript and by hyperphosphorylation of residual O2 protein, and suggest that regulatory gene activity during endosperm development may be acutely sensitive to a diurnal signal(s) emanating from the plant and passing into the developing seeds.
Incentives, Project Choice and Dynamic Multitasking * (Job Market Paper)

I study the optimal choice of investment projects in a continuous-time moral hazard model with multitasking. While in the first best, projects are invariably chosen by the net present value (NPV) criterion, moral hazard introduces a cutoff for project selection which depends on both a project’s NPV as well as its risk-return ratio. The cutoff shifts dynamically depending on the past history of shocks, the current firm size, and the agent’s continuation value. When the ratio of continuation value to firm size is large, investment projects are chosen more efficiently, and project choice depends more on the NPV and less on the risk-return ratio. The optimal contract can be implemented with an equity stake, bonus payments, as well as a personal account. Interestingly, when the contract features equity only, the project selection criterion resembles a hurdle rate.
New insights into innate immunity in Arabidopsis

The term innate immunity has been described as ‘. the surveillance system that detects the presence and nature of the infection and provides the first line of host defense . ’ (Medzhitov, 2001; Nat Rev Immunol 1: 135–145). The strategy of innate immunity is based on the recognition of constitutive and conserved molecules from pathogens by specific receptors, triggering defence responses (Medzhitov and Janeway, 2002; Science 296: 298–300). It has been only within the past few years that studies of plant innate immunity, especially in Arabidopsis, have provided important insights into molecular details that define innate immunity in plants. Here we review the innate immune response in Arabidopsis, where leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) cell surface receptors play central roles in monitoring the presence of pathogen (microbe) associated molecules to initiate the rapid expression of defence genes. The PAMPS also activate the expression of genes encoding a family of endogenous peptides (AtPep1 paralogues) and their receptor (PEPR1) that amplify defence signalling through a feedback loop initiated by PAMPS. The concept of innate immunity has provided a valuable framework for researchers to re‐evaluate the roles of exogenous and endogenous signals that regulate the expression of plant defensive genes.
Deoxyadenosine reverses hydroxyurea inhibition of vaccinia virus growth

Hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, blocks replication of vaccinia virus. However, when medium containing hydroxyurea and dialyzed serum was supplemented with deoxyadenosine, the block to viral reproduction was circumvented, provided that an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase was also present. Deoxyguanosine, deoxycytidine, and deoxythymidine were ineffective alone and did not augment the deoxyadenosine effect. In fact, increasing concentrations of deoxyguanosine and deoxythymidine, but not deoxycytidine, eliminated the deoxyadenosine rescue, an effect that was reversed by the addition of low concentrations of deoxycytidine. These results suggested that the inhibition of viral replication by hydroxyurea was primarily due to a deficiency of dATP. Deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools in vaccinia virus-infected cells were measured at the height of viral DNA synthesis after a synchronous infection. With 0.5 mM hydroxyurea, the dATP pool was greater than 90% depleted, the dCTP and dGTP pools were 40 to 50% reduced, and the dTTP pool was increased. Assay of ribonucleotide reductase activity in intact virus-infected cells suggested that hydroxyurea may differentially affect reduction of the various substrates of the enzyme.
Crucial Role for the Myelin‐associated Glycoprotein in the Maintenance of Axon‐Myelin Integrity

It has recently been shown that mice deficient in the gene for myelin‐associated glycoprotein develop normal myelin sheaths in the peripheral nervous system. Here we report that in mutant mice older than 8 months the maintenance of axon‐myelin units is disturbed, resulting in both axon and myelin degeneration. Morphological features include those typically seen in human peripheral neuropathies, where demyelination‐induced Schwann cell proliferation and remyelination lead to the formation of so‐called onion bulbs. Expression of tenascin‐C, a molecule indicative of peripheral nerve degeneration, was up‐regulated by axon‐deprived Schwann cells and regenerating axons were occasionally seen. Myelin‐associated glycoprotein thus appears to play a crucial role in the long‐term maintenance of the integrity of both myelin and axons.
Interleukin-20 Promotes Migration of Bladder Cancer Cells through Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase (ERK)-mediated MMP-9 Protein Expression Leading to Nuclear Factor (NF-κB) Activation by Inducing the Up-regulation of p21WAF1 Protein Expression*

Background: The role of interleukin-20 (IL-20) in tumor migration remains to be elucidated. Results: IL-20 induces cell migration via ERK1/2-mediated NF-κB/MMP-9 regulation by inducing p21WAF1 expression. Conclusion: p21WAF1 is essential for the cell migration induced by IL-20. Significance: This work provides novel insights into the molecular events of IL-20-mediated cancer cell migration indicating it is dependent on p21WAF1 expression. The role of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-20 (IL-20) has not yet been studied in cancer biology. Here, we demonstrated up-regulation of both IL-20 and IL-20R1 in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients. The expressions of IL-20 and IL-20R1 were observed in bladder cancer 5637 and T-24 cells. We found that IL-20 significantly increased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 via binding activity of NF-κB and AP-1 in bladder cancer cells and stimulated the activation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, and JAK-STAT signaling. Among the pathways examined, only ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 significantly inhibited IL-20-induced migration and invasion. Moreover, siRNA knockdown of IL-20R1 suppressed migration, invasion, ERK1/2 activation, and NF-κB-mediated MMP-9 expression induced by IL-20. Unexpectedly, the cell cycle inhibitor p21WAF1 was induced by IL-20 treatment without altering cell cycle progression. Blockade of p21WAF1 function by siRNA reversed migration, invasion, activation of ERK signaling, MMP-9 expression, and activation of NF-κB in IL-20-treated cells. In addition, IL-20 induced the activation of IκB kinase, the degradation and phosphorylation of IκBα, and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation, which was regulated by ERK1/2. IL-20 stimulated the recruitment of p65 to the MMP-9 promoter region. Finally, the IL-20-induced migration and invasion of cells was confirmed by IL-20 gene transfection and by addition of anti-IL-20 antibody. This is the first report that p21WAF1 is involved in ERK1/2-mediated MMP-9 expression via increased binding activity of NF-κB, which resulted in the induction of migration in IL-20/IL-20R1 dyad-induced bladder cancer cells. These unexpected results might provide a critical new target for the treatment of bladder cancer.
Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Among Elementary Schools Children in Assiut City-Egypt

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of ADHD among elementary schools children in Assiut City of both sex with age ranged from 8-10.5 years, and searching out the possible risk factors responsible for ADHD. Method: we studied 1513 students, distributed geographically. The students were subjected to the following tools; Children's Attention and Adjustment Survey (school and house forms), WISC; Diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV (APA, 1994) for ADHD, social scale assessment, and a special questionnaire for detection of risk factors of ADHD Data were collected among one academic year. Results The study revealed that the prevalence rate of ADHD was 6% among elementary schools, the subtypes were: ADHD-predominant hyperactive-impulsive type 3.3%, ADHD-combined type 2%, and ADHD-predominant inattentive type 0.7%, male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Risk factors for ADHD were: large family size (29%), convulsion (11%), trauma to the head during the first two years of life (7.7%), isolation of the child from one or both parents for a time in inattentive subtype of ADHD (50.5%), and artificial feeding (12.1%), family History of ADHD was higher among families with ADHD than control group. The first and last births had relation to ADHD. Conclusion, we can conclude that the prevalence rate of ADHD among elementary school children in Assiut City, 3 rd grade was 6%. This helped us to estimate the magnitude of this problem among the elementary school children which lead to proper design of a preventive and therapeutic intervention programs; also our study revealed that ADHD was associated with many risk factors. So dealing with these risk factors may lead to decrease the incidence and prevalence of these cases and its associated
Implementation and evaluation of CSI‐localized J cross‐polarization for detection of 31P magnetic resonance spectra in vivo

Double resonance techniques such as INEPT (insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer) and JCP (J cross‐polarization) have previously been applied in vitro to enhance the SNR of low‐sensitivity nuclei and detect altered metabolism, for example, with 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), where the 1H‐13C scalar couplings are of the order of 130 Hz. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential advantage of using JCP for the detection of phosphomonoesters (PME) and phosphodiesters (PDE) with 31P MRS in vivo. These metabolites are involved in membrane metabolism and their concentration is altered in tumors and other pathologies. JCP has been implemented and compared with INEPT and pulse‐and‐acquire in vivo both in unlocalized and in localized spectra in order to select the optimum method for in vivo applications for PME and PDE detection. The results suggest that JCP can give up to 20% more signal in the PME region and up to 70% more signal in the PDE region, with 20 to 70% lower power deposition than INEPT. Such enhancement could be used to reduce the measurement times for equivalent signal‐to‐noise ratios. The JCP sequence is, however, slightly more sensitive than INEPT to RF field inhomogeneities, as predicted from theory. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The diagnosis of ectopic focal hyperinsulinism of infancy with [18F]-dopa positron emission tomography.

BACKGROUND Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a cause of severe hypoglycemia in the neonatal and infancy period. Histologically, there are two subtypes with diffuse and focal disease. The preoperative differentiation of these two forms is very important because the surgical management is radically different. The focal form of the disease can be cured if the focal lesion can be localized accurately and completely resected with surgery. AIM We report the case of a child who underwent three pancreatectomies with a choledochoduodenostomy and a cholecystectomy but continued to have severe hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. METHODS/RESULTS Radiological investigations including imaging with (18)fluoro-L-Dopa positron emission tomography scan showed a clear focus of increased (18)F-fluoro-L-Dopa uptake in the vicinity of the former head of the pancreas. On the magnetic resonance imaging scan, this focal uptake appeared to localize adjacent or next to duodenum (in the wall or cavity of the duodenum). CONCLUSIONS This unique case highlights the importance of correctly localizing and completely resecting the focal lesion in patients with CHI. (18)Fluoro-L-Dopa positron emission tomography scan can identify ectopic focal lesions in patients with CHI.
Exfoliative rejection after intestinal transplantation in children

Abstract: Background: Graft rejection is the most significant cause of allograft failure after intestinal transplantation (ITx). Severity can vary and is based on histologic criteria, the most extreme form being exfoliation of the mucosa. We present the characteristics and outcome of children who developed exfoliative rejection (ER) after ITx. Methods: Between June 1990 and March 2002, 88 patients received 92 ITx which included isolated small bowel (SB, n = 26), combined liver‐small bowel (LSB, n = 54), and multivisceral MV n = 12) allografts performed under tacrolimus and steroid immunosuppresson. ER was diagnosed by endoscopy and confirmed by biopsy. Results: Thirteen (15%) of 88 patients developed 15 episodes of ER in 15 intestinal allografts, and included SB (n = 8), LSB (n = 5), and MV (n = 2). Time to ER after ITx ranged from 9 days to 45.5 months (median 22 days). Eight episodes of ER developed within 1 month after ITx. Ten episodes of ER were exacerbations of prior rejection. Five episodes occurred abruptly. All but one received OKT3. Fourteen of 15 allografts were lost; six patients underwent allograft enterectomy acutely as a salvage operation because of ER. The remainder of the allografts were either removed or lost to patient death as a consequence to infection or chronic rejection after resolution of ER. Retransplantation was performed in three patients, with subsequent recurrence of ER in two retransplanted allografts. Inclusion of a liver allograft was a protective factor toward decreasing the incidence of ER. The results of cross‐matching, inclusion of a colonic segment, and simultaneous bone marrow infusion did not affect the incidence of ER. Infectious complications included post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (n = 4), cytomegalovirus (n = 5), and adenovirus infection (n = 2). Conclusions: Exfoliative rejection is associated with a high morbidity and mortality after ITx. Strategies to improve survival may include up front anti‐lymphocyte antibody therapy and, when fail to respond promptly and satisfactorily, early intestinal allograft removal.
Patient Satisfaction Evaluation in CGHS Dispensaries in Kolkata, India

Background: Patient satisfaction is one of the important studied aspects of health care. Measuring satisfaction reliably, however, is an ongoing challenge, thus objective of the study was to assess patient satisfaction in CGHS Dispensaries. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted over one year period in CGHS Dispensaries at Kolkata. A multistage sampling method was followed. Total number of respondents was 412. A self administered predesigned, pretested , semi structured questionnaire was used. Likert scale was used as scoring system in the questionnaire for patient satisfaction evaluation. Results: The overall level of satisfaction( moderate & very satisfied)in this study was 36.9%. Majority of the total respondents (84%) agreed/strongly agreed regarding the inadequacy of facilities like toilet , drinking water, sitting arrangement in the dispensaries. About (72.5%) of the overall respondents agreed/strongly agreed to the fact that doctors treating them were attentive, overwhelming majority of the total respondents (88.4%) was of the opinion that overcrowding was a problem in the dispensaries. Statistically significant association was found between patient satisfaction and per capita income in this study . Conclusion: The overall recommendation is that CGHS should strive to maintain the standard it has in order to keep patients satisfied with the services they receive.
Examining gender differences in the health behaviors of Canadian university students

The relationship between lifestyle choices and health outcomes has been an area of interest for many health professionals. Gender differences in these choices have also been an area of scrutiny. Aims: The purpose of the present investigation was to examine gender differences in the health and lifestyle behavioral choices of Canadian university students. Methods: A total of 638 (472 female and 166 male) undergraduate students were evaluated. Results: Males and females differed significantly in their responses to appraisals of general state of health, hours/day engaged in social activities, frequency of drinking alcohol, amount of alcohol consumed per session, total number of sexual partners, number of meals eaten per day, participation in physical activity, completion of annual check-ups with doctor, screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and hypertension screening. Generally, men engaged in more risky health behaviors than females (e.g. alcohol use). Conclsion: Results are discussed in terms of cultural comparisons to previous research studies evaluating college health behaviors. Suggestions are made for health professionals to incorporate gender differences in behavioral change programmes geared towards improving awareness of the consequences of lifestyle choices.