Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Conserved Network of Transcriptional Activators and Repressors Regulates Anthocyanin Pigmentation in Eudicots[C][W][OPEN]

The gene regulatory network that regulates the timing, location, and level of anthocyanin pigmentation in petunia is characterized, establishing features of the network that are functionally conserved in eudicots. A model of the activation and repression mechanisms of the anthocyanin regulatory network is presented, which includes a role for mobile regulatory proteins for pigmentation patterning. Plants require sophisticated regulatory mechanisms to ensure the degree of anthocyanin pigmentation is appropriate to myriad developmental and environmental signals. Central to this process are the activity of MYB-bHLH-WD repeat (MBW) complexes that regulate the transcription of anthocyanin genes. In this study, the gene regulatory network that regulates anthocyanin synthesis in petunia (Petunia hybrida) has been characterized. Genetic and molecular evidence show that the R2R3-MYB, MYB27, is an anthocyanin repressor that functions as part of the MBW complex and represses transcription through its C-terminal EAR motif. MYB27 targets both the anthocyanin pathway genes and basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) ANTHOCYANIN1 (AN1), itself an essential component of the MBW activation complex for pigmentation. Other features of the regulatory network identified include inhibition of AN1 activity by the competitive R3-MYB repressor MYBx and the activation of AN1, MYB27, and MYBx by the MBW activation complex, providing for both reinforcement and feedback regulation. We also demonstrate the intercellular movement of the WDR protein (AN11) and R3-repressor (MYBx), which may facilitate anthocyanin pigment pattern formation. The fundamental features of this regulatory network in the Asterid model of petunia are similar to those in the Rosid model of Arabidopsis thaliana and are thus likely to be widespread in the Eudicots.
Essays on investment decisions

The recently introduced gender quota on Norwegian corporate boards dramatically increased the share of female directors. This reform offers a natural experiment to investigate changes in corporate governance from forced increases in gender diversity, and whether these changes in turn impact firm performance. I find that investors anticipate the new directors to be more effective in firms with less information asymmetry between insiders of the firm and outsiders. Firms with low information asymmetry experience positive and significant cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) at the introduction of the quota, whereas firms with high information asymmetry show negative but insignificant CAR. ∗The Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH), e-mail: knut.nygaard@nhh.no. I am grateful for encouragement and very helpful advice from Antoinette Schoar, Karin S. Thorburn, and Bertil Tungodden. I also received helpful comments from Oyvind Bohren, Daniel Ferreira, Marit Hoel, Hans Hvide, Astrid Kunze, Tommy Stamland, Kjell Vaage, Bernt A. Odegaard, and Per Ostberg. Thanks to Elisabeth A. Dyvik (Oslo Stock Exchange and NUES “Norsk utvalg for eierstyring og selskapsledelse”) and Gorm F. Nymark (PricewaterhouseCoopers), for making the governance information data available to this study. The project was financed by support from the I & A Skaug Research Fund and the Fund in Memory of Prof. Wilhelm Keilhau.
CD161 (Human NKR-P1A) Signaling in NK Cells Involves the Activation of Acid Sphingomyelinase1

NK and NKT cells play a major role in both innate immunity and in influencing the development of adaptive immune responses. CD161 (human NKR-P1A), a protein encoded in the NK gene complex, is a major phenotypic marker of both these cell types and is thought to be involved in the regulation of NK and NKT cell function. However, the mechanisms of action and signaling pathways of CD161 are poorly understood. To identify molecules able to interact with the cytoplasmic tail of human CD161 (NKR-P1A), we have conducted a yeast two-hybrid screen and identified acid sphingomyelinase as a novel intracellular signaling pathway linked to CD161. mAb-mediated cross-linking of CD161, in both transfectants and primary human NK cells, triggers the activation of acid, but not neutral sphingomyelinase. The sphingomyelinases represent the catabolic pathway for N-acyl-sphingosine (ceramide) generation, an emerging second messenger with key roles in the induction of apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation. These data therefore define a novel signal transduction pathway for the CD161 (NKR-P1A) receptor and provide fresh insights into NK and NKT cell biology.
Recovery from major depression in older adults receiving augmentation of antidepressant pharmacotherapy.

OBJECTIVE Few data are available concerning the utility of augmentation in late-life depression treatment. The authors examined likelihood, speed, and predictors of recovery in older adults receiving augmentation pharmacotherapy after inadequate response to standardized treatment with paroxetine plus interpersonal psychotherapy. METHOD Depression levels were monitored during open treatment in 195 adults age 70 or older. Patients were grouped by whether they required augmentation (bupropion, nortriptyline, or lithium) and compared on likelihood, time, and predictors of recovery. RESULTS Augmentation was required for 105 patients (53.8%) because of inadequate treatment response (N=77) or response followed by relapse (N=28). Of these patients, 69 received augmentation and 36 did not (primarily because of consent withdrawal or comorbid medical conditions). Patients receiving augmentation showed lower recovery rates than patients never requiring augmentation: recovery occurred in 50.0% of patients receiving it because of inadequate response, 66.7% of those receiving it after early relapse, and 86.7% of patients never requiring augmentation. Patients receiving augmentation because of inadequate response recovered more slowly, with modestly more side effects than other patients. Greater medical burden and anxiety predicted slower recovery. CONCLUSIONS Despite a lower likelihood of recovery in elderly people receiving augmentation, the recovery by over one-half of such patients suggests the value of augmentation for those able to tolerate it. Need for augmentation presages slower recovery in patients showing initial inadequate response; those requiring it after early relapse recovered more quickly. Strategies to further improve the likelihood and speed of recovery after initial treatment failure are needed.
Projecting Basin-Scale Distributed Irrigation and Domestic Water Demands and Values: A Generic Method for Large-Scale Modeling

This paper presents a methodology to project irrigation and domestic water demands on a regional to global scale, in terms of both quantity and economic value. Projections are distributed at the water basin scale. Irrigation water demand is projected under climate change. It is simply computed as the difference between crop potential evapotranspiration for the different stages of the growing season and available precipitation. Irrigation water economic value is based on a yield comparison approach between rainfed and irrigated crops using average yields. For the domestic sector, we project the combined effects of demographic growth, economic development and water cost evolution on future demands. The method consists in building three-part inverse demand functions in which volume limits of the blocks evolve with the level of GDP per capita. The value of water along the demand curve is determined from price-elasticity, price and demand data from the literature, using the point-expansion method, and from water cost data. This generic methodology can be easily applied to large-scale regions, in particular developing regions where reliable data are scarce. As an illustration, it is applied to Algeria, at the 2050 horizon, for demands associated to reservoirs. Our results show that domestic demand is projected to become a major water consumption sector. The methodology is meant to be integrated into large-scale hydroeconomic models, to determine inter-sectorial and inter-temporal water allocation based on economic valuation.
Antigen-presenting Cells in Human Radicular Granulomas

Substantial numbers of dendritic cells have been detected in radicular granulomas. To test the hypothesis that local antigen presentation from dendritic cells to T-cells is involved critically in immunological responses within radicular granulomas, we compared characteristics of dendritic cells and macrophages by morphological and biological analyses. Under light microscopy, HLA-DR+ and CD68+ cells showed diverse profiles, including dendritic-shaped cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that HLA-DR+ dendritic cells, with long cytoplasmic processes and lacking distinct phagosomes, were concentrated in the lymphocyte-rich area. HLA-DR alpha-chain, CD83, and CD86 mRNAs from HLA-DR+ dendritic cells, and CD28 mRNA from CD28+ T-cells were up-regulated in lymphocyte-rich area. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the density of gold particles on dendritic cells was higher than that on HLA-DR+ macrophages. These results suggest that dendritic cells in radicular granulomas are associated with local defense reactions as stronger antigen-presenting cells, as compared with macrophages.
Correlation between antibiotic consumption and resistance of Gram-negative bacteria causing healthcare-associated infections at a university hospital in Taiwan from 2000 to 2009.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the correlation between antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria causing healthcare-associated infections at a university hospital in Taiwan from 2000 to 2009. METHODS Disc susceptibility data of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Proteus spp. , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp. , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and other non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli causing healthcare-associated infections were evaluated. Data on annual patient-days and annual consumption (defined daily doses per 1000 patient-days) of extended-spectrum cephalosporins, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, carbapenems, aminoglycosides and ﬂuoroquinolones were analysed. RESULTS The trend of total consumption of extended-spectrum cephalosporins, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, carbapenems, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones significantly increased between 2000 and 2003 and remained stable between 2004 and 2009. The decreasing use of gentamicin and amikacin in recent years was associated with increasing susceptibility of E. coli, E. cloacae, S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa to gentamicin, as well as increasing susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to amikacin. The use of piperacillin/tazobactam was positively correlated with the prevalence of piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant E. coli and S. maltophilia. In contrast, the use of cefotaxime and piperacillin/tazobactam was negatively correlated with the prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant E. coli and piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant S. maltophilia, respectively. The consumption of fluoroquinolones was positively correlated with the rates of ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli, piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant P. aeruginosa and ceftazidime-resistant S. maltophilia. CONCLUSIONS The relationship between antibiotic prescription and the rates of resistance for Gram-negative bacteria is complicated; every type of antimicrobial agent or even individual agent can have distinct associations with different pathogens.
Establishing cooperation in a mixed-motive social dilemma. An fMRI study investigating the role of social value orientation and dispositional trust

When people are confronted with social dilemmas, their decision-making strategies tend to be associated with individual social preferences; prosocials have an intrinsic willingness to cooperate, while proselfs need extrinsic motivators signaling personal gain. In this study, the biological roots for the proselfs/prosocials concept are explored by investigating the neural correlates of cooperative versus defect decisions when participants engage in a series of one-shot, anonymous prisoner’s dilemma situations. Our data are in line with previous studies showing that prosocials activate several social cognition regions of the brain more than proselfs (here: medial prefrontal cortex, temporo–parietal junction, and precuneus BA 7 (Brodmann area 7), and that dispositional trust positively affects prosocials’ decisions to cooperate. At the neural level, however, dispositional trust appears to exert a greater marginal effect on brain activity of proselfs in three social cognition regions, which does not translate into an increase in cooperation. An event-related analysis shows that cooperating prosocials show significantly more activation in the precuneus (BA 7) than proselfs. Based on previous research, we interpret this result to be consistent with prosocials’ enhanced tendency to infer the intentions of others in social dilemma games, and the importance of establishing norm congruence when they decide to cooperate.
Will Penang Based Companies Perform Better than the Market

This paper examines the antecedents of company's performance and compares the performance between Penang based companies and Non-Penang based companies from firm characteristics point of view for the period of 2004 to 2013. A static panel data structure is employed to examine firm characteristics' effect to firm performance. We find that the Penang based companies outperform Non-Penang based companies. Second, the previous year's performance has a positive impact to the current year's performance for Penang based companies but has a negative impact to the Non-Penang companies. Third, larger firm performs better for Malaysian public listed companies. Fourth, the Penang based companies with their larger investment in intangible assets perform better. Fifth, Malaysian public listed companies should maintain lower gearing in order to increase firm performance. Sixth, the Penang based companies with a higher growth rate and operating cash flow ratio would help in ensuring the firms perform better. Our findings could serve as an indicator in assessing firm characteristics on firm performance for Penang based public listed companies.
Relationship between Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Aortic stiffness measured by aorta-iliac or carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) has been developed as a more convenient assessment of arterial stiffness. However, the problem with clinical use of baPWV is that the index itself is closely dependent on blood pressure. Recently, a new method, termed the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), has been proposed in Japan to overcome the disadvantages associated with measuring PWV. However, its clinical usefulness has not yet been fully clarified. In the present study, we compared the usefulness of CAVI with that of ultrasound for evaluating atherosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension. CAVI was measured in 70 hypertensive patients. The intima-media thickness (IMT), cross-sectional distensibility coefficient (CSDC), stiffness parameter β, and mean diastolic (Vd) and systolic (Vs) flow velocities were evaluated by carotid ultrasound. The Vd/Vs ratio, an index of peripheral arterial resistance, was also calculated. CAVI was positively correlated with IMT (r=0.360, p=0.0022) and stiffness β (r=0.270, p=0.0239) and negatively correlated with Vd/Vs (r=−0.471, p<0.0001) and CSDC (r=−0.315, p=0.0079). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that age (r=0.475, p<0.0001) and pulse pressure (r=0.492, r<0.0001) were independent determinants of CAVI. These results suggest that CAVI is a useful clinical marker for evaluating atherosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension.
Why semi-legal? Polish post-2004 EU enlargement migrants in the United Kingdom

This article explores the responses of Polish post-2004 EU Enlargement economic migrants towards British rules and regulations, which determine the character of their work and residence in the United Kingdom. The focus of the empirical part of the research is on attitudes and values, namely shared cultural meanings, and how they are behaviorally expressed with respect to law and legal institutions. The paper focuses on the intricacies of immigrants' choice of 'semi-legal' over legal status, subsequent legalization strategies, and the interpretations of legality these practices result in. What role in this process is played by the legal culture, the experience of law which migrants brought with them from Poland? The article concludes that legality could be discussed at two levels — at the behavioural level and at the level of a value. Changing status between the two poles of legality and illegality brings with it greater appreciation of legality, as a value.
Components responsible for the surface tension of human tears.

PURPOSE It was previously thought that the surface tension of tears was due to dissolved mucin, but it has recently been shown that very little mucin is present. The surface tensions of solutions of commercial mucin, lysozyme, lactoferrin or secretory IgA are all higher than that of tears. The influence of tear lipocalin and lipids remained to be tested. METHODS Surface tension was determined by a micro-method on pooled intact stimulated human tears, and following extraction with lipid solvents. The extracted material was also added back, as was a variety of lipid standards (phospholipids, glycolipids, sterols, etc.). TLC and GLC were used in partial identification of the extract. Another lipocalin, bovine beta-lactoglobulin, was also tested alone and mixed with tear lipids, model lipids, or model tear proteins. RESULTS Intact tears had a surface tension of 42-46 mN/m, but after lipid extraction this rose to 53-55.5 mN/m. Addition of lipids to the delipidised tear fluid gave a range of tensions from 42 to 49 mN/m, with the greatest effects shown by phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin), but full recovery was only achieved by using the extracted lipid material. Human meibomian oil was less effective. The GLC peak profile of the extract was markedly different from meibomian oil, and the TLC pattern was consistent with the presence of glycolipids. CONCLUSIONS The surface tension of tears is due to a complex of tear lipocalin with a polar lipid fraction extractable from tears by lipid solvents and different from meibomian lipid. Lipocalin and this lipid fraction may be secreted together by the lacrimal gland.
Evaluation of the therapeutic efficiency of mandibular anterior implant‐supported fixed bridges with cantilevers

Background Dental implant technology has developed rapidly in recent years. However, the use of implant‐supported fixed bridges with cantilevers has been controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of the mandibular anterior implant‐supported fixed bridges with a cantilever. Method Thirty‐three patients (15 males, 18 females; mean age, 42.6 years; range 20‐54 years) with two missing anterior mandibular teeth had single implant‐supported fixed bridges with a cantilever. Clinical examination was recorded and radiographs were taken. The mean duration of follow‐up was 30 months (15‐44 months). Results All implants survived. Loosening or fracture of the prosthesis was not observed. All patients were satisfied with the treatment. The mean bone resorption values after 12, 24, and 36 months of implant loading were 0.94, 1.18 and 1.35 mm respectively. The changes of gingival papilla height ranged from 0 to 0.5 mm. There was significant difference between 1‐year and 2 or 3 years restoration groups regarding the average gingival height changes (P <0.05). Conclusion After careful and precise selection of patients, restoration with a single implant‐supported fixed bridge with a cantilever can be recommended if two anterior mandibular teeth are missing.
Emotional processing in male adolescents with childhood-onset conduct disorder.

BACKGROUND Boys with early onset of conduct disorder (CD), most of whom also meet diagnostic criteria of a comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tend to exhibit high levels of aggression throughout development. While a number of functional neuroimaging studies on emotional processing have been performed in antisocial adults, little is known about how CD children process emotional information. METHOD Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed in 22 male adolescents aged 12 to 17 years with childhood-onset CD (16 of them with comorbid ADHD) compared to 22 age-matched male healthy controls. In order to consider the likely confounding of results through ADHD comorbidity, we performed a supplementary study including 13 adolescent subjects with pure ADHD who were compared with healthy controls. To challenge emotional processing of stimuli, a passive viewing task was applied, presenting pictures of negative, positive or neutral valence. RESULTS When comparing CD/combined disorder patients with healthy controls, we found enhanced left-sided amygdala activation in response to negative pictures as compared to neutral pictures in the patient group. In addition, these boys exhibited no reduced activation in the orbitofrontal, anterior cingulate and insular cortices. By contrast, children with pure ADHD did not show any abnormalities in amygdala activation but showed decreased neural activity in the insula only in response to negative pictures. CONCLUSIONS Increased rather than reduced amygdala activation found in our study may indicate an enhanced response to environmental cues in adolescents with early-onset CD (most of whom also met the condition of ADHD), and is not consistent with the assumption of a reduced capacity to take note of affective information in the social environment. Further studies with an emphasis on developmental aspects of affect regulation are needed to clarify the relationship between CD and adult personality pathology associated with different modes of persistent antisocial behavior.
Beyond MEDLINE for literature searches.

PURPOSE To describe strategies for a comprehensive literature search. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT MEDLINE searches result in limited numbers of studies that are often biased toward statistically significant findings. Diversified search strategies are needed. METHODS Empirical evidence about the recall and precision of diverse search strategies is presented. Challenges and strengths of each search strategy are identified. FINDINGS Search strategies vary in recall and precision. Often sensitivity and specificity are inversely related. Valuable search strategies include examination of multiple diverse computerized databases, ancestry searches, citation index searches, examination of research registries, journal hand searching, contact with the "invisible college," examination of abstracts, Internet searches, and contact with sources of synthesized information. CONCLUSIONS Extending searches beyond MEDLINE enables researchers to conduct more systematic comprehensive searches.
Convex Functions with Unbounded Level Sets and Applications to Duality Theory

A class of convex functions with unbounded level sets but good behavior at infinity [Analyse non-lineaire, Gauthier-Villars, Paris, 1989, pp. 101–122] is investigated. Characterizations and properties are given. The results are then applied to studying sequential approximation schemes for optimization problems and to duality theory, when the involved functions have unbounded level sets. In particular, the convergence properties of stationary sequences for the dual of a convex program are studied, and methods for associating with it a primal sequence converging to a solution of the primal problem are demonstrated.