Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Post-transcriptional Adenylation of Signal Recognition Particle RNA Is Carried Out by an Enzyme Different from mRNA Poly(A) Polymerase*

A fraction of the signal recognition particle (SRP) RNA from human, rat, Xenopus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells contains a single post-transcriptionally added adenylic acid residue on its 3′-end; in the case of human SRP RNA, over 60% of the SRP RNA molecules contain a nontemplated adenylic acid residue on their 3′-ends (Sinha, K. M., Gu, J., Chen, Y., and Reddy, R. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 6853–6859). In this study, we investigated the enzyme that is involved in this 3′-end adenylation of SRP RNA. A U1A protein peptide conjugated to albumin completely inhibited the polyadenylation of a SV40 mRNA by HeLa cell nuclear extract in vitro; however, the 3′-end adenylation of human SRP RNA or Alu RNA, which corresponds to 5′ and 3′-ends of SRP RNA, was not affected by this U1A peptide conjugate. SRP RNA from mutant strains of S. cerevisiaewith a temperature-sensitive mRNA poly(A) polymerase grown at a restrictive temperature of 37 °C also contained a post-transcriptionally added adenylic acid residue just like SRP RNA from wild-type cells and mutant cells grown at permissive temperature of 23 °C. In addition, binding of SRP 9/14-kDa protein heterodimer was required for adenylation of Alu RNA in vitro. These lines of evidence, along with other data, show that post-transcriptional adenylation of SRP and Alu RNAs is carried out by a novel enzyme that is distinct from the mRNA poly(A) polymerase, CCA-adding enzyme, and nonspecific terminal transferase.
Relationship between the area of cartilage shown on the magnetic resonance imaging middle‐slice image of the medial and lateral tibial cartilages with cartilage volume and grade of osteoarthritis over time

Objective: Knee cartilage volume measurement requires significant time and training. Simplifying the measurement may improve feasibility. We investigated whether the area of cartilage shown on the middle slice of the medial and lateral tibial cartilages on sagittal MRI correlates with radiological features of osteoarthritis (OA), cartilage volume, and longitudinal change in cartilage volume. Methods: One hundred and seventy‐three subjects (normal and osteoarthritic), who had serial magnetic resonance imaging (cartilage volume measured) and baseline weight‐bearing antero–posterior radiographs of the same knee were examined. Results: In the lateral compartment, with increasing grade of OA there was a significant reduction in cartilage area. In the medial compartment, this was true for medial joint‐space narrowing (after adjusting for gender). There was a moderate to strong association between cartilage area and volume, especially in those with early or no OA. However, when change over time was examined, the strength of these relationships was weak. Conclusion: Our data suggests that cartilage area may provide a simple surrogate measure of cartilage volume, in cross‐sectional studies, after adjustment for gender: especially in subjects with early disease. However, before it can be widely used, further investigation will be required.
Custom Flask Labiaplasty

BackgroundThe demand for labia minora reduction surgery has increased, but previously described techniques do not provide precise dimensional reduction for varying labial deformities, and some techniques result in prominent scars. ObjectiveA new technique for labia minora reduction is described, and patient satisfaction with this technique is examined. MethodsThe custom flask labiaplasty technique is fully described. A retrospective chart review and a postoperative survey were conducted on 50 consecutive patients who underwent this new technique for labia minora reduction over a 3-year period from March 2007 to June 2010. ResultsThe mean age of patients undergoing labiaplasty was 37.7 years. The most common reasons for seeking this surgery were appearance (80%), discomfort in clothing (36%), and discomfort with sexual activity (30%). Of the 50 patients, 27 provided responses after surgery. Of the 27 respondents, 25 (93%) were satisfied with the results from surgery. Only 1 (2%) minor postoperative complication occurred in the total patient population. ConclusionsThis new technique improves on current techniques, has a low complication rate, is highly reproducible, results in high patient satisfaction, and can be customized to optimally meet the patient’s wishes.
The Institutional Roots of Democratic Backsliding

The importance of political institutions for democracy governance is well founded. Institutions enable the aggregation of preferences. Agenda-setting powers in committees, legislatures, and political parties, for example, help prevent cycling among decision makers. Institutions also aid in the solution to the problem of time inconsistency.Without the institutional capacity to delegate or tie one’s hands, societies would be stuckwith suboptimal outcomes. Independent central banks and courts, for instance, enable leaders to make credible commitments. Institutions in democracies allow for the solution of a range of problems so that democracy can “run better. ”Theproof is to be found in the fact that democracies, on average, produce better outcomes: higher economic growth, better welfare for citizens, and fewer wars (e.g., Russett 1994; Sen 1983). In short, institutions make democratic governance possible. Both the third wave of democratic transitions in southern Europe and Latin America in the late 1970s and the fourth wave in eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia after the fall of the Berlin Wall seemed to corroborate the scholarly consensus. As Fukuyama (1995) explained, “The normative assertion that liberal democracy is the best available regime depends . not simply on a theoretical view of the adequacy of its moral and political arrangements, but also on empirical verification
[Evolution of inflammatory parameters after fibroid embolization].

PURPOSE To describe the rise of classical laboratory tests for inflammation following transarterial uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) in order to monitor the normal course following UFE. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 20 females, white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined before and up to 5 days after UFE. With the exception of one noninflammatory complication, the post-procedure course was uneventful in all patients. The measured values were correlated with both the total uterine volume and the amount of instilled embolizing agent. RESULTS Following UFE, an increase in the WBC count to an average maximum of 10.8 +/- 3.5/wL (range 5.9 - 18.6/wL) was found. In 13 of 20 patients, the WBC count was above normal on at least one day following UFE. The increase reached the maximum on the third post-interventional day and subsided within 5 days after the UFE. The CRP values increased significantly to an average maximum of 41.9 +/- 28.8 mg/l. The maximum was found on the 2nd post-interventional day in 8 patients, on the 3rd day in 11 patients and on the 4th day in one patient. No correlation to the total uterine volume or to the amount of the instilled embolizing agents was detected. CONCLUSION Following uncomplicated UFE, a steep increase in CRP occurs with no or only a mild increase in the WBC count, which does not indicate an infected fibroid. The maximum is reached on the 3rd or 4th post-interventional day, followed by a decline in CRP and normalization of the WBC count.
Host community perceptions of international permanent tourists: The case of Didim, Turkey

The phenomenon of northern Europeans retiring to southern European is not new, numerous communities of ‘permanent tourists’ having been established by those seeking a better climate or migrating for economic, health and other life-style factors. Consequently, such tourist-migration and its associated impacts on local society and culture in destination areas has long explored in the academic literature. Nevertheless, one country yet to benefit from academic scrutiny in this context is Turkey; despite there being more than 110,000 foreign-owned properties (35,249 British-owned) in Turkey, the issue is relatively untouched. Not only has second-home ownership in the country in general been overlooked, but little if any attention has been paid to interactions between permanent tourists and local host communities in particular. The purpose of this chapter is to address this significant gap in the literature. Drawing on research undertaken amongst stakeholders in the second-home property sector in Didim, Turkey, it explores local people’s perceptions of and responses to permanent tourists, focusing in particular on issues related to the extent of their integration and cultural exchange with the local community. A number of themes emerged from the research, not least transformations in the market for second homes reflecting over supply and diminishing international demand, suggesting more effective management of the sector is required. More specifically, the local community was found to hold generally positive perceptions of permanent tourists although the relationship between the two groups was revealed to be no less superficial than that between local people and ‘normal’ tourists. Significantly, however, local people’s views of permanent tourists were influenced by their political and religious beliefs whilst, overall, both practical (language) barriers and differing life-style expectations served to limit integration between the two communities.
Mental and motor development before and during growth hormone treatment in infants and toddlers with Prader–Willi syndrome

Background Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by muscular hypotonia, psychomotor delay, feeding difficulties and failure to thrive in infancy. GH treatment improves growth velocity and body composition. Research on the effects of GH on psychomotor development in infants with PWS is limited.
Perception-action coupling in children with and without DCD: Frequency locking between task-relevant auditory signals and motor responses in a dual-motor task.

BACKGROUND The current research examines the relationship between perceptual and motor processes, known as perception-action or sensorimotor coupling, and the potential differences in perception-action coupling among children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and adults in a gross-motor co-ordination task (clapping while marching) when a task-relevant driving sensory signal is present. METHODS Ten children with DCD (7.32 + 0.23 years), eight typically developing (TD) children who were age-, gender- and racially/ethnically matched (6.91 + 0.24 years) and 10 college-aged adults were participants in this study. Participants clapped and marched to an auditory beat at four different frequencies: 0.8, 1.2,1.6 and 2.0 Hz. The relative timing measures of mean relative phase (MRP) and variability of relative phase (VRP) were calculated and compared using 3 (group) x 4 (frequency) x 2 (limb) anovas. Qualitatively, participants were assessed for the presence of absolute coupling (100% + 15% MRP). RESULTS Statistically significant differences in MRP occurred for coupling, frequency and group, and post hoc analysis indicated that the adult group differed from both the DCD and TD groups, who did not differ from each other. In VRP, there were significant main effects for coupling and group, and a significant interaction between group and frequency, with post hoc analysis indicating the DCD group to be different from the TD and adult groups. Qualitatively, both the adult and TD groups increased in the number of participants who adopt absolute coupling as frequency increases. In contrast, the DCD participants adopt this absolute coupling far less frequently overall; in fact, the number of participants adopting this pattern decreases as frequency increases. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that children with DCD have difficulties with both the co-ordination and the control of their perception-action coupling for this particular task.
The accuracy of digital image-based finite element models.

Digital image-based finite element meshing is an alternative approach to time-consuming conventional meshing techniques for generating realistic three-dimensional (3D) models of complex structures. Although not limited to biological applications, digital image-based modeling has been used to generate structure-specific (i.e., non-generic) models of whole bones and trabecular bone microstructures. However, questions remain regarding the solution accuracy provided by the digital meshing approach, particularly at model or material boundaries. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of digital and conventional smooth boundary models based on theoretical solutions for a two-dimensional (2D) compression plate and a 3D circular cantilever beam. For both the plate and beam analyses, the predicted solution at digital model boundaries was characterized by local oscillations, which produced potentially high errors within individual boundary elements. Significantly, however, the digital model boundary solution oscillated approximately about the theoretical solution. A marked improvement in solution accuracy was therefore achieved by considering average results within a region composed of several elements. Absolute errors for Von Mises stress averaged over the beam cross section, for example, converged to less than 4 percent, and the predicted free-end displacement of the cantilever beam was within 1 percent of the theoretical solution. Analyses at several beam orientations and mesh resolutions suggested a minimum discretization of three to four digital finite elements through the beam cross section to avoid high numerical stiffening errors under bending.
Cognitive and Psychopathologic Response to Rivastigmine in Dementia With Lewy Bodies Compared to Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case Control Study

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are effective in improving cognition and behavior in patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as well as by Lewy bodies dementia (DLB). The authors compared the effect of rivastigmine in the treatment of cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in 30 AD and in 30 DLB patients. At baseline, DLB compared to AD patients showed a greater number of extrapyramidal symptoms (P < .005) and were similar regarding cognitive symptoms and BPSD. After treatment, both groups showed a comparable cognitive and psycho-behavioral improvement. A significant difference between AD and DLB patients was found for hallucinations (P < .002). Rivastigmine produces comparable cognitive benefits in patients with DLB and AD and also a significant improvement of behavioral disorders. These findings support the view that ChEIs should be considered a first-line treatment of the cognitive and psycho-behavioral symptoms of both AD and DLB.
Signal Intensity of the Motor Cortex on Phase-Weighted Imaging at 3T

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is known that the motor cortex shows hypointensity on T2-weighted images in older patients. The goal of this study was to assess the signal intensity of the motor cortices on the phase-weighted imaging performed with a Windows-based software program that we developed ourselves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All studies were performed at 3T MR imaging. First, the TE for the phase-weighted image was optimized; the best contrast between the motor and other cortices was obtained with a TE of 40 ms. The study population consisted of 45 healthy subjects (23 females, 22 males; mean age, 32.1 years). The signal intensity of the motor cortices was divided into 3 grades by 2 neuroradiologists in comparison with that of the superior frontal cortex (SFC): In grade I, the motor cortex was isointense to the SFC; in grade II, the motor cortex was slightly hypointense to the SFC; and in grade III, the motor cortex was markedly hypointense to the SFC. RESULTS: The motor cortex was classified as either grade II or III in all subjects older than 20 years of age on the phase-weighted images. Even at 10–19 years of age, the grade II or III appearance was found in 14 (88%) of 16 motor cortices (8 subjects) on the phase-weighted images. CONCLUSION: In adolescents, the motor cortex is hypointense to other cerebral cortices on phase-weighted MR imaging, which probably reflects differences in the concentration of nonheme iron and/or in the tissue architecture.
Effects of cognitive therapy, applied relaxation and nitrous oxide sedation. A five-year follow-up study of patients treated for dental fear

Five years after completing a controlled, randomized treatment trial comparing the effect of nitrous oxide sedation (NO), cognitive therapy (CT), and applied relaxation (AR), all 62 patients who had participated were invited to a follow-up questionnaire study. Forty-three responded. All participants had been to the dentist during the follow-up period. Mean scores (s) on Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R, a measure of general psychological distress) were 10.4 (4.1) and 0.35 (0.34), respectively. There were no between-group effects. Significant changes across the assessment phases (at enrollment, after treatment, and 5 years after) were found for both dental fear and general distress (CDAS: F = 137.8, P < 0.01; SCL-90-R: F = 12.5, P < 0.01). However, no significant changes between measures obtained after treatment and at follow-up emerged. Seven participants (3 from the NO group, 2 from the CT group, and 2 from the AR group) had CDAS scores above 14, indicating a recurrent or continual dental fear problem. The majority (81%) assessed the dental fear treatment received 5 years previously to have been useful for them. In conclusion, the favorable effects on dental fear and general psychological distress continued at 5-year follow-up for all treatment groups.
The Valuation of Future Dividends in Cross-sectional Models of Stock Returns

The valuation of future dividends as implied in option prices adds to the understanding of cross-sectional stock returns. I consider portfolios sorted by the difference between the valuation of future dividends and actual dividends. If it is fast, such implied dividend growth coincides with high stock returns but is followed by low stock returns, particularly if dividend yields are low. Explaining returns of portfolios sorted by implied dividend growth and accounting variables challenges the value effect and casts light on a possible origin of the profitability effect and the investment effect: a stock’s return history associated with implied dividends.
Homing and efficacy of intra-articular injection of autologous mesenchymal stem cells in experimental chondral defects in dogs.

OBJECTIVES This study was intended to verify the likelihood of homing of intra-articularily injected mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its involvement in the healing process of experimentally induced, acute and chronic, partial chondral defects in dogs. METHODS Partial thickness chondral defects were created on the lateral femoral condyle of stifle joint in domestic mongrel dogs. MSCs were harvested in a separate procedure, labelled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) using monster GFP vector and suspended in buffer phosphate solution for intra-articular (IA) injection. Dogs were divided into three groups. Group I, served as the control. The dogs in the two cell-treated groups received a single IA injection of MSCs one day (Group II) and one month (Group III) after creating the defect. Sacrifice was scheduled at 2 and 8 weeks post-surgery for group I, and 2 and 8 weeks post-treatment, for the cell-treated groups. Morphological, histological, and fluorescence analysis was performed. RESULTS Recovery was significant both clinically and histologically in the two cell-treated groups (Group II and III) compared to the control (Group I), (p<0.001). In the meantime, Group-II showed better results at 8 weeks than Group III (p=0.01). Homing was confirmed by the incorporation of injected GFP-labelled MSCs within the newly formed cartilage. CONCLUSIONS The obtained results prove that the use of IA injection of autologous MSCs is a viable option for treating partial cartilage defects. Cell labelling gave evidence to the certainty of cell homing within the neocartilage of all treated cases and the participation in the reparative process.
Second-order sliding-mode control as an alternative to static and dynamic optimisation in human gait simulation

Non-linear control techniques can provide an alternative to computationally intensive optimisation strategies in the simulation of human locomotive gait. This paper demonstrates the application of a second-order sliding-mode controller to a three-dimensional neuro-musculo-skeletal lower limb model in order to motion track kinematic data from ten normal male subjects. The controller was able to maintain stable tracking over two complete gait cycles of every sample with mean errors almost exclusively within one-standard deviation of the measured trajectories. The insensitivity to plant/model mismatches and unmodelled dynamics of the sliding-mode technique permits stable control of the highly non-linear muscles in a non-uniform arrangement without the need for inverse-dynamics analysis of muscle behaviour or body dynamics. As a true forward-dynamics system a unique solution is produced, rendering optimisation redundant.
Apoplastic effectors secreted by two unrelated eukaryotic plant pathogens target the tomato defense protease Rcr3

Current models of plant–pathogen interactions stipulate that pathogens secrete effector proteins that disable plant defense components known as virulence targets. Occasionally, the perturbations caused by these effectors trigger innate immunity via plant disease resistance proteins as described by the “guard hypothesis. ” This model is nicely illustrated by the interaction between the fungal plant pathogen Cladosporium fulvum and tomato. C. fulvum secretes a protease inhibitor Avr2 that targets the tomato cysteine protease Rcr3pim. In plants that carry the resistance protein Cf2, Rcr3pim is required for resistance to C. fulvum strains expressing Avr2, thus fulfilling one of the predictions of the guard hypothesis. Another prediction of the guard hypothesis has not yet been tested. Considering that virulence targets are important components of defense, different effectors from unrelated pathogens are expected to evolve to disable the same host target. In this study we confirm this prediction using a different pathogen of tomato, the oomycete Phytophthora infestans that is distantly related to fungi such as C. fulvum. This pathogen secretes an array of protease inhibitors including EPIC1 and EPIC2B that inhibit tomato cysteine proteases. Here we show that, similar to Avr2, EPIC1 and EPIC2B bind and inhibit Rcr3pim. However, unlike Avr2, EPIC1 and EPIC2B do not trigger hypersensitive cell death or defenses on Cf-2/Rcr3pim tomato. We also found that the rcr3–3 mutant of tomato that carries a premature stop codon in the Rcr3 gene exhibits enhanced susceptibility to P. infestans, suggesting a role for Rcr3pim in defense. In conclusion, our findings fulfill a key prediction of the guard hypothesis and suggest that the effectors Avr2, EPIC1, and EPIC2B secreted by two unrelated pathogens of tomato target the same defense protease Rcr3pim. In contrast to C. fulvum, P. infestans appears to have evolved stealthy effectors that carry inhibitory activity without triggering plant innate immunity.