Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A phospho-regulated ensemble signal motif of α-TAT1 drives dynamic microtubule acetylation

Spatiotemporal patterns of microtubule modifications such as acetylation underlie diverse cellular functions. While the molecular identity of the acetylating agent, α-tubulin N-acetyltransferase 1 (α-TAT1), as well as the functional consequences of microtubule acetylation have been revealed, the molecular mechanisms that regulate multi-tasking α-TAT1 action for dynamic acetylation remain obscure. Here we identified a signal motif in the intrinsically disordered C-terminus of α-TAT1, which comprises three functional elements - nuclear export, nuclear import and cytosolic retention. Their balance is tuned via phosphorylation by serine-threonine kinases to determine subcellular localization of α-TAT1. While the phosphorylated form binds to 14-3-3 adapters and accumulates in the cytosol for maximal substrate access, the non-phosphorylated form is sequestered inside the nucleus, thus keeping microtubule acetylation minimal. As cancer mutations have been reported to this motif, the unique ensemble regulation of α-TAT1 localization may hint at a role of microtubule acetylation in aberrant physiological conditions.
Multimodal single-cell/nucleus RNA sequencing data analysis uncovers molecular networks between disease-associated microglia and astrocytes with implications for drug repurposing in Alzheimer's disease

Systematic identification of molecular networks in disease relevant immune cells of the nervous system is critical for elucidating the underlying pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Two key immune cell types, disease-associated microglia (DAM) and disease-associated astrocytes (DAA), are biologically involved in AD pathobiology. Therefore, uncovering molecular determinants of DAM and DAA will enhance our understanding of AD biology, potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets for AD treatment. Here, we present an integrative, network-based methodology to uncover conserved molecular networks between DAM and DAA. Specifically, we leverage single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from both AD transgenic mouse models and AD patient brains, drug-target networks, metabolite-enzyme associations, and the human protein-protein interactome, along with large-scale patient data validation from the MarketScan Medicare Supplemental Database. We find that common and unique molecular network regulators between DAM (i.e, PAK1, MAPK14, and SYK) and DAA (i.e., NFKB1, FOS, and JUN) are significantly enriched by multiple neuro-inflammatory pathways and well-known genetic variants (i.e., BIN1) from genome-wide association studies. Further network analysis reveal shared immune pathways between DAM and DAA, including Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, Th17 cell differentiation, and chemokine signaling. Furthermore, integrative metabolite-enzyme network analyses imply that fatty acids (i.e., elaidic acid) and amino acids (i.e., glutamate, serine, and phenylalanine) may trigger molecular alterations between DAM and DAA. Finally, we prioritize repurposed drug candidates for potential treatment of AD by agents that specifically reverse dysregulated gene expression of DAM or DAA, including an antithrombotic anticoagulant triflusal, a beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist salbutamol, and the steroid medications (fluticasone and mometasone). Individuals taking fluticasone (an approved anti-inflammatory and inhaled corticosteroid) displayed a significantly decreased incidence of AD (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.858, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.829-0.888, P < 0.0001) in retrospective case-control validation. Furthermore, propensity score matching cohort studies also confirmed an association of mometasone with reduced incidence of AD in comparison to fluticasone (HR =0.921, 95% CI 0.862-0.984, P < 0.0001).
Humans Discriminate Individual Large-Billed Crows by their Calls

Previous research has shown that humans can discriminate two individual rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), as well as two individual zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) by their vocalizations. The discrimination of individual zebra finches largely relies on differences in pitch contour, although this is not the only relevant cue. The purpose of the present experiment was to examine whether humans can also discriminate two individual large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) by their calls. Discrimination was tested with a forced-choice Same-Different Paradigm. Results show a high discrimination accuracy without prior training, although the scores obtained here were lower than those in the zebra finch discrimination task. There was no significant learning trend across trials. Future studies should investigate which acoustic cues participants use for the discrimination of individual crows and expand these findings with more non-human animal vocalizations.
What Might Have Been: The Social Psychology of Counterfactual Thinking

Contents: N.J. Roese, J.M. Olson, Counterfactual Thinking: A Critical Overview. E.P. Seelau, S.M. Seelau, G.L. Wells, P.D. Windschitl, Counterfactual Constraints. M. Kasimatis, G.L. Wells, Individual Differences in Couterfactual Thinking. D. Dunning, S.F. Madey, Comparison Processes in Counterfactual Thought. M.N. McMullen, K.D. Markman, I. Gavanski, Living in Neither the Best Nor the Worst of All Possible Worlds: Antecedents and Consequences of Upward and Downward Counterfactual Thinking. N.J. Roese, J.M. Olson, Functions of Counterfactual Thinking. S.J. Sherman, A.R. McConnell, Dysfunctional Implications of Counterfactual Thinking: When Alternatives to Reality Fail Us. J. Landman, Through a Glass Darkly: Worldviews, Counterfactual Thought, and Emotion. T. Gilovich, V.H. Medvec, Some Counterfactual Determinants of Satisfaction and Regret. F. Gleicher, D.S. Boninger, A. Strathman, D. Armor, J. Hetts, M. Ahn, With an Eye Toward the Future: The Impact of Counterfactual Thinking on Affect, Attitudes, and Behavior. D.T. Miller, B.R. Taylor, Counterfactual Thought, Regret, and Superstition: How to Avoid Kicking Yourself. A.L. McGill, J.G. Klein, Counterfactual and Contrastive Reasoning in Explanations for Performance: Implications for Gender Bias. C.G. Davis, D.R. Lehman, Counterfactual Thinking and Coping With Traumatic Life Events. D. Kahneman, Varieties of Counterfactual Thinking.
Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on in-vitro regeneration of a potential medicinal plant -Scilla hyacinthina (Roth.) J.F. Macbr -

A suitable plant regeneration protocol has been developed from scale leaf and bulb scale explants of Scillahyacinthine, a medicinally important plant species belonging to the family liliaceae.The maximum number of shoots (13.2), with average length 6.5 cm, was achieved with medium containing 1.5 mg/l TDZ. Rooting of shoots was achieved on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/1 IAA.
The Importance of Pharmacokinetics in Determining the Relative Potency of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran

Abstract The Importance of Pharmacokinetics in Determining the Relative Potency of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran. Devito, M. J., and Birnbaum, L. S. (1995). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.24, 145-148. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans induce exthoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, a marker for CYP1A1. Differences in potency of these compounds can be attributed to differences in their affinity for the Ah receptor as well as differences in pharmacokinetics. To test the role of pharmacokinetics in the in vivo potency of these chemicals, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzufuran (TCDF) were administered to female B6C3F1 mice for 4 or 13 weeks of treatment and EROD activity in liver and skin was determined. The doses were designed to be equally potent based on the published Toxic Equivalency Factor (TEF) values for these compounds. Mice received either 150 ng TCDD/kg/day or 1500 ng TCDF/kg/day, 5 days/week for either 4 or 13 weeks. At 4 weeks, hepatic EROD was induced 11- and 7-fold by TCDD and TCDF, respectively. These data indicate that the published TEFs accurately estimated the relative potency of TCDF after 4 weeks of treatment. After 13 weeks, hepatic EROD was induced 41- and 6-fold by TCDD and TCDF, respectively. The TEFs did not accurately estimate the relative inductive potency of these compounds when compared after 13 weeks of treatment. The inability of the TEFs to predict the relative potency of these compounds after 13 weeks of treatment may be due in part to the differences in the pharmacokinetic properties of each congener. The half-life of TCDF and TCDD is approximately 2 and 15 days, respectively. Steady-state levels of TCDD were not attained by 4 weeks, which is reflected in the increase in hepatic EROD between 4 and 13 weeks. In contrast, steady-state levels of TCDF were reached within 4 weeks. Thus, induction of hepatic EROD remained constant from 4 to 13 weeks. Similar results were observed for skin EROD activity. These data demonstrate that estimates of the relative potency of two chemicals is dependent upon the dosing regimen and the time of euthanization. Thus TEFs derived from short-term assays may not adequately predict the relative potencies of this class of compounds following chronic exposure.
The Duration Vector: a Continuous-Time Extension to Default-Free Interest Rate Contingent Claims

This paper provides a continuous-time contingent claims framework for the duration vector models of Chambers, Carleton, and McEnally [1988], Prisman and Shores [1988], and others, by embedding these into Merton's [1973] stochastic interest rate option pricing model. Unlike the traditional comparative static duration approach, the duration vector model allows non-parallel term structure shifts resulting from height. slope, and curvature factors. The upper and lower bounds of the duration vectors of bond options and callable bonds are investigated. An empirical technique is suggested for the computation of the duration vectors of bond options and callable bonds by using the implied volatility information contained in the market prices of these contingent claims securities.
The economics of the business firm

The essays in this volume discuss the theory of the business firm and its applications in economics. A leading analyst of industrial organization, Professor Demsetz first critically examines current debates on the existence, definition, and organization of the firm and discusses conceptual and theoretical issues related to the emerging theory of the firm. He then analyzes contemporary treatments of the relation between business ownership, wealth, and economic development. Subsequent essays offer new perspectives on competition, profit maximization and rational behavior, and shed new light on managers' compensation, antitrust policy, and the accuracy of firms' accounting data. The latter themes will interest business audiences as well as professionals and students in economics. These previously unpublished essays derive from lectures originally presented at Uppsala and Lund Universities in Sweden, the Mont Pelerin Society meeting in Prague, and the Center for the Study of Economics and the State at the University of Chicago.
The Ecological Correlates of Survival in Some Bahamian Anolis Lizards

This paper reports on the relationship of survival to size, sex, age and habitat in four species of Bahamian Anolis lizards. Lizards on a small island having relatively few bird species survived better than those on larger islands with many; survivorship in the former area is more similar to that among temperate mainland lizards than among tropical mainland lizards. Survival on two islands with different numbers of lizard species but similar numbers of bird species was similar. In A. sagrei, survival was greater in forested than the less protected open habitats. In A. sagrei but no other species, males survived less well than females; A. sagrei is the most extreme territorial polygynous species of the four. In a univariate analysis, little relation of survival to size was found in any species. Survivorship curves are extremely straight on a semilog scale, indicating constant age-specific mortality. However, a multivariate analysis for A. sagrei, using different data than for the survivorship curves and considering size rather than age, suggested a 3-way interaction between size, habitat and island. In fact, on the island with the fewest bird species, but on no other, large individuals of both sexes survived better. The significance of this result for Selander's hypothesis concerning selection for sexual size dimorphism is evaluated.
RAPD Analysis on Main Cultivars of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) in Hainan

To detect the genetic polymorphisms of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cultivars, twenty-two accessions of litchi germplasms from Hainan, including fifteen cultivars, were analyzed with RAPD markers. Twelve random primers from eighty ones were selected because they could amplify well reproducible bands. Their percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) was 64.1%. The average PPB of all tested litchi germplasms was 31.1%. Genetic distances among tested litchi germplasms ranged from 0.0000 to 0.6180, with an average of 0.3732. UPGMA cluster analysis showed that 22 germplasms could be mainly divided into 2 groups. And some tested litchi cultivars had obvious homonym.
Construction of potential functions associated with a given energy spectrum — An inverse problem II

We continue our solution of the inverse problem started by the first author in [Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 35, xxxx (2020), in production]. Additional potential functions for exactly solvable problems that correspond to the same energy spectrum formula but for different energy polynomials and bases are found. In this work, we obtain a class of potential functions associated with the Wilson polynomial and "Jacobi basis".
When Two Meanings Are Better Than One: Modeling the Ambiguity Advantage Using a Recurrent Distributed Network

Ambiguous words are processed more quickly than unambiguous words in a lexical decision task despite the fact that each sense of an ambiguous word is less frequent than the single sense of unambiguous words of equal frequency or familiarity. In this computer simulation study, we examined the effects of different assumptions of a fully recurrent connectionist model in accounting for this processing advantage for ambiguous words. We argue that the ambiguity advantage effect can be accounted for by distributed models if (a) the least mean square (LMS) error-correction algorithm rather than the Hebbian algorithm is used in training the network and (b) activation of the units representing the spelling rather than the meaning is used to index word recognition times. An important advantage of computational models is that the underlying assumptions of the model must be explicitly formulated. This explicit formulation allows comparison of assumptions that are highly similar. In some cases, virtually identical assumptions can give rise to qualitative differences rather than merely quantitative differences. In this article, we consider just such a situation. Two different connectionist learning algorithms lead to opposite predictions about the time required to recognize ambiguous and unambiguous words when activation of the spelling units is used as the index of word recognition. In particular, ambiguous words are incorrectly predicted to have a processing disadvantage compared with unambiguous words when the Hebbian learning algorithm is used, but correctly predicted to have a processing advantage when the least mean square (LMS) error-correction algorithm is used.
The impact of air pollution on terrestrial managed and natural vegetation

Although awareness that air pollution can damage vegetation dates back at least to the 1600s, the processes and mechanisms of damage were not rigorously studied until the late twentieth century. In the UK following the Industrial Revolution, urban air quality became very poor, with highly phytotoxic SO2 and NO2 concentrations, and remained that way until the mid-twentieth century. Since then both air quality, and our understanding of pollutants and their impacts, have greatly improved. Air pollutants remain a threat to natural and managed ecosystems. Air pollution imparts impacts through four major threats to vegetation are discussed through in a series of case studies. Gas-phase effects by the primary emissions of SO2 and NO2 are discussed in the context of impacts on lichens in urban areas. The effects of wet and dry deposited acidity from sulfur and nitrogen compounds are considered with a particular focus on forest decline. Ecosystem eutrophication by nitrogen deposition focuses on heathland decline in the Netherlands, and ground-level ozone at phytotoxic concentrations is discussed by considering impacts on semi-natural vegetation. We find that, although air is getting cleaner, there is much room for additional improvement, especially for the effects of eutrophication on managed and natural ecosystems. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Air quality, past present and future’.
Toward Improving Pollinator Habitat: Reconstructing Prairies with High Forb Diversity

ABSTRACT Reconstructed prairies can provide habitat for pollinating insects, an important ecosystem service. To optimize reconstructions for pollinators, goals may include enhancing flowering plant cover and richness and increasing bloom availability early and late in the growing season. Resistance to invasive exotic species must also be a goal in any reconstruction, but it is unclear how increasing forb richness and dominance may affect susceptibility to invasion. We compared planted forb richness and cover, cover of planted grasses, and persistence of exotic species 10 y post-planting of reconstructions with 58 species (extra-high richness), 34 species (high), 20 species (medium), and 10 species (low) planted at the same time in the same fields, and using the same methods and overall seeding rate at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, USA. Planted forb richness and cover were higher and planted warm-season, but not cool-season, grass cover was lower in the extra-high richness plots. Mean Coefficient of Conservatism was higher and there was less cover of exotic forbs in the extra-high richness plots. Cover of exotic cool-season grasses was greater in the extra-high richness plots than in the lower-richness plots and this trend was still increasing at the last sample date. Our results are encouraging in that we increased cover of pollinator-friendly habitat, but invasive grasses are a concern as they may reduce forb cover and opportunities for ground-nesting bees in the long term.
Alkaline air: changing perspectives on nitrogen and air pollution in an ammonia-rich world

Ammonia and ammonium have received less attention than other forms of air pollution, with limited progress in controlling emissions at UK, European and global scales. By contrast, these compounds have been of significant past interest to science and society, the recollection of which can inform future strategies. Sal ammoniac (nūshādir, nao sha) is found to have been extremely valuable in long-distance trade (ca AD 600–1150) from Egypt and China, where 6–8 kg N could purchase a human life, while air pollution associated with nūshādir collection was attributed to this nitrogen form. Ammonia was one of the keys to alchemy—seen as an early experimental mesocosm to understand the world—and later became of interest as ‘alkaline air’ within the eighteenth century development of pneumatic chemistry. The same economic, chemical and environmental properties are found to make ammonia and ammonium of huge relevance today. Successful control of acidifying SO2 and NOx emissions leaves atmospheric NH3 in excess in many areas, contributing to particulate matter (PM2.5) formation, while leading to a new significance of alkaline air, with adverse impacts on natural ecosystems. Investigations of epiphytic lichens and bog ecosystems show how the alkalinity effect of NH3 may explain its having three to five times the adverse effect of ammonium and nitrate, respectively. It is concluded that future air pollution policy should no longer neglect ammonia. Progress is likely to be mobilized by emphasizing the lost economic value of global N emissions ($200 billion yr−1), as part of developing the circular economy for sustainable nitrogen management. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Air quality, past present and future’.
How will air quality effects on human health, crops and ecosystems change in the future?

Future air quality will be driven by changes in air pollutant emissions, but also changes in climate. Here, we review the recent literature on future air quality scenarios and projected changes in effects on human health, crops and ecosystems. While there is overlap in the scenarios and models used for future projections of air quality and climate effects on human health and crops, similar efforts have not been widely conducted for ecosystems. Few studies have conducted joint assessments across more than one sector. Improvements in future air quality effects on human health are seen in emission reduction scenarios that are more ambitious than current legislation. Larger impacts result from changing particulate matter (PM) abundances than ozone burdens. Future global health burdens are dominated by changes in the Asian region. Expected future reductions in ozone outside of Asia will allow for increased crop production. Reductions in PM, although associated with much higher uncertainty, could offset some of this benefit. The responses of ecosystems to air pollution and climate change are long-term, complex, and interactive, and vary widely across biomes and over space and time. Air quality and climate policy should be linked or at least considered holistically, and managed as a multi-media problem. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Air quality, past present and future’.
How Does the Valence of Wording Affect Features of a Scale? The Method Effects in the Undergraduate Learning Burnout Scale

A combination of both positively and negatively worded items is often employed in a survey to reduce participants’ acquiescence bias, but such a combination may hurt the validity of the survey. The current study investigated the effect of valence of wording on participants’ (N = 1132) responses to four versions of the Undergraduate Learning Burnout (ULB) scale. The results showed that the valence of wording affected a number of features of the scale. The internal consistency of both the original and the original-reverse versions (consisted of both positively and negatively worded items) was lower than that of the positive-only and the negative-only versions. The original and the original-reverse versions also had more factors than the positive-only and the negative-only versions. The original and the original-reverse versions showed method effects from both the positively and the negatively worded items, and those from the negatively worded items were stronger than those from the positively worded items. The method effects were predicted by participants’ subjective well-being and future academic career plans. Together, this study suggests that using a combination of positively and negatively worded items can lead to a predictable response style and significant method effects, which reduce the scale’s internal consistency and change the factor structure of the scale.
Molecular genetic characterization of Ongole and Deoni cattle using microsatellite markers

The study presents the genetic structure of the 2 zebu breed populations, Ongle and Deoni, which were characterized using 11 microsatellite markers. All the markers were polymorphic in both the breeds. The mean number of allele per locus was 5.91. The PIC values ranged from 1.140 to 0.682 in Ongle and 0.222 to 0.792 in Deoni. The observed heterozygosity in Ollgole across the loci was 0.555 while it was 0.628 in DeonL The overall genetic divergence between 2 breeds, PST was 0.090, indicating moderate genetic relationship.