Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Declared Support and Clientelism

Recent studies of clientelism predominantly focus on how elites use rewards to influence vote choices and turnout. This article shifts attention toward citizens and their choices beyond the ballot box. Under what conditions does clientelism influence citizens’ decisions to express political preferences publicly? When voters can obtain post-election benefits by declaring support for victorious candidates, their choices to display political paraphernalia on their homes or bodies may reflect more than just political preferences. We argue that various factors—such as the size of rewards and punishments, the competitiveness of the election, and whether multiple candidates employ clientelism—affect citizens’ propensity to declare support in response to clientelist inducements. Building on insights from fieldwork, formal analyses reveal how and why such factors can distort patterns of political expression observed during electoral campaigns. We conduct an experiment in Brazil, which predominantly corroborates predictions about declared support and clientelism.
On the mechanisms that limit oxygen uptake during exercise in acute and chronic hypoxia: role of muscle mass

Peak aerobic power in humans () is markedly affected by inspired O2 tension (). The question to be answered in this study is what factor plays a major role in the limitation of muscle peak in hypoxia: arterial O2 partial pressure () or O2 content ()? Thus, cardiac output (dye dilution with Cardio‐green), leg blood flow (thermodilution), intra‐arterial blood pressure and femoral arterial‐to‐venous differences in blood gases were determined in nine lowlanders studied during incremental exercise using a large (two‐legged cycle ergometer exercise: Bike) and a small (one‐legged knee extension exercise: Knee) muscle mass in normoxia, acute hypoxia (AH) () and after 9 weeks of residence at 5260 m (CH). Reducing the size of the active muscle mass blunted by 62% the effect of hypoxia on in AH and abolished completely the effect of hypoxia on after altitude acclimatization. Acclimatization improved Bike peak exercise from 34 ± 1 in AH to 45 ± 1 mmHg in CH (P < 0.05) and Knee from 38 ± 1 to 55 ± 2 mmHg (P < 0.05). Peak cardiac output and leg blood flow were reduced in hypoxia only during Bike. Acute hypoxia resulted in reduction of systemic O2 delivery (46 and 21%) and leg O2 delivery (47 and 26%) during Bike and Knee, respectively, almost matching the corresponding reduction in . Altitude acclimatization restored fully peak systemic and leg O2 delivery in CH (2.69 ± 0.27 and 1.28 ± 0.11 l min−1, respectively) to sea level values (2.65 ± 0.15 and 1.16 ± 0.11 l min−1, respectively) during Knee, but not during Bike. During Knee in CH, leg oxygen delivery was similar to normoxia and, therefore, also in spite of a of 55 mmHg. Reducing the size of the active muscle mass improves pulmonary gas exchange during hypoxic exercise, attenuates the Bohr effect on oxygen uploading at the lungs and preserves sea level convective O2 transport to the active muscles. Thus, the altitude‐acclimatized human has potentially a similar exercising capacity as at sea level when the exercise model allows for an adequate oxygen delivery (blood flow ×), with only a minor role of per se, when is more than 55 mmHg.
A label‐free internal standard method for the differential analysis of bioactive lupin proteins using nano HPLC‐Chip coupled with Ion Trap mass spectrometry

Quantitative proteomics based on MS is useful for pointing out the differences in some food proteomes relevant to human nutrition. Stable isotope label‐free (SIF) techniques are suitable for comparing an unlimited number of samples by the use of relatively simple experimental workflows. We have developed an internal standard label‐free method based on the intensities of peptide precursor ions from MS/MS spectra, collected in data dependent runs, for the simultaneous qualitative characterization and relative quantification of storage proteins of Lupinus albus seeds in protein extracts of four lupin cultivars (cv Adam, Arés, Lucky, Multitalia). The use of an innovative microfluidic system, the HPLC‐Chip, coupled with a classical IT mass spectrometer, has allowed a complete qualitative characterization of all proteins. In particular, the homology search mode has permitted to identify single amino acid substitutions in the sequences of vicilins (β‐conglutin precursor and vicilin‐like protein). The MS/MS sequencing of substituted peptides confirms the high heterogeneity of vicilins according to the peculiar characteristics of the vicilin‐encoding gene family. Two suitable bioinformatics parameters were optimized for the differential analyses of the main bioactive proteins: the “normalized protein average of common reproducible peptides” (N‐ACRP) for γ‐conglutin, which is a homogeneous protein, and the “normalized protein mean peptide spectral intensity” (N‐MEAN) for the highly heterogenous class of the vicilins.
An Empirical Investigation of Variance Design Parameters for Planning Cluster-Randomized Trials of Science Achievement

Background: Prior research has focused primarily on empirically estimating design parameters for cluster-randomized trials (CRTs) of mathematics and reading achievement. Little is known about how design parameters compare across other educational outcomes. Objectives: This article presents empirical estimates of design parameters that can be used to appropriately power CRTs in science education and compares them to estimates using mathematics and reading. Research Design: Estimates of intraclass correlations (ICCs) are computed for unconditional two-level (students in schools) and three-level (students in schools in districts) hierarchical linear models of science achievement. Relevant student- and school-level pretest and demographic covariates are then considered, and estimates of variance explained are computed. Subjects: Five consecutive years of Texas student-level data for Grades 5, 8, 10, and 11. Measures: Science, mathematics, and reading achievement raw scores as measured by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Results: Findings show that ICCs in science range from . 172 to . 196 across grades and are generally higher than comparable statistics in mathematics, . 163–. 172, and reading, . 099–. 156. When available, a 1-year lagged student-level science pretest explains the most variability in the outcome. The 1-year lagged school-level science pretest is the best alternative in the absence of a 1-year lagged student-level science pretest. Conclusion: Science educational researchers should utilize design parameters derived from science achievement outcomes.
Visible Light Communications for Sensing and Lighting Control

Indoor lighting systems need to be designed to balance energy consumption and the visual comfort of occupants. Achieving this goal with multiple luminaires and sensors is, however, not a simple problem. Lighting control systems need to adjust the dimming levels of luminaires in real time based on occupancy conditions and external daylight changes. We propose a system based on visible light communication to monitor and control artificial lighting in a robust manner. In our system, luminaires modulate the emitted light to broadcast basic control information while fulfilling their main purpose of illumination. Based on the broadcasted information, luminaires use collocated light sensors to estimate the optical channel gains and daylight contributions. This information is then used in a control algorithm to determine the dimming levels of luminaires under specified illumination constraints. We provide an analytical framework, simulations, and an empirical evaluation of our approach in an office space. We compare our method with a state-of-art lighting control system that uses radio transceivers to communicate information, and thus, cannot monitor optical channels in real time. Our results show that while the radio-based system may underilluminate and even oscillate around the desired illumination due to large reflectance changes in the environment, our method provides stable illumination close to desired levels.
Distinct calcium signals in developing cortical interneurons persist despite disorganization of cortex by Tbr1 KO

Cortical development involves the structuring of network features by genetically programmed molecular signaling pathways. Additionally, spontaneous ion channel activity refines neuronal connections. We examine Ca2+ fluctuations in the first postnatal week of normal mouse neocortex and that expressing knockout of the transcription factor T‐brain‐1 (Tbr1): a signaling molecule in cortical patterning and differentiation of excitatory neurons. In cortex, glutamatergic neurons express Tbr1 just before the onset of population electrical activity that is accompanied by intracellular Ca2+ increases. It is known that glutamatergic cells are disordered with Tbr1 KO such that normal laying of the cortex, with newer born cells residing in superficial layers, does not occur. However, the fate of cortical interneurons is not well studied, nor is the ability of Tbr1 deficient cortex to express normal physiological activity. Using fluorescent proteins targeted to interneurons, we find that cortical interneurons are also disordered in the Tbr1 knockout. Using Ca2+ imaging we find that population activity in mutant cortex occurs at normal frequencies with similar sensitivity to GABAA receptor blockade as in nonmutant cortex. Finally, using multichannel fluorescence imaging of Ca2+ indicator dye and interneurons labeled with red fluorescent protein, we identify an additional Ca2+ signal in interneurons distinct from population activity and with different pharmacological sensitivities. Our results show the population activity described here is a robust property of the developing network that continues in the absence of an important signaling molecule, Tbr1, and that cortical interneurons generate distinct forms of activity that may serve different developmental functions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 705–720, 2016
Vimentin and laminin expression is associated with basal-like phenotype in both sporadic and BRCA1-associated breast carcinomas

Aims: To determine whether basal-like phenotype and vimentin and/or laminin are related in both sporadic/familial (BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated) tumours. Methods: 230 non-familial and 28 hereditary node-negative invasive breast carcinomas were immunohistochemically analysed for oestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), Ki67, p53, vimentin and laminin, using tissue microarrays. Tumours were considered to have basal-like phenotype if they were ER negative and HER2 negative, but positive for CK5/6 and/or EGFR. Results: In sporadic tumours, vimentin expression was found in 77.8% cases with basal-like phenotype and 15.5% of non-basal cases (p<0.001). In familial cases, vimentin was expressed in 83.3% basal-like cancers and 16.7% of non-basal tumours (p<0.001). Vimentin expression was more frequent in BRCA1 than BRCA2 mutation carriers. Vimentin expressing tumours were associated with poor prognosis (p = 0.012) among patients not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and showed a trend for local recurrence or visceral but not bone metastasis (p = 0.021). Laminin expression was also related to basal-like phenotype in both sporadic/familial cases (p<0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively), but neither with prognosis nor recurrence pattern in sporadic cancers. Conclusions: Vimentin and laminin expression is associated with basal-like phenotype in breast cancer. Expression of vimentin and laminin is characteristic of BRCA1 associated tumours. Since vimentin and laminin staining is widely used by pathologists for diagnostic purposes, thus demonstrating the robustness of their specific antibodies, the immunohistochemical evaluation of these two molecules could be used in identification of basal-like breast tumours in both sporadic/familial cases.
Injury‐induced NF‐κB activation in the hippocampus: implications for neuronal survival

Nuclear factor (NF)‐κB p50 protein is involved in promoting survival in hippocampal neurons after trimethyltin (TMT)‐injury. In the current study, hippocampal NF‐κB activity was examined and quantitated from transgenic κB‐lacZ reporter mice after chemical‐induced injury. NF‐κB activity was localized primarily to hippocampal neurons and significantly elevated over that in saline‐treated mice between 4 and 21 days after TMT injection. Seven days after TMT injection, a timepoint of elevated NF‐κB activity, gene expression in the hippocampus was studied by microarray analysis through comparison of expression profiles between treated nontransgenic and p50‐null mice with their saline‐injected controls. Seventeen genes increased in nontransgenic TMT‐treated mice relative to saline‐treated as well as showing no increase in p50‐null mice, indicating a role for p50 in their regulation. One of these genes, the Na+, K+‐ATPase‐γ subunit, was detected in brain for the first time. Several of the genes modulated by NF‐κB are potentially related to neuroplasticity, providing additional evidence that this transcription factor is a neuroprotective signal in the hippocampus.
Persistence of an [E1-, polymerase-] adenovirus vector despite transduction of a neoantigen into immune-competent mice.

The ability of a uniquely modified [E1-, polymerase-] adenovirus (Ad) vector to persist after the transduction of the bacterial beta-galactosidase gene into the livers of nontolerant, immune-competent adult mice was compared with an identical gene transfer attempt with an [E1-] Ad vector. After transduction, the E1-deleted vector was rapidly eliminated, but the modified vector persisted for at least 2 months (experiment duration). Modified vector persistence was also accompanied by prolonged transgene expression and decreased hepatotoxicity profiles. This result was in contrast to several reports suggesting that the transgene expressed by an Ad vector is the primary determinant of Ad vector elimination in vivo. Our results implied that the rapid immune clearance of Ad-transduced cells in vivo is codependent on the presence of two stimuli, or "hits. " Hit 1 is due to Ad vector-derived gene expression while hit 2 is due to transgene immunogenicity. Attenuation of the first hit by the use of a significantly modified vector (such as the [E1-, polymerase-] Ad vector) allowed for extended persistence, despite the continued presence of the transgene-derived stimulus (hit 2). We discuss how the two-hit hypothesis is in fact congruent with a number of other reports that have analyzed Ad vector persistence in immune-competent animals. On the basis of our results, [E1-, polymerase-] Ad vectors should have broad benefits for use in human gene therapy situations in which the encoded transgene may be perceived as a neoantigen by the intact human immune system.
Regional Quantitative Histological Variations in Human Oral Mucosa

Oral mucosa demonstrates regional variations that reflect contact with food during mastication. Though known qualitatively, our aim was to quantitatively assess regions to establish a measurable baseline from which one could compare in pathological and comparative studies, in which the abrasiveness of diets may differ. We assessed variations in the epithelial–connective tissue junction (rete ridges counts), collagen organization within the lamina propria, and elastin composition of the lamina propria of 15 regions of the labial (buccal) gingiva, lingual gingiva, vestibule, and palate. All characteristics varied more between regions within the same individual than between individuals. Lingual gingiva had high rete ridges counts, high level of collagen organization, and moderate elastin composition compared to other regions. The labial gingiva had few rete ridges, high collagen organization, and low elastin. The vestibule had the fewest average of rete ridges, least organized collagen, and high elastin. The hard palate had the highest average of rete ridges, high collagen organization, and the lowest elastin content. The soft palate conversely had the smallest average of rete ridges, moderate collagen organization, and the highest elastin composition. Our results indicate that comparison of these quantitative histological differences is warranted only for collagen organization and elastin composition. Differences in rete ridges counts were not statistically significant. Most histological characteristics observed were not significantly different between dentulous and edentulous cadavers, and the group containing all individuals. An exception was the level of collagen fiber organization within the lamina propria, which was higher in most regions when teeth were present. Anat Rec, 298:562–578, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Serodiagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection using three inclusion membrane proteins

The Chlamydia pneumoniae genome‐encoded open reading frames Cpn0146, Cpn0147, and Cpn0308 were expressed as recombinant proteins for detecting C. pneumoniae‐specific antibodies in samples from three groups of individuals including 183 with C. pneumoniae‐associated respiratory infection (group I), 60 healthy blood donors (group II), and 32 with no known respiratory infection (group III). The recombinant Cpn0146 was recognized by 71 (38.8% positive recognition rate), 15 (25%) and 1 (3.1%), Cpn0147 by 75 (40.9%), 14 (23.3%), and 2 (6.3%), and Cpn0308 by 82 (44.8%), 16 (26.7%), and 0 (0%) samples from groups I, II, and III, respectively. The positive recognition rates with any of the three antigens were significantly higher in group I than those in groups II and III, suggesting that more individuals from group I were likely infected with C. pneumoniae. This conclusion was confirmed with a commercially available whole organism‐based ELISA kit (Savyon Diagnostics Ltd., Ashdod, Israel), which detected C. pneumoniae antibodies in 98 (64.1%), 26 (43.3%), and 4 (12.5%) samples from group I, II, and III, respectively. Comparing to the commercial kit, the recombinant antigen‐based detection assays displayed >97% of detection specificity and >87% of sensitivity, suggesting that these recombinant antigens can be considered alternative tools for aiding in serodiagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:55–61, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
What hinders the use of ICT among academic staff at Yemen’s public universities?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Yemen public universities. Three academic staff from Hodeida, Amran and Thamar universities were the participants of this study. The qualitative method was employed with one to one interview as an instrument of the data collection. Thematic analysis was employed to identify the patterns that reflect the factors that affecting ICT use in the universities. The findings revealed that the use of ICTs in Yemen’s universities still depends on lecturer’s self-initiative. The lecturer who has skills of using ICT appeared to have positive attitude towards the use of ICT in their teaching. There is no any type of social influence on lecturer’s use of ICT in their teaching. The poor infrastructure, poor facilitating condition and lack of the technical support stand as major barriers of ICT integration in Yemen’s Universities. All forms of online communication is totally absent in all the three universities. The participants of this study urged their universities top management to provide a proper facilitating condition and training programs to enable their academic staff to cope up with 21st century teaching and technologies.
Is Accommodation Colorblind? Focusing Chromatic Contours

Two adjacent regions define an edge if they differ in either color or luminance. If the difference is purely chromatic, the edge is said to be isoluminant. Isoluminant contours are often perceptually unstable. Perhaps some of this instability could be explained if isoluminant contours were difficult to bring into focus. To test this hypothesis, a vernier optometer was used to measure the accuracy of steady-state accommodation for the vertical boundary of a red—green bipartite field. This edge was presented at optical distances of 0, 1·5, 3·0, and 4·5 diopters, with brightness contrasts between the two hemifields of 0% (isoluminant), 15%, 58%, and 100%. Accommodation was essentially unresponsive to the isoluminant edge and exhibited increasing focusing accuracy with increased brightness contrast. Control experiments replicated this finding for red—orange, green—blue, and white—white fields. These results imply that luminance contrast is a necessary stimulus for monocular accommodation. Inappropriate accommodation may be a factor contributing to the perceptual instability of isoluminant patterns.
Flicker Mitigation via Dynamic Volt/VAR Control of Power-Electronic Interfaced WTGs

The emerging trend for electric utilities to install wind-based generation on a large scale into distribution networks, employing a doubly fed induction generator or full-converter turbine technologies is raising issues for distribution planning engineers with regard to flicker among other power-quality (PQ) issues. This paper investigates dynamic volt/var control, a viable flicker mitigation technique which exploits the reactive power capabilities of modern power-electronic interfaced wind turbine generators. Dynamic volt/var control essentially mitigates flicker by solely dispatching reactive power based on voltage fluctuations within the flicker frequency band. This technique can be incorporated as part of a wind farm multiobjective reactive power-control scheme, which facilitates regulating: 1) the voltage level at the point of common coupling (PCC), employing slow-acting voltage control or power factor control and 2) the flicker level at the PCC with fast-acting dynamic volt/var control. This two-level approach can reduce the wind farm flicker level up to 80% and maintains the voltage level at the PCC well within acceptable bands. The results presented in this paper focus on a typical 25-kV medium-voltage distribution feeder integrating wind-based generation on a large scale. The performance of the two-level controller was tested for varying levels of penetration and wind speed conditions. The applicable standards and utility grid-code requirements are considered throughout.
Viroplasm Protein P9-1 of Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus Preferentially Binds to Single-Stranded RNA in Its Octamer Form, and the Central Interior Structure Formed by This Octamer Constitutes the Major RNA Binding Site

ABSTRACT The P9-1 protein of Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) is an essential part of the viroplasm. However, little is known about its nature or biological function in the viroplasm. In this study, the structure and function of P9-1 were analyzed for in vitro binding to nucleic acids. We found that the P9-1 protein preferentially bound to single-stranded versus double-stranded nucleic acids; however, the protein displayed no preference for RBSDV versus non-RBSDV single-stranded ssRNA (ssRNA). A gel mobility shift assay revealed that the RNA gradually shifted as increasing amounts of P9-1 were added, suggesting that multiple subunits of P9-1 bind to ssRNA. By using discontinuous blue native gel and chromatography analysis, we found that the P9-1 protein was capable of forming dimers, tetramers, and octamers. Strikingly, we demonstrated that P9-1 preferentially bound to ssRNA in the octamer, rather than the dimer, form. Deletion of the C-terminal arm resulted in P9-1 no longer forming octamers; consequently, the deletion mutant protein bound to ssRNA with significantly lower affinity and with fewer copies bound per ssRNA. Alanine substitution analysis revealed that electropositive amino acids among residues 25 to 44 are important for RNA binding and map to the central interior structure that was formed only by P9-1 octamers. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into the structure and function of RBSDV viroplasm protein P9-1 binding to RNA.