Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upregulation of imprinted genes in mice: An insight into the intensity of gene expression and the evolution of genomic imprinting

Imprinted genes are expressed monoallelically because one of the two copies is silenced epigentically in a parent-of-origin pattern. This pattern of expression is controlled by differential marking of parental alleles by DNA methylation and chromatin modifications, including both suppressive and permissive histone acetylation and methylation. Suppressive histone modifications mark silenced alleles of imprinted genes, while permissive histone modifications mark the active alleles, suggesting the possibility that imprinted genes would show upregulation in gene expression. However, it is currently unknown whether imprinted genes show such upregulation. To address this question in mice, we estimated the intensity of expression of 59 genes relative to the rest of the genome by analyzing microarray data. Expression levels of 24 genes were validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression of imprinted genes was found to be upreguled in various adult and embryonic mouse tissues. Consistent with their functions in growth and development, imprinted genes were found to be highly expressed in extraembryonic tissues and progressively upregulated during early embryonic development. In conclusion, upregulation of imprinted genes found in this study is similar to the dosage compensation (twofold upregulation) recently reported for X-linked genes. It has been proposed that the twofold upregulation of X-linked genes has been coupled with low transcriptional variation (noise) which could lead to deleterious effects on the organism. Results of this study suggest a general need for imprinted genes in the mouse to be upregulated to certain levels in order to avoid deleterious effects of variation in gene expression.
Note : Comparison of fi rst-and second-generation photon-counting slit-scanning tomosynthesis systems

Purpose: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an emerging tool for breast-cancer screening and diagnostics. The purpose of this study is to present a second-generation photon-counting slitscanning DBT system and compare it to the first-generation system in terms of geometry and image quality. The study presents the first image-quality measurements on the second-generation system. Method: The geometry of the new system is based on a combined rotational and linear motion, in contrast to a purely rotational scan motion in the first generation. In addition, the calibration routines have been updated. Image quality was measured in the center of the image field in terms of in-slice modulation transfer function (MTF), artifact spread function (ASF), and in-slice detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Images were acquired using a W/Al 29 kVp spectrum at 13 mAs with 2 mm Al additional filtration and reconstructed using simple back-projection. Result: The in-slice 50% MTF was improved in the chest-mammilla direction, going from 3.2 to 3.5 lp/mm, and the zero-frequency DQE increased from 0.71 to 0.77. The MTF and ASF were otherwise found to be on par for the two systems. The new system has reduced in-slice variation of the tomographic angle. Conclusions: The new geometry is less curved, which reduces in-slice tomographic-angle variation, and increases the maximum compression height, making the system accessible for a larger population. The improvements in MTF and DQE were attributed to the updated calibration procedures. We conclude that the second-generation system maintains the key features of the photon-counting system while maintaining or improving image quality and improving the maximum compression height. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine [https://doi.org/10.1002/mp.12735]
Deletion analysis of the SUP35 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals two non‐overlapping functional regions in the encoded protein

SUP35is an omnipotent suppressor gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae coding for a protein consisting of a C‐terminal part similar to the elongation factor EF‐1α and a unique N‐terminal sequence of 253 amino acids. Twelve truncated versions of the SUP35 gene were generated by the deletion of fragments internal to the coding sequence. Functional studies of these deletion mutants showed that: (i) only the EF‐1α‐like C‐terminal part of the Sup35 protein is essential for the cell viability; (ii) overexpression of either the N‐terminal part of the Sup35 protein or the full‐length Sup35 protein decreases translational fidelity, resulting in omnipotent suppression and reduced growth of [psi+] strains; (iii) expression of the C‐terminal part of the Sup35 protein generates an antisuppressor phenotype; and (iv) both the N‐ or C‐terminal segments of the Sup35 protein can bind to 80S ribosomes. Thus, the data obtained define two domains within the Sup35 protein which are responsible for different functions.
Innate Immune Functions of Immature Neutrophils in Patients With Sepsis and Severe Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome*

Objective:A hallmark of sepsis and severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is the massive recruitment of immature neutrophils from the bone marrow into the circulation (left shift, band forms). Their capacity to participate in innate defense against bacteria is ill defined. We aimed at comparing various innate immune functions of mature vs. immature neutrophils circulating during sepsis and SIRS. Design:Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting:Tertiary level ICU and associated research laboratory. Patients:Thirty-three ICU patients with sepsis; 12 ICUs with SIRS; 32 healthy volunteers. Interventions:Twenty milliliters of whole heparinized blood was used for in vitro studies including neutrophil viability and apoptosis, surface expression of CD16, Toll-like receptors (1) 4 and TLR2, CD14, MD-2, HLA-DP,-DQ and -DR, and CXCR2, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, bacterial killing, and tumor necrosis factor-&agr;/interleukin-10 baseline intracellular cytokine levels. Measurements and Main Results:Immature neutrophils were capable of mediating important innate immune functions such as bacterial phagocytosis and killing via the production of reactive oxygen species, although less efficiently than mature neutrophils. Immature neutrophils had a longer life span and resistance to spontaneous apoptosis, and could mature ex vivo. They expressed lower levels of receptors for bacterial molecules such as CD14 and MD-2 and migrated less efficiently than mature granulocytes. Immature neutrophils had higher basal intracellular tumor necrosis factor-&agr;/interleukin-10 ratio than that of mature neutrophils, suggesting a proinflammatory phenotype. No significant differences were observed between immature neutrophils isolated from patients with sepsis and those from patients with severe SIRS. Conclusions:Despite their “immaturity”, band forms are capable of mediating crucial innate immune functions during severe infections and sepsis. Their fate and capacity to mature in vivo remain to be determined.
The Conspiracy of Modern Art

Book synopsis: In The Conspiracy of Modern Art the Brazilian critic and art-historian Luiz Renato Martins presents a new account of modern art from David to Abstract Expressionism. The once vibrant debate on these touchstones of modernism has gone stale. Viewed from the Sao Paolo megalopolis the art of Paris and New York - embodying Revolution, Thermidor, Bonapatism and Bourgeois 'Triumph' - once more pulsates in a tragic key. Equally attentive to form and politics, Martins invites us to look again at familiar pictures. In the process, modern art appears in a new light. These essays, largely unknown to an English-speaking audience, may be the most important contribution to the account of modern painting since the important debates of the 1980s.
Association between tumor necrosis factor alpha rs1800629 polymorphism and risk of cervical cancer.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphism on the risk of cervical cancer. METHODS A comprehensive search of EMBASE, PubMed, Wanfang database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was conducted and the papers published were retrieved. The fixed effects or random effects model was appropriately used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Data from sixteen articles containing nineteen studies were summarized in this meta-analysis. In general, we observed a marginal association between the TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphism and cervical cancer risk under the AA + AG vs. GG comparison model (OR=1.17, 95% CI=1.00-1.38, P=0.019 for heterogeneity). Interestingly, significantly increased risk was observed in the allele model (A vs. G: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.02-1.38, P=0.006 for heterogeneity). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, we found significant results in Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal that the Caucasian population may be at increased risk of developing invasive cervical cancer associated with the TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphism.
EUSpeech: a New Dataset of EU Elite Speeches

This paper presents EUSpeech, a new dataset of 18,403 speeches from EU leaders (i.e., heads of government in 10 member states, EU commissioners, party leaders in the European Parliament, and ECB and IMF leaders) from 2007 to 2015. These speeches vary in sentiment, topics and ideology, allowing for fine-grained, over-time comparison of representation in the EU.
Conditional cell suicide using dox‐dependent caspase‐2 expression

Adoptive immune transfer is used as an efficient treatment modality to achieve a graft‐versus‐leukemia effect in persisting or relapsing residual leukemic disease. Safety considerations dictate the need for equipping the transferred cells with a conditional suicide mechanism to eliminate donor T cells when graft‐versus‐host disease occurs. We have examined in a model system using HeLa cells whether doxycycline (dox)‐dependent expression of pro‐apoptotic proteins could be used as a potential new strategy for conditional cell elimination.
Prostate carcinoma cells that have resided in bone have an upregulated IGF‐I axis

Prostate cancer (PC) has a propensity to metastasize to the skeleton, inducing an osteoblastic response in the host. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that circulating IGF‐I may be important for both the pathogenesis and dissemination of PC. We have postulated that tumor secreted IGF‐I in conjunction with endogenous IGF‐I contributes to the osteoblastic phenotype characteristic of metastatic PC.
Frequent cocaine users and their use of treatment.

OBJECTIVES Despite decreases in the number of cocaine users since 1985, the consequences of cocaine use continue to rise. This paper provides descriptive data on frequent cocaine users that will help to explain these diverging trends and enable treatment planners to better predict the types of cocaine users who are likely to seek treatment. METHODS Data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse were used to study the characteristics of frequent cocaine users since 1985. The 1991 data were used to compare frequent users with infrequent users and nonusers. RESULTS Since 1985, frequent cocaine users have become older. In 1991, they were likely to be unemployed (32.4%), unmarried (82.3%), and without health insurance (39.4%). Most were cigarette smokers (86.8%) and marijuana users (88.4%), and 32.0% reported getting drunk weekly. Criminal behavior was more likely among frequent cocaine users than among frequent cocaine users than among infrequent users and nonusers. Almost a third (30.0%) reported drug abuse treatment experience in the past year. CONCLUSIONS Despite the recent decreases in overall prevalence of cocaine use, the need for treatment of cocaine abusers will continue. Treatment must address multiple problems that occur in conjunction with cocaine abuse.
Lack of Association with Rheumatoid Arthritis of Selected Polymorphisms in 4 Candidate Genes: CFH, CD209, Eotaxin-3, and MHC2TA

Objective. To investigate associations with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 4 candidate genes, complement factor H (CFH), CD209 or DC-SIGN, eotaxin-3, and the MHC class II Transactivator (MHC2TA) genes. These SNP have been reported as important for RA (eotaxin-3 and MHC2TA) or for other immune-mediated diseases (CFH and CD209). Methods. Genotypes for the 7 selected SNP were obtained from 1587 patients with RA and 1570 controls of Spanish ancestry. Analyses were carried out after stratification for sex, erosions, rheumatoid factor, shared epitope, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, and the R620W PTPN22 SNP. Results. None of the comparisons between patients with RA and controls or between the different strata of patients according to disease features was significant. Conclusion. None of the SNP in CFH and CD209 showed evidence of association with RA. We did not replicate the association of eotaxin-3 with RA described in Koreans, or that of the MHC2T SNP.
Mirroring LTE Scheduler Performance with an Adaptive Simulation Model

One of the key elements of radio resource management in mobile networks is MAC (Media Access Control) scheduling. The scheduling algorithms play a role in overall network performance and are not specified in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards. This paper describes how to assess the performance of a scheduler implementation by designing an adaptive algorithm that is both Quality of Service (QoS) and buffer aware, and considers the constraints defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The goal is not to design the best scheduler, but to be able to replicate different scheduling strategies. From a radio planning and optimization perspective, the results support the notion that an adaptive scheduler facilitates how LTE network performance is estimated in a wide variety of network configurations and environments.
Stimulation of Phospholipase D Activity by Phorbol Esters in Cultured Astrocytes

Abstract: The phorbol ester 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate (TPA) was found to stimulate phospholipase D activity in cultured primary astrocytes. Both the hydrolysis and the transphosphatidylation reaction catalyzed by phospholipase D were studied in cells labeled with [3H]glycerol. Phosphatidic acid (PA) synthesis was increased after addition of 100 nM TPA. When ethanol was present in the cell culture medium, phosphatidylethanol (Peth), a product of phospholipase D‐catalyzed transphosphatidylation, was formed. The half‐maximum effective concentrations (EC50) of TPA were 25 nM for PA increase as well as for Peth formation. The formation of Peth in ethanol‐treated cells was accompanied by an inhibition of the TPA‐induced increase in labeled PA. Increasing ethanol concentrations led to an increase in [3H]Peth and a decrease in [3H]PA. A protein kinase C inhibitor, 1‐(5‐isoquinolinesulfonyl)‐2‐methylpiperazine (H7), inhibited both the synthesis of PA and the formation of Peth observed after TPA addition to the astrocytes. Dioctanoylglycerol (100 μM) stimulated the formation of Peth in the presence of ethanol. In addition to the induction of Peth formation in astrocytes, TPA induced Peth formation in ethanol‐treated neurons. The present results indicate that phospholipase D activity is stimulated by TPA in cultured primary brain cells. Modulation of phospholipase D activity by protein kinase C is a mechanism that may be important in signal transduction cascades.
Analyzing Quotations in News Reporting from Western Foreign Press: Focusing on Evaluative Language

This study explores evaluative linguistic expressions in news reporting about the 2016 general election outcome in Korean newspapers. In particular, we have examined the evaluative linguistic expressions quoted from the three Western news media -New York Times, Washington Post, and BBC, both quantitatively and qualitatively in Korean news stories in order to know how journalists frame the news stories to persuade news consumers to accept their ideologies. This is based on the assumption that quotation can be a tool in conveying ideologies to news consumers (van Dijk, 1988, Jullian, 2011). To achieve this purpose, we selected ten Korean newspapers which included quotations from the news stories of the three Western media and then analyzed the quoted expressions quantitatively and qualitatively. For a qualitative analysis, evaluative linguistic expressions were analyzed to examine the journalistic stances of the Western news stories, following Martin’s (2003) appraisal theory. For a quantitative analysis, a word frequency analysis was conducted to figure out the ratio of quoted words to the whole news texts in Korean newspapers. As a result, it was found that the news stories of BBC and Washington Post were more frequently quoted than that of New York Times when journalists conveyed neutral or positive attitude to the election outcome, thus confirming that evaluative linguistic expressions were functionally employed to convey journalists’ ideologies or stances to news readers.
Use and misuse of evaluation in social policy

A basic question within the social sciences, which is rarely addressed directly or well, is to ask whether the ends of social welfare can ever justify their means. This chapter sheds new light on this issue by examining the relationship between evidence and evaluation in social policy in both the Global North and Global South, as policy-makers seek to address social issues in the design and implementation of new social policies that actively govern conduct. Behavioural regulation is the order of the day. For scholars interested in the development of social policy and the idea of a society as a whole, it is timely to begin the re-evaluation of the very notion of active social policy and society beyond the behavioural policy paradigm. Here we are particularly concerned with the ends and means of the coercive, regulatory policy instruments seeking to control behaviour and the active ethical issues arising from their ‘use’ – and ‘misuse’.
The Recent Effects of Exchange Rate on International Trade

This paper investigates effects of the real exchange rate and its volatility on trade balance and real GDP using a set of eighteen countries, mainly the OECD developed countries. The paper reports econometric procedures and empirical estimates for major currency-owned large economies and non-major currency-owned countries. One task, for which the elasticities of international trade and real GDP are needed, is developing exchange rate assessments. The study finds that real currency depreciation leads to improvement of trade balance in most of the examined developed countries. But the trade balances after real depreciation of currency do not follow J-curve patterns. With regard to the real exchange rate variability, the evidence is mixed. Similarly, effects of the real currency devaluation on real GDP differ across countries. Also, we observe that major currencyowned countries could have different value-and-volume-effects with non-major currency countries.
Influence of foot conformation on duration of competitive life in a Dutch Warmblood horse population.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Warmblood horse studbooks aim to breed horses with a conformation that will enable elite future sports performance, but reduce the risk of early retirement due to lameness. Negative conformational traits, such as asymmetrical or 'uneven' forefeet may possibly shorten the career of sporthorses. OBJECTIVES To investigate the significance of foot conformation at young age to duration of the career of sporthorses. METHODS Databases of the Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook (KWPN) and of the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS) were matched and resulted in a dataset comprising 23,116 records of horses for which their conformation scores and duration of their sports career were available. Survival analysis was used to determine which of the conformation traits had a significant effect on duration of sports career in dressage and jumping at basic and elite level. RESULTS Duration of competitive life was shorter for jumping than for dressage. A different set of risk factors was found for each level and discipline. The trait 'uneven feet' tended to shorten the competitive life in dressage, but was a significant risk factor at the elite level of jumping. CONCLUSIONS Limb conformation and, in particular, the conformation of the distal limb, are important for duration of competitive life. From the prevalence of uneven feet in sports disciplines, it may be concluded that this is an undesirable trait, particularly at the elite level of jumping, since uneven feet have a detrimental effect on the duration of competitive life in a sporthorse population. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE This study provided evidence that the conformation trait uneven feet has a negative effect on Warmblood jumping performance and, therefore, breeders should be encouraged to avoid this phenomenon at foal age.
The direct and indirect economic costs incurred by living kidney donors-a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Despite the many benefits of living donor kidney transplantation, economic consequences can result for donors. We reviewed studies which quantified the direct and indirect costs incurred by living kidney donors, in order to understand the strengths and limitations of existing literature. METHODS We identified relevant studies in MEDLINE, EMBASE and ECONOLIT bibliographic databases, in the Science Citation Index and study reference lists. Any study which reported at least one cost relevant to donors was included. The accuracy of abstracted data was verified by two reviewers and reported in year 2004 US dollars. RESULTS Thirty-five studies from 12 countries described costs incurred by individuals who donated between the years 1964 and 2003. No study comprehensively quantified all relevant expenses-the sum of select costs considered in one US study averaged Dollars 837 per donor and ranged from Dollars 0 to 28,906. Travel and/or accommodation costs were incurred by 9-99% of donors, and were higher in countries with a larger land mass. Post-discharge analgesics were required by 4-24% of donors, but prescription costs were not reported. Between 14 and 30% of donors incurred costs for lost income, with an average loss of Dollars 3386 in one study from the UK and Dollars 682 in another study from the Netherlands. Costs for dependent care were incurred by 9-44% of donors, while costs for domestic help were incurred by 8% of donors. CONCLUSIONS Donors incur many types of costs attributable to kidney donation and the total costs are certainly higher than previously reported. To guide informed consent and fair reimbursement policies, further data on all relevant costs, preferably from a detailed prospective multi-centre cohort study, are required.