Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic BOLD functional connectivity in humans and its electrophysiological correlates

Neural oscillations subserve many human perceptual and cognitive operations. Accordingly, brain functional connectivity is not static in time, but fluctuates dynamically following the synchronization and desynchronization of neural populations. This dynamic functional connectivity has recently been demonstrated in spontaneous fluctuations of the Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal, measured with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). We analyzed temporal fluctuations in BOLD connectivity and their electrophysiological correlates, by means of long (≈50 min) joint electroencephalographic (EEG) and fMRI recordings obtained from two populations: 15 awake subjects and 13 subjects undergoing vigilance transitions. We identified positive and negative correlations between EEG spectral power (extracted from electrodes covering different scalp regions) and fMRI BOLD connectivity in a network of 90 cortical and subcortical regions (with millimeter spatial resolution). In particular, increased alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (15–30 Hz) power were related to decreased functional connectivity, whereas gamma (30–60 Hz) power correlated positively with BOLD connectivity between specific brain regions. These patterns were altered for subjects undergoing vigilance changes, with slower oscillations being correlated with functional connectivity increases. Dynamic BOLD functional connectivity was reflected in the fluctuations of graph theoretical indices of network structure, with changes in frontal and central alpha power correlating with average path length. Our results strongly suggest that fluctuations of BOLD functional connectivity have a neurophysiological origin. Positive correlations with gamma can be interpreted as facilitating increased BOLD connectivity needed to integrate brain regions for cognitive performance. Negative correlations with alpha suggest a temporary functional weakening of local and long-range connectivity, associated with an idling state.
Genetic diversity of Amsonia orientalis

Amsonia orientalis Decne. (Apocynaceae), is a rare and threatened plant species which is located only in a constricted area in northeast of Greece and northwest of Turkey in the world. Although phylogenetic analysis depending on nucleotide sequences of genes from different sources (nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplast) became a major tool for classification of plant species, there is still a big lack of information about A. orientalis in the international molecular data bases such as NCBI. In the current study, we phylogenetically analyzed three commonly used molecular markers (18S rDNA, 18S-28S rDNA-ITS region and trnL-F intergenic spacer) from A. orientalis samples collected from Turkey to determine the genetic diversity and also to question the systematic position of A. orientalis. As a result, A. orientalis samples clearly showed close relation with Alyxieae tribe rather than Vinceae. And this result brings the necessity to reconsider the morphological characters that have used to delimit the tribes of Rauvolfioideae.
Oral Fat Sensing and CD36 Gene Polymorphism in Algerian Lean and Obese Teenagers

Growing number of evidences have suggested that oral fat sensing, mediated by a glycoprotein CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36), plays a significant role in the development of obesity. Indeed, a decreased expression of CD36 in some obese subjects is associated with high dietary fat intake. In the present study, we examined whether an increase in body mass index (BMI) is associated with altered oleic acid lingual detection thresholds and blood lipid profile in young Algerian teenagers (n = 165). The obese teenagers (n = 83; 14.01 ± 0.19 years; BMI z-score 2.67 ± 0.29) exhibited higher lingual detection threshold for oleic acid than lean participants (n = 82, 13.92 ± 0.23 years; BMI z-score 0.03 ± 0.0001). We also studied the association between rs1761667 polymorphism of CD36 gene and obesity. The AA and AG genotypes were more frequent in obese teenagers, whereas GG genotype was more common in lean participants. The A-allele frequency was higher in obese teenagers than that in lean children. We report that rs1761667 polymorphism of CD36 gene and oro-gustatory thresholds for fat might play a significant role in the development of obesity in young teenagers.
Remittances and income diversification in Bolivia’s rural sector

This article examines the role of remittances in income diversification strategies in Bolivia’s rural sector. Remittances can be consumed or invested by the recipient. As an investment, funds can be used for farming or to finance other nonfarm productions. In this article, we use a large and nationally representative survey to estimate the effect that remittances have on the probability of producing income from nonfarm activities (diversification) by using a bivariate probit model. Our evidence shows that remittances increase the probability that a rural family engages in nonfarm activities, at least in some regions of Bolivia. We also find evidence that the sender’s decision to remit and the recipient’s decision to diversify may be jointly determined. As such, this suggests that remittances may serve as a mechanism to overcome localized failures in Bolivia’s capital markets.
Retrieval of reusable components in a development information system

A query facility for accomplishing reusable class retrieval from a software information base based on similarity queries is described. Classes are described by the operators and similarity relationships that the query facility uses in its search. In the software information base, both reusable components and their associated development information are described in a knowledge-based formalism. The prototype query system implemented on the software base is described. It uses dynamic relationships about the conceptual closeness of available components to retrieve components that best match the requirements of the application under development. <<ETX>>
Skills for creative industries graduate success

Purpose: Although there is increasing evidence that the creative industries are essential to national economic growth as well as social and cultural well-being, creative graduates often find it difficult to become established professionally. This study investigates the value of career management competence and intrinsic career motivations (as elements of ‘protean career orientation’) in predicting positive graduate outcomes. ----- ----- Design/methodology: Self-report surveys were administered to 208 creative industries graduates from two Australian universities at two points in time: at course completion, and one year later. ----- ----- Findings: Individual career management competence and intrinsic work motivations, measured at course completion, were significant predictors of early career success, using both subjective and objective measures, measured one year later. ----- ----- Practical implications: This study suggests that an emphasis on student development beyond the traditional ‘key’ employability skills may well be worthwhile. The article also suggests a broad learning and teaching approach by which universities can encourage the development of student career identity, and thus engender student intrinsic career motivations and career self management skills and behaviours. ----- ----- Originality/value: This is one of the first studies to demonstrate empirically a link between a particular set of skills and graduate outcomes. In addition, it provides insights into the role of student career motivations in positive transitions to the world of work in the creative industries.
A Cellular Fusion Cascade Regulated by LaeA Is Required for Sclerotial Development in Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic soil fungus that poses a serious threat worldwide as it contaminates many food and feed crops with the carcinogenic mycotoxin called aflatoxin. This pathogen persists as sclerotia in the soil which enables fungal survival in harsh environmental conditions. Sclerotia formation by A. flavus depends on successful cell communication and hyphal fusion events. Loss of LaeA, a conserved developmental regulator in fungi, abolishes sclerotia formation in this species whereas overexpression (OE) of laeA results in enhanced sclerotia production. Here we demonstrate that sclerotia loss and inability to form heterokaryons in A. flavusΔlaeA is mediated by homologs of the Neurospora crassa ham (hyphal anastomosis) genes termed hamE-I in A. flavus. LaeA positively regulates ham gene expression and deletion of hamF, G, H, or I phenocopies ΔlaeA as demonstrated by heterokaryon and sclerotia loss and reduced aflatoxin synthesis and virulence of these mutants. Deletion of hamE showed a less severe phenotype. hamE-I homologs are positively regulated by the clock controlled transcription factor ADV-1 in N. crassa. Similarly, the ADV-1 homolog NosA regulates hamE-I expression in A. flavus, is required for sclerotial development and is itself positively regulated by LaeA. We speculate that a putative LaeA>NosA>fusion cascade underlies the previously described circadian clock regulation of sclerotia production in A. flavus.
Research Paper No . 2008 / 20 Entrepreneurship in Economic Development

What is the role of entrepreneurship in economic development? At a minimum the answer should be able to explain the role of entrepreneurs in the structural transformation of countries from low income, primary-sector based societies into high-income service and technology based societies. More broadly though, it should also be able to explain the role of entrepreneurs in the opposite pole of stagnating development (including conflict) and in high innovation-driven growth. Although economic development lacks a ‘general theory’ of entrepreneurship, which could encompass a variety of development experiences, much progress has been made in extending the understanding of entrepreneurship in the process of development. This paper surveys the progress with the purpose of distilling the outlines for a more general theory of entrepreneurship in economic development. Entrepreneurship in developing countries remains a relatively under-researched phenomenon, so by surveying the current state of research, and by discussing the role of entrepreneurship in dual economy models of structural transformation and growth, a secondary objective of this paper is to identify avenues for further research. Finally, the policy implications from the economic literature suggest that a case for government support exists, and that this should focus on the quantity, the quality, and the allocation of entrepreneurial ability. Many routinely adopted policies for entrepreneurship, such as provision of credit and education, are shown to have more subtle effects, not all of which are conducive to growth-enhancing entrepreneurship.
Serial concatenation of simple linear block codes and differential modulations

In this paper, binary linear block codes with very low encoding and decoding complexity (therefore, "simple" codes) are introduced as outer codes in a serially concatenated coding scheme employing multilevel differential phase-shift keying, i.e., differential modulations, as inner codes. Such a concatenated coding scheme is particularly suitable for power- and bandwidth-efficient transmission over channels with phase ambiguities or completely unknown phase at the receiver. Using extrinsic information transfer chart based analysis and optimization, the performance of the new concatenated codes is found to be within less than 1 dB of the pertinent capacity limit for the additive white Gaussian noise channel. This compares favorably with more complex benchmark schemes using e.g. outer low-density parity-check codes proposed recently in the literature. Simulation results confirm the predicted performance advantages for the proposed simple codes.
Rewiring yeast sugar transporter preference through modifying a conserved protein motif

Significance The quest for an optimal xylose pathway in yeast is of utmost importance along the way to realizing the potential of lignocellulosic biomass conversion into fuels and chemicals. An often-overlooked aspect of this catabolic pathway is the molecular transporter of this sugar. Here we demonstrate that sugar transport preference and kinetics can be rewired through the programming of a specific sequence motif. The result is a study to rationally alter the sugar preference of a protein through defined sequence-level modifications. In these cases, primary hexose transporters were rewired into xylose transporters. Utilization of exogenous sugars found in lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates, such as xylose, must be improved before yeast can serve as an efficient biofuel and biochemical production platform. In particular, the first step in this process, the molecular transport of xylose into the cell, can serve as a significant flux bottleneck and is highly inhibited by other sugars. Here we demonstrate that sugar transport preference and kinetics can be rewired through the programming of a sequence motif of the general form G-G/F-XXX-G found in the first transmembrane span. By evaluating 46 different heterologously expressed transporters, we find that this motif is conserved among functional transporters and highly enriched in transporters that confer growth on xylose. Through saturation mutagenesis and subsequent rational mutagenesis, four transporter mutants unable to confer growth on glucose but able to sustain growth on xylose were engineered. Specifically, Candida intermedia gxs1 Phe38Ile39Met40, Scheffersomyces stipitis rgt2 Phe38 and Met40, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae hxt7 Ile39Met40Met340 all exhibit this phenotype. In these cases, primary hexose transporters were rewired into xylose transporters. These xylose transporters nevertheless remained inhibited by glucose. Furthermore, in the course of identifying this motif, novel wild-type transporters with superior monosaccharide growth profiles were discovered, namely S. stipitis RGT2 and Debaryomyces hansenii 2D01474. These findings build toward the engineering of efficient pentose utilization in yeast and provide a blueprint for reprogramming transporter properties.
The perceptron strikes back

It is shown that every AC/sup 0/ predicate is computed by a low-degree probabilistic polynomial over the reals. It is demonstrated that circuits composed of a symmetric gate at the root with AND-OR subcircuits of constant depth can be simulated by probabilistic depth-2 circuits with essentially the same symmetric gate at the root and AND gates of small fanin at the bottom. In particular, every language recognized by a depth-d AC/sup 0/ circuit is decidable by a probabilistic perceptron of size 2 to the power O(log/sup 4d/ n) and of order O(log/sup 4d/ n) that uses O(log/sup 3/ n) probabilistic bits. As a corollary, the authors present a new proof that depth-d AND-OR circuits computing the parity of n binary inputs require size 2 to the power n/sup Omega (1/d)/. <<ETX>>
Crystal structure of methyl 1-methyl-3,5-diphenyl-7-tosyl-3,6,7,11b-tetrahydropyrazolo[4′,3′:5,6]pyrano[3,4-c]quinoline-5a(5H)-carboxylate

In the title compound, C35H31N3O5S, the piperidine ring adopts an envelope conformation, with the methine C atom as the flap, and the pyran ring adopts a sofa conformation. The mean planes of these two rings are almost normal to one another, making a dihedral angle of 85.96 (5)°. The two phenyl rings, one attached to the pyrazole ring and the other to the pyran ring, are inclined to one another by 65.41 (11)°. They are inclined to the mean planes of the rings to which they are attached by 12.59 (11) and 70.09 (9)°, respectively. There is an intramolecular C—H⋯π interaction involving the tosylate methyl group and the phenyl ring attached to the pyrazole ring. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H⋯π interactions, forming ribbons parallel to (10-2). The ribbons are linked by slipped parallel π–π interactions involving inversion-related pyrazole rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.672 (2) Å], forming slabs parallel to (001). A preliminary report of this structure has been published [Bakthadoss et al. (2014 ▶). Eur. J. Org. Chem. pp. 1505–1513].
Micado - a network-oriented database for microbial genomes

MOTIVATION We created Micado, a database for managing genomic information, as part of the Bacillus subtilis genome programs. Its content will be progressively extended to the whole microbial world. RESULTS A relational schema is defined for selective queries. It links eubacterial and archaeal sequences, genetic maps for Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, and information on mutants. The latter comes from a new functional analysis project of unknown genes in B subtilis, and the database allows the community to curate information. To help queries from users, a graphical interface is built on SQL access to the database and provided through the WWW. We have automated imports of microbial sequences, and E. coli genetic map, by programming parsers of flat file distributions. These ensure smooth updates from molecular biology repositories on the Internet. Hyperlinks are created as a complement, to reference other general and specialized related information resources.
Overexpression of Apolipoprotein A-I Promotes Reverse Transport of Cholesterol From Macrophages to Feces In Vivo

Background—Abundant data indicate that overexpression of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) in mice inhibits atherosclerosis. One mechanism is believed to be promotion of reverse cholesterol transport, but no direct proof of this concept exists. We developed a novel approach to trace reverse transport of labeled cholesterol specifically from macrophages to the liver and feces in vivo and have applied this approach to investigate the ability of apoA-I overexpression to promote macrophage-specific reverse cholesterol transport. Method and Results—J774 macrophages were loaded with cholesterol by incubation with acetylated LDL, labeled with 3H-cholesterol, and then injected intraperitoneally into mice. Plasma and feces were collected at 24 hours and 48 hours, when mice were exsanguinated, tissues were harvested, and all were analyzed for tracer counts. 3H-cholesterol was found in the plasma, liver, and feces. For apoA-I overexpression, mice were injected intravenously with apoA-I adenovirus (1011 particles per animal) 3 days before labeled macrophages were injected. ApoA-I overexpression led to significantly higher 3H-cholesterol in plasma, liver, and feces. The amount of 3H-tracer in the liver was 35% higher (P <0.05) and the 3H-tracer excreted into feces over 48 hours was 63% higher (P <0.05) in apoA-I–expressing mice than in control mice. Conclusion—Injection of 3H-cholesterol–labeled macrophage foam cells is a method of measuring reverse cholesterol transport specifically from macrophages to feces in vivo, and apoA-I overexpression promotes macrophage-specific reverse cholesterol transport.
Molecular plasticity of adult Bergmann fibers is associated with radial migration of grafted Purkinje cells

Embryonic Purkinje cells (PCs) from cerebellar primordia grafted in adult pcd mutant cerebellum replace missing PCs of the host, and become synaptically integrated into the defective cerebellar circuit. This process of neuronal replacement starts with the invasion of grafted PCs into the host cerebellum, and their radial migration through its molecular layer. The present study is aimed at determining whether the glial axes for this migration are embryonic radial glial cells that comigrate with the grafted PCs, or adult Bergmann fibers of the host, transiently reexpressing the molecular cues needed for their guidance of the migration. Transplants from a transgenic mouse line (Krox- 20/lacZ14) in which Bergmann fibers could be identified by lacZ expression reveal that, despite the presence of X-gal-stained Bergmann fibers in the graft remnants and of grafted PCs in the host molecular layer, all Bergmann fibers in the host cerebellum lack of beta- galactosidase activity. Thus, these migratory axes belong to the host, not to the donor. Transplants from normal isogenic mouse embryos show that during the radial migration of grafted PCs (7 d after grafting) the involved host Bergmann fibers reexpress nestin (identified with monoclonal antibody Rat-401 immunostaining), normally expressed only by immature Bergmann fibers. Five days later, when grafted PCs have arrested their migration, host Bergmann fibers again become Rat-401 negative. These results indicate that embryonic PCs can trigger in adult cerebellum the molecular changes necessary for their own migration and ultimate synaptic integration in the host cortical circuitry.
Mapping the Complex Morphology of Cell Interactions with Nanowire Substrates Using FIB-SEM

Using high resolution focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) we study the details of cell-nanostructure interactions using serial block face imaging. 3T3 Fibroblast cellular monolayers are cultured on flat glass as a control surface and on two types of nanostructured scaffold substrates made from silicon black (Nanograss) with low- and high nanowire density. After culturing for 72 hours the cells were fixed, heavy metal stained, embedded in resin, and processed with FIB-SEM block face imaging without removing the substrate. The sample preparation procedure, image acquisition and image post-processing were specifically optimised for cellular monolayers cultured on nanostructured substrates. Cells display a wide range of interactions with the nanostructures depending on the surface morphology, but also greatly varying from one cell to another on the same substrate, illustrating a wide phenotypic variability. Depending on the substrate and cell, we observe that cells could for instance: break the nanowires and engulf them, flatten the nanowires or simply reside on top of them. Given the complexity of interactions, we have categorised our observations and created an overview map. The results demonstrate that detailed nanoscale resolution images are required to begin understanding the wide variety of individual cells’ interactions with a structured substrate. The map will provide a framework for light microscopy studies of such interactions indicating what modes of interactions must be considered.
Nalidixic Acid: an Antibacterial Paradox

Nalidixic acid was found to be most bactericidal against various species of gram-negative bacteria at 50 to 200 μg/ml. With all species tested, increases in the concentration of nalidixic acid above this range reduced, rather than increased, its bactericidal effect so that, at levels in the region of 400 μg/ml, the drug was relatively bacteriostatic. Therefore, the mode of action of nalidixic acid at various concentrations was investigated. It was found that at the most bactericidal concentration deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, but no ribonucleic acid (RNA) or protein synthesis, was inhibited. However at higher concentrations, where the drug is least bactericidal, both RNA and protein synthesis were found to be inhibited. Results are presented which suggest that the protein synthesis inhibition is a secondary manifestation of the ability of the drug to inhibit RNA synthesis, and that of RNA synthesis is most likely the second target site for the action of the drug when bacteria are exposed to it in high concentrations. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.