Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Clarification of Pollen Discounting and Its Joint Effects with Inbreeding Depression on Mating System Evolution

Given the predominance of outcrossing by angiosperms, large costs must often overwhelm the genetic benefit of selfing derived from contributing two haploid genomes to each off‐spring rather than one. In addition to the well‐studied genetic cost of inbreeding depression, selfing imposes a mating cost whenever self‐pollination reduces opportunities for pollen export. Because self‐pollination is a heterogeneous process, pollen discounting and its evolutionary consequences vary with pollination conditions. In this article we model self‐pollination as comprising discounting and nondiscounting components, and we consider the consequences of this heterogeneity for outcross siring success. Aided by this depiction of pollination, we then compare previous theoretical representations of pollen discounting and consider their relative virtues. Finally, we consider conditions that would allow a population to be invaded by a variant with different pollination characteristics. This analysis exposes the pollination conditions implicit in standard results of mating system theory. It also identifies associations between four possible changes in pollination expected in different reproductive environments, including the incidence of positive or negative correlations between self‐pollination and pollen export. These results emphasize the benefits of expanding the theory of plant reproduction to recognize explicitly when and how pollination mechanisms affect mating outcomes.
Extrapyramidal symptom profiles assessed with the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale: comparison with Western scales in the clinical double-blind studies of schizophrenic patients treated with either olanzapine or haloperidol

The superiority of olanzapine to haloperidol with respect to a decreased incidence of treatment-emergent extrapyramidal syndromes (EPS) in patients with schizophrenia was demonstrated in studies conducted in both Japan and Western countries. EPS measurements used in Western countries included the Simpson–Angus, Barnes akathisia and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, while the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale (DIEPSS) was used in Japan. The aim of this study was to clarify how the DIEPSS captures EPS profiles. The baseline prevalence and treatment-emergent incidence of EPS in Japanese schizophrenic patients treated with olanzapine or haloperidol were retrospectively compared as assessed by the DIEPSS to the prevalence and incidence of EPS in primarily Caucasian schizophrenic patients who were treated with olanzapine or haloperidol. Specifically, the prevalence and incidence of dyskinesia, akathisia and parkinsonism were compared between the Japanese trial and an international trial to examine if appropriate definitions using the DIEPSS can be derived assuming that a comparable prevalence and incidence of the syndromes would be observed when any differences in residual antipsychotic exposure at the initiation of study treatment were accounted for. For the incidence of all EPS syndromes, odds ratios were observed to be similar between the two studies, indicating that appropriate criteria for the clinical diagnosis of the EPS syndromes could be established based on the DIEPSS. This preliminary and retrospective work suggests that the DIEPSS can be used to operationally define the presence or absence, and make the clinical diagnosis, of specific EPS syndromes.
Soya and isoflavone intakes associated with reduced risk of oesophageal cancer in north-west China

Abstract Objective To ascertain the association between soya consumption, isoflavone intakes and oesophageal cancer risk in remote north-west China, where the incidence of oesophageal cancer is known to be high. Design Case–control study. Information on habitual consumption of soya foods and soya milk was obtained by personal interview. The intakes of isoflavones were then estimated using the US Department of Agriculture nutrient database. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between soya consumption, isoflavone intakes and oesophageal cancer risk. Setting Urumqi and Shihezi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Subjects Participants were 359 incident oesophageal cancer patients and 380 hospital-based controls. Results The oesophageal cancer patients consumed significantly less (P < 0·001) total soya foods (mean 57·2 (sd 119·0) g/d) and soya milk (mean 18·8 (sd 51·7) ml/d) than the controls (mean 93·3 (sd 121·5) g/d and mean 35·7 (sd 73·0) ml/d). Logistic regression analyses showed an inverse association between intake of soya products and the risk of oesophageal cancer. The adjusted odds were OR = 0·33 (95 % CI 0·22, 0·49) and OR = 0·48 (95 % CI 0·31, 0·74) for consuming at least 97 g of soya foods and 60 ml of soya milk daily (the highest tertiles of consumption), respectively, relative to the lowest tertiles of consumption. Similarly, inverse associations with apparent dose–response relationships were found between isoflavone intakes and oesophageal cancer risk. Conclusions Habitual consumption of soya products appears to be associated with reduced risk of oesophageal cancer in north-west China.
Identification of lambda gt11 clones encoding the major antigenic determinants expressed by Theileria parva sporozoites

An antiserum, C16, was raised in cattle against freeze-thawed extracts of sporozoites of Theileria parva (Muguga). This antiserum, which neutralizes sporozoite infectivity in vitro, identified theileria-specific antigens having approximate molecular masses of 105, 90, 85, 69, 67, 52, 47, and 43 kilodaltons (kDa) on Western blots (immunoblots) of infected tick salivary gland extracts. The antiserum was used to screen an expression library of T. parva (Muguga) genomic DNA fragments. Three recombinant bacteriophage clones carrying different theileria DNA inserts were studied. The expressed gene product from each clone was used to affinity purify antibodies from C16 antiserum for use in probing Western blots of uninfected and infected tick salivary gland extracts. The population of antibodies selected by each clone specifically recognized a subset of the antigens identified by C16 antiserum. The antigens fell into three distinct groups as defined by their reactivity with each set of selected antibodies. One group included antigens of 105, 90, 85, and 35 kDa, a second group included antigens of 69, 67, 52, 47, and 43 kDa, and the third group included an apparently distinct pair of antigens of 47 and 43 kDa. Thus, antibodies that reacted with determinants encoded by the three recombinant phage clones recognized all of the major antigens seen on Western blots probed with whole C16 antiserum. These results suggest that there may be only three immunodominant antigens expressed in T. parva (Muguga) sporozoites. Additionally, monoclonal antibodies have been raised which neutralize sporozoite infectivity in vitro. These antibodies react with epitopes of the antigens with Mrs of 69,000, 67,000, 52,000, 47,000, and 43,000 which are encoded in clone pgT-42 and have been used to localize these epitopes on the sporozoite surface.
Activated natural killer T cells producing interferon‐gamma elicit promoting activity to murine dendritic cell‐based autoimmune hepatic inflammation

As natural killer (NK) T cells play an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases, they should have significant roles for the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver disease. Implication of the NK T cells in the generation of autoimmune‐related hepatic inflammation was investigated using a novel mouse model. Immunization of mice with dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with hepatocyte‐mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma cells (DC/Hepa1‐6) induces cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) capable of killing hepatocytes. Subsequent administration of interleukin (IL)‐12, a potent interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) inducer, to the immunized mice generates autoimmune hepatic inflammation (AHI), as reported previously. Upon onset of the AHI response, the number of intrahepatic CD3+NK1·1+ NK T cells increased markedly, along with a decrease in the number of splenic NK T cells, augmented expression of CXCR6 on intrahepatic NK T cells and CXCL16 in hepatic tissue, suggesting that NK T cells were recruited into the inflamed liver. The NK T cells were strongly positive for CD69 and produced IFN‐γ, but not IL‐4. AHI activity was attenuated markedly in CD1d–/– NK T cell‐deficient mice, indicating that NK T cells play a pivotal role in the development of AHI. Mice treated with DC/Hepa1‐6 and alpha‐galactosylceramide, a potent NK T cell activator, also exhibited similar hepatic inflammation, in which activated NK T cells producing IFN‐γ and CD8+ T cells cytotoxic to hepatocytes were induced in liver‐infiltrating mononuclear cells. Activated NK T cells producing IFN‐γ potentiate DC‐based AHI in the mouse model.
Helix dynamics in a membrane transport protein: comparative simulations of the glycerol-3-phosphate transporter and its constituent helices

The glycerol-3-phosphate transporter (GlpT) is a member of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). GlpT is an organic phosphate/inorganic phosphate antiporter. It shares a similar fold with other MFS transporters (e.g. LacY and EmrD) consisting of 12 transmembrane (TM) helices which form two domains (each of six TM helices) surrounding a central ligand-binding cavity. The TM helices (especially the cavity-lining helices) contain a large number of proline and glycine residues, which may aid in the conformational changes believed to underline the transport mechanism. Molecular dynamics simulations in a phospholipid bilayer have been used to compare the conformational properties of the isolated TM helices with those in the intact GlpT protein. Analysis of these simulations focuses on the role of proline-induced flexibility in the TM helices. Our results are consistent with the proposed rocker switch mechanism for transport by GlpT. In particular, the simulations highlight the cavity-lining helices (H4, H5, H10 and H11) as being significantly flexible, suggesting that the transport mechanism may involve intra-helix motions in addition to pseudo-rigid body motions of the N- and C-terminal domains relative to one another.
Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurement of the Hong Kong Chinese Population by Optical Coherence Tomography

PurposeTo obtain retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements by optical coherence tomography in a local, normal Hong Kong Chinese population and to identify the correlation of the measurement with age cross-sectionally. MethodsA total of 129 normal Hong Kong Chinese volunteers of different age groups were recruited for this study. The RNFL was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT; OCT 2000; Humphrey Instruments, San Leandro, CA). ResultsMean ± SD peripapillary RNFL measurements at the superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal regions were 145 ± 24, 154 ± 26, 98 ± 32, and 87 ± 16 &mgr;m, respectively. There was a highly significant negative correlation in average RNFL measurement with increasing age (3.3 &mgr;m per decade, P < 0.001). A significant negative correlation with increasing age was also identified in the RNFL measurements in all the regions (P < 0.05) and decreased at similar extent. ConclusionThe RNFL thickness of the Hong Kong Chinese population, as measured by OCT, appeared to decrease over time. The OCT normative values used for determining RNFL measures “outside of normal” should be developed on an age-specific, or at least age-adjusted, basis.
Perceived Information Quality in Data Exchanges: Effects on Risk, Trust, and Intention to Use

This study examines the role of information quality in the success of initial phase interorganizational (I-O) data exchanges. We propose perceived information quality (PIQ) as a factor of perceived risk and trusting beliefs, which will directly affect intention to use the exchange. The study also proposes that two important system design factors---control transparency and outcome feedback---will incrementally influence PIQ. An empirical test of the model demonstrated that PIQ predicts trusting beliefs and perceived risk, which mediate the effects of PIQ on intention to use the exchange. Thus, PIQ constitutes an important indirect factor influencing exchange adoption. Furthermore, control transparency had a significant influence on PIQ, while outcome feedback had no significant incremental effect over that of control transparency. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the important role of PIQ in I-O systems adoption and by showing that information cues available to a user during an initial exchange session can help build trusting beliefs and mitigate perceived exchange risk. For managers of I-O exchanges, the study implies that building into the system appropriate control transparency mechanisms can increase the likelihood of exchange success.
A Single-Stage LED Driver Based on SEPIC and LLC Circuits

A single-stage light-emitting diode (LED) driver has been developed integrating a single-ended primary-inductor converter with a half-bridge LLC resonant converter. The proposed topology reduces system's cost, enhancing reliability. Because the LLC resonant part maintains soft-switching characteristics, switching losses are relatively low. Due to careful parameters selection, the system bus voltage can be kept low as needed in high-power LED drive designs. Some experiments using a 100-W prototype were performed to validate theoretical analysis. The obtained power factor was as high as 0.99, and due to soft-switching operations efficiency was up to 92% at full load.
Comparison of lumped-element and transmission-line models for thickness-shear-mode quartz resonator sensors

Both a transmission-line model and its simpler variant, a lumped-element model, can be used to predict the responses of a thickness-shear-mode quartz resonator sensor. Relative deviations in the parameters computed by the two models (shifts in resonant frequency and motional resistance) do not exceed 3% for most practical sensor configurations operating at the fundamental resonance. If the ratio of the load surface mechanical impedance to the quartz shear characteristic impedance does not exceed 0.1, the lumped-element model always predicts responses within 1% of those for the transmission-line model.
Modulation of intestinal P-glycoprotein function by cremophor EL and other surfactants by an in vitro diffusion chamber method using the isolated rat intestinal membranes.

Effects of various surfactants on the transport of rhodamine123, a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, across the isolated rat intestinal membranes were examined by an in vitro diffusion chamber system. The jejunal serosal-to-mucosal transport (Jsm) of rhodamine123 was more than threefold greater than its mucosal-to-serosal transport (Jms), suggesting that the net movement of rhodamine123 across the rat jejunum was preferentially secretory direction. There exists a regional difference in the intestinal transport of rhodamine123 and the secretory directed transport was remarkably observed in the jejunum. The Jsm/Jms ratio of rhodamine123 decreased in the presence of 0.3 mM verapamil and 10 mM sodium azide (NaN3) + 1 mM sodium fluoride (NaF), confirming that rhodamine123 might be secreted from the intestinal tissue into the lumen by a P-gp-mediated efflux system. Nonionic surfactants [0.1% Cremophor EL, Tween 80 and n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltopyranoside (LM)] reduced the Jsm/Jms ratio of rhodamine123, whereas its ratio was not influenced in the presence of 0.1% cationic surfactant (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, C16TAB) and anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). Therefore, these findings suggested that charge of surfactants was possibly related to the action of these surfactants on the intestinal absorption of P-gp substrates. On the other hand, the transfer of rhodamine123 was not affected by the addition of Cremophor EL to the serosal side. Because the c.m. c. of Cremophor EL is 0.0095 w/v%, interactions between rhodamine123 and the micellar form of Cremophor EL may decrease the P-gp-mediated efflux of rhodamine123 at higher concentrations. In the kinetic analysis, the Vmax value (nmol/min/g wet tissue) of rhodamine123 decreased, although the Km value (mM) was constant in the presence of Cremophor EL. Therefore, Cremophor EL inhibited the efflux transport of rhodamine123 in a noncompetitive manner. Cremophor EL did not affect the transport of [14C]Gly-Sar and [3H]3-O-methyl-D-glucose, suggesting that the action of Cremophor EL might be P-gp specific. These findings indicated that nonionic surfactants including Cremophor EL and Tween 80 may be useful pharmaceutical excipients for inhibiting the function of P-gp, thereby increasing the intestinal absorption of various drugs, which are secreted by a P-gp-mediated efflux system in the intestine.
Covert Attentional Shoulder Surfing: Human Adversaries Are More Powerful Than Expected

When a user interacts with a computing system to enter a secret password, shoulder surfing attacks are of great concern. To cope with this problem, previous methods presumed limited cognitive capabilities of a human adversary as a deterrent, but there was a pitfall with the assumption. In this paper, we show that human adversaries, even without a recording device, can be more effective at eavesdropping than expected, in particular by employing cognitive strategies and by training themselves. Our novel approach called covert attentional shoulder surfing indeed can break the well known PIN entry method previously evaluated to be secure against shoulder surfing. Another contribution in this paper is the formal modeling approach by adapting the predictive human performance modeling tool for security analysis and improvement. We also devise a defense technique in the modeling paradigm to deteriorate severely the perceptual performance of the adversaries while preserving that of the user. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to model and defend the new form of attack through human performance modeling. Real attack experiments and user studies are also conducted.
Homer proteins shape Xenopus optic tectal cell dendritic arbor development in vivo

Considerable evidence suggests that the Homer family of scaffolding proteins contributes to synaptic organization and function. We investigated the role of both Homer 1b, the constitutively expressed, and developmentally regulated form of Homer, and Homer 1a, the activity‐induced immediate early gene, in dendritic arbor elaboration and synaptic function of developing Xenopus optic tectal neurons. We expressed exogenous Homer 1a or Homer 1b in developing Xenopus tectal neurons. By collecting in vivo time lapse images of individual, EGFP‐labeled and Homer‐expressing neurons over 3 days, we found that Homer 1b leads to a significant decrease in dendritic arbor growth rate and arbor size. Synaptic transmission was also altered in developing neurons transfected with Homer 1b. Cells expressing exogenous Homer 1b over 3 days had a significantly greater AMPA to NMDA ratios, and increased AMPA mEPSC frequency. These data suggest that increasing Homer 1b expression increases excitatory synaptic inputs, increases synaptic maturation, and slows dendritic arbor growth rate. Exogenous Homer 1a expression increases AMPA mEPSC frequency, but did not significantly affect tectal cell dendritic arbor development. Changes in the ratio of Homer 1a to Homer 1b may signal the neuron that overall activity levels in the cell have changed, and this in turn could affect protein interactions at the synapse, synaptic transmission, and structural development of the dendritic arbor. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008.
Specific assays for bacteria using phage mediated release of adenylate kinase

A sensitive and rapid assay method for the specific detection of bacteria was developed using Escherichia coli and Salmonella newport as the test organisms. Bacteriophages were used to provide specific lysis of the bacteria and then the release of cell contents was measured by ATP bioluminescence. Increased sensitivity was obtained by focusing on the bacteria's adenylate kinase (AK) as the cell marker instead of ATP as conventionally used. Fewer than 103E. coli cells could be readily detected in less than 1 h. Salmonella newport assays, although as sensitive, were slower and took up to 2 h. The effects of the culture medium, the phage, and the presence of non‐specific bacteria were examined.
Barriers and Facilitators of Adolescent Health in Rural Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to identify perceived barriers and facilitators of health from the perspective of rural Kenyan adolescents and to characterize the cultural context that shapes these barriers and facilitators. Design: Following a semistructured interview guide, qualitative focus group interviews were conducted at day schools with 64 upper-primary and secondary students in rural central Kenya. Participants provided written parental consent and individual assent for study participation. Results: Findings were organized into seven categories (individual, family, peer, school, community, institutional, and cultural) according to a social–ecological framework to highlight the multiple social and environmental contexts that shape health the experiences rural Kenyan youth. Conclusions: The prevalence and complexity of factors that shape the health experiences of young people in rural Kenya displayed in these findings adds context to the importance of utilizing multipronged approaches to improving adolescent health by focusing on the social contextual determinants of health behaviors and outcomes.
Mutations specifically affecting ligand interaction of the Trg chemosensory transducer

The Trg transducer mediates chemotactic response to galactose and ribose by interacting, respectively, with sugar-occupied galactose- and ribose-binding proteins. Adaptation is linked to methylation of specific glutamyl residues of the Trg protein. This study characterized two trg mutations that affect interaction with binding protein ligands but do not affect methylation or adaptation. The mutant phenotypes indicated that the steady-state activity of methyl-accepting sites is independent of ligand-binding activity. The mutation trg-8 changed arginine 85 to histidine, and trg-19 changed glycine 151 to aspartate. The locations of the mutational changes provided direct evidence for functioning of the amino-terminal domain of Trg in ligand recognition. Cross-inhibition of tactic sensitivity by the two Trg-linked attractants implies competition for a common site on Trg. However, the single amino acid substitution caused by trg-19 greatly reduced the response to galactose but left unperturbed the response to ribose. Thus Trg must recognize the two sugar-binding proteins at nonidentical sites, and the complementary sites on the respective binding proteins should differ. trg-8 mutants were substantially defective in the response to both galactose and ribose. An increase in cellular content of Trg-8 protein improved the response to galactose but not to ribose. It appears that Trg-8 protein is defective in the generation of the putative conformational change induced by ligand interaction. The asymmetry of the mutational defect implies that functional separation of interaction sites could persist beyond the initial stage of ligand binding.