Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A tissue specific IL‐1 receptor antagonist homolog from the IL‐1 cluster lacks IL‐1, IL‐1ra, IL‐18 and IL‐18 antagonist activities

Interleukin (IL)‐1‐like protein 1 (IL‐1L1) is a 155‐amino acid protein that shares 27% identity with IL‐1β and 47% with IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra). A 2.7‐kb IL‐1L1 mRNA was cloned from human placenta and is detectable in the trophoblastic cell line JEG‐3, in macrophages and in endotoxin‐stimulated monocytes. Expression of IL‐1L1 is much less abundant and less widespread than IL‐1ra. We have determined the human and mouse IL‐1L1 cDNA sequences and the complete sequence of the human gene, IL1L1. IL1L1 consists of four coding exons, has two alternative non‐coding first exons, lies between IL1B and IL1RN, is orientated in the same direction as IL1RN and is separated from it by ∼53 kb. The predicted IL‐1L1 protein lacks both signal sequence and glycosylation signals. A 17‐kDa protein was recovered by immunoprecipitation with IL‐1L1‐specific antibodies from JEG‐3. IL‐1L1 did not stimulate IL‐6 production from primary human fibroblasts or human umbilical vein endothelial cells nor did it block the IL‐1α or IL‐1β‐dependent activation of IL‐6 expression. We conclude, contrary to a recent suggestion made by others, that IL‐1L1 is not a functional IL‐1ra. IL‐1L1 also had no detectable agonistic or antagonistic effect on IFN‐γ production in response to IL‐18 in KG‐1 cells.
Examining the Impact of Macro-Economic Conditions on Income Inequality

This paper proposes a new approach for analyzing the relationship between macroeconomic factors and the income distribution. The conventional method of analysis is regression of summary inequality indices on variables such as the unemployment and inflation rates. Building on the lessons from recent advances in time-series econometrics, we suggest instead that one should first fit a parametric functional form to the income distribution for each year, and then model the time series of model parameters in terms of the macroeconomic factors. Inferences about the relationship between the income distribution and macro-economic factors can be derived from the model estimates. We apply these methods to data from the United Kingdom for 1961-91, and contrast the results with those found using earlier methods.
Psychiatric diagnosis and risk for tardive dyskinesia.

To the Editor. — Risk factors for tardive dyskinesia continue to be a controversial issue, and factors like age, sex, duration of treatment with neuroleptics, and type of treatment have been the focus of most research in this area. Little attention has been paid to the role of psychiatric diagnosis in predisposing for this syndrome. Tardive dyskinesia has been largely associated with schizophrenic disorders. Some authors suggested that patients with affective disorders may be at a high risk for tardive dyskinesia. 1,2 Recently, in a study of psychiatric outpatients receiving long-term treatment with neuroleptics (>1 year), Mukherjee et al reported a considerably high incidence of tardive dyskinesia in a population in which half the patients did not meet diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. 3 The role of psychiatric diagnosis in tardive dyskinesia deserves more study. We recently completed a study of risk factors for tardive dyskinesia in a university
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine Prevents Stress-Induced Desmin Aggregation in Cellular Models of Desminopathy

Mutations within the human desmin gene are responsible for a subcategory of myofibrillar myopathies called desminopathies. However, a single inherited mutation can produce different phenotypes within a family, suggesting that environmental factors influence disease states. Although several mouse models have been used to investigate organ-specific desminopathies, a more general mechanistic perspective is required to advance our knowledge toward patient treatment. To improve our understanding of disease pathology, we have developed cellular models to observe desmin behaviour in early stages of disease pathology, e.g., upon formation of cytoplasmic desmin aggregates, within an isogenic background. We cloned the wildtype and three mutant desmin cDNAs using a Tet-On Advanced® expression system in C2C12 cells. Mutations were selected based on positioning within desmin and capacity to form aggregates in transient experiments, as follows: DesS46Y (head domain; low aggregation), DesD399Y (central rod domain; high aggregation), and DesS460I (tail domain; moderate aggregation). Introduction of these proteins into a C2C12 background permitted us to compare between desmin variants as well as to determine the role of external stress on aggregation. Three different types of stress, likely encountered during muscle activity, were introduced to the cell models—thermal (heat shock), redox-associated (H2O2 and cadmium chloride), and mechanical (stretching) stresses—after which aggregation was measured. Cells containing variant DesD399Y were more sensitive to stress, leading to marked cytoplasmic perinuclear aggregations. We then evaluated the capacity of biochemical compounds to prevent this aggregation, applying dexamethasone (an inducer of heat shock proteins), fisetin or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (antioxidants) before stress induction. Interestingly, N-acetyl-L-cysteine pre-treatment prevented DesD399Y aggregation during most stress. N-acetyl-L-cysteine has recently been described as a promising antioxidant in myopathies linked to selenoprotein N or ryanodin receptor defects. Our findings indicate that this drug warrants further study in animal models to speed its potential development as a therapy for DesD399Y-linked desminopathies.
Early detection of alcoholic liver disease

We read with interest the paper by Sahlman et al. [1] They affirm that efforts to improve poor outcome of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) patients should be focussed on early detection and prevention of ALD. Ethanol is the third leading cause of death and disability in the Western world; it also represents the second leading cause of liver disease and the second leading cause of liver transplantation. About 40–50% of deaths in the course of liver cirrhosis are attributed to ethanol consumption. [2] Ethanol and acetaldehyde directly stimulate stellate cells’ starting mechanisms of fibrogenesis. [3] The evolution of steatosis–cirrhosis varies from 5 to 30 years in relation to the associated risk factors and genetic polymorphism. This last variable makes the evolution unpredictable. [4] It is known that the alcohol’s association with HCV, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic syndrome can enhance and accelerate the mechanism of fibrogenesis. [2] The relative risk of developing fibrosis is dose dependent, although this risk increases significantly in the case of hazardous-harmful consumption. For these listed reasons, in our opinion all subjects affected by alcohol dependence or harmful consumption (isolated or associated with other risk factors) should be tested during the first evaluation with ultrasonography and elastography even without laboratory alterations. It is essential to draw greater attention to APs. It is known that ALD is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. A diagnostic delay of about 40 months has been estimated. [5] In addition, Edenvik et al. [6] noted that in the case of ALD and NAFLD the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed through surveillance was only 22%. Often there are no sonographers with sufficient preparation in the field of hepatology and alcohology. Ethanol promotes HCC through the development of cirrhosis and also through a direct genotoxic mechanism. [7] Welzel et al. [8] evidenced that the largest attributable fraction of the population is associated with alcohol consumption plus HCV infection (39.7%). Very early diagnosis (HCC under 2 cm) allows us to offer the patient curative treatment strategies. [2] The cause of diagnostic delay in cases of ALD is likely related to the physicians’ cultural issues: alcohol addiction is often considered a self-inflicted disease and not worthy of special attention. The oncologic surveillance of ALD must continue even after achieving abstention: each year of abstention reduces the risk by 8–10%. [9] Heckley et al. evidenced a risk comparable to the general population after 20 years. In our experience, early diagnosis of ALD almost associated with other risk factors certainly helps the APs to strengthen their motivation to tackle the difficult path to sobriety. It was detected in APs with HCV that a change in lifestyle has significantly strengthened the possibility of being subjected to antiviral therapy or liver transplantation. [10] Therefore, the need arises to encourage greater attention by the physician towards alcoholic diseases.
Lack of S-Adenosylmethionine Results in a Cell Division Defect in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The enzyme S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthetase, theEscherichia coli metK gene product, produces SAM, the cell’s major methyl donor. We show here that SAM synthetase activity is induced by leucine and repressed by Lrp, the leucine-responsive regulatory protein. When SAM synthetase activity falls below a certain critical threshold, the cells produce long filaments with regularly distributed nucleoids. Expression of a plasmid-carried metKgene prevents filamentation and restores normal growth to themetK mutant. This indicates that lack of SAM results in a division defect.
On the Timing of Dividend Initiations

We study the timing and significance of dividend initiations in the life cycle of a firm. Following a sample of firms from the IPO onwards, and using a hazard model to examine which factors predict initiations, we find that: (i) initiators are large firms with relatively high profitability and cash balances, and low growth rates; and (ii) systematic risk does not change significantly around initiations, in contrast to previous studies on dividend changes. These results are contrary to the signaling theories of dividend policy. Finally, we find mixed evidence that a firm's propensity to initiate dividends is affected by the market sentiment for dividends.
Inference of Transcriptional Networks in Arabidopsis through Conserved Noncoding Sequence Analysis[C][W]

The authors used comparative sequence analysis to delineate, using 12 flowering plants, conserved noncoding sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana and demonstrated a high enrichment for functional cis-regulatory elements in these conserved regions. Based on known binding sites, a gene regulatory network was generated, revealing new and condition-specific functional gene regulatory interactions. Transcriptional regulation plays an important role in establishing gene expression profiles during development or in response to (a)biotic stimuli. Transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) are the functional elements that determine transcriptional activity, and the identification of individual TFBS in genome sequences is a major goal to inferring regulatory networks. We have developed a phylogenetic footprinting approach for the identification of conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) across 12 dicot plants. Whereas both alignment and non-alignment-based techniques were applied to identify functional motifs in a multispecies context, our method accounts for incomplete motif conservation as well as high sequence divergence between related species. We identified 69,361 footprints associated with 17,895 genes. Through the integration of known TFBS obtained from the literature and experimental studies, we used the CNSs to compile a gene regulatory network in Arabidopsis thaliana containing 40,758 interactions, of which two-thirds act through binding events located in DNase I hypersensitive sites. This network shows significant enrichment toward in vivo targets of known regulators, and its overall quality was confirmed using five different biological validation metrics. Finally, through the integration of detailed expression and function information, we demonstrate how static CNSs can be converted into condition-dependent regulatory networks, offering opportunities for regulatory gene annotation.
Reidemeister Torsion of 3-Dimensional Euler Structures with Simple Boundary Tangency and Legendrian Knots

We generalize Turaev’s definition of torsion invariants of pairs (M, ξ), where M is a 3-dimensional manifold and ξ is an Euler structure on M (a non-singular vector field up to homotopy relative to ∂M and local modifications in Int(M)). Namely, we allow M to have arbitrary boundary and ξ to have simple (convex and/or concave) tangency circles to the boundary. We prove that Turaev’s H1(M)-equivariance formula holds also in our generalized context. Our torsions apply in particular to (the exterior of) Legendrian links (in particular, knots) in contact 3-manifolds, and we prove that they can distinguish knots which are isotopic as framed knots but not as Legendrian knots. Using the combinatorial encoding of vector fields based on branched standard spines we show how to explicitly invert Turaev’s reconstruction map from combinatorial to smooth Euler structures, thus making the computation of torsions a more effective one. As an example we work out a specific computation. Mathematics Subject Classification (1991): 57N10 (primary), 57Q10, 57R25 (secondary).
'Community' as a landscape of intangible cultural heritage: Fasho-fu in Kijoka, a Japanese example of a traditional woven textile and its relationship with the public.

This article explores the concept of ‘community’ as a place which engages with ‘self’ and ‘other’ in safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. By observing a scheme piloted by the Japanese government to promote traditional craft industries, I will show how a cultural form and its practitioners are attached to a particular place, and how the government’s support of ‘traditional craft products’ invites outside evaluation and consumption of those products. The case study of a traditional woven textile, Kijoka-no-Basho-fu, produced in Okinawa Prefecture, suggests that ‘community’ allows practitioners to embody the time-space configuration of their work and also frames the public perception of this work as ‘tradition’. Cultural heritage within a community creates a site where one may recognise one’s self through one’s experience of outside values and social change.
Development and Validation of the Objectives for Language Stimulation Home Training Activity Manual in Hindi for Parents of the Children with Hearing Impairment

The Study was aimed to develop and validate the items/ objectives for language stimulation home training activity manual useful for the children with hearing impairment in the chronological age range of 2-6 years. A Quasi Experimental Research Design was chosen to undertake the present study, in which 15 subjects (5 Parents of the hearing impaired, 5 Special educators of hearing impaired and 5 audiologist and speech-language pathologist) as judges were included. All subjects were having or teaching schools going severe to profound hearing impaired children in the age range of 2-6 years. All set items/ objectives under each section of the activity manual was given to all the subjects to rate under 4 points rating scale. The keys and rating points for judging the items was, (a) Not relevant & useful: 1, (b) Very Limited use & relevant: 2, (c) Mostly suitable & useful: 3 and (d) Most relevant & Very useful: 4. The judges were requested to re-write the irrelevant or undecided questions as they think most relevant or add their views to present questions. ANOVAs test was done to see the significant difference among the groups for the set objectives. To signify that there was no significant difference among the groups for the selected objectives, intra-reliability test (spearman brown coefficient) was done. The selected objectives will be useful and helpful to develop a home training activity manual for Parents for the children with hearing impairment.
A Comparison of Parametric, Semi-nonparametric, Adaptive, and Nonparametric Cointegration Tests

This paper provides an extensive Monte-Carlo comparison of severalcontemporary cointegration tests. Apart from the familiar Gaussian basedtests of Johansen, we also consider tests based on non-Gaussianquasi-likelihoods. Moreover, we compare the performance of these parametrictests with tests that estimate the score function from the data using eitherkernel estimation or semi-nonparametric density approximations. Thecomparison is completed with a fully nonparametric cointegration test. Insmall samples, the overall performance of the semi-nonparametric approachappears best in terms of size and power. The main cost of thesemi-nonparametric approach is the increased computation time. In largesamples and for heavily skewed or multimodal distributions, the kernel basedadaptive method dominates. For near-Gaussian distributions, however, thesemi-nonparametric approach is preferable again.
RISK-AWARE MITIGATION FOR MANET USING DEMPSTER - SHAFER THEORY BY CONSIDERING PERFORMANCE MATRICS

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) are proven network but due to its dynamic nature highly affected with attacks. Among these attacks, routing attacks have received considerable attention since it could cause the most devastating damage to MANET. Even though there exist several intrusion response techniques to mitigate such critical attacks, existing solutions typically attempt to
Upregulation of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Pathway by Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain in Pancreatic β-Cells Leads to Increased β-Cell Mass and Prevention of Hyperglycemia

OBJECTIVE Components of insulin/IGF-1 receptor–mediated signaling pathways in pancreatic β-cells have been implicated in the development of diabetes, in part through the regulation of β-cell mass in vivo. Studies in vitro have shown that the protein Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) plays a key role as a positive upstream regulator of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway in integrating inputs from nutrients and growth factors for cell growth. Our objective was to investigate the role of the mTORC1 pathway in the regulation of β-cell mass in vivo. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We generated transgenic mice that overexpress Rheb in β-cells. We examined the activation of the mTORC1 pathway and its effects on β-cell mass, on glucose metabolism, and on protection against hyperglycemia. RESULTS Immunoblots of islet extracts revealed that the phosphorylation levels of ribosomal protein S6 and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1, downstream effectors for mTORC1, were upregulated in transgenic β-cells. Immunostaining of the pancreatic sections with anti–phospho-S6 antibody confirmed upregulation of the mTORC1 pathway in β-cells in vivo. The mice showed improved glucose tolerance with higher insulin secretion. This arose from increased β-cell mass accompanied by increased cell size. The mice also exhibited resistance to hyperglycemia induced by streptozotocin and obesity. CONCLUSIONS Activation of the mTORC1 pathway by Rheb led to increased β-cell mass in this mouse model without producing obvious unfavorable effects, giving a potential approach for the treatment of β-cell failure and diabetes.
Recent Developments in Optofluidic Lens Technology

Optofluidics is a rapidly growing versatile branch of adaptive optics including a wide variety of applications such as tunable beam shaping tools, mirrors, apertures, and lenses. In this review, we focus on recent developments in optofluidic lenses, which arguably forms the most important part of optofluidics devices. We report first on a number of general characteristics and characterization methods for optofluidics lenses and their optical performance, including aberrations and their description in terms of Zernike polynomials. Subsequently, we discuss examples of actuation methods separately for spherical optofluidic lenses and for more recent tunable aspherical lenses. Advantages and disadvantages of various actuation schemes are presented, focusing in particular on electrowetting-driven lenses and pressure-driven liquid lenses that are covered by elastomeric sheets. We discuss in particular the opportunities for detailed aberration control by using either finely controlled electric fields or specifically designed elastomeric lenses.
Antenna concept for an Automotive Radar Sensor at 150 GHz

Current Automotive Radar sensors operate in a frequency range up to 81 GHz to provide distance, velocity and angle information about traffic objects. For detecting weakly reflecting objects in presence of a nearby strong reflector (e.g. a person standing close to a van) there are high demands on a radar systems angular resolution. A possibility to improve the angular resolution is increasing the operation frequency. In this paper an antenna concept at 150 GHz is presented showing the benefits of high resolution radar for cars.
Wallas’ Four-Stage Model of the Creative Process: More Than Meets the Eye?

Based on a detailed reading of Graham Wallas’ Art of Thought (1926) it is argued that his four-stage model of the creative process (Preparation, Incubation, Illumination, Verification), in spite of holding sway as a conceptual anchor for many creativity researchers, does not reflect accurately Wallas’ full account of the creative process. Instead, it is suggested that a four-stage model that gives due recognition to the detailed treatment Wallas gave to the Intimation stage is a more authentic representation of his explanation of creativity. A version of this model with three levels of proximity to consciousness (nonconsciousness; fringe consciousness; consciousness) and five stages (Preparation; Incubation; Intimation; Illumination; Verification) is presented as a general conceptual architecture within which relevant concepts and theories from more recent creativity research, including neuroscience and intuition, are positioned and from which a number of implications are drawn.
Effect of Nutrient Starvation on the Cellular Composition and Metabolic Capacity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT This investigation addresses the following question: what are the important factors for maintenance of a high catabolic capacity under various starvation conditions? Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cultured in aerobic batch cultures, and during the diauxic shift cells were transferred and subjected to 24 h of starvation. The following conditions were used: carbon starvation, nitrogen starvation in the presence of glucose or ethanol, and both carbon starvation and nitrogen starvation. During the starvation period changes in biomass composition (including protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and nucleic acid contents), metabolic activity, sugar transport kinetics, and the levels of selected enzymes were recorded. Subsequent to the starvation period the remaining catabolic capacity was measured by addition of 50 mM glucose. The results showed that the glucose transport capacity is a key factor for maintenance of high metabolic capacity in many, but not all, cases. The results for cells starved of carbon, carbon and nitrogen, or nitrogen in the presence of glucose all indicated that the metabolic capacity was indeed controlled by the glucose transport ability, perhaps with some influence of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, aldolase, and enolase levels. However, it was also demonstrated that there was no such correlation when nitrogen starvation occurred in the presence of ethanol instead of glucose.