Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient Characteristics and Cell Source Determine the Number of Isolated Human Cardiac Progenitor Cells

Background— The identification and isolation of human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) offer new approaches for myocardial regeneration and repair. Still, the optimal source of human cardiac progenitor cells and the influence of patient characteristics on their number remain unclear. Using a novel method to isolate human cardiac progenitor cells, we aimed to define the optimal source and association between their number and patient characteristics. Methods and Results— We developed a novel isolation method that produced viable cells (7×106±6.53×105/g) from various tissue samples obtained during heart surgery or endomyocardial biopsies (113 samples from 94 patients 23 to 80 years of age). The isolated cardiac cells were grown in culture with a stem cell expansion medium. According to fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, cultured cells derived from the right atrium generated higher amounts of c-kit+ (24±2.5%) and Islet-1+ cells (7%) in culture (mean of passages 1, 2, and 3) than did cultured cells from the left atrium (7.3±3.5%), right ventricle (4.1±1.6%), and left ventricle (9.7±3%; P=0.001). According to multivariable analysis, the right atrium as the cell source and female sex were associated with a higher number of c-kit+ cells. There was no overlap between c-kit+ and Islet-1 expression. In vitro assays of differentiation into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and myogenic lineage showed that the isolated human cardiac progenitor cells were multipotent. Finally, the cells were transplanted into infarcted myocardium of rats and generated myocardial grafts. Conclusion— Our results show that the right atrium is the best source for c-kit+ and Islet-1 progenitors, with higher percentages of c-kit+ cells being produced by women.
A Role for Barley Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase CPK2a in the Response to Drought

Increasing the drought tolerance of crops is one of the most challenging goals in plant breeding. To improve crop productivity during periods of water deficit, it is essential to understand the complex regulatory pathways that adapt plant metabolism to environmental conditions. Among various plant hormones and second messengers, calcium ions are known to be involved in drought stress perception and signaling. Plants have developed specific calcium-dependent protein kinases that convert calcium signals into phosphorylation events. In this study we attempted to elucidate the role of a calcium-dependent protein kinase in the drought stress response of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), one of the most economically important crops worldwide. The ongoing barley genome project has provided useful information about genes potentially involved in the drought stress response, but information on the role of calcium-dependent kinases is still limited. We found that the gene encoding the calcium-dependent protein kinase HvCPK2a was significantly upregulated in response to drought. To better understand the role of HvCPK2a in drought stress signaling, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants that overexpressed the corresponding coding sequence. Overexpressing lines displayed drought sensitivity, reduced nitrogen balance index (NBI), an increase in total chlorophyll content and decreased relative water content. In addition, in vitro kinase assay experiments combined with mass spectrometry allowed HvCPK2a autophosphorylation sites to be identified. Our results suggest that HvCPK2a is a dual-specificity calcium-dependent protein kinase that functions as a negative regulator of the drought stress response in barley.
Méthodes, techniques et outils

On trouvera sous cette rubrique deux articles : - une presentation d’une archive ouverte de l’INRA, outil de travail federatif d’une communaute de pratique (Fanny Dedet, Isabelle Massart et Diane Le Henaff) ; - et la chronique de Daniel Bourrion, sur la formation a l’outil numerique.
Augmented cholesterol absorption and sarcolemmal sterol enrichment slow small intestinal transit in mice, contributing to cholesterol cholelithogenesis

Key points • Peristaltic function of the small intestine is compromised in cholelithogenic humans and in animal models of cholesterol gallstones. • In a mouse gallstone model fed a cholesterol‐ and cholic acid‐enriched diet, we show that slowing of small intestinal transit is due to absorption of excess cholesterol molecules from the upper small intestine followed by their incorporation into sarcolemmal membranes of smooth muscle cells. • Blocking cholesterol absorption with ezetimibe (Zetia), an inhibitor of intestinal sterol transport, prevents cholesterol enrichment of sarcolemmal membranes and normalizes the motility disorder. • Although the primary source of intestinal cholesterol in mice is the lithogenic diet, in most cholesterol gallstone‐prone humans, the small intestine is flooded continuously with an abundance of liver‐secreted cholesterol molecules via bile. • Our findings imply that small intestinal hypomotility will amplify the cholelithogenic state because of hyperabsorption of cholesterol and ‘secondary’ bile salt synthesis by the gut's anaerobic microbiota.
Evaluative Bias and Preference Behavior in Black and White Children.

Black and White Children. CLD DEVELOPMENT, 1973, 44, 776-783. In an attempt to reexamine the phenomenon of "self-rejection" in blacks, black and white children were asked to view the performance of 2 players (1 black, 1 white) in a ball-tossing game. Each S was in the presence of an E who was either black or white. Each game consisted of 5 trials; the performance outcome of each trial was controlled. Consistent with past research, white Ss showed preference for the white player by rewarding him more for his performance and by more often selecting him as overall "winner. " Although black children showed preference for the white player in rewarding him more, those same Ss showed preference for the black player by choosing him more often as overall winner. No consistent white preference in blacks was found to support an interpretation of global "self-rejection. " Instead, black children showed preference for whites and blacks as a function of the expressive task within which they were asked to make evaluations.
Cluster housing and freedom of choice: a response to Cummins and Lau’s and Bigby’s commentaries

Cummins and Lau suggest that the results of my study can ‘‘be dismissed’’ (p. 199) due to: (1) inappropriate use of multivariate statistical methods; (2) sample characteristics; and (3) ‘‘the differences cited are attributable to issues of resourcing and administration’’ (p. 200). As Stancliffe, Emerson, and Lakin (2004) note, ‘‘a pervasive problem of internal validity arises when comparing residential models, because service users are not assigned to models at random’’ (p. 461). There are, however, two commonly accepted procedures within the field for addressing this issue: matching (e.g., Emerson et al., 2000a; Stancliffe & Keane, 2000) and statistical control (e.g., Stancliffe, Abery, & Smith, 2000). The key issue in the use of statistical control is to enter as covariates those variables related to the personal characteristics of participants that may be related to the dependent variable (Stancliffe et al., 2004). By doing so, one can be more confident that any between-group differences that are found can be attributed to the social intervention rather than the characteristics of the people receiving the intervention. This is precisely the approach that I adopted in this paper and have adopted with colleagues in previous research. As indicated very clearly in my paper, I specifically did not load ‘‘all available factors into a covariate blunderbuss’’ (Cummins & Lau, 2004, p. 199). Interestingly, we have previously published research using exactly
Blocking initial infiltration of pioneer CD8+ T‐cells into the CNS via inhibition of SHP‐2 ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice

In contrast to T‐cell priming in the periphery, therapeutic strategies targeting the initiation step of T‐cell trafficking into the CNS have not been extensively investigated. In this study, we examined the effect of NSC‐87877, a potent Src homology 2‐containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP‐2) inhibitor, on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and elucidated its unique mechanism of action.
VENN, a tool for titrating sequence conservation onto protein structures

Residue conservation is an important, established method for inferring protein function, modularity and specificity. It is important to recognize that it is the 3D spatial orientation of residues that drives sequence conservation. Considering this, we have built a new computational tool, VENN that allows researchers to interactively and graphically titrate sequence homology onto surface representations of protein structures. Our proposed titration strategies reveal critical details that are not readily identified using other existing tools. Analyses of a bZIP transcription factor and receptor recognition of Fibroblast Growth Factor using VENN revealed key specificity determinants. Weblink: http://sbtools.uchc. edu/venn/.
Effects of collecting blood into plastic heparinised vacutainer tubes and storage conditions on blood gas analysis values in horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Plastic heparinised vacutainer tubes are used for blood gas analysis in horses. This collection method may not be ideal because influx of atmospheric O(2) through the permeable plastic wall of the vacutainer tube and loss of CO(2) into the gas phase above the blood sample should increase blood PO(2) and decrease PCO(2), respectively. OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of collecting blood into plastic vacutainer tubes and storage conditions on blood gas analysis values. METHODS Blood was obtained from 6 healthy horses and tonometered at 37 °C with 12% O(2) and 5% CO(2). Three ml aliquots of tonometered blood were collected using a glass syringe or vacutainer tube and stored in iced water or at room temperature for 0, 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. Blood samples from vacutainer tubes were collected aerobically (tube opened for 5 s) or anaerobically (tube remained closed). Blood gas analysis was performed in duplicate using a Radiometer ABL5. Data was analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance and P < 0.05 was significant. RESULTS Compared to the glass syringe, tonometered blood collected in vacutainer tubes had an immediate, significant, sustained and marked increase in PO(2) and an immediate, significant, transient but small decrease in PCO(2). Blood PO(2) and PCO(2) were higher when vacutainer tubes were stored in iced water instead of at room temperature. Measured blood pH and calculated values for plasma bicarbonate and total CO(2) concentration and base excess of extracellular fluid were similar when blood was collected in glass syringes or vacutainer tubes and values were not altered by storage temperature or time. CONCLUSIONS Plastic heparinised vacutainer tubes should not be used to collect samples for measurement of blood PCO(2) and PO(2). Vacutainer tubes provide an accurate method for measuring plasma bicarbonate concentration, total CO(2) concentration and base excess.
GETTING ‘EASY’ VERBS WRONG AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL

L'A. examine les erreurs faites dans le choix lexical du verbe dans le discours du LNN de niveau avance en anglais. Il analyse les causes de certaines de ces erreurs: influence de la L1 (allemand) confusion dans la frontiere semantique des verbes, etc.
Estimation of Kinetic Rates of MAP Kinase Activation from Experimental Data

Mathematical model is an important tool in systems biology to study the dynamics of biological systems inside the cell. One of the significant challenges in systems biology is the lack of kinetic rates that should be measured in experiments or estimated from experimental data. This work addresses this issue by using a genetic algorithm to estimate reaction rates related to the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of MAP kinase (ERK) in the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway from biological measurements. In addition, we discuss the robustness of the mathematical model with regards to the variation of kinetic rates together with external noise due to environmental fluctuations. This has been proposed as an additional criterion to choose the estimate from the candidate parameter sets that are obtained from different implementations of the genetic algorithm.
English for Cross-Cultural Communication: The Question of Intelligibility.

When people talk about the use of English as a language for crosscultural communication, the one question which is asked most frequently is "How can we insure mutual intelligibility among speakers from different cultures? " This paper is a report of an empirical study on this question involving 1,386 people from eleven countries. There is no claim that the question has been fully answered, but hopefully the report does provide insights into the question and information towards the answer.
A Fusion Decision Method Based on the Dynamic Fuzzy Density Assignment

Fuzzy density is an important part of fuzzy integral, which is used to describe the reliability of classifiers in the process of fusion. Most of the fuzzy density assignment methods are based on the training priori knowledge of the classifier and ignore the difference of the testing samples themselves. To better describe the real-time reliability of the classifier in the fusion process, the dispersion of the classifier is calculated according to the decision information which outputted by the classifier. Then the divisibility of the classifier is obtained through the information entropy of the dispersion. Finally, the divisibility and the priori knowledge are combined to get the fuzzy density which can be dynamically adjusted. Experiments on JAFFE and CK databases show that, compared with traditional fuzzy integral methods, the proposed method can effectively improve the decision performance of fuzzy integral and reduce the interference of unreliable output information to decision. And it is an effective multi-classifier fusion method.
The role and reliability of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in U.S. sexually violent predator evaluations: a case law survey.

The civil commitment of offenders as sexually violent predators (SVPs) is a highly contentious area of U.S. mental health law. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is frequently used in mental health evaluations in these cases to aid legal decision making. Although generally perceived to be a useful assessment tool in applied settings, recent research has raised questions about the reliability of PCL-R scores in SVP cases. In this report, we review the use of the PCL-R in SVP trials identified as part of a larger project investigating its role in U.S. case law. After presenting data on how the PCL-R is used in SVP cases, we examine the reliability of scores reported in these cases. We located 214 cases involving the PCL-R, 88 of which included an actual score and 29 of which included multiple scores. In the 29 cases with multiple scores, the intraclass correlation coefficient for a single evaluator for the PCL-R scores was only . 58, and only 41.4% of the difference scores were within 1 standard error of measurement unit. The average score reported by prosecution experts was significantly higher than the average score reported by defense-retained experts, and prosecution experts reported PCL-R scores of 30 or above in nearly 50% of the cases, compared with less than 10% of the cases for defense witnesses (κ = .29). In conjunction with other recently published findings demonstrating the unreliability of PCL-R scores in applied settings, our results raise questions as to whether this instrument should be admitted into SVP proceedings.
Acoustic and non-acoustic factors in modeling listener-specific performance of sagittal-plane sound localization

The ability of sound-source localization in sagittal planes (along the top-down and front-back dimension) varies considerably across listeners. The directional acoustic spectral features, described by head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), also vary considerably across listeners, a consequence of the listener-specific shape of the ears. It is not clear whether the differences in localization ability result from differences in the encoding of directional information provided by the HRTFs, i.e., an acoustic factor, or from differences in auditory processing of those cues (e.g., spectral-shape sensitivity), i.e., non-acoustic factors. We addressed this issue by analyzing the listener-specific localization ability in terms of localization performance. Directional responses to spatially distributed broadband stimuli from 18 listeners were used. A model of sagittal-plane localization was fit individually for each listener by considering the actual localization performance, the listener-specific HRTFs representing the acoustic factor, and an uncertainty parameter representing the non-acoustic factors. The model was configured to simulate the condition of complete calibration of the listener to the tested HRTFs. Listener-specifically calibrated model predictions yielded correlations of, on average, 0.93 with the actual localization performance. Then, the model parameters representing the acoustic and non-acoustic factors were systematically permuted across the listener group. While the permutation of HRTFs affected the localization performance, the permutation of listener-specific uncertainty had a substantially larger impact. Our findings suggest that across-listener variability in sagittal-plane localization ability is only marginally determined by the acoustic factor, i.e., the quality of directional cues found in typical human HRTFs. Rather, the non-acoustic factors, supposed to represent the listeners' efficiency in processing directional cues, appear to be important.
Territorialities in Scotland: perceptions of young people in Glasgow

This paper presents the results of an exploratory, small-scale qualitative research enquiry into the perceptions and experiences of young people in communities afflicted by deprivation in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city. The context within which we address this focus contains a culture reputed to involve sectarianism, territoriality and gangs. Glasgow has a reputation for being a ‘hard place’. The official crime statistics are consistent with comparatively high levels of violent crime impacting upon this culture. We adopted semi-structured interviews in order to explore young people's perspectives as well as those working with them in youth venues. Most of the data collection took place in ‘youth centres’ close to the two stadiums of the major Scottish football clubs, namely Rangers and Celtic. Social capital theory is incorporated into the analysis of the results. The findings suggest that territoriality is the dominant parameter shaping their experience of and perceptions regarding neighbourhood areas, a conclusion endorsed by recent research about religious intermarriage.
Direct Interaction between Survivin and Smac/DIABLO Is Essential for the Anti-apoptotic Activity of Survivin during Taxol-induced Apoptosis*

Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family that has been implicated in both apoptosis inhibition and cell cycle control. However, its inhibitory mechanism and subcellular localization remain controversial. In this report, we provided evidence for the first time that Survivin physically interacts with Smac/DIABLO both in vitro and in vivo. A point mutation (D71R) in the baculovirus IAP repeat motif and a C-terminal deletion mutant (Surv-BIR) of Survivin fail to bind to Smac/DIABLO and abrogate its ability to inhibit apoptosis. The N-terminal of mature Smac/DIABLO is absolutely required for Survivin·Smac complex formation. Subcellular distributions of Survivin and Smac/DIABLO showed that they co-localized within the cytosol during interphase. In addition, Survivin was found to be incapable of binding to caspase. We also identified that the co-presence of Smac/DIABLO and XIAP was required for Survivin to inhibit caspase cleavage in a cell-free system. In conclusion, our results provide the first evidence that the interaction between Smac/DIABLO and Survivin is an essential step underling the inhibition of apoptosis induced by Taxol.
Dimensions of Religion/Spirituality and Relevance to Health Research

This study aimed to identify unique religion/ spirituality (R/S) factors that account for variation in R/S measures of interest to health research. A 127-item questionnaire that included R/S items from classic, personality, clinical, and recent R/S-health research was administered to California state college students (n = 846) and to members of two California churches (n = 425). A seven-factor solution emerged that explained 61.5% of total variance that replicated across independent samples and that was highly stable across diverse subgroups. A large primary factor (28% of explained variance) included a number of key R/S measures assessing R/S motivation, devotion, and coping. Six other factors, each accounting for 6% to 9%, supported the discriminant validity of social support, existential well-being, extrinsic motivation, religious proscription, and two personality factors (spiritual and self transcendence). The link between current results and literature on health is discussed in terms of current causal models.
From Tesla to Tetris: Mental Rotation, Vocation, and Gifted Education

Mental rotation ability is important for success in a number of academic and career fields, especially the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) domains. Individual differences in intelligence, spatial ability, strategy selection biases, and gender are all associated with proficiency in mental rotation. Interventions and activities that develop and improve mental rotation skills also increase success in the STEM and related domains. Thus, intellectually gifted students interested in these domains need opportunities to develop their mental rotation skills and spatially gifted students need opportunities to develop their skills in the STEM domains. Parents, teachers, and programs for the gifted should provide these opportunities and increase emphasis on developing spatial abilities, generally, and mental rotation, in particular, for our gifted children.
The Intersections of Living-Learning Programs and Social Identity as Factors of Academic Achievement and Intellectual Engagement

Findings from this study show that living-learning (LL) programs at a research institution in the Midwest have a series of positive outcomes for both academic achievement and intellectual engagement. Controlling for past academic achievement, socioeconomic status, and demographic characteristics, LL programs are predictors, albeit small predictors, of students' academic achievement and intellectual engagement. In addition, specific academic and intellectual benefits of LL program participation for students of color, non-Christian, and gay, lesbian, and bisexual students are found.
An experiment in constructing an open expert system using a knowledge substrate

This paper discusses an experiment in the use of an object-centered knowledge representation service to provide a common conceptual model for the construction of a large knowledge-intensive decision support tool. A core knowledge substrate forms a common resource for a variety of problem-solving activities and a basis for the rapid construction of new capabilities. FAME, a substantial expert system to aid in the financial marketing of IBM mainframes, has been built and extensively tested in the field to validate our tools and techniques.