Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preovulatory rise of NGF in ovine follicular fluid: Possible involvement in the control of oocyte maturation

Since nerve growth factor (NGF) is produced in vitro by granulosa cells after gonadotropin stimulation, the present research has been designed to investigate whether this neurotropin is involved in the events triggered by the gonadotropin surge that lead the follicle to ovulate a mature oocyte. To this aim, NGF levels in follicular fluid, collected before or 20 hours after the gonadotropin surge, was measured by ELISA. To evaluate whether NGF may have a non‐neurotropic effect on follicle cells, the presence of NGF receptors was investigated by immunohistochemistry and further evaluated by analysing the tyrosine‐phosphorylation pattern after NGF stimulation in vitro. The effect of NGF on the degree of cumulus expansion, cumulus‐oocyte metabolic coupling, and meiotic maturation was finally studied by using the culture of follicle‐enclosed oocyte. The results demonstrate that GnRH causes a dramatic rise of NGF in large follicles. Immunohistochemistry revealed a discrete positivity for trkA receptors localised in cumulus cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation pattern confirms that somatic cells are capable to transduce NGF signal. By contrast, all the oocytes examined were negative for trkA and did not change the phosphorylation pattern after NGF. In vitro NGF (100 ng/ml) induced a marked cumulus expansion and a progressive cumulus‐oocyte uncoupling similar to that produced by gonadotropins. The addition of NGF also caused the resumption of meiosis in more than 70% of the oocytes analysed with an effect that is only slightly less pronounced than that of gonadotropins (80%). The increase in NGF secretion following gonadotropin surge suggests that this neurotropin may be involved in the control of oocyte maturation. Microsc. Res. Tech. 59:516–521, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bidirectional association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes in Chinese population: Evidence from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort study

Objectives The aim of this study is to examine the bidirectional association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The data was derived from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort study, which was established in 2008 and followed until October 2013. NAFLD was classified as none, mild, moderate/severe based on ultrasound examination. The analysis to examine the association between NAFLD and incident T2DM risk included 18,111 participants free of diabetes at baseline and the duration of follow-up was 4.60 ± 0.60 years. Cox proportional regression model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) for the association. The analysis to investigate the association between T2DM and incident NAFLD risk included 12,435 participants free of NAFLD at baseline. Logistic regression model was used to calculate the odd ratio (OR) of NAFLD. Results Compared with those without NAFLD, individuals with mild or moderate/severe NAFLD had a monotonic elevated risk of developing T2DM (HR: 1.88 [95% CI: 1.63–2.18] and 2.34 [1.85–2.96], respectively) after adjustment for potential confounders. In a parallel analysis, compared to participants with fasting plasma glucose < 6.1 mmol/L, the ORs of developing NAFLD in subjects with impaired fasting glucose and T2DM were 1.35 (95% CI: 1.16–1.57) and 1.40 (95% CI: 1.22–1.62), respectively. Conclusions Our results provide compelling evidence that the NAFLD-T2DM association is bidirectional in Chinese population.
What the Disinterested Perceiver Overlooks: Goal-Directed Social Categorization

Previous research has suggested that initial categorization of a target is a rapid, automatic process that occurs relatively independently of attentional and motivational factors. Further processing requires both perceiver interest in the target and sufficient attentional resources. The present study investigated the effects of information-processing goals on the categorization process. With one of three information-processing goals in place-accountability to a third party, estimation of the target's height, or inspection of the videotape's clarity-subjects watched a videotape of a businesswoman. Target categorization was measured usinga lexical decision task. The results demonstrated that whereas subjects in aU conditions categorized the target at a superordinate level (i.e., woman), accountable subjects also categorized the target at a more differentiated subtype level (ie., businesswoman). The authors consider these findings in the context of contemporary models of stereotyping and impression formation.
Mannose‐binding lectin in innate immunity: past, present and future

Abstract The human collectin, mannose‐binding lectin (MBL), is an important protein of the humoral innate immune system. With multiple carbohydrate‐recognition domains, it is able to bind to sugar groups displayed on the surfaces of a wide range of microorganisms and thereby provide first‐line defence. Importantly, it also activates the complement system through a distinctive third pathway, independent of both antibody and the C1 complex. Three single point mutations in exon 1 of the expressed human MBL‐2 gene appear to impair the generation of functional oligomers. Such deficiencies of functional protein are common in certain populations, e.g. in sub‐Saharan Africa, but virtually absent in others, e.g. indigenous Australians. MBL disease association studies have been a fruitful area of research and implicate a role for MBL in infective, inflammatory and autoimmune disease processes. Overall, there appears to be a genetic balance in which individuals generally benefit from high levels of the protein. However, in certain situations, reduced levels of circulating MBL may be beneficial to the host and this may explain the persistence of the deleterious gene polymorphisms in many population groups.
On Spatially Partitioned Temporal Join

This paper presents an innovative partitionbased time join strategy for temporal databases where time is represented by time intervals. The proposed method maps time intervals to points in a two dimensional space and partitions the space into subspaces. Tupies of a temporal relation are clustered into partitions based on the mapping in the space. As a result, when two temporal relations are to be joined over the time attribute, a partition in one relation only needs to be compared with a predetermined set of partitions of the other relation. The mapping scheme and the join algorithms are described. The use of spatial indexing techniques to support direct access to the stored partitions is discussed. The results of a preliminary performance study indicate the efficiency of the proposed method.
LONG-TERM VARIATIONS OF THE INTEGRAL RADIATION FLUX AND POSSIBLE TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN THE SOLAR CORE Kh. I. Abdusamatov

We show that the cyclic 11-year variations observed in the solar integral radiation flux are due to some fundamental global processes which occur deeply in the Sun and which cause the corresponding changes in the radius and effective temperature of the photosphere. The 11-year variations of the "solar constant" are determined almost entirely by the changes of the area of the radiating photosphere surface at a constant effective temperature. So, an 11-year heliocycle is a simultaneous phaseand amplitude-correlated oscillation of the solar activity, radius, and radiation flux. The secular variations of the "solar constant" were detected directly for the first time. We suppose that the observed identical long-term variations of the activity, radius, and radiation flux are caused by some common processes which occur deeply in the Sun. They correlate with the global oscillations of the whole Sun. Such oscillations are caused by cyclic changes of the temperature in the solar core, and they can trigger the generation of the solar cycles. We expect that the next relatively deep minimum of the solar activity, radius, and radiation flux in the 200-year quasi-cycle will be close to the Maunder minimum level and will occur in the year 2040 ±10.
Angiotensin II Stimulates Endothelial Integrin β3 Expression via Nuclear Factor-κB Activation

ABSTRACT The present study examined the effect and part mechanism of angiotensin II–stimulated integrin β3 gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Protein level and mRNA level of integrin β3 expression were determined using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Four plasmids of 5′-different deletion of integrin β3 gene promoter were constructed to transiently transfected into cells to uncover the region in response to angiotensin II. Blockade of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway effect on integrin β3 expression was analyzed by cotransfection with mutant plasmids for NF-κB–inducing kinase, inhibitory proteins α and β of NF-κB kinase, respectively, together with the integrin β3 plasmid including the sequence −1486 ∼ − 900. The study found that 10−8 mol/L,10−7 mol/L, 10−6 mol/L, and 10−5 mol/L angiotensin II increased integrin β3 protein level by 45%, 52%, 62%, and 73% respectively. Angiotensin II at 10−6 mol/L increased integrin β3 mRNA level by 67%. The luciferase activity of the integrin β3 plasmid PGL3 − 1486 ∼ − 900 increased by 84.72% in response to angiotensin II. N-acetylcysteine blocked angiotensin II–induced NF-κB activity and integrin β3 expression. Blockade of NF-κB signaling pathway abolished the stimulation of angiotensin II. These results suggest that angiotensin II stimulates integrin β3 expression partly by NF-κB activation.
Using Theory to Improve Program and Policy Evaluations.

Introduction: Interfacing Theory and Practice in Evaluations by Huey-tsyh Chen and Peter H. Rossi Concepts and Nature of Theory-Driven Evaluations Four Types of Theory That Can Guide Treatment Evaluations by John W. Finney and Rudolf H. Moos Theory-Driven Metaevaluation by William R. Shadish, Jr. Research Strategies and Methods Pattern Matching in Theory-Driven Evaluation: A Field Example from Psychiatric Rehabilitation by William M. K. Trochim and Judith A. Cook Testing Theories in Theory-Driven Evaluations: (Tests of) Moderation in All Things by Melvin M. Mark and David A. Hofmann Theory-Driven Meta-analysis: Prospect and Practice by Dave S. Cordray The Role of Theory in Doing Case Study Research and Evaluations by Robert K. Yin Theory in Evaluation: We Think Therefore, We Theorize (An Ethnographer's Perspective) by David M. Fetterman Applications in Program Policy Planning and Implementation Using Research and Theory in Developing Innovative Programs for Homeless, Individuals by Debra Rog and Robert B. Huebne Evaluating New Dawn and Pegasus Using Chen and Rossi Multigoal, Theory-Driven Approaches by Dennis Palumbo and Peter Gregware Using Program Theory in Quality Assessments of Children's Mental Health Services by Keith A. Peterson and Leonard Bickman Applications in Impact Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis The Importance of Theory in Selection Modeling: Incorrect Assumptions Mean Biased Results by David Rindskopf Quasi-experiments and Causation Probing by Huey-tsyh Chen and Lung-ho Lin Research-Based Theory for Educational Planning and Evaluation by Herbert J. Walberg and Arthur Reynold Meta-analysis in Evaluation: Moving from Description to Explanation by Mark W. Lipsey Theory-Driven Approaches to Cost-Benefit Analysis: Implications of Program Theory by Ann Scott and Lee Sechrest Select Bibliography Name Index Subject Index
Special requirements for comparative evaluation of web search engines

Performance evaluation of classical information retrieval systems usually aims to assess the ability of these systems to find documents considered relevant to a certain search query based on a specific evaluation criteria. This approach, however, is not suitable to adequately evaluate some information retrieval applications such as web search engines. The web special characteristics make information retrieval tasks and the evaluation of search engines on the web face multiple challenges. Different web-specific, user-specific and language-specific requirements should be considered when designing and performing evaluation tests on operational web search engines. This paper discusses the special requirements for comprehensive comparative evaluation of different web search engines and highlights some language- specific considerations for evaluation in Arabic language.
A Multi-Megabase Copy Number Gain Causes Maternal Transmission Ratio Distortion on Mouse Chromosome 2

Significant departures from expected Mendelian inheritance ratios (transmission ratio distortion, TRD) are frequently observed in both experimental crosses and natural populations. TRD on mouse Chromosome (Chr) 2 has been reported in multiple experimental crosses, including the Collaborative Cross (CC). Among the eight CC founder inbred strains, we found that Chr 2 TRD was exclusive to females that were heterozygous for the WSB/EiJ allele within a 9.3 Mb region (Chr 2 76.9 – 86.2 Mb). A copy number gain of a 127 kb-long DNA segment (designated as responder to drive, R2d) emerged as the strongest candidate for the causative allele. We mapped R2d sequences to two loci within the candidate interval. R2d1 is located near the proximal boundary, and contains a single copy of R2d in all strains tested. R2d2 maps to a 900 kb interval, and the number of R2d copies varies from zero in classical strains (including the mouse reference genome) to more than 30 in wild-derived strains. Using real-time PCR assays for the copy number, we identified a mutation (R2d2WSBdel1) that eliminates the majority of the R2d2WSB copies without apparent alterations of the surrounding WSB/EiJ haplotype. In a three-generation pedigree segregating for R2d2WSBdel1, the mutation is transmitted to the progeny and Mendelian segregation is restored in females heterozygous for R2d2WSBdel1, thus providing direct evidence that the copy number gain is causal for maternal TRD. We found that transmission ratios in R2d2WSB heterozygous females vary between Mendelian segregation and complete distortion depending on the genetic background, and that TRD is under genetic control of unlinked distorter loci. Although the R2d2WSB transmission ratio was inversely correlated with average litter size, several independent lines of evidence support the contention that female meiotic drive is the cause of the distortion. We discuss the implications and potential applications of this novel meiotic drive system.
Vested Interests in Addiction Research and Policy The challenge corporate lobbying poses to reducing society’s alcohol problems: insights from UK evidence on minimum unit pricing

Background There has been insufficient research attention to alcohol industry methods of influencing public policies. With the exception of the tobacco industry, there have been few studies of the impact of corporate lobbying on public health policymaking more broadly. Methods We summarize here findings from documentary analyses and interview studies in an integrative review of corporate efforts to influence UK policy on minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol 2007–10. Results Alcohol producers and retailers adopted a long-term, relationship-building approach to policy influence, in which personal contacts with key policymakers were established and nurtured, including when they were not in government. The alcohol industry was successful in achieving access to UK policymakers at the highest levels of government and at all stages of the policy process. Within the United Kingdom, political devolution and the formation for the first time of a Scottish National Party (SNP) government disrupted the existing long-term strategy of alcohol industry actors and created the conditions for evidence-based policy innovations such as MUP. Conclusions Comparisons between policy communities within the United Kingdom and elsewhere are useful to the understanding of how different policy environments are amenable to influence through lobbying. Greater transparency in how policy is made is likely to lead to more effective alcohol and other public policies globally by constraining the influence of vested interests.
The calcium–frequency response in the rat ventricular myocyte: an experimental and modelling study

In the majority of species, including humans, increased heart rate increases cardiac contractility. This change is known as the force–frequency response (FFR). The majority of mammals have a positive force–frequency relationship (FFR). In rat the FFR is controversial. We derive a species‐ and temperature‐specific data‐driven model of the rat ventricular myocyte. As a measure of the FFR, we test the effects of changes in frequency and extracellular calcium on the calcium–frequency response (CFR) in our model and three altered models. The results show a biphasic peak calcium–frequency response, due to biphasic behaviour of the ryanodine receptor and the combined effect of the rapid calmodulin buffer and the frequency‐dependent increase in diastolic calcium. Alterations to the model reveal that inclusion of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CAMKII)‐mediated L‐type channel and transient outward K+ current activity enhances the positive magnitude calcium–frequency response, and the absence of CAMKII‐mediated increase in activity of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase induces a negative magnitude calcium–frequency response.
Optimal decision-making in mammals: insights from a robot study of rodent texture discrimination

Texture perception is studied here in a physical model of the rat whisker system consisting of a robot equipped with a biomimetic vibrissal sensor. Investigations of whisker motion in rodents have led to several explanations for texture discrimination, such as resonance or stick-slips. Meanwhile, electrophysiological studies of decision-making in monkeys have suggested a neural mechanism of evidence accumulation to threshold for competing percepts, described by a probabilistic model of Bayesian sequential analysis. For our robot whisker data, we find that variable reaction-time decision-making with sequential analysis performs better than the fixed response-time maximum-likelihood estimation. These probabilistic classifiers also use whatever available features of the whisker signals aid the discrimination, giving improved performance over a single-feature strategy, such as matching the peak power spectra of whisker vibrations. These results cast new light on how the various proposals for texture discrimination in rodents depend on the whisker contact mechanics and suggest the possibility of a common account of decision-making across mammalian species.
Scenario Planning: Toward a More Complete Model for Practice

Numerous approaches to scenario planning exist. In fact, as a discipline that has grown more in practice than in any other domain, much about the process is not fully understood.This has led to extreme variety in method and process for conducting scenario projects.The authors begin the task of investigating the elements that appear common to multiple models and processes with intent of aggregating these elements toward a best practice approach. In this article, the authors present and describe several prominent scenario planning models in detail, highlighting the strengths and areas for improvement in each.They then discuss opportunities for solidifying best practices in terms of a sound approach to scenario planning in addition to offering the basis of a unifying model for moving the study of scenario planning forward. Conclusions and suggestions are provided for organizational decision makers and researchers.
Early Adolescent Boys’ Exposure to Internet Pornography

Research has demonstrated that adolescents regularly use Internet pornography. This two-wave panel study aimed to test an integrative model in early adolescent boys (Mage = 14.10; N = 325) that (a) explains their exposure to Internet pornography by looking at relationships with pubertal timing and sensation seeking, and (b) explores the potential consequence of their exposure to Internet pornography for their academic performance. An integrative path model indicated that pubertal timing and sensation seeking predicted the use of Internet pornography. Boys with an advanced pubertal stage and boys high in sensation seeking more frequently used Internet pornography. Moreover, an increased use of Internet pornography decreased boys’ academic performance 6 months later. The discussion focuses on the consequences of this integrative model for future research on Internet pornography.
G-Protein–Coupled Receptor-2–Interacting Protein-1 Is Required for Endothelial Cell Directional Migration and Tumor Angiogenesis via Cortactin-Dependent Lamellipodia Formation

Objective—Recent evidence suggests G-protein–coupled receptor-2–interacting protein-1 (GIT1) overexpression in several human metastatic tumors, including breast, lung, and prostate. Tumor metastasis is associated with an increase in angiogenesis. We have showed previously that GIT1 is required for postnatal angiogenesis during lung development. However, the functional role of GIT1 in pathological angiogenesis during tumor growth is unknown. Approach and Results—In the present study, we show inhibition of angiogenesis in matrigel implants as well as reduced tumor angiogenesis and melanoma tumor growth in GIT1-knockout mice. We demonstrate that this is a result of impaired directional migration of GIT1-depleted endothelial cells toward a vascular endothelial growth factor gradient. Cortactin-mediated lamellipodia formation in the leading edge is critical for directional migration. We observed a significant reduction in cortactin localization and lamellipodia formation in the leading edge of GIT1-depleted endothelial cells. We specifically identified that the Spa homology domain (aa 250–420) of GIT1 is required for GIT1–cortactin complex localization to the leading edge. The mechanisms involved extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2–mediated Cortactin-S405 phosphorylation and activation of Rac1/Cdc42. Finally, using gain of function studies, we show that a constitutively active mutant of cortactin restored directional migration of GIT1-depleted cells. Conclusion—Our data demonstrated that a GIT1–cortactin association through GIT1-Spa homology domain is required for cortactin localization to the leading edge and is essential for endothelial cell directional migration and tumor angiogenesis.
Identifying clinical risk in low grade gliomas and appropriate treatment strategies, with special emphasis on the role of surgery

ABSTRACT Introduction: Diffuse low-grade glioma (DLGG) is a chronic tumoral disease that ineluctably grows, migrates along white matter pathways, and progresses to a higher grade of malignancy. Areas covered: To determine the best individualized treatment attitude for each DLGG patient, and to redefine it over the years, i.e. to optimize the ‘onco-functional balance’ of serial and multimodal therapies, the understanding of the natural history of this chronic disease is crucial but not sufficient. A paradigmatic shift is to tailor the individual management according to the dynamic relationships between DLGG course and neural remodeling. In this spirit, a better knowledge of brain plasticity in a connectomal account of cerebral processing has enabled a dramatic improvement of both oncological and functional outcomes in DLGG patients, by increasing overall survival while preserving (or even improving) the quality of life. Expert commentary: Here, we propose an individualized and recursive therapeutic strategy in DLGG, leading to the concept of a ‘personalized functional neuro-oncology’, by emphasizing the role of early and maximal safe surgical resection(s) reliably achieved using intraoperative mapping of cortico-subcortical networks in awake patients.