Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of salinity on the cellular physiological responses of Natrinema sp. J7-2

The halophilic archaea (haloarchaea) live in hyersaline environments such as salt lakes, salt ponds and marine salterns. To cope with the salt stress conditions, haloarchaea have developed two fundamentally different strategies: the "salt-in" strategy and the "compatible-solute" strategy. Although investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the tolerance to high salt concentrations has made outstanding achievements, experimental study from the aspect of transcription is rare. In the present study, we monitored cellular physiology of Natrinema sp. J7-2 cells incubated in different salinity media (15%, 25% and 30% NaCl) from several aspects, such as cellular morphology, growth, global transcriptome and the content of intracellular free amino acids. The results showed that the cells were polymorphic and fragile at a low salt concentration (15% NaCl) but had a long, slender rod shape at high salt concentrations (25% and 30% NaCl). The cells grew best in 25% NaCl, mediocre in 30% NaCl and struggled in 15% NaCl. An RNA-seq analysis revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in various salinity media. A total of 1,148 genes were differentially expressed, consisting of 719 DEGs (348 up-regulated and 371 down-regulated genes) between cells in 15% vs 25% NaCl, and 733 DEGs (521 up-regulated and 212 down-regulated genes) between cells in 25% vs 30% NaCl. Moreover, 304 genes were commonly differentially expressed in both 15% vs 25% and 25% vs30% NaCl. The DEGs were enriched in different KEGG metabolic pathways, such as amino acids, glycerolipid, ribosome, nitrogen, protoporphyrin, porphyrin and porhiniods. The intracellular predominant free amino acids consisted of the glutamate family (Glu, Arg and Pro), aspartate family (Asp) and aromatic amino acids (Phe and Trp), especially Glu and Asp.
Impact of antidepressants on the risk of suicide in patients with depression in real-life conditions: a decision analysis model

Background The impact of antidepressant drug treatment (ADT) on the risk of suicide is uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine in a real-life setting whether ADT is associated with an increased or a reduced risk of suicide compared to absence of ADT (no-ADT) in patients with depression. Method A decision analysis method was used to estimate the number of suicides prevented or induced by ADT in children and adolescents (10–19 years old), adults (20–64 years old) and the elderly (⩾65 years) diagnosed with major depression. The impact of gender and parasuicide history on the findings was explored within each age group. Sensitivity analyses were used to assess the robustness of the models. Results Prescribing ADT to all patients diagnosed with depression would prevent more than one out of three suicide deaths compared to the no-ADT strategy, irrespective of age, gender or parasuicide history. Sensitivity analyses showed that persistence in taking ADT would be the main characteristic influencing the effectiveness of ADT on suicide risk. Conclusions Public health decisions that contribute directly or indirectly to reducing the number of patients with depression who are effectively administered ADT may paradoxically induce a rise in the number of suicides.
Adjunctive Thalidomide Therapy of Childhood Tuberculous Meningitis: Possible Anti-Inflammatory Role

The objective of this study was to determine the safety and tolerability of the immunomodulatory agent thalidomide as adjunct therapy in children with tuberculous meningitis. Children with stage 2 tuberculous meningitis received oral thalidomide for 28 days in a dose-escalating study, in addition to standard four-drug antituberculosis therapy, corticosteroids, and specific treatment of complications such as raised intracranial pressure. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were carried out. Fifteen patients (median age, 34 months) were enrolled. Thalidomide was administered via nasogastric tube in a dosage of 6 mg/kg/day, 12 mg/kg/day, or 24 mg/kg/day. The only adverse events possibly related to the study drug were transient skin rashes in two patients. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α in the cerebrospinal fluid decreased markedly during thalidomide therapy. Clinical outcome and neurologic imaging showed greater improvement than that experienced with historical controls. Thalidomide appeared safe and well tolerated in children with stage 2 tuberculous meningitis and could have important anti-inflammatory effects. These promising results have led us to embark on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of thalidomide in tuberculous meningitis. (J Child Neurol 2000;15:497-503).
Educational status and cardiovascular risk profile in Indians

The inverse graded relationship of education and risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) has been reported from Western populations. To examine whether risk factors of CHD are predicted by level of education and influenced by the level of urbanization in Indian industrial populations, a cross-sectional survey (n = 19,973; response rate, 87.6%) was carried out among employees and their family members in 10 medium-to-large industries in highly urban, urban, and periurban regions of India. Information on behavioral, clinical, and biochemical risk factors of CHD was obtained through standardized instruments, and educational status was assessed in terms of the highest educational level attained. Data from 19,969 individuals were used for analysis. Tobacco use and hypertension were significantly more prevalent in the low- (56.6% and 33.8%, respectively) compared with the high-education group (12.5% and 22.7%, respectively; P < 0.001). However, dyslipidemia prevalence was significantly higher in the high-education group (27.1% as compared with 16.9% in the lowest-education group; P < 0.01). When stratified by the level of urbanization, industrial populations located in highly urbanized centers were observed to have an inverse graded relationship (i.e., higher-education groups had lower prevalence) for tobacco use, hypertension, diabetes, and overweight, whereas in less-urbanized locations, we found such a relationship only for tobacco use and hypertension. This study indicates the growing vulnerability of lower socioeconomic groups to CHD. Preventive strategies to reduce major CHD risk factors should focus on effectively addressing these social disparities.
Linking extreme precocity and adult eminence: a study of eight prodigies at international chess

Do prodigies have extraordinary innate talent or do they just start very early and get much practice? Why do relatively few become eminent as adults? Is it because early and later success often need somewhat different abilities and gatekeepers rule? International chess is a good test domain for both issues because it has objective longitudinal data, unvarying task requirements, and no glass ceiling. Eight prodigies were studied. Some did not start chess particularly young but quickly reached high performance levels. Five already are very eminent, one becoming the youngest‐ever world champion at age 18. Chess prodigies probably do have great natural talent. Prodigies in domains with certain characteristics may tend to become eminent if they persist.
Tracking the time course of multi-word noun phrase production with ERPs or on when (and why) cat is faster than the big cat

Words are rarely produced in isolation. Yet, our understanding of multi-word production, and especially its time course, is still rather poor. In this research, we use event-related potentials to examine the production of multi-word noun phrases in the context of overt picture naming. We track the processing costs associated with the production of these noun phrases as compared with the production of bare nouns, from picture onset to articulation. Behavioral results revealed longer naming latencies for French noun phrases with determiners and pre-nominal adjectives (D-A-N, the big cat) than for noun phrases with a determiner (D-N, the cat), or bare nouns (N, cat). The spatio-temporal analysis of the ERPs revealed differences in the duration of stable global electrophysiological patterns as a function of utterance format in two time windows, from ~190 to 300 ms after picture onset, and from ~530 ms after picture onset to 100 ms before articulation. These findings can be accommodated in the following model. During grammatical encoding (here from ~190 to 300 ms), the noun and adjective lemmas are accessed in parallel, followed by the selection of the gender-agreeing determiner. Phonological encoding (after ~530 ms) operates sequentially. As a consequence, the phonological encoding process is longer for longer utterances. In addition, when determiners are repeated across trials, their phonological encoding can be anticipated or primed, resulting in a shortened encoding process.
An Analysis of the Relationship Between High School Exit Exams and Diploma Options and the Impact on Students With Disabilities

Nontraditional high school completion or exit documents are becoming increasingly publicized as more states adopt testing requirements for graduation. Research has shown that students who do not graduate from high school with a standard/traditional diploma often experience negative consequences, such as (a) limited admission into college or the military, (b) ineligibility for federal financial aid for postsecondary training, and (c) denial of employment opportunities (Bowers, 2004; Johnson & Thurlow, 2003; Zafft, Hart, & Zimbrich, 2004). Although research is beginning to explore the diploma options available in each state, there is a paucity of research surrounding students who receive nontraditional completion certificates. This study examined the relationship between alternative high school completion documents and graduation testing. Using preexisting data sets from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, this study profiled students with disabilities in the United States who earn nontraditional exit certificates in contrast to those who earn standard diplomas. Understanding how students with disabilities exit public education will lead to assessment of the impact each exit option has on students' postschool outcomes and the implications for society as a whole.
Ethical Investing in Australia; Is there a Financial Penalty?

This study provides new evidence on the performance and investment style of retail ethical funds in Australia. By applying a conditional multi-factor Carhart (1997) model we solve the benchmark problem most prior ethical studies suffered from. After controlling for investment style, time-variation in betas, bond exposure and home bias, we observe no evidence of significant differences in risk-adjusted returns between ethical and conventional funds during the 1992-2003 period. This result however is sensitive to the chosen time period. During 1992-1996 domestic ethical funds under-perform their conventional counterparts significantly. During 1996-2003 the ethical funds match the performance of conventional funds more closely. This suggests there is a learning effect for the relatively young ethical investment industry. Correspondence address: Rogér Otten Limburg Institute of Financial Economics Maastricht University P.O. Box 616 6200 MD Maastricht The Netherlands Phone: (+31) 43 388 3687 Fax: (+31) 43 388 4875 E-mail: R.Otten@Berfin.Unimaas. nl Homepage: http://www.fdewb. unimaas.nl/finance Acknowledgements We would like to thank David Gallagher, Matthew Haigh, Kees Koedijk, participants at the 2003 AFBC meeting in Sydney, the 2003 Sustainable Business Conference, Auckland and seminar participants at the University of Auckland and the University of Waikato for helpful comments. Furthermore we thank Aaron Gilbert for collecting the dataset and Erik Mather and Chris Cocklin for supplying data on the Westpac Monash Eco index. All remaining errors are the sole responsibility of the authors. Financial support from the Waikato Management School is gratefully acknowledged. The views expressed in this paper are not necessarily shared by ABP Investments. Ethical Investing in Australia; Is there a Financial Penalty?
Punishment and Counter-punishment in Public Good Games: Can We Still Govern Ourselves?

In the public goods literature, there have been recently a number of experiments which demonstrate how the problem of the under-provision of a public good can be solved through mutual monitoring and sanctioning between the members of a group when antisocial behavior is observed. In many circumstances, however, we can not allow for punishment and exclude the possibility of counter-punishment occurring. We design a public goods experiment based on Fehr and Gaechter (2000) where we allow for both punishment and counter-punishment. We find that in both Partner and Stranger treatments average contributions decline steadily over time, at a rate similar to the treatment were no punishment was allowed, and tend towards full free-riding. The reason for this change seems to be that under the threat of counter-punishment people are less willing to punish. An important result is that participants squander their endowment in punishment and counter-punishment actions leading to a relative payoff loss, in comparison to the treatment without punishments.
Temporal analysis of recruitment of mammalian ATG proteins to the autophagosome formation site

Autophagosome formation is governed by sequential functions of autophagy-related (ATG) proteins. Although their genetic hierarchy in terms of localization to the autophagosome formation site has been determined, their temporal relationships remain largely unknown. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the recruitment of mammalian ATG proteins to the autophagosome formation site by live-cell imaging, and determined their temporal relationships. Although ULK1 and ATG5 are separated in the genetic hierarchy, they synchronously accumulate at pre-existing VMP1-positive punctate structures, followed by recruitment of ATG14, ZFYVE1, and WIPI1. Only a small number of ATG9 vesicles appear to be associated with these structures. Finally, LC3 and SQSTM1/p62 accumulate synchronously, while the other ATG proteins dissociate from the autophagic structures. These results suggest that autophagosome formation takes place on the VMP1-containing domain of the endoplasmic reticulum or a closely related structure, where ULK1 and ATG5 complexes are synchronously recruited.
‘Modernity’ and ‘Tradition’ in ‘Thailand’

Abstract This paper examines the terms ‘modernity’ and ‘tradition’ as an ideal-typical pair and shows how they are typically misused as descriptive terms. It discusses the transformation of these terms' use from one of description to one of prescription as they are adopted by ‘developing’ nations. Focussing on Thailand, the paper shows how the term ‘tradition’, which formely stood alone, shifts in meaning as it is put into opposition to ‘modernity’, and how the pair serve as legitimating terms in a political context, tied to ‘nation-building’ and the interests of different political groups. This process and its ambiguities are explored through an examination of ritual, public monuments, and semantic changes.
Certain trust: a trust model for users and agents

One of the challenges for ubiquitous computing and P2P systems is to find reliable partners for interactions. We believe that this problem can be solved by assigning trust values to entities and allowing them to state opinions about the trust-worthiness of others. In this paper, we develop a new trust model, called Certain Trust, which can easily be interpreted and adjusted by users and software agents. A key feature of Certain Trust is that it is capable of expressing the certainty of a trust opinion, depending on the context of use. We show how the trust values can be expressed using different representations (one for users and one for software agents) and present an automatic mapping to change between the representations.
CHARACTERIZATION OF A RANGE SCANNING SYSTEM UTILIZING A POINT LASER RANGEFINDER A Thesis Presented for the Master of Science Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

This thesis presents an error characterization scheme with application to a pulsed timeofight laser range nder called the AccuRange 3000. Characterizations of range-imaging sensors are important because they determine the limitations of the sensor. Also, characterizations are the rst step in developing a correction model for range data and they provide information about the amounts of error present in the data to aid in post-processing techniques. The combination of all these factors provide a basis for making a decision on which type of sensor to use for a particular application. First, the thesis reviews range imaging sensor technology. This review is followed by a discussion of previous work in the areas of characterization of laser range nding systems and error models of laser range nders. A technical description of the pulsed time-ofight laser range nder coupled with the mechanical scanning system we use for data acquisition is given. Also, this thesis details a simulation of the entire system developed using Telegrip simulation software. The thesis gives an error characterization of the laser range nder utilized as a point laser. This includes errors associated with temperature, sampling rates, mixed pixels, varying values of re ectance at incremental distances and varying values of re ectance at incremental angles of incidence. Selected information gathered during these experiments are combined to form a correction model of the laser system. This correction model is based on the range and intensity data output from the laser range nder. A comparison of corrected and uncorrected range values is given for several data sets. Also, a con dence metric is derived and given for each corrected range value. The con dence metric is an estimation of how much error is present in the corrected value. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the results and possible extensions for future work.
Relative Deprivation, Equity/Inequity, and Psychological Well-Being

The research reported here compared the extent to which relative deprivation, based on general social comparisons and perceptions of equity/inequity derived from specific comparisons in an intimate relationship, influenced the psychological well-being of men and women in one- and two-job families. Data were analyzed from interviews with 130 couples in one-job families and 135 families in two-job families. Beyond the discomfort and unfair treatment accompanying them, both relative deprivation and inequity were associated with depression when they were considered in the same model.
Interstitial loss and gain of sequences on chromosome 22 in meningiomas with normal karyotype.

In nearly half of sporadic low grade meningiomas no chromosome aberration can be detected. In the majority of the other half chromosome 22 is lost. In higher grade meningiomas this loss is followed by characteristic secondary chromosome aberrations. Regarding the molecular findings in Schwannomas, homozygous loss or mutation of the NF2 gene located on chromosome 22, was supposed also to be the primary event in meningioma development. However, in nearly all high grade but in only a minority of low grade meningiomas the loss of the NF2 protein is observed. Therefore, both the hypothetical combined heterozygous loss of or inactivation of two or more tumour suppressor genes (at least one of them located on chromosome 22) or the homozygous loss of a regulatory gene on chromosome 22 different from NF2 was discussed. In search for microdeletions or/and structural recombinations of chromosome 22 we investigated primary cell cultures of 43 meningiomas by conventional G-banding (26 without, 17 with loss of chromosome 22). Twenty-seven tumours were analysed with spectral karyotyping (SKY) and 16 with fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with DNA probes for the chromosomal regions of 22q11.2, 22q11.23q12. 1, 22q12.1 and 22q13.3. SKY analysis confirmed G-banding data for chromosome 22 and could specify marker chromosomes and translocations containing material from chromosome(s) 22. Confirming our assumption microdeletions on chromosome 22 were detected by FISH in 6/8 cytogenetically non-aberrant meningiomas. Surprisingly, in 2/8 cases we observed gains of the 22q13.3 and in 2/8 gains of the 22q12.1 region. Here we present first evidence for an uncommon mechanism during early meningioma development at least for a meningioma subgroup: i) duplication and translocation of sequences from chromosome 22 to different chromosomes. ii) deletion of the original sequences on chromosome 22, resulting in disomy again (only visible as translocation in metaphase FISH). iii) loss of chromosome 22.
Set models and Boolean operations for solids and assemblies

Applications of solid modeling in computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, and robotics, which often involve aggregates or assemblies of disconnected pieces, are addressed. Models for such assemblies must be subjected to some of the same operations as models for single parts. The mathematical basis of constructive solid geometry (CSG), the usual formalism in solid modelers, leads to difficulties in dealing with assemblies. An alternative CSG-like formalism based on open sets, in which both assemblies and connected pieces are modeled as point sets is presented. Consequently the same Boolean operations apply uniformly to connected pieces and assemblies. <<ETX>>
The Dysregulation Inventory: A New Scale to Assess the Risk for Substance Use Disorder

SUMMARY Emerging evidence indicates that psychological dysregulation is an integral component of the liability for substance use disorder (SUD). To date, the measurement of dysregulation entails using a variety of disparate unstandardized instruments. This report discusses the rationale underlying the Dysregulation Inventory (DI), the methods employed in item selection and scale construction, and describes preliminary results regarding psychometric properties. Satisfactory to superior reliability and validity were observed for the self-report, teacher-report, and parent-report versions of the DI. The scores on the DI discriminate youth who are at high and low average risk for SUD ascertained on the basis of paternal SUD. Moreover, the score on the DI at age 10–12 was found to account for a significant proportion of the variance on substance use at age 12–14, thereby pointing to its predictive validity. In addition, the DI score covaried with SUD severity in a sample of female adolescents. These results indicate that the DI may be useful for detecting youth who are at high risk for SUD.
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Computer modeling and intraoperative navigation in maxillofacial surgery

PURPOSE: Recent advances in computer-modeling software allow reconstruction of facial symmetry in a virtual environment. This study evaluates the use of preoperative computer modeling and intraoperative navigation to guide reconstruction of the maxillofacial skeleton. METHODS: Three patients with traumatic maxillofacial deformities received preoperative, thin-cut axial CT scans. Three-dimensional reconstructions, virtual osteotomies, and bony reductions were performed using MIMICS planning software (Materialise, Ann Arbor, MI). The original and “repaired” virtual datasets were then imported into an intraoperative navigation system and used to guide the surgical repair. RESULTS: Postoperative CT scans and photographs reveal excellent correction of enophthalmos to within 1 mm in patient 1, significant improvement in symmetry of the nasoethmoid complex in patient 2, and reconstruction of the zygomaticomaxillary complex location to within 1 mm in patient 3. CONCLUSION: Computer modeling and intraoperative navigation is a relatively new tool that can assist surgeons with reconstruction of the maxillofacial skeleton. © 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.