Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B virus surface antigen as a reporter of promoter activity ( Recombinant DNA ; transient expression system ; radioimmunoassay ; immediate early promoters ) 109 Epstein-Barr virus regulation

The coding sequence for the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) was used as a new reporter gene for studies on eukaryotic promoter activity and upstream regulatory sequences. The data observed in transfection assays were comparable to results obtained with conventional chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assays, as was demonstrated using various transcriptional regulation sequences. The expression of HBsAg as a reporter protein offered some advantages: (i) In transient expression assays, a time course of promoter activity depending on variable culture conditions could be monitored over a period of time, since the HBsAg was secreted into the culture supematant. (ii) Evaluation of HBsAg from supematant aliquots and quantification of the corresponding promoter activities could be performed easily, using the very sensitive and readily available diagnostic HBsAg kits. (iii) In contrast to the conventional CAT assay, the cells remained available for further tests, e.g., Western blot, immunofluorescence or transcript analysis. Characteristics of several Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) promoters, depending on the virus state of EBV-positive B-cells (latency, chemical induction, lytic superinfection, truns-activation), were assayed using the HBsAg reporter system.
Repeat renal biopsy in lupus nephritis – unnecessary harm and risk of complications or important diagnostic tool with clinical consequences?

Despite many years of experience and numerous studies, lupus nephritis (LN) management still remains a challenge for clinicians. The choice of diagnostic procedures and subsequent optimal therapy in the population of patients with LN is crucial to achieve remission. Renal biopsy has an important role in the diagnostic process at the beginning of the disease, and its performance at diagnosis of LN is not a subject of controversy. However, the performance of biopsy in a subsequent renal flare or after maintenance treatment is not common.
Tuning of Silver Catalyst Mesostructure Promotes Selective Carbon Dioxide Conversion into Fuels.

An electrode's performance for catalytic CO2 conversion to fuels is a complex convolution of surface structure and transport effects. Using well-defined mesostructured silver inverse opal (Ag-IO) electrodes, it is demonstrated that mesostructure-induced transport limitations alone serve to increase the turnover frequency for CO2 activation per unit area, while simultaneously improving reaction selectivity. The specific activity for catalyzed CO evolution systematically rises by three-fold and the specific activity for catalyzed H2 evolution systematically declines by ten-fold with increasing mesostructural roughness of Ag-IOs. By exploiting the compounding influence of both of these effects, we demonstrate that mesostructure, rather than surface structure, can be used to tune CO evolution selectivity from less than 5 % to more than 80 %. These results establish electrode mesostructuring as a powerful complementary tool for tuning both catalyst selectivity and efficiency for CO2 conversion into fuels.
Oscillatory dynamics of Gestalt perception in schizophrenia revisited

Background: Abnormalities in γ oscillations (30–100 Hz) in the scalp-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) have been proposed to reflect neural circuitry abnormalities in schizophrenia. Oscillations in the γ band are thought to play an important role in visual perception, mediating the binding of visual features into coherent objects. However, there is relatively little evidence to date of deficits in γ-mediated processes associated with Gestalt perception in schizophrenia. Methods: Fourteen healthy control subjects (HC) and 17 chronic schizophrenia patients (SZ) discriminated between illusory Kanisza Squares and No-Square control stimuli, indicating their judgment with a manual button press. Time-frequency decomposition of the EEG was computed with the Morlet wavelet transform. Time-frequency maps of phase locking factor (PLF) values were calculated for stimulus- and response-locked oscillations. Results: HC and SZ did not differ in reaction time, error rate, an early ERP effect associated with Gestalt processing, nor an early visual-evoked γ oscillation. Two response-locked high γ effects had greater PLF for Square than No-Square stimuli in HC, and the reverse pattern in SZ. One of these effects was correlated with thought disorder symptom ratings in SZ. Conclusions: SZ demonstrated abnormalities in γ oscillations associated with the perception of Gestalt objects, while their early visual-evoked γ activity was mostly normal, contrary to previous results. This study supports the hypothesis that high-frequency oscillations are sensitive to aspects of psychosis.
Translation initiation at a downstream AUG occurs with increased efficiency when the upstream AUG is located very close to the 5' cap

The major late 16S mRNA species of simian virus 40 encodes both a 61-amino-acid protein, LP1, and the major virion protein, VP1. Although the initiation signal GCCAUGG is usually utilized at high efficiency, at least one-third of 40S ribosomal subunits bypass it when it is present on the major 16S mRNA of simian virus 40 (S. A. Sedman, P. J. Good, and J. E. Mertz, J. Virol. 63:3884-3893, 1989). The LP1 translation initiation codon is situated 10 bases from the 5' end of this mRNA. To determine whether the short length of the untranslated leader of this mRNA affects the efficiency of translation initiation at the LP1 initiation signal, monkey cells were transfected with plasmids which encode major late 16S-like mRNAs with 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of 6 or 44 bases. Decreasing the length of the 5' UTR from 44 to 6 bases resulted in a 30% decrease in translation initiation at the LP1 AUG and a threefold increase in synthesis of VP1. When the VP1 open reading frame was replaced with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase open reading frame, the reduction in 5' UTR length resulted in a 70% decrease in translation initiation at the LP1 AUG and a 30% increase in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase synthesis. Therefore, ribosomes bypass an AUG codon more efficiently when it is located very close to the 5' end of the mRNA.
The contribution of αβ-tubulin curvature to microtubule dynamics

Microtubules are dynamic polymers of αβ-tubulin that form diverse cellular structures, such as the mitotic spindle for cell division, the backbone of neurons, and axonemes. To control the architecture of microtubule networks, microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and motor proteins regulate microtubule growth, shrinkage, and the transitions between these states. Recent evidence shows that many MAPs exert their effects by selectively binding to distinct conformations of polymerized or unpolymerized αβ-tubulin. The ability of αβ-tubulin to adopt distinct conformations contributes to the intrinsic polymerization dynamics of microtubules. αβ-Tubulin conformation is a fundamental property that MAPs monitor and control to build proper microtubule networks.
Treating Primary Dysmenorrhoea with Acupuncture: A Narrative Review of the Relationship between Acupuncture ‘dose— and Menstrual Pain Outcomes

Objective A number of randomised controlled trials have been performed to determine the effectiveness or efficacy of acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhoea. The objective of this review was to explore the relationship between the ‘dose’ of the acupuncture intervention and menstrual pain outcomes. Methods Eight databases were systematically searched for trials examining penetrating body acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea published in English up to September 2015. Dose components for each trial were extracted, assessed by the two authors and categorised by neurophysiological dose (number of needles, retention time and mode of stimulation), cumulative dose (total number and frequency of treatments), needle location and treatment timing. Results Eleven trials were included. Components of acupuncture dose were well reported across all trials. The relationship between needle location and menstrual pain demonstrated conflicting results. Treatment before the menses appeared to produce greater reductions in pain than treatment starting at the onset of menses. A single needle during menses may provide greater pain reduction compared to multiple needles. Conversely, multiple needles before menses were superior to a single needle. Electroacupuncture may provide more rapid pain reduction compared to manual acupuncture but may not have a significantly different effect on overall menstrual pain. Conclusions There appear to be relationships between treatment timing and mode of needle stimulation, and menstrual pain outcomes. Needle location, number of needles used and frequency of treatment show clear dose-response relationships with menstrual pain outcomes. Current research is insufficient to make definitive clinical recommendations regarding optimum dose parameters for treating primary dysmenorrhoea.
MYB103 is required for FERULATE-5-HYDROXYLASE expression and syringyl lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis stems.

The transcription factor MYB103 was previously identified as a member of the transcriptional network regulating secondary wall biosynthesis in xylem tissues of Arabidopsis, and was proposed to act on cellulose biosynthesis. It is a direct transcriptional target of the transcription factor SECONDARY WALL ASSOCIATED NAC DOMAIN PROTEIN 1 (SND1), and 35S-driven dominant repression or over-expression of MYB103 modifies secondary wall thickness. We identified two myb103 T-DNA insertion mutants and chemically characterized their lignocellulose by pyrolysis/GC/MS, 2D NMR, FT-IR microspectroscopy and wet chemistry. The mutants developed normally but exhibited a 70-75% decrease in syringyl (S) lignin. The level of guaiacyl (G) lignin was co-ordinately increased, so that total Klason lignin was not affected. The transcript abundance of FERULATE-5-HYDROXYLASE (F5H), the key gene in biosynthesis of S lignin, was strongly decreased in the myb103 mutants, and the metabolomes of the myb103 mutant and an F5H null mutant were very similar. Other than modification of the lignin S to G ratio, there were only very minor changes in the composition of secondary cell-wall polymers in the inflorescence stem. In conclusion, we demonstrate that F5H expression and hence biosynthesis of S lignin are dependent on MYB103.
Shape from Unstructured Light

A structured light method for depth reconstruction using unstructured, essentially arbitrary projection patterns is presented. Unlike previous methods, the suggested approach allows the user to select the projection patterns from a given slide show or from movie frames, or to simply project noise, thus extending the range of possible applications. The system includes a projector and a single camera. Two progressive algorithms are developed for obtaining projector-camera correspondence, with each additional projection pattern improving the reliability of the final result. The method is experimentally demonstrated using two projection pattern sets -a vacation photo album and a set of random noise patterns. Confidence measures and a pattern selection algorithm are provided.
Metaphoric Expressions on Vertical Axis Revisited: An Empirical Study of Russian and French Material

The purpose of this article is to study the use of “UP–DOWN” metaphors in Russian and French material. A list of 10 conceptual metaphors expressing up–down movement was proposed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), and this list has been reproduced many times since. However, this analysis shows that the list is not fully accurate. In addition to the conceptual metaphors proposed by Lakoff and Johnson, the authors find it important to include 5 more metaphorical models expressing vertical movement. On the other hand, 5 of the conceptual metaphors in Lakoff and Johnson's list turned out not to be relevant to this analysis. The authors also attempt to describe the connections between different metaphoric models and observe that not all metaphoric models are equally important in their evidential and conceptual power.
The effect of obesity on chronic respiratory diseases: pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies

Sedentary lifestyles and increased pollution brought about by industrialization pose major challenges to the prevention of both obesity and chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, obstructive sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Obesity has emerged as an important risk factor for these respiratory diseases, and in many instances weight loss is associated with important symptomatic improvement. Moreover, obesity may influence the development and presentation of these diseases. In this article, we review the current understanding of the influence of obesity on chronic respiratory diseases and the clinical management of obesity concurrent with asthma, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea or obesity hypoventilation syndrome.
Advanced Outlines, Familiarity, and Text Genre on Retention of Prose.

This study examined how retention of prose is affected by (1) outlines as advanced organizers, (2) preexperimentai familiarity with the material, and (3) text genre (i.e., narrative vs. expository prose). College students studied either a two-level outline, a one-level outline, or no outline before listening to 400 to 500 word passages that varied in familiarity and narrativity. Subjects were subsequently given a cued recall test or a 3-Alternative, Forced Choice test on the passages. Whereas outline condition and familiarity had no significant effects on retention, narrativity ratings on the passages predicted between 38% and 84% of the variance of retention scores. Stories were recalled much better than expository passages. These findings were discussed in the context of current theories in cognitive psychology, particularly those that have explored the structure, organization, and representation of knowledge and prose.
Monkey and humans exhibit similar motion-processing mechanisms

Single cell recording studies have resulted in a detailed understanding of motion-sensitive neurons in non-human primate visual cortex. However, it is not known to what extent response properties of motion-sensitive neurons in the non-human primate brain mirror response characteristics of motion-sensitive neurons in the human brain. Using a motion adaptation paradigm, the direction aftereffect, we show that changes in the activity of human motion-sensitive neurons to moving dot patterns that differ in dot density bear a strong resemblance to data from macaque monkey. We also show a division-like inhibition between neural populations tuned to opposite directions, which also mirrors neural-inhibitory behaviour in macaque. These findings strongly suggest that motion-sensitive neurons in human and non-human primates share common response and inhibitory characteristics.
Commentary on “Better Prognosis of Senile Patients with Intertrochanteric Femoral Fracture by Treatment with Open Reduction Internal Fixation than by Hip Arthroplasty”

Intertrochanteric femoral fractures (IFFs), accounting for half number of hip fractures, are frequent and severe injuries in the senile population [1]. Different from femoral neck fractures in the elderly, intertrochanteric femoral fractures always present in much older patients and have more complicate fracture fashions as well as choice of treatment [2]. The variety of fracture care methods reflects the controversy and uncertainty of the management of IFFs. Nevertheless, the evolving concepts of osteosynthesis and geriatric orthopedics have been promoting the prognosis, and functional recovery can be achieved for the majority of fractured elderly [3]. The care of IFFs should be patient-centered, but not fracture-centered, through comprehensive evaluation of potential risks and swift establishment of treatment protocol simultaneously. By means of fracture fixation or hip arthroplasty, fractured patients had better to leave bed and regain ambulation as early as possible [4]. Author and colleagues [5] compared the prognosis of IFFs treated by open reduction internal fixation to hip arthroplasty, and found clinical outcome was better when the fractured hip was stabilized by dynamic hip screw (DHS). During the mean follow-up of 46.9 months, 31 patients died (28.2%). In terms of 1and 2-year mortality, the priority of internal fixation was significant. Due to severe osteoporosis, premature loading, frailty and concomitant diseases, complications following internal fixation of IFFs, including coxa vara, implant breakage and nonunion, cutting-out, trau-
Seminal factors influencing return to estrus in female pigs following artificial insemination

Tests were applied to extended, chilled boar semen to further define those factors associated with return to estrus in inseminated female pigs (sows and gilts). Females were each inseminated twice with the same batch of extended chilled single-sire semen that was concurrently assessed at the Charles Sturt University Andrology Laboratory (CSUAL) in Australia. Semen traits tested were pH, clump score and temperature while sperm morphology assessment included abnormal heads, acrosomes, midpieces, tails and retained cytoplasmic droplets. Sperm motility and concentration were tested using a computerized sperm analyser (CASA) system. Female return types were categorised as early, early regular, early irregular, late regular and late. Depending on the type of variable of interest, statistical analyses used linear mixed models or generalised linear models. Terms included in the models were dam line, sire line, parity, insemination season, return type, individual boars and inseminators. Of 1205 inseminated females, 894 (74.2%) farrowed, 3 (0.2%) aborted and 308 (25.6%) showed different types of return to estrus. The fixed variables dam-line, sire-line and parity were significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively) associated with female return type, although inseminator and insemination season were not. Of the semen/sperm traits tested, the acrosomal defects that were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with female return-type were morphologically abnormal acrosomes and percent intact acrosomes while cytoplasmic droplets, normal morphology and bacterial score also influenced return type (P < 0.05). There were also correlations between sperm factors such as abnormal sperm tails, motility and velocity and sow parity. In conclusion, sperm morphologic assessment, in particular of the acrosome region, was useful in predicting female returns to estrus.
Conserved and convergent organization in the optic lobes of insects and isopods, with reference to other crustacean taxa

The shared organization of three optic lobe neuropils—the lamina, medulla, and lobula—linked by chiasmata has been used to support arguments that insects and malacostracans are sister groups. However, in certain insects, the lobula is accompanied by a tectum‐like fourth neuropil, the lobula plate, characterized by wide‐field tangential neurons and linked to the medulla by uncrossed axons. The identification of a lobula plate in an isopod crustacean raises the question of whether the lobula plate of insects and isopods evolved convergently or are derived from a common ancestor. This question is here investigated by comparisons of insect and crustacean optic lobes. The basal branchiopod crustacean Triops has only two visual neuropils and no optic chiasma. This finding contrasts with the phyllocarid Nebalia pugettensis, a basal malacostracan whose lamina is linked by a chiasma to a medulla that is linked by a second chiasma to a retinotopic outswelling of the lateral protocerebrum, called the protolobula. In Nebalia, uncrossed axons from the medulla supply a minute fourth optic neuropil. Eumalacostracan crustaceans also possess two deep neuropils, one receiving crossed axons, the other uncrossed axons. However, in primitive insects, there is no separate fourth optic neuropil. Malacostracans and insects also differ in that the insect medulla comprises two nested neuropils separated by a layer of axons, called the Cuccati bundle. Comparisons suggest that neuroarchitectures of the lamina and medulla distal to the Cuccati bundle are equivalent to the eumalacostracan lamina and entire medulla. The occurrence of a second optic chiasma and protolobula are suggested to be synapomorphic for a malacostracan/insect clade. J. Comp. Neurol. 467:150–172, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Measure of Parenting Satisfaction and Efficacy

We obtained normative information for the Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale from 297 mothers and 215 fathers of 4- to 9-year-old boys and girls. Principal-components analysis of the PSOC revealed two factors: Satisfaction, an affective dimension reflecting parenting frustration, anxiety, and motivation; and Efficacy, an instrumental dimension reflecting competence, problem-solving ability, and capability in the parenting role Significant inverse relationships were found between perceptions of child behavior problems and of parenting. For mothers, reported child behavior problems related to parenting satisfaction. For fathers, child behavior problems related both to satisfaction and efficacy as a parent. Mother and father reports of parenting were positively correlated; however, fathers obtained significantly higher scores than mother, particularly on the Satisfaction dimension. PSOC scores did not vary as a function of child age or sex.
RDB2OWL: a practical approach for transforming RDB data into RDF/OWL

RDB2OWL is a simple approach of mapping relational databases into independently developed OWL ontologies. The approach is based on creating a mapping RDB schema, filling it with mapping information from which SQL scripts are generated that perform the instance-level transformation. We describe the RDB2OWL mapping schema and report on successful application of the technology to the migration of Latvian medical registries data.
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises ( SMEs ) and Corporate Social Responsibility : A Discussion Paper 1 June

1. Introduction From an individual street hawker to a complex multinational enterprise, every business entity has its stakeholders and its impacts on society, both positive and negative. The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), broadly defined as the overall contribution of a business to sustainable development (SD), should therefore be equally valid for large and small enterprises. But when CSR is discussed in policy circles, academia, the media, and wider civil society, the focus tends to be on the largest companies. Small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often overlooked.