Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrated assessment modelling of environmental impacts of land use policy in West-Africa: A conceptual model

This communication discusses considerations for the establishment of a spatialized computer model formalizing a prospective of the environmental impacts of public policies regarding land uses. This objective, once applied in West Africa, needs to face several challenges specific to the sub-region: on the one hand, the difficulty of creating a set of data strong enough for enabling the modelling process and on the other hand, the integration of the high variability of its environment, both biophysical (rainfall first) and socially (land tenures first).
A Histone Deacetylase Adjusts Transcription Kinetics at Coding Sequences during Candida albicans Morphogenesis

Despite their classical role as transcriptional repressors, several histone deacetylases, including the baker's yeast Set3/Hos2 complex (Set3C), facilitate gene expression. In the dimorphic human pathogen Candida albicans, the homologue of the Set3C inhibits the yeast-to-filament transition, but the precise molecular details of this function have remained elusive. Here, we use a combination of ChIP–Seq and RNA–Seq to show that the Set3C acts as a transcriptional co-factor of metabolic and morphogenesis-related genes in C. albicans. Binding of the Set3C correlates with gene expression during fungal morphogenesis; yet, surprisingly, deletion of SET3 leaves the steady-state expression level of most genes unchanged, both during exponential yeast-phase growth and during the yeast-filament transition. Fine temporal resolution of transcription in cells undergoing this transition revealed that the Set3C modulates transient expression changes of key morphogenesis-related genes. These include a transcription factor cluster comprising of NRG1, EFG1, BRG1, and TEC1, which form a regulatory circuit controlling hyphal differentiation. Set3C appears to restrict the factors by modulating their transcription kinetics, and the hyperfilamentous phenotype of SET3-deficient cells can be reverted by mutating the circuit factors. These results indicate that the chromatin status at coding regions represents a dynamic platform influencing transcription kinetics. Moreover, we suggest that transcription at the coding sequence can be transiently decoupled from potentially conflicting promoter information in dynamic environments.
On Psychological Identity and Training: Boulder Is Better for Rehabilitation Psychology

This article addresses issues of training in applied psychology, generally, and rehabilitation psychology, specifically. The long-term success and growth of rehabilitation psychology will depend, in part, on how the field answers the following questions: How do rehabilitation psychologists define their area of competence? How is this competence to be achieved? A review of recent literature suggests that rehabilitation psychology has yet to resolve fully the fundamental issues of a young subspecialty: identity, training, and long-term direction. We maintain that the scientist-practitioner model should continue to be the framework for training future rehabilitation psychologists. Furthermore, subspecialty and cross- discipline training should be completed following core training in an appropriate specialty of psychology (i.e., counseling or clinical). Rehabilitation psychology relates to and draws from the knowledge, experience, and skills of diverse areas psychology. In training, practice, and research, psychologists working in rehabilitation benefit from the information, ideas, and expertise of psychologists from other areas and professionals from other disci- plines. The diversity obtained from within psychology and from interaction with other disciplines enriches the subspecialty of rehabilitation psychology. However, rehabilitation psychologists must remain cognizant of their unique contribution to rehabilitation efforts and of their ethical responsibilities to practice within their areas of competence. Rehabilitation psychology is facing profound challenges, spurred by the changing health care environment, increasing competition for clinical and research monies, workforce issues, and psychology's ongoing debate regarding training models. Rehabilitation psychology's ability to effectively address the inevitable 21st-century issues such as prescription privileges and hospital staff membership may well determine its future viability as a scientifi- cally based, professional subspecialty of psychology. A review of recent literature
Quantifying Complexity: Personality Assessment and Its Relationship with Psychoanalysis

The fields of personality assessment and psychoanalysis have an entwined history and share much in common, notably an appreciation of the importance of understanding a person with complexity and depth, including the role of unconscious (or implicit) psychological processes. Personality assessment (or diagnostic psychological testing) offers a complement to psychoanalysis’ primarily idiographic approach by integrating it with a nomothetic one; that is, applying quantitative methods to determine in what ways and to what extent a person is similar or different relative to normative data. It is surprising, then, that contemporary psychoanalysts are largely unfamiliar with the field of personality assessment and seldom refer their patients for evaluation to assist with diagnostic formulation and treatment planning. In this article, we offer practicing analysts (1) a general description of the ways that testing can assist diagnostically, (2) an introduction to categories of psychological tests that sample functioning under varying conditions or from different vantage points, (3) a survey of assessment research that has provided empirical validation of key psychoanalytic concepts, (4) a window into the assessment process as it is applied clinically, and (5) cases to illustrate when and to what benefit analysts might consider referrals for testing. Examples include use of testing in instances when a new patient reports a history of repeated treatment failures; when patient and analyst are embroiled in a protracted impasse; and when a fine-tuned assessment of analyzability is warranted.
Novel artificial neural network for early detection of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE Two artificial neural networks (ANN) for the early detection of prostate cancer in men with total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels from 2.5 to 4 ng/mL and from 4 to 10 ng/mL were prospectively developed. The predictive accuracy of the ANN was compared with that obtained by use of conventional statistical analysis of standard PSA parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS Consecutive men with a serum total PSA level between 4 and 10 ng/mL (n = 974) and between 2.5 and 4 ng/mL (n = 272) were analyzed. A separate ANN model was developed for each group of patients. Analyses were performed to determine the presence of prostate cancer. RESULTS The area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 87.6% and 91.3% for the 2.5 to 4 ng/mL and 4 to 10 ng/mL ANN models, respectively. For the latter model, the AUC generated by the ANN was significantly higher than that produced by the single variables of total PSA, percentage of free PSA, PSA density of the transition zone (TZ), and TZ volume (P <.01), but not significantly higher compared with multivariate analysis. For the 2.5 to 4 ng/mL model, the AUC of the ANN ROC curve was significantly higher than the AUCs for percentage of free PSA (P =.0239), PSA-TZ (P =.0204), and PSA density and total prostate volume (P <.01 for both). CONCLUSION The predictive accuracy of the ANN was superior to that of conventional PSA parameters. ANN models might change the way patients referred for early prostate cancer detection are counseled regarding the need for prostate biopsy.
Review of the status and control of foot and mouth disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Six of the seven serotypes of foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus (i.e. all but Asia 1) are prevalent in Africa although there are marked regional differences in distribution. Three of these serotypes are unique to Africa, namely the three South African Territories (SAT) serotypes. Serotype C may also now be confined to Africa because it has not been reported elsewhere recently. In southern Africa at least, the SAT serotypes have an intimate and probably ancient association with African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) that is instrumental in their maintenance. Within each of the six prevalent serotypes, with the possible exception of C, there are a number of different lineages with more or less defined distributions (i.e. topotypes) that in some cases are sufficiently immunologically different from one another to require specific vaccines to ensure efficient control. This immunological diversity in prevalent serotypes and topotypes, in addition to uncontrolled animal movement in most parts of the continent, render FMD difficult to control in present circumstances. This fact, together with poorly developed intercontinental trade in animals and animal products has resulted in the control of FMD being afforded a low priority in most parts of the continent, although the northern and southern regions of the continent are an exception. As a consequence, eradication of FMD from Africa as a whole is not a prospect within the foreseeable future. In southern Africa, the use of fencing and other means to strictly control the movement of wildlife and livestock as well as judicious application of vaccine has resulted in countries of the region being able to access beef and other livestock markets in Europe and elsewhere in the developed world. Significant marketing of livestock and livestock products from Africa outside the continent is unlikely to be achieved unless similar approaches can be developed for other regions of Africa. This will result in continuing under-exploitation of a valuable resource in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, with increasing marginalisation of human populations living there.
The Effect of Cognitive Training in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer's Disease: A Preliminary Study

Background and Purpose The objective of this study was to determine the benefits of cognitive training in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and those with early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Eleven patients with aMCI and nine with early AD (stage 4 on the Global Deterioration Scale) participated in this study. Six participants with aMCI and six with AD were allocated to the cognitive training group, while five participants with aMCI and three with AD were allocated to a wait-list control group. Multicomponent cognitive training was administered in 18 weekly, individual sessions. Outcome measures were undertaken at baseline, and at 2 weeks and 3 months of follow-up. Results In the trained MCI group, there were significant improvements in the delayed-recall scores on the Seoul Verbal Learning Test at both the 2-week and 3-month follow-ups compared with baseline (baseline, 1.6±1.5; 2 weeks, 4.4±1.5, p=0.04; 3 months, 4.6±2.3, p=0.04). The phonemic fluency scores (1.0±0.8 vs. 5.0±1.8, p=0.07) and Korean Mini-Mental State Examination scores (18.8±0.5 vs. 23.8±2.2, p=0.07) also showed a tendency toward improvement at the 2-week follow-up compared to baseline in the trained AD group. Conclusions This study provides evidence of the effectiveness of cognitive training in aMCI and early AD. The efficacy of cognitive training programs remains to be verified in studies with larger samples and a randomized design.
Interfacing Renewable Energy Sources to the Utility Grid Using a Three-Level Inverter

This paper presents a novel approach for the connection of renewable energy sources to the utility grid. Due to the increasing power capability of the available generation systems, a three-level three-phase neutral-point-clamped voltage-source inverter is selected as the heart of the interfacing system. A multivariable control law is used for the regulator because of the intrinsic multivariable structure of the system. A current source (playing the role of a generic renewable energy source) is connected to the grid using a three-level inverter in order to verify the good performance of the proposed approach. Large- and small-signal d-q state-space averaged models of the system are obtained and used to calculate the multivariable controller based on the linear quadratic regulator technique. This controller simultaneously regulates the dc-link voltage (to operate at the maximum power point of the renewable energy source), the mains power factor (the power is delivered to the grid at unity power factor), and the dc-link neutral-point voltage balance. With the model and regulator presented, a specific switching strategy to control the dc-link neutral-point voltage is not required. The proposed controller can be used for any application, since its nature makes possible the control of any system variable. The good performance of the presented interfacing solution in both steady-state and transient operation is verified through simulation and experimentation using a 1-kW neutral-point-clamped voltage-source-inverter prototype, where a PC-embedded digital signal processor board is used for the controller implementation
RNA-directed DNA methylation requires stepwise binding of silencing factors to long non-coding RNA

Ribonucleic acid-mediated transcriptional gene silencing (known as RNA-directed DNA methylation, or RdDM, in Arabidopsis thaliana) is important for influencing gene expression and the inhibition of transposons by the deposition of repressive chromatin marks such as histone modifications and DNA methylation. A key event in de novo methylation of DNA by RdDM is the production of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) by RNA polymerase V (Pol V). Little is known about the events that connect Pol V transcription to the establishment of repressive chromatin modifications. Using RNA immunoprecipitation, we elucidated the order of events downstream of lncRNA production and discovered interdependency between lncRNA-associated proteins. We found that the effector protein ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4) binds lncRNA independent of the RNA-binding protein INVOLVED IN DE NOVO2 (IDN2). In contrast, IDN2 binds lncRNA in an AGO4-dependent manner. We further found that the de novo DNA methyltransferase DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLTRANSFERASE2 (DRM2) also associates with lncRNA produced by Pol V and that this event depends on AGO4 and IDN2. We propose a model where the silencing proteins AGO4, IDN2 and DRM2 bind to lncRNA in a stepwise manner, resulting in DNA methylation of RdDM target loci.
Enhanced proliferation and defective activation-induced cell death of CD4+ T cells in childhood asthma.

BACKGROUND Hyperactivation of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood and airway tissues has been suggested to play a key role in the development and maintenance of chronic inflammation in childhood asthma. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. OBJECTIVE To investigate alterations in serum levels of T helper cell-related cytokines, mitogen-stimulated CD4+ T cell proliferation and activation-induced cell death (AICD) in childhood asthma. METHODS 21 children with untreated asthma and 21 healthy volunteers (age and gender matched) participated in this study. Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines in serum were analyzed by flow cytometry. CD4+ T cells were isolated from participants by using immuno-magnetic beads and were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Cell proliferation was evaluated with a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Activation induced cell death (AICD) of CD4+ T cells was also induced by PHA and apoptosis was assayed by annexin V/PI staining. Quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to analyze Fas and FasL mRNA expression. FLIPL, caspase-8 and Bcl-2 were detected by western blot analysis. RESULTS In children with asthma, the proliferative capacity of CD4+ T cells was enhanced and AICD was inhibited significantly, while serum IL-4, IL-10 and TNF were markedly higher compared with the control group. Fas mRNA expression in the asthma group was obviously lower than that in the control group, while no change was detected in FasL mRNA expression. Western blot analysis showed that the levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins, FLIPL and Bcl-2 in CD4+ T cells of the asthma group were significantly higher than in the control group. Spearman's correlation tests showed that only IL-4 correlated positively with FLIPL and Bcl-2 expression, while IL-10 and TNF were unrelated to FLIPL and Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that enhanced proliferation and defective AICD of CD4+ T cells influence the T cell-mediated inflammatory reaction in childhood asthma and that increased IL-4, FLIPL and Bcl-2 expression and decreased Fas expression jointly participate in these changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis.ression and decreased Fas expression jointly participate in these changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Cytotoxicity of the HpmA hemolysin and urease of Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris against cultured human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells

Proteus mirabilis, a common agent of nosocomially acquired and catheter-associated bacteriuria, can cause acute pyelonephritis. In ascending infections, bacteria colonize the bladder and ascend the ureters to the proximal tubules of the kidney. We postulate that Proteus species uses the HpmA hemolysin and urease to elicit tissue damage that allows entry of these bacteria into the kidney. To study this interaction, strains of Proteus mirabilis and P. vulgaris and their isogenic hemolysin-negative (hpmA) or isogenic urease-negative (ureC) constructs were overlaid onto cultures of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEC) isolated from kidneys obtained by immediate autopsy. Cytotoxicity was measured by release of soluble lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Two strains of P. mirabilis inoculated at 10(6) CFU caused a release of 80% of total LDH after 6 h, whereas pyelonephritogenic hemolytic Escherichia coli CFT073 released only 25% at 6 h (P less than 0.012). Ten P. mirabilis isolates and five P. vulgaris isolates were all hemolytic and cytotoxic and produced urease which was induced by urea. The HpmA hemolysin is apparently responsible for the majority of cytotoxicity in vitro since the hemolysin-negative (hpmA) mutants of P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris were significantly less cytotoxic than wild-type strains. P. mirabilis WPM111 (hemolysin negative) was used to test the effect of urease-catalyzed urea hydrolysis on HRPTEC viability. In the presence of 50 mM urea, WPM111 caused the release of 42% of LDH versus 1% at 6 h in the absence of substrate (P = 0.003). We conclude that the HpmA hemolysin of Proteus species acts as a potent cytotoxin against HRPTEC. In addition, urease apparently contributes to this process when substrate urea is available.
Pediatric liver tumors and hepatic ontogenesis: common and distinctive pathways.

Several types of pediatric liver tumors exhibit structural features apparently reflecting processes which normally occur during hepatic ontogenesis: some hepatoblastomas mimic distinct phases of hepatogenesis, including the formation of mesenchymal structures closely associated with immature epithelia, and there are tumors almost exclusively consisting of complex mesenchymal patterns. Current classifications of hepatoblastomas refer to the identification of more or less mature (differentiated) single or mixed components seen in histologic preparations. These do not, however, attempt to integrate ontogenic pathways, in contrast for example, to nephroblastoma and associated lesions, where such a view has proved to be highly fruitful. Based on the fact that an enormous amount of knowledge has recently been accumulated regarding hepatic ontogenesis, time may have come to look at these tumors with a new eye. In what follows, we aim at trying to analyze distinct features of pediatric hepatic tumors (except vascular tumors) within the background of ontogenesis. Some key steps of hepatogenesis and the regulatory factors involved may, in the future, deliver an armamentarium to search for novel molecular mechanisms involved in tumorigenic pathways.
Two-Way Immersion Bilingual Programs in Texas

Abstract This article summarizes the results from the first statewide study of two-way immersion (TWI) programs for English language learners. The survey was conducted electronically with 304 Texas bilingual/English as a Second Language directors in districts that serve English language learners. Data are reported for the following research question: What information can be identified about TWI programs in Texas, specifically: (a) number of districts reporting TWI programs, (b) program types, (c) grade levels served, (d) number of classrooms at each grade level, (e) languages of instruction, (f) distribution of native Spanish and native English speakers, (g) TWI program by regional educational service center, and (h) years of implementation? This article concludes with implications for further research related to TWI programs in Texas and the United States.
Biochemical and functional characterization of the interaction between pentraxin 3 and C1q

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a recently characterized member of the pentraxin family of acute‐phase proteins produced during inflammation. Classical short pentraxins, C‐reactive protein, and serum amyloid P component can bind to C1q and thereby activate the classical complement pathway. Since PTX3 can also bind C1q, the present study was designed to define the interaction between PTX3 and C1q and to examine the functional consequences of this interaction. A dose‐dependent binding of both C1q and the C1 complex to PTX3 was observed. Experiments with recombinant globular head domains of human C1q A, B, and C chains indicated that C1q interacts with PTX3 via its globular head region. Binding of C1q to immobilized PTX3 induced activation of the classical complement pathway as assessed by C4 deposition. Furthermore, PTX3 enhanced C1q binding and complement activation on apoptotic cells. However, in the fluid‐phase, pre‐incubation of PTX3 with C1q resulted in inhibition of complement activation by blocking the interaction of C1q with immunoglobulins. These results indicate that PTX3 can both inhibit and activate the classical complement pathway by binding C1q, depending on the way it is presented. PTX3 may therefore be involved in the regulation of the innate immune response.
Temporally constrained SCA with applications to EEG data

In this paper we propose an iterative algorithm for solving the problem of extracting a sparse source signal when a reference signal for the desired source signal is available. In the proposed algorithm, a nonconvex objective function is used for measuring the diversity (antisparsity) of the desired source signal. The nonconvex function is locally replaced by a quadratic convex function. This results in a simple iterative algorithm. The proposed algorithm has two different versions, depending on the measure of closeness between the extracted source signal and the reference signal. The proposed algorithm has useful applications to EEG/MEG signal processing. This is demonstrated by an example in which eye blink artifacts are automatically removed from a real EEG data.