Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional Role and Affinity of Inorganic Cations in Stabilizing the Tetrameric Structure of the KcsA K+ Channel

Crystal structures of the tetrameric KcsA K+ channel reveal seven distinct binding sites for K+ ions within the central pore formed at the fourfold rotational symmetry axis. Coordination of an individual K+ ion by eight protein oxygen atoms within the selectivity filter suggests that ion-subunit bridging by cation–oxygen interactions contributes to structural stability of the tetramer. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of inorganic cations on the temperature dependence of the KcsA tetramer as monitored by SDS-PAGE. Inorganic cations known to permeate or strongly block K+ channels (K+, Rb+, Cs+, Tl+, NH4 +, Ba2+, and Sr2+) confer tetramer stability at higher temperatures (T0.5 range = 87°C to >99°C) than impermeant cations and weak blockers (Li+, Na+, Tris+, choline+; T0.5 range = 59°C to 77°C). Titration of K+, Ba2+, and other stabilizing cations protects against rapid loss of KcsA tetramer observed in 100 mM choline Cl at 90°C. Tetramer protection titrations of K+, Rb+, Cs+, Tl+, and NH4 + at 85°C or 90°C exhibit apparent Hill coefficients (N) ranging from 1.7 to 3.3 and affinity constants (K0.5) ranging from 1.1 to 9.6 mM. Ba2+ and Sr2+ titrations exhibit apparent one-site behavior (N ≅ 1) with K0.5 values of 210 nM and 11 μM, respectively. At 95°C in the presence of 5 mM K+, titration of Li+ or Na+ destabilizes the tetramer with K0.5 values of 57 mM and 109 mM, respectively. We conclude that specific binding interactions of inorganic cations with the selectivity filter are an important determinant of tetramer stability of KscA.
Interactions between dielectric branes

Quantum corrections to the energy of D0-branes in a constant RR 4-form background are studied. Using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, we compute the long-range interaction between two spherical D2-D0 bound states. We extend this calculation to the case where some mass terms are added. For the special value of masses at which the classical energy vanishes, we find complete cancellations of two boson-fermion pairs in the quantum mechanical expression of the zero-point energy, suggesting possible restoration of (partial) supersymmetries. We also briefly discuss the interaction between a dielectric 2-brane and a single D0-brane.
Applying a Systematic Approach to Link Requirements and Testing: A Case Study

Requirements engineering and testing offer two complementary views of system development, and can, therefore, benefit from each other. This paper describes the lessons Metso learned from jointly improving requirements and testing processes. The goal of the process improvement was to increase the quality of R&D work. The new requirements and testing processes were piloted in an R&D project. The usage of the new processes removed the risk of doing double work, improved the visibility of the project status and the effectiveness of the project. The experiences of the pilot project suggest that the good results were mainly due to linking requirements and testing concurrently at process, people, and practice levels. It was essential that the new requirements and testing processes were integrated throughout the entire R&D project. In order to integrate the requirements and testing activities, critical roles and responsibilities were defined. Furthermore, we identified a set of good practices that helped perform the new processes.
Various localized epigenetic marks predict expression across 54 samples and reveal underlying chromatin state enrichments

Here, we predict gene expression from epigenetic features based on public data available through the Epigenome Roadmap Project [1]. This rich new dataset includes samples from primary tissues, which to our knowledge have not previously been studied in this context. Specifically, we used computational machine learning algorithms on five histone modifications to predict gene expression in a variety of samples. Our models reveal a high predictive accuracy, especially in cell cultures, with predictive ability dependent on sample type and anatomy. The relative importance of each histone mark feature varied across samples. We localized each histone mark signal to its relevant region, revealing that chromatin state enrichment varies greatly between histone marks. Our results provide several novel insights into epigenetic regulation of transcription in new contexts.
A Real Collaboration Across Disciplines

Over the past two decades, life course ideas have led to major changes in research on human development – changes in topics, strategies, and even the people doing it. More than any other study, Elder’s [1974] Children of the Great Depression sparked this paradigmatic shift. This study, for those few readers who have yet to see it, dealt analytically with how sharp changes in the family’s economic resources affected adolescents’ development. It was a quantitative effort to capture the effects of a unique historical event on children’s development. What Elder found was that adolescent boys from the most deprived families who worked to help their families meet the financial crisis were more successful in their own subsequent job careers than were boys from less deprived families.
A mesochronous pipeline scheme for high performance low power digital systems

A mesochronous pipeline architecture is described in this paper. Significant performance gains are possible with mesochronous pipeline over conventional pipeline architecture. The clock period in conventional pipeline scheme is proportional to the maximum stage delay while in mesochronous pipelining it is proportional to the maximum delay difference, which means higher clock speeds are possible in the proposed scheme. Also, the clock distribution network is simple and load on it is less in mesochronous approach resulting in significant power savings. An 8times8-bit multiplier using carry-save adder technique has been implemented in conventional and mesochronous pipeline approach using TSMC 180 nm (drawn length 200 nm). The over all power dissipation in mesochronous approach is less than 50% of the power dissipation in conventional approach. In conventional approach, the power dissipation in clock network and pipeline registers is close to 80% of total power dissipation, while in mesochronous approach the logic dissipates more power
"I Don't Teach Language": The Linguistic Attitudes of Physics Lecturers in Sweden.

From a disciplinary discourse perspective, all university courses can be said to involve content and language integrated learning (CLIL) even in monolingual settings. Clearly, however, things become much more complex when two or more languages are involved in teaching and learning. The aim of this paper is to introduce readers to the linguistic situation in Swedish universities, where two languages - English and Swedish - are commonly used in the teaching and learning of a number of disciplines. The paper describes the linguistic landscape of Swedish higher education and presents an illustrative case study from a single discipline (physics) with a hierarchical knowledge structure (Bernstein 1999). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with ten physics lecturers from four Swedish universities. The lecturers were asked about their disciplinary language-learning expectations for their students. These interviews were analysed using qualitative methods inspired by the phenomenographic approach. Six main themes resulting from the analysis are presented and discussed. From a CLIL perspective, one recurring theme is that none of the lecturers saw themselves as teachers of disciplinary Swedish or English. The paper concludes by discussing the generalizability of the findings to other disciplines with similar (hierarchical) knowledge structures.
Galunisertib (LY2157299), a transforming growth factor-β receptor I kinase inhibitor, attenuates acute pancreatitis in rats

Galunisertib (LY2157299), a selective ATP-mimetic inhibitor of TGF-β receptor I (TGF-βRI), is the only known TGF-β pathway inhibitor. In the present study, we investigated the effect of galunisertib on taurocholate (TAC)-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats, and the role of TGF-β and NF-κB signaling pathways. AP was induced by infusion of TAC into the pancreatic duct of Sprague-Dawley male rats (n=30). The rats (220±50 g) were administered galunisertib intragastrically [75 mg·kg-1·day-1 for 2 days (0 and 24 h)]. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, amylase (AMY), lipase (LIP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were measured by ELISA. NF-κB activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA); NF-κBp65 and TGF-β1 proteins, as well as TGF-βRI and p-Smad2/3 proteins, were detected by western blot assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. H&E staining was used to evaluate the histopathological alterations of the pancreas. Galunisertib treatment attenuated the severity of AP and decreased the pancreatic histological score. In addition, number of apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the galunisertib-treated group (16.38±2.26) than in the AP group (8.14±1.27) and sham-operated group (1.82±0.73; P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Galunisertib decreased the expression levels of TGF-βRI and p-Smad2/3 and inhibited NF-κB activation and p65 translocation compared with the sham-operated group. Furthermore, serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, AMY and LIP levels and tissue MPO activity were significantly decreased in the galunisertib-treated group. Our data demonstrate that galunisertib attenuates the severity of TAC-induced experimental AP in rats by inducing apoptosis in the pancreas, inhibiting the activation of TGF-β signals and NF-κB as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
New variety or learner English? : Criteria for variety status and the case of Euro-English

In deciding whether non-native English is to be classified as a new variety or simply as learner language, a yardstick is needed against which the candidate variety can be tested. This paper offers such criteria for ESL-variety status, based on the three processes in the development of a new variety: expansion in function, nativization of form and institutionalization of a new standard. The criteria are exemplarily applied to the case of non-native English spoken on the European Continent, a recent controversial contender for variety status. It is suggested that if the proposed criteria are applied, Euro-English does not qualify as a New English.
Integrating User Studies into Computer Graphics-Related Courses

This paper presents computer graphics. Computer graphics and visualization are essentially about producing images for a target audience, be it the millions watching a new CG-animated movie or the small group of researchers trying to gain insight into the large amount of numerical data resulting from a scientific experiment. To ascertain the final images' effectiveness for their intended audience or the designed visualizations' accuracy and expressiveness, formal user studies are often essential. In human-computer interaction (HCI), such user studies play a similar fundamental role in evaluating the usability and applicability of interaction methods and metaphors for the various devices and software systems we use.
Current improvement for D-Σ digital controlled three-phase bi-directional inverter with wide inductance variation

A division-summation (D-Σ) digital control for three-phase inverters to achieve active and reactive power injection has been presented. It can overcome the limitation of abc to dq frame transformation. However, the D-Σ control requires four sets of control laws to cover four quadrant operations: grid connection (PF 1 ~ ±0.866), rectification with power factor correction, PF leading (0 ~ 0.866), and PF lagging (0 ~ -0.866). Moreover, the switching sequences for the four modes are also different from each other, increasing complexity of firmware programming. In this paper, improvement of the control-law derivation and region selection for the D-Σ digital control is presented. By selecting the zero crossing points of phase voltages as region transitions, the control laws and the related parameter tables for the four modes can be unified to a general form. The switching sequences of the four modes are also unified to the switching pattern of the grid-connection mode. Additionally, a D-Σ transformation matrix is identified to simplify the derivation procedure of the division (D) and summation (Σ), which can obtain the control law directly. Measured results from a 10 kVA 3Φ bi-directional inverter have been presented to confirm the improvement.
Locus of Control and Hostility: Sex Differences

Abstract The Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External locus of control scale and the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire were administered to 35 male and 35 female college students. In both the total sample and the female sample, significant correlations were observed between locus of control and hostility with an external locus of control being associated with greater hostility. Although locus of control was significantly related to all of the hostility scores in the female sample, the male sample generally showed no significant relationship between locus of control and hostility. The sex differences in the data and the possibility of item overlap between the locus of control and hostility measures are discussed.
Long-Term Study of Endonasal Duraplasty and Review of the Literature

Many different techniques have been proposed to repair frontobasal dura mater lesions. Because of its low mocthe anterior skull base. This article presents a retrospective evaluation of 136 endonasal duraplasties (126 patients) performed between July 1980 and May 1998 at a tertiary care facility. Follow-up consisted of clinical examinations including nasal endoscopy, objective measures, and telephone interviews. The following measures were used to evaluate the results of these duraplasties: postoperative nasal fluorescein endoscopy in 71 cases, computed tomographic cisternography in 2, nasal fluorescein endoscopy with computed tomographic cisternography in 19, magnetic resonance imaging in 6, and nasal fluorescein endoscopy with magnetic resonance imaging in 1. Tight closure was accomplished in 129 dural lesions (94.9%) on the first attempt. In 3 cases, recurrence of cerebrospinal fluid leakage was treated successfully by I endonasal revision, and in I case, a tight duraplasty was achieved after 2 endonasal revisions. Its high success rate, low rate of morbidity, and good long-term results recommend endonasal duraplasty as a primary treatment modality for frontobasal dural lesions. For extended frontobasal dural lesions, for which intracranial dural repair is the preferred approach, the endonasal approach should be used to close additional dural leaks of the sphenoid sinus.
Please Scroll down for Article the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology How Does Prior Knowledge Affect Implicit and Explicit Concept Learning?

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Homophobia: an updated review of the literature

The world in 2010 is a very different place to 1987 when Bhugra's paper on homophobia was published. Huge shifts have occurred in society's attitudes to gender, sex, sexuality and identity – notably by the internet, changes in HIV treatment, media representation of homosexuality and feminism and the role of women in society. This paper updates the literature review on homophobia revisiting society's assumptions about homosexuals. Changes are discussed in the context of definitions of homophobia, socio-cultural and politico-legal perspectives and homophobia and medicine. New current assumptions are drawn up and offered as a way of understanding both development and limitations – whilst there has been a reduction in the fear associated with gay men and women, discrimination remains. Newer issues such as internalised homophobia, globalisation and mainstream representations of homosexuality add complexity to this ongoing concern.
Aliasing control with view-based typestate

Tracking the state of an object (in the sense of how a File can be in an Open or Closed state) is difficult not just because of the problem of managing state transitions but also due to the complexity introduced by aliasing. Unchecked duplication of object references makes local reasoning impossible by allowing situations where transitions can be triggered unexpectedly (for instance, passing aliased parameters to a method that expects unaliased parameters, or calling a method that has a side effect through an alias deeply nested in a data structure). We propose a generalization of access permissions that goes beyond a fixed set of permissions to an object. In this paper we present a new aliasing control mechanism that uses a small set of permissions as building block for the creation of views that capture a projection of an object with specific access constraints to its fields and/or methods. This makes permission tracking more fine grained while also making the designer's intent more explicit. We present a few meaningful examples of how these views handle situations such as: separating different sections of an object for safe initialization; and access with either an unbounded number of readers or a single writer (multiple readers or unique writer). Finally, we show a type system for checking correctness of state use in the presence of this kind of controlled aliasing.
Frequent genetic abnormalities of the PI3K/AKT pathway in primary ovarian cancer predict patient outcome

Identification and characterization of underlying genetic aberrations could facilitate diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer. Copy number analysis using array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) on 93 primary ovarian tumors identified PI3K/AKT pathway as the most frequently altered cancer related pathway. Furthermore, survival analyses to correlate gene copy number and mutation data with patient outcome showed that copy number gains of PIK3CA, PIK3CB, and PIK3R4 in these tumors were associated with decreased survival. To confirm these findings at the protein level, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for PIK3CA product p110α and p‐Akt was performed on tissue microarrays from 522 independent serous ovarian cancers. Overexpression of either of these two proteins was found to be associated with decreased survival. Multivariant analysis from these samples further showed that overexpression of p‐AKT and/or p110α is an independent prognostic factor for these tumors. siRNAs targeting altered PI3K/AKT pathway genes inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cell lines. In addition, the effect of the siRNAs in different cell lines seemed to correlate with the particular genetic alterations that the cell line carries. These results strongly support the utilization of PI3K pathway inhibitors in ovarian cancer. They also suggest identifying the specific component in the PI3K pathway that is genetically altered has the potential to help select the most effective therapy. Both mutation as well as copy number changes can be used as predictive markers for this purpose. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Italian Television Sport Coverage during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games

The aim of the present study was to get a gender perspective in Italy of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. The proportion of television airtime coverage of female athletes (29%) was close to the proportion of the Italian female participation in the Games (International 38%, Italian 28%), with no gender differences regarding the placement of women’s sport in the broadcast. Women’s events hit 26 percent of total mean audience, which included 40 percent females. The male share was 31 percent for both total Olympic events and women-only sports, while the female share was 19 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Sport TV female professionals ranged from 4 percent (TV operators) to 33 percent (staff members), while Italian Olympic Committee female delegates ranged from 0 percent (Presidents of National Sport Federations) to 19.2 percent (medical doctors), indicating a strong male hegemony in sport-related careers in Italy.
Intentional social action in virtual communities

There is growing evidence of the increasing participation in, and influence of, virtual communities in digital environments. To help explain this irresistible allure, the individual and social determinants of the member's intentions to participate are investigated. Conceptualizing virtual community participation as intentional social action, we explicate the concept of “we-intentions”, and use the Model of Goal-Directed Behavior to explain members’ we-intentions. Virtual community influences pertaining to compliance, internalization, and social identity are also elaborated on. An empirical study of regular virtual community participants (N = 157) finds that we-intentions to participate are functions of both individual determinants (positive anticipated emotions and desires), and community influences (social identity). Implications for marketing and future research opportunities are discussed.
Rapamycin inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell migration.

Abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration contribute to the development of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and accelerated arteriopathy after cardiac transplantation. Previously, we reported that the macrolide antibiotic rapamycin, but not the related compound FK506, inhibits both human and rat aortic SMC proliferation in vitro by inhibiting cell cycle-dependent kinases and delaying phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Marx, S.O., T. Jayaraman, L.O. Go, and A.R. Marks. 1995. Circ. Res. 362:801). In the present study the effects of rapamycin on SMC migration were assayed in vitro using a modified Boyden chamber and in vivo using a porcine aortic SMC explant model. Pretreatment with rapamycin (2 ng/ml) for 48 h inhibited PDGF-induced migration (PDGF BB homodimer; 20 ng/ml) in cultured rat and human SMC (n = 10; P < 0.0001), whereas FK506 had no significant effect on migration. Rapamycin administered orally (1 mg/kg per d for 7 d) significantly inhibited porcine aortic SMC migration compared with control (n = 15; P < 0.0001). Thus, in addition to being a potent immunosuppressant and antiproliferative, rapamycin also inhibits SMC migration.
Adolescent help-seeking for psychological distress, depression, and anxiety using an Internet program

This study explored what adolescents want in an Internet-based self-help program (IBSHP) for psychological distress, in order to encourage them to use the IBSHP to help themselves. Thirteen adolescents (aged 15–18) participated in the Feeling Better program and then completed a 1-h telephone interview, answering questions based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Thematic analysis was used to identify three themes in the interviews. ‘Effectiveness’ represented the usefulness of the IBSHP components and the role of credibility. ‘Privacy allows control over disclosure’ described the IBSHP's provision of a private space in which to seek help. ‘Capacity to seek help’ described the convenience and accessibility of having an online program and the importance of motivation and awareness of the program. These themes reflect the TPB: ‘Effectiveness’ reflecting ‘Attitudes’, ‘Privacy allows control over disclosure’ reflecting ‘Subjective Norms’ and ‘Capacity to seek help’ reflecting ‘Perceived Behavioral Control’.