Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of Specific T-Cell Responses, Opsonizing Antibodies, and Protection against Plasmodium chabaudi adami Infection in Mice Vaccinated with Genomic Expression Libraries Expressed in Targeted and Secretory DNA Vectors

ABSTRACT It has been proposed that a multivalent malaria vaccine is necessary to mimic the naturally acquired resistance to this disease observed in humans. A major experimental challenge is to identify the optimal components to be used in such a multivalent vaccine. Expression library immunization (ELI) is a method for screening genomes of a pathogen to identify novel combinations of vaccine sequences. Here we describe immune responses associated with, and the protective efficacy of, genomic Plasmodium chabaudi adami DS expression libraries constructed in VR1020 (secretory), monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (chemoattractant), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (lymph node-targeting) DNA vaccine vectors. With splenocytes from vaccinated mice, specific T-cell responses, as well as gamma interferon and interleukin-4 production, were observed after stimulation with P. chabaudi adami-infected erythrocytes, demonstrating the specificity of genomic library vaccination for two of the three libraries constructed. Sera obtained from mice vaccinated with genomic libraries promoted the opsonization of P. chabaudi adami-infected erythrocytes by murine macrophages in vitro, further demonstrating the induction of malaria-specific immune responses following ELI. Over three vaccine trials using biolistic delivery of the three libraries, protection after lethal challenge with P. chabaudi adami DS ranged from 33 to 50%. These results show that protective epitopes or antigens are expressed within the libraries and that ELI induces responses specific to P. chabaudi adami malaria. This study further demonstrates that ELI is a suitable approach for screening the malaria genome to identify the components of multivalent vaccines.
A Conserved Homeobox Transcription Factor Htf1 Is Required for Phialide Development and Conidiogenesis in Fusarium Species

Conidia are primary means of asexual reproduction and dispersal in a variety of pathogenic fungi, and it is widely recognized that they play a critical role in animal and plant disease epidemics. However, genetic mechanisms associated with conidiogenesis are complex and remain largely undefined in numerous pathogenic fungi. We previously showed that Htf1, a homeobox transcription factor, is required for conidiogenesis in the rice pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. In this study, our aim was to characterize how Htf1 homolog regulates common and also distinctive conidiogenesis in three key Fusarium pathogens: F. graminearm, F. verticillioides, and F. oxysporum. When compared to wild-type progenitors, the gene-deletion mutants in Fusarium species failed to form conventional phialides. Rather, they formed clusters of aberrant phialides that resembled elongated hyphae segments, and it is conceivable that this led to the obstruction of conidiation in phialides. We also observed that mutants, as well as wild-type Fusaria, can initiate alternative macroconidia production directly from hyphae through budding-like mechanism albeit at low frequencies. Microscopic observations led us to conclude that proper basal cell division and subsequent foot cell development of macroconidia were negatively impacted in the mutants. In F. verticillioides and F. oxysporum, mutants exhibited a 2- to 5- microconidia complex at the apex of monophialides resulting in a floral petal-like shape. Also, prototypical microconidia chains were absent in F. verticillioides mutants. F. graminearum and F. verticillioides mutants were complemented by introducing its native HTF1 gene or homologs from other Fusarium species. These results suggest that Fusarium Htf1 is functionally conserved homeobox transcription factor that regulates phialide development and conidiogenesis via distinct signaling pathways yet to be characterized in fungi.
Increased Expression of Leptin and the Leptin Receptor as a Marker of Breast Cancer Progression: Possible Role of Obesity-Related Stimuli

Purpose: Recent in vitro studies suggested that the autocrine leptin loop might contribute to breast cancer development by enhancing cell growth and survival. To evaluate whether the leptin system could become a target in breast cancer therapy, we examined the expression of leptin and its receptor (ObR) in primary and metastatic breast cancer and noncancer mammary epithelium. We also studied whether the expression of leptin/ObR in breast cancer can be induced by obesity-related stimuli, such as elevated levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), estradiol, or hypoxic conditions. Experimental Design: The expression of leptin and ObR was examined by immunohistochemistry in 148 primary breast cancers and 66 breast cancer metastases as well as in 90 benign mammary lesions. The effects of insulin, IGF-I, estradiol, and hypoxia on leptin and ObR mRNA expression were assessed by reverse transcription-PCR in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Results: Leptin and ObR were significantly overexpressed in primary and metastatic breast cancer relative to noncancer tissues. In primary tumors, leptin positively correlated with ObR, and both biomarkers were most abundant in G3 tumors. The expression of leptin mRNA was enhanced by insulin and hypoxia in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas IGF-I and estradiol stimulated leptin mRNA only in MCF-7 cells. ObR mRNA was induced by insulin, IGF-I, and estradiol in MCF-7 cells and by insulin and hypoxia in MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusions: Leptin and ObR are overexpressed in breast cancer, possibly due to hypoxia and/or overexposure of cells to insulin, IGF-I, and/or estradiol.
Active Control vs. Passive Perception of Heading: Evidence for Different Perceptual Mechanisms

Traditional psychophysical research on perception of heading is characterized by an observer passively viewing a self-motion display. However, some studies suggest that active observers form different perceptions than passive observers, which challenges the relevance of traditional studies of heading to issues of vehicular control. The present study examined whether observers who actively control their self-motion perceive heading differently than those who passively view a self-motion display. We examined heading performance during both active control of yaw and passive observation using a manual control paradigm. The results indicated that observers who actively controlled their yaw perceived heading in a manner that was qualitatively different than observers who passively viewed a self-motion display. Moreover, the results suggest that active observers learn to use relevant display information that passive observers overlook. These results cast doubt on the relevance of traditional psychophysical research on heading to the issue of vehicular control.
An Efficient Human Face Recognition System Using Pseudo Zernike Moment Invariant and Radial Basis Function Neural Network

This paper introduces a novel method for the recognition of human faces in two-dimensional digital images using a new feature extraction method and Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network with a Hybrid Learning Algorithm (HLA) as classifier. The proposed feature extraction method includes human face localization derived from the shape information using a proposed distance measure as Facial Candidate Threshold (FCT) as well as Pseudo Zernike Moment Invariant (PZMI) with a newly defined parameter named Correct Information Ratio (CIR) of images for disregarding irrelevant information of face images. In this paper, the effect of these parameters in disregarding irrelevant information in recognition rate improvement is studied. Also we evaluate the effect of orders of PZMI in recognition rate of the proposed technique as well as learning speed. Simulation results on the face database of Olivetti Research Laboratory (ORL) indicate that high order PZMI together with the derived face localization technique for extraction of feature data yielded a recognition rate of 99.3%.
Observed coherent changes in climatic extremes during the second half of the twentieth century

A new global dataset of derived indicators has been compiled to clarify whether fre- quency and/or severity of climatic extremes changed during the second half of the 20th century. This period provides the best spatial coverage of homogenous daily series, which can be used for calcu- lating the proportion of global land area exhibiting a significant change in extreme or severe weather. The authors chose 10 indicators of extreme climatic events, defined from a larger selection, that could be applied to a large variety of climates. It was assumed that data producers were more inclined to release derived data in the form of annual indicator time series than releasing their origi- nal daily observations. The indicators are based on daily maximum and minimum temperature series, as well as daily totals of precipitation, and represent changes in all seasons of the year. Only time series which had 40 yr or more of almost complete records were used. A total of about 3000 indicator time series were extracted from national climate archives and collated into the unique dataset described here. Global maps showing significant changes from one multi-decadal period to another during the interval from 1946 to 1999 were produced. Coherent spatial patterns of statistically signif- icant changes emerge, particularly an increase in warm summer nights, a decrease in the number of frost days and a decrease in intra-annual extreme temperature range. All but one of the temperature- based indicators show a significant change. Indicators based on daily precipitation data show more mixed patterns of change but significant increases have been seen in the extreme amount derived from wet spells and number of heavy rainfall events. We can conclude that a significant proportion of the global land area was increasingly affected by a significant change in climatic extremes during the second half of the 20th century. These clear signs of change are very robust; however, large areas are still not represented, especially Africa and South America.
MEKK2 mediates an alternative β-catenin pathway that promotes bone formation

Significance Here, we report a previously unidentified alternative pathway mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MEKK2) for the activation of β-catenin in osteoblasts that is distinct from the classical glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)-mediated degradation pathway. The GSK3β pathway regulates β-catenin stability via β-catenin ubiquitination, and its inhibition prevents β-catenin degradation. The MEKK2 pathway instead rescues ubiquitinated β-catenin from degradation via deubiquitination. This pathway plays a critical role in controlling bone mass in vivo, and targeting this pathway may offer an attractive approach for the therapeutic regulation of β-catenin activity. Proper tuning of β-catenin activity in osteoblasts is required for bone homeostasis, because both increased and decreased β-catenin activity have pathologic consequences. In the classical pathway for β-catenin activation, stimulation with WNT ligands suppresses constitutive phosphorylation of β-catenin by glycogen synthase kinase 3β, preventing β-catenin ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Here, we have found that mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2 or MEKK2) mediates an alternative pathway for β-catenin activation in osteoblasts that is distinct from the canonical WNT pathway. FGF2 activates MEKK2 to phosphorylate β-catenin at serine 675, promoting recruitment of the deubiquitinating enzyme, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 15 (USP15). USP15 in turn prevents the basal turnover of β-catenin by inhibiting its ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation, thereby enhancing WNT signaling. Analysis of MEKK2-deficient mice and genetic interaction studies between Mekk2- and β-catenin–null alleles confirm that this pathway is an important physiologic regulator of bone mass in vivo. Thus, an FGF2/MEKK2 pathway mediates an alternative nonclassical pathway for β-catenin activation, and this pathway is a key regulator of bone formation by osteoblasts.
An Exploratory Study of Predicting Perceived Success and Survival of Small Businesses

This study examined a variety of predictors as they related to survival of small businesses and their perceived success. Specifically, we assessed the relationships of perceptions of success and survival of small businesses with the motivational sources to begin the business, the four requirements cited by Drucker (1985), marketing and business planning activity, financial base, handling of business problems and identified sources of assistance with those problems, and demographics or business backgrounds of the small business owners. 128 small business owners representing the service, manufacturing, and retail sectors were interviewed. The marketing variables were the only ones that were predictive of success, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive framework to assess success of small businesses.
Reply to comment by K. Beven et al. on “Pursuing the method of multiple working hypotheses for hydrological modeling”

Clark, Martyn P.; Kavetski, Dmitri; Fenicia, Fabrizio Reply to comment by K. Beven et al. on "Pursuing the method of multiple working hypotheses for hydrological modelling" Water Resources Research, 2012; 48(11):W11802 ©2012. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley. com/doi/10.1029/2012WR012547/abstract
The Development of the Concept of Reference Service in American Libraries, 1850-1900

Knowledge can be public, yet undiscovered, if independently created fragments are logically related but never retrieved, brought together, and interpreted. Information retrieval, although essential for assembling such fragments, is always problematic. The search process, like a scientific theory, can be criticized and improved, but can never be verified as capable of retrieving all information relevant to a problem or theory. This essential incompleteness of search and retrieval therefore makes possible, and plausible, the existence of undiscovered public knowledge. Three examples intended to throw light on the logic of undiscovered knowledge are constructed and analyzed. The argument is developed within the framework of a Popperian or critical approach within science and on Popper's distinction between subjective and objective knowledge-the distinction between World 2 and World 3.
Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Analysis For Rice Grain Width and Fine Mapping of an Identified QTL Allele gw-5 in a Recombination Hotspot Region on Chromosome 5

Rice grain width and shape play a crucial role in determining grain quality and yield. The genetic basis of rice grain width was dissected into six additive quantitative trait loci (QTL) and 11 pairs of epistatic QTL using an F7 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a single cross between Asominori (japonica) and IR24 (indica). QTL by environment interactions were evaluated in four environments. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) harboring the six additive effect QTL were used to evaluate gene action across eight environments. A major, stable QTL, qGW-5, consistently decreased rice grain width in both the Asominori/IR24 RIL and CSSL populations with the genetic background Asominori. By investigating the distorted segregation of phenotypic values of rice grain width and genotypes of molecular markers in BC4F2 and BC4F3 populations, qGW-5 was dissected into a single recessive gene, gw-5, which controlled both grain width and length–width ratio. gw-5 was narrowed down to a 49.7-kb genomic region with high recombination frequencies on chromosome 5 using 6781 BC4F2 individuals and 10 newly developed simple sequence repeat markers. Our results provide a basis for map-based cloning of the gw-5 gene and for marker-aided gene/QTL pyramiding in rice quality breeding.
Live-cell microscopy – tips and tools

Imaging of living cells and tissue is now common in many fields of the life and physical sciences, and is instrumental in revealing a great deal about cellular dynamics and function. It is crucial when performing such experiments that cell viability is at the forefront of any measurement to ensure that the physiological and biological processes that are under investigation are not altered in any way. Many cells and tissues are not normally exposed to light during their life cycle, so it is important for microscopy applications to minimize light exposure, which can cause phototoxicity. To ensure minimal light exposure, it is crucial that microscope systems are optimized to collect as much light as possible. This can be achieved using superior-quality optical components and state-of-the-art detectors. This Commentary discusses how to set up a suitable environment on the microscope stage to maintain living cells. There is also a focus on general and imaging-platform-specific ways to optimize the efficiency of light throughput and detection. With an efficient optical microscope and a good detector, the light exposure can be minimized during live-cell imaging, thus minimizing phototoxicity and maintaining cell viability. Brief suggestions for useful microscope accessories as well as available fluorescence tools are also presented. Finally, a flow chart is provided to assist readers in choosing the appropriate imaging platform for their experimental systems.
DPPH Radical Scavenging and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity of Terminalia macroptera Leaves

From a methanol extract of the leaves of the Malian medicinal tree Terminalia macroptera, cis-polyisoprene (1), chebulic acid trimethyl ester (2), methyl gallate (3), shikimic acid (4), corilagin (5), rutin (6), narcissin (7), chebulagic acid (8) and chebulinic acid (9), were isolated. Cis-polyisoprene (1) was the major non-polar constituent. The novel compound 2 showed high radical scavenging activity (IC50 4.7 μg/mL), but was inactive as xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The major substituent of the crude extract, substance 5, showed a high radical scavenger effect (IC50 2.7 μg/mL) and weak xanthine oxidase inhibition (IC50 ca 105 μg/mL). The antioxidant and radical scavenging effects of some of the substances identified in this study may to some extent explain the medical use of this tree in West Africa.
Image quality assessment based on wave atoms transform

Image quality assessment is still an active field of research. The main objective of the developed image quality metric is to offer an index of quality that is consistent with the human subjective judgment of image quality. Despite the great number of developed metrics, there is still a need for image analysis tools that is able to extract the most perceptual relevant characteristics of an image. The goal of this work is then to propose a more advanced analysis and representation tools to extract more effective features that could be incorporated in the design of the image quality metric. In this paper, we propose a novel objective metric based on wave atoms transform. This new transform is half multiscale and half multi-directional. It offers a better representation of images containing oscillatory patterns and textures than the others known transforms [10]. In this work, we propose a new full reference image quality metric based on wave atom transform and exploiting some properties of the human visual system. The consistency of the proposed metric with subjective evaluation is performed on LIVE database. The obtained correlation of this metric with the MOS provided by the database is better than other known metrics confirming thus the efficiency of this new image quality measure in predicting image quality.
Identification of a Nuclear Export Sequence in the MHC CIITA

Initiation of an immune response through expression of MHC class II and related genes is under the control of the CIITA. Normally found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, CIITA is tightly controlled by a variety of posttranslational modifications as well as interactions with other nuclear and cytoplasmic factors, whereas disruption of this dual subcellular localization impairs CIITA functioning and expression of target genes. Although CIITA has well-defined domains necessary for its nuclear import, the region responsible for the translocation of CIITA from the nucleus has not been characterized. In this study, we identify a leucine-rich motif at residues 717–724 that bears strong homology to known nuclear export sequence (NES) domains. Mutation of this region renders CIITA insensitive to treatment with leptomycin B, an inhibitor of nuclear export, whereas fusion of this domain to a heterologous GFP is sufficient to induce its export to the cytoplasm or cause its retention in the nucleus following leptomycin B treatment. Point mutations of specific leucine residues within the NES disrupt the normal subcellular distribution of the full-length CIITA, impair its ability to interact with the nuclear export factor CRM1, and enhance CIITA-induced gene expression from an MHC class II gene promoter. IFN-γ stimulation of class II genes is further enhanced by inhibiting the nuclear export of endogenous CIITA. Collectively, these data demonstrate the first identification of a specific NES within CIITA and place it among the other protein domains that contribute to the posttranslational regulation of CIITA activity.
Using High-Probability Request Sequences to Increase Social Interactions in Young Children With Autism

We investigated the effects of an intervention using high-probability request sequences with embedded peer modeling to increase social interactions of children with autism in a classroom. The effects of the intervention on compliant responding to social requests and social behaviors were monitored using a single-subject multiple baseline design across children. Additionally, social validity regarding the intervention goals, procedures, and outcomes was measured by relevant consumers. The results of this study indicate that all three children's compliant responding to low-probability requests and social behaviors increased with the intervention and were maintained. Furthermore, the target children's social behaviors generalized to untrained peers and nontraining settings. The social validity results indicated a high level of consumer acceptability and usability among relevant consumers.
Anglo-Australians' and Immigrants' Attitudes toward Language and Accent: A Review of Experimental and Survey Research.

Research on the language attitudes of members of dominant and minority speech communities has special importance in countries such as Australia, where governments are in the process of developing a national language policy. Research in Australia suggests that Anglo-Australians remain strongly monolingual and Anglophile in their attitudes; they support educational programs on other languages mainly for their children's own educational advantage. In addition, they show preference in most situations for standard or prestige varieties of English. Second generation members of immigrant groups are under strong pressure to assimilate and to abandon their community languages. Opportunities to learn and use community language are somewhat restricted. In addition, young, second generation Australians may in some cases have even more negative attitudes toward nonstandard accents in English then do Anglo-Australians although they may value their own ethnic language as a signal of solidarity with their ethnic community.