Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Orai3 TM3 point mutation G158C alters kinetics of 2-APB–induced gating by disulfide bridge formation with TM2 C101

After endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ store depletion, Orai channels in the plasma membrane (PM) are activated directly by ER-resident STIM proteins to form the Ca2+-selective Ca2+ release–activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel. However, in the absence of Ca2+ store depletion and STIM interaction, the mammalian homologue Orai3 can be activated by 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB), resulting in a nonselective cation conductance characterized by biphasic inward and outward rectification. Here, we use site-directed mutagenesis and patch-clamp analysis to better understand the mechanism by which 2-APB activates Orai3. We find that point mutation of glycine 158 in the third transmembrane (TM) segment to cysteine, but not alanine, slows the kinetics of 2-APB activation and prevents complete channel closure upon 2-APB washout. The “slow” phenotype exhibited by Orai3 mutant G158C reveals distinct open states, characterized by variable reversal potentials. The slow phenotype can be reversed by application of the reducing reagent bis(2-mercaptoethylsulfone) (BMS), but in a state-dependent manner, only during 2-APB activation. Moreover, the double mutant C101G/G158C, in which an endogenous TM2 cysteine is changed to glycine, does not exhibit altered kinetics of 2-APB activation. We suggest that a disulfide bridge, formed between the introduced cysteine at TM3 position 158 and the endogenous cysteine at TM2 position 101, hinders transitions between Orai3 open and closed states. Our data provide functional confirmation of the proximity of these two residues and suggest a location within the Orai3 protein that is sensitive to the actions of 2-APB.
Mortality and morbidity after hip fractures.

OBJECTIVE--To study the mortality and morbidity associated with proximal femoral fractures with reference to fracture type (intracapsular and extracapsular). DESIGN--Consecutive prospective study with 12 month follow ups. SETTING--Two British trauma receiving centres. PATIENTS--1000 consecutive acute proximal femoral fractures (fractured necks of femur) in 972 patients. RESULTS--Significantly higher mortality at one year was seen in patients with extracapsular fractures (188/490; 38%) than in those with intracapsular fractures (147/510; 29%; p < 0.01). Greater morbidity was experienced during the study period by patients with extracapsular fractures, who were less mobile and less independent at the time of their injury. CONCLUSIONS--The rise in average age of presentation with proximal femoral fracture is associated with a persistently high mortality (33%) and morbidity, greater in patients with an extracapsular fracture. Comparison with other studies, principally from outside Britain, is difficult, but despite advancing standards of care the mortality and morbidity of femoral neck fractures remains high, placing an ever increasing burden on the health service.
CADMIUM PHYTOEXTRACTION: PRESENT STATE, BIOLOGICAL BACKGROUNDS AND RESEARCH NEEDS

Andon Vassilev1, Jaco Vangronsveld2, Ivan Yordanov3 1Agricultural University of Plovdiv, Dept. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 12 Mendeleev St., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria 2Environmental Biology, Center for Environmental Sciences, Limburgs Universitair Centrum, Universitaire Campus, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium 3Acad. M. Popov Institute of Plant Physiology, Acad. G. Bonchev St., Bl.21, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
Induction d'une stratégie visuelle de reconnaissance du genre

The goal of the following experiment is to make subjects unconsciously learn a visual strategy allowing them to use only part of the available visual information from the human face to correctly identify the gender of a face. Normally, the gender of a face is recognized using certain regions, like those of the mouth and the eyes (Dupuis-Roy, Fortin, Fiset et Gosselin, 2009). Our participants had to accomplish an operant conditionning task. They were informed that a number of points would be given to them according to their performance. At the end of training, the subjects that were encouraged to use the left eye indeed used the left eye more than the right. Also, those that were conditionned to use the right eye used the right eye more than the left. We will discuss the potential clinical applications of this method of conditionning.
Investigating speech perception in children with dyslexia: is there evidence of a consistent deficit in individuals?

PURPOSE The claim that speech perception abilities are impaired in dyslexia was investigated in a group of 62 children with dyslexia and 51 average readers matched in age. METHOD To test whether there was robust evidence of speech perception deficits in children with dyslexia, speech perception in noise and quiet was measured using 8 different tasks involving the identification and discrimination of a complex and highly natural synthetic "bee"-"pea" contrast (copy synthesized from natural models) and the perception of naturally produced words. RESULTS Children with dyslexia, on average, performed more poorly than did average readers in the synthetic syllables identification task in quiet and in across-category discrimination (but not when tested using an adaptive procedure). They did not differ from average readers on 2 tasks of word recognition in noise or identification of synthetic syllables in noise. For all tasks, a majority of individual children with dyslexia performed within norms. Finally, speech perception generally did not correlate with pseudoword reading or phonological processing--the core skills related to dyslexia. CONCLUSIONS On the tasks and speech stimuli that the authors used, most children with dyslexia did not appear to show a consistent deficit in speech perception.
Effects of different dietary vitamin combinations on the egg quality and vitamin deposition in the whole egg of laying hens

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different dietary vitamin combinations on the egg quality and vitamin concentrations in the eggs of commercial laying hens. A total of 1,800 25-week-old Lohman pink-shell hens were randomly assigned to four dietary vitamin treatments as follows: NRC(1994) level, NRC (1994) level with Hy.D® (25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol), Local level (current average industry level in China) and OVN® level (optimum vitamin nutrition level), with 10 replicates per treatment and 45 layers per replicate. Hens were housed in commercial laying cages with three birds per cage and given ad libitum access to feed. Results showed the hens that received the fortified vitamin levels in the OVN® treatment had a significantly (p<0.05) lower number of cracked (.47%) and dirty eggs (.27%), and increased egg deposition of vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D, 25-OH-D3, vitamin E, vitamin B1, biotin and pantothenate (p<0.05). Treatments had no significant effect on egg-shape index, egg specific gravity, Haugh units and eggshell thickness. Hens fed the NRC-Hy.D® combination also experienced a significant decrease in cracked and dirty eggs (.70% and .44%, respectively) and an increased deposition of 25-OH-D3 in comparison with the NRC treatment. Results of the present study suggest that that the Local treatment was able to improve egg quality parameters of laying hens, but resulted in more cracked and dirty eggs. OVN® reduced the number of cracked eggs and dirty eggs, and improved the deposition of several vitamins in eggs. With the addition of Hy.D®, eggshell strength and 25-OH-D3 deposition in eggs were also improved, and cracked and dirty egg rates declined.
The Electricity Sector in Russia - From Central Planning to Liberalized Markets

Electricity markets have been liberalized and opened up to competition around the World since the late 1980's. In Russia, an electricity sector reform, that includes the above elements, was launched in 2001. Through the reform, Russian Government aims to attract investments in electricity sector and to increase its efficiency. New phase in the reform is planned to begin in Autumn 2006 The Thesis focuses on wholesale market model of electricity in Russia. Research objectives are (1) how prices and volumes are determined in wholesale markets of Russia after the reform (2) how the transition to liberalized markets is implemented (3) which factors have an impact on goals of the Russian Government. Electricity market theory, international experiences of electricity market liberalizations and wholesale market models as well as and statistics of Russian electricity sector are applied in the Thesis. The Thesis describes functioning of wholesale market model through examples. Additionally, optimization problem, that is applied in market price and volume determination according to purchase and sell bids, is reviewed. The electricity network of Russia is the widest in the World and its transmission capacity is relatively weak. The wholesale market model of Russia is theoretically justified, since it captures the mentioned particular characteristics of the electricity network of Russia. On the other hand, the model is complex. Furthermore, congestion in the network reduces competition in the market. The wholesale market model of Russia is concluded to have a lot of similarities to wholesale market models in Northeastern States of the United States of America. Plans to complete the transition are exact and accurate. International experiences of electricity market liberalization have been utilized in planning of transition in Russia. Therefore, factors that are independent of the market model may prove to be crucial in order to complete the reform successfully. Political factors are one example of these external factors. Design of wholesale market model is not finished for all parts. Of unfinished parts of the wholesale market model, capacity market has a direct impact on goals of the Russian Government. Number of pages 61
Interactive Morphonology

The existence of morphonology has been the subject of intense debate in 20th-century linguistic theory. With the difficulties of establishing any role for morphonology clearly identified, the author of this study makes a comparative and historical survey of the morphonologization of metaphony in Italian dialects. He considers the implications of breaking down the rigid distinction between synchronic morphonology and diachronic phonology. The text attempts to integrate linguistic theory with the analysis of philological data, and indicates the direction for future research on morphonology.
The environment of the fast rotating star Achernar. High-resolution thermal infrared imaging with VI

Context: The geometry of the circumstellar envelopes (CSE) surrounding Be stars is still uncertain, although it is often assumed that they are formed by a disk around the stellar equator and a hot polar wind. Achernar (Alpha Eri) is the nearest Be star, and we recently detected a CSE using near-IR interferometry. Aims: Our initial goal was to constrain the geometry and flux contribution of the CSE of Achernar at distances of a few tens of AU from the star, in the thermal IR domain to complement our near-IR interferometric observations. Methods: We obtained diffraction-limited images of Achernar in the thermal infrared using VISIR at the VLT. In order to freeze the turbulence, we used the BURST mode of this instrument. Results: The images obtained in the PAH1 band show a point-like source located 0.280" north-west of Achernar (projected linear separation of 12.3 AU). Its emission is 1.8 % of the flux of Achernar in this band, but is not detected in the PAH2, SiC and NeII bands. We also provide new thermal IR photometry of Achernar in four bands. Conclusions: Being aligned with the expected azimuth of the equatorial plane of Achernar, the detected source could be a main sequence stellar companion. In this case, it apparent brightness would correspond to an A7V spectral type.
Fractures of the Lower End of the Tibia into the Ankle-Joint

Outcomes of 84 comminuted distal tibia fractures in 82 patients treated by open reduction and internal fixation were reported. The operative procedure sought to restore bone length and correct axis, reconstruct the articular surface of the distal end of the tibia, fill defects, and prevent late varus deformity. Pain-free status with good functional results was achieved in 74% of the patients, and those with better anatomical restoration had better functional results. Although there was agreement that fractures involving joints should be surgically treated to restore joint function, distal tibia fractures with comminution of the joint were commonly regarded as too complex to anatomically restore. The conventional wisdom of the time held that fixation was futile as the results would not be successful in any case. However, using the most current operative methods for open reduction and internal fixation, and with care for minimizing the risk of infection, this study sought to establish whether anatomical restoration of the ankle joint would achieve better late results than anticipated.
MicroRNA-206: A Potential Circulating Biomarker Candidate for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal motor neuron disease that progressively debilitates neuronal cells that control voluntary muscle activity. Biomarkers are urgently needed to facilitate ALS diagnosis and prognosis, and as indicators of therapeutic response in clinical trials. microRNAs (miRNAs), small posttranscriptional modifiers of gene expression, are frequently altered in disease conditions. Besides their important regulatory role in variety of biological processes, miRNAs can also be released into the circulation by pathologically affected tissues and display remarkable stability in body fluids. In a mouse model of ALS that expresses mutated human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1-G93A) skeletal muscle is one of the tissues affected early by mutant SOD1 toxicity. To find biomarkers for ALS, we studied miRNA alterations from skeletal muscle and plasma of SOD1-G93A mice, and subsequently tested the levels of the affected miRNAs in the serum from human ALS patients. Fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles from symptomatic SOD1-G93A mice (age 90 days) and their control littermates were first studied using miRNA microarrays and then evaluated with quantitative PCR from five age groups from neonatal to the terminal disease stage (10–120 days). Among those miRNA changed in various age/gender/muscle groups (miR-206, -1, -133a, -133b, -145, -21, -24), miR-206 was the only one consistently altered during the course of the disease pathology. In both sexes, mature miR-206 was increased in fast-twitch muscles preferably affected in the SOD1-G93A model, with highest expression towards the most severely affected animals. Importantly, miR-206 was also increased in the circulation of symptomatic animals and in a group of 12 definite ALS patients tested. We conclude that miR-206 is elevated in the circulation of symptomatic SOD1-G93A mice and possibly in human ALS patients. Although larger scale studies on ALS patients are warranted, miR-206 is a promising candidate biomarker for this motor neuron disease.
Letizia: An Agent That Assists Web Browsing

Letizia is a user interface agent that assists a user browsing the World Wide Web. As the user operates a conventional Web browser such as Netscape, the agent tracks user behavior and attempts to anticipate items of interest by doing concurrent, autonomous exploration of links from the user's current position. The agent automates a browsing strategy consisting of a best-first search augmented by heuristics inferring user interest from browsing behavior.
The DEFACTO System: Training Tool for Incident Commanders

Techniques for augmenting the automation of routine coordination are rapidly reaching a level of effectiveness where they can simulate realistic coordination on the ground for large numbers of emergency response entities (e.g. fire engines. police cars) for the sake of training. Furthermore, it seems inevitable that future disaster response systems will utilize such technology. We have constructed a new system, DE-FACTO (Demonstrating Effective Flexible Agent Coordination of Teams through Omnipresence), that integrates state-of-the-art agent reasoning capabilities and 3D visualization into a unique high fidelity system for training incident commanders. The DEFACTO system achieves this goal via three main components: (i) Omnipresent Viewer - intuitive interface, (ii) Proxy Framework - for team coordination, and (iii) Flexible Interaction - between the incident commander and the team. We have performed detailed preliminary experiments with DEFACTO in the fire-fighting domain. In addition, DEFACTO has been repeatedly demonstrated to key police and fire department personnel in Los Angeles area, with very positive feedback.
Efficacy of a home-visiting intervention aimed at improving maternal sensitivity, child attachment, and behavioral outcomes for maltreated children: A randomized control trial

Abstract The efficacy of a short-term attachment-based intervention for changing risk outcomes for children of maltreating families was examined using a randomized control trial. Sixty-seven primary caregivers reported for maltreatment and their children (1–5 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received 8 weekly home visits directed at the caregiver–child dyad and focused on improving caregiver sensitivity. Intervention sessions included brief discussions of attachment–emotion regulation-related themes and video feedback of parent–child interaction. Comparison of pre- and posttest scores revealed significant improvements for the intervention group in parental sensitivity and child attachment security, and a reduction in child disorganization. Older children in the intervention group also showed lower levels of internalizing and externalizing problems following intervention. This is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of short-term attachment-based intervention in enhancing parental sensitivity, improving child security, and reducing disorganization for children in the early childhood period.
A Conceptual Framework for Text Filtering

This report develops a conceptual framework for text ltering practice and research and reviews present practice in the eld Text ltering is an information seeking process in which documents are selected from a dynamic text stream to satisfy a relatively stable and speci c information need A model of the information seeking process is introduced and specialized to de ne information ltering The historical development of text ltering is then reviewed and case studies of recent work are used to highlight important design characteristics of modern text ltering systems Speci c techniques drawn from information retrieval user modeling machine learning and other related elds are described and the report concludes with observations on the present state of the art and implications for future research on text ltering The research reported herein was supported in part by NSF grant IRI DOD grant MDA C NIH grant S RR a Department of Education technology challenge grant and the Logos Corporation Process Information Need Information Sources Information Filtering Stable and Speci c Dynamic and Unstructured Information Retrieval Dynamic and Speci c Stable and Unstructured Database Access Dynamic and Speci c Stable and Structured Information Extraction Speci c Unstructured Alerting Stable and Speci c Dynamic Browsing Broad Unspeci ed Entertainment Unspeci ed Unspeci ed Table Examples of information seeking processes
Detection of lymph node metastasis of oesophageal cancer by RT-nested PCR for SCC antigen gene mRNA

With recent development in molecular biology, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been applied to detect occult lymph node metastasis, but there have been few reports concerning oesophageal cancer. The objective of this study is to investigate the usefulness of the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen gene as a marker with RT-nested PCR to detect occult lymph node metastases of oesophageal cancer. The SCC antigen has been widely used as a serum tumour marker and was reported as a target gene to detect tumour cells in peripheral blood in cervical cancer. In this study, 620 lymph nodes from 14 oesophageal cancer patients were analysed. The results of RT-nested PCR were compared with that of pathological and immunohistochemical examinations. In the test of sensitivity, the RT-nested PCR detected 101 of SCC antigen producing cells in 107 peripheral blood mononucleocytes and was not found in 43 control lymph nodes. The pathological examination, immunohistochemical examination and the RT-nested PCR detected 36, 45 and 65 nodes respectively. The RT-nested PCR detected statistically more lymph nodes than the pathological or immunohistochemical examination. The sensitivity and specificity seem higher in squamous cell carcinoma cases. The SCC antigen gene is one of the more useful markers for RT-nested PCR to detect occult lymph node metastases of oesophageal cancer. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign
Socioeconomic determinants of health related quality of life in childhood and adolescence: results from a European study

Study objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of two different socioeconomic status (SES) measures on child and adolescent self reported health related quality of life (HRQoL). The European KIDSCREEN project aims at simultaneous developing, testing, and implementing a generic HRQoL instrument. Design and setting: The pilot version of the questionnaire was applied in school surveys to students from 8 to 18 years of age, as well as to their parents, together with such determinants of health status as two SES indicators, the parental educational status and the number of material goods in the family (FAS, family affluence scale). Participants: Students from seven European countries: 754 children (39.8%; mean: 9.8 years), and 1142 adolescents (60.2 %; mean: 14.1 years), as well as their respective parents. Main results: In children, a higher parental educational status was found to have a significant positive impact on the KIDSCREEN dimensions: physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, moods and emotions, bullying and perceived financial resources. Increased risk of low HRQoL was detected for adolescents in connection with their physical wellbeing. Family wealth plays a part for children’s physical wellbeing, parent relations and home life, and perceived financial resources. For adolescents, family wealth furthermore predicts HRQoL on all KIDSCREEN dimensions. Conclusions: There is evidence to suggest that exposure to low parental educational status may result in a decreased HRQoL in childhood, whereas reduced access to material (and thereby social) resources may lead to a lower HRQoL especially in adolescence.