Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proteolytic Processing and Translation Initiation

The four Sendai virus C-proteins (C′, C, Y1, and Y2) represent an N-terminal nested set of non-structural proteins whose expression modulates both the readout of the viral genome and the host cell response. In particular, they modulate the innate immune response by perturbing the signaling of type 1 interferons. The initiation codons for the four C-proteins have been mapped in vitro, and it has been proposed that the Y proteins are initiated by ribosomal shunting. A number of mutations were reported that significantly enhanced Y expression, and this was attributed to increased shunt-mediated initiation. However, we demonstrate that this arises due to enhanced proteolytic processing of C′, an event that requires its very N terminus. Curiously, although Y expression in vitro is mediated almost exclusively by initiation, Y proteins in vivo can arise both by translation initiation and processing of the C′ protein. To our knowledge this is the first example of two apparently independent pathways leading to the expression of the same polypeptide chain. This dual pathway explains several features of Y expression.
Correlates of College Student Gambling in the United States

Abstract The authors report findings from the first national survey of gambling among college students. They collected information from 10,765 students attending 119 scientifically selected colleges included in the 2001 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (CAS), which indicated that 42% of responding students gambled in the last school year and 2.6% gambled weekly or more frequently. These findings contradict the widely held opinion based on previous studies that gambling is prevalent among college students. Previous studies used convenience samples that might have overestimated the risk for gambling problems. Male students and students of legal age (> 21 y) were more likely than others to gamble. Availability of gambling, measured by the number of types of gambling venues located in the schools' states, influenced their decisions to gamble. The concordance of characteristics associated with both gambling and binge drinking suggested a disposition to take risks that is independent of the risk objects.
Valvular Myofibroblast Activation by Transforming Growth Factor-&bgr;: Implications for Pathological Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Heart Valve Disease

The pathogenesis of cardiac valve disease correlates with the emergence of muscle-like fibroblasts (myofibroblasts). These cells display prominent stress fibers containing &agr;-smooth muscle actin (&agr;-SMA) and are believed to differentiate from valvular interstitial cells (VICs). However, the biological factors that initiate myofibroblast differentiation and activation in valves remain unidentified. We show that transforming growth factor-&bgr;1 (TGF-&bgr;1) mediates differentiation of VICs into active myofibroblasts in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by a significant increase in &agr;-SMA and the dramatic augmentation of stress fiber formation and alignment. Additionally, TGF-&bgr;1 and increased mechanical stress function synergistically to enhance contractility. In turn, contractile valve myofibroblasts exert tension on the extracellular matrix, resulting in a dramatic realignment of extracellular fibronectin fibrils. TGF-&bgr;1 also inhibits valve myofibroblast proliferation without enhancing apoptosis. Our results are consistent with activation of a highly contractile myofibroblast phenotype by TGF-&bgr;1 and are the first to connect valve myofibroblast contractility with pathological valve matrix remodeling. We suggest that the activation of contractile myofibroblasts by TGF-&bgr;1 may be a significant first step in promoting alterations to the valve matrix architecture that are evident in valvular heart disease.
Pécher par excès de confiance

Si les bienfaits de la confiance dans les relations de collaboration font l’objet de nombreuses etudes, ses effets indesirables sont peu traites. En questionnant le processus d’institutionnalisation de la confiance et notamment les mecanismes de reproduction automatique de la confiance qui en resultent, l’etude de cas tend a pallier ce manque. A partir d’entretiens et d’analyses documentaires, les auteurs [1] retracent l’histoire d’une cooperative d’activite et d’emploi, et mettent en lumiere le processus de construction d’un exces de confiance. Dans leur cas, le contexte dans lequel la relation de collaboration voit le jour est caracterise par une pregnance des mecanismes informels et une forte imbrication des acteurs. Ceci facilite l’apparition de biais cognitifs agissant sur le processus d’institutionnalisation de la confiance et debouchant sur un exces de confiance.
Single color and single flavor color superconductivity

We survey the non-locked color-flavor-spin channels for quark-quark (color superconducting) condensates in QCD, using an NJL model. We also study isotropic quark-antiquark (mesonic) condensates. We make mean-field estimates of the strength and sign of the self-interaction of each condensate, using four-fermion interaction vertices based on known QCD interactions. For the attractive quark pairing channels, we solve the mean-field gap equations to obtain the size of the gap as a function of quark density. We also calculate the dispersion relations for the quasiquarks, in order to see how fully gapped the spectrum of fermionic excitations will be. We use our results to specify the likely pairing patterns in neutral quark matter, and comment on possible phenomenological consequences.
Aberrant Expression of Napsin A in Breast Carcinoma With Apocrine Features

An incidental finding of napsin A–positive breast carcinoma with apocrine features during workup for metastatic cancer in an axillary lymph node led to our investigation of the incidence of napsin A expression in breast carcinomas, focusing on those with apocrine features. We included 97 cases of breast carcinomas and performed immunohistochemistry with napsin A, GATA-3, thyroid transcription factor-1, and GCDFP-15. There was a statistically significant difference between apocrine and nonapocrine cases with respect to polyclonal napsin A H-scores (P < .00152), monoclonal napsin A H-scores (P < .00631), GATA-3 H-scores (P < .00029), and GCDFP-15 H-scores (P < .00251). Of the 49 cases of apocrine carcinoma, monoclonal napsin A antibody was positive in 66.7% of cases, including in 7 (14.6%) that showed 3+ staining. The majority of nonapocrine cases were negative (62.5%) or weakly (1+) positive (29.2%), with none exhibiting 3+ strength. It is important for pathologists to be aware that breast carcinomas with apocrine features can express napsin A.
Immunolocalization and characterization of the low molecular weight antigen (4–5 kDa) of Toxoplasma gondii that elicits an early IgM response upon primary infection

SUMMARY A striking feature of toxoplasmic seroconversion is the prominent and early IgM response to a low molecular weight antigen of 4–5 kDa. Two different monoclonal antibodies directed against the 4–5 kDa antigen have been generated and used to characterize this molecule. Using these monoclonal antibodies, we could demonstrate the surface localization of the low Mr antigen by immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy assays. By immunoblotting, we observed that one of the monoclonal antibodies was unable to recognize the 4–5 kDa antigen in tachyzoites propagated in cell culture, indicating an epitope variability between Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites grown in vivo and in vitro. We discuss the implications of this latter finding in the design of diagnostic reagents.
Effect of two doses of carbamylated allergoid extract of dust mite on nasal reactivity.

Background and Objective. Single SLIT studies with native allergen extracts support a dose-response effect for clinical and immunological outcomes. Conversely for carbamylated allergoids this dose-response effects is less evident, likely because the threshold for efficacy is more easily reached through the enhanced bioavailability of the extract consequent to the selective chemical modification. Thus this pilot study investigates the dose-response effect on nasal specific reactivity and safety of two unusual doses of carbamylated allergoid in patients mono-sensitized to house dust mites. Methods. A prospective open randomized study involved 6-65 year-old Italian patients with clinically relevant sensitization to house dust mites and positive response to nasal provocation challenge. Monomeric carbamylated allergoid was delivered once daily at the dose of 1000 AU or 2000 AU from June to September 2009, during the lowest level of mites exposure. Primary outcomes were the change of the threshold of allergen concentration for a positive nasal provocation test (NPT) before and after the treatment and the product safety. Secondary outcome was the change in the mean percentage fall of peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) following nasal challenge. Results. Thirty-four patients were enrolled. Fifteen in group 1 and 14 in group 2 concluded the study. After 12 weeks all patients treated in group 1 and all but one in group 2 showed an increase in the threshold dose provoking a positive NPT. Those with no symptoms onset with the highest dose delivered were 80% in group 1 and 78.6% in group 2 (p=0.92). From first to second challenge, the mean percentage fall of PNIF was reduced with no statistical difference between groups (p=0.95), and with no difference between the final mean percentage falls (p=0.65). No serious adverse reactions occurred and the frequency of events, all mild, was similar in the two groups. Conclusions. Twelve weeks of carbamylated sublingual allergoid delivered at 1000AU or 2000AU once daily appear equally safe and show comparable effect in increasing the threshold of allergen concentration for a positive nasal provocation test, confirming the apparent absence of a dose response effect for the used doses.
Kinematic and workspace analysis of a novel cable-driven parallel manipulator

Cable-driven parallel manipulator(CDPM) use cable to take place of the link and it combines the advantages of the parallel manipulator and the serial cable-driven together. In the thesis, a novel type of CDPM with constrained mechanism, named Riflex, is designed and introduced. According to the inverse position analysis, this thesis establishes the equation of the kinematics and statics, analyzes the factors influencing the workspace, and discusses the movement situation of the Riflex. A simulation model of Riflex is given by the module of ADAMS Machinery/Cable. The simulation results indicate that the parallel manipulator has the advantages of flexible motion and high load capacity and it has great potential in most fields of medical instrument and rehabilitation robot.
Current Guidelines for Dyspepsia Management

Background: Dyspepsia is a global problem and the management of the condition remains a considerable burden on health care resources. Many countries have adopted evidence-based guidelines for the management of the condition, in an attempt to reduce health care expenditure. This article compares and contrasts dyspepsia management guidelines from several geographical regions. Methods: We obtained current guidelines from five regions and examined composition of guideline development groups, methodology involved, definition of dyspepsia utilized, and recommendations in terms of first-line approach, age cutoff for prompt upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, and subsequent role of endoscopy. Results: All guidelines carried out extensive reviews of the literature to inform their recommendations. The majority used a definition of dyspepsia in line with the Rome criteria. All agreed that alarm symptoms at any age warranted prompt endoscopy, and most recommended an age cutoff of between 50 and 55 years for endoscopy as an initial management strategy. In young patients without alarm symptoms, either ‘test and treat’ or empirical acid suppression were the initial management strategies of choice in all cases, with only one guideline recommending mandatory endoscopy in those whose symptoms failed to settle after this approach. Conclusions: Despite varying composition of guideline development groups and the different geographical regions, the recommendation of all the guidelines were remarkably similar, reflecting the quality of research conducted by the GI community as a whole.
Shadow Fading Correlation in High-Speed Railway Environments

In the design of diversity and fast handover schemes for high-speed railways (HSRs), a better understanding of the shadow fading correlation properties is required. In this paper, both auto- and cross-correlation models of shadow fading in HSR environments are proposed based on a large set of measurements with 6146 cells in China. The measurements are conducted using a practically deployed and operative Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) system at 930 MHz to reflect the real conditions of shadow fading in HSR environments. Seven typical HSR environments and the realistic base station (BS) parameters are considered in the analysis. It is found that the decorrelation distance is correlated with the standard deviation (STD) of shadow fading and is generally larger than 100 m in most HSR environments. The cross correlation of shadow fading between two neighboring BSs depends on the BS height and the tilt angle of the antenna, and a heuristic truncated Gaussian distribution model of cross correlation is proposed. The model is validated by the measurements conducted in another operative HSR line. The results can be used to exploit the simulation algorithms to analyze the signal-to-interference-ratio (SIR) properties and to develop new and better handover schemes for HSRs.
An acute myeloid leukemia gene, AML1, regulates hemopoietic myeloid cell differentiation and transcriptional activation antagonistically by two alternative spliced forms.

The AML1 gene on chromosome 21 is disrupted in the (8;21)(q22;q22) and (3;21)(q26;q22) translocations associated with myelogenous leukemias and encodes a DNA binding protein. From the AML1 gene, two representative forms of proteins, AML1a and AML1b, are produced by alternative splicing. Both forms have a DNA binding domain but, unlike AML1b, AML1a lacks a putative transcriptional activation domain. Here we demonstrate that overexpressed AML1a totally suppresses granulocytic differentiation and stimulates cell proliferation in 32Dcl3 murine myeloid cells treated with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor. These effects of AML1a were canceled by the concomitant overexpression of AML1b. Such biological phenomena could be explained by our observations that (i) AML1a, which on its own has no effects as a transcriptional regulator, dominantly suppresses transcriptional activation by AML1b, and (ii) AML1a exhibits the higher affinity for DNA binding compared with AML1b. These antagonistic actions could be important in leukemogenesis and/or myeloid cell differentiation because more than half of myelogenous leukemia patients showed an increase in the relative amounts of AML1a.
Factor XII Deficiency in Women with Recurrent Miscarriage

Congenital thrombophilia is known to cause significant maternal complications, and possibly has an adverse effect on normal fetal development. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of factor XII (FXII) deficiency in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage. Two hundred and forty-one consecutive Japanese women with a history of two or more recurrent miscarriages were prospectively assessed for their etiology by conventional screening methods. Seven women were found to have reduced FXII activity (19.2–46.1%) and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (33.3–51.3 s). Of these 7 women, 6 had experienced early pregnancy losses, while 1 woman had experienced repeated mid-trimester fetal losses with coincidental gestational thrombocytopenia. In 241 women with a history of recurrent miscarriage, the prevalence of FXII deficiency was 2.9%.
Grape and environmental mycoflora monitoring in old, traditionally cultivated vineyards on Mount Etna, southern Italy.

BACKGROUND Grape contamination by several fungal species occurs during a vineyard's preharvest and harvest. Agronomic management and microclimatic conditions can affect fungi occurrence and epidemiology, thus explaining qualitative differences in mycoflora composition, including the presence of phytopathogenic or mycotoxigenic fungi. In this study a two-year grape, air and soil mycoflora monitoring programme was undertaken in vineyards on Mount Etna (eastern Sicily, Italy). The mycoflora composition was investigated at pea berry and veraison phenological phases from air and soil and at ripening from sample grapes. RESULTS Mycoflora in air and soil varied according to the phenological stage. In the air samples, penicillia were dominant over aspergilli at the pea berry phase, but their ratio was inverted at early veraison. Black aspergilli (BA) were isolated from the vine environment and grape samples, where BA were represented mainly by Aspergillus niger aggregate, which showed no or low ochratoxin A (OTA) production. Aspergillus carbonarius was either not identified or identified at low frequency, although most of the isolates produced OTA. CONCLUSION Monitoring focused on the environmental mycoflora composition and highlighted the good health profile of various Sicilian autochthonous grape cultivars. In addition, data suggest that the lower relative humidity occurring at the highest altitudes reduces BA incidence. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Complementariness and Functional Parcellation of Neurotrophin Actions on the Oculomotor System

Neurotrophins play a principal role in neuronal survival and differentiation during development, but also in the maintenance of appropriate adult neuronal circuits and phenotypes. In the oculomotor system, we have demonstrated that neurotrophins are key regulators of developing and adult neuronal properties, but with peculiarities depending on each neurotrophin. For instance, the administration of NGF, BDNF or NT-3 protects neonatal extraocular motoneurons from cell death after axotomy, but only NGF and BDNF prevent the downregulation in ChAT. In the adult, in vivo recordings of axotomized extraocular motoneurons have demonstrated that the delivery of NGF, BDNF or NT-3 recovers different components of the firing discharge activity of these cells, with some particularities in the case of NGF. All neurotrophins have also synaptotrophic activity, although to different degrees. Accordingly, neurotrophins can restore the axotomy-induced alterations acting selectively on different properties of the motoneuron. In this review we summarize these evidences and discuss them in the context of other motor systems.
Intelligent scheduling based on start time adjustment for advanced sequential control systems

High productivity is required for industrial systems that are to produce large amounts of low-price products. Most industrial systems are sequentially controlled because materials and parts are processed and constructed step by step. A new method of sequential control is needed to increase productivity, and a new technique to schedule the start time of each process is also needed because of frequent adjustment of production lines and their equipment. Intelligent devices such as intelligent sensors and actuators used in the latest industrial systems have embedded high-performance processors and contain software modules. These devices cooperate and control processing robots and production lines. Advanced sequential control is proposed for sequential control systems consisting of distributed software modules. Processing time can be minimized and productivity increased by intelligent scheduling for advanced sequential control, and this paper describes a new method for adjusting the starting times of production processes automatically. This method shortens the time margin and decreases the total processing time. This paper also describes a processing flow diagram that makes it easy to adjust the starting time of each process. The effectiveness of this intelligent scheduling and start-time-adjustment has been demonstrated by using them to optimize the operation of a system for testing disk plates.
Suggestions for Further Understanding of Mediating Factors of Sexual Arousal Dysfunction Among Women With a History of Childhood Maltreatment

The article titled “The Mediating Effect of Daily Stress on the Sexual Arousal Function of Women With a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse,” written by Zollman, Rellini, and Desrocher (2012) presents an assessment of sexual arousal functioning and sexual responses by women with a history of childhood maltreatment. The assessment is unique in that it examines potential mediating factors of the relationship between history of childhood maltreatment and sexual arousal dysfunction such as posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, negative affectivity, and perceived daily stress. The study aims to expand beyond past studies to examine the relationship between affect and sexual arousal among women with varying severity of childhood maltreatment. Zollman and colleagues (2012) acknowledge the difficulty of women with a history of childhood maltreatment to effectively deal with stress, which has been evidenced by past research (McCrory, De Brito, & Viding, 2010). The article briefly notes indications that cortisol levels in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse increase in response to sexual stimuli as shown in the study by Rellini, Hamilton, Delville, and Meston (2009). There is no mention, however, of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) levels in women with posttraumatic stress disorder, which has been discussed as a strong inhibitor to function of the local nervous control of blood flow in the female genital tract (Fahrenkrug, 2001). Abnormal PACAP and cortisol levels in women with varying childhood maltreatment may play a larger role in the biological sexual arousal function than daily stress, which could be considered with further research. It would be interesting to also examine the difference of PACAP and cortisol levels in response to sexual
Use of potato flakes agar in clinical mycology

A formulation comprised of commercially available potato flakes, glucose, and agar provides a medium which is inexpensive, is easily prepared, and is particularly useful for the identification of mold fungi encountered in the clinical mycology laboratory. The inclusion of appropriate antimicrobial agents results in a selective medium effective in the isolation and identification of medically important fungi.
Dibromido[(1R,2R,N 1 S)-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-κ3 N,N′,N′′]cadmium

In the title compound, [CdBr2(C12H19N3)], the CdII atom is coordinated by the three N atoms of the (1R,2R)-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine ligand and a bromide ion in the basal plane, and by a second bromide in the apical position. The coordination environment can be described as distorted square pyramidal. The coordination of the enantiopure ligand to the metal atom renders the central N atom chiral with an S configuration, so the complex is enantiomerically pure and corresponds to the S,R,R diastereoisomer. In the crystal, the molecules are linked via weak N—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds into a chain parallel to the b axis.