Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smicl is required for phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II and affects 3′-end processing of RNA at the midblastula transition in Xenopus

Smicl (Smad-interacting CPSF 30-like) is an unusual protein that interacts with transcription factors as well as with the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF). Previous work has shown that Smicl is expressed maternally in the Xenopus embryo and is later required for transcription of Chordin. In this paper we search for additional targets of Smicl. We identify many genes whose onset of expression at the midblastula transition (MBT) requires Smicl and is correlated with the translocation of Smicl from cytoplasm to nucleus. At least one such gene, Xiro1, is regulated via 3′-end processing. In searching for a general mechanism by which Smicl might regulate gene expression at the MBT, we have discovered that it interacts with the tail of Rpb1, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. Our results show that Smicl is required for the phosphorylation of the Rpb1 tail at serine 2 of the repeated heptapeptide YSPTSPS. This site becomes hyperphosphorylated at the MBT, thus allowing the docking of proteins required for elongation of transcription and RNA processing. Our work links the onset of zygotic gene expression in the Xenopus embryo with the translocation of Smicl from cytoplasm to nucleus, the phosphorylation of Rpb1 and the 3′-end processing of newly transcribed mRNAs.
[Assessing the damage to visual function by optical coherence tomography and the visual field test in Saddle area tumor patients].

OBJECTIVES To analyze the differences and correlation between the ganglion cell complex (GCC), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and mean deviation (MD), mean sensitivity (MS) of saddle area tumor patients, and to evaluate the feasibility of using OCT to diagnose the visual pathway damage of saddle area tumor patients. METHODS It was a case-control study. One hundred and eighty-eight normal persons and 279 saddle area tumor patients treated in Beijing Tiantan hospital, from November 2010 to June 2011, were recruited; the saddle area tumor patients were diagnosed by surgical sample pathological analysis. The recruits were divided into four groups, including the normal group, the pituitary gland tumours group, the meningiomas group and the craniopharyngiomas group. All patients received the visual field (VF) test using the Octopus 900 automated perimeter with the central 30 degree program, and the mean thickness measurements of GCC and pRNFL were made by RTVue OCT. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between GCC, pRNFL and MD, MS. The differences between pRNFL and GCC among the four groups were compared. RESULTS The average thickness of the pRNFL (r(sOD) = 0.369 - 0.735, r(sOS) = 0.369 - 0.691) and GCC (r(sOD) = 0.357 - 0.797, r(sOS) = 0.375 - 0.681) were correlated with MD and MS (P < 0.01), and the measurements from the meningiomas was the most significant. Comparing with the normal group's thickness of pRNFL and GCC [OD: (113.60 ± 9.13) µm and (98.04 ± 6.85) µm; OS: (114.06 ± 8.99) µm and (97.70 ± 5.83) µm], the pituitary gland tumours group [OD: (101.25 ± 19.95) µm and (91.08 ± 13.19) µm; OS: (99.96 ± 20.95) µm and (89.82 ± 15.47) µm], meningiomas group [OD:(89.54 ± 19.19) µm and (80.77 ± 10.43) µm; OS: (92.79 ± 22.00) µm and (80.43 ± 10.09) µm] and craniopharyngiomas group [OD: (94.96 ± 16.59) µm and (86.46 ± 11.65) µm; OS: (94.92 ± 15.77) µm and (86.77 ± 9.56) µm] were thinner. There was statistically significant difference of pRNFL and GCC, among the three tumor groups, and the thickness of pRNFL and GCC of the meningiomas group was the thinnest (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The average thickness of the pRNFL and GCC is correlated with vision field damage, which can be used to evaluate optic nerve damage of saddle area tumor patients quantitatively, where the meningiomas was the most significant. The thickness of the pRNFL and GCC was thinner, and the damage to visual functions was more serious. In the three tumor groups, the meningiomas group was the most serious. In the clinic, visual field test combined with OCT were helpful to find and assess the damage to visual pathway and prognosis.
Computer-aided detection of intracoronary stent in intravascular ultrasound sequences.

PURPOSE An intraluminal coronary stent is a metal mesh tube deployed in a stenotic artery during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in order to prevent acute vessel occlusion. The identification of struts location and the definition of the stent shape is relevant for PCI planning and for patient follow-up. The authors present a fully automatic framework for computer-aided detection (CAD) of intracoronary stents in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image sequences. The CAD system is able to detect stent struts and estimate the stent shape. METHODS The proposed CAD uses machine learning to provide a comprehensive interpretation of the local structure of the vessel by means of semantic classification. The output of the classification stage is then used to detect struts and to estimate the stent shape. The proposed approach is validated using a multicentric data-set of 1,015 images from 107 IVUS sequences containing both metallic and bioabsorbable stents. RESULTS The method was able to detect struts in both metallic stents with an overall F-measure of 77.7% and a mean distance of 0.15 mm from manually annotated struts, and in bioabsorbable stents with an overall F-measure of 77.4% and a mean distance of 0.09 mm from manually annotated struts. CONCLUSIONS The results are close to the interobserver variability and suggest that the system has the potential of being used as a method for aiding percutaneous interventions.
Human tracking using multiple views

Human tracking plays an important role in providing activity assistance and care for users in smart homes. This paper presents a method for detecting and tracking of a user in a smart home using multiple sensors. We consider one PTZ camera and multiple Kinects in order to offer continuity over the users movement. Thus, the user can be keep inside the frame for most of the time. In this way, we minimize the drawbacks of using only one type of sensor. For example, field of view provided by Kinect sensor is not wide enough to cover the entire room. Also, the PTZ camera is not able to detect and track a person in case of different situations, such as the person is sitting or it is under the camera. The system is proposed for the Ambient Intelligence Laboratory (AmI-Lab) at the University Politehnica of Bucharest, and the design is compatible with the software architecture developed for this laboratory, AmI-Platform. The training and evaluation is operated on custom dataset, extracted from the AmI-Lab test environment.
Characterization analysis of a novel approach in fabrication of CMOS compatible vertical MOSFETs incorporating a dielectric pocket

The process of making novel CMOS compatible vertical MOSFET by incorporating Dielectric Pocket (DP) is shown using virtual wafer simulation tool. The corresponding device doping profiles of a junction is highlighted and demonstrated good device profiles for the feasibility of the approach. The effect of amorph Si recrystallization as the result of different RTA time is also evaluated. Both the transfer and output characteristics of the DP vertical MOSFETs indicates a reasonable value of drive and off -leakage current (ION and IOFF), sub-threshold swing (S) and Drain Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL). The increasing time of RTA to 100 s shows better performance of the device than for shorter time, but in the thread-off of higher drain junction depth and leakage current.
Evidence for a Dual Mechanism for IL-10 Suppression of TNF-α Production That Does Not Involve Inhibition of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase or NF-κB in Primary Human Macrophages1

IL-10 is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine and inhibitor of TNF-α production. The molecular pathways by which IL-10 inhibits TNF-α production are obscure, with diverse mechanisms having been published. In this study, a new approach has been taken for the study of human cells. Adenovirus was used to deliver TNF-α promoter-based luciferase reporter genes to primary human monocytic cells. The reporter genes were highly responsive to macrophage activation and appeared to mirror the behavior of the endogenous TNF-α gene. When added, either with or after the stimulus, IL-10 required the 3′ untranslated region of the TNF-α gene to inhibit luciferase mRNA and protein expression, indicating a posttranscriptional mechanism. However, if macrophages were incubated with IL-10 before activation, inhibition of gene expression was also mediated by the 5′ promoter, suggesting a transcriptional mechanism. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a dual mechanism for IL-10 function has been demonstrated. Studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of TNF-α production addressed the effect of IL-10 on the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB. However, these studies could demonstrate no requirement for the inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase or NF-κB activation as potential mechanisms. Overall, these results may explain the diversity previously ascribed to the complex mechanisms of IL-10 anti-inflammatory activity.
Interlock Concentration and Analyst Forecast Accuracy: Value Implications of Interlock

From the perspective of information commonalities among firms with director interlock relationships, this study mainly investigates the outcomes of earnings forecasts by analysts who choose to concentrate on interlocked firms (analysts following both a firm and its interlocked partner firm in their research portfolio). Using interlocked A‐share firms listed in the Chinese Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2008 to 2013 as samples, we empirically find that analysts who concentrate on interlocked firms produce more accurate earnings forecasts than analysts who do not. In additional analysis, we also find that analysts with an interlock concentration provide superior earnings forecast quality for other non‐interlocked firms in their research portfolios. Finally, through examining the market reaction to interlocked firms, we find that analysts with an interlock concentration provide new information and improve information efficiency for the capital market.
#TrumpStyle: The Political Frames and Twitter Attacks of Donald Trump

On January 20 th , 2017, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45 th President of the United States. No recent U.S. President has consistently engaged the U.S. media in such an adversarial way. Donald Trump’s personality, combined with the still emerging social media platform of Twitter, has thrown a rhetorical Molotov cocktail into the house of the body politic. This exploration of Trump’s Twitter rhetoric in regards to the U.S. media is important in three regards: (1) Twitter is now officially ensconced as a legitimate and effective political tool. (2) Twitter is now the primary avenue for dissemination of political propaganda and “talking points” and (3) When weaponized, Twitter can completely fracture the public and tangibly alter the reality/perceptions of a non-discerning public, to the point of embracing the most outlandish conspiracy theories or political narratives. In addressing these issues and contributing to current scholarship, this paper will utilize framing theory to engage in a content analysis of Trump’s “Fake News” tweets. In doing so, we should gain a better understanding of how Donald Trump uses 180 characters to develop allies, engage his opposition, promote his agenda, respond to criticism and define himself.
The Integrated Model of Sustainability Perspective in Spermatophyta Learning Based on Local Wisdom

In present condition, culture is diminished, the change of social order toward the generation that has no policy and pro-sustainability; As well as the advancement of science and technology are often treated unwisely so as to excite local wisdom. It is therefore necessary to explore intra-curricular local wisdom in schools. This study aims to produce an integration model of sustainability perspectives based on local wisdom on spermatophyta material that is feasible and effective. This research uses define, design and develop stages to an integration model of sustainability perspectives based on local wisdom on spermatophyta material. The resulting product is an integration model of socio-cultural, economic and environmental sustainability perspective and formulated with preventive, preserve and build action on spermatophyta material consisting of identification and classification, metagenesis and the role of spermatophyta for human life. The integration model of sustainability perspective in learning spermatophyta based on local wisdom is considered proven to be effective in raising sustainability’s awareness of high school students.
TRPA channels distinguish gravity sensing from hearing in Johnston's organ

Although many animal species sense gravity for spatial orientation, the molecular bases remain uncertain. Therefore, we studied Drosophila melanogaster, which possess an inherent upward movement against gravity-negative geotaxis. Negative geotaxis requires Johnston's organ, a mechanosensory structure located in the antenna that also detects near-field sound. Because channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily can contribute to mechanosensory signaling, we asked whether they are important for negative geotaxis. We identified distinct expression patterns for 5 TRP genes; the TRPV genes nanchung and inactive were present in most Johnston's organ neurons, the TRPN gene nompC and the TRPA gene painless were localized to 2 subpopulations of neurons, and the TRPA gene pyrexia was expressed in cap cells that may interact with the neurons. Likewise, mutating specific TRP genes produced distinct phenotypes, disrupting negative geotaxis (painless and pyrexia), hearing (nompC), or both (nanchung and inactive). Our genetic, physiological and behavioral data indicate that the sensory component of negative geotaxis involves multiple TRP genes. The results also distinguish between different mechanosensory modalities and set the stage for understanding how TRP channels contribute to mechanosensation.
Acute Pain and Posttraumatic Stress After Pediatric Injury.

OBJECTIVE Using a prospective, longitudinal design, we examined the relationship between acute pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in youth following injury. METHODS Children aged 8-17 years who sustained an injury (N = 243) and their parents participated in baseline interviews to assess children's worst pain since injury. 6 months later, participants completed follow-up interviews to assess child PTSS. RESULTS Pain as assessed by the Color Analogue Pain Scale (CAS) predicted PTSS 6 months after injury, even when controlling for demographic and empirically based risk factors. On the other hand, pain as assessed by the Faces Pain Rating Scale was not a significant independent predictor of PTSS. CONCLUSIONS The CAS may be a useful addition to existing screening tools for PTSS among children. Additional research is warranted to understand underlying mechanisms linking acute pain and PTSS to improve assessment, prevention, and treatment approaches and promote optimal recovery after pediatric injury.
Organizational Misconduct within the National Collegiate Athletic Association

Organizational misconduct is commonly viewed as an issue that reflects upon the entire organization, however, it should be noted that sometimes the acts of small groups and individuals ultimately end up negatively exposing the company (Greve et al., 2010). Greve et al. (2010) defined organizational misconduct as “behavior in or by an organization that a social-control agent judges to transgress a line separating right from wrong; where such a line can separate legal, ethical, and socially responsible from their antithesis” (p. 56). While the majority of the research looked specifically at the misconduct of organizations from a variety of perspectives (Greve et al., 2010; Palmer, 2012), little research has looked at the role of social control agents in regards to organizational misconduct. Socialcontrol agents are entities that represent large populations and enforce the organizational behavior of the firms within a population (Greve et al., 2010). Palmer (2012) noted the examination of the role of social control agents is important to comprehensively understand the causes of organizational misconduct.
Translocation of a UV-damaged DNA binding protein into a tight association with chromatin after treatment of mammalian cells with UV light.

A UV-damaged DNA binding protein (UV-DDB) is the major source of UV-damaged DNA binding activity in mammalian cell extracts. This activity is defective in at least some xeroderma pigmentosum group E (XP-E) patients; microinjection of the UV-DDB protein into their fibroblasts corrects nucleotide excision repair (NER). In an in vitro reconstituted NER system, small amounts of UV-DDB stimulate repair synthesis a few fold. After exposure to UV, mammalian cells show an early dose-dependent inhibition of the extractable UV-DDB activity; this inhibition may reflect a tight association of the binding protein with UV-damaged genomic DNA. To investigate the dynamics and location of UV-DDB with respect to damaged chromatin in vivo, we utilized nuclear fractionation and specific antibodies and detected translocation of the p127 component of UV-DDB from a loose to a tight association with chromatinized DNA immediately after UV treatment. A similar redistribution was found for other NER proteins, i.e. XPA, RP-A and PCNA, suggesting their tighter association with genomic DNA after UV. These studies revealed a specific protein-protein interaction between UV-DDB/p127 and RP-A that appears to enhance binding of both proteins to UV-damaged DNA in vitro, providing evidence for the involvement of UV-DDB in the damage-recognition step of NER. Moreover, the kinetics of the reappearance of extractable UV-DDB activity after UV treatment of human cells with differing repair capacities positively correlate with the cell's capacity to repair 6-4 pyrimidine dimers (6-4 PD) in the whole genome, a result consistent with an in vivo role for UV-DDB in recognizing this type of UV lesion.
Early events in lymphopoiesis: an update

Purpose of reviewCells of the immune system are replaced in large numbers throughout life, and the underlying mechanisms have been extensively studied. Whereas the pace of discovery in this area is unprecedented, many questions remain, particularly with respect to lymphocyte formation. Recent findingsWhile transcription factors have long been a focus of investigation, microRNAs are also being implicated in lymphopoiesis. Lymphocytes are normally replaced in correct proportion to other blood cells, but ratios change dramatically during infections. Long-standing issues relating to T versus B lineage divergence remain but have been enriched with remarkable new findings about thymus seeding. There are indications that at least some age-related changes in lymphopoiesis may be reversible. Finally, knowledge obtained from studies of mice is slowly being extended to humans. SummaryWe can now appreciate that new lymphoid progenitors are drawn from a heterogeneous collection of hematopoietic stem cells through asynchronous patterns of gene expression. Complex interactions then occur between the gene products, preparing lymphoid progenitors to respond to environmental cues. Whereas unique markers describe the process of lymphocyte formation in humans, fundamental information now available should suggest ways to promote rebound from chemotherapy or transplantation and reverse declines associated with aging.
S-nitrosylation/denitrosylation as a regulatory mechanism of salt stress sensing in sunflower seedlings.

Nitric oxide (NO) and various reactive nitrogen species produced in cells in normal growth conditions, and their enhanced production under stress conditions are responsible for a variety of biochemical aberrations. The present findings demonstrate that sunflower seedling roots exhibit high sensitivity to salt stress in terms of nitrite accumulation. A significant reduction in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) activity is evident in response to salt stress. Restoration of GSNOR activity with dithioerythritol shows that the enzyme is reversibly inhibited under conditions of 120 mM NaCl. Salt stress-mediated S-nitrosylation of cytosolic proteins was analyzed in roots and cotyledons using biotin-switch assay. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed opposite patterns of S-nitrosylation in seedling cotyledons and roots. Salt stress enhances S-nitrosylation of proteins in cotyledons, whereas roots exhibit denitrosylation of proteins. Highest number of proteins having undergone S-nitrosylation belonged to the category of carbohydrate metabolism followed by other metabolic proteins. Of the total 61 proteins observed to be regulated by S-nitrosylation, 17 are unique to cotyledons, 4 are unique to roots whereas 40 are common to both. Eighteen S-nitrosylated proteins are being reported for the first time in plant systems, including pectinesterase, phospholipase d-alpha and calmodulin. Further physiological analysis of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and monodehydroascorbate reductase showed that salt stress leads to a reversible inhibition of both these enzymes in cotyledons. However, seedling roots exhibit enhanced enzyme activity under salinity stress. These observations implicate the role of S-nitrosylation and denitrosylation in NO signaling thereby regulating various enzyme activities under salinity stress in sunflower seedlings.
Resveratrol-induced growth inhibition in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells is associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and protein translation

Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trans-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural compound found in grapes and several medicinal plants and has been shown to have anticancer effects on various human cancer cells. The aim of this study was to further investigate the molecular mechanism of this anticancer effect. Resveratrol effect on cell growth, morphology and gene expression was investigated in estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line. We show here that resveratrol-induced growth inhibition in the estrogen receptor negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells is due to the induction of apoptosis as demonstrated by morphological, nuclear staining and PARP cleavage analysis. Resveratrol-induced growth inhibition was associated with transient activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (Thr202/Tyr204). Most importantly, resveratrol inhibited both the phosphorylation at Ser240/244 and the expression of the pS6 ribosomal protein. This protein is known to play an important role in the translation of mRNAs that have oligopyrimidine tracts in their 5′ untranslated regions. Interestingly, only MAPK inhibitor was able to block resveratrol-induced growth inhibition suggesting that effects of resveratrol on cell growth are dependent on MAPK signaling. The data demonstrated that resveratrol-induced apoptosis is associated with MAPK signaling and with the inhibition of proteins that are involved in protein translation. This is the first data linking resveratrol with downregulation of protein translation via p44/42 MAPK and S6 ribosomal protein. We propose to use these proteins as predictive biomarkers to evaluate the treatment efficacy of resveratrol in estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer.