Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heterologous Expression and Molecular and Cellular Characterization of CaPUB 1 Encoding a Hot Pepper U-Box E 3 Ubiquitin Ligase Homolog 1 [ C ]

The U-box motif is a conserved domain found in the diverse isoforms of E3 ubiquitin ligase in eukaryotes. From water-stressed hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv Pukang) plants, we isolated C. annuum putative U-box protein 1 (CaPUB1), which encodes a protein containing a single U-box motif in its N-terminal region. In vitro ubiquitination and site-directed mutagenesis assays revealed that CaPUB1 possessed E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and that the U-box motif was indeed essential for its enzyme activity. RNA gel-blot analysis showed that CaPUB1 mRNA was induced rapidly by a broad spectrum of abiotic stresses, including drought, high salinity, cold temperature, and mechanical wounding, but not in response to ethylene, abscisic acid, or a bacterial pathogen, suggesting its role in the early events in the abiotic-related defense response. Because transgenic work was extremely difficult in hot pepper, in this study we overexpressed CaPUB1 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to provide cellular information on the function of this gene in the development and plant responses to abiotic stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants that constitutively expressed the CaPUB1 gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter had markedly longer hypocotyls and roots and grew more rapidly than the wild type, leading to an early bolting phenotype. Microscopic analysis showed that 35STCaPUB1 roots had increased numbers of small-sized cells, resulting in disordered, highly populated cell layers in the cortex, endodermis, and stele. In addition, CaPUB1-overexpressing plants displayed increased sensitivity to water stress and mild salinity. These results indicate that CaPUB1 is functional in Arabidopsis cells, thereby effectively altering cell and tissue growth and also the response to abiotic stresses. Comparative proteomic analysis showed that the level of RPN6 protein, a non-ATPase subunit of the 26S proteasome complex, was significantly reduced in 35STCaPUB1 seedlings as compared to the wild type. Pull-down and ubiquitination assays demonstrated that RPN6 interacted physically with CaPUB1 and was ubiquitinated in a CaPUB1-dependent manner in vitro. Although the physiological function of CaPUB1 is not yet clear, there are several possibilities for its involvement in a subset of physiological responses to counteract dehydration and high-salinity stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings.
Mass spectrometry‐based proteomic analysis of formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is very difficult to diagnose at an early stage, and has a poor prognosis. Novel markers for diagnosis and optimal treatment selection are needed. However, there has been very limited data on the proteome profile of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. This study was designed to unravel the proteome profile of this disease and to identify overexpressed proteins using mass spectrometry‐based proteomic approaches.
A Fuzzy Logic based best relay(s) diversity selection in dual-hop networks

Many relay selection algorithms have been suggested in the last few years. In this paper, we propose Fuzzy Logic based relay selection algorithm using three different parameters. Amplify and Forwardrelaying scheme has been used where required parameters for the proposed algorithm are relay residual power, SNR and traffic. With the considered parameters, the system achieves efficiency in terms of relay's life time, processing time and communication overhead. The simulation results show that the proposed system makes a better and effective selection of relay in dual hop network.
The Problem of Environmental Legionella

The public furor over Legionnaires' disease has now died down, but Legionella spp. remain a potential threat within and outside the hospital. As the article by Stout et al in this issue of Infection Control reminds us, the bacteria lurk in many locations. We can probably never hope to eliminate them, but it is essential for hospital epidemiologists to estimate the magnitude of the threat for their patients and take appropriate measures to minimize infection. Most nosocomially acquired infections are produced by flora that are indigenous to the patient or have been carried to the patient on the hands of medical and nursing personnel. Legionella spp. , which are not known to be part of the indigenous human flora, present a different problem, one that is easier to attack in many ways.
Local-Level and Global-Level Form Characteristics in Apparent-Motion Correspondence

This study addressed the ‘correspondence’ problem of apparent-motion (AM) perception in which parts of a scene must be matched with counterparts separated in time and space. Given evidence that AM correspondence can be mediated by two distinct processes—one based on a low-level motion-detection mechanism (the Reichardt process), the other involving the tracking of objects by visual attention (the attention-based process)—the present study explored how these processes interact in the perception of apparent motion between hierarchically structured figures. In three experiments, hierarchical figures were presented in a competition motion display so that, across frames, figures were identical at either the local or the global level. In experiment 1 it was shown that AM occurred between locally identical figures. Furthermore, with the Reichardt AM component eliminated in experiments 3 and 4, no preference was obtained for either level. While evidence from previous studies suggests that form extraction for hierarchically structured figures proceeds from the global to the local level, the present results indicate the irrelevance of such a global precedence in AM correspondence. In addition, it is suggested that Reichardt AM correspondence between local elements constrains attention-based AM correspondence between global figures so that both components move in the same direction. It is argued that this constraining process represents an elegant means of achieving AM correspondence between objects undergoing complex transformations.
Son preference in Anhui province China.

This study examined the sex ratios in Anhui province in China. Data were obtained from a 1993 community survey conducted in 2 rural counties and 4 townships (3 in Zongyang and 1 in Huaining). Face-to-face interviews were conducted among about 16000 women and 20000 men. Pregnancy histories were obtained from 5779 women aged 15 years and older born after 1950 and with at least 1 live birth. Sex ratios were constructed before 1980 1980-86 and 1987-93. It was hypothesized that couples with sons would be less likely to have another child that birth intervals would be determined by the sex of the preceding child and that sons and daughters would receive different breast feeding. The sex ratio was 1.18 male births/1.0 female birth. Sex ratios were 1.17 for 1st births. At each parity sex ratios were higher prior to 1980 than in 1980-86. Sex ratios after 1986 increased. The sex ratio of last born children was high (1.32-1.79) regardless of family size. The sex ratio for only children was 1.58. The sex ratio for families with prior girl children was 3.94 for 2-child families and 3.79 for 3-child families. Girls were breast fed for a shorter period. Gender differences in breast feeding increased with parity. Birth intervals were more likely to be shorter if the 1st child was a girl born after 1980. Intervals were very short when there were 2 prior girls. The risk of a 2nd birth was higher among couples with a girl. For 3rd births the risk was higher. Maternal education was significant for the risk for 3rd births and not 2nd births. Couples in Huaining township were more likely to have a 2nd child than those in Zongyang.
Lung Metastasectomy for Colorectal Cancer

Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases has become a standard therapeutic procedure in properly selected cases, and is routinely performed in many departments of thoracic surgery'<". In fact, many tumors such as colorectal cancer may involve the lung as the unique site of distant spread. Complete surgical excision of all pulmonary deposits is often technically feasible with low morbidity and mortality. The ultimate proportion of cases with lung metastases that are candidate to salvage surgery is difficult to assess. Unlike sarcomas, colorectal carcinomas are not often eligible for lung metastasectomy due to the higher frequency of distant metastases in other organs (liver, brain, bone). However, in some cases, the complete resection of both liver and lung metastases may achieve a permanent cure. In case of proven or suspicious lung metastases, clinical staging should provide the most accurate information on the probability of a false positive, the presence of multiple lesions, the involvement of contralateral lung, the spread to hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes, and the total required volume of lung resection. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest has significantly improved the radiological diagnosis, particularly in the assessment of the number of lesions, but the overall diagnostic accuracy, even with spiral scanning, remains in the order of 60-80%. In general terms, eligibility criteria for curative resection of lung metastases include the following:
Toxicologic research on substances fro Fusarium nivale.

Summary We have isolated a new toxic substance from moldy rice which was infected by Fusarium nivale. The toxic material was adsorbed on charcoal, eluted with methanol, and chromatographed on a Kieselgel column; it was eluted by a mixture of chloroform-methanol. We then obtained the white rectangular crystals, nivalenol. Nivalenol inhibits the protein synthesis of rabbit reticulocytes and DNA synthesis of HeLa cells and ascites tumor cells, but it does not inhibit the synthesis of RNA. The LD50 of nivalenol is 40 µg/10 gm injected i.p. into ddS mice. Pathologic changes included cell degeneration of bone marrow, lymph nodes, intestines, testes, and thymus. It induced radiomimetic damage in animal cells.
Rheumatoid-susceptible alleles of HLA-DRB1 are genetically recessive to non-susceptible alleles in the progression of bone destruction in the wrists and fingers of patients with RA.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the relationship between HLA-DRB1 genotypes and the progression of bone destruction in Japanese patients with RA. METHODS--The HLA-DRB1 alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction and allele specific oligonucleotide probe techniques in 160 Japanese patients with RA. HLA-DR 0101, 0401, 0404, 0405, 1001 and 1402 were regarded as susceptible alleles of RA according to previous reports. Patients were classified into three groups (S/S, S/N and N/N group), based on the possession of two, one or no susceptible factor. The grading of radio-graphic changes in the wrists and fingers were evaluated by Larsen's criteria. The radiographic grades were first compared with the results of genotyping in the 160 cross sectional cases. A retrospective study was then conducted on a subgroup consisting of 57 cases taken from the 160 cases used for the cross sectional study. RESULTS--In the scatter diagram of the 160 cross sectional cases expressing the relationship between the stage of bone destruction and duration of RA, the regression line and the 95% confidence intervals separated the S/S group from the S/N and N/N groups in the early phase of development of bone destruction. In the retrospective study on the 57 cases the median years taken to development to stage V in the wrists after the onset of symptoms were 13.1 in the patients in the S/S group, 22.7 in the S/N group and 23.0 in the N/N group. The difference observed between the S/S and S/N group, and between the S/S and N/N group were statistically significant (p < 0.01), but that between the S/N and N/N groups was not. Thus the bone destruction in the wrists and fingers progressed more rapidly in the S/S group than in the S/N and N/N groups; and the rheumatoid susceptible alleles of HLA-DRB1 can be considered to be genetically recessive to the non-susceptible alleles in the progression of bone destructions in the wrists and fingers. CONCLUSION--Genotyping of HLA-DRB1 can be a useful prognostic marker in the early phase of RA.
LES FACTEURS INFLUENÇANT L'ACCEPTATION DU M-LEARNING PAR LES ETUDIANTS DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR MAROCAIN

Le M-learning joue un role de plus en plus important dans le developpement des methodes d'enseignement et d'apprentissage pour l'enseignement superieur. Cependant, la reussite du M-learning dans l'enseignement superieur dependra de l'acceptation par les utilisateurs de cette technologie. Le but de cet article est d'etudier les facteurs qui affectent les intentions des etudiants universitaires d'accepter le M-learning. Basee sur la theorie unifiee de l'acceptation et de l'utilisation de la technologie (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al., 2003), cette etude propose un modele pour identifier les facteurs qui influencent l'acceptation du M-learning dans l'enseignement superieur au Maroc. Un modele d'equation structurelle a ete utilise pour analyser les donnees recueillies aupres de 193 etudiants. Les resultats indiquent que la « facilite d’utilisation » et la « qualite de service » influent sur l’intention d’utilisation du M-learning mais que la «performance attendue», «l’innovativite » et «l’influence des professeurs» n’influent pas sur l’intention d’utilisation du M-learning.
Methods for Analysis of Bacterial Autoinducer‐2 Production

Quorum sensing is a cell‐cell signaling process that many bacteria use to regulate gene expression as a function of the density of the population. This phenomenon involves the production, release, and response to small chemical molecules termed autoinducers. Most autoinducers are species‐specific; however, one autoinducer called autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2) is produced and detected by many species of bacteria and thus can foster inter‐species communication. This unit describes two assays to detect and quantify AI‐2 from biological samples. The first uses a bacterial reporter strain, which produces bioluminescence in response to AI‐2. The second is an in vitro assay based on a modified version of an AI‐2 receptor fused to a cyan fluorescent protein and a yellow fluorescent protein. Binding of AI‐2 to this fusion protein induces a dose‐dependent decrease in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), enabling quantification of the AI‐2 concentration in the samples. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 23:1C.1. 1‐1C.1. 15. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Neurotoxicity of Endocrine Disruptors: Possible Involvement in Brain Development and Neurodegeneration

Environmental chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors do not appear to pose a risk to human reproduction; however, their effects on the central nervous systems are less well understood. Animal studies suggested that maternal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) produced changes in rearing behavior, locomotion, anxiety, and learning/memory in offspring, as well as neuronal abnormalities. Some investigations suggested that EDC exert effects on central monoaminergic neurons, especially dopaminergic neurons. Our data demonstrated that EDC attenuate the development of dopaminergic neurons, which might be involved in developmental disorders. Perinatal exposure to EDC might affect neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus, thereby potentially modulating neuronal development, leading to impaired cognitive and memory functions. Endocrine disruptors also attenuate gender differences in brain development. For example, the locus ceruleus is larger in female rats than in males, but treatments with bisphenol-A (BPA) enlarge this region in males. Some reports indicated that EDC induce hypothyroidism, which might be evidenced as abnormal brain development. Endocrine disruptors might also affect mature neurons, resulting in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. The current review focused on alterations in the brain induced by EDC, specifically on the possible involvement of EDC in brain development and neurodegeneration.
Fibrosarcoma, an unusual complication of ulcerative colitis; report of a case.

THIS paper reports a rare, malignant complication of ulcerative colitis, namely, fibrosarcoma of the colon. It is becoming increasingly evident, as more statistics are published, that chronic ulcerative colitis in a significant percentage of cases may be complicated by a malignant degeneration of the colon, usually carcinomatous in type. Lynn,1in an extensive review of more than 1,400 cases of ulcerative colitis, found that carcinoma developed in 1.9 per cent of the series. Jackman, Bargen and Helmholz2found an incidence of carcinoma of 6.3 per cent in 95 children with ulcerative colitis. Bargen, Jackman and Kerr3reported an incidence of 3.2 per cent in a group of 871 patients of all ages. In 450 cases of ulcerative colitis at the Lahey Clinic there was an incidence of carcinoma of 2 per cent.4Bockus5reported an incidence of about 1.5 per cent in 200 cases. From
Life cell tracking in microscopic images for high-content screening

Live-Cell Assays are used to study the dynamic functional cellular processes in High-Content Screening of drug discovery processes. One class of tasks in this application is the tracking of cells and the description of the events and the changes in the cell characteristics. The large amount of data requires fast processing algorithms and compact object and event descriptions. We propose in this paper a similarity-based approach for motion detection of the entire cell. Results are given on a test series from a real drug discovery process.
Stumbling towards sustainability

Our civilization is unsustainable and it is getting worse fast. The human ecological footprint has already overshot the sustainable carrying capacity of the Earth, while population and economic growth are rapidly expanding our impact. Meeting the legitimate aspirations of billions to rise out of poverty while reducing our global footprint to sustainable levels is the defining issue of the age. Change and transformation are urgently needed throughout society. But how can such change be achieved? Here I offer a dynamic systems perspective to raise questions about the processes of change required, at multiple scales. Within organizations, process improvement initiatives directed at cost, quality and productivity commonly fail. Sustainability initiatives share many of the same attributes. Why do so many such programs fail and what can be done to improve them? At the industry level, many attempts to introduce radical new technologies such as alternative fuel vehicles exhibit “sizzle and fizzle” behavior. Why, and what can be done to create markets for radical new technologies that are sustainable ecologically and economically? At the level of the economy, does it all add up? If firms are successful in “greening” their operations and products, does it actually move our economy towards sustainability, or simply lead to direct and indirect rebound effects? Technological solutions promoting ecoefficiency and new, sustainable industries, while necessary, are not sufficient: as long as everyone wants more, there is no technical solution to the problem. Where, then, are the high leverage points to implement successful change programs in existing organizations, create new industries, address overconsumption and transform personal values?
Medical Subword Lexicon – Lexicographic and Semantic Aspects

For technical sublanguages such as the medical one, document indexing based on lexical entities at a subword level has proved useful. However, it still remains challenging to identify and to delimit the meaningful lexical entities, as well as to group them in synonymy classes. We present a lexicographic and semantic foundation underlying the multilingual MORPHOSAURUS lexicon. Resumo. Para linguagens técnicas como a linguagem médica, a indexação de documentos usando entidades lexicais em nı́vel estruturante menor que a palavra tem se mostrado útil. Porém, ainda há desafios com relação à indentificação e delimitação de entidades lexicais apropriadas, assim como ao agrupamento em conjuntos de sinônimos. Apresentamos os fundamentos lexicográficos e semânticos do léxico multilı́ngue MORPHOSAURUS.
Punctuated actin contractions during convergent extension and their permissive regulation by the non-canonical Wnt-signaling pathway

Actomyosin networks linked to the micro-environment through the plasma membrane are thought to be key players in regulating cell behaviors within multicellular tissues, such as converging and extending mesoderm. Here, we observe the dynamics of actin contractions called ‘punctuated actin contractions’ in the mid-cell body of embryonic mesenchymal cells in the mesoderm. These contraction dynamics are a common feature of Xenopus embryonic tissues and are important for cell shape changes during morphogenesis. Quantitative morphological analysis of these F-actin dynamics indicates that frequent and aligned movements of multiple actin contractions accompany mesoderm cells as they intercalate and elongate. Using inhibitors combined with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis, we find that the dynamics of actin contractions are regulated by both myosin contractility and F-actin polymerization. Furthermore, we find that the non-canonical Wnt-signaling pathway permissively regulates levels of punctuated actin contractions. Overexpression of Xfz7 (Fzd7) can induce early maturation of actin contractions in mesoderm and produce mesoderm-like actin contractions in ectoderm cells. By contrast, expression of the dominant-negative Xenopus disheveled construct Xdd1 blocks the progression of actin contractions into their late mesoderm dynamics but has no effect in ectoderm. Our study reveals punctuated actin contractions within converging and extending mesoderm and uncovers a permissive role for non-canonical Wnt-signaling, myosin contractility and F-actin polymerization in regulating these dynamics.
Learning multi-modality local and global affinities in graph based ranking for automated lung tumor delineation

With the rapid growth of biomedical imaging data, manual delineation of gross tumor volume (GTV) for variety of cancers is becoming less practical due to its low efficiency, non-reproducibility, and inter-observer dependency. In this paper, we propose an automated co-segmentation method using a Bayesian decision theory to correlate the tumor and background similarities from PET and CT images. Our algorithm takes into account the local intensity variations of CT for an accurate boundary definition and global topology extracted from PET for compensating heterogeneous FDG uptake. We use manifold ranking algorithm to estimate the similarities for classification. The segmentation was evaluated on 20 PET/CT NSCLC patient studies. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method decreased the inter-modality manual delineation variance and achieved the average DSC of 0.834±0.054 when compared with GTVpet and 0.815±0.075 when compared with GTVct. The t-test demonstrated a statistically significant improvement (p <.001) in segmentation accuracy when compared to the other three graph based methods.