Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cooperative Influence of Genetic Polymorphisms on Interleukin 6 Transcriptional Regulation*

Interleukin 6 (IL6) plays key roles in hematopoiesis, immune, and acute phase responses. Dysregulated IL6 expression is implicated in diseases such as atherosclerosis and arthritis. We have examined the functional effect of four polymorphisms in the IL6 promoter (−597G→A, −572G→C, −373AnTn, −174G→C) by identifying the naturally occurring haplotypes and comparing their effects on reporter gene expression. The results indicate different transcriptional regulation in the ECV304 cell line compared with the HeLa cell line, suggesting cell type-specific regulation of IL6 expression. The haplotypes showed functional differences in the ECV304 cell line; transcription was higher from the GG9/11G haplotype and lower from the AG8/12G allele. The differences suggest that more than one of the polymorphic sites is functional; the base differences at distinct polymorphic sites do not act independently of one another, and one polymorphism influences the functional effect of variation at other polymorphic sites. These results show that genetic polymorphisms in the promoter influence IL6 transcription not by a simple additive mechanism but rather through complex interactions determined by the haplotype.
Failure of homocysteine to induce neural tube defects in a mouse model.

BACKGROUND Folate deficiencies have been associated with many adverse congenital abnormalities. It is not clear, however, whether these defects are due to a folate deficiency or to an increase in homocysteine. Homocysteine has been shown to be teratogenic in the chicken-embryo model and it has been suggested that homocysteine-induced defects are mediated by inhibiting the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor on neural crest cells. The majority of the teratology studies have been carried out using the chicken embryo model. In an effort to develop a murine model of homocysteine-induced neural tube defects, several inbred mouse strains were treated with homocysteine or the NMDA inhibitor MK801 and the fetuses examined for any induced-NTD. METHODS Several in-bred mouse strains were administered homocysteine once on gestational day (GD) E8.5 or once daily on GD 6.5-10.5. Additionally, because homocysteine was been reported to mediate its effects through the NMDA receptor, the effect of MK801, an antagonist of this receptor, was also investigated. RESULTS Regardless of the mouse treatment time, homocysteine failed to induce neural tube defects in our in-bred mouse strains. Homocysteine also failed to increase the number of neural tube defects in the splotch strain, regardless of the genotype. CONCLUSIONS Irrespective of the mouse strain or treatment, homocysteine failed to induce neural tube defects in our mouse models, which is in contrast to what has been reported in the chicken embryo models.
wakeful resting can eliminate directed forgetting

When cued to intentionally forget previously encoded memories, participants typically show reduced recall of the memories on a later recall test. We examined how such directed forgetting is affected by a brief period of wakeful resting between encoding and test. Encoding was followed by a “passive” wakeful resting period in which subjects heard emotionally neutral music or perceived neutral pictures, or it was followed by an “active” distraction period in which subjects were engaged in counting or calculation tasks. Whereas typical directed forgetting was present after active distraction, the forgetting was absent after wakeful resting. The findings indicate that the degree to which people can intentionally forget memories is influenced by the cognitive activity that people engage in shortly after learning takes place. The results provide first evidence on the interplay between wakeful resting and intentional forgetting. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 12 March 2015 Accepted 7 February 2016
Nuevos registros de Psorophora Robineau-Desvoidy, 1827 (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) en Venezuela

Se presentan registros adicionales de tres especies de Psorophora Robineau-Desvoidy, 1827 de Venezuela: Ps. champerico (Dyar & Knab, 1906) de Trujillo, Ps. ciliata (Fabricius, 1794) de Cojedes, Falcon y Portuguesa y Ps. cilipes (Fabricius, 1805) de Amazonas.
Diversity and Structure of Bacterial Chemolithotrophic Communities in Pine Forest and Agroecosystem Soils

ABSTRACT Obligate lithotrophs (e.g., ammonia oxidizers) and facultative lithotrophs (e.g., CO and hydrogen oxidizers) collectively comprise a phylogenetically diverse functional group that contributes significantly to carbon and nitrogen cycles in soils and plays important roles in trace gas dynamics (e.g., carbon monoxide and nitrous and nitric oxides) that affect tropospheric chemistry and radiative forcing. In spite of their diverse physiologies, facultative and obligate lithotrophs typically possess the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle enzyme, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisCO). In an effort designed to understand the structure of lithotrophic communities in soil, genomic DNA extracts from surface (0 to 2 cm) and subsurface (5 to 7 cm) soils have been obtained from two sites in a Georgia agroecosystem (peanut and cotton plots) and an unmanaged pine stand (>50 years old). The extracts have been used in PCR amplifications of the cbbL gene for the rubisCO large subunit protein. cbbL PCR products were cloned, sequenced, and subjected to phylogenetic and statistical analyses. Numerous novel lineages affiliated with the form IC clade (one of four form I rubisCO clades), which is typified by facultative lithotrophs, comprised lithotrophic communities from all soils. One of the form IC clone sequences clustered with a form IC clade of ammonia-oxidizing Nitrosospira. Distinct assemblages were obtained from each of the sites and from surface and subsurface soils. The results suggest that lithotrophic populations respond differentially to plant type and land use, perhaps forming characteristic associations. The paucity of clone sequences attributed to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria indicates that even though ammonia oxidation occurs in the various soils, the relevant populations are small compared to those of facultative lithotrophs.
Separation of Skin Reactive Intestinal Cancer Antigen from the Carcinoembryonic Antigen of Gold

Soluble fractions of human intestinal cancer and fetal intestinal cell membranes produced delayed hypersensitivity reactions in patients with intestinal cancer. These soluble fractions and perchloric acid extracts of intestinal cancer cells were fractionated by polacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The Gold carcinoembryonic antigen was found in a region of the gels different from that of the skin reactive antigen.
Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 3: Long-term complications and survival.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Few studies have evaluated long-term survival and complication rates in horses following surgical treatment of colic, making it difficult to offer realistic advice concerning long-term prognosis. OBJECTIVE To review the complications occurring after discharge from hospital and survival to >12 months after surgery of 300 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for acute colic. Pre-, intra- and post operative factors that affected long-term complications and long-term survival were assessed. METHODS History, clinical findings, surgical findings and procedures and post operative treatments of 300 consecutive surgical colic cases (1994-2001) were reviewed. Long-term follow-up information was retrieved from case records and telephone enquiries from owners. RESULTS The long-term (>12 months) survival rate for 204 horses discharged after colic surgery and for which follow-up information was available was 84%. The most common complication after discharge was colic, affecting 35.1% of horses following a single laparotomy. Colic was most common in horses that had had small intestinal obstructions, bowel resection or post operative ileus. Abdominal adhesions were most common in horses that presented with severe colic due to strangulation of small intestine. Ventral hernia formation occurred in 8% of horses, and was most common in horses that had had post operative wound drainage or infection. CONCLUSIONS This study identified various factors that appear to predispose horses to long-term complications after colic surgery. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Further evaluation of strategies that might reduce the incidence of such complications are needed; in particular, the value of intraperitoneal heparin should be evaluated, and procedures designed to reduce the rates of wound drainage and infection assessed.
Antiallatotropins: Inhibition of Corpus Allatum Development

Treatment of newly eclosed adult milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) females with precocene 2 prevents secretion of juvenile hormone by inhibition of postimaginal development of the corpus allatum. Ovarian development which is dependent upon juvenile hormone is prevented or reversed, depending upon the timing of precocene treatment. Juvenile hormone secretion is shown to be related to the development of the corpus allatum.
45‐ YEAR‐OLD MALE WITH SYMPTOMATIC MASS IN THE FRONTAL LOBE

A 45-year-old male patient developed focal seizures in his right arm. Neuroimaging demonstrated a tumor of the left frontal lobe. Tumor classification was undecided after stereotactic biopsy. Neuropathological examination of the open biopsy specimen revealed overlapping morphological features of an oligodendroglioma and a central neurocytoma. Groups of tumor cell featured the typical "fried egg" appearance seen in oligodendroglioma; microcalcifications and a network of branching non-proliferating vessels were present. Neurocytoma-like features included small nucleus-free areas of neuropil and perivascular pseudorosettes. Neuron specific enolase was strongly expressed cytoplasmically in the tumor cells and the "neuropil islands" were found to express synaptophysin. The final diagnosis of an oligodendroglioma with neurocytic differentiation was based on tumor location, clinicopathological findings and diagnostic genotyping. Combined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p) and the long arm of chromosome 19 (19q), the "molecular signature" of oligodendrogliomas, was revealed. Besides supporting the diagnosis of an oligodendroglioma, the molecular data allow for additional therapeutic options. These tumors may point to the presence of yet another potential tumor precursor cell similar to the recently discovered "N-O"-cells in the cerebral cortex of rats, capable of differentiation into neurons and oligodendrocytes.
Mechanism of Replication of φX174 Single-Stranded DNA IX. Requirement for the Escherichia coli dnaG Protein

Escherichia coli NY73, possessing a temperature-sensitive mutation in the dnaG locus, was rendered sensitive to bacteriophage φX174 by P1 transduction. φX174 reproduces in this strain at 30 C but not at 40 C. All three stages of φX174 replication, parental replicative form (RF) synthesis, RF replication, and progeny single-stranded DNA synthesis, are thermolabile in this mutant. Competition-annealing data show that both plus- and minus-strand synthesis are equally inhibited after shift up to 40 C during RF replication. We conclude that the dnaG gene product is required for the synthesis of both strands of φX RF during RF replication and of the complementary strand and viral progeny strands during stages I and III, respectively.
Molecular Analysis of the AR and SRD5A2 Genes in Patients with 46,XY Disorders of Sex Development

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and endocrinological features, and to analyze AR and SRD5A2 genes in patients with 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD). This study included 20 patients from 19 families showing clinical features of 46,XY DSD. Molecular analysis was performed of the AR and SRD5A2 genes, as well as endocrinological evaluations, such as 17a-hydroxyprogesterone, plasma renin activity, aldosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and hCG stimulation test. Out of 20 patients with 46,XY DSD, only one (5%) displayed androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), and four (20%) were Sa-reductase deficient by mutation analysis. The patient with AIS revealed significant elevation of serum testosterone following hCG stimulation. The patient with Sa-reductase deficiency with a homozygous p.R246Q mutation had a low basal dihydrotestosterone level. The patient with p.Q6X/p.R246Q mutations showed a moderately elevated testosterone/ dihydrotestosterone ratio following hCG stimulation. Endocrinological tests are not reliable for the etiological diagnosis of AIS and Sa-reductase deficiency due to variable reference ranges of hormonal profiles according to the age and the severity of the enzyme defect. DNA analysis may be employed as a tool for the early and precise diagnosis of patients with 46,XY DSD, and genetic counseling can be used for families at risk.
gadd45 Is Not Required for Activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase or p38 during Acute Stress*

Cells respond to environmental stress with activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. Recent studies have implicated Gadd45 and two related proteins, MyD118/Gadd45β and CR6/Gadd45γ, as initiators of JNK/p38 signaling via their interaction with an upstream kinase MTK1. It was proposed that stress-induced expression of the Gadd45-related proteins leads to MTK1 activation and subsequent JNK/p38 activation. Using embryo fibroblasts fromgadd45-null mice, we have addressed the requirement for Gadd45 in mediating JNK/p38 activation during acute stress. Comparison of JNK/p38 activities in response to methyl methanesulfonate, hydrogen peroxide, UVC irradiation, sorbitol, and anisomycin treatment ofgadd45 +/+ andgadd45 −/− fibroblasts revealed no deficiency in JNK/p38 activation in gadd45 −/−fibroblasts. In addition, in wild type cells, JNK and p38 activation significantly preceded gadd45 induction with all stresses. Examination of myd118/gadd45β andcr6/gadd45γ expression ingadd45 +/+ andgadd45 −/− fibroblasts revealed similar induction patterns in the two cell types, which, likegadd45 expression, was delayed relative to JNK/p38 activation. We conclude that gadd45 expression is not required for activation of JNK/p38 by environmental stresses, nor are stress-induced increases in myd118/gadd45β andcr6/gadd45γ expression necessary for kinase activation in response to such insults.
Differential IKK/NF-κB Activity Is Mediated by TSC2 through mTORC1 in PTEN-Null Prostate Cancer and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Tumor Cells

The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt plays a critical role in regulating proliferation, growth, and survival through phosphorylation of different downstream substrates. The mTOR is a key target for Akt to promote tumorigenesis. It has been reported that Akt activates mTOR through phosphorylation and inhibition of the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) protein TSC2. Previously, it was demonstrated that mTOR activates IKK/NF-κB signaling by promoting IκB kinase (IKK) activity downstream of Akt in conditions deficient of PTEN. In this study, the mechanistic role of the tumor-suppressor TSC2 was investigated in the regulation of IKK/NF-κB activity in PTEN-null prostate cancer and in TSC2-mutated tumor cells. The results demonstrate that TSC2 inhibits IKK/NF-κB activity downstream of Akt and upstream of mTORC1 in a PTEN-deficient environment. However, TSC2 promotes IKK/NF-κB activity upstream of Akt and mTORC1 in TSC2 mutated tumor cells. These data indicate that TSC2 negatively or positively regulates IKK/NF-κB activity in a context-dependent manner depending on the genetic background. Implications: This study provides fundamental insight for understanding the molecular details by which TSC2/mTOR regulates NF-κB signaling in different tumors. Mol Cancer Res; 13(12); 1602–14. ©2015 AACR.
The Geography Lesson: photographs and the construction of imaginative geographies

An 1851 stereoscopic daguerreotype entitled,The Geography Lesson, frames this exploration of photography, travel and geography in the mid-nineteenth century. I argue that, at a time when travel was embraced as a way of seeing and knowing the world, photographs offered a new means of acquiring, ordering and disseminating geographical information. The role of Alexander von Humboldt in the insertion of travel into the early discourse of photography is revealed. Focusing on travel photographs taken during the formative years of photographic technology, I use the work of traveller-photographers Pierre Gustave Gaspard Joly de Lotbini ere, Maxime Du Camp and William England to show how engravings from daguerreotypes, photographically illustrated books and stereoscopic views were employed to provide visual access to sites of travel. These examples also serve to demonstrate the historicity and specificity of photographic practice. I argue that such travel photographs participated in the construction of imaginative geographies of the mid-nineteenth century world, the ancient world and the New World. I propose a framework to explain how photographs insinuated themselves into the relationship between travel and geography in two ways: as the pre-texts of travellers and as a surrogate for travel. The implications of each are discussed. I conclude by speculating uponThe Geography Lesson's lessons for historical geography.
Cloning and sequencing of a mouse embryonal carcinoma cell mRNA encoding the tissue specific RNA splicing protein SmN.

Both we (1) and others (2) have reported the detection of a tissue specific protein SmN which is a component of the spliceosome that mediates the splicing of mRNA precursors and is expressed in only a limited number of tissue and cell types. This protein is closely related to the SmB and B' splicing proteins which are expressed in all cell types (1, 3). However, SmN is encoded by a different gene to that encoding SmB and B' (3, 4) and is the first example of a tissue specific RNA splicing protein. Expression of the gene encoding SmN is regulated during embryonic development, the SmN mRNA and protein being detectable in embryonic stem cells and embryonal carcinoma cells but being repressed upon differentiation (5). Interestingly the SmN mRNA and protein reappear in adult brain and heart tissue but are absent in other adult tissues (1 -3). Although the sequence of cDNA clones derived from both rat and human brain mRNA has been published (2, 3) that of mouse SmN cDNA clones has not been reported whilst no cDNA clones derived from the SmN mRNA present in embryonic mRNA have been characterized at the DNA sequence level. We have used an to SmN to isolate SmN cDNA clones from the mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line PCC4 indicates that they are over 97% similar at the nucleotide level to the rat brain cDNA sequence (reference 3: 18 differences out of 765 nucleotides in the coding region) and encode the identical amino acid sequence. This strongly suggests that a single gene encodes the embryonic and brain forms of SmN,
Fault detection based on unknown input observers for switched discrete-time systems

In this paper, fault detection and control based on Unknown Input Observers (UIOs) for switched linear systems using stateflow is proposed. This approach is developed in discrete-time framework in order to track a reference trajectory starting from a flat output variable generated using the flatness property. The stability of the system is studied by Lyapunov theory and the parameters of UIOs are designed by solving Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). The switching between different models is based on comparison between residual values. A simulation case study of an Electronic Throttle Valve (ETV) is proposed to show the effectiveness of this new approach.
Predicting Movie Market Revenue Using Social Media Data

The amount of data being created and processed daily has grown exponentially with the introduction of the internet and social media. While the data are available, there is a struggle to determine how to effectively use and interpret the data. One of the most popular uses for the large quantities of data is to create models to predict the behavior or tendencies. One important application of prediction is predicting financial outcomes using datasets. As a specific case, this study focuses on the use of Twitter data collected leading up to a movie's opening weekend to predict its revenue over the course of each of the opening weekends. Due to the lack of readily available data, the data must be first gathered weekly using Twitter's API and related third party libraries. Construction of the predictive model is based on several machine learning algorithms using a set of features derived from user tweets. The results show that our predictive model can be used to determine the success of movies during the opening weekend by prediction the gross per day value. The modelling and process are presented such that they can be used as an aid to create similar models using other popular social media networks and their data.
The A1 and A2 Subunits of Factor VIIIa Synergistically Stimulate Factor IXa Catalytic Activity*

Factor VIIIa, the protein cofactor for factor IXa, is comprised of A1, A2, and A3-C1-C2 subunits. Recently, we showed that isolated A2 subunit enhanced the k cat for factor IXa-catalyzed activation of factor X by ∼100-fold (∼1 min−1), whereas isolated A1 or A3-C1-C2 subunits showed no effect on this rate (Fay, P. J., and Koshibu, K. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 19049–19054). However, A1 subunit increased the A2-dependent stimulation by ∼10-fold. The K m for factor X in the presence of A2 subunit was unaffected by A1 subunit, whereas thek cat observed in the presence of saturating A1 and A2 subunits (∼15 min−1) represented 5–10% of the value observed for native factor VIIIa (∼200 min−1). An anti-A1 subunit antibody that blocks the association of A2 eliminated the A1-dependent contribution to factor IXa activity. Inclusion of both A1 and A2 subunits resulted in greater increases in the fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescein-Phe-Phe-Arg factor IXa than that observed for A2 subunit alone and approached values obtained with factor VIIIa. These results indicate that A1 subunit alters the A2 subunit-dependent modulation of the active site of factor IXa to synergistically increase cofactor activity, yielding an overall increase in k cat of over 1000-fold compared with factor IXa alone.
CARBOHYDRATE MOUTH RINSE: PERFORMANCE EFFECTS AND MECHANISMS

KEY POINTS • Carbohydrate feeding during moderate intensity endurance exercise is well known to delay fatigue and improve performance. • The mechanisms responsible are thought to involve maintenance of blood glucose levels and carbohydrate oxidation rates and sparing of liver, and perhaps, muscle glycogen. • The majority of studies investigating high intensity (>75%VO 2 max) endurance exercise (30-60 min) have also reported a performance benefit with exogenous carbohydrate. • Traditional metabolic pathways are unlikely to account for the ergogenic effect because endogenous stores of carbohydrate are not limiting and exogenous carbohydrate oxidation is minimal. • A growing number of studies have now shown that rinsing the mouth with a carbohydrate-containing solution is associated with improved high intensity endurance exercise performance. • The consistent performance benefits of 2-3% occur without any ingestion of carbohydrate but are similar in magnitude to those reported when carbohydrate is ingested. • Brain imaging studies have identified areas of the brain activated when carbohydrate is in the mouth, and it is likely that mouth rinsing carbohydrate results in afferent signals capable of modifying motor output. • The effects appear more profound after an overnight fast, but performance benefits are still present even after ingestion of a meal. • Further research is warranted to fully understand the separate taste transduction pathways for various carbohydrates, the practical implications for athletes as well as the impact on different sporting events.