Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Suppression of Both ELIP1 and ELIP2 in Arabidopsis Does Not Affect Tolerance to Photoinhibition and Photooxidative Stress1

ELIPs (early light-induced proteins) are thylakoid proteins transiently induced during greening of etiolated seedlings and during exposure to high light stress conditions. This expression pattern suggests that these proteins may be involved in the protection of the photosynthetic apparatus against photooxidative damage. To test this hypothesis, we have generated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant plants null for both elip genes (Elip1 and Elip2) and have analyzed their sensitivity to light during greening of seedlings and to high light and cold in mature plants. In particular, we have evaluated the extent of damage to photosystem II, the level of lipid peroxidation, the presence of uncoupled chlorophyll molecules, and the nonphotochemical quenching of excitation energy. The absence of ELIPs during greening at moderate light intensities slightly reduced the rate of chlorophyll accumulation but did not modify the extent of photoinhibition. In mature plants, the absence of ELIP1 and ELIP2 did not modify the sensitivity to photoinhibition and photooxidation or the ability to recover from light stress. This raises questions about the photoprotective function of these proteins. Moreover, no compensatory accumulation of other ELIP-like proteins (SEPs, OHPs) was found in the elip1/elip2 double mutant during high light stress. elip1/elip2 mutant plants show only a slight reduction in the chlorophyll content in mature leaves and greening seedlings and a lower zeaxanthin accumulation in high light conditions, suggesting that ELIPs could somehow affect the stability or synthesis of these pigments. On the basis of these results, we make a number of suggestions concerning the biological function of ELIPs.
Mechanisms That Regulate Macrophage Burden in Atherosclerosis

It has only been in the past couple of decades that the weight of evidence led to formal pronouncement of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease rather than solely a disease associated with aberrant cholesterol accumulation and handling. Inflammation in general is driven by activation of the endothelium and leukocyte trafficking across this endothelial barrier to supply the reacting tissue with effector cells. The dominant leukocyte type recruited to atherosclerotic plaque is the monocyte. Early studies that connected the dots between atherosclerosis and inflammation recognized the primary importance of lesional macrophages, recruited as monocytes into developing plaques, where they take up large amounts of cholesterol to generate so-called foam cells filled with numerous cholesterol ester droplets. Macrophages are not only major cells that sequester cholesterol within plaques, but they are also implicated in critical events of clinical significance, particularly plaque rupture. For example, macrophage presentation of antigen to T lymphocytes may support the generation of conditions conducive to plaque rupture, expanding the role of macrophages in plaques beyond handling cholesterol. However, during the past decade, significant advances in our understanding of the division of labor Review
Substantial unexplained variation in cancer risks for MLH1 and MSH2 mutation carriers

We studied 17,576 members of 166 MLH1 and 224 MSH2 mutation‐carrying families from the Colon Cancer Family Registry. Average cumulative risks of colorectal cancer (CRC), endometrial cancer (EC), and other cancers for carriers were estimated using modified segregation analysis conditioned on ascertainment criteria. Heterogeneity in risks was investigated using a polygenic risk modifier. Average CRC cumulative risks at the age of 70 years (95% confidence intervals) for MLH1 and MSH2 mutation carriers, respectively, were estimated to be 34% (25%–50%) and 47% (36%–60%) for male carriers and 36% (25%–51%) and 37% (27%–50%) for female carriers. Corresponding EC risks were 18% (9.1%–34%) and 30% (18%–45%). A high level of CRC risk heterogeneity was observed (P < 0.001), with cumulative risks at the age of 70 years estimated to follow U‐shaped distributions. For example, 17% of male MSH2 mutation carriers have estimated lifetime risks of 0%–10% and 18% have risks of 90%–100%. Therefore, average risks are similar for the two genes but there is so much individual variation about the average that large proportions of carriers have either very low or very high lifetime cancer risks. Our estimates of CRC and EC cumulative risks for MLH1 and MSH2 mutation carriers are the most precise currently available.
Effects of L-type calcium channel activation on renal vascular resistances in the Lyon hypertensive rat.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of L-type calcium channels in the increased renal vascular resistance (RVR) of the Lyon hypertensive (LH) rat before and after normalization of its blood pressure (BP) by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with perindopril. Concentration-response curves to Bay K 8644 (from 0.1 nM to 1 microM), a selective agonist of L-type calcium channels, were obtained in single-pass perfused kidneys isolated from groups of eight untreated or perindopril-treated (3 mg/kg/day, p.o., from age 3 to 7 weeks) LH and low-BP (LL) control rats. In untreated rats, the negative logarithm of the molar concentration of Bay K 8644 required to produce a half-maximal effect (pD2) values for Bay K 8644 did not differ between the two strains, whereas the maximal RVR response was higher in LH than in LL kidneys (28.0+/-4.9 vs. 12.9+/-0.8 mm Hg/ml/min/g, respectively). Perindopril normalized BP and RVR in LH rats and suppressed the interstrain differences in the maximal RVR responses (11.4+/-0.6 vs. 10.5+/-1.2 mm Hg/ml/min/g in LH and LL rats, respectively). These results demonstrate that LH rats exhibit an increased maximal contractile response to Bay K 8644 compared with LL controls, and that this alteration is not a primary defect because it disappears after normalization of BP level.
The Road Map to Preparedness: A Competency-Based Approach to All-Hazards Emergency Readiness Training for the Public Health Workforce

Facing limited time and budgetary resources, state and local health departments need a practical, competency-based training approach to meet the all-hazards readiness requirements of their employees. The Road Map to Preparedness is a training tool designed to assist health departments in providing comprehensive, agency-tailored readiness instruction to their employees. This tool uses an incentive-based, game-like, experiential learning approach to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's nine core competencies for all public health workers while facilitating public health employees' understanding and acceptance of their emergency response roles. A corresponding evaluation tool, the Road Map to Preparedness Evaluation, yields metrically-driven assessments of public health employee readiness competencies. Since its pilot in 2003, the Road Map to Preparedness has met with enthusiastic response from participating health departments in the mid-Atlantic region. In addition to its public health impact, the Road Map offers future promise as a tool to assist organizational emergency response training in private sector and non-public health first-responder agency settings.
Therapeutic and hemolytic evaluation of in-situ liposomal preparation containing amphotericin - beta complexed with different chemically modified beta - cyclodextrins.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to evaluate therapeutic and haemolytic effects of liposomal preparation derived from proliposome entrapping inclusion complex of amphotericin B (AmB) with the chemically modified beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). METHODS a series of liposomal AmB formulations with varying beta-CD i.e. Hydroxy propyl beta-CD (HPBCD) and Sulfo butyl ether beta-CD (SBEBCD) having similar AmB content (0.5 mg/kg) were prepared and their effect compared with conventional liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) and free AmB on erythrocyte lysis and antifungals activity in experimental aspergillosis- and Cryptococcosis- mice model in-vivo. RESULTS the liposomal AmB - HPBCD and AmB - SBEBCD found to be 6 times less toxic than free AmB or conventional liposomal AmB. Experimental findings indicate that infected animals treated with L-AmB entrapped inclusion complexes significantly reduced CFU values (fungal counts), whereas infected animals treated with conventional liposome or free AmB showed insignificant reduction in CFU. A marked increase in the percent survival was observed in the case of animals treated with liposomal AmB formulation (HPBCD/SBEBCD). Furthermore, the in-vitro toxicity (haemolysis) of the proliposome-based liposomal vesicles (PBLV) entrapped AmB-SBEBCD/HPBCD at 37 degrees C was approx. 50% at maximum of the conventional liposomal AmB at a dose of 118 microg/ml as measured after 1 hr. incubation. CONCLUSIONS the results of these experiments permitted us to conclude that the stabilization of liposome derived from proliposome entrapping inclusion complex of amphotericin B (AmB) with beta-CD could serve an alternative approach to enhance the therapeutic window of AmB in clinical medicine.
Self-Leadership Change Project

This study employs self-leadership theory applied to developing and implementing a change project involving senior level students at a regional university. Preliminary research found evidence of students’ ability to make meaningful changes through the project, and exhibit a subsequent level of influence over those who observe their change process. This is relevant to the current business environment, in that shared leadership, empowerment, and participative management require business graduates to attain some level of leadership ability to function effectively in organizations.
Dualization as Destiny? The Political Economy of the German Minimum Wage Reform

Germany is widely seen as a “dualized” economy driven by a powerful and stable “insider” coalition in the manufacturing sectors. In this article, that picture is challenged. An examination of the political economy of the outsider-friendly 2014 Minimum Wage Act, using public opinion data, document analysis, and qualitative interviews, shows how earlier dualizing reforms led to unintended negative feedback effects: First, public opinion reacted negatively to increasing inequality in the years preceding the introduction of the minimum wage. Second, a remarkable shift is found among trade unions toward support of a minimum wage, even in manufacturing. Although the threat of low-wage competition and flexibilization did play a role, trade union solidarity was at least as important. Those endogenous dynamics came together in a self-undermining process unfolding over a relatively short period of time. Potential alternative explanations are explored, including classical partisan politics, party competition, and employer preferences.
A BEN-domain-containing protein associates with heterochromatin and represses transcription

In eukaryotes, higher order chromatin structure governs crucial cellular processes including DNA replication, transcription and post-transcriptional gene regulation. Specific chromatin-interacting proteins play vital roles in the maintenance of chromatin structure. We have identified BEND3, a quadruple BEN domain-containing protein that is highly conserved amongst vertebrates. BEND3 colocalizes with HP1 and H3 trimethylated at K9 at heterochromatic regions in mammalian cells. Using an in vivo gene locus, we have been able to demonstrate that BEND3 associates with the locus only when it is heterochromatic and dissociates upon activation of transcription. Furthermore, tethering BEND3 inhibits transcription from the locus, indicating that BEND3 is involved in transcriptional repression through its interaction with histone deacetylases and Sall4, a transcription repressor. We further demonstrate that BEND3 is SUMOylated and that such modifications are essential for its role in transcriptional repression. Finally, overexpression of BEND3 causes premature chromatin condensation and extensive heterochromatinization, resulting in cell cycle arrest. Taken together, our data demonstrate the role of a novel heterochromatin-associated protein in transcriptional repression.
Ethical Leadership in the Context of Globalization Developing the Service Orientation for Spiritual Capital : Leadership Capacity for Bridging Sectors

This paper explores the development of an individual service orientation leading to the growth of spiritual capital at the organization level. A well-developed service orientation comprises a key competency for successful and ethical leadership in a multi-sector context. The paper begins with an examination of the nature of service, proposing a model of service in order to more clearly note the relationships between service, ethics, and leadership. It subsequently examines the development of a service orientation in individuals, utilizing concepts from cognitive science to explain the construction of this disposition. After noting the direct links to ethics and leadership at the individual level, including parallels to Servant-Leadership and Transformational leadership, the paper explicates the synergistic possibilities of individual service orientations combining to produce spiritual capital in organizations.
Tourism Demand Forecasting by Improved SVR Model

The inboard tourism demand forecasting is very important to the development of tourism industry. In this paper, the SVR model is adopted to forecast monthly inbound tourism demand of China. And the elitist Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGAII) is used to parameter optimization. The NSGAII algorithm can reduce complexity of the algorithm, keeps the diversity of population and increasing the forecasting accuracy. At last, the proposed NSGAII-SVR model is used to forecast monthly inbound tourism demand of China from July 2011 to December 2011. And the experimental results show that the NSGAII-SVR has the best performance on forecasting compared with other models.
Paleoparasitological remains revealed by seven historic contexts from "Place d'Armes", Namur, Belgium.

Human occupation for several centuries was recorded in the archaeological layers of "Place d'Armes", Namur, Belgium. Preventive archaeological excavations were carried out between 1996/1997 and seven historical strata were observed, from Gallo-Roman period up to Modern Times. Soil samples from cesspools, latrines, and structures-like were studied and revealed intestinal parasite eggs in the different archaeological contexts. Ascaris lumbricoides, A. suum, Trichuris trichiura, T. suis. Taenia sp. , Fasciola hepatica, Diphyllobothrium sp. , Capillaria sp. and Oxyuris equi eggs were found. Paleoparasitology confirmed the use of structures as latrines or cesspit as firstly supposed by the archaeologists. Medieval latrines were not only used for rejection of human excrements. The finding of Ascaris sp. and Trichuris sp. eggs may point to human's or wild swine's feces. Gallo-Roman people used to eat wild boar. Therefore, both A. suum and T. suis, or A. lumbricoides and T. trichuris, may be present, considering a swine carcass recovered into a cesspit. Careful sediment analysis may reveal its origin, although parasites of domestic animals can be found together with those of human's. Taenia sp. eggs identified in latrine samples indicate ingestion of uncooked beef with cysticercoid larvae. F. hepatica eggs suggest the ingestion of raw contaminated vegetables and Diphyllobothrium sp. eggs indicate contaminated fresh-water fish consumption. Ascaris sp. and Trichuris sp. eggs indicate fecal-oral infection by human and/or animal excrements.
Facial feature localization using statistical models and SIFT descriptors

Active Shape Model (ASM) is a powerful statistical tool for image interpretation, especially in face alignment. In the standard ASM, local appearances are described by intensity profiles, and the model parameter estimation is based on the assumption that the profiles follow a Gaussian distribution. It suffers from variations of poses, illumination and expressions. In this paper, an improved ASM framework, GentleBoost based SIFT-ASM is proposed. Local appearances of landmarks are originally represented by SIFT (Scale-Invariant Feature Transform) descriptors, which are gradient orientation histograms based representations of image neighborhood. They can provide more robust and accurate guidance for search than grey-level profiles. Moreover, GentleBoost classifiers are applied to model and search the SIFT features instead of the unnecessary assumption of Gaussian distribution. Experimental results show that SIFT-ASM significantly outperforms the original ASM in aligning and localizing facial features.
Valuation Implications of FAS 159 Reported Gains and Losses From Fair Value Accounting for Liabilities

This study examines the economic implications of fair value liability gains and losses arising from the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (hereafter, FAS 159). We find a positive correspondence between a firm’s FAS 159 fair value liability gains and losses and current period stock returns, consistent with the notion that these gains and losses are priced by equity investors. However, further analysis indicates that fair value gains and losses from liabilities have a statistically significant negative association with future returns, suggesting that investors misprice this earnings component and subsequently correct the mispricing. We also find that the negative association for fair value gains is stronger for firms with lower levels of institutional ownership.
Determination of dynamic changes in the nature and biosynthesis of glycome of wt and rd1 mice retinae by lectin microarray analysis.

Understanding the process of retinal glycan biosynthesis and related enzymes, and profiling of the dynamic changes in the retinal glycoproteins is crucial to decode the functions of glycans in retinal pathophysiology. The dynamic changes in mice retinal glycans have been reported previously. In the available retinal Proteomics studies, the glycoproteome was not characterized. Glycans and glycan levels determined by lectin microarray (see fig. 4 from the report of Ahuja) are categorized below (Sections 1–5) according to the nature of glycan sugars; degree of conversion to di-, tri-, tetra-, oligo-, and polymers; glycan branching; and types of anomeric links (a-, b-, 1 4, 2 3, and so forth) between sugars. This summary is intended to describe the nature of intermediate products, and the role of glycosyl transferase/glycosidase isomers (GT/G) activities involved in glycan biosynthesis/processing during retinal development and degeneration. The categorization of glycans, with respective GT/G, lectins (abbreviated) binding specificity, and significance of differences, presents another facet of the lectin microarray data shown in figure 4 from a prior report by Ahuja. Glycan functions are from the literature.
Molecular Mechanisms of Vitamin E Transport

Abstract: Vitamin E is the most important lipid‐soluble antioxidant in humans. Specific tocopherol‐binding proteins favor the retention of the most potent vitamin E homologue, RRR‐α‐tocopherol (RRR‐α‐T) in man. The crystal structures of both the ligand‐charged and the apo‐forms of human α‐tocopherol transfer protein (α‐TTP) and of human supernatant protein factor (SPF) have been solved. The renewed interest in the biological function of tocopherol binders is based on the discovery of ataxia with vitamin E deficiency, a neurological disorder that is caused by genetic defects of the α‐TTP gene and/or vitamin E deficiency. The analysis of the crystal structure of α‐TTP provides the molecular basis of vitamin E retention in man. SPF has been reported to enhance cholesterol biosynthesis by facilitating the conversion of squalene to lanosterol. Nevertheless, the physiological role of SPF as well as its ligand specificity is not known. Investigations on the substrate specificity of SPF have uncovered binding of RRR‐α‐tocopherylquinone (RRR‐α‐TQ). RRR‐α‐TQ represents the major physiological oxidation product of RRR‐α‐T. The three‐dimensional overlay of the ligand‐charged structures of SPF and α‐TTP indicates that ligand specificity in both proteins is mostly modulated by side‐chain variations rather than by the backbone. Recent reports point towards the in vivo reduction of RRR‐α‐TQ to RRR‐α‐TQH2 and its protective role in low‐density lipoprotein oxidation. On the basis of these reports, it is proposed that SPF may enhance cholesterol biosynthesis indirectly by mediating the transfer of RRR‐α‐TQ to low‐density lipoprotein, thus reducing oxidation of low‐density lipoprotein and its subsequent cellular uptake by scavenger receptors.
Performance of ceramic magnetic regenerator materials for sub-2 K cryocoolers

A new ceramic magnetic regenerator material GdVO/sub 4/ has been fabricated and tested. The new regenerator material has an antiferromagnetic transition at 2.2 K with a large heat capacity more than 0.8 J/cm/sup 3/K. The cooling tests with a 0.1 W-class GM cryocooler have been done with /sup 3/He gas as a working fluid. The 2nd regenerator consisted of Pb, HoCu/sub 2/, Gd/sub 2/OS, GdAlO/sub 3/ and GdVO/sub 4/. The configuration was adjusted by partially replacing the GdAlO/sub 3/ with the GdVO/sub 4/. A cooling capacity at 1.8 K for the 2nd regenerator was increased by about 10% and the minimum cooling temperature was obtainable at 1.4 K. The cooling test results show that the high heat capacity magnetic materials are useful to provide both the higher cooling capacity and the lower minimum temperature, but more precise adjustments are needed to optimize the configuration of the regenerator.
Relation between biochemical severity and intelligence in early treated congenital hypothyroidism: a threshold effect

Abstract Objectives : To assess whether early treatment of congenital hypothyroidism fully prevents intellectual impairment. Design : A national register of children with congenital hypothyroidism who were compared with unaffected children from the same school classes and matched for age, sex, social class, and first language. Setting - First three years (1982-4) of a neonatal screening programme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Subjects : 361 children with congenital hypothyroidism given early treatment and 315 control children. Main outcome measures : Intelligence quotient (IQ) measured at school entry at 5 years of age with the Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence. Results : There was a discontinuous relation between IQ and plasma thyroxine concentration at diagnosis, with a threshold at 42.8 nmol/l (95% confidence interval 35.2 to 47.1 nmol/l). Hypothyroid children with thyroxine values below 42.8 nmol/l had a mean IQ 10.3 points (6.9 to 13.7 points) lower than those with higher values and than controls. None of the measures of quality of treatment (age at start of treatment (range 1 -173 days), average thyroxine dose (12.76 mug in the first year), average thyroxine concentration during treatment (79-234 nmol/l in the first year), and thyroxine concentration less than 103 nmol/l at least once during the first year) influenced IQ at age 5. Conclusions : Despite early treatment in congenital hypothyroidism the disease severity has a threshhold effect on brain development, probably determined prenatally. The 55% of infants with more severe disease continue to show clinically significant intellectual impairment; infants with milder disease show no such impairment. The findings predict that 10% of early treated infants with severe hypothyroidism, compared with around 40% of those who presented with symptoms in the period before screening began, are likely to require special education.