Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fathers' Influence on Their Children's Cognitive and Emotional Development: From Toddlers to Pre-K

We present findings based on several of our recent studies that have shown that father engagement has significant effects on children's cognition and language at 24 and 36 months and their social and emotional development at 24, 36 months, and pre-Kindergarten. These studies are guided by the Dynamics of Paternal Influences on Children over the Life Course Model that stipulates the important contribution of parent characteristics, child and context to parenting and children's outcomes. Specifically, three research questions are addressed: (1) How do resident fathers engage with their young children at 24, 36, and 64 months (pre-K)? (2) How do fathers' human and financial resources and depressive symptoms, partner relationship quality and mother–child interactions, and children's characteristics predict the quality of fathers' engagements with their young children? And (3) how do fathers' engagements affect their young children's cognitive, language, and social and emotional outcomes across the three age groups? Educated fathers and fathers whose partners have supportive relationships with their children are more supportive and less intrusive. In contrast to mothers, fathers' supportiveness matters for children's language, cognitive, and language development across ages and emotional regulation at 24 months. On the other hand, maternal intrusiveness is negatively associated with emotional regulation at 24 and pre-K and language development at pre-K. Father intrusiveness had a small negative effect on language development only at pre-K and no effect at all on social emotional regulation. These findings suggest that programs that aim at increasing fathers' education and that promote and encourage fathers' positive parenting will yield large benefits for children.
Timely initiation of chemotherapy: a systematic literature review of six priority cancers – results and recommendations for clinical practice

This review evaluated the association between time‐to‐chemotherapy (TTC) and survival in six priority cancers. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken for papers indexed in the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases from the earliest index until April 2014. The methodology used has been published in a separate paper (Guidelines for timely initiation of chemotherapy: a proposed framework for access to medical oncology and haematology cancer clinics and chemotherapy services). The optimal timing of chemotherapy in breast cancer is unclear as available studies are of low quality, report inconsistent results and are limited to the adjuvant setting. However, increased TTC may have a negative prognostic impact, and delays beyond 4 weeks should be avoided. Studies suggest that the optimal timing for initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy for surgically resected colorectal cancer is 4–8 weeks post‐surgery. Timing of chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer does not influence survival. There is a paucity of studies to guide the timing of chemotherapy for the treatment of lymphoma and myeloma; no definitive conclusions can be drawn, and clinician discretion should be applied. The optimal timing of chemotherapy in lung cancer is unclear; however, rapid tumour growth and poor disease prognosis suggest that delays should be avoided wherever possible. The optimal timing of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer is unclear as available studies are of low level, report inconsistent results and are limited to the post‐surgery setting; however, increased TTC may have a negative prognostic impact; therefore, delays beyond 4 weeks should be avoided.
Analysis of a conserved cellulase transcriptional regulator reveals inducer-independent production of cellulolytic enzymes in Neurospora crassa

Cellulose is recalcitrant to deconstruction to glucose for use in fermentation strategies for biofuels and chemicals derived from lignocellulose. In Neurospora crassa, the transcriptional regulator, CLR‐2, is required for cellulolytic gene expression and cellulose deconstruction. To assess conservation and divergence of cellulase gene regulation between fungi from different ecological niches, we compared clr‐2 function with its ortholog (clrB) in the distantly related species, Aspergillus nidulans. Transcriptional profiles induced by exposure to crystalline cellulose were similar in both species. Approximately 50% of the cellulose‐responsive genes showed strict dependence on functional clr‐2/clrB, with a subset of 28 genes encoding plant biomass degrading enzymes that were conserved between N. crassa and A. nidulans. Importantly, misexpression of clr‐2 under noninducing conditions was sufficient to drive cellulase gene expression, secretion, and activity in N. crassa, to a level comparable to wild type exposed to Avicel. However, misexpression of clrB in A. nidulans was not sufficient to drive cellulase gene expression under noninducing conditions, although an increase in cellulase activity was observed under crystalline cellulose conditions. Manipulation of clr‐2 orthologs among filamentous fungi may enable regulated cellulosic enzyme production in a wide array of culture conditions and host strains, potentially reducing costs associated with enzyme production for plant cell wall deconstruction. However, this functionality may require additional engineering in some species.
Pathology of chlorpyriphos and T-2 toxin on broiler chicken

Forty-eight, newly hatched, unsexed broiler chicks were fed diets containing 45 ppm chlorpyriphos, an organophosphorus compound and 0.5 ppm T-2, a mycotoxin, singly and in combination for 28 days from day of hatch to study of pathological effects. Gross, pale, enlarged liver, distended gall bladder and streaks of haemorrhages in the thigh muscles were observed in the chlorpyriphos group, while the chlorpyriphos+T-2 group showed pale and enlarged liver. Histopathological changes observed in the toxin-fed birds during 14th and 28th days of the trial were as follows: liver revealed periportal fibrosis, mononuclear cell infiltration, necrosis of hepatocytes and bile duct hyperplasia in all the toxin-fed birds. Kidney showed tubular epithelial degeneration and necrosis in chlorpyriphos and chlorpyriphos+T-2-fed birds. Hearts of all toxin treated birds showed vacuolar degeneration of myocytes. The chlorpyriphos+T-2-fed birds showed necrosis of oral mucosa with infiltration of heterophils predominantly, along with mononuclear cells. Crop mucosa showed epithelial hyperplasia and keratinisation in all treatment groups. Proventriculus showed hyperplasia of epithelial cells, glandular necrosis and infiltration of mononuclear cells in chlorpyriphos and chlorpyriphos+T-2 groups. The T-2 group showed epithelial necrosis, crypt elongation, diphtheritic membrane formation and mononuclear cell infiltration in lamina propria. Gizzard showed glandular interstitial fibrosis, infiltration of heterophils and mononuclear
IPCC's Twentieth-Century Climate Simulations: Varied Representations of North American Hydroclimate Variability

The annual cycle of precipitation and the interannual variability of the North American hydroclimate during summer months are analyzed in coupled simulations of the twentieth-century climate. The state-ofthe-art general circulation models, participating in the Fourth Assessment Report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), included in the present study are the U.S. Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3), the Parallel Climate Model (PCM), the Goddard Institute for Space Studies model version EH (GISS-EH), and the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Coupled Model version 2.1 (GFDL-CM2.1); the Met Office’s Third Hadley Centre Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere GCM (UKMOHadCM3); and the Japanese Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate version 3.2 [MIROC3.2(hires)]. Datasets with proven high quality such as NCEP’s North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR), and the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) U.S.–Mexico precipitation analysis are used as targets for simulations. Climatological precipitation is not easily simulated. While models capture winter precipitation very well over the U.S. northwest, they encounter failure over the U.S. southeast in the same season. Summer precipitation over the central United States and Mexico is also a great challenge for models, particularly the timing. In general the UKMO-HadCM3 is closest to the observations. The models’ potential in simulating interannual hydroclimate variability over North America during the warm season is varied and limited to the central United States. Models like PCM, and in particular UKMO-HadCM3, exhibit reasonably well the observed distribution and relative importance of remote and local contributions to precipitation variability over the region (i.e., convergence of remote moisture fluxes dominate over local evapotranspiration). However, in models like CCSM3 and GFDL-CM2.1 local contributions dominate over remote ones, in contrast with warm-season observations. In the other extreme are models like GISS-EH and MIROC3.2(hires) that prioritize the remote influence of moisture fluxes and neglect the local influence of land surface processes to the regional precipitation variability.
Postural stability in the elderly: a comparison between fallers and non-fallers.

BACKGROUND the identification of specific risk factors for falls in community-dwelling elderly persons is required to identify older people at risk of falling. OBJECTIVE the aim of the study was to determine the ability of various biomechanical measures of postural stability to identify fallers in the elderly population. METHOD 19 subjects (78.4 +/- 1.3 years old) who reported having fallen unexpectedly at least twice in the last 6 months, and 124 non-fallers (77.8 +/- 0.53 years old) participated in the study. Balance measurements were made in the upright position in six different conditions using a force platform, and the Limits of Stability Test was carried out. Static two-point discrimination (TPD) testing to the underside of the first toe was made to evaluate the innervation density of the slowly adapting receptors. Finally, maximal isometric lower limb strength was measured in major muscle groups. Repeated measures analysis of variance tests were performed to assess the mean differences between the two groups (fallers and non-fallers). The level of significance was set to 0.05. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION results suggest that control of balance in narrow base stance may be an important tool in identifying elderly fallers. The findings show an increase in mediolateral sway in narrow base stance in older people who experienced recurrent falls. Also, TPD appears to be impaired in elderly fallers (14.93 +/- 1.1 mm versus 12.98 +/- 0.3 mm). CONCLUSIONS simple and safe laboratory quantitative tests were able to differentiate between elderly fallers and elderly individuals who did not fall, suggesting a possible clinical application as a preliminary screening tool for predicting future risk of falling.
Plasmid segregation: spatial awareness at the molecular level

In bacteria, low-copy number plasmids ensure their stable inheritance by partition loci (par), which actively distribute plasmid replicates to each side of the cell division plane. Using time-lapse fluorescence microscopic tracking of segregating plasmid molecules, a new study provides novel insight into the workings of the par system from Escherichia coli plasmid R1. Despite its relative simplicity, the plasmid partition spindle shares characteristics with the mitotic machinery of eukaryotic cells.
Leptin and Hypertension in Obesity

Leptin, a peptide discovered more than 10 years ago, decreases food intake and increases sympathetic nerve activity to both thermogenic and nonthermogenic tissue. Leptin was initially believed to be an anti-obesity hormone, owing to its metabolic effects. However, obese individuals, for unknown reasons, become resistant to the satiety and weight-reducing effect of the hormone, but preserve leptin-mediated sympathetic activation to nonthermogenic tissue such as kidney, heart, and adrenal glands. Leptin has been shown to influence nitric oxide production and natriuresis, and along with chronic sympathetic activation, especially to the kidney, it may lead to sodium retention, systemic vasoconstriction, and blood pressure elevation. Consequently, leptin is currently considered to play an important role in the development of hypertension in obesity.
BANA-Positive Plaque Samples Are Associated with Oral Hygiene Practices and Not CD4+ T Cell Counts in HIV-Positive Patients

Background. The “red complex” microorganisms, namely, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia are considered as potential pathogens causing HIV-associated periodontal diseases. Moreover, it has been recognized that an association exists between CD4+ T cell counts and periodontal disease progression. Objective. To establish whether CD4+ T cell counts or oral hygiene plays a greater role in producing BANA-positive results in HIV-associated periodontal disease. Materials and Methods. One hundred and twenty HIV-positive patients participated in the study, and their CD4+ T cell counts were obtained from their medical records. The six Ramfjord teeth were used for evaluating periodontal clinical indices and subgingival plaque sampling. BANA test was used for the detection and prevalence of the “red complex” bacteria in plaque samples. Results. A majority of 69.17% HIV-positive patients were BANA-positive. No significant associations were found between BANA and CD4+ T cell counts. A highly significant association was found between BANA with probing depth and clinical attachment level (P ≤ 0.0001) and between BANA and the use of interdental aids (P = 0.0168). Conclusion. HIV-associated periodontal diseases are strongly related to oral hygiene practices rather than the effect of CD4+ T cell counts, and the use of interdental aids was marked as a significant predictor of BANA-negative plaque samples.
Rilmenidine attenuates toxicity of polyglutamine expansions in a mouse model of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in huntingtin. There are no treatments that are known to slow the neurodegeneration caused by this mutation. Mutant huntingtin causes disease via a toxic gain-of-function mechanism and has the propensity to aggregate and form intraneuronal inclusions. One therapeutic approach for HD is to enhance the degradation of the mutant protein. We have shown that this can be achieved by upregulating autophagy, using the drug rapamycin. In order to find safer ways of inducing autophagy for clinical purposes, we previously screened United States Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for their autophagy-stimulating potential. This screen suggested that rilmenidine, a well tolerated, safe, centrally acting anti-hypertensive drug, could induce autophagy in cell culture via a pathway that was independent of the mammalian target of rapamycin. Here we have shown that rilmenidine induces autophagy in mice and in primary neuronal culture. Rilmenidine administration attenuated the signs of disease in a HD mouse model and reduced levels of the mutant huntingtin fragment. As rilmenidine has a long safety record and is designed for chronic use, our data suggests that it should be considered for the treatment of HD and related conditions.
Mechanisms of Cell Death in Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) can be the consequence of various etiologies, that might vary between different geographic regions. Most frequent are intoxications with acetaminophen, viral hepatitis, or liver damage of unknown origin. ALF occurs when the extent of hepatocyte death exceeds the regenerative capacity of the liver. The mode of liver cell death that is predominantly induced in ALF, i.e., apoptosis or necrosis, is still controversial and presumably determined by the etiology, duration, and magnitude of liver injury. Severe liver damage involves oxidative stress and depletion of ATP resulting in necrosis. In contrast, maintenance of ATP stores is required for the execution of apoptosis. Recent data suggest that necrosis resulting from severe liver damage is associated with poor outcome of ALF patients. Discrimination between apoptosis and necrosis might be therefore useful for the identification of ALF patients requiring liver transplantation. Identification of the molecular cell death mechanisms remains an important issue not only for early prediction of ALF outcome, but also for therapeutic interventions. In view of the pleiotropic functions of critical mediators of cell death and tissue regeneration, a particular challenge will be to reduce hepatocellular death without inhibiting the regenerative capacity of the liver. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of hepatocyte injury and the pathways leading to apoptosis and necrosis, which might represent potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets in ALF.
Asymptotic Size of Kleibergen's LM and Conditional LR Tests for Moment Condition Models

An influential paper by Kleibergen (2005) introduces Lagrange multiplier (LM) and conditional likelihood ratio-like (CLR) tests for nonlinear moment condition models. These procedures aim to have good size performance even when the parameters are unidentified or poorly identified. However, the asymptotic size and similarity (in a uniform sense) of these procedures has not been determined in the literature. This paper does so. This paper shows that the LM test has correct asymptotic size and is asymptotically similar for a suitably chosen parameter space of null distributions. It shows that the CLR tests also have these properties when the dimension p of the unknown parameter theta equals 1: When p > 2; however, the asymptotic size properties are found to depend on how the conditioning statistic, upon which the CLR tests depend, is weighted. Two weighting methods have been suggested in the literature. The paper shows that the CLR tests are guaranteed to have correct asymptotic size when p > 2 with one weighting method, combined with the Robin and Smith (2000) rank statistic. The paper also determines a formula for the asymptotic size of the CLR test with the other weighting method. However, the results of the paper do not guarantee correct asymptotic size when p > 2 with the other weighting method, because two key sample quantities are not necessarily asymptotically independent under some identification scenarios. Analogous results for confidence sets are provided. Even for the special case of a linear instrumental variable regression model with two or more right-hand side endogenous variables, the results of the paper are new to the literature.
Aligning strategies and processes in knowledge management: a framework

Purpose – Knowledge management (KM) has become a key driver of organisational performance. The existing literature suggests that many organisations fail in their attempts to align their KM strategies with knowledge processes within their organisation. Based on the management literature on alignment, there is a gap in the understanding of how an organisation's KM strategy and KM processes in workgroups can be aligned. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that alignment in terms of KM is important and underpins the improvement of KM processes in organisations. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study research approach was used to examine alignment between strategy and processes of knowledge in organisations. In total, three case organisations representing different industry sectors were chosen to examine how organisations align their KM strategies with workgroup knowledge processes. Findings – This study proposes a Strategic-Workgroup Alignment Framework that explains the key alignment enablers and different alignment approaches required to align KM strategy with workgroup KM processes in organisations. Research limitations/implications – The authors acknowledge the limitations of this paper. Although the proposed framework provides valuable insights with respect to different alignment approaches, it does not specify how each alignment approach can be assessed in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. As part of the alignment approaches, this study's focus was between strategy and processes of knowledge: further research could bring to light new alignment options of knowledge and the associated implications. Originality/value – This study illustrates that organisations can improve the management of knowledge through alignment between KM strategies and KM processes. Such an improvement is also possible in the absence of a KM strategy emphasis, where alignment would require a deeper examination of workgroup knowledge processes. This study also identifies specific alignment enablers to align KM strategy and KM processes.
Characterization of the mouse olfactory glutathione S‐transferases during the acute phase response

The acute phase response (APR) has been shown to alter expression and activity of biotransformation enzymes, such as the phase I cytochromes P450 and phase II glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs). The cytochromes P450 and GSTs are expressed abundantly and colocalized to non‐neuronal cells of the olfactory mucosa. Previous studies indicate that olfactory cytochromes P450 expression and activity is altered during periods of localized inflammation and infection. Little is understood, however, about the influence of the APR on olfactory GST enzymes. This study investigated effects of the APR on olfactory GST isozymes expression and activity in mouse olfactory mucosa after 24‐hr treatment with the acute phase inducer, polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (polyIC). Western blot analysis using antibodies directed against specific GST isoforms α (A1‐1), μ (M1‐1), and π (P1‐1) demonstrated that their expression was unaltered by polyIC treatment. In contrast, olfactory P450 2E1 expression was significantly decreased. Enzymatic activity of the olfactory GSTs toward the general substrate, 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was unchanged during the APR. Analysis of olfactory glutathione content during the APR showed that it was also unaffected by polyIC. The insensitivity of these olfactory GST isoforms during the APR may play a significant role toward limiting the impact of infection and inflammation on the olfactory system. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Studies of Smilax domingensis Willd. in Cuba

A preliminary pharmacognostical and phytochemical evaluation of Smilax domingensis Willd. , (Smilacaceae) was realized to determine the macromorphology and micromorphology characteristics, the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters from the rhizome of this spice that grows in Cuba. This crude drug showed the characteristic physicochemical values such as moisture content (13.11%), extractable matter in ethanol at 70% (13.53%), total ashes (3.45%), water soluble ashes (2.43%) and acid insoluble ashes (0.64%). Phytochemical screening revealed the possible presence of alkaloids, oils and/or fats, coumarins, saponins, flavonoids, pyrogallol-type tannins, quinones, catechins, reductants sugars, triterpens and steroids and absence of resins, aminoacids, cardiotonic glycosides, anthocyanidins and astringent and/or bitter principles, realized under WHO parameters.