Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of dry needling of gluteal muscles on straight leg raise: a randomised, placebo controlled, double blind trial

Objectives: To use a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial to establish the effect on straight leg raise, hip internal rotation, and muscle pain of dry needling treatment to the gluteal muscles in athletes with posterior thigh pain referred from gluteal trigger points. Methods: A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of 59 male runners was performed during the 2002 Australian Rules football season. Subjects were thoroughly screened and had magnetic resonance imaging of their hamstring muscles to exclude local pathology. The inclusion criterion was reproduction of recognisable posterior thigh pain with the application of digital pressure to the gluteal trigger points. Subjects randomly received either therapeutic or placebo needle treatment on one occasion at their gluteal trigger points. Range of motion and visual analogue scale data were collected immediately before, immediately after, 24 hours after, and 72 hours after the intervention. Range of motion was measured with passive straight leg raise and hip internal rotation. Visual analogue scales were completed for hamstring and gluteal pain and tightness at rest and during a running task. Results: Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed normal hamstring musculature in most subjects. Straight leg raise and hip internal rotation remained unchanged in both groups at all times. Visual analogue scale assessment of hamstring pain and tightness and gluteal tightness after running showed improvements immediately after the intervention in both groups (p = 0.001), which were maintained at 24 and 72 hours. The magnitude of this improvement was the same for therapeutic and placebo interventions. Resting muscle pain and tightness were unaffected. Conclusions: Neither dry needling nor placebo needling of the gluteal muscles resulted in any change in straight leg raise or hip internal rotation. Both interventions resulted in subjective improvement in activity related muscle pain and tightness. Despite being commonly used clinical tests in this situation, straight leg raise and hip internal rotation are not likely to help the therapist assess response to treatment. Patient reports of response to such treatment are better indicators of its success. The mechanisms by which these responses occur and the reasons for the success of the placebo needling treatment are areas for further investigation.
Drift-Diffusion Analysis of Neutrophil Migration during Inflammation Resolution in a Zebrafish Model

Neutrophils must be removed from inflammatory sites for inflammation to resolve. Recent work in zebrafish has shown neutrophils can migrate away from inflammatory sites, as well as die in situ. The signals regulating the process of reverse migration are of considerable interest, but remain unknown. We wished to study the behaviour of neutrophils during reverse migration, to see whether they moved away from inflamed sites in a directed fashion in the same way as they are recruited or whether the inherent random component of their migration was enough to account for this behaviour. Using neutrophil-driven photoconvertible Kaede protein in transgenic zebrafish larvae, we were able to specifically label neutrophils at an inflammatory site generated by tailfin transection. The locations of these neutrophils over time were observed and fitted using regression methods with two separate models: pure-diffusion and drift-diffusion equations. While a model hypothesis test (the F-test) suggested that the datapoints could be fitted by the drift-diffusion model, implying a fugetaxis process, dynamic simulation of the models suggested that migration of neutrophils away from a wound is better described by a zero-drift, “diffusion” process. This has implications for understanding the mechanisms of reverse migration and, by extension, neutrophil retention at inflammatory sites.
Multiple pathways of cross-resistance to glycopeptides and daptomycin in persistent MRSA bacteraemia.

BACKGROUND The development of non-susceptibility to glycopeptides and daptomycin in MRSA during persistent bacteraemia has become a significant therapeutic challenge. However, the in vivo evolution and mechanism of the dual resistance have remained incompletely understood. METHODS A series of MRSA blood isolates with incremental non-susceptibility to glycopeptides and daptomycin were consecutively recovered from a bacteraemic patient who was failing chemotherapy. The evolutionary pathways during conversion from a glycopeptide- and daptomycin-susceptible phenotype into a vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and a daptomycin-resistant S. aureus (DRSA) phenotype were then traced by WGS of the isogenic strains. RESULTS A total of six non-synonymous mutations and three evolutionary pathways were identified during the development of the VISA/DRSA phenotype. The first pathway involved two steps of evolution, with an initial 1 bp insertion into yycH and a subsequent gain-in-function point mutation in mprF (S295L). The two mutations were correlated with heteroresistance to daptomycin/vancomycin and full development of the VISA/DRSA phenotype. The second pathway involved an 11 bp deletion mutation in yycH and point mutations at two genes, correlating with the development of the VISA phenotype and heteroresistance to daptomycin. Mutation in mprF (S295L) and a 5 bp deletion mutation in yycH were identified in the third pathway and corresponded to conversion into the full VISA/DRSA phenotype. The mutations in yycH resulted in premature terminations of YycH with variable lengths. CONCLUSIONS Multiple evolutionary pathways involving yycH and mprF can proceed simultaneously and may mediate cross-resistance to glycopeptides and daptomycin during persistent MRSA bacteraemia under antibiotic selective pressure.
Imagination and Creativity in Organizations

Scholars adopting a relational ontology of organisational creativity have shifted attention away from a preoccupation with individual minds towards that which is enacted, emergent, shared, unpredictable and contingent. This article follows suit, yet breaks new ground by reconsidering how the mind plays an active role in unfolding creative interactions by building a bridge between literature on organisational creativity, aesthetics and philosophy of imagination. I draw on English Romanticism to craft a theoretical model of organisational creativity as an aesthetic and relational process of shared imagining. This model demonstrates how organisational members use primary and secondary modes of imagination and creative expression to develop, materialise and share perceptions and images of possible futures. By elaborating on their interplay, this article contributes to literature by theorising an active and generative role of mind that does not have the ontological shortcomings of leading theories. In turn, this has a number of implications for literature on entrepreneurship and organisational creativity in terms of situating and embodying creative thinking, explaining the intentionality and motivation for creative actions, overcoming perceptual differences and changing practices and routines.
The Legionella IcmSW Complex Directly Interacts with DotL to Mediate Translocation of Adaptor-Dependent Substrates

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative bacterium that replicates within human alveolar macrophages by evasion of the host endocytic pathway through the formation of a replicative vacuole. Generation of this vacuole is dependent upon the secretion of over 275 effector proteins into the host cell via the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4SS). The type IV coupling protein (T4CP) subcomplex, consisting of DotL, DotM, DotN, IcmS and IcmW, was recently defined. DotL is proposed to be the T4CP of the L. pneumophila T4SS based on its homology to known T4CPs, which function as inner-membrane receptors for substrates. As a result, DotL is hypothesized to play an integral role(s) in the L. pneumophila T4SS for the engagement and translocation of substrates. To elucidate this role, a genetic approach was taken to screen for dotL mutants that were unable to survive inside host cells. One mutant, dotLY725Stop, did not interact with the type IV adaptor proteins IcmS/IcmW (IcmSW) leading to the identification of an IcmSW-binding domain on DotL. Interestingly, the dotLY725Stop mutant was competent for export of one class of secreted effectors, the IcmSW-independent substrates, but exhibited a specific defect in secretion of IcmSW-dependent substrates. This differential secretion illustrates that DotL requires a direct interaction with the type IV adaptor proteins for the secretion of a major class of substrates. Thus, by identifying a new target for IcmSW, we have discovered that the type IV adaptors perform an additional role in the export of substrates by the L. pneumophila Dot/Icm T4SS.
Catching Fire: Candida albicans, Macrophages, and Pyroptosis

Candida albicans is a commensal organism of the human gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems as well as the most common human fungal pathogen [1]. The organism causes mucosal infections such as oropharyngeal or vulvo-vaginal candidiasis, but it can also cause life-threatening invasive disease. Healthy individuals readily maintain the organism in its commensal state but individuals with defects in the anti–C. albicans immune response are at high risk for developing disease. Phagocytes, particularly macrophages and neutrophils, are critical to the host's ability to prevent invasive candidiasis [2]. C. albicans poses a particular challenge to host defenses because it is polymorphic; round yeast forms and filamentous pseudohyphae and hyphae forms are all present during infection [3], [4]. Yeast and filamentous C. albicans have a number of important physiological, structural, and biochemical differences. Accordingly, the immune response to these forms differs substantially [4], [5]. The type of recognition receptors used to detect C. albicans, as well as the phagocyte type, anatomic site of infection, and course of infection, all serve to modulate the host response to the organism [2], [6]. Macrophages are particularly important because they can both limit C. albicans burden early in infection and recruit and activate other immune effector cells [4], [6]. Our understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of the interaction between macrophages and C. albicans is improving, but much remains to be learned.
Fixed points for convex continuous mappings in topological vector spaces

We prove the following result. Let C be a convex compact subset in a topological vector space, and T: C -* C a convex continuous mapping. (See Definition 1.1.) Then T has a fixed point. Moreover, continuous mappings that can be approximated by convex continuous mappings also have the fixed point property.
The dual role of a loop with low loop contact distance in folding and domain swapping

α helices, β strands, and loops are the basic building blocks of protein structure. The folding kinetics of α helices and β strands have been investigated extensively. However, little is known about the formation of loops. Experimental studies show that for some proteins, the formation of a single loop is the rate‐determining step for folding, whereas for others, a loop (or turn) can misfold to serve as the hinge loop region for domain‐swapped species. Computer simulations of an all‐atom model of fragment B of Staphylococcal protein A found that the formation of a single loop initiates the dominant folding pathway. On the other hand, the stability analysis of intermediates suggests that the same loop is a likely candidate to serve as a hinge loop for domain swapping. To interpret the simulation result, we developed a simple structural parameter: the loop contact distance (LCD), or the sequence distance of contacting residues between a loop and the rest of the protein. The parameter is applied to a number of other proteins, including SH3 domains and prion protein. The results suggest that a locally interacting loop (low LCD) can either promote folding or serve as the hinge region for domain swapping. Thus, there is an intimate connection between folding and domain swapping, a possible cause of misfolding and aggregation.
Retinoic Acid and the Development of the Endoderm

Retinoic acid (RA) is an important signaling molecule in the development of the endoderm and an important molecule in protocols used to generate endodermal cell types from stem cells. In this review, we describe the RA signaling pathway and its role in the patterning and specification of the extra embryonic endoderm and different endodermal organs. The formation of endoderm is an ancient evolutionary feature and RA signaling appears to have coevolved with the vertebrate lineage. Towards that end, we describe how RA participates in many regulatory networks required for the formation of extraembryonic structures as well as the organs of the embryo proper.
Influence of buffer systems on Trichoderma reesei Rut C-30 morphology and cellulase production

The cellulase enzyme production is a key issue in the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. Since fungal morphology influences the productivity of fungal fermentations, it is of major importance to well know the fungal behavior during culture for cellulase production. In this work, the influence of medium supplementation, with different buffer systems at two different concentrations and pH conditions, on the morphology of T. reesei Rut C-30 and cellulase production, was investigated. A medium without buffer was used as control. The results suggest that fungal morphology is significantly dependent on the addition of different buffer systems to the nutrient broth. The mycelial morphology shows a clear transition from clumped to pelleted forms in cultures with variation of buffer systems and concentration. The higher filter paper activity was obtained using 100 mM succinate buffer, at pH 4.8, in the medium supplementation, corresponding to a dispersed mycelial morphology.
A Very Compact and Low Profile UWB Planar Antenna with WLAN Band Rejection

A low-cost coplanar waveguide fed compact ultrawideband (UWB) antenna with band rejection characteristics for wireless local area network (WLAN) is proposed. The notch band characteristic is achieved by etching half wavelength C-shaped annular ring slot in the radiating patch. By properly choosing the radius and position of the slot, the notch band can be adjusted and controlled. With an overall size of 18.7 mm × 17.6 mm, the antenna turns out to be one of the smallest UWB antennas with band-notched characteristics. It has a wide fractional bandwidth of 130% (2.9–13.7 GHz) with VSWR < 2 and rejecting IEEE 802.11a and HIPERLAN/2 frequency band of 5.1–5.9 GHz. Stable omnidirectional radiation patterns in the H plane with an average gain of 4.4 dBi are obtained. The band-notch mechanism of the proposed antenna is examined by HFSS simulator. A good agreement is found between measured and simulated results indicating that the proposed antenna is well suited for integration into portable devices for UWB applications.
Gender Differences in the Relationships Between Perceived Teachers’ Controlling Behaviors and Amotivation in Physical Education

Purpose: Guided by the conception that amotivation is a multidimensional construct, the present study aimed to evaluate gender as a moderator of relationships between different dimensions of perceived teachers’ controlling behavior and amotivation in high school physical education. Method: A total of 419 students (246 girls and 173 boys) completed questionnaires assessing their relevant psychological constructs. To detect gender differences, a multi-group structural equation modelling was employed with restrictions placed on the structural paths across genders. Results: The results revealed that girls showed overall higher amotivation and more strength than boys in associations of perceived negative conditional regard and intimidating behavior from teachers with amotivation, whereas boys demonstrated more strength than girls in the association of perceived teachers’ controlling use of praise with amotivation. Discussion/Conclusion: These gender differences should be acknowledged and instructionally addres.
Computational methods in permutation patterns

OF THE DISSERTATION Computational Methods in Permutation Patterns by Brian Koichi Nakamura Dissertation Director: Doron Zeilberger Given two permutations σ ∈ Sk and π = π1 . πn ∈ Sn, the permutation π is said to contain the pattern σ if there exists 1 ≤ i1 < . < ik ≤ n such that πi1 . πik is order-isomorphic to σ. Each such subsequence is called an occurrence of σ in π. Over the past few decades, the study of pattern-avoiding permutations has been a very active area of research. This thesis will consider two types of problems in this area. The first is a variation known as consecutive patterns, where the pattern σ must occur in consecutive terms of the permutation π to count as an occurrence. The second is a generalization of the classical pattern avoiding problem, where we wish to study permutations with exactly r occurrences of a pattern (for some fixed r ≥ 0).
Depression and Anxiety Across the First Year After Ischemic Stroke: Findings from a Population-Based New Zealand ARCOS-IV Study

Background: Depression and anxiety are the two most frequently studied emotional outcomes of stroke. However, few previous studies have been carried out at a population level or beyond 6 months post stroke. The aim of this study was to describe depression and anxiety across the first year following incident ischemic stroke (IS), and identify predictive factors in a population-based study. Method: The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was administered at baseline (within 2 weeks of onset), and again at 1-month, 6-months and 12-months after IS in a sample (N = 365) drawn from a population-based study. Results: Over 75% of those assessed experienced depression or anxiety symptoms below cut-offs for probable disorder across the year post stroke. Moderate to severe symptoms for anxiety were approximately twice as likely (range 4.1%–10.6%) as compared to depression (range 2.5%–5.0%) at each assessment. The greatest improvement in anxiety occurred within the first month post stroke. In contrast, the greatest reduction in depression occurred between 1- to 6-months post stroke. Conclusions: Anxiety symptoms in the moderate to severe range were twice as common as depression, and improved over the first month post stroke, whilst depression symptoms persisted for up to 6 months, indicating a need to target these two issues at different points in the recovery process.
Sulforaphane Potentiates RNA Damage Induced by Different Xenobiotics

BACKGROUND The isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SFN) possesses interesting anticancer activities. However, recent studies reported that SFN promotes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as DNA breakage. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We investigated whether SFN is able to damage RNA, whose loss of integrity was demonstrated in different chronic diseases. Considering the ability of SFN to protect from genotoxicity, we also examined whether SFN is able to protect from RNA damage induced by different chemicals (doxorubicin, spermine, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, H(2)O(2)). We observed that SFN was devoid of either RNA damaging and RNA protective activity in human leukemic cells. It was able to potentiate the RNA damage by doxorubicin and spermine. In the first case, the effect was attributable to its ability of modulating the bioreductive activation of doxorubicin. For spermine, the effects were mainly due to its modulation of ROS levels produced by spermine metabolism. As to the cytotoxic relevance of the RNA damage, we found that the treatment of cells with a mixture of spermine or doxorubicin plus SFN increased their proapoptotic potential. Thus it is conceivable that the presence of RNA damage might concur to the overall toxic response induced by a chemical agent in targeted cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Since RNA is emerging as a potential target for anticancer drugs, its ability to enhance spermine- and doxorubicin-induced RNA damage and cytotoxicity could represent an additional mechanism for the potentiating effects of SFN associated with anticancer drugs.
Estimation of Peak Ground Acceleration from Horizontal Rigid Body Displacement: A Case Study in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The M 7.0 Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010 caused catastrophic da- mage and loss of life in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The extent of the damage was primarily due to poor construction and high population density. The earthquake was recorded by only a single seismic instrument within Haiti, an educational seis- mometer that was neither bolted to the ground nor able to record strong motion on scale. The severity of near-field mainshock ground motions, in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, has thus remained unclear. We present a detailed, quantitative analysis of the marks left on a tile floor by an industrial battery rack that was displaced by the earthquake in the Canape Vert neighborhood in the southern Port-au-Prince metropolitan region. Results of this analysis, based on a recently developed formula- tion for predicted rigid body displacement caused by sinusoidal ground acceleration, indicate that mainshock shaking at Canape Vert was approximately 0:5g, correspond- ing to a modified Mercalli intensity of VIII. Combining this result with the weak- motion amplification factor estimated from aftershock recordings at the site as well as a general assessment of macroseismic effects, we estimate the peak acceleration to be ≈0:2g for sites in central Port-au-Prince that experienced relatively moderate damage and where estimated weak-motion site amplification is lower than that at the Canape Vert site. We also analyze a second case of documented rigid body dis- placement, at a location less than 2 km from the Canape Vert site, and estimate the peak acceleration to be approximately 0:4g at this location. Our results illustrate how observations of rigid body horizontal displacement during earthquakes can be used to estimate peak ground acceleration in the absence of instrumental data.
Resource and query aware, multi-attribute resource discovery for P2P systems

Received 15 Dec. 2013, Revised 11 Feb. 2014, Accepted 16 Feb. 2014, Published 1 May 2014 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: Distributed, multi-attribute Resource Discovery (RD) is a fundamental requirement in collaborative Peer-to-Peer (P2P), grid, and cloud computing. We present an efficient and load balanced, P2P-based multi-attribute RD solution that consists of five heuristics, which can be executed independently and distributedly. First heuristic maintains a minimum number of nodes in a ringlike overlay while pruning nodes that do not significantly contribute to the range query resolution. Removing nonproductive nodes reduces the cost (e.g., hops and latency) of advertising resources and resolving queries. Second and third heuristics dynamically balance the key and query load distribution by transferring some of the keys to its predecessor/successor and by adding new predecessors/successors to handle transferred keys when existing nodes are insufficient, respectively. Last two heuristics form cliques of nodes (that are placed orthogonal to the overlay ring) to dynamically balance the highly skewed key and query loads. By applying these heuristics in the presented order, a RD solution that better responds to real-world resource and query characteristics is developed. Its efficacy is demonstrated using a simulation-based analysis under a variety of single and multi-attribute resource and query distributions derived from real workloads.