Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are polymorphism and evolutionary rate of allozyme proteins limited by mutation or selection?

It is well established that some allozyme proteins are more polymorphic and evolve at a faster rate than others, and that allozyme protein heterozygosity and genetic distance are correlated. These empirical observations could be explained either by differences in mutation rate or by differences in the type or intensity of selection between allozyme proteins. Computer simulation is used here to study a variety of models of allozyme evolution to gauge the potential impact of mutation and selection. The results suggest that the range of models that can account for variation in allozyme heterozygosity and genetic distance through variation in the type or intensity of adaptive directional or overdominant selection is rather narrow, and that many selection models can be rejected as an explanation. However, the variation is easily explained by variation in mutation rate in a wide range of models. The simulation results thus provide support for the view that evolution of allozyme proteins is mutation-limited.
Distinct Signaling of Drosophila Activin/TGF-β Family Members

Growth factors of the TGF-beta family signal through type I/II receptor complexes that phosphorylate SMAD transcription factors. In this study, we analyzed signaling of all seven TGF-β members to identify those that mediate growth through the Drosophila type I receptor BABO. We find that two potential ligands of BABO, Myoglianin (MYO) and Maverick (MAV), do not activate dSMAD2. Only Drosophila Activin (dACT) and the Activin-like ligand Dawdle (DAW) signal through BABO in combination with the type II receptor PUNT and activate dSMAD2. Surprisingly, we find that activation of BABO can also lead to the phosphorylation of the BMP "specific" MAD. In wing discs, expression of an activated form of dSMAD2 promotes growth similar to dACT and activated BABO. By itself, activated dSMAD2 does not affect DPP/GBB target genes. However, co-expression of activated forms of dSMAD2 and MAD additively induces the expression of spalt. In contrast to dACT, we find that DAW does not promote growth when expressed in wings. In fact, co-expression of DAW with MAD or dSMAD2 decreases growth. daw mutants die primarily during larval stages and exhibit anal pad phenotypes reminiscent of babo mutants. The rescue of daw mutants by restricted expression in neuroendocrine cells indicates that Activin-type ligands are likely distributed through the endocrine system. The distinct signaling of dACT, DAW, and MYO through BABO suggests the existence of co-receptors that modulate the canonical SMAD pathway.
An Undifferentiated Sarcoma in a Rat Resembling Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma in Man

A soft tissue tumor occurring in the inguinal subcutaneous tissue was detected in a 109-week-old male F344 rat. Macroscopically, the tumor mass showed no skeletal relationship and a gelatinous multinodular appearance. Histologically, the tumor consisted of irregular lobules separated by scant fibrous septa. In each lobule, tumor cells were arranged in cords and strands in the plentiful myxoid stroma. The tumor cells showed marked pleomorphism, and had large, round to ovoid nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic figures were often seen. Myxoid stroma of the tumor contained a large amount of acid mucopolysaccharides and collagen type II, which were demonstrated by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry respectively. The tumor cells showed positive immunoreactivities for vimentin and S100 protein. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the tumor cells had a large amount of mitochondria, Golgi complex and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum containing amorphous material, and the myxoid stroma contained collagenous fibrils and proteoglycan particles. Based on these results, the present tumor in a rat resembled extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma in man.
Stochastic Synchrony and Phase Resetting Curves: Theory and Applications.

In this thesis, our goal was to study the phase synchronization between two uncoupled oscillators receiving partially correlated input. Using perturbation methods we obtain a closed-form solution for the steady-state density of phase differences between the two oscillators. Order parameters for synchrony and cross-correlation are used to quantify the degree of stochastic synchronization. We show that oscillators proscribed with Type-II phase resetting curves (PRC's) are more prone to stochastic synchronization compared to Type-I PRCs, and that the synchrony in the system can be described by a closed-form expression for the probability distribution of phase differences between the two uncoupled oscillators. We also study Morris-Lecar, leaky integrate-and-ﬁre model and the Wang-Buzsaki interneuron model. Motivated by our theoretical developments, we study synchronization in simple neuronal network models of the olfactory bulb by applying the results from the theoretical studies to spiking neuron models with feedback to qualitatively demonstrate the emergence of self-organized synchrony. Here we again use an abstract model to obtain an expression for the averaged dynamics and compare our predicted solutions using Monte-Carlo simulations. We also show that an arbitrary mechanism that has a finite time memory of correlated inputs can cause bistability in such a system. Furthermore, we investigated the rate at which such systems approach their steady-state distribution and show that the dependence of the rate on the shape of the PRC. We obtained an expression for the rate of convergence to the steady-state density of phase differences in a two oscillators system receiving partially correlated inputs without feedback. To this end, we study the closed-form expression to obtain an approximation using a perturbation technique suited for computing large eigenvalues. It is shown that Type-II PRC's converge to their steady-state density compared to Type-I PRC's and that the rate of convergence is dependent on the input correlation. Our theoretical and numerical studies suggest a potential mechanism by which asynchronous inhibtion may promote and amplify synchronization in systems where the individual actors can be described as general oscillators at least in certain regimes of their activity with a possible source of activity dependent and partially correlated feedback.
An Empowerment Approach for Elders Living With Diabetes: A Pilot Study of a Community-Based Self-Help Group—The Diabetes Club

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a disabling, deadly disease, affecting one in five of adults over 65. Unfortunately, for the few elders that receive diabetes self-care training it is often taught using traditional didactic methods that are insensitive to their unique needs and immersed in the traditional medical paradigm. Integrating diabetes self-care into daily living demands more than knowledge acquisition and skill mastery; it requires acceptance of the disease, motivation for change, instrumental and emotional support, general problem-solving skills, and control over one's life – empowerment. This project sought to develop and pilot-test a peer-led, community-based, self-help intervention for elders with diabetes—the Diabetes Club. The intervention targeted diabetes self-efficacy, seeking to empower elders then increase diabetes self-care behavior targets, resulting in improved glycemic control. Club members and social workers collectively developed, implemented, tested intervention protocols, detailed in this paper with additional materials available on a dedicated website. Albeit over a short time period, findings showed significant improvements in diabetes self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and reduction of glycosolated hemoglobin (A1C). The results are promising, demonstrating the benefits of social-work involvement in diabetes and the potential of elders helping themselves and each other.
Interpersonal Suicide Risk and Ideation: The Influence of Depression and Social Anxiety

The goal of the current report was to (1) theoretically and empirically integrate interpersonal theories addressing depression, social anxiety, and suicide and (2) document the interpersonal mechanisms through which social anxiety and depression increase risk for suicidal ideation. The authors examined the influence of depression and social anxiety on the interpersonal aspects of the interpersonal- psychological theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005) and suicidal ideation using structural equation modeling among 269 undergraduates. Results suggested that social anxiety was associated with thwarted belongingness, whereas depression was associated with burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. these findings suggest potential pathways through which social anxiety and depression lead to increased suicide risk. in addition to clinical implications, ramifications for interpersonal theories of depression, anxiety, and suicide are discussed.
CHILDHOOD-ONSET ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN A MALE ADOLESCENT PATIENT : PROFILE OF NEUROCOGNITIVE FUNCTIONING

Background. Impairments of neurocognitive performance in female pa tients with anorexia nervosa have been reported in many studies. To our know ledge neuropsychological studies of male eating disorder patients remain rare. The goals of our study were to present the profile of neurocognitive functioning in a male adolescent anorexia nervosa patient and, given that the clinical manifestation of both eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder presents strong psychopathological similarities, to determine how neurocognitive performance could be associated with the patient's obsessivecompulsive disorder symptoms. Material and methods. A male adolescent anorexia nervosa patient who satisfied DSM-IV diagnostic criteria participated in the study. A battery of neuropsychological assessment methods was used, including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, Auditory Verbal Learning Test, subtest for long-term memory of the Choynowski Memory Scale, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, the Benton Visual Retention Test, the Diagnosis of Brain Damage battery, the Trail Making Test, parts A and B. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was also used. Longitudinal neurocognitive data are presented from an inpatient neuropsychological assessment conducted at ages 13 and 18. CHILDHOOD-ONSET ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN A MALE ADOLESCENT PATIENT: PROFILE OF NEUROCOGNITIVE FUNCTIONING
Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy for Depressive Mothers of Children with Behavior Problems

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to develop a cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBT) for depressed mothers of children between 5–12 years old, with behavior problems and to examine the effectiveness of the program. The CBT group met 8 times in total (2-hour weekly sessions for 8 weeks), followed by a booster session 3 months after the program was completed. Thirty-four mothers of children with behavior problems of the age range 5–12 were sampled; half of the mothers (N = 17) participated in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group and the other half, 17 in the Wait List (WL) Control Group. At the post-treatment assessment, the CBT Group reported significantly lower depressive symptoms compared with the WL Group. The CBT Group showed lower scores in self-reported parent-child problems and coercive or punishing parenting behaviors than the WL Group. Also, mothers in the CBT Group reported lower levels of negative automatic thoughts, more respect for the child's opinion, and fewer externalizing behavior problems and total behavior problems in their children. At the 3-month follow-up assessment, mothers in the CBT Group reported lower levels of depressive symptoms, parenting anxiety, parent-child problems, and total social adjustment problems, compared with the pre-treatment assessment. Furthermore, CBT Group mothers reported significantly fewer failures in behavior monitoring of their children, and fewer behavior problems and higher social competence in their children.
Dietary Resistant Starch Alters the Characteristics of Colonic Mucosa and Exerts a Protective Effect on Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-induced Colitis in Rats

The protective effect of a dietary high-amylose cornstarch (HAS) against trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis was examined in rats. Rats were fed a HAS-free basal diet or, a 15% or 30% HAS supplemented diet for 10 d, and then received intracolonic TNBS to induce colitis and fed the respective diets for a further 8 d. HAS ingestion significantly protected colonic injuries as evidenced by lower colonic myeloperoxidase activity. Rats fed the HAS diet showed greater cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production than those fed the basal diet. Further, just before TNBS administration, HAS ingestion dose-dependently increased fecal and cecal mucin contents, and protein and nucleic acid contents in the colonic mucosa. HAS ingestion also reduced colonic permeability. The protective effect of HAS ingestion on TNBS-induced colitis is perhaps exerted through alterations in colonic mucosa, possibly due to cecal SCFA production.
Teachers’ Perceptions on Parental Involvement: A Case Study of Two South African Schools

The importance of a collaborative engagement between parents and teachers in order to enhance learning in the classroom cannot be overemphasised; indeed, the two parties seem inseparable. In this study, the teachers who participated indicated that they need parents’ assistance if they are to teach well. On the other hand, the parents themselves are keen to help, since it is the future of their children which is at stake. The challenge that emerges from this situation is that, more often than not, there is a breakdown in communication. As a result, teachers and parents blame each other, especially if the learners do not perform well at the end of a year. The teachers will claim that the parents did not do anything to help their children with their schoolwork, while the parents will insist that the teachers failed to teach. It is of the utmost importance that this “blame game” be stopped and that, instead, both groups help the learners to do well in the classroom. In this paper we explored teachers’ perceptions regarding parental involvement. We used qualitative research interviews. We discussed what teachers think parental involvement is and how it should be carried out.These teachers clearly indicated that parents can indeed be of great help, because it is the parents who can influence certain aspects of the learners’ lives – aspects to which teachers simply do not have access.
A two-level schema for detecting recognition errors

This paper proposes a two-level schema for the automatic detection of possible errors in speech recognition hypotheses. Given the recognition hypothesis of an utterance, the first level in our schema applies an utterance classifier (UC) to decide if the hypothesis is error-free or erroneous. In the latter case, the utterance is passed on to the second level in our schema for further processing. A word classifier (WC) is applied to each of the word hypotheses in the utterance to decide whether or not it is a misrecognition. Hence the two-level schema can locate error-containing regions in the recognition hypotheses. These are the target regions to which we can apply more sophisticated and expensive language models for error correction as a next step. We have developed UC and WC based on Support Vector Machines (SVM). Experiments on Mandarin Chinese speech recognition using the Speech-Lab-In-A-Box corpora showed that the UC has a detection error rate of 16.5% for misrecognized utterances; the WC has a detection error rate of 19.8% for erroneous word hypotheses; and the overall two-level schema can catch 44.5% of the erroneous word hypotheses.
Constrained choices in alliance formations: Cupids and organizational marriages

This article develops a constrained choice model of strategic decision-making for `cupid' alliances. Unlike voluntary alliances, cupid alliances are forged between `target' organizations at the behest of a third `cupid' organization that stands to benefit from creation of the alliance. Three key alliance decisions — whether to partner, with whom, and governance — are substantially curtailed by the cupid's requirements, producing a severely constrained set of strategic decisions. The conceptual model is supplemented with a case study which relies on qualitative interviews, observations and communication network data collected from principals negotiating a cupid alliance. A finding which may be unique to cupid alliances was the decline in trust over the course of the negotiation between those representatives whose organizations had no past alliance relationships. This finding is especially interesting given the fact that despite the decreased propensity for representatives to trust, an agreement was still reached.
Screening for prostatic carcinoma with prostate specific antigen.

The usefulness of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in screening for prostatic carcinoma was studied in 262 inpatients of the department of internal medicine. All patients underwent a rectal digital examination and determination of PSA by the Tandem-E method (Hybritech). The plan was to perform biopsies if there were suspicious findings on the rectal examination or if the PSA value was more than 10 ng/ml. The PSA values were < or = 4 ng/ml in 219 patients (83.6%), > 4 to 10 ng/ml in 27 patients (10.3%) and > 10 ng/ml in 16 men (6.1%). In consideration of the severity of disease which limited life expectancy we did not perform a biopsy on 37.5% of the patients with PSA > 10 ng/ml. 7 patients with prostatic carcinoma were found. Their PSA values varied between 11.2 and 875 ng/ml. The cancer detection rate was highest for the combination of a suspicious rectal examination and a PSA value > 10 ng/ml (70%).
High School Size and Student Indiscipline: Another Aspect of the School Consolidation Issue?1

School consolidation is again an issue in rural areas. Traditionally, such controversies have turned on criteria of equity and efficiency: Large schools are alleged to be more equitable and more efficient than small ones. However, the research on both criteria is exceedingly ambiguous; neither goal seems to be routinely served by making small rural schools larger. This article investigates another possible criterion for judging the desirability of creating larger schools, student indiscipline. Both theory and evidence suggest that large schools are more disorderly than small ones. Using data from a nationally representative sample of high schools, this study suggests that creating larger institutions will increase student misbehavior. However, the increase experienced by small rural high schools—those most at risk of consolidation—will border the trivial. Thus, indiscipline provides no less ambiguous a criterion for deciding consolidation issues than does equity or efficiency. Arguably, when “technical” criteria provide no clear guidelines for an important public policy decision, citizen preferences should be determinative.
Language use in interlingual families: Do different languages make a difference?

Abstract The present study investigates how languages are used in interlingual families, where two or more languages are involved. In analyzing data collected from two different groups of interlingual families, Japanese-Filipino (J-Fi) and Japanese-English (J-E) families, some intriguing group differences are found: the J-Fi families use the societal language much more than the J-E families do; and the J-Fi families employ, either exclusively or complementarily, one or more languages not native to either of the parents (Lα), while none of the J-E families do. The analysis also found a significant group difference in assessing the general Japanese perception of bilingualism in their own native languages and in their bilingual child rearing. In line with the author's previous findings, the present findings suggest that how languages are used in interlingual families could be language sensitive, interrelating with the perceived prestige and possible merits of proficiency in a given language.
A libertarian socialist critique of the political sociology of late modernity

This thesis argues that despite the proclamations within the sociological field of 'late modernity', socialism is still of great relevance as both a form of critique, and as an alternative political model. Nevertheless, such an argument requires a refinement of both of the key terms. Firstly, via discussing the work of the three most prominent sociologists of late modernity (Zygmunt Bauman, Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens), this thesis argues that there have been significant changes with the shift to 'late' modernity, most notably the, contested, emergence of 'individualization'. I discuss how the 'disembedded individualization' favoured by Beck and Giddens is flawed empirically. However the 'embedded individualization' developed by Bauman and other researchers is a much more faithful depiction of the continued inequalities and privatisation of previously collective political concerns within late modernity. Using such a distinction can demonstrate the flawed nature of the political alternatives offered by Beck and Giddens and can, potentially, open the door to an alternative socialist conception. This socialist alternative also has to be reconsidered. To do this I draw upon a tradition of 'libertarian' socialism, best elaborated in the work of Emile Durkheim and G.D. H. Cole. This focuses upon the development of internally democratic associational groups as forum for individuals to express their functionally differentiated desires. I argue that this model has great potential for a period of individualized late modernity. It is also my claim that elaboration of such a project can be a criticism against the suggestion that there is a natural 'fit' between neoliberal capitalism and late modernity. In short, socialism, when defined as a libertarian form has the potential to be both a form of critique concerning the role of the state and market under late modernity, as well as providing a possible alternative.
Coronary heart disease and periodontitis -- a case control study in Chilean adults.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between periodontal disease parameters and coronary ischemic disease among 30-50-year-old Chileans. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cases were 30-50-year-olds who were hospitalized in one of four Cardiologic Units in Santiago, Chile, for acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina or angina pectoris. Controls had undergone surgery due to gall bladder stones or abdominal hernia. Information on blood pressure, serum cholesterol, body weight and height, age, occupation, smoking, diabetes and use of antidepressants was obtained. A total of 86 persons participated based on informed consent, but the analysis is based on 61 persons, for whom a complete set of data was obtained. Cases and controls were given a clinical periodontal examination comprising assessment of number of teeth present, periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment level at six sites per tooth. The association between mean attachment level; mean pocket probing depth; number of teeth present and case status was analyzed by conditional logistic regression controlling for known risk factors for CHD. RESULTS The mean attachment level was positively associated with case status (OR = 3.17; 95% CI = [1.31; 7.65]), as was the mean pocket depth (OR = 8.64; 95% CI = [1.22; 61.20]). The number of teeth present was not statistically significantly associated with case status (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = [0.83; 1.04]). CONCLUSION The results are in accordance with those of several previous reports. If the results reflect a causal link between periodontal diseases and CHD they emphasize the need for better control of periodontal diseases. If the associations are-non-causal, they still demonstrate that CHD and periodontal diseases cluster in the same sections of the population, which is important from a public health point of view.