Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overtraining in Sport : Physiological , Psychological and Performance Effects of Participation in Division I Competitive Basketball

Overtraining has been one of the most popular topics in meetings and journals dealing with toplevel sports. The problem has been well known for 70 years, but many specifics concerning overtraining are still very unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute and chronic effects of a competitive basketball season on its respective players competing at the Division I level, and to determine if there were any global changes in performance, physiological or psychological variables which indicated some type of overtraining syndrome. Twenty female subjects were recruited for this study. Ten subjects were recruited from the Alzahra University Basketball team (BB) (21.2 ± 1.4 yrs), the other ten from the general student population (GEN) (21.0 ± 1.2 yrs). Participants were measured at preseason and 3 time points throughout the 12-week season to assess changes in performance, physiological and performance variables. Statistical analyses were performed by utilizing an ANOVA with repeated measures (level of significance was set at p < 0.05). Results indicated that many of the physiological, performance, and psychological variables examined during the duration of the study did not exhibit any significant changes. Relative peak power was the only performance variable in this study which elicited a significant group x time interaction (p < 0.05). However, observed changes in this variable indicated an increase across the season. A number of physiological variables demonstrated significant group x time interactions: lean body mass (p < 0.05), extra-cellular fluid (p < 0.05) and creatine kinase (p < 0.05). Psychometric testing revealed significant time effects discovered in feelings of fatigue (p< 0.05), feelings of being overtrained (p < 0.05), overwhelmed (p < 0.05) as well as feelings of being tired of university (p < 0.001) and never being able to get caught up (p <0.05). Our findings indicate that the stresses placed upon collegiate basketball players from a combination of their academic and athletic responsibilities indicate some perturbations in select variables which are indicative of overtraining syndrome (OTS). While OTS occurs in three phases (psychological, physiological, performance), negative changes in performance were not indicated. Physiologically, changes were elicited in a few variables, yet these variations remained within normal clinical ranges for this population.
Muscle atrophy is associated with cervical spinal motoneuron loss in BACHD mouse model for Huntington's disease

Involuntary choreiform movements are clinical hallmark of Huntington's disease, an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an increased number of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the huntingtin gene. Involuntary movements start with an impairment of facial muscles and then affect trunk and limbs muscles. Huntington's disease symptoms are caused by changes in cortex and striatum neurons induced by mutated huntingtin protein. However, little is known about the impact of this abnormal protein in spinal cord motoneurons that control movement. Therefore, in this study we evaluated abnormalities in the motor unit (spinal cervical motoneurons, motor axons, neuromuscular junctions and muscle) in a mouse model for Huntington's disease (BACHD). Using light, fluorescence, confocal, and electron microscopy, we showed significant changes such as muscle fibers atrophy, fragmentation of neuromuscular junctions, axonal alterations, and motoneurons death in BACHD mice. Noteworthy, the surviving motoneurons from BACHD spinal cords were smaller than WT. We suggest that this loss of larger putative motoneurons is accompanied by a decrease in the expression of fast glycolytic muscle fibers in this model for Huntington's disease. These observations show spinal cord motoneurons loss in BACHD that might help to understand neuromuscular changes in Huntington's disease.
Small RNA and degradome sequencing reveal complex miRNA regulation during cotton somatic embryogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding ~21 nucleotide RNAs that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in plants and animals. They play an important role in development, abiotic stress, and pathogen responses. miRNAs with their targets have been widely studied in model plants, but limited knowledge is available on the small RNA population of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)—an important economic crop, and global identification of related targets through degradome sequencing has not been developed previously. In this study, small RNAs and their targets were identified during cotton somatic embryogenesis (SE) through high-throughput small RNA and degradome sequencing, comparing seedling hypocotyl and embryogenic callus (EC) of G. hirsutum YZ1. A total of 36 known miRNA families were found to be differentially expressed, of which 19 miRNA families were represented by 29 precursors. Twenty-five novel miRNAs were identified. A total of 234 transcripts in EC and 322 transcripts in control (CK) were found to be the targets of 23 and 30 known miRNA families, respectively, and 16 transcripts were targeted by eight novel miRNAs. Interestingly, four trans-acting small interfering RNAs (tas3-siRNAs) were also found in degradome libraries, three of which perfectly matched their precursors. Several targets were further validated via RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of 5’ cDNA ends (RLM 5’-RACE). The profiling of the miRNAs and their target genes provides new information on the miRNAs network during cotton SE.
Altered expression of synaptic proteins occurs early during progression of Alzheimer’s disease

The expression levels of three synaptic proteins (synaptophysin, synaptotagmin, and growth-associated protein 43 [GAP43]) in AD cases clinically classified by Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score were analyzed. Compared with control subjects (CDR = 0), mild (early) AD (CDR = 0.5 to 1) cases had a 25% loss of synaptophysin immunoreactivity. Levels of synaptotagmin and GAP43 were unchanged in mild AD, but cases with CDR of >1 had a progressive decrement in these synaptic proteins. Thus, synaptic injury in frontal cortex is an early event in AD.
Mathematical Theories of Interaction with Oracles

Abstract : The key insight underlying this thesis is that the right kind of interaction is the key to making the intractable tractable. This work specifically investigates this insight in the context of learning theory. While much of the learning theory literature has traditionally focused on protocols that are either non-interactive or involving unrealistically strong forms of interaction, there have recently been several exciting advances in the design and analysis of methods for realistic interactive learning protocols. Perhaps one of the most interesting of these is active learning. In active learning, a learning algorithm is given access to a large pool of unlabeled examples, and is allowed to sequentially request their labels so as to learn how to accurately predict the labels of new examples. This thesis contains a number of interesting advances in our understanding of the capabilities of active learning methods. Specifically, I summarize the main contributions below.
Menstrual and reproductive factors and risk of breast cancer: A case-control study in the Fez region, Morocco

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. In the Moroccan context, the role of well-known reproductive factors in breast cancer remains poorly documented. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between menstrual and reproductive factors and breast cancer risk in Moroccan women in the Fez region. Methods A case–control study was conducted at the Hassan II University Hospital of Fez between January 2014 and April 2015. A total of 237 cases of breast cancer and 237 age-matched controls were included. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, menstrual and reproductive history, family history of breast cancer, and lifestyle factors was obtained through a structured questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for breast cancer by menstrual and reproductive factors adjusted for potential confounders. Results Early menarche (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.08–2.38) and nulliparity (OR = 3.77, 95% CI: 1.98–7.30) were significantly related to an increased risk of breast cancer, whereas an early age at first full-term pregnancy was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25–0.65). Conclusion The results of this study confirm the role of established reproductive factors for breast cancer in Moroccan women. It identified some susceptible groups at high risk of breast cancer. Preventive interventions and screening should focus on these groups as a priority. These results should be confirmed in a larger, multicenter study.
On Convergence of Model Parallel Proximal Gradient Algorithm for Stale Synchronous Parallel System

Theorem 1 (Asymptotic consistency). Let Assumption 1 and 2 hold, and apply msPG to problem (P). If the step size η < (Lf + 2Ls) −1, then the global model and local models satisfy: 1. ∑∞ t=0 ‖x(t+ 1)− x(t)‖ <∞; 2. lim t→∞ ‖x(t+ 1)− x(t)‖ = 0, lim t→∞ ‖x(t)− x(t)‖ = 0; 3. The limit points ω({x(t)}) = ω({x(t)}) ⊆ critF . Proof. We start from bounding the difference between the global model x and the local model x (on any machine i). Indeed, at iteration t, by the definition of the global and local models in msPG: ‖x(t)− x(t)‖ = √√√√ p ∑
Robustness of the Unscented Kalman filter for state and parameter estimation in an elastic transmission

The Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) was applied to state and parameter estimation of a one degree of freedom robot link with an elastic, cable-driven transmission. Only motor encoder and command torque data was used as input to the ﬁlter. The UKF was used ofﬂine for joint state and model-parameter estimation, and online for state estimation. This paper presents an analysis of the robustness of the UKF to unknown/unmodeled variation in inertia, cable tension and contact forces, using experimental data collected with the robot. Using model parameters found ofﬂine the UKF successfully estimated motor and link angles and velocities online. Although the transmission was very stiff, and hence the motor and link states almost equal, information about the individual states was obtained. Irrespective of variation from nominal conditions the UKF link angle estimate was better than using motor position as an approximation (i.e. inelastic transmission assumption). The angle estimates were particularly robust to variation in operating conditions, velocity estimates less so. A near-linear relationship between contact forces and estimation errors suggested that contact forces might be estimated using this error information. (Best Paper Award Candidate)
Differential Accumulation of Form I RubisCO in Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA010 under Photoheterotrophic Growth Conditions with Reduced Carbon Sources

ABSTRACT Rhodopseudomonas palustris is unique among characterized nonsulfur purple bacteria because of its capacity for anaerobic photoheterotrophic growth using aromatic acids. Like growth with other reduced electron donors, this growth typically requires the presence of bicarbonate/CO2 or some other added electron acceptor in the growth medium. Proteomic studies indicated that there was specific accumulation of form I ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) subunit proteins (CbbL and CbbS), as well as the CbbX protein, in cells grown on benzoate without added bicarbonate; such cells used the small amounts of dissolved CO2 in the medium to support growth. These proteins were not observed in extracts from cells grown in the presence of high levels (10 mM) of added bicarbonate. To confirm the results of the proteomics studies, it was shown that the total RubisCO activity levels were significantly higher (five- to sevenfold higher) in wild-type (CGA010) cells grown on benzoate with a low level (0.5 mM) of added bicarbonate. Immunoblots indicated that the increase in RubisCO activity levels was due to a specific increase in the amount of form I RubisCO (CbbLS) and not in the amount of form II RubisCO (CbbM), which was constitutively expressed. Deletion of the main transcriptional regulator gene, cbbR, resulted in impaired growth on benzoate-containing low-bicarbonate media, and it was established that form I RubisCO synthesis was absolutely and specifically dependent on CbbR. To understand the regulatory role of the CbbRRS two-component system, strains with nonpolar deletions of the cbbRRS genes were grown on benzoate. Distinct from the results obtained with photoautotrophic growth conditions, the results of studies with various CbbRRS mutant strains indicated that this two-component system did not affect the observed enhanced synthesis of form I RubisCO under benzoate growth conditions. These studies indicate that diverse growth conditions differentially affect the ability of the CbbRRS two-component system to influence cbb transcription.
′ shear velocity heterogeneity , anisotropy and discontinuity structure beneath the Caribbean and Central America

The D′′ region in the lowermost mantle beneath the Caribbean and Central America is investigated using shear waves from South American earthquakes recorded by seismic stations in North America. We present a large-scale, composite study of volumetric shear velocity heterogeneity, anisotropy, and the possible presence of a D ′′ discontinuity in the region. Our data set includes: 328 S(Sdiff )-SKS differential travel times, 300ScS-S differential travel times, 125S(Sdiff ) and 120ScS shear wave splitting measurements, and 297 seismograms inspected for Sc , the seismic phase refracted from a high-velocity D′′ layer. Broadband digital data are augmented by high-quality digitized analog WWSSN data, providing extensive path coverage in our study area. In all, data from 61 events are utilized. In some cases, a given seismogram can be used for velocity heterogeneity, anisotropy, and discontinuity analyses. Significant mid-mantle structure, possibly associated with the ancient subducted Farallon slab, affects shear wave travel times and must be corrected for to prevent erroneous mapping of D′′ shear velocity. All differential times are corrected for contributions from aspherical mantle structure above D ′′ using a high-resolution tomography model. Travel time analyses demonstrate the presence of pervasive high velocities in D ′′, with the highest velocities localized to a region beneath Central America, approximately 500–700 km in lateral dimension. Short wavelength variability overprints this general high-velocity background. Corrections are also made for lithospheric anisotropy beneath the receivers. Shear wave splitting analyses of the corrected waveforms reveal D ′′ anisotropy throughout the study area, with a general correlation with heterogeneity strength. Evidence for Scd arrivals is pervasive across the study area, consistent with earlier work, but there are a few localized regions (100–200 km) lacking clear Scd rrivals, which indicates heterogeneity in the thickness or velocity gradients of the high-velocity layer. While small-scale geographic patterns of heterogeneity, anisotropy, and discontinuity are present, the details appear complex, and require higher resolution array analyses to fully characterize the structure. Explanations for the high-shear wave speeds, anisotropy, and reflector associated with D ′′ beneath the Caribbean and Central America must be applicable over a lateral scale of roughly 1500 km 2, the dimension over which we observe coherent wavefield behavior in the region. A slab graveyard appears viable in this regard. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The multifunctional lateral geniculate nucleus

Abstract Providing the critical link between the retina and visual cortex, the well-studied lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) has stood out as a structure in search of a function exceeding the mundane ‘relay’. For many mammals, it is structurally impressive: Exquisite lamination, sophisticated microcircuits, and blending of multiple inputs suggest some fundamental transform. This impression is bolstered by the fact that numerically, the retina accounts for a small fraction of its input. Despite such promise, the extent to which an LGN neuron separates itself from its retinal brethren has proven difficult to appreciate. Here, I argue that whereas retinogeniculate coupling is strong, what occurs in the LGN is judicious pruning of a retinal drive by nonretinal inputs. These nonretinal inputs reshape a receptive field that under the right conditions departs significantly from its retinal drive, even if transiently. I first review design features of the LGN and follow with evidence for 10 putative functions. Only two of these tend to surface in textbooks: parsing retinal axons by eye and functional group and gating by state. Among the remaining putative functions, implementation of the principle of graceful degradation and temporal decorrelation are at least as interesting but much less promoted. The retina solves formidable problems imposed by physics to yield multiple efficient and sensitive representations of the world. The LGN applies context, increasing content, and gates several of these representations. Even if the basic concentric receptive field remains, information transmitted for each LGN spike relative to each retinal spike is measurably increased.
Cathepsin L Regulates CD4+ T Cell Selection Independently of Its Effect on Invariant Chain

CD4+ T cells are positively selected in the thymus on peptides presented in the context of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules expressed on cortical thymic epithelial cells. Molecules regulating this peptide presentation play a role in determining the outcome of positive selection. Cathepsin L mediates invariant chain processing in cortical thymic epithelial cells, and animals of the I-Ab haplotype deficient in this enzyme exhibit impaired CD4+ T cell selection. To determine whether the selection defect is due solely to the block in invariant chain cleavage we analyzed cathepsin L–deficient mice expressing the I-Aq haplotype which has little dependence upon invariant chain processing for peptide presentation. Our data indicate the cathepsin L defect in CD4+ T cell selection is haplotype independent, and thus imply it is independent of invariant chain degradation. This was confirmed by analysis of I-Ab mice deficient in both cathepsin L and invariant chain. We show that the defect in positive selection in the cathepsin L−/− thymus is specific for CD4+ T cells that can be selected in a wild-type and provide evidence that the repertoire of T cells selected differs from that in wild-type mice, suggesting cortical thymic epithelial cells in cathepsin L knockout mice express an altered peptide repertoire. Thus, we propose a novel role for cathepsin L in regulating positive selection by generating the major histocompatibility complex class II bound peptide ligands presented by cortical thymic epithelial cells.
Solving design problems in a logic-based visual design environment

Designs of complex objects often include parameters which, when given values, provide a realisation of a specific example of the design. Such parametrised designs, therefore, actually represent families of objects. In order to provide the programming capabilities necessary for building such parametrised designs, some computer-aided design systems include programming languages or provide interfaces to them. This creates a sharp division in the design process between designer and programmer. To address this discontinuity, a Language for Structured Design (LSD) has been proposed as an extension to a visual logic programming language. In LSD, design components and operations on them are homogeneously represented in one language. Here we report on another advantage of the LSD approach; namely, that visual logic programming, used as the engine to drive the parametrised assembly of objects, also provides powerful symbolic problem-solving capability. This allows the designer/programmer to work at a higher level, giving descriptive rather than prescriptive specifications of a design. Hence LSD integrates problem solving, synthesis, and modeling in a single homogeneous programming/design environment. We demonstrate the problem-solving capabilities of LSD using the masterkeying problem.
Relations between conditional Shannon entropy and expectation of ℓα-norm

The paper examines relationships between the conditional Shannon entropy and the expectation of ℓ<sub>α</sub>-norm for joint probability distributions. More precisely, we investigate the sharp bounds of the expectation of ℓ<sub>α</sub>-norm with a fixed conditional Shannon entropy, and vice versa. As applications of the results, we derive the sharp bounds between the conditional Shannon entropy and several information measures which are determined by the expectation of ℓ<sub>α</sub>-norm, e.g., Arimoto's conditional Rényi entropy and the conditional R-norm information. Moreover, we apply these results to discrete memoryless channels under a uniform input distribution. Then, sharp bounds are obtained for Gallager's reliability functions E<sub>0</sub> with a fixed mutual information under a uniform input distribution.
DNA Methylation as a Biomarker for Preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia contributes significantly to pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality as well as future risk of cardiovascular disease in mother and offspring, and preeclampsia in offspring. The lack of reliable methods for early detection limits the opportunities for prevention, diagnosis, and timely treatment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore distinct DNA methylation patterns associated with preeclampsia in both maternal cells and fetal-derived tissue that represent potential biomarkers to predict future preeclampsia and inheritance in children. Method: A convenience sample of nulliparous women (N = 55) in the first trimester of pregnancy was recruited for this prospective study. Genome-wide DNA methylation was quantified in first-trimester maternal peripheral white blood cells and placental chorionic tissue from normotensive women and those with preeclampsia (n = 6/group). Results: Late-onset preeclampsia developed in 12.7% of women. Significant differences in DNA methylation were identified in 207 individual linked cytosine and guanine (CpG) sites in maternal white blood cells collected in the first trimester (132 sites with gain and 75 sites with loss of methylation), which were common to approximately 75% of the differentially methylated CpG sites identified in chorionic tissue of fetal origin. Conclusion: This study is the first to identify maternal epigenetic targets and common targets in fetal-derived tissue that represent putative biomarkers for early detection and heritable risk of preeclampsia. Findings may pave the way for diagnosis of preeclampsia prior to its clinical presentation and acute damaging effects, and the potential for prevention of the detrimental long-term sequelae.