Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rat Strain Effects of AT1 Receptor Activation on D1 Dopamine Receptors in Immortalized Renal Proximal Tubule Cells

The dopaminergic and renin-angiotensin systems regulate blood pressure, in part, by affecting sodium transport in renal proximal tubules (RPTs). We have reported that activation of a D1-like receptor decreases AT1 receptor expression in the mouse kidney and in immortalized RPT cells from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The current studies were designed to test the hypothesis that activation of the AT1 receptor can also regulate the D1 receptor in RPT cells, and this regulation is aberrant in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Long-term (24 hours) stimulation of RPT cells with angiotensin II, via AT1 receptors increased total cellular D1 receptor protein in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in WKY but not in SHR cells. Short-term stimulation (15 minutes) with angiotensin II did not affect total cellular D1 receptor protein in either rat strain. However, in the short-term experiments, angiotensin II decreased cell surface membrane D1 receptor protein in WKY but not in SHR cells. D1 and AT1 receptors colocalized (confocal microscopy) and their coimmunoprecipitation was greater in WKY than in SHRs. However, AT1/D1 receptor coimmunoprecipitation was decreased by angiotensin II (10−8M/24 hours) to a similar extent in WKY (−22±8%) and SHRs (−22±12%). In summary, these studies show that AT1 and D1 receptors interact differently in RPT cells from WKY and SHRs. It is possible that an angiotensin II-mediated increase in D1 receptors and dissociation of AT1 from D1 receptors serve to counter regulate the long-term action of angiotensin II in WKY rats; different effects are seen in SHRs.
Posture of adolescent male handball players compared to non-athletes

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the posture and somatic parameters in adolescent male handball players compared to non-athletes and determine whether a relationship exists between the posture and the volume of training and/or its frequency. Material/Methods: Sixty-eight adolescent male handball players and sixty-nine non-athletes aged 15–18 were examined. The posture was evaluated by the moiré method. Results: Handball players exhibited smaller and less frequent asymmetries compared to the nonathletes. Statistically significant differences were found in the position of shoulder blades (p < 0.05) and pelvic alignment in the frontal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p < 0.05) planes. The spinal shape in the sagittal plane did not differentiate the training subjects from nonathletes. The study also revealed weak correlations between the training period and a deviation of the spinous processes (r = 0.25), a symmetry of the shoulder blades (r = 0.25), and an inclination angle of the thoracolumbar segment (r = -0.26). No correlations were observed between the training frequency and posture parameters. Conclusions: It can be concluded that despite the predominance of asymmetric elements, handball training does not negatively affect the posture in the frontal and transverse planes.
Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells Are Inhibited by Diosgenin, a Steroidal Saponin, by the Attenuation of the Wnt β-Catenin Signaling via the Wnt Antagonist Secreted Frizzled Related Protein-4

Background: Identification of breast cancer stem cells as the chemo-resistant and tumor-initiating population represents an important milestone in approaching anticancer therapies. Targeting this minor subpopulation of chemo- and radio-resistant stem-like cells, termed as the cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their eradication could significantly enhance clinical outcomes. Most of the presently administered chemotherapeutics target the tumor bulk but are ineffective against the CSCs. We report here that diosgenin (DG), a naturally occurring steroidal saponin, could effectively inhibit CSCs from three breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB-231, by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the CSC associated phenotypes. Methods: CSCs were enriched in these cells lines, characterized for CSC traits by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Proliferation and apoptosis assays were performed in these breast CSCs in the presence of DG to obtain the inhibitory concentration. Apoptosis was confirmed with gene expression analysis, Western blotting and propidium iodide staining. TCF-LEF reporter assay, sFRP overexpression and RNAi silencing studies were performed to study regulation of the Wnt pathway. Statistical significance was evaluated by a two-sided Student’s t-test. Results: Using the TCF-LEF reporter system, we show the effect of DG on CSCs is predominantly through the network regulating CSC self renewal, the Wnt β-catenin pathway. Specifically, the Wnt antagonist, the secreted frizzled related protein 4, (sFRP4), had a defining role in the action of DG. Gain-of-function of sFRP4 in CSCs could improve the response to DG wherein CSC mediators were inhibited, β-catenin was down regulated and the effectors of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and pro-invasive markers were repressed. Conversely, the loss-of-function of sFRP4 had a reverse effect on the CSC population which therein became enriched, their response to DG treatment was modest, β-catenin levels increased, GSK3β expression decreased and the expression of epithelial markers of CSC was completely abrogated. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the effect of DG on inhibiting the resilient breast CSCs which could provide a benchmark for the development of DG-based therapies in breast cancer treatment.
Neurophysiology for Detection of High Risk for Psychosis

Schizophrenia is a complex and often disabling disorder that is characterized by a wide range of social, emotional, and cognitive deficits. Increasing research suggests that the greatest social and cognitive therapeutic impact comes from early identification. The present study applied a well-established neurophysiological paradigm in the schizophrenia literature, mismatch negativity (MMN), to college students identified as high risk (HR) for psychosis to investigate MMN as a potential biomarker for the onset of psychosis. The hypothesis was that HR would exhibit attenuated MMN amplitudes compared to controls, as has been established in individuals with chronic schizophrenia. Participants (N = 121) were separated into Group 1 (controls) (n 1 = 72) and Group 2 (HR) (n 2 = 49) based on the established cutoff score of the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire. Participants then completed a time based MMN paradigm during which brain activity was recorded with EEG. For all electrode locations, controls demonstrated significantly more negative amplitudes than HR (Cz: F(1,119) = 8.09, p = . 005; Fz: F(1, 119) = 5.74, p = . 018; Pz: F(1,119) = 5.88, p = . 017). Results suggested that MMN may assist in identifying those who appear high-functioning but may be at risk for later development of psychosis or cognitive and psychological difficulties associated with psychosis.
Query optimization in distributed database using hybrid evolutionary algorithm

Join execution order, suitable copy selection from a query tables, join execution location selection and semijoin strategy are effective agents of a query's execution plan's cost. The selection of an optimal hybrid among these for agents for finding an execution plan is whit lowest cost of NP-Complete problems that in this paper is used from a hybrid evolutionary algorithm (EALA) for solving of this problem. This algorithm has used combination genetic algorithm and learning automata for producing optimal execution plan for a query. In this paper we compare the results from hybrid algorithm whit the results of genetic algorithm execution meaningful results are achieved.
Phenotypic characterisation and drug sensitivity testing of mycobacteria isolated from extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with most cases occurring in developing countries. The importance of extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) among all forms of tuberculosis has not yet been ascertained in developing countries. OBJECTIVE To identify and perform phenotypic characterization of clinically important mycobacterium isolates from extra-pulmonary sites along with drug susceptibility testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 513 specimens from patients of (EPTB) with varied presentation were studied. Speciation and characterization of isolates were done on the basis of growth and biochemical characteristics. Drug susceptibility testing for mycobacterium isolates was done by proportion method. RESULTS Fifty four patients clinically suspected to have extra-pulmonary tuberculosis were culture positive for mycobacteria. On characterization 48 of the 54 isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis, 4 as M. bovis and 2 were M. avium/intracelulare. Drug susceptibility testing was done for the both M. tuberculosis as well as M. bovis. In single drug resistance, Streptomycin was highest followed by Isoniazid, Ethambutol and Refampicin. Multi drug resistance (MDR) was found in 6 isolates and it was observed only in group I cases. CONCLUSION EPTB accounts for 10-15 percent of all cases of tuberculosis. Mycobacterium was present in 10.5 percent samples. 48 isolates out of 54 samples were found to be M. tuberculosis. The maximum numbers of M. tuberculosis were isolated from lymph node aspiration.
Sign Language Classification Using Webcam Images

—Immediate feedback on sign language gestures can greatly improve sign language education. We seek to classify the English sign language alphabet using webcam images. We normalize and scale the images to 20 x 20px, and use the binary pixels as features. We can successfully classify up to 92 93% of the signs using a linear or Gaussian kernel SVM, outperforming k-nearest neighbor classification by about 10%. Using a custom set of features we developed, we can successfully classify 81 82% of the signs with an SVM.
Inferring the Spatial and Energy Distribution of Gamma-Ray Burst Sources. III. Anisotropic Models

We use Bayesian methods to study anisotropic models for the distribution of gamma-ray burst intensities and directions reported in the Third BATSE Catalog (3B catalog) of gamma-ray bursts. We analyze data obtained using both the 64 ms and 1024 ms measuring timescales. We study both purely local models, in which burst sources ("bursters") are presumed to be distributed in extended halos about the Galaxy and M31, and mixed models consisting of a cosmological population of standard-candle bursters and a local population distributed throughout a standard Bahcall-Soneira dark matter halo with a 2 kpc core. In a companion paper we study isotropic models, including a variety of cosmological models, using the same methodology adopted here, allowing us to rigorously and quantitatively compare isotropic and anisotropic models. We find that the purely local models we have studied can account for the 3B data as successfully as cosmological models, provided one considers halos with core sizes significantly larger than those used to model the distribution of dark matter. A preference for cosmological over local models, or vice versa, must therefore be justified by means of information other than the distribution of burst directions and intensities. We infer core sizes for the halo distribution that are smaller than one might expect based on popular semiquantitative arguments that consider the superposed dipole moments of shells centered on the Galactic center and show why such arguments can lead to unwarranted conclusions. We also find that the 3B data do not constrain the width of power-law luminosity functions for burst sources. This disagrees with the findings of previous studies; we elucidate the qualitative reasons for the lack of a constraint, and discuss why our results differ from those of earlier studies. Our analysis of mixed models finds two families of models that can successfully account for the data: models with up to 20% of observed bursts in a bright local population visible to ~50 kpc and models with up to 50% of observed bursts in a dim local population visible only nearby (to less than a disk scale height). These models fit as well or better than purely cosmological models. They indicate that a surprisingly large local, anisotropic component could be present whose size is comparable to the sizes of hypothetical classes of bursts inferred from analyses of temporal and spectral characteristics. Finally, as in our study of isotropic models, we find substantial systematic differences between results based on 64 ms and 1024 ms data, which indicates that a thorough understanding of the distribution of burst intensities and directions is likely to require detailed analysis of temporal properties.
Conceptualization and Operationalization of Delay: Development and Validation of the Multifaceted Measure of Academic Procrastination and the Delay Questionnaire

Current procrastination measures fail to capture the multidimensional nature of procrastination behaviour and the multifaceted nature of procrastination problems, calling into question their use in evaluating procrastination in intervention research and clinical settings. Current measures also fail to differentiate procrastination from other forms of delay. These shortcomings have limited our theoretical understanding of delay in general and procrastination in particular. To address these problems, two sets of measures, the Multifaceted Measure of Academic Procrastination (MMAP) and the Delay Questionnaire (DQ), were developed in two parallel lines of multistage studies (N > 4000). In each line of research, a comprehensive approach to measurement development was followed to: (1) create items based on an initial theoretical model, (2) extensively evaluate the content of the definitions and items based on quantitative and qualitative data, (3) explore the factor structures and evaluate item functioning in order to reduce the number of items, and (4) confirm and refine the structure found in the exploratory analyses. The final structure of the MMAP consisted of four facets or separate scales: the Procrastination Behaviour Scale, the Negative Emotions Scale, the Perceived Negative Consequences Scale, and the Procrastination Duration Scale, which can be used separately or together. The final DQ consisted of six prototypes of delay: Irrational Delay/Anxious Procrastination, Hedonistic Delay/Hedonistic Procrastination, Inevitable Delay, Purposeful Delay, Arousal Delay, and Delay due to Emotional Problems. The extensive reliability analyses supported the reliability of the scales and subscales. Finally, after refining, establishing, and testing the new measures’ factor structures, the data from multiple surveys were gathered to provide evidence for the construct validity arguments for the new measures. Taken together, the findings support the validity of using various total scores including the severity of procrastination problems, duration of procrastination, procrastination behaviours measured by the MMAP, and prototypes and types of delay measured by the DQ. The validity studies also provided information regarding the prevalence of each form of delay and severe procrastination problems in student populations. The relations between procrastination and major personality factors, self-system variables as well as academic and health outcomes are discussed and compared with previous research findings.
Fathers’ Lived Experiences of Miscarriage

A phenomenological study was conducted to examine the lived experiences of fathers who have experienced miscarriage. Miscarriage is defined as pregnancy loss prior to 24 weeks of gestation. Eleven fathers participated and discussed their personal experiences before, during, and after the pregnancy and miscarriage. Six major themes emerged that depicted fathers shared experiences including (a) expectations of fatherhood, (b) conceptions of the pregnancy and personhood, (c) impact of the miscarriage setting, (d) immediate response to the event, (e) perceptions of support from others, and (f) overall experiences of disenfranchisement. Implications for family therapists working with families that have experienced miscarriage and future research recommendations are discussed.
Exergame effectiveness: what the numbers can tell us

A sedentary lifestyle is linked to many diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, as well as ailments such as obesity, which is becoming the major root cause of early death in most industrialized countries. The advent of the television, computers and videogames has resulted in a more sedentary lifestyle, with more time spent in front of a screen more than ever before. Exergaming is a term used to describe video games that provide encouragement to exercise, particularly for an audience that may be reluctant to engage in the more traditional forms of exercise. Exergames are a commonly accepted method of encouraging more physical activity to promote better health for those with high levels of sedentary screen time. In this work, we survey a number of quantitative exergame studies to define a general set of elements that make exergames effective from a physical standpoint. We also examine the intended audience and the incentive elements necessary for an exergame to meet the needs of its audience. Finally, we examine our own exergame system and how well it performs against commercial systems.
The Combined Effect of the Foot-in-the-Door Technique and the “But You Are Free” Technique: An Evaluation on the Selective Sorting of Household Wastes

Abstract In a field experiment using the selective sorting of household wastes as the dependant variable, we have tested the combined effect of two techniques that induced compliance to a request: the foot-in-the-door (FITD) technique and the “but you are free …” technique. Homeowners were asked to record on a form their entire household wastes for 1 month. In the FITD technique, participants were first asked to respond to a short survey on selective sorting habits. In the “but you are free … ” condition, the request for participation included a sentence that stated that the participant was free to accept to participate or not: “Of course you are free to accept or to refuse. ” In the combined FITD/“you are free …” condition, the first request was addressed to the participant and the sentence that stated that the participant was free appeared in the second request. In a control condition, the final request was addressed without any mention that the participant was free or not to accept. Results found that t.
Remarks on DSR and Gravity

Modifications of Special Relativity by the introduction of an invariant energy and/or momentum level (so-called Doubly Special Relativity theories, DSR) or by an energymomentum dependence of the Planck constant (Generalized Uncertainty Principle, GUP) are compared with classical gravitational effects in an interaction process. For the low energy limit of the usual formulations of DSR to be equivalent to Newtonian gravity, a restrictive condition is found. GUP yields an effective repulsion, in analogy to gravitational repulsion in loop quantum cosmology.
The Social Networks, Social Support and Social Capital of Syrian Refugees Privately Sponsored to Settle in Montreal: Indications for Employment and Housing During Their Early Experiences of Integration

Abstract:Beginning in 2015, Canada undertook an exceptional undertaking of sponsoring of more than 40,000 Syrian refugees to resettle in Canada. As the excitement of their initial arrivals dissipates, it is important to consider their longer-term settlement and integration in their new communities. This article offers a portrait and analysis of how Syrian refugees sponsored to Montreal are able to create social networks and access social support in order to build social capital for employment and housing purposes. Part of a larger, three-province, 4-year longitudinal study, here we report on the first wave of survey data collected from 626 Privately-Sponsored Refugees living in Quebec. We report on their family support and friendships, as well as the ways that these social connections helped them in terms of employment and housing. Differences in terms of age, gender and time in Canada are analyzed. We find strong evidence of bonding social capital among recently resettled Syrians in Montreal, and growing bridging capital. Résumé:Depuis 2015, le Canada est engagé dans un processus exceptionnel de parrainage de plus de 40,000 réfugiés syriens réinstallés au Canada. Alors que l'enthousiasme initial suscité par leur arrivée se dissipe, il est important d'examiner leur installation et leur intégration à long terme au sein de leurs nouvelles communautés. Cet article offre un portrait et une analyse de la manière dont les réfugiés syriens établis à Montréal réussissent à créer des réseaux sociaux et à accéder à l'appui social afin de pouvoir développer du capital social pour les fins de l'emploi et du logement. Faisant partie d'un projet longitudinal de 4 ans dans 3 provinces, ici nous partageons une partie des résultats de la première vague de données provenant de 626 réfugiés parrainés par la collectivité et vivant au Québec. Nous décrivons leur réseau de soutien familial et social et comment ces connections sociales les ont aidé à accéder à l'emploi et au logement. Les différences en termes d'âge, de genre et de résidences au Canada sont analysés. Nous observons une forte présence du capital social de liaison (bonding) parmi les réfugiés syriens installés dans la région de Montréal, et l'émergence du capital social de transition (bridging).
Racial Socialization Practices Among White American Parents: Relations to Racial Attitudes, Racial Identity, and School Diversity

This study examines racial socialization practices among White American parents (N = 154) of children aged 8 to 12 years, using both quantitative and qualitative measures, as well as the relations of racial attitudes, racial identity, and racial diversity of the schools that children attend to socialization practices. Responses on the qualitative socialization measure indicate that White parents are generally unlikely to discuss race or racism with their children in a direct, explicit fashion, even when the parents are responding to a situation in which racial bias is clear and salient. Parents with less biased racial attitudes were more likely to engage in color-conscious racial socialization and to present socialization messages that emphasized egalitarianism and the existence of racial discrimination. School diversity was generally unrelated to parents’ racial socialization strategies, with the exception of messages about preparation for bias against one’s own racial group.