Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity-Related Dietary Patterns and Health Status of Diabetes Among At-Risk Latino College Students

This study examined within-group differences in obesity-related dietary behaviors and the health status of 156 Latino students at risk for diabetes due to family history. Approximately 58% of students were overweight and/or obese, with female students reporting a greater risk for diabetes. Consumption of meats, fried potatoes, breads, and tortillas was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and diabetes risk indices. Differences in dietary behaviors were found based on students’ college profile and sociodemographic characteristics. Implications for university-related intervention health initiatives are discussed.
Three-dimensional simulation of jet formation in collapsing condensates

We numerically study the behaviour of collapsing and exploding condensates using the parameters of the experiments by Donley et al (2001 Nature 412 295). Our studies are based on a full three-dimensional numerical solution of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation (GPE) including three-body loss. We determine the three-body loss rate from the number of remnant condensate atoms and collapse times, and obtain only one possible value which fits with the experimental results. We then study the formation of jet atoms by interrupting the collapse, and find very good agreement with the experiment. Furthermore, we investigate the sensitivity of the jets to the initial conditions. According to our analysis, the dynamics of the burst atoms is not described by the GPE with three-body loss incorporated.
Evolution of the ISM of starburst galaxies: The SN heating efficiency

The interstellar medium heated by supernova explosions (SN) may acquire an expansion velocity larger than the escape velocity and leave the galaxy through a supersonic wind. Galactic winds are effectively observed in many local starburst galaxies. SN ejecta are transported out of the galaxies by such winds which thus affect the chemical evolution of the galaxies. The effectiveness of the processes mentioned above depends on the heating efficiency (HE) of the SNe, i.e. on the fraction of SN energy which is not radiated away. The value of HE, in particular in starburst (SB) galaxies, is a matter of debate. We have constructed a simple semi-analytic model, considering the essential ingredients of a SB environment which is able to qualitatively trace the thermalisation history of the ISM in a SB region and determine the HE evolution. Our study has been also accompanied by fully 3-D radiative cooling, hydrodynamical simulations of SNR-SNR and SNR-clouds interactions. We find that, as long as the typical time scale of mass-loss of the clouds to the ambient medium, which is often dominated by photoevaporation, remains shorter than the time scale at which the SNRs interact to form a superbubble, the SN heating efficiency remains very small, as radiative cooling of the gas dominates. If there is a continuous production of clouds by the gas swept by the SNR shells, this occurs during the first ≤ 16 Myr of the SB activity (of∼30 Myr), after which the efficiency rapidly increases to one, leading to a possible galactic wind formation. Under an extreme condition in which no clouds are allowed to form, other than those that were already initially present in the SB environment, then in this case HE increases to one in only few Myr. We conclude that the HE value has a time-dependent trend that is sensitive to the initial conditions of the system and cannot be simply assumed to be ∼1, as it is commonly done in most SB galactic wind models.
Ligand Binding and Hydration in Protein Misfolding: Insights from Studies of Prion and p53 Tumor Suppressor Proteins†

Protein misfolding has been implicated in a large number of diseases termed protein- folding disorders (PFDs), which include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, Huntington’s disease, and type II diabetes. In these diseases, large quantities of incorrectly folded proteins undergo aggregation, destroying brain cells and other tissues. The interplay between ligand binding and hydration is an important component of the formation of misfolded protein species. Hydration drives various biological processes, including protein folding, ligand binding, macromolecular assembly, enzyme kinetics, and signal transduction. The changes in hydration and packing, both when proteins fold correctly or when folding goes wrong, leading to PFDs, are examined through several biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches. Although in many cases the binding of a ligand such as a nucleic acid helps to prevent misfolding and aggregation, there are several examples in which ligands induce misfolding and assembly into amyloids. This occurs simply because the formation of structured aggregates (such as protofibrillar and fibrillar amyloids) involves decreases in hydration, formation of a hydrogen-bond network in the secondary structure, and burying of nonpolar amino acid residues, processes that also occur in the normal folding landscape. In this Account, we describe the present knowledge of the folding and misfolding of different proteins, with a detailed emphasis on mammalian prion protein (PrP) and tumoral suppressor protein p53; we also explore how ligand binding and hydration together influence the fate of the proteins. Anfinsen’s paradigm that the structure of a protein is determined by its amino acid sequence is to some extent contradicted by the observation that there are two isoforms of the prion protein with the same sequence: the cellular and the misfolded isoform. The cellular isoform of PrP has a disordered N-terminal domain and a highly flexible, not-well-packed C-terminal domain, which might account for its significant hydration. When PrP binds to biological molecules, such as glycosaminoglycans and nucleic acids, the disordered segments appear to fold and become less hydrated. Formation of the PrP−nucleic acid complex seems to accelerate the conversion of the cellular form of the protein into the disease-causing isoform. For p53, binding to some ligands, including nucleic acids, would prevent misfolding of the protein. Recently, several groups have begun to analyze the folding−misfolding of the individual domains of p53, but several questions remain unanswered. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the productive and incorrect folding pathways of these proteins in normal physiological states and in human disease, such as prion disorders and cancer. These studies are shown to lay the groundwork for the development of new drugs.
A Study on the Mechanical Strength Properties of Bamboo to Enhance Its Diversification on Its Utilization

The research is focused on the study of mechanical strength properties of bamboo to establish if bamboo would play a complementary role to wood in both furniture making and construction works as a sustainable material for the wood industries. The research also highlighted the dwindling supply of wood as a main source of material for furniture and construction works in Zimbabwe due to fire destruction of timber plantations. The study investigated on the mechanical properties of the bamboo in Zimbabwe aiming at assessing its suitability . The study showed that there is need for additional resources of material to complement wood. Experiments carried out on the strength properties to include tensile, compressive, bending, stiffness, elasticity, hardness and durability of bamboo to resist different forces or loads on structural members. Results showed that the strength properties of bamboo are higher than most of the soft and hard woods. The study also indicated that different species of solid bamboo is available in Zimbabwe. The research revealed out that solid and hollow bamboo can equally be utilized for both furniture products and construction works. The researcher used observations, interviews and experiments for collecting data . The paper concludes by encouraging schools, colleges , small to medium enterprises and wood industries on the utilization of bamboo as a complementary resource material for furniture and construction works in view of qualifying strength properties and resource sustainability , renewable and availability in Zimbabwe and bamboo plantations to start in all
Seasonal and latitudinal variations of lightning ground flash activity inAustralia

Lightning, one of the most powerful forces in nature, once was mysterious, magical and feared as the great weapon of the Gods. Ancient Greeks feared lightning as it was believed to be hurled by Zeus, the king of the Gods. For the Vikings, lightning was produced by Thor as his hammer struck an anvil while riding his chariot across the sky. American Indians believed that lightning was caused by bright flashing feathers of a mystical bird, and thunder was created by its flapping wings. From ancient times lightning and thunder were associated with each other even if the explanations for these natural phenomena were far from reality. Scientific study of lightning began with the works of Franklin, Lomonosov and Tesla, and today scientists explain lightning as ‘any and all of the various forms of visible electrical discharge produced by thunderstorms. Thunder is the sound emitted by rapidly expanding gases along the channel of a lightning discharge’ (Glossary of Meteorology 1959). During thunderstorms partial separation of electrical charges within the thundercloud usually results in regions with net negative charge mainly in the lower parts of the thundercloud, and regions with net positive charge mainly in the upper part (MacGorman et al. 1981; Williams 1985). Lightning is an electrical discharge between differently charged regions within the cloud (cloud flash, also referred to in literature as intracloud flash) or between a charged region, nearly always the lower negatively charged region, and earth (cloud-to-ground lightning flash, or simply ground flash). Direct and nearby cloud-to-ground lightning strikes can be hazardous to persons, structures and installations. Lightning can start bushfires, which cause damage to the natural environment, property and life loss. There have been 650 registered fatalities Aust. Met. Mag. 53 (2004) 197-204
Spatiotemporal analysis of putative notochordal cell markers reveals CD24 and keratins 8, 18, and 19 as notochord‐specific markers during early human intervertebral disc development

In humans, the nucleus pulposus (NP) is composed of large vacuolated notochordal cells in the fetus but, soon after birth, becomes populated by smaller, chondrocyte‐like cells. Although animal studies indicate that notochord‐derived cells persist in the adult NP, the ontogeny of the adult human NP cell population is still unclear. As such, identification of unique notochordal markers is required. This study was conducted to determine the spatiotemporal expression of putative human notochordal markers to aid in the elucidation of the ontogeny of adult human NP cells. Human embryos and fetuses (3.5–18 weeks post‐conception (WPC)) were microdissected to isolate the spine anlagens (notochord and somites/sclerotome). Morphology of the developing IVD was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin. Expression of keratin (KRT) 8, KRT18, KRT19, CD24, GAL3, CD55, BASP1, CTGF, T, CD90, Tie2, and E‐cadherin was assessed using immunohistochemistry. KRT8, KRT18, KRT19 were uniquely expressed by notochordal cells at all spine levels at all stages studied; CD24 was expressed at all stages except 3.5 WPC. While GAL3, CD55, BASP1, CTGF, and T were expressed by notochordal cells at specific stages, they were also co‐expressed by sclerotomal cells. CD90, Tie2, and E‐cadherin expression was not detectable in developing human spine cells at any stage. This study has identified, for the first time, the consistent expression of KRT8, KRT18, KRT19, and CD24 as human notochord‐specific markers during early IVD development. Thus, we propose that these markers can be used to help ascertain the ontogeny of adult human NP cells. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1327–1340, 2016.
Characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ubiquinone‐deficient mutants

Ubiquinol (QH2) is a lipid‐soluble molecule that participates in cellular redox reactions. Previous studies have shown that yeast mutants lacking QH2 are hypersensitive to treatment with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) indicating that QH2 can function as an antioxidant in vivo. In this study the effect of 1 mM linolenic acid on levels of Q6 and Q6H2 is assessed in both wild‐type and respiration‐deficient (atp2Δ) strains. The response of Q‐deficient mutants to other forms of oxidative stress is further characterized to define those conditions where QH2 acts as an antioxidant. Endogenous antioxidant defense systems were also assessed in wild‐type, Q‐deficient, and atp2Δ strains. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased and catalase activity increased in both Q‐deficient and atp2Δ mutants compared to wild‐type cells, suggesting that such changes result from the loss of respiration rather than the lack of Q.
Voxel‐based analysis of the immediate early gene, c‐jun, in the honey bee brain after a sucrose stimulus

Immediate early genes (IEGs) have served as useful markers of brain neuronal activity in mammals, and more recently in insects. The mammalian canonical IEG, c‐jun, is part of regulatory pathways conserved in insects and has been shown to be responsive to alarm pheromone in honey bees. We tested whether c‐jun was responsive in honey bees to another behaviourally relevant stimulus, sucrose, in order to further identify the brain regions involved in sucrose processing. To identify responsive regions, we developed a new method of voxel‐based analysis of c‐jun mRNA expression. We found that c‐jun is expressed in somata throughout the brain. It was rapidly induced in response to sucrose stimuli, and it responded in somata near the antennal and mechanosensory motor centre, mushroom body calices and lateral protocerebrum, which are known to be involved in sucrose processing. c‐jun also responded to sucrose in somata near the lateral suboesophageal ganglion, dorsal optic lobe, ventral optic lobe and dorsal posterior protocerebrum, which had not been previously identified by other methods. These results demonstrate the utility of voxel‐based analysis of mRNA expression in the insect brain.
Crystal structure of the bifunctional N‐acetylglucosamine 1‐phosphate uridyltransferase from Escherichia coli: a paradigm for the related pyrophosphorylase superfamily

N‐acetylglucosamine 1‐phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU) is a cytoplasmic bifunctional enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the nucleotide‐activated UDP‐GlcNAc, which is an essential precursor for the biosynthetic pathways of peptidoglycan and other components in bacteria. The crystal structure of a truncated form of GlmU has been solved at 2.25 Å resolution using the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion technique and its function tested with mutagenesis studies. The molecule is composed of two distinct domains connected by a long α‐helical arm: (i) an N‐terminal domain which resembles the dinucleotide‐binding Rossmann fold; and (ii) a C‐terminal domain which adopts a left‐handed parallel β‐helix structure (LβH) as found in homologous bacterial acetyltransferases. Three GlmU molecules assemble into a trimeric arrangement with tightly packed parallel LβH domains, the long α‐helical linkers being seated on top of the arrangement and the N‐terminal domains projected away from the 3‐fold axis. In addition, the 2.3 Å resolution structure of the GlmU–UDP‐GlcNAc complex reveals the structural bases required for the uridyltransferase activity. These structures exemplify a three‐dimensional template for the development of new antibacterial agents and for studying other members of the large family of XDP‐sugar bacterial pyrophosphorylases.
Stress training and simulator complexity: why sometimes more is less

Through repeated practice under conditions similar to those in real-world settings, simulator training prepares an individual to maintain effective performance under stressful work conditions. Interfaces offering high fidelity and immersion can more closely reproduce real-world experiences and are generally believed to result in better learning outcomes. However, absolute fidelity in stress training is not critical for skills to be transferable. The present study compared the performance outcomes achieved by trainees using two different simulator types to complete a training program aimed at improving decision-making skills. The purpose of this research was to assess both the overall level of training effectiveness and to determine whether performance levels were influenced when high (160 degree curved wide screen) versus low fidelity (small cab-based flat screen) simulator types were in use. Sixty-three train drivers drove for 40 min on a simulated track on which they encountered four major high stress driving events. One year later, 42 of the original drivers returned and repeated the training scenario a second and third time. Results revealed trainees using the lower fidelity flat screen simulator made fewer errors in both years than trainees using the high fidelity curved screen simulator. The implications of these results are discussed.
Synthetic galaxy images and spectra from the Illustris simulation

We present our methods for generating a catalogue of 7000 synthetic images and 40 000 integrated spectra of redshift z = 0 galaxies from the Illustris simulation. The mock data products are produced by using stellar population synthesis models to assign spectral energy distributions (SED) to each star particle in the galaxies. The resulting synthetic images and integrated SEDs therefore properly reflect the spatial distribution, stellar metallicity distribution, and star formation history of the galaxies. From the synthetic data products, it is possible to produce monochromatic or colour-composite images, perform SED fitting, classify morphology, determine galaxy structural properties, and evaluate the impacts of galaxy viewing angle. The main contribution of this paper is to describe the production, format, and composition of the image catalogue that makes up the Illustris Simulation Observatory. As a demonstration of this resource, we derive galactic stellar mass estimates by applying the SED fitting code fast to the synthetic galaxy products, and compare the derived stellar masses against the true stellar masses from the simulation. We find from this idealized experiment that systematic biases exist in the photometrically derived stellar mass values that can be reduced by using a fixed metallicity in conjunction with a minimum galaxy age restriction.
Refactoring to role objects

Role objects are a widely recognized design pattern for representing objects that expose different properties in different contexts. By developing a tool that automatically refactors legacy code towards this pattern and by applying this tool to several programs, we have found not only that refactoring to role objects as currently defined produces code that is hard to read and to maintain, but also that the refactoring has preconditions so strong that it is rarely applicable in practice. We have therefore taken a fresh look at role objects and devised an alternative form that solves the exact same design problems, yet is much simpler to introduce and to maintain. We describe refactoring to this new, lightweight form of role objects in informal terms and report on the implementation of our refactoring tool for the JAVA programming language, presenting evidence of the refactoring's increased applicability in several sample programs.
Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran compared with warfarin for patients with atrial fibrillation in Sweden.

AIMS Patients with atrial fibrillation have a significantly increased risk of thromboembolic events such as ischaemic stroke, and patients are therefore recommended to be treated with anticoagulation treatment. The most commonly used anticoagulant consists of vitamin K antagonist such as warfarin. A new oral anticoagulation treatment, dabigatran, has recently been approved for stroke prevention among patients with atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of dabigatran as preventive treatment of stroke and thromboembolic events compared with warfarin in 65-year-old patients with atrial fibrillation in Sweden. METHODS AND RESULTS A decision analytic simulation model was used to estimate the long-term (20-year) costs and effects of the different treatments. The outcome measures are the number of strokes prevented, life years gained, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. Costs and effect data are adjusted to a Swedish setting. Patients below 80 years of age are assumed to start with dabigatran 150 mg twice a day and switch to 110 mg twice a day at the age of 80 years due to higher bleeding risk. The price of dabigatran in Sweden is €2.82 (Swedish kronor 25.39) per day for both doses. The cost per QALY gained for dabigatran compared with warfarin is estimated at €7742, increasing to €12 449 if dabigatran is compared with only well-controlled warfarin treatment. CONCLUSION Dabigatran is a cost-effective treatment in Sweden, as its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is below the normally accepted willingness to pay limit.
How users assess Web pages for information seeking

In this article, we investigate the criteria used by online searchers when assessing the relevance of Web pages for information-seeking tasks. Twenty-four participants were given three tasks each, and they indicated the features of Web pages that they used when deciding about the usefulness of the pages in relation to the tasks. These tasks were presented within the context of a simulated work-task situation. We investigated the relative utility of features identified by participants (Web page content, structure, and quality) and how the importance of these features is affected by the type of information-seeking task performed and the stage of the search. The results of this study provide a set of criteria used by searchers to decide about the utility of Web pages for different types of tasks. Such criteria can have implications for the design of systems that use or recommend Web pages.
Multi-drug resistance among Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli isolated from bovines and their handlers in Jammu region , India

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in bovines and their handlers. Materials and Methods: Of the total of 126 E. coli isolates screened by multiplex PCR for the presence of Shiga-toxin genes, 15 STEC isolates were obtained comprising of 9 isolates from cattle, 3 from buffaloes, and 3 from bovine handlers, which were tested for their antibiotic sensitivity/ resistance pattern to various antibiotics. Results: Twelve of the 15 STEC isolates (80%) showed resistance to three or more antibiotics. Chloramphenicol was the most effective with 86.6% sensitivity, followed by Norfloxacin (80%), Ciprofloxacin (73.3%), and Co-trimoxazole (73.3%). Whereas 66.6% of the STEC isolates were resistant to Amikacin and Ampicillin, the other 60% were resistant to Amoxycillin, Cefixime, and Kanamycin. Conclusion: Multiple drug resistance patterns among the STEC in the present study, especially high resistance to the frequently used antibiotics in both bovines and their handlers, implies that antibiotic resistance is often acquired due to their indiscriminate use; thereby, creating a need for rational and judicious use of antibiotics in the field.