Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the association between CALCRL polymorphisms and primary angle closure glaucoma

Purpose To determine whether the polymorphisms of calcitonin receptor-like receptor gene (CALCRL) are associated with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in a southern Chinese population. Methods A total of 207 individuals with acute and chronic PACG and 205 ethnically matched controls were recruited in the current study. A tag-single nucleotide polymorphism approach was used to investigate this gene. Alleles were determined by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results The results show a nominal association between rs1157699 and acute PACG (uncorrected p=0.024 and 0.028 for alleles and genotypes, respectively). Haplotype Trs840617Crs6759535Trs1157699 frequency is significantly higher in acute PACG patients than in controls (corrected p=0.012), whereas haplotype Trs840617Crs6759535Crs1157699 frequency is significantly lower in acute PACG patients compared with controls (corrected p=0.02). However, no significant difference was detected between chronic PACG and CALCRL tag single nucleotide polymorphisms. Conclusions The study suggests a possible role of CALCRL in the pathogenesis of acute PACG but not chronic PACG. A replication of this study with a larger sample size as well as on different populations will be helpful in confirming this finding.
Familial Relationship Outcomes of Coming Out as an Atheist

How do families react when a member “comes out” as an atheist? As one of America’s most stigmatized groups, atheists often find members of their own families reacting with anger and rejection, an inability to communicate effectively, and distrust. Many atheists, however, feel continued support and acceptance from family members, experience greater authenticity in their communication, and enjoy relationships with family members who manage to adapt to the atheist’s disclosure of nonbelief. This qualitative study reports the experiences of 80 atheists when they tell family members that they do not believe in God. Participant comments were coded as either unsupportive or supportive of the relationship, and lend support to the Circumplex Model of family functioning.
High-temperature proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells using an ether-containing polybenzimidazole membrane as electrolyte.

Herein, poly[2,2'-(p-oxydiphenylene)-5,5'-benzimidazole] (PBI) is synthesized from 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and 4,4'-oxybisbenzoic acid, and the membrane is prepared by solvent casting. The main characteristics of PBI are studied. In the preparation of the PBI/H(3) PO(4) composite membrane, the absorbing temperature of H(3) PO(4) is 120 °C, which leads to a membrane with a high content of H(3) PO(4) . Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are fabricated from PBI/H(3) PO(4) membranes with the catalyst layer made of Pt/C, PBI, and polyvinylidene fluoride (230:12:7 w/w). The fabricated MEA is tested at 150 °C with dry hydrogen and oxygen gas at 0.2 MPa for both anode and cathode feeds. No degradation of voltage is seen during stability testing of the PBI/H(3) PO(4) membrane at a constant current for 100 h. The maximum power density is 1.17 W cm(-2) , and the maximum current density is 6.0 A cm(-2) with a Pt loading of 0.5 mg cm(-2) . The high performance of these membrane materials demonstrates that PBI can be regarded as an alternative membrane material for high-temperature proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells.
Serum osteocalcin concentrations in relation to glucose and lipid metabolism in Chinese individuals.

OBJECTIVES Osteocalcin, a bone-derived protein, has recently been reported to affect energy metabolism. We investigated the relationship between serum osteocalcin and parameters of adiposity, glucose tolerance, and lipid profile in Chinese subjects. METHODS Serum osteocalcin was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 254 men (128 with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 126 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT)), 66 premenopausal women (33 with T2DM and 33 with NGT) as well as 180 postmenopausal women (92 with T2DM and 88 with NGT). Their associations with parameters of adiposity, glucose tolerance, and lipid profile were examined. RESULTS Serum osteocalcin concentrations in diabetic patients were significantly lower than those in NGT subjects after adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index (P=0.003). Postmenopausal women had higher osteocalcin concentrations than premenopausal women and men (both P<0.001). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age, %fat, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and fasting serum insulin were independently associated with osteocalcin in men (P<0.05). Age and HbA1c were independently correlated with osteocalcin in postmenopausal women. Besides age and HbA1c, serum triglyceride was also an independent factor influencing osteocalcin in premenopausal women. In addition, osteocalcin was also positively associated with homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that osteocalcin was independently associated with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS Serum osteocalcin was closely associated with not only fat and glucose metabolism but also with lipid metabolism.
Implementing Problem Based Learning in a Science Faculty.

Problem based learning is a successful teaching and learning strategy used to engage students in deep rather than surface learning and where the learning is student focused rather than teacher focused (Biggs, 1999; 2003). The strategy is also successful in aligning university courses with the real-life professional work which students are expected to undertake on graduation. At this university, plans to introduce PBL into a number of units taught in the Science Faculty were initiated in 2006, to improve student engagement and enrich the student learning experience at the first year level. This paper reports on the implementation of PBL into a core first year unit in 2007. Data for the research were gathered through student surveys and semi-structured interviews. While the implementation is perceived as a successful strategy, to achieve both aims there are still challenges, linked to group processes, to overcome.
Construction of a Hypercompetitive Attitude Scale

Theory testing in the area of hypercompetitiveness has been impeded by the lack of an adequate psychometric instrument. Four studies were conducted as part of an initial research program designed to remedy this deficiency by constructing an individual difference measure of general hypercompetitive attitude with satisfactory psychometric properties. In Studies 1 and 2, a 26-item scale was derived primarily through item-total correlational analysis; it demonstrated adequate internal and test-retest reliabilities. The remaining two studies were concerned with determining the construct validity of the scale. In line with theoretical expectations based on Horney's theory of neurosis, subjects who perceived themselves as hypercompetitive were less psychologically healthy. The potential usefulness of the scale in therapeutic, athletic, school, and business settings is discussed.
Using the Findings of a Mapping Study to Conduct a Research Project: A Case in Knowledge Management in Software Testing

A mapping study provides a broad overview of a research area in order to determine whether there is research evidence on a particular topic. Results of a systematic mapping may identify suitable areas for performing future research. In this paper, we discuss our experience in using the findings of a mapping study on Knowledge Management (KM) in Software Testing for performing a real research project, which also applied other empirical approaches. The main goals of this paper are: (i) to reinforce the importance of a systematic mapping in the conduction of a research project by discussing a real case of such application, and (ii) to present the results of our survey on the most important aspects of KM when applied to software testing.
Girls Gone Wild? Heterosexual Women’s Same-Sex Encounters at College Parties

Our purpose was to explore a relatively new sexual behavior—heterosexual women kissing one another publicly at college parties. Popular press articles suggest this is a common occurrence among college women, but no known psychological research has been conducted on its prevalence or meaning. In Study 1, we conducted an online survey of students at a private, residential college to ascertain the prevalence of this behavior. Results indicated that a substantial minority of women (33%) had engaged in this behavior, and the majority of participants (69%), both male and female, had observed this behavior. In Study 2, we recruited heterosexual women who reported having kissed another woman at a college party. We collected open-ended responses from 77 women via a questionnaire and 27 of these women also completed a semistructured interview. Thematic analyses revealed characteristics of the social context that encouraged this behavior, including pressure to so engage, high levels of alcohol consumption, heterosexist attitudes, and the belief that college is a time for experimentation. A total of seven different motivations for engaging in this behavior were described by participants, reflecting both extrinsic motivations (e.g., to gain male attention) and intrinsic motivations (e.g., to bond with female friends). Results are discussed in terms of sociocultural influences (women’s sexual objectification and sexualized college parties) and individual factors (women’s sexual fluidity and heterosexual identity development) related to this behavior, highlighting issues of empowerment versus objectification.
Cortical Mapping of Mismatch Negativity with Deviance Detection Property in Rat

Mismatch Negativity (MMN) is an N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA)-mediated, negative deflection in human auditory evoked potentials in response to a cognitively discriminable change. MMN-like responses have been extensively investigated in animal models, but the existence of MMN equivalent is still controversial. In this study, we aimed to investigate how closely the putative MMN (MMNp) in rats exhibited the comparable properties of human MMN. We used a surface microelectrode array with a grid of 10×7 recording sites within an area of 4.5×3.0 mm to densely map evoked potentials in the auditory cortex of anesthetized rats under the oddball paradigm. Firstly, like human MMN, deviant stimuli elicited negative deflections in auditory evoked potentials following the positive middle-latency response, termed P1. Secondly, MMNp exhibited deviance-detecting property, which could not be explained by simple stimulus specific adaptation (SSA). Thirdly, this MMNp occurred focally in the auditory cortex, including both the core and belt regions, while P1 activation focus was obtained in the core region, indicating that both P1 and MMNp are generated in the auditory cortex, yet the sources of these signals do not completely overlap. Fourthly, MMNp significantly decreased after the application of AP5 (D-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid), an antagonist at NMDA receptors. In stark contrast, AP5 affected neither P1 amplitude nor SSA of P1. These results provide compelling evidence that the MMNp we have examined in rats is functionally comparable to human MMN. The present work will stimulate translational research into MMN, which may help bridge the gap between electroencephalography (EEG)/magnetoencephalography (MEG) studies in humans and electrophysiological studies in animals.
Interaction between cytokines and ammonia in the mitochondrial permeability transition in cultured astrocytes

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is the major neurological complication occurring in patients with acute and chronic liver failure. Elevated levels of blood and brain ammonia are characteristic of HE, and astrocytes are the primary target of ammonia toxicity. In addition to ammonia, recent studies suggest that inflammation and associated cytokines (CKs) also contribute to the pathogenesis of HE. It was previously established that ammonia induces the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) in cultured astrocytes. As CKs have been shown to cause mitochondrial dysfunction in other conditions, we examined whether CKs induce the mPT in cultured astrocytes. Cultures treated with tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6, and interferon‐γ, individually or in a mixture, resulted in the induction of the mPT in a time‐dependent manner. Simultaneous treatment of cultures with a mixture of CKs and ammonia showed a marked additive effect on the mPT. As oxidative stress (OS) is known to induce the mPT, so we examined the effect of CKs and ammonia on hemeoxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) protein expression, a marker of OS. Such treatment displayed a synergistic effect in the upregulation of HO‐1. Antioxidants significantly blocked the additive effects on the mPT by CKs and ammonia, suggesting that OS represents a major mechanism in the induction of the mPT. Treatment of cultures with minocycline, an antiinflammatory agent, which is known to inhibit OS, also diminished the additive effects on the mPT caused by CKs and ammonia. Induction of the mPT in astrocytes appears to represent a major pathogenetic factor in HE, in which CKs and ammonia are critically involved. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Frontoparietal Representations of Task Context Support the Flexible Control of Goal-Directed Cognition

Cognitive control allows stimulus-response processing to be aligned with internal goals and is thus central to intelligent, purposeful behavior. Control is thought to depend in part on the active representation of task information in prefrontal cortex (PFC), which provides a source of contextual bias on perception, decision making, and action. In the present study, we investigated the organization, influences, and consequences of context representation as human subjects performed a cued sorting task that required them to flexibly judge the relationship between pairs of multivalent stimuli. Using a connectivity-based parcellation of PFC and multivariate decoding analyses, we determined that context is specifically and transiently represented in a region spanning the inferior frontal sulcus during context-dependent decision making. We also found strong evidence that decision context is represented within the intraparietal sulcus, an area previously shown to be functionally networked with the inferior frontal sulcus at rest and during task performance. Rule-guided allocation of attention to different stimulus dimensions produced discriminable patterns of activation in visual cortex, providing a signature of top-down bias over perception. Furthermore, demands on cognitive control arising from the task structure modulated context representation, which was found to be strongest after a shift in task rules. When context representation in frontoparietal areas increased in strength, as measured by the discriminability of high-dimensional activation patterns, the bias on attended stimulus features was enhanced. These results provide novel evidence that illuminates the mechanisms by which humans flexibly guide behavior in complex environments.
An Unconstrained Architecture for Systematic Design of Higher Order $\Sigma\Delta$ Force-Feedback Loops

Nowadays, SigmaDelta-modulation is a widely used technique for analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion, especially when aiming for high resolutions. While being applied initially for purely electrical A/D converters, its application has been expanded to mixed mechanical-electrical systems. This has led to the use of SigmaDelta force-feedback for digital readout of high-performance inertial sensors. However, compared with their electrical counterpoint, SigmaDelta force-feedback loops often have to deal with three additional issues: 1) an increased stability problem due to phase-lag occurring in the sensor; 2) the injection of relatively high levels of readout noise in the loop; and 3) the lack of degrees-of-freedom of many SigmaDelta force-feedback architectures for implementing an arbitrary noise transfer function. As a result, SigmaDelta force-feedback loops found in literature are designed in a much less systematic way as compared with electrical SigmaDelta modulators. In this paper, we address these issues and propose a new unconstrained architecture. Based on this architecture, we are able to present a systematic approach for designing SigmaDelta force-feedback loops. Additionally, the main strengths and weaknesses of different SigmaDelta force-feedback architectures are discussed.
Comparison of acoustic rhinometry and nasal inspiratory peak flow as objective tools for nasal obstruction assessment in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a disease with increasing incidence, characterized by persistent symptoms and negative impact on patient`s quality of life. Nasal inspiratory peak flow (NIPF) and acoustic rhinometry (AR) were studied and compared as assessment tools for CRS with or without nasal polyps (NP), as well as, in follow up monitoring of conservative medical treatment. OBJECTIVES Seventy-eight patients were prospectively studied. Objective assessment included NIPF and AR at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks after onset medical treatment. Measurements were studied in correlation with Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and endoscopic appearance score (EAS). RESULTS Both NIPF and AR improved significantly, after medical treatment. NIPF score reflected CRS symptoms` improvement according to SNOT-22 total score at the end of treatment protocol, showing moderate to strong correlation with nasal obstruction VAS grading during the treatment period. AR measures were associated with EAS in all sets of examinations and correlated moderately with VAS scoring at 8 weeks. CONCLUSION NIPF and AR were proven to be promising methods for objective evaluation and monitoring of nasal obstruction based on different aspects of nasal physiology in patients with CRS.
CAT constructions with multiple unique restriction sites for the functional analysis of eukaryotic promoters and regulatory elements

The coding region of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene is wide1y used as an indicator gene in gene transfer experiments dealing with regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. Chimaeric CAT fusion genes are especially useful because no endogenous CAT activity is present in eukaryotic ce11s and because CAT enzyme activity can be monitored by a rapid and sensitive assay (1). In order to simplify the construction of hybrid CAT genes, we have constructed the plasmids pBLCA T2 and pBLCAT3. The coding region of the CA T gene as well as the small t intron and polyadenylation signals from SV40 were inserted into the polylinker region of the high copy number plasmid pUC18 (2). Unique BglII and XhoI restrietion sites were introduced upstream of the CAT coding region by insertion of synthetic linkers. A BamHI site at the 3' end of the transcription unit was converted into adam methylation sensitive ClaI site by partial digestion with BamHI, filling in and re -ligation. In the promoterless construction pBLCAT3 eight unique restriction sites are suitable for insertion of different eukaryotic promoters at the 5' end of the CAT gene. Four additional unique restriction sites rnake the insertion of regulatory signals 3' of the CAT gene possible and enable the excision of the intact fusion gene from the prokaryotic vector. The presence of the Herpes simplex virus tk promoter in pBLCAT2 permits the analysis of the effects of putative regulatory elements on a heterologous eukaryotic promoter. A BamHIIBgllI fragment from the HSV tk linker scanning mutant LS 115/ 105 (3) spanning the promoter from 105 to + 51 was inserted into the corresponding restriction sites of pBLCAT3 thereby generating pBLCAT2. The modified polylinker regions at the 5' and the 3' ends have been sequenced and compiled sequences for both plasmids are available on request.
The Effects of Competition and Perceived Pressure on Performance of a Visual Scanning Task: A Test of Cognitive Evaluation Theory

Author: Tanya Renee Adkins Title: The Effects of Competition and Perceived Pressure on Performance of a Visual Scanning Task: A Test of Cognitive Evaluation Theory. Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Degree: Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems Year: 2004 Cognitive Evaluation Theory was developed by Deci & Ryan, (1985) to explain factors that affect intrinsic motivation. This study was done to test this theory by having volunteers engage in direct and indirect competition while working on a simple task in a time-pressured environment. Specifically, it was predicted that task performance would be adversely affected in competition because participants would be focused on the outcome (winning versus losing), while being faced with a deadline for task completion. In addition, a reduction in intrinsic motivation toward the activity was expected. While these hypotheses were not supported, a proposal was made that certain environments may result in people becoming accustomed to competition and/or pressure, which would explain why this outcome occurred. In addition, females performed better and reported higher levels of intrinsic motivation, which is inconsistent with previous research.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of RBR Ubiquitin Ligase Genes in Soybean

RBR (RING1-IBR-RING2) proteins play an important role in protein ubiquitination and are involved in many cellular processes. Recent studies showed plant RBR genes were induced by abiotic and biotic stresses. However, detailed studies on RBR genes in the important oil crop, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ), is still lacking. Here we performed a genome-wide search and identified 24 RBR domain-containing genes from the soybean genome sequence and cloned 11 of them. Most soybean RBR proteins contain a highly conserved RBR supra-domain. Phylogenetic analyses indicated all 24 soybean RBR proteins are most related to the RBR proteins from Phaseolus vulgaris, and could be classified into seven groups including Ariadne A, Ariadne B, ARA54, Plant IIA, Plant IIB, Plant IIC, and Helicase. Tandem duplication and block duplication were found among the Ariadne B and Plant IIC group of soybean RBR genes. Despite the conserved RBR supra-domain, there are extensive variations in the additional protein motifs and exon-intron structures between different groups, which indicate they might have diverse functions. Most soybean RBR proteins are predicted to localize in nucleus, and four of them were experimentally confirmed by GFP fusion proteins. Soybean RBR genes are broadly expressed in many tissue types with a little more abundant in the roots and flowers than leaves, stems, and seeds. The expression of GmRTRTP3 (Plant IIB) and GmRTRTP5 (Plant IIC) are induced by NaCl treatment, which suggests these RBR genes might be involved in soybean response to abiotic stresses.