Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Marital transitions and life satisfaction

This article is based on three waves of data collected by the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway. It investigates changes in life satisfaction associated with transition both into and out of marital unions (marriages and cohabitations). It provides longitudinal data on life satisfaction for a larger sample (N=57,446), a longer age span (19–101 years) and over a longer observation period (22 years) than previously published research on this topic. The large sample permits interaction analyses focusing on small gender/age categories. Results indicate that marriage and cohabitation does enhance life satisfaction, but more for some groups than for others. Cohabitation enhances life satisfaction no less than marriage. There is little difference in life satisfaction between the non-partnered statuses when adjusted for selection. Both men and women are more satisfied as married or cohabiting than as non-partnered. However, transition into widowhood is more harmful to men than to women, and divorce is much more harmful to young males (below 35) than to any other age or gender group.
Exophthalmic Ophthalmoplegia: Report of a Case in which Complete Recovery Followed X-Irradiation of the Orbit

Ex 0 P H T HAL M I c ophthalmoplegia is an uncommon condition in which progressive exophthalmos is associated with defective eye movements. It may occur as a complication of thyrotoxicosis or it may arise after thyrotoxicosis has been treated. when the basal metabolic rate (B.M.R.) is either normal or below standard (Zimmerman. 1929; Thomas & Woods, 1936). Occasionally the condition may arise without obvious cause in a euthyroid patient (Brain & Turnbull, 1938). In the case reported here exophthalmic ophthalmoplegia occurred in an elderly diabetic patient in whom the clinical assessment of normal thyroid function was confirmed by both B.M. R. and radioactive iodine (1 13\ ) studies. Although the condition was so severe that it was feared that one if not both eyes would be lost, a most satisfactory recovery took place following local treatment to the eye and subsequent X-irradiation of the left orbit.
The Art and Science of Civil Resistance

My introduction to civil resistance was accidental. In June 2006, I was a doctoral student at the University of Colorado-Boulder in the United States, where I was in the final stages of writing my dissertation in political science. The topic was a fairly typical one for a traditional security studies student like myself. I was curious about why terrorism occurs so often in democratic countries, and I had endeavored to develop a novel explanation for why this was the case and to test that explanation using quantitative analysis of large-scale observational data (my particular skill set at the time). Earlier that summer, I received an email invitation to an academic workshop called “People Power and Pedagogy,” which aspired to introduce social scientists to the literature on nonviolent or “civil” resistance—a method of conflict where unarmed civilians use a variety of methods like strikes, protests, boycotts, stay-aways to actively confront an opponent without using or threatening to use violence. I was totally unfamiliar with the concept of civil resistance. In my four years of graduate school, the emphasis had been on developing our skills of hypothesis-testing and inquiry and, in my particular subfield, understanding violence and its uses. Nonviolent action was entirely sidelined from this conversation. In all of my time researching social movements, political power, and organized violence, I had never been exposed to scholarship that explored the pragmatic techniques of Mahatma Gandhi, the leaders of the U.S. Civil Rights movement, or other similar cases. I had not once come across a single reference to Gene Sharp, the author of the seminal three-volume text The Politics of Nonviolent Action, nor any related research that had come afterward. (1) Needless to say, taking nonviolent resistance seriously as a subject of inquiry was a somewhat foreign concept.
Visually Guided Movements Suppress Subthalamic Oscillations in Parkinson's Disease Patients

There is considerable evidence that abnormal oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. However, little is known regarding the relationship of oscillations to volitional movements. Our goal was to evaluate the dynamics of oscillatory activity at rest and during movement. We performed microelectrode recordings from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of patients undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery. During recordings, the patients used a joystick to guide a cursor to one of four targets on a monitor. We recorded 184 cells and 47 pairs of cells in 11 patients. At rest, 26 cells (14%) demonstrated significant oscillatory activity, with a mean frequency of 18 Hz. During movement, this oscillatory activity was either reduced or completely abolished in all of the cells. At rest, 18 pairs (38%) of cells in five patients exhibited synchronized oscillatory activity, with a mean frequency of 15 Hz. In 17 of the 18 pairs, both of the cells exhibited oscillations, and, in one pair, only one of the cells was oscillatory. These synchronized oscillations were also significantly decreased with movement. There was a strong inverse correlation between firing rates and oscillatory activity. As the firing rates increased with movement, there was a decrease in oscillatory activity. These findings suggest that visually guided movements are associated with a dampening and desynchronization of oscillatory activity in STN neurons. One possible explanation for these observations is that the increased cortical drive associated with movement preparation and execution leads to a transient dampening of STN oscillations, hence facilitating movement.
A Mechanism for Actin Filament Severing by Malaria Parasite Actin Depolymerizing Factor 1 via a Low Affinity Binding Interface

Background: Plasmodium falciparum actin depolymerizing factor 1 (PfADF1) severs actin polymers without stable filament-binding, challenging current models for severing. Results: Cross-linking mass spectrometry of PfADF1 with filamentous actin reveals a novel binding interface required for severing. Conclusion: Filament severing by PfADF1 is via a previously unidentified binding interface. Significance: We propose an alternative mechanism for actin filament severing potentially used across eukaryotic cells. Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilins are essential regulators of actin turnover in eukaryotic cells. These multifunctional proteins facilitate both stabilization and severing of filamentous (F)-actin in a concentration-dependent manner. At high concentrations ADF/cofilins bind stably to F-actin longitudinally between two adjacent actin protomers forming what is called a decorative interaction. Low densities of ADF/cofilins, in contrast, result in the optimal severing of the filament. To date, how these two contrasting modalities are achieved by the same protein remains uncertain. Here, we define the proximate amino acids between the actin filament and the malaria parasite ADF/cofilin, PfADF1 from Plasmodium falciparum. PfADF1 is unique among ADF/cofilins in being able to sever F-actin but do so without stable filament binding. Using chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry (XL-MS) combined with structure reconstruction we describe a previously overlooked binding interface on the actin filament targeted by PfADF1. This site is distinct from the known binding site that defines decoration. Furthermore, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy imaging of single actin filaments confirms that this novel low affinity site is required for F-actin severing. Exploring beyond malaria parasites, selective blocking of the decoration site with human cofilin (HsCOF1) using cytochalasin D increases its severing rate. HsCOF1 may therefore also use a decoration-independent site for filament severing. Thus our data suggest that a second, low affinity actin-binding site may be universally used by ADF/cofilins for actin filament severing.
An O(EV log V) Algorithm for Finding a Maximal Weighted Matching in General Graphs

We define two generalized types of a priority queue by allowing some forms of changing the priorities of the elements in the queue. We show that they can be implemented efficiently. Consequently, each operation takes $O(\log n)$ time. We use these generalized priority queues to construct an $O(EV\log V)$ algorithm for finding a maximal weighted matching in general graphs.
High-resolution reversible folding of hyperstable RNA tetraloops using molecular dynamics simulations

Significance We report atomistic simulations describing the spontaneous folding of three RNA tetraloops from the unfolded state to within 1–3 Å of their experimentally determined structures. These common and highly stable motifs serve as building blocks for large structured RNA molecules. This success is caused by the reparameterization of the energy function used to describe the interatomic interactions, which was obtained by calibrating the energy function to reproduce known thermodynamic and kinetic measurements of RNA monomers and dimers. In particular, the accurate recapitulation of the characteristic loop configurations responsible for the thermodynamic hyperstability of these motifs represents a significant milestone to the accurate description of RNA tertiary structure using unbiased all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We report the de novo folding of three hyperstable RNA tetraloops to 1–3 Å rmsd from their experimentally determined structures using molecular dynamics simulations initialized in the unfolded state. RNA tetraloops with loop sequences UUCG, GCAA, or CUUG are hyperstable because of the formation of noncanonical loop-stabilizing interactions, and they are all faithfully reproduced to angstrom-level accuracy in replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations, including explicit solvent and ion molecules. This accuracy is accomplished using unique RNA parameters, in which biases that favor rigid, highly stacked conformations are corrected to accurately capture the inherent flexibility of ssRNA loops, accurate base stacking energetics, and purine syn-anti interconversions. In a departure from traditional quantum chemistrycentric approaches to force field optimization, our parameters are calibrated directly from thermodynamic and kinetic measurements of intra- and internucleotide structural transitions. The ability to recapitulate the signature noncanonical interactions of the three most abundant hyperstable stem loop motifs represents a significant milestone to the accurate prediction of RNA tertiary structure using unbiased all-atom molecular dynamics simulations.
Association between the ERCC5 Asp1104His Polymorphism and Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Background Excision repair cross complementing group 5 (ERCC5 or XPG) plays an important role in regulating DNA excision repair, removal of bulky lesions caused by environmental chemicals or UV light. Mutations in this gene cause a rare autosomal recessive syndrome, and its functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may alter DNA repair capacity phenotype and cancer risk. However, a series of epidemiological studies on the association between the ERCC5 Asp1104His polymorphism (rs17655, G>C) and cancer susceptibility generated conflicting results. Methodology/Principal Findings To derive a more precise estimation of the association between the ERCC5 Asp1104His polymorphism and overall cancer risk, we performed a meta-analysis of 44 published case-control studies, in which a total of 23,490 cases and 27,168 controls were included. To provide additional biological plausibility, we also assessed the genotype-gene expression correlation from the HapMap phase II release 23 data with 270 individuals from 4 ethnic populations. When all studies were pooled, we found no statistical evidence for a significantly increased cancer risk in the recessive genetic models (His/His vs. Asp/Asp: OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.92–1.06, P = 0.242 for heterogeneity or His/His vs. Asp/His + Asp/Asp: OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.93–1.03, P = 0.260 for heterogeneity), nor in further stratified analyses by cancer type, ethnicity, source of controls and sample size. In the genotype-phenotype correlation analysis from 270 individuals, we consistently found no significant correlation of the Asp1104His polymorphism with ERCC5 mRNA expression. Conclusions/Significance This meta-analysis suggests that it is unlikely that the ERCC5 Asp1104His polymorphism may contribute to individual susceptibility to cancer risk.
Real-time Cell Analysis of the Cytotoxicity of Orthodontic Brackets on Gingival Fibroblasts

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of 6 different orthodontic bracket types on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) using the xCELLigence system. Methods The orthodontic brackets used in this study were gold-plated steel (Apollo Gold), titanium (Rematitan), stainless steel (Equilibrium 2), lucid ice (Inspire ICE), metal-reinforced ceramic (Clarity) and composite (OrthoFlex). Gingival fibroblasts were isolated from human gingival connective tissue of systemically healthy individuals. Tested brackets were incubated in DMEM culture medium for 72 hours according to ISO 10993-5 standards. Gingival fibroblasts were maintained with Dulbecco modified Eagle medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. The xCELLigence system was used to evaluate cell survival. The statistical analysis used was ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison tests. Results When the data were evaluated in the 30th hour, Apollo Gold showed significant decreases in cell index (P<0.001). It also showed statistically significant decreases (P<0.001) in the 65th hour, but Clarity and Inspire ICE showed significant increases in cell indices (P<0.001, P<0.01). In the 114th hour, Clarity and Equilibrium 2 showed statistically significant increases in cell indices (P<0.001). Inspire ICE and Rematitan demonstrated significant increases (P<0.05). There were significant decreases in cell index of Apollo Gold (P<0.001). Conclusions The tested brackets are suitable for clinical application, but further studies using different test methods are needed for gold-plated brackets.
Lipid-based carriers for controlled delivery of nitric oxide

ABSTRACT Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for body homeostasis at moderate levels, but cytotoxic at high levels, thus making it a potential candidate for anticancer therapies and antibacterial surface coatings. To date, NO use has been limited due to its very short half-life. Many strategies have been utilized in an attempt to control the half-life of NO, including (but not limited to) lipid-based carriers, due to their biocompatibility and versatility. Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the latest studies that aimed to control the release of NO via a variety of lipid-based delivery carriers, such as liposomes (echogenic and normal) and microbubbles. In addition, we discuss the different types of NO donors used to control and target the release of NO. Expert opinion: Achieving a NO releasing lipid-based systems to mimic the natural release rate of NO remains a challenging task. Many promising strategies are still to be tackled, such as NO release supported lipid bilayers using GPx mimicking catalysts instead of vesicles, or the use of lipophillic NO donors such as nitrooleate instead of the conventional hydrophilic NO donors. These new strategies may present us with better alternatives to the previously published systems.
Asthma Genetics: Personalizing Medicine

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that leads to significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. The clinical symptoms, which are a result of airway inflammation and reversible airway obstruction, have led to the mainstay of therapies for asthma: anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators. However, the efficacies of the various classes of medications are not equal among all patients and may be affected by asthma phenotypes, environmental exposures, and genetic differences. Similarly, the risk for developing asthma and the natural history of the disease show great inter-individual variability due to these same factors. Over the past few decades, much effort has been focused on the genetics of asthma, and investigators have identified more than one hundred potential asthma susceptibility genes, of which at least ten have been replicated in numerous independent studies. In parallel, researchers have also identified genetic factors that impact the pharmacotherapeutic responses to the major classes of asthma medications. While the results of previous studies have been promising, future investigations need to combine genetics, pharmacogenetics, accurate disease phenotyping, and environmental exposures to build the foundation for personalized and predictive medicine for the 21st century. The ultimate goal is to enable physicians to identify those at risk for asthma, intervene to prevent or attenuate the disease, and select the optimal medical regimen for each individual patient. If successful, the resulting paradigm shift in medical practice will lead to improved clinical outcomes and decreased health care expenditures.
Effects of different treatments of fly ash and mining soil on growth and antioxidant protection of Indian wild rice

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was investigation of the effects of fly ash and mining soil on growth and antioxidant protection of two cultivars of Indian wild rice (Oryza nivara and Oryza rufipogon) for possible phytoremediation and restoration of metal-contaminated site. In this study, Indian wild rice showed significant changes in germination, growth, and biochemical parameters after exposure to different ratio of fly ash and mining soil with garden soil. There was significant reduction of germination, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf area, Special Analysis Device Chlorophyll (SPAD) Index, proteins, and activities of antioxidant enzymes in both cultivars of the wild rice grown in 100% fly ash and mining soil compared to the plants grown in 100% garden soil. Results from this study showed that in both cultivars of wild rice, all growth and antioxidant parameters increased when grown in 50% fly ash and mining soil. Taken together, Indian wild rice has the capacity to tolerate 50% of fly ash and mining soil, and can be considered as a good candidate for possible phytoremediation of contaminated soils.
Export is not enough : nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration

The question of whether ocean iron fertilization (OIF) can yield verifiable carbon sequestration is often cast in terms of whether fertilization results in enhanced particle export. How- ever, model studies show that oceanic carbon storage is only weakly related to global particle export — depending instead on an increase in the carbon associated with the pool of remineralized nutrients. The magnitude of such an increase depends on circulation, stoichiometric ratios and gas exchange. We argue that this puts serious challenges before efforts to properly credit OIF that must be taken into account at the design stage.
Dependence of force on length at constant cross‐bridge phosphorylation in the swine carotid media.

1. The dependence of force (F) on length (L) in smooth muscle remains uncertain since (i) it is influenced by changes in activation (myosin light chain phosphorylation), (ii) no anatomical reference length for the contractile unit is available, (iii) the length at which optimum force is generated (L(o)) exhibits a broad, flat optimum, and (iv) the presence of an extensive connective tissue network makes it difficult to stretch tissues without damage. 2. A swine carotid medial ring preparation prepared by removal of the adventitia and endothelium could be stretched to 1.8 L(o) without decreasing active force generation on return to shorter lengths. 3. A highly reproducible mechanically defined reference length, L(o), was obtained by fitting force‐length data between 0.3 and 1.6 L(o) with a third‐order polynomial where L = L(o) when dF/dL = 0. 4. Activation as assessed by myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) phosphorylation increased with length in 100 microM histamine‐stimulated tissues from 0.6 to 1.8 L(o). 5. Activation was constant in K(+)‐depolarized and field‐stimulated tissues from 1.0 to 1.8 L(o) allowing determination of the descending limb of the force‐length relation to be assessed independently of activation. 6. The slope of the descending limb of the force‐length relation was linear except at very long lengths, which often produced tissue damage. The slope was not statistically different from that estimated for sarcomeres in vertebrate skeletal muscle. 7. The medial ring preparation and the procedures used to define the reference length provide advantages for the measurement of length‐dependent variables.
Impact of cigarette price differences across the entire European Union on cross-border purchase of tobacco products among adult cigarette smokers

Background We investigated the impact of cigarette price differences across the European Union (EU) on cross-border tobacco purchasing because of cheaper price among current cigarette smokers. Methods Individual-level tobacco-related data (including cross-border tobacco purchasing behavior) were from the Special Eurobarometer 385 (V.77.1), a cross-sectional survey of persons aged ≥15 years from 27 EU Member States during 2012. Country-specific weighted average prices (WAP) per 1000 cigarettes (as of 1 July 2012) were obtained from the European Commission, and divided by 50 to yield WAP per cigarette pack. The dispersion in EU cigarette prices was measured with the coefficient of variation. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to measure the relationship between EU-wide cigarette price differential and cross-border tobacco purchasing because of cheaper price among current cigarette smokers (n=6896). Results The coefficient of variation for cigarette WAP within the EU was 0.39 (mean price=€3.99/pack). Of all current cigarette smokers in the EU, 26.2% (27.5 million persons) engaged in a cross-border tobacco purchase within the past 12 months, of which 56.3% did so because of cheaper price in another country. EU-wide cigarette price differential was significantly associated with making a cross-border tobacco purchase because of cheaper price (adjusted OR=1.34; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.47). Conclusions Reducing differences in cigarette tax and price within the EU, coupled with a stricter limitation on the quantity of cigarettes that it is possible to carry from one Member State to another, may help reduce cross-border tax avoidance strategies.