Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
β-Ecdysterone promotes autophagy and inhibits apoptosis in osteoporotic rats

Osteoporosis is an aging process of skeletal tissues with characteristics of reductions in bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis on osteoblasts and to examine the roles of β-ecdysterone (β-Ecd) involved. In the present study, an in vivo model of osteoporosis was established through the subcutaneous implantation of prednisolone (PRED) into Sprague-Dawley rats, with or without a subcutaneous injection of β-Ecd (5 or 10 mg/kg body weight). Expression of Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3I/II and apoptosis in lumbar vertebrae tissues was measured by immunofluorescence and TUNEL assays, respectively. Serum concentration of calcium and phosphorus, and the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured by biochemical assay. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting was used for detect the expression of related genes and proteins. PRED treatment inhibited bone formation by decreasing bone mineral density, and suppressing the expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2, while enhancing the activity of alkaline phosphatase, upregulating the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, and increasing the serum content of calcium, phosphorus and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in rats. Additionally, PRED was revealed to inhibit autophagy through the downregulation of Beclin-1, autophagy protein 5 and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3I/II expression, whereas it induced the apoptosis, through the activation of caspase-3 and the suppression of apoptosis regulator BCL2 expression. Notably, the PRED-induced alterations in bone formation, autophagy and apoptosis were revealed to be attenuated by β-Ecd administration. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that β-Ecd may be a promising candidate for the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of osteoporosis, through the induction of autophagy and the inhibition of apoptosis in vivo.
Multilayer perceptron functional adaptive control for trajectory tracking of wheeled mobile robots

Sigmoidal multilayer perceptron neural networks are proposed to effect functional adaptive control for handling the trajectory tracking problem in a nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot. The scheme is developed in discrete time and the multilayer perceptron neural networks are used for the estimation of the robot’s nonlinear kinematic functions, which are assumed to be unknown. On-line weight tuning is achieved by employing the extended Kalman filter algorithm based on a specifically formulated multiple-input, multiple-output, stochastic model for the trajectory error dynamics of the mobile base. The estimated functions are then used on a certainty equivalence basis in the control law proposed in (Corradini et al., 2003) for trajectory tracking. The performance of the system is analyzed and compared by simulation.
How cognitive genetic factors influence fertility outcomes: A mediational SEM analysis

Utilizing a newly released cognitive Polygenic Score (PGS) from Wave IV of Add Health (n = 1,886), structural equation models (SEMs) examining the relationship between PGS and fertility (which is approximately 50% complete in the present sample), utilizing measures of verbal IQ and educational attainment as potential mediators, were estimated. The results of indirect pathway models revealed that verbal IQ mediates the positive relationship between PGS and educational attainment, and educational attainment in turn mediates the negative relationship between IQ and a latent fertility measure. The direct path from PGS to fertility was non-significant. The model was robust to controlling for age, sex and race, furthermore the results of a multi-group SEM revealed no significant differences in the estimated path coefficients across sex. These results indicate that those predisposed towards higher IQ by virtue of higher PGS values are also predisposed towards trading fertility against time spent in education, which contributes to those with higher PGS values producing fewer offspring.
ACTION POTENTIALS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE CRAYFISH

Increase in temperature elicits an increase in the number of nerve impulses arising spontaneously from deafferented crayfish ganglia. This alteration in gross frequency gives an apparent temperature characteristic of 27,000 calories. Changes in the number of active fibers and in the frequency of discharge of individual units account for the alterations in the gross frequency. The change in number of active units gives a n value of 17,500 calories. Individual fibers fall into two groups with respect to the effect of temperature on their frequency of discharge. One of these groups exhibits a µ value of 14,500 calories and the other yields a µ value of 7,000 calories.
Metformin use and survival outcomes in endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Previous studies have evaluated the effects of metformin use on survival outcomes in endometrial cancer, but their results are inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a quantitative assessment of the drug's effects based on available evidence. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify relevant studies that evaluated the association between metformin use on survival outcomes in endometrial cancer. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the association of metformin use with overall survival and with progression-free survival using a fixed-effects model. A total of nine studies involving 2,016 patients with endometrial cancer were identified. In a meta-analysis of eight studies involving 1,594 individuals, metformin use was associated with significant improvements in overall survival (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.64). Metformin users similarly showed improved progression-free survival in a meta-analysis of two studies involving 632 individuals (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.87). In conclusion, endometrial cancer patients who use metformin show improved overall survival and progression-free survival. Further studies are required to confirm the full potential effects of metformin use on survival outcomes in endometrial cancer.
D-Tagatose inhibits the growth and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans

Dental caries is an important global health concern and Streptococcus mutans has been established as a major cariogenic bacterial species. Reports indicate that a rare sugar, D-tagatose, is not easily catabolized by pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of D-tagatose on the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans GS-5 were examined. Monitoring S. mutans growth over a 24 h period revealed that D-tagatose prolonged the lag phase without interfering with the final cell yield. This growth retardation was also observed in the presence of 1% sucrose, although it was abolished by the addition of D-fructose. S. mutans biofilm formation was significantly inhibited by growth in sucrose media supplemented with 1 and 4% D-tagatose compared with that in a culture containing sucrose alone, while S. mutans formed granular biofilms in the presence of this rare sugar. The inhibitory effect of D-tagatose on S. mutans biofilm formation was significantly more evident than that of xylitol. Growth in sucrose media supplemented with D-tagatose significantly decreased the expression of glucosyltransferase, exo-β-fructosidase and D-fructose-specific phosphotransferase genes but not the expression of fructosyltransferase compared with the culture containing sucrose only. The activity of cell-associated glucosyltransferase in S. mutans was inhibited by 4% D-tagatose. These results indicate that D-tagatose reduces water-insoluble glucan production from sucrose by inhibiting glucosyltransferase activities, which limits access to the free D-fructose released during this process and retards the growth of S. mutans. Therefore, foods and oral care products containing D-tagatose are anticipated to reduce the risk of caries by inhibiting S. mutans biofilm formation.
The Use of Cooperative Round Robin Discussion Model to Improve Students’ Holistic Ability in TEFL Class

This classroom action research is carried out within two cycles to breed a strategy on how a Round Robin Discussion Learning Model enhance students’ critical thinking, presentation skills, confidence, and independent learning in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) class. Pop-up quiz, teacher made-tests, classroom participation sheet, observation sheet, and rubric are utilized in the study. In addition, the collected data are then scrutinized via quantitative and qualitative doctrine. Quantitative analysis is pertained to gauge students’ critical comprehension on TEFL issues through test, quiz, and worksheet. Meanwhile, for the qualitative analysis, constant comparative method is executed to enlighten parallel variable to depict students’ presentation skills, confidence, and independent learning. The result of the study uncovers that guided question and answer session within and without the group foster students’ higher order thinking skills and the results of the tests, pop-up quizzes indicates significant upgrading from 66% into 82%. Next, round presentation in and out group activity also cultivates students’ presentation skills as well as confidence and independent learning from 65% to 85%, 67% into 77%, and from 65% to 93%. Round Robin discussion model operates well if it is supported with fixed and detailed roles of both students and teacher so that equal interactive practice is well established.
Hippocampal contribution to implicit configuration memory expressed via eye movements during scene exploration

Although hippocampus unequivocally supports explicit/declarative memory, fewer findings have demonstrated its role in implicit expressions of memory. We tested for hippocampal contributions to an implicit expression of configural/relational memory for complex scenes using eye‐movement tracking during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. Participants studied scenes and were later tested using scenes that resembled study scenes in their overall feature configuration but comprised different elements. These configurally similar scenes were used to limit explicit memory, and were intermixed with new scenes that did not resemble studied scenes. Scene configuration memory was expressed through eye movements reflecting exploration overlap (EO), which is the viewing of the same scene locations at both study and test. EO reliably discriminated similar study‐test scene pairs from study‐new scene pairs, was reliably greater for similarity‐based recognition hits than for misses, and correlated with hippocampal fMRI activity. In contrast, subjects could not reliably discriminate similar from new scenes by overt judgments, although ratings of familiarity were slightly higher for similar than new scenes. Hippocampal fMRI correlates of this weak explicit memory were distinct from EO‐related activity. These findings collectively suggest that EO was an implicit expression of scene configuration memory associated with hippocampal activity. Visual exploration can therefore reflect implicit hippocampal‐related memory processing that can be observed in eye‐movement behavior during naturalistic scene viewing. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Accelerating fishes increase propulsive efficiency by modulating vortex ring geometry

Significance The ability to move is one of the key evolutionary events that led to the complexity of vertebrate life. The most speciose group of vertebrates, fishes, displays an enormous variation of movement patterns during steady swimming. We discovered that this behavioral diversity collapses into one movement pattern when fishes are challenged to increase their swimming speed, regardless of their body size, shape, and ecology. Using flow visualization and biomimetic models, we provide the first mechanistic understanding of how this conserved movement pattern allows fishes to accelerate quickly. Swimming animals need to generate propulsive force to overcome drag, regardless of whether they swim steadily or accelerate forward. While locomotion strategies for steady swimming are well characterized, far less is known about acceleration. Animals exhibit many different ways to swim steadily, but we show here that this behavioral diversity collapses into a single swimming pattern during acceleration regardless of the body size, morphology, and ecology of the animal. We draw on the fields of biomechanics, fluid dynamics, and robotics to demonstrate that there is a fundamental difference between steady swimming and forward acceleration. We provide empirical evidence that the tail of accelerating fishes can increase propulsive efficiency by enhancing thrust through the alteration of vortex ring geometry. Our study provides insight into how propulsion can be altered without increasing vortex ring size and represents a fundamental departure from our current understanding of the hydrodynamic mechanisms of acceleration. Our findings reveal a unifying hydrodynamic principle that is likely conserved in all aquatic, undulatory vertebrates.
Prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among diabetes mellitus adults in the Jilin province in China: a cross-sectional study

Background Psychological disorders are common in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, and the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress and to determine the influence factors associated with psychological distress among DM patients in the Jilin province of China. Methods and Materials Multistage, stratified cluster sampling was used in this cross-sectional study. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to assess psychological status with the total score of ≥4 as the threshold for psychological distress. Results A total of 1,956 subjects with DM were included in the study. Out of this total diabetic participants, 524 (26.8%) had psychological distress. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that low educational level, divorce or separation from one’s spouse, low family average monthly income, short sleep duration, being aware of DM status, and multiple co-morbidities are positively associated with psychological distress (all P < 0.05). Conclusions This study revealed a high rate of psychological distress among DM population in Jilin province. Low educational level, divorce or separation from one’s spouse, low family average monthly income, short sleep duration, awareness of DM status, and multiple co-morbidities are all associated with psychological distress among our study subjects. Interventions to control these factors are needed to address the psychological problems among diabetics in Jilin Province.
Transcriptional modulation of bacterial gene expression by subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics

Antibiotics such as erythromycin and rifampicin, at low concentrations, alter global bacterial transcription patterns as measured by the stimulation or inhibition of a variety of promoter–lux reporter constructs in a Salmonella typhimurium library. Analysis of a 6,500-clone library indicated that as many as 5% of the promoters may be affected, comprising genes for a variety of functions, as well as a significant fraction of genes with no known function. Studies of a selection of the reporter clones showed that stimulation varied depending on the nature of the antibiotic, the promoter, and what culture medium was used; the response differed on solid as compared with liquid media. Transcription was markedly reduced in antibiotic-resistant hosts, but the presence of mutations deficient in stress responses such as SOS or universal stress did not prevent antibiotic-induced modulation. The results show that small molecules may have contrasting effects on bacteria depending on their concentration: either the modulation of bacterial metabolism by altering transcription patterns or the inhibition of growth by the inhibition of specific target functions. Both activities could play important roles in the regulation of microbial communities. These studies indicate that the detection of pharmaceutically useful natural product inhibitors could be effectively achieved by measuring activation of transcription at low concentrations in high-throughput assays using appropriate bacterial promoter–reporter constructs.
Effects of treating postnatal depression on mother-infant interaction and child development

Background Postnatal depression has detrimental effects on the child's cognitive and emotional development. Aims To assess the benefits of treating postnatal depression for mother–infant interaction and child development. Method A systematic search was made of 12 electronic bibliographic databases for randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials on treatment of mothers with postnatal depression, where outcomes were assessed in children; findings were assessed. Results Only eighttrials met the inclusion criteria. Of those included, interventions varied widely but all involved therapies directed at the mother–infant relationship. One study with intensive and prolonged therapy showed cognitive improvement, whereas two others with briefer interventions improved maternal–infant relationships but did not affect the child's cognitive or behavioural development. All five studies assessing only mother–infant relationships showed improvements. Conclusions Cognitive development in children of depressed mothers, along with better mother–infant relationships, might be improved with sustained interventions. Trials assessing treatments for postnatal depression would benefit from looking more closely at benefits for children as well as mothers, using validated objective measures.
Enhancement of Meditation Analgesia by Opioid Antagonist in Experienced Meditators

Objective Studies have consistently shown that long-term meditation practice is associated with reduced pain, but the neural mechanisms by which long-term meditation practice reduces pain remain unclear. This study tested endogenous opioid involvement in meditation analgesia associated with long-term meditation practice. Methods Electrical pain was induced with randomized, double-blind, cross-over administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone (0.15-mg/kg bolus dose, then 0.2-mg/kg per hour infusion dose) with 32 healthy, experienced meditation practitioners and a standardized open monitoring meditation. Results Under saline, pain ratings were significantly lower during meditation (pain intensity: 6.41 ± 1.32; pain unpleasantness: 3.98 ± 2.17) than at baseline (pain intensity: 6.86 ±1.04, t(31) = 2.476, p = . 019, Cohen's d = 0.46; pain unpleasantness: 4.96 ±1.75, t(31) = 3.746, p = . 001, Cohen's d = 0.68), confirming the presence of meditation analgesia. Comparing saline and naloxone revealed significantly lower pain intensity (t(31) = 3.12, p = . 004, d = 0.56), and pain unpleasantness (t(31) = 3.47, p = . 002, d = 0.62), during meditation under naloxone (pain intensity: 5.53 ± 1.54; pain unpleasantness: 2.95 ± 1.88) than under saline (pain intensity: 6.41 ± 1.32; pain unpleasantness: 3.98 ± 2.17). Naloxone not only failed to eliminate meditation analgesia but also made meditation analgesia stronger. Conclusions Long-term meditation practice does not rely on endogenous opioids to reduce pain. Naloxone's blockade of opioid receptors enhanced meditation analgesia; pain ratings during meditation were significantly lower under naloxone than under saline. Possible biological mechanisms by which naloxone-induced opioid receptor blockade enhances meditation analgesia are discussed.
Predicting HIV-1 transmission and antibody neutralization efficacy in vivo from stoichiometric parameters

The potential of broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting the HIV-1 envelope trimer to prevent HIV-1 transmission has opened new avenues for therapies and vaccines. However, their implementation remains challenging and would profit from a deepened mechanistic understanding of HIV-antibody interactions and the mucosal transmission process. In this study we experimentally determined stoichiometric parameters of the HIV-1 trimer-antibody interaction, confirming that binding of one antibody is sufficient for trimer neutralization. This defines numerical requirements for HIV-1 virion neutralization and thereby enables mathematical modelling of in vitro and in vivo antibody neutralization efficacy. The model we developed accurately predicts antibody efficacy in animal passive immunization studies and provides estimates for protective mucosal antibody concentrations. Furthermore, we derive estimates of the probability for a single virion to start host infection and the risks of male-to-female HIV-1 transmission per sexual intercourse. Our work thereby delivers comprehensive quantitative insights into both the molecular principles governing HIV-antibody interactions and the initial steps of mucosal HIV-1 transmission. These insights, alongside the underlying, adaptable modelling framework presented here, will be valuable for supporting in silico pre-trial planning and post-hoc evaluation of HIV-1 vaccination or antibody treatment trials.
Are two cohorts responsible for the bimodal life-history pattern in the wolf spider Pardosa agrestis in Hungary ?

Wolf spider species of the genus Pardosa show a typical stenochronous life cycle, adults reproducing in the spring and different instars of the juvenile stage overwintering (Schaefer, 1977). The life cycle is typically one year long (Tretzel, 1954; Vlijm et al., 1963; Merrett, 1968) in Western and Central Europe, but at more Northern latitudes it can be extended to two (Edgar, 1972; Stepczak, 1975) or three (Workman, 1979) years, with no change in the season of the reproductive period. In Hungary one Pardosa species, P. agrestis, has received special attention, because it can be regarded as the most dominant surface-active spider in every agricultural or human-influenced habitat (Samu et al., 1996; Tóth et al., 1996). A large amount of data has been collected on this species by the authors over three years, from numerous localities, as part of a nationwide survey on the spider diversity in agroecosystems. Examining the individual datasets of the adult specimens, it was obvious that the phenology of P. agrestis was different from the typical Pardosa life cycle, but we were unable to draw direct conclusions about its exact pattern. In the present study, to obtain a more complete picture of the life cycle of P. agrestis, we merged data from the different sites and attempted to work out methods which would allow us to incorporate data on different stages Are two cohorts responsible for the bimodal life-history pattern in the wolf spider Pardosa agrestis in Hungary?