Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between motor skills and cognition in children with a special focus on spatial abilities

The topic of this PhD thesis is to investigate the relationship between motor and cognitive skills in children. In particular, the mental rotation ability, which captures the visuo-spatial skills, is considered in the light of neurological disorders and training influences. Children with the neurological disease “spina bifida” demonstrate poorer spatial skills compared to healthy children. The causes of this are not yet fully understood. It is believed that rather the “spina bifida” and the associated motor impairments are responsible for the reduced spatial abilities than the comorbidity hydrocephalus. Based on this assumption it was shown that the reduced spatial abilities in these children are due to the disease “spina bifida” and are not associated to the occurring hydrocephalus. Assuming that, a motor training to improve spatial skills was conducted with these children. Using a juggling training it could be demonstrated that a motor intervention in children with spina bifida leads to a positive influence on mental rotation performance. Additionally, the involvements of other cognitive processes, particularly working memory processes, were considered with regard to the relationship between mental rotation and motor abilities.
Understanding the Structure of Stereotypes of Women: Virtue and Agency as Dimensions Distinguishing Female Subgroups1

A two-part study investigated the dimensional structure of stereotypes of women. In one sample (n = 258), participants sorted traits according to the likelihood that they would co-occur in the same woman. In a separate sample (n = 102), participants were given the same traits and were asked to judge the traits' desirability and to judge the moral virtue, sexual liberalism/conservatism, warmth, competence, and power of a woman who possessed high levels of each trait. Results from hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that participants perceived women in terms of six subgroups: professional, feminist, homemaker, female athlete, beauty, and temptress. Large differences among these subgroups were identified based on ratings of their moral virtue and sexual conservatism (i.e., virtue) and competence and power (i.e., agency). The implications of a virtue-agency model of female subgroups for gender stereotyping research are discussed.
A model for application-oriented database performance tuning

In the areas of database performance optimization research, researchers have proposed many optimization methods and theories, most of them are on the database itself and database environment configuration to optimize. But there is rarely analysis and optimization approach that can combined applications system with database performance. This paper presents an application-oriented database performance optimization method and model That is take different tuning strategies for different types of applications that can Achieve better tuning effect. This paper first introduces different type of application performance bottlenecks, and then describes the main parameters affect the performance and indicators; then use this model to experiments testing the effect on performance tuning. At last we propose to take more targeted to different application systems with tuning strategy, so that the tuning effect can be better.
Soluble cytokine receptors.

HE WORD “HORMONE” comes from the Greek, meaning to set in motion, whereas “humoral” comes from the Latin for ‘‘liquid. ’’ Classical hormones are delivered in the blood “to set in motion” target cell proliferation or functional activation. Therefore, humoral specificity depends on the hormone’s ability to interact only with cells expressing the appropriate receptor. This receptor-ligand interaction is central to maintaining and regulating biologic function at the cell, tissue, organ, and organism level. The response evoked in the individual cell requires the association of a soluble ligand to its cognate cellular receptor. More recent modifications of the traditional endocrinologic concepts, where the target tissue lies at a distance from the secreted hormone, have included paracrine, juxtacrine, and autocrine models to describe ligand-receptor interactions over short distances. Regulation of cellular responses in this broadened paradigm occurs in cells that secrete graded amounts of hormone and in the target cells which control the number of receptors presented and can modify signal transduction after ligand-receptor association. In all models, hormonal specificity depends on the responding cell displaying the cognate receptor. In the hematopoietic system, lineage commitment is defined by progenitor cell expression of receptors for lineage-restricted hormones. ’ The term “cytokine” has come to be used for a diverse group of glycoprotein growth factors, inflammatory mediators, and hematopoietic regulators that are distinct from the more classical hormones secreted by the glands of the endocrine system. The appreciation that many membrane-bound receptors are also synthesized as secreted soluble forms has led to important modifications in our understanding of ligand-receptor interactions and hormone and cytokine action in general. ’ These mobile, soluble receptors may modify ligand concentrations by serving as stabilizing binding proteins, may downregulate membrane receptor number as a mechanism of genesis, and may specifically inhibit ligandreceptor association in the extracellular space. Soluble receptors also can confer on cells and tissues the ability to respond to ligands for which they do not normally express the cognate receptor. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which soluble receptors are generated, the regulation of soluble receptor expression, the ways that soluble receptors modify receptor-ligand interactions, and how soluble receptors may impact on clinical medicine. Blood, Vol 87, No 3 (February l), 1996: pp 847-857 MECHANISM OF SOLUBLE RECEPTOR GENERATION
Krüppel-Like Factor 4 Is a Regulator of Proinflammatory Signaling in Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes through Increased IL-6 Expression

Human fibroblast-like synoviocytes play a vital role in joint synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Proinflammatory cytokines induce fibroblast-like synoviocyte activation and dysfunction. The inflammatory mediator Krüppel-like factor 4 is upregulated during inflammation and plays an important role in endothelial and macrophage activation during inflammation. However, the role of Krüppel-like factor 4 in fibroblast-like synoviocyte activation and RA inflammation remains to be defined. In this study, we identify the notion that Krüppel-like factor 4 is higher expressed in synovial tissues and fibroblast-like synoviocytes from RA patients than those from osteoarthritis patients. In vitro, the expression of Krüppel-like factor 4 in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes is induced by proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. Overexpression of Krüppel-like factor 4 in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes robustly induced interleukin-6 production in the presence or absence of tumor necrosis factor-α. Conversely, knockdown of Krüppel-like factor 4 markedly attenuated interleukin-6 production in the presence or absence of tumor necrosis factor-α. Krüppel-like factor 4 not only can bind to and activate the interleukin-6 promoter, but also may interact directly with nuclear factor-kappa B. These results suggest that Krüppel-like factor 4 may act as a transcription factor mediating the activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in RA by inducing interleukin-6 expression in response to tumor necrosis factor-α.
Crosstalk between Autophagy and Apoptosis: Potential and Emerging Therapeutic Targets for Cardiac Diseases

Autophagy is a cell survival process which is related to breaking down and reusing cytoplasm components. Moreover, autophagy regulates cell death under certain conditions. Apoptosis has the characteristics of chromatin agglutination and the shrinking of nuclear and apoptosis body form. Even if the mechanisms of autophagy and apoptosis have differences, some proteins modulate both autophagy and apoptosis. Crosstalk between them exists. This review highlights recent advances in the interaction of autophagy and apoptosis and its importance in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Applying Sport Psychology: Four Perspectives

Part I: Psychological Factors in Athletic Performance Chapter 1. Motivation Chapter 2. Confidence Chapter 3. Intensity Chapter 4. Focus Chapter 5. Emotions Part II: Enhancing Athletic Performance Chapter 6. Psychological Assessment Chapter 7. Goal Setting Chapter 8. Mental Imagery Chapter 9. Routines Part III: Psychology and the Coach Chapter 10. Coach-Athlete Relationship Chapter 11. Team Cohesion Part VI: Psychological Problems of Athletes Chapter 12. Injury Chapter 13. Eating Disorders Chapter 14. Substance Abuse Chapter 15. Career Transitions
Stimuli from Conspecifics Influence Brain Mast Cell Population in Male Rats

It is well established that mast cells occur within the brain of many species, and that the brain mast cell population is not static, but changes with the behavioral and physiological state of the animal. In this study, we tested whether exposure to conspecifics alters the number of brain mast cells in male rats, and then investigated the nature of stimuli influencing the changes observed in the number and localization of brain mast cells. Five days of cohabitation with an ovariectomized, estrogen-progesterone (OVX + EP)-treated female resulted in the largest number of thalamic mast cells, while pairing with such a female physically separated by a wire mesh or with a novel male produced a smaller, but significant increase over other pairings (OVX females for 5 days, OVX and OVX + EP females for 1 day, familiar or isolated males for 5 days). In all groups, mast cells were localized within specific dorsal thalamic nuclei, including the paraventricular nucleus, anterior nuclear group, or mediodorsal, ventroposterior, or medial geniculate nuclei. The results suggest that the behavioral and/or endocrine factors associated with cohabitation with conspecifics are sufficient to alter the number of brain mast cell-specific nuclei in the thalami of male rats and thus can provide targeted delivery of neuromodulators to specific regions of the brain that process information concerning the normal physiological state of the animal.
Water Uptake in Woody Riparian Phreatophytes of the Southwestern United States: A Stable Isotope Study.

Alluvial forest associations are often dominated by woody phreatophytes, plants that are tightly linked to aquifers for water uptake. Anthropogenic hydrological alterations (e.g., water impoundment or diversion) are of clear importance to riparian ecosystem function. Because decreased frequency of flooding and depression of water tables may, in effect, sever riparian plants from their natural water sources, research was undertaken to determine water uptake patterns for the dominant native and introduced woody taxa of riparian plant communities of the southwestern United States. At floodplain study sites along the Bill Williams and lower Colorado Rivers (Arizona, USA), naturally occurring D and 18 O were used to distinguish among potential water sources. Isotopic ratios from potential uptake locations were compared to water extracted from the dominant woody taxa of the study area (Populus fremontii, Salix gooddingii, and Tamarix ramosissima) to elucidate patterns of water absorption. Isotopic composition of water obtained from sapwood cores did not differ significantly from heartwood or branch water, suggesting that heartwood water exchange, stem capacitance, and phloem sap mixing may be inconsequential in actively transpiring Salix and Populus. There was evidence for close hydrologic linkage of river, ground, and soil water during the early part of the growing season. Surface soils exhibited D enrichment due to cumulative exposure to evaporation as the growing season progressed. Isotopic ratios of water extracted from Populus and Salix did not exhibit isotopic enrichment and were not significantly different from groundwater or saturated soil water sources, indicating a phreatophytic uptake pattern. Associations of isotopic ratios with water relations parameters indicated high levels of canopy evaporation and possible use of moisture from unsaturated alluvial soils in addition to groundwater in Tamarix.
An Explicit Multiexponential Model as an Alternative to Traditional Solar Cell Models With Series and Shunt Resistances

Classical analyses of various conventional solar cell models are examined. They are unified through the separation of their linear and nonlinear components and the application of Thevenin's theorem to the linear terms. An explicit multiexponential model with series and shunt resistances is proposed as an alternative to conventional implicit multiexponential models commonly used to describe significant parallel conduction mechanisms in real solar cells. The proposed model is better suited than conventional models for repetitive simulation applications because of its inherently higher computational efficiency. Its explicit nature is a very useful feature for direct analytic differentiation and integration. The model's applicability has been assessed by parameter extraction and subsequent playback using synthetic I–V characteristics of a hypothetical solar cell at various illumination levels chosen purely for illustrative purposes.
Simultaneous Glucocorticoid and Noradrenergic Activity Disrupts the Neural Basis of Goal-Directed Action in the Human Brain

Stress promotes a shift from goal-directed action–outcome learning toward habitual stimulus–response learning. This shift is mediated by an interaction of noradrenergic activity and glucocorticoid stress hormones. In the present experiment, we examined the neural correlates of the stress (hormone)-induced shift from goal-directed to habit learning in the human brain. Healthy participants were administered hydrocortisone, the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine, or both before they were trained in two instrumental actions leading to two distinct food rewards. After training, one of the rewards was devalued by feeding participants to satiety on that food. Finally, participants were presented the two instrumental actions in extinction. We collected functional magnetic resonance images both during instrumental training and during extinction testing. Our behavioral data confirmed that the simultaneous administration of hydrocortisone and yohimbine renders instrumental behavior insensitive to the outcome devaluation (and thus habitual), whereas hydrocortisone or yohimbine alone have no such effect. At the neural level, the combined administration of hydrocortisone and yohimbine reduced the sensitivity of the orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortex to changes in outcome value. Brain areas that have been previously implicated in habit learning were not modulated by hydrocortisone and yohimbine. These findings suggest that concurrent glucocorticoid and noradrenergic activity disrupts the neural bases of goal-directed action and thus renders behavior habitual.
Rapid Screening Method for Mycobactericidal Activity of Chemical Germicides That Uses Mycobacterium terrae Expressing a Green Fluorescent Protein Gene

ABSTRACT The slow growth of mycobacteria in conventional culture methods impedes the testing of chemicals for mycobactericidal activity. An assay based on expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) by mycobacteria was developed as a rapid alternative. Plasmid pBEN, containing the gene encoding a red-shifted, high-intensity GFP mutant, was incorporated into Mycobacterium terrae (ATCC 15755), and GFP expression was observed by epifluorescence microscopy. Mycobactericidal activity was assessed by separately exposing a suspension of M. terrae(pBEN) to several dilutions of test germicides based on 7.5% hydrogen peroxide, 2.4% alkaline glutaraldehyde, 10% acid glutaraldehyde, and 15.5% of a phenolic agent for contact times ranging from 10 to 20 min (22°C), followed by culture of the exposed cells in broth (Middlebrook 7H9) and measurement of fluorescence every 24 h. When the fluorescence was to be compared with CFU, the samples were plated on Middlebrook 7H11 agar and incubated for 4 weeks. No increase in fluorescence or CFU occurred in cultures in which the cells had been inactivated by the germicide concentrations tested. Where the test bacterium was exposed to ineffective levels of the germicides, fluorescence increased after a lag period of 1 to 7 days, corresponding to the level of bacterial inactivation. In untreated controls, fluorescence increased rapidly to reach a peak in 2 to 4 days. A good Pearson correlation coefficient (r ≥0.85) was observed between the intensity of fluorescence and the number of CFU. The GFP-based fluorescence assay reduced the turnaround time in the screening of chemical germicides for mycobactericidal activity to ≤7 days.
Biochemical and Pharmacological Characterization of the Human Lymphocyte Antigen B-Associated Transcript 5 (BAT5/ABHD16A)

Background Human lymphocyte antigen B-associated transcript 5 (BAT5, also known as ABHD16A) is a poorly characterized 63 kDa protein belonging to the α/β-hydrolase domain (ABHD) containing family of metabolic serine hydrolases. Its natural substrates and biochemical properties are unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Amino acid sequence comparison between seven mammalian BAT5 orthologs revealed that the overall primary structure was highly (≥95%) conserved. Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) confirmed successful generation of catalytically active human (h) and mouse (m) BAT5 in HEK293 cells, enabling further biochemical characterization. A sensitive fluorescent glycerol assay reported hBAT5-mediated hydrolysis of medium-chain saturated (C14∶0), long-chain unsaturated (C18∶1, C18∶2, C20∶4) monoacylglycerols (MAGs) and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2-2-glycerol ester (15d-PGJ2-G). In contrast, hBAT5 possessed only marginal diacylglycerol (DAG), triacylglycerol (TAG), or lysophospholipase activity. The best MAG substrates were 1-linoleylglycerol (1-LG) and 15d-PGJ2-G, both exhibiting low-micromolar Km values. BAT5 had a neutral pH optimum and showed preference for the 1(3)- vs. 2-isomers of MAGs C18∶1, C18∶2 and C20∶4. Inhibitor profiling revealed that β-lactone-based lipase inhibitors were nanomolar inhibitors of hBAT5 activity (palmostatin B > tetrahydrolipstatin > ebelactone A). Moreover, the hormone-sensitive lipase inhibitor C7600 (5-methoxy-3-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3H-[1], [3], [4]oxadiazol-2-one) was identified as a highly potent inhibitor (IC50 8.3 nM). Phenyl and benzyl substituted analogs of C7600 with increased BAT5 selectivity were synthesized and a preliminary SAR analysis was conducted to obtain initial insights into the active site dimensions. Conclusions/Significance This study provides an initial characterization of BAT5 activity, unveiling the biochemical and pharmacological properties with in vitro substrate preferences and inhibitor profiles. Utilization of glycerolipid substrates and sensitivity to lipase inhibitors suggest that BAT5 is a genuine lipase with preference for long-chain unsaturated MAGs and could in this capacity regulate glycerolipid metabolism in vivo as well. This preliminary SAR data should pave the way towards increasingly potent and BAT5-selective inhibitors.
Livelihood Strategies and Local Perceptions of a New Nature Conservation Project in Nepal

Abstract The recently established Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP)—jointly managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF)—is based on the principles of the new participatory concept of nature conservation. The main objectives are to protect the unique environment of the Kanchenjunga region and to help local communities improve their standard of living. This study focuses on existing livelihood strategies and local institutions as well as on the local population's perception of the participatory approach. A theoretical consideration of the different concepts of nature and conservation is regarded as helpful in understanding locally observed processes. The results show wide diversification in the economic system that contributes to sustaining livelihood. Various local institutions have established governance over particular resources. With regard to the KCAP, it became obvious that nearly all interviewees had expectations that went far beyond the intended and economically feasible potential of the project. This is largely because they do not entirely comprehend the principal aim of “conservation. ” On the other hand, most of the local people believe that conservation of nature is necessary in their region and that it is only possible through a joint effort made by everyone in the community.
A Sequential Importance Sampling Algorithm for Generating Random Graphs with Prescribed Degrees

Abstract Random graphs with given degrees are a natural next step in complexity beyond the Erdős–Rényi model, yet the degree constraint greatly complicates simulation and estimation. We use an extension of a combinatorial characterization due to Erdős and Gallai to develop a sequential algorithm for generating a random labeled graph with a given degree sequence. The algorithm is easy to implement and allows for surprisingly efficient sequential importance sampling. The resulting probabilities are easily computed on the fly, allowing the user to reweight estimators appropriately, in contrast to some ad hoc approaches that generate graphs with the desired degrees but with completely unknown probabilities. Applications are given, including simulating an ecological network and estimating the number of graphs with a given degree sequence.
Leptin Modulates Neutrophil Phagocytosis of Klebsiella pneumoniae

ABSTRACT Leptin is a pleiotropic hormone-cytokine known to regulate energy homeostasis and immune function. Neutrophils from leptin-deficient mice exhibited impaired phagocytosis of Klebsiella pneumoniae opsonized with serum containing complement and reduced CD11b expression that could be restored with exogenous leptin. These results suggest that leptin is required for normal neutrophil complement-mediated phagocytosis of bacteria.
Expansion of W3(OH)

A direct measurement of the expansion of W3(OH) is made by comparing Very Large Array images taken ~10 yr apart. The expansion is anisotropic with a typical speed of 3-5 km s-1, indicating a dynamical age of only 2300 yr. These observations are inconsistent with either the freely expanding shell model or a simple bow shock model. The most favored model is a slowly expanding shell-like H II region, with either a fast rarefied flow or another less massive, diffuse, ionized region moving toward the observer. There is also a rapidly evolving source near the projected center of emission, perhaps related to the central star.