Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet Alone and in Combination With Exercise and Caloric Restriction on Insulin Sensitivity and Lipids

This study examined the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on insulin sensitivity and lipids. In a randomized control trial, 144 overweight (body mass index: 25 to 40) men (n=47) and women (n=97) with high blood pressure (130 to 159/85 to 99 mm Hg) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (1) DASH diet alone; (2) DASH diet with aerobic exercise and caloric restriction; or (3) usual diet controls (UC). Body composition, fitness, insulin sensitivity, and fasting lipids were measured before and after 4 months of treatment. Insulin sensitivity was estimated on the basis of glucose and insulin levels in the fasting state and after an oral glucose load. Participants in the DASH diet with aerobic exercise and caloric restriction condition lost weight (−8.7 kg [95% CI: −2.0 to −9.7 kg]) and exhibited a significant increase in aerobic capacity, whereas the DASH diet alone and UC participants maintained their weight (−0.3 kg [95% CI: −1.2 to 0.5 kg] and +0.9 kg [95% CI: 0.0 to 1.7 kg], respectively) and had no improvement in exercise capacity. DASH diet with aerobic exercise and caloric restriction demonstrated lower glucose levels after the oral glucose load, improved insulin sensitivity, and lower total cholesterol and triglycerides compared with both DASH diet alone and UC, as well as lower fasting glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with UC. DASH diet alone participants generally did not differ from UC in these measures. Combining the DASH diet with exercise and weight loss resulted in significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and lipids. Despite clinically significant reductions in blood pressure, the DASH diet alone, without caloric restriction or exercise, resulted in minimal improvements in insulin sensitivity or lipids.
Morphological and Ecological Differences Between Shallow- and Deep-water Lake Trout in Lake Mistassini, Quebec

ABSTRACT Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Mistassini, Quebec, were investigated to determine whether they resembled the lean and siscowet morphotypes of Lake Superior and Great Slave Lake. Lake trout caught in deep water were predicted to resemble the siscowet morphotype and to be better adapted for vertical migration (i.e., low percent buoyancy) than those caught in shallow water. The research objectives were to 1) identify groups based on shape, and 2) determine whether shape was associated with other morphological traits (fin length, buoyancy, color), ecology (habitat depth, diet), and life history (size at adulthood). Eighty-five lake trout were collected from three depth zones. At least two phenotypes exist in Lake Mistassini. A shallow-water form (< 50-m depth), identified by its streamlined shape, was dark in color and high in percent buoyancy. A deep-water form (> 50-m depth), identified by a deep anterior-body profile, was light in color and lower in percent buoyancy than the shallow-water form. Absolute buoyancies were relatively high in both forms; therefore, the deep-water form did not appear well-adapted for vertical migration. Opossum shrimp (Mysis relicta) were more frequent and abundant in stomachs of deep-bodied trout. All deep-bodied trout (minimum 32-cm SL) had reached adulthood, whereas immature streamlined individuals were as long as 49 cm in SL. The deep-bodied form resembled humper lake trout, a lesser-known third morphotype from Lake Superior. A humper-like morphotype in Lake Mistassini, and the apparent absence of a siscowet-like morphotype, challenges the previously-held hypothesis that humpers resulted from an introgression of leans and siscowets.
Performance and User Experience of Touchscreen and Gesture Keyboards in a Lab Setting and in the Wild

We study the performance and user experience of two popular mainstream mobile text entry methods: the Smart Touch Keyboard (STK) and the Smart Gesture Keyboard (SGK). Our first study is a lab-based ten-session text entry experiment. In our second study we use a new text entry evaluation methodology based on the experience sampling method (ESM). In the ESM study, participants installed an Android app on their own mobile phones that periodically sampled their text entry performance and user experience amid their everyday activities for four weeks. The studies show that text can be entered at an average speed of 28 to 39 WPM, depending on the method and the user's experience, with 1.0% to 3.6% character error rates remaining. Error rates of touchscreen input, particularly with SGK, are a major challenge; and reducing out-of-vocabulary errors is particularly important. Both SGK and STK have strengths, weaknesses, and different individual awareness and preferences. Two-thumb touch typing in a focused setting is particularly effective on STK, whereas one-handed SGK typing with the thumb is particularly effective in more mobile situations. When exposed to both, users tend to migrate from STK to SGK. We also conclude that studies in the lab and in the wild can both be informative to reveal different aspects of keyboard experience, but used in conjunction is more reliable in comprehensively assessing input technologies of current and future generations.
Arabidopsis CSP41 proteins form multimeric complexes that bind and stabilize distinct plastid transcripts

The spinach CSP41 protein has been shown to bind and cleave chloroplast RNA in vitro. Arabidopsis thaliana, like other photosynthetic eukaryotes, encodes two copies of this protein. Several functions have been described for CSP41 proteins in Arabidopsis, including roles in chloroplast rRNA metabolism and transcription. CSP41a and CSP41b interact physically, but it is not clear whether they have distinct functions. It is shown here that CSP41b, but not CSP41a, is an essential and major component of a specific subset of RNA-binding complexes that form in the dark and disassemble in the light. RNA immunoprecipitation and hybridization to gene chips (RIP-chip) experiments indicated that CSP41 complexes can contain chloroplast mRNAs coding for photosynthetic proteins and rRNAs (16S and 23S), but no tRNAs or mRNAs for ribosomal proteins. Leaves of plants lacking CSP41b showed decreased steady-state levels of CSP41 target RNAs, as well as decreased plastid transcription and translation rates. Representative target RNAs were less stable when incubated with broken chloroplasts devoid of CSP41 complexes, indicating that CSP41 proteins can stabilize target RNAs. Therefore, it is proposed that (i) CSP41 complexes may serve to stabilize non-translated target mRNAs and precursor rRNAs during the night when the translational machinery is less active in a manner responsive to the redox state of the chloroplast, and (ii) that the defects in translation and transcription in CSP41 protein-less mutants are secondary effects of the decreased transcript stability.
Microcircuits for Night Vision in Mouse Retina

Because the mouse retina has become an important model system, we have begun to identify its specific neuron types and their synaptic connections. Here, based on electron micrographs of serial sections, we report that the wild-type mouse retina expresses the standard rod pathways known in other mammals: (1) rod → cone (via gap junctions) to inject rod signals into the cone bipolar circuit; and (2) rod → rod bipolar → AII amacrine → cone bipolar → ganglion cell. The mouse also expresses another rod circuit: a bipolar cell with cone input also receives rod input at symmetrical contacts that express ionotropic glutamate receptors (Hack et al., 1999, 2001). We show that this rod–cone bipolar cell sends an axon to the outer (OFF) strata of the inner plexiform layer to form ribbon synapses with ganglion and amacrine cells. This rod–cone bipolar cell receives direct contacts from only 20% of all rod terminals. However, we also found that rod terminals form gap junctions with each other and thus establish partial syncytia that could pool rod signals for direct chemical transmission to the OFF bipolar cell. This third rod pathway probably explains the rod responses that persist in OFF ganglion cells after the well known rod pathways are blocked (Soucy et al., 1998).
Activation of Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Enhances Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are considered as the most promising cells source for bone engineering. Cannabinoid (CB) receptors play important roles in bone mass turnover. The aim of this study is to test if activation of CB2 receptor by chemical agonist could enhance the osteogenic differentiation and mineralization in bone BM-MSCs. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity staining and real time PCR were performed to test the osteogenic differentiation. Alizarin red staining was carried out to examine the mineralization. Small interference RNA (siRNA) was used to study the role of CB2 receptor in osteogenic differentiation. Results showed activation of CB2 receptor increased ALP activity, promoted expression of osteogenic genes, and enhanced deposition of calcium in extracellular matrix. Knockdown of CB2 receptor by siRNA inhibited ALP activity and mineralization. Results of immunofluorescent staining showed that phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase is reduced by knocking down of CB2 receptor. Finally, bone marrow samples demonstrated that expression of CB2 receptor is much lower in osteoporotic patients than in healthy donors. Taken together, data from this study suggested that activation of CB2 receptor plays important role in osteogenic differentiation of BM-MSCs. Lack of CB2 receptor may be related to osteoporosis.
Affective and substantive conflicts and interpersonal conflict management styles in the Turkish organizational context

Previous literature on affective and substantive workplace conflicts has been dominated by studies on intragroup efficiency and effectiveness with little attention paid to the relationship between these types of conflicts and interpersonal conflict management styles. To improve understanding of how different types of conflicts are managed by employees this thesis has explored the relationship between affective and substantive types of conflicts and interpersonal conflict management styles in the Turkish organizational context through a web-based survey design. Two separate analyses were run to investigate the relationship between types of conflicts and interpersonal conflict management styles. In the first round of analyses a general affective-substantive conflict typology was used for interpersonal conflict identification. Second round of analyses were based on an asserted distinction between affective, task-related substantive and organization-related substantive conflicts. Analyses conducted with the former affective-substantive typology reported a negative correlation between affective conflicts and integrative styles. Results attained from both analyses reveal that substantive conflicts are negatively correlated to integrative and positively correlated to dominating styles. Additional statistical analyses showed that affective components of interpersonal tension, friction, dislike, annoyance, animosity, and distrust are evident in both types of affective and substantive conflicts.
A Survey of FDG- and Amyloid-PET Imaging in Dementia and GRADE Analysis

PET based tools can improve the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and differential diagnosis of dementia. The importance of identifying individuals at risk of developing dementia among people with subjective cognitive complaints or mild cognitive impairment has clinical, social, and therapeutic implications. Within the two major classes of AD biomarkers currently identified, that is, markers of pathology and neurodegeneration, amyloid- and FDG-PET imaging represent decisive tools for their measurement. As a consequence, the PET tools have been recognized to be of crucial value in the recent guidelines for the early diagnosis of AD and other dementia conditions. The references based recommendations, however, include large PET imaging literature based on visual methods that greatly reduces sensitivity and specificity and lacks a clear cut-off between normal and pathological findings. PET imaging can be assessed using parametric or voxel-wise analyses by comparing the subject's scan with a normative data set, significantly increasing the diagnostic accuracy. This paper is a survey of the relevant literature on FDG and amyloid-PET imaging aimed at providing the value of quantification for the early and differential diagnosis of AD. This allowed a meta-analysis and GRADE analysis revealing high values for PET imaging that might be useful in considering recommendations.
Promoter Sequences Necessary for High-Level Expression of the Plasmid-Associated ampC β-Lactamase Gene blaMIR-1

ABSTRACT Little is known about mechanisms involved in high-level expression of plasmid-associated ampC genes. The sequence for blaMIR-1 has been elucidated, and the gene is not inducible. Although the sequence for the promoter (prA) that drives expression of Enterobacter cloacae chromosomal ampC is present upstream of blaMIR-1, high-level expression from blaMIR-1 is directed from a hybrid promoter (prB) located further upstream of prA. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of each promoter on blaMIR-1 expression and β-lactam resistance. RNA expression by deletion clones with both promoters was measured and compared to that by clones in which −35 and/or −10 elements of prA and/or prB were altered. Primer extension revealed two start sites for blaMIR-1 transcription. Expression of blaMIR-1 in clones with both promoters was 171-fold higher than that in clones carrying only prA. In addition, blaMIR-1 expression from prA increased 11-fold in the presence of the prB −10 element compared to expression driven from prA alone. Ceftazidime and cefotaxime MICs increased 42- and 64-fold, respectively, for the clone expressing blaMIR-1 from both promoters compared to expression from prA alone. The upstream promoter prB of blaMIR-1 is solely responsible for high-level expression required for cefotaxime and ceftazidime resistance. These data suggest that resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins mediated by noninducible plasmid-associated ampC genes requires the formation of novel promoter elements that are capable of increasing ampC expression.
Non-coding RNA: what is functional and what is junk?

The genomes of large multicellular eukaryotes are mostly comprised of non-protein coding DNA. Although there has been much agreement that a small fraction of these genomes has important biological functions, there has been much debate as to whether the rest contributes to development and/or homeostasis. Much of the speculation has centered on the genomic regions that are transcribed into RNA at some low level. Unfortunately these RNAs have been arbitrarily assigned various names, such as “intergenic RNA,” “long non-coding RNAs” etc., which have led to some confusion in the field. Many researchers believe that these transcripts represent a vast, unchartered world of functional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), simply because they exist. However, there are reasons to question this Panglossian view because it ignores our current understanding of how evolution shapes eukaryotic genomes and how the gene expression machinery works in eukaryotic cells. Although there are undoubtedly many more functional ncRNAs yet to be discovered and characterized, it is also likely that many of these transcripts are simply junk. Here, we discuss how to determine whether any given ncRNA has a function. Importantly, we advocate that in the absence of any such data, the appropriate null hypothesis is that the RNA in question is junk.
Maximum projection based interference alignment in MIMO interference systems

Interference alignment (IA) consolidates interference signals into a small subspace and makes the interference-free detection possible for useful signals. Most existing IA precoders such as CJ-IA are designed to maximize the degree of freedom (DoF), which does not necessarily result in optimized system performance such as receiving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, based on CJ-IA, a maximum projection based IA (MP-IA) precoding scheme is proposed to maximize the desired signal strength at receivers, which brings optimized SNR, sum-rate and bit error rate (BER) performance. It is shown in simulations that the proposed MP-IA outperforms existing schemes in terms of desired signal strength, sum-rate and BER.
Education and Creativity

J. P. Guilford (1950) asked in his inaugural address to the American Psychological Association why schools were not producing more creative persons. He also asked, "Why is there so little apparent correlation between education and creative productiveness" (p. 444)? This article presents a review of past and current research on the relation of education to creativity in students of preschool age through age 16 in U.S. public schools. Several models of creative thinking are presented (e.g., Guilford, 1985; Renzulli, 1992; Runco & Chand, 1995), as well as techniques for developing creativity (e.g., Davis, 1982; Sternberg & Williams, 1996). Some research presented indicates a relation between creativity and learning (e.g., Karnes et al., 1961; Torrance, 1981). Implications for research and practice also are discussed.
Age and HER2 expression status affect MRI accuracy in predicting residual tumor extent after neo-adjuvant systemic treatment.

BACKGROUND Although recent studies suggest high accuracy of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting residual tumor extent after neo-adjuvant systemic treatment (NST), its use is still controversial. In this study, we aimed to identify predictive factors of MRI accuracy after NST to determine a subgroup of patients in whom the use of MRI provides best additional benefit. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinicopathologic and molecular profiles of breast cancer patients were investigated and their relationships with MRI accuracy were analyzed. RESULTS From January 2006 to February 2008, 195 patients received NST and preoperative MRI. In overall, MRI predicted residual tumor extent with higher accuracy than ultrasonography. Triple-negative (TN) tumors showed highest correlation between MRI-measured and pathologic tumor size (r = 0.781) when compared with other subtypes. Multivariate analysis showed age and HER2 expression status as independent factors predicting MRI accuracy. When patients were classified based on their age and HER2 status, relatively older patients (>45) with HER2-negative tumors showed highest MRI accuracy. This finding was further validated using an independent cohort of 63 consecutive patients. CONCLUSION Age and HER2 status independently affected MRI accuracy after NST. This observation may guide more tailored approach in using MRI in breast cancer patients undergoing NST.
Aphonia with Unknown Etiology: A Case Report

Summary Introduction The conversion aphonia is defined as the total loss of voice, is a rare disease that often affects women. The diagnosis is clinical, because there are no changes in the laryngeal structures. Objective To describe a case of conversion aphonia, seen in a public hospital in the Midwest of Brazil. Case Report Patient 32 years old female, complaining of hoarseness for two days without other apparent symptoms. The examinations revealed no changes in the laryngeal structures and/or extra laryngeal. Stages of care have been described since the initial consultation to the recovery of the patient. Final Comments It is important to consider the psycho-emotional aspects involving patients with voice disorders since they may cause or modify the symptoms and affect the prognosis.
Species–genetic diversity correlations in habitat fragmentation can be biased by small sample sizes

Predicted parallel impacts of habitat fragmentation on genes and species lie at the core of conservation biology, yet tests of this rule are rare. In a recent article in Ecology Letters, Struebig et al. (2011) report that declining genetic diversity accompanies declining species diversity in tropical forest fragments. However, this study estimates diversity in many populations through extrapolation from very small sample sizes. Using the data of this recent work, we show that results estimated from the smallest sample sizes drive the species–genetic diversity correlation (SGDC), owing to a false‐positive association between habitat fragmentation and loss of genetic diversity. Small sample sizes are a persistent problem in habitat fragmentation studies, the results of which often do not fit simple theoretical models. It is essential, therefore, that data assessing the proposed SGDC are sufficient in order that conclusions be robust.
Behavioral and neurophysiological correlates of auditory perception and memory : evidence from congenital amusia

The aim of this PhD thesis is to further our understanding about how humans perceive and nmemorize complex sound structures. We investigated the behavioral and cerebral correlates of auditory perception and memory for isolated tones, musical sequences, and verbal material both in typical listeners and in individuals presenting a lifelong disorder of music perception that has been referred to as congenital amusia. Using behavioral approaches, we demonstrated that amusic individuals’ deficits in the pitch dimension are related to impairments both in the encoding of short tones and in the short term retention of pitch information. Using multimodal neuroimaging methods (MRI, MEG, fMRI) we observed anatomical and functional abnormalities in the amusic brain, mostly in the right frontal cortex and in the right auditory cortex. Functional abnormalities were observed at each level of processing in short-term memory tasks, that is for encoding, retention, and retrieval of the melodic information. In contrast, for verbal material, amusic participants recruited similar brain regions as those observed for controls, thus suggesting that separate neural resources support tonal and verbal memory. Based on the conclusions made on these first three studies, we explored two approaches aiming to boost pitch processing abilities in amusia; 1) by investigating whether implicit knowledge of the western tonal musical system could influence their short-term memory abilities, and 2) by exploring whether amusic individuals’ altered encoding of short tones could be improved by audio-visual interactions These investigations were encouraging and provide the first steps toward designing tools of rehabilitation in this musical disorder. To conclude, it is worth underlining that these studies also improve our understanding of music processing in general, which is the subject of an increasing research domain that is often making the parallel to language processing