Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in trunk rotation during baseball batting between skilled players and unskilled novices

We investigated differences in trunk rotation patterns during baseball batting in eight skilled (collegiate level) players and nine unskilled novices using high-speed video cameras. The maximum angle during the backswing, angle at bat-ball impact, and angular displacement during the forward swing were analyzed for data on upper torso, pelvis, and torso-pelvis interaction (trunk twist) angles. We also noted movement variability in these angles over 10 trials, which was calculated as the standard deviation. The timing of the maximum angle during the backswing and variability was also analyzed. Statistical analysis revealed that angular displacements in the upper torso, pelvis, and torso-pelvis interaction were significantly larger in skilled players than in unskilled novices (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.05, respectively). The timing of the maximum pelvis angle during the backswing was significantly later in skilled players than in unskilled novices (p < 0.05). Movement variability in angular displacement during the forward swing and timing during the backswing were significantly greater in unskilled novices than skilled players. Although many previous studies reported the importance of angular velocity in trunk rotation during baseball batting, our results indicate that angular displacement and movement variability during trunk rotation are also key components for understanding the proficiency of skilled baseball players and unskilled novices.
Leaf Morphological Characters Can Be a Factor for Intra-Varietal Preference of Whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) among Eggplant Varieties

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) MEAM1, is considered a serious pest of horticultural and many other crops. While eggplant (Solanum melongena) is one of the most favored host plants, the whiteflies exhibit preferences among different varieties. We hypothesized that certain morphological leaf characteristics of different varieties, like leaf trichome density, trichome length, leaf lamina thickness and leaf color, may affect whitefly landing, feeding and oviposition. In this study, we investigated the variation in leaf morphological characters among selected eggplant varieties and evaluated the effect of these leaf characteristics in rendering eggplant varieties either susceptible or resistant to B. tabaci. We evaluated eight eggplant varieties in choice feeding tests, and we found that the varieties JinSheng Zilongchangqie (JSZ) and H149 were the highly preferred varieties with the highest numbers of whitefly adults and eggs. Significantly lower numbers of whitefly adult eggs were found on the resistant variety Tuo Lu Bamu (TLB). The varieties JinGuangbo Luqie (JGL), JinGuangbo Ziquanqie (JGZ), DaYang Ziguanqie (DYZ), QinXing Ziguanqie (QXZ), and QinXing Niuxinqie (QXN) were moderately favored by B. tabaci. Leaf trichome density, trichome length and leaf lamina thickness were positively correlated with numbers of whitefly adults and eggs. B. tabaci was less attracted to the leaves that reflect long and middle wavelength light (higher R and G values) than to the bright green leaves (medium G value), but the short wavelength light (higher B value) had no significant effect on whitefly preference. The degree of hue had a positive effect, and saturation and brightness had a negative effect on whitefly attraction.
The Impact of Molecular Genetic in Acute Myeloid Leukemias

The discovery and application of advanced molecular techniques, such as gene and microRNA expression profiling, whole genome and exome sequencing and methylation assays, allowed for the identification of recurrent molecular abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that have revolutionized our understanding of the genetic landscape of the disease. Moreover, these modalities have emerged as valuable tools that permit a more comprehensive and detailed molecular characterization of AML, helping in the prediction of prognosis, particularly within the context of cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML). This review will discuss the major techniques and platforms that have been used to identify novel recurrent gene mutations in AML and briefly describe how these discoveries have impacted on outcome prediction.
Gender inequalities in excess adiposity and anaemia combine in a large double burden of malnutrition gap detrimental to women in an urban area in North Africa

Abstract Objective The nutrition transition has exacerbated the gender gap in health in the Middle East and North Africa region as the increase in excess adiposity has been much higher among women than men. This is not exclusive of the persistence of anaemia, generally also more prevalent among women. We assessed the magnitude and sociodemographic factors associated with gender inequality vis-à-vis the double burden of excess adiposity and anaemia. Design Cross-sectional study, stratified two-stage cluster sample. BMI (=weight/height2) ≥25·0 kg/m2 defined overweight and BMI≥30·0 kg/m2 obesity. Anaemia was defined as Hb <120 g/l for women, <130 g/l for men. Gender inequalities vis-à-vis the within-subject coexistence of excess adiposity and anaemia were assessed by women v. men relative prevalence ratios (RPR). Their variation with sociodemographic characteristics used models including gender × covariate interactions. Setting Greater Tunis area in 2009–2010. Subjects Adults aged 20–49 years (women, n 1689; men, n 930). Results Gender inequalities in excess adiposity were high (e.g. overweight: women 64·9 % v. men 48·4 %; RPR=2·1; 95 % CI 1·6, 2·7) and much higher for anaemia (women 38·0 % v. men 7·2 %; RPR=8·2; 95 % CI 5·5, 12·4). They were striking for overweight and anaemia (women 24·1 % v. men 3·4 %; RPR=16·2; 95 % CI 10·3, 25·4). Gender inequalities in overweight adjusted for covariates increased with age but decreased with professional activity and household wealth score; gender inequality in anaemia or overweight and anaemia was more uniformly distributed. Conclusions Women were much more at risk than men, from both over- and undernutrition perspectives. Both the underlying gender-related and sex-linked biological determinants of this remarkable double burden of malnutrition inequality must be addressed to promote gender equity in health.
Evidence for Metabolic Provisioning by a Common Invertebrate Endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis, during Periods of Nutritional Stress

Wolbachia are ubiquitous inherited endosymbionts of invertebrates that invade host populations by modifying host reproductive systems. However, some strains lack the ability to impose reproductive modification and yet are still capable of successfully invading host populations. To explain this paradox, theory predicts that such strains should provide a fitness benefit, but to date none has been detected. Recently completed genome sequences of different Wolbachia strains show that these bacteria may have the genetic machinery to influence iron utilization of hosts. Here we show that Wolbachia infection can confer a positive fecundity benefit for Drosophila melanogaster reared on iron-restricted or -overloaded diets. Furthermore, iron levels measured from field-collected flies indicated that nutritional conditions in the field were overall comparable to those of flies reared in the laboratory on restricted diets. These data suggest that Wolbachia may play a previously unrecognized role as nutritional mutualists in insects.
System Identification Methods for Aircraft Flight Control Development and Validation

System-identification methods compose a mathematical model, or series of models, from measurements of inputs and outputs of dynamic systems. The extracted models allow the characterization of the response of the overall aircraft or component subsystem behavior, such as actuators and on-board signal processing algorithms. This paper discusses the use of frequency-domain system-identification methods for the development and integration of aircraft flight-control systems. The extraction and analysis of models of varying complexity from nonparametric frequency-responses to transfer-functions and high-order state-space representations is illustrated using the Comprehensive Identification from FrEquency Responses (CIFER) system-identification facility. Results are presented for test data of numerous flight and simulation programs at the Ames Research Center including rotorcraft, fixed-wing aircraft, advanced short takeoff and vertical landing (ASTOVL), vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL), tiltrotor aircraft, and rotor experiments in the wind tunnel. Excellent system characterization and dynamic response prediction is achieved for this wide class of systems. Examples illustrate the role of system-identification technology in providing an integrated flow of dynamic response data around the entire life-cycle of aircraft development from initial specifications, through simulation and bench testing, and into flight-test optimization.
Genes, development and evolution of the placenta.

Through studies of transgenic and mutant mice, it is possible to describe molecular pathways that control the development of all major trophoblast cell subtypes and structures of the placenta. For example, the proliferation of trophoblast stem cells is dependent on FGF signalling and downstream transcription factors Cdx2, Eomes and Err2. Several bHLH transcription factors regulate the progression from trophoblast stem cells to spongiotrophoblast and to trophoblast giant cells (Id1/2, Mash2, Hand1, Stra13). Intercellular actions critical for maintaining stable precursor cell populations are dependent on the gap junction protein Cx31 and the growth factor Nodal. Differentiation towards syncytiotrophoblast as well as the initiation of chorioallantoic (villous) morphogenesis is regulated by the Gcm1 transcription factor, and subsequent labyrinth development is dependent on Wnt, HGF and FGF signalling. These insights suggest that most of the genes that evolved to regulate placental development are either identical to ones used in other organ systems (e.g., FGF and epithelial branching morphogenesis), were co-opted to take on new functions (e.g., AP-2gamma, Dlx3, Hand1), or arose via gene duplication to take on a specialized placental function (e.g., Gcm1, Mash2). Many of the human orthologues of these critical genes show restricted expression patterns that are consistent with a conserved function. Such information is aiding the comparison of the human and mouse placenta. In addition, the prospect of a conserved function clearly suggests potential mechanisms for explaining complications of human placental development.
Isotopic composition and origin of polar precipitation in present and glacial climate simulations

The Hamburg atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) ECHAM-4 is used to identify the main source regions of precipitation falling on Greenland and Antarctica. Both water isotopes H218O and HDO are explicitly built into the water cycle of the AGCM, and in addition the capability to trace water from different source regions was added to the model. Present and LGM climate simulations show that water from the most important source regions has an isotopic signature similar to the mean isotope values of the total precipitation amount. But water from other source regions (with very different isotopic signatures) contributes an additional, non-negligible part of the total precipitation amount on both Greenland and Antarctica. Analyses of the temperature-isotope-relations for both polar regions reveal a solely bias of the glacial isotope signal on Greenland, which is caused by a strong change in the seasonal deposition of precipitation originating from nearby polar seas and the northern Atlantic. Although the performed simulations under LGM boundary conditions show a decrease of the δ18O values in precipitation in agreement with ice core measurements, the AGCM fails to reproduce the observed simultaneous decrease of the deuterium excess signal.
Prevalence of Acute-Onset Subtypes in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

BACKGROUND Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, debilitating illness. When childhood OCD symptom onset is described as acute and severe, diagnostic criteria for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) should be considered. However, the frequency and differentiating features of these putative syndromes within pediatric OCD remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence and characteristics of those meeting PANDAS and/or PANS criteria within pediatric OCD, as determined by parent report and clinician interview. METHODS Consecutive youth presenting to a subspecialty pediatric OCD clinic were rigorously assessed through the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV, the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, and through self- and parent-report measures, including a medical questionnaire. Strict diagnostic criteria for PANDAS and PANS were applied to determine prevalence rates, and comparative analyses were performed between subgroups. RESULTS Among 136 youth with a lifetime OCD diagnosis, 5% (n = 7; 95% adjusted Wald interval: 1%-10%) met proposed criteria for PANDAS and/or PANS, of whom two met PANDAS criteria, four met PANS criteria, and one met criteria for both. Those in the PANDAS/PANS subgroup were more likely to have autoimmune illness, less likely to report symmetry factor symptoms, and had greater OCD-related family impairment during their worst OCD episode. CONCLUSION A small yet significant percentage of pediatric OCD outpatients met criteria for PANDAS and/or PANS, justifying routine screening and attention to related characteristics during assessment and management. Longitudinal studies of these putative subtypes are warranted.
Adipocytokines and the metabolic complications of obesity.

CONTEXT Adipose tissue is increasingly recognized as an active endocrine organ with many secretory products and part of the innate immune system. With obesity, macrophages infiltrate adipose tissue, and numerous adipocytokines are released by both macrophages and adipocytes. Adipocytokines play important roles in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and associated metabolic complications such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and premature heart disease. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Published literature was analyzed with the intent of addressing the role of the major adipose secretory proteins in human obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS This review analyzes the characteristics of different adipocytokines, including leptin, adiponectin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, resistin, retinol binding protein 4, visfatin, and others, and their roles in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS Inflamed fat in obesity secretes an array of proteins implicated in the impairment of insulin signaling. Further studies are needed to understand the triggers that initiate inflammation in adipose tissue and the role of each adipokine in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.
Synchronization in the prefrontal–striatal circuit tracks behavioural choice in a go–no‐go task in rats

Rodent striatum is involved in sensory‐motor transformations and reward‐related learning. Lesion studies suggest dorsolateral striatum, dorsomedial striatum and nucleus accumbens underlie stimulus–response transformations, goal‐directed behaviour and reward expectation, respectively. In addition, prefrontal inputs likely control these functions. Here, we set out to study how reward‐driven behaviour is mediated by the coordinated activity of these structures in the intact brain. We implemented a discrimination task requiring rats to either respond or suppress responding on a lever after the presentation of auditory cues in order to obtain rewards. Single unit activity in the striatal subregions and pre‐limbic cortex was recorded using tetrode arrays. Striatal units showed strong onset responses to auditory cues paired with an opportunity to obtain reward. Cue‐onset responses in both striatum and cortex were significantly modulated by previous errors suggesting a role of these structures in maintaining appropriate motivation or action selection during ongoing behaviour. Furthermore, failure to respond to the reward‐paired tones was associated with higher pre‐trial coherence among striatal subregions and between cortex and striatum suggesting a task‐negative corticostriatal network whose activity may be suppressed to enable processing of reward‐predictive cues. Our findings highlight that coordinated activity in a distributed network including both pre‐limbic cortex and multiple striatal regions underlies reward‐related decisions.
The Effects of Imagined Intergroup Contact on Attitudes Towards Male Bisexuals

Bisexual men regularly face prejudice from both heterosexual and homosexual individuals. These negative attitudes put stress on bisexual individuals that is associated with increased risk of mental illness, especially depression and suicide. There are currently no strategies with sufficient support from the literature to reduce this sexual prejudice. Imagined intergroup contact is a method used to reduce prejudice against an outgroup by asking people to imagine interacting with a member of an outgroup. The purpose of this research was to determine whether imagined intergroup contact was an effective intervention for reducing prejudice against bisexual men. Participants were randomly assigned to either the imagined contact group, in which they closed their eyes and imagined meeting a bisexual man for the first time from a third person perspective, or the control group, in which they imagined a nature scene. Participants then reported their intergroup anxiety, outgroup evaluation, perceived outgroup variability, attitudes towards bisexual men, and future intended contact. Results showed that there was no significant difference between the imagined contact group and the control group on any of the dependent measures. The effect of the imagination task, however, was moderated by participant gender. Although women had more favorable outgroup evaluations than men in the control group, there were no gender differences in outgroup evaluations in the experimental group. These results have implications for the effectiveness of the imagined intergroup contact method, as well as the way that gender influences sexual prejudice. Thesis Mentor:________________________
Collisionless dynamics of zonal flows in stellarator geometry

The collisionless time evolution of zonal flows in stellarator systems is investigated. An analytical solution of the kinetic and quasineutrality equations describing the residual zonal flow is derived for arbitrary three‐dimensional systems without approximations in the magnetic geometry. The theory allows for an arbitrary number of particle species. It has been found that in stellarators the residual zonal flows are not in general steady but oscillate with a certain frequency. This frequency is determined by the speed of the bounce‐averaged radial drifts of the particles trapped in the magnetic field and vanishes in tokamaks, where such net drifts are absent. A reduction of the bounce‐averaged radial drifts in configurations optimized with respect to neoclassical transport results in a smaller zonal‐flow frequency.
On the Doi-Onsager Model of Rigid Rod-Like Polymers

In this paper, we review the Doi-Onsager model of orientation dynamics for rod-like polymers in solution, and present additional analysis. We discuss existing results on existence and convergence of solutions, as well as properties of equilibria. In particular, this model captures a phase transition indicating a switch between aligned and disordered particle orientations. We use nonlinear and linear stability analysis to further characterize this bifurcation. A new proof of equilibrium distribution symmetry is given for the two-dimensional problem. Finally, we derive, analyze, and demonstrate a numerical scheme for the two-dimensional problem which preserves the mass, positivity, and entropy-decreasing nature of the system.
On the dynamics of disobedience: experimental investigations of defying unjust authority

Across six Experimental conditions with university student participants (N=600), we examined some of the dynamics underlying expressed defiance to unjust authority. Results revealed disobedience was best enacted by participants low in right-wing authoritarianism and was more likely to occur when: 1) in physical proximity of other rebels, 2) the authority made two demanding requests instead of one, and 3) there had been an earlier opposition to injustice. Results are discussed within the theoretical framework of bounded rationality.
Differential Cytokine Gene Expression in Granulomas from Lungs and Lymph Nodes of Cattle Experimentally Infected with Aerosolized Mycobacterium bovis

The hallmark lesion of tuberculosis in humans and animals is the granuloma. The granuloma represents a distinct host cellular immune response composed of epithelioid macrophages, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells, often surrounding a caseous necrotic core. Within the granuloma, host-pathogen interactions determine disease outcome. Factors within the granulomas such as cytokines and chemokines drive cell recruitment, activity, function and ultimately the success or failure of the host’s ability to control infection. Hence, an understanding of the granuloma-level cytokine response is necessary to understand tuberculosis pathogenesis. In-situ cytokine expression patterns were measured using a novel in situ hybridization assay, known as RNAScope® in granulomas of the lungs, tracheobronchial lymph nodes and caudal mediastinal lymph nodes of cattle experimentally infected with Mycobacterium bovis via aerosol exposure. In spite of microscopic morphological similarities, significant differences were seen between late stage granulomas of the lung compared to those of the tracheobronchial lymph nodes for IL-17A, IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL10 and IL-22 but not for TNF-α. Additionally, significant differences were noted between granulomas from two different thoracic lymph nodes that both receive afferent lymphatics from the lungs (i.e., tracheobronchial and caudal mediastinal lymph nodes) for TNF-α, IL-17A, IFN-γ, TGF-β and IL-10 but not for IL-22. These findings show that granuloma morphology alone is not a reliable indicator of granuloma function as granulomas of similar morphologies can have disparate cytokine expression patterns. Moreover, anatomically distinct lymph nodes (tracheobronchial vs caudal mediastinal) differ in cytokine expression patterns even when both receive afferent lymphatics from a lung containing tuberculoid granulomas. These findings show that selection of tissue and anatomic location are critical factors in assessing host immune response to M. bovis and should be considered carefully.