Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A job-related fitness test for the Dutch police.

BACKGROUND The variety of tasks that characterize police work highlights the importance of being in good physical condition. AIMS To take a first step at standardizing the administration of a job-related test to assess a person's ability to perform the physical demands of the core tasks of police work. The principal research questions were: are test scores related to gender, age and function and are test scores related to body mass index (BMI) and the number of hours of physical exercise? METHODS Data of 6999 police officers, geographically spread over all parts of The Netherlands, who completed a physical competence test over a 1 year period were analysed. RESULTS Women performed the test significantly more slowly than men. The mean test score was also related to age; the older a person the longer it took to complete the test. A higher BMI was associated with less hours of body exercise a week and a slower test performance, both in women and men. CONCLUSIONS The differences in individual test scores, based on gender and age, have implications for future strategy within the police force. From a viewpoint of 'same job, same standard' one has to accept that test-score differences may lead to the exclusion of certain staff. However, from a viewpoint of 'diversity as a business issue', one may have to accept that on average, both female and older police officers are physically less tailored to their jobs than their male and younger colleagues.
Biophysical metabolic modeling of complex bacterial colony morphology

Microbial colony growth is shaped by the physics of biomass propagation and nutrient diffusion, and by the metabolic reactions that organisms activate as a function of the surrounding environment. While microbial colonies have been explored using minimal models of growth and motility, full integration of biomass propagation and metabolism is still lacking. Here, building upon our framework for Computation of Microbial Ecosystems in Time and Space (COMETS), we combine dynamic flux balance modeling of metabolism with collective biomass propagation and demographic fluctuations to provide nuanced simulations of E. coli colonies. Simulations produced realistic colony morphology, consistent with our experiments. They characterize the transition between smooth and furcated colonies and the decay of genetic diversity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that under certain conditions, biomass can accumulate along “metabolic rings” that are reminiscent of coffee-stain rings, but have a completely different origin. Our approach is a key step towards predictive microbial ecosystems modeling.
Deficient α smooth muscle actin expression as a cause of intestinal pseudo-obstruction: fact or fiction?

Aims: To test the hypothesis that deficient α smooth muscle actin (ASMA) expression in intestinal smooth muscle, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, is specifically associated with clinical evidence of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Methods: Seventeen archival, formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded samples of small intestine and 12 samples of large intestine were studied. Two of the small bowel samples and one large bowel sample were from patients with symptoms of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. The controls were longitudinal surgical margins from hemicolectomies performed for carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was performed using primary antibodies to ASMA, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), and desmin. The relative intensities of immunohistochemical expression in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the muscularis propria were assessed in each sample, for all three markers. Results: All samples showed strong SMMHC and desmin expression in the inner circular and outer longitudinal layers of the muscularis propria. Both small intestinal samples from the cases and 11 of 15 controls showed no or minimal ASMA expression in the inner circular layer, with the remaining four controls also showing ASMA labelling in this layer that was weaker than within the longitudinal muscle. In contrast, intense ASMA expression was seen in both muscle layers within the large intestine in the remaining case, and in the controls. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence from this study to support the hypothesis that ASMA deficiency in intestinal smooth muscle, as determined by immunohistochemistry on archival tissues, is specifically associated with intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
Implications of an Economic Theory of Conflict: Hindu-Muslim Violence in India

We model intergroup conflict driven by economic changes within groups. We show that if group incomes are low, increasing group incomes raises violence against that group and lowers violence generated by it. We then apply the model to data on Hindu-Muslim violence in India. Our main result is that an increase in per capita Muslim expenditures generates a large and significant increase in future religious conflict. An increase in Hindu expenditures has a negative or no effect. These findings speak to the origins of Hindu-Muslim violence in post-Independence India.
Exploring working memory updating processes of the human subcortex using 7 Tesla fMRI

The prefrontal-cortex basal ganglia working memory (PBWM) model (Hazy et al., 2007; O’Reilly & Frank, 2006) proposes that working memory representations are updated via a striatal gating mechanism but lacks conclusive empirical support for the postulated subcortical involvement. A growing body of research suggests that dopamine is also involved in working memory updating (Braver & Cohen, 2000; Cools & D’Esposito, 2011; D’Ardenne et al., 2012; Jongkees, 2020). In this study, we investigated subcortical–in particular, possible dopaminergic–involvement in working memory updating subprocesses using the reference-back task and ultra-high field 7 Tesla fMRI. Using a scanning protocol optimized for BOLD-sensitivity in the subcortex, we found no evidence of subcortical activation during working memory gate opening, which challenges the PBWM model’s striatal gating mechanism. However, during gate closing, subcortical activation was observed. Furthermore, a ready-to-update mode demonstrated large-spread subcortical activation, including basal ganglia nuclei, suggesting that the basal ganglia are engaged in general updating processes rather than specifically controlling the working memory gate. Evidence for activity in dopaminergic midbrain regions was also observed in both contrasts. Also, substituting new information into working memory elicited activation in dopamine-producing midbrain regions along with the striatum, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex, indicating engagement of the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop possibly driven by dopaminergic activity. These findings expand our understanding of subcortical regions involved in working memory updating, providing additional insights into the role of the dopaminergic midbrain.
A Mechanism for Asymmetric Cell Division Resulting in Proliferative Asynchronicity

All cancers contain an admixture of rapidly and slowly proliferating cancer cells. This proliferative heterogeneity complicates the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer because slow proliferators are hard to eradicate, can be difficult to detect, and may cause disease relapse sometimes years after apparently curative treatment. While clonal selection theory explains the presence and evolution of rapid proliferators within cancer cell populations, the circumstances and molecular details of how slow proliferators are produced is not well understood. Here, a β1-integrin/FAK/mTORC2/AKT1–associated signaling pathway is discovered that can be triggered for rapidly proliferating cancer cells to undergo asymmetric cell division and produce slowly proliferating AKT1low daughter cells. In addition, evidence indicates that the proliferative output of this signaling cascade involves a proteasome-dependent degradation process mediated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase TTC3. These findings reveal that proliferative heterogeneity within cancer cell populations, in part, is produced through a targetable signaling mechanism, with potential implications for understanding cancer progression, dormancy, and therapeutic resistance. Implications: These findings provide a deeper understanding of the proliferative heterogeneity that exists in the tumor environment and highlight the importance of designing future therapies against multiple proliferative contexts. Visual Overview. A proposed mechanism for producing slowly proliferating cancer cells. http://mcr.aacrjournals. org/content/early/2015/01/09/1541-7786.MCR-14-0474/F1.large. jpg. Mol Cancer Res; 13(2); 223–30. ©2015 AACR. Visual Overview
The HER2 phenotype of circulating tumor cells in HER2-positive early breast cancer: A translational research project of a prospective randomized phase III trial

Background HER2 is one of the predominant therapeutic targets in breast cancer. The metastatic selection process may lead to discrepancies between the HER2 status of the primary tumor and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). This study analyzed the HER2 status of CTCs in patients with HER2-positive primary breast cancer at the time of diagnosis. Aim of the study was to assess potential discordance of HER2 status between primary tumor and CTCs, as this may have important implications for the use of HER2-targeted therapy. Methods The number and HER2 status of CTCs out of 30ml peripheral blood were assessed in 642 patients using the CellSearch System (Janssen Diagnostics, USA). The cutoff for CTC positivity was the presence of at least 1 CTC, and the cutoff for HER2 positivity of CTCs was the presence of at least 1 CTC with a strong HER2 staining. Results 258 (40.2%) of the 642 patients were positive for CTCs (median 2; range 1–1,689). 149 (57.8%) of these 258 patients had at least 1 CTC with strong HER2 staining. The presence of HER2-positive CTCs was not associated with tumor size (p = 0.335), histopathological grading (p = 0.976), hormone receptor status (ER: p = 0.626, PR: p = 0.263) or axillary lymph node involvement (p = 0.430). Overall, 83 (32.2%) of the CTC-positive patients exclusively had CTCs with strong HER2 staining, whereas 31 (12.0%) had only CTCs with negative HER2 staining. Within-sample variation in the HER2 status of CTCs was found in 86 (57.8%) of the 149 patients with more than 1 CTC. Conclusion This study demonstrated that discordance between the HER2 expression of CTCs and that of the primary tumor frequently occurs in early breast cancer. Future follow-up evaluation will assess whether this discrepancy may contribute to trastuzumab resistance.
Genetic Structure, Linkage Disequilibrium and Association Mapping of Verticillium Wilt Resistance in Elite Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Germplasm Population

Understanding the population structure and linkage disequilibrium in an association panel can effectively avoid spurious associations and improve the accuracy in association mapping. In this study, one hundred and fifty eight elite cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm from all over the world, which were genotyped with 212 whole genome-wide marker loci and phenotyped with an disease nursery and greenhouse screening method, were assayed for population structure, linkage disequilibrium, and association mapping of Verticillium wilt resistance. A total of 480 alleles ranging from 2 to 4 per locus were identified from all collections. Model-based analysis identified two groups (G1 and G2) and seven subgroups (G1a–c, G2a–d), and differentiation analysis showed that subgroup having a single origin or pedigree was apt to differentiate with those having a mixed origin. Only 8.12% linked marker pairs showed significant LD (P<0.001) in this association panel. The LD level for linked markers is significantly higher than that for unlinked markers, suggesting that physical linkage strongly influences LD in this panel, and LD level was elevated when the panel was classified into groups and subgroups. The LD decay analysis for several chromosomes showed that different chromosomes showed a notable change in LD decay distances for the same gene pool. Based on the disease nursery and greenhouse environment, 42 marker loci associated with Verticillium wilt resistance were identified through association mapping, which widely were distributed among 15 chromosomes. Among which 10 marker loci were found to be consistent with previously identified QTLs and 32 were new unreported marker loci, and QTL clusters for Verticillium wilt resistanc on Chr.16 were also proved in our study, which was consistent with the strong linkage in this chromosome. Our results would contribute to association mapping and supply the marker candidates for marker-assisted selection of Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton.
THE MOBILIZATION AND EXTRACELLULAR RELEASE OF GRANULAR ENZYMES FROM HUMAN LEUKOCYTES DURING PHAGOCYTOSIS

The importance of granular (lysosomal) enzymes from neutrophils in producing the tissue damage of acute inflammation has been suggested by much indirect and some direct evidence. This study has investigated the kinetics of release and subsequent fate of granular enzymes from phagocytizing human leukocytes The following observations are made: (a) During phagocytosis, the granular enzyme lysozyme is released from leukocytes into the extracellular medium. (b) Release of lysozyme increases as phagocytic challenge increases, but attains a maximum. (c) Release of lysozyme accompanies phagocytosis and is not a delayed event. (d) The lack of release of a nongranular enzyme, lactic dehydrogenase, indicates that cell damage is not a necessary condition of enzyme release. (e) Like lysozyme, β-glucuronidase is released from phagocytizing leukocytes. Acid α-naphthyl phosphatase and cathepsin also appear to be released, but are not found in appreciable amounts in the extracellular medium, in part because of their lability in solution. These results support the concept that extracellular release of granular enzymes may be a useful secretory function of inflammatory leukocytes which becomes damaging to the host in certain circumstances.
Risk Factors for Poor Attendance in a Family-Based Pediatric Obesity Intervention Program for Young Children

Objective: This study examined the role of demographic characteristics, psychological factors, and family functioning on attendance in a randomized controlled trial of a family-based pediatric obesity program. Method: Participants included 155 children between the ages of 4 and 7 years (M age = 5.77, 57.4% female, 73.6% black, M body mass index = 25.5) and their primary caregivers who were randomized to the treatment group. Three groups of participants were created based on their patterns of attendance during the program: (1) noncompleters, (2) partial completers, and (3) completers. Results: Results indicated no differences among the attendance groups in child gender, child body mass index, or child psychological functioning. Significant group differences were found with respect to race/ethnicity, parent marital status, and family income, such that noncompleters were more likely to be racial/ethnic minorities, to living in single parent households, and to have lower incomes than partial completers and completers. After controlling for the effects of these sociodemographic risk factors, noncompleters, and partial completers reported more family dysfunction characterized by high levels of disengagement than completers. Conclusion: Adapting existing weight management programs to include a focus on family engagement in the early stages of treatment may help to improve participation in family-based obesity interventions targeting high risk, socioeconomically disadvantaged youth.
Objects automatically potentiate action: an fMRI study of implicit processing

Behavioural data have shown that the perception of an object automatically potentiates motor components (affordances) of possible actions toward that object, irrespective of the subject's intention. We carried out an event‐related fMRI study to investigate the influence of the intrinsic properties of an object on motor responses which were either compatible or incompatible with the action that the object affords. The subjects performed power or precision grip responses based on the categorization of objects into natural or man‐made. The objects were either ‘small’ (usually grasped with a precision grip) or ‘large’ (usually grasped with a power grip). As expected, the motor responses were fastest to objects that afforded the same grip (congruent) and slowest to objects that afforded the other grip (incongruent). Imaging revealed activations which covaried with compatibility in the parietal, dorsal premotor and inferior frontal cortex. We suggest that the greater the difference in reaction times between congruent and incongruent trials, the greater the competition between the action afforded by the object and the action specified by the task, and thus the greater the activation within this network.
Suplatast Tosilate Prevents Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice

Increasing evidence suggests that the development of pulmonary fibrosis is a T helper (Th) 2-mediated process. Suplatast tosilate is a Th2 cytokine inhibitor that is widely used as an asthma controller in Japan. Therefore, we hypothesized that suplatast tosilate might have an inhibitory effect on the development of pulmonary fibrosis. To investigate this effect, suplatast tosilate was administered to mice after the intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM). The effect of suplatast tosilate was studied by analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and a hydroxyproline assay. We found that the treatment of mice with suplatast tosilate significantly reduced the degree of pulmonary fibrosis. Because a significantly elevated Th2 response was not detected in the C57BL/6 mice after BLM administration, the effect of suplatast tosilate on Th2 cytokines could not be demonstrated. Interestingly, however, the up-regulation of the monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 levels in the BAL fluid was found to be suppressed. Following these results, we also demonstrated that suplatast tosilate effectively inhibited the production of MCP-1 in alveolar macrophages (AMs). These findings suggest that suplatast tosilate has both anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, which were associated with a suppressed MCP-1 expression in AMs. Thus, suplatast tosilate, which is already widely used in Japan, may warrant further consideration as a potentially useful treatment for pulmonary fibrosis.
A common heritable factor influences prosocial obligations across multiple domains

Although it has been shown that prosocial behaviour is heritable, it has not yet been established whether narrower aspects of prosociality are heritable, nor whether a common mechanism influences prosociality across its multiple domains. Here, we examine civic duty, work-place commitment and concern for the welfare of others with a study of prosocial obligations in 958 adult twin-pairs. Multivariate modelling indicated the existence of genetic factors underlying general prosocial obligations in females, with familial effects (genetic and shared-environment effects were indistinguishable) influencing this general mechanism in males. At the domain-specific level, modest genetic effects were observed in females for civic and work obligations, with shared-environment effects influencing welfare obligations. In males, genetic influences were observed for welfare obligation, with unique environments affecting work and civic duty.
Control of transcription elongation by GreA determines rate of gene expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Transcription by RNA polymerase may be interrupted by pauses caused by backtracking or misincorporation that can be resolved by the conserved bacterial Gre-factors. However, the consequences of such pausing in the living cell remain obscure. Here, we developed molecular biology and transcriptome sequencing tools in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae and provide evidence that transcription elongation is rate-limiting on highly expressed genes. Our results suggest that transcription elongation may be a highly regulated step of gene expression in S. pneumoniae. Regulation is accomplished via long-living elongation pauses and their resolution by elongation factor GreA. Interestingly, mathematical modeling indicates that long-living pauses cause queuing of RNA polymerases, which results in ‘transcription traffic jams’ on the gene and thus blocks its expression. Together, our results suggest that long-living pauses and RNA polymerase queues caused by them are a major problem on highly expressed genes and are detrimental for cell viability. The major and possibly sole function of GreA in S. pneumoniae is to prevent formation of backtracked elongation complexes.
Effect of Wuzhi Tablet (Schisandra sphenanthera extract) on the Pharmacokinetics of Cyclosporin A in Rats

In our previous reports, Wuzhi tablet (an herbal preparation of ethanol extract of Wuweizi (Schisandra sphenanthera)) can significantly increase the blood concentration of tacrolimus and paclitaxel in rats by inhibiting the CYP3A‐mediated metabolism and the P‐gp‐mediated efflux. Cyclosporin A (CsA), a well‐known immunosuppressant agent, is also a substrate of CYP3A and P‐gp. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether and how WZ affects pharmacokinetics of CsA in rats. The AUC0–48h and Cmax of CsA were increased by 40.1% and 13.1%, respectively, with a single oral co‐administration of WZ and high dose of CsA (37.8 mg/kg). Interestingly, after a single oral co‐administration of WZ and low dose of CsA (1.89 mg/kg), the AUC0–36 h and Cmax of CsA were dramatically increased by 293.1% (from 1103.2 ± 293.0 to 4336.5 ± 1728.3 ng.h/mL; p < 0.05) and 84.1% (from 208.5 ± 67.9 to 383.1 ± 92.5 ng/mL; p < 0.05), respectively. The CL/F was decreased from 1.7 L/h/kg to 0.5 L/h/kg. Thus, the effect of WZ on high dose of CsA was not significant, but pharmacokinetic parameters of CsA at low dose were significantly influenced by co‐administration of WZ. The herb–drug interaction should be taken into consideration at this situation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Study of Flood Disaster Risk Communication Model and Adaptive Behaviours for River-Watershed residents in Taiwan

: Due to global climate change, rainfall patterns have become more centralized and are causing serious damage more frequently and heavily. After the experiences of typhoons in Taiwan, the importance of risk communication with residents, especially in the vulnerable river watershed area, has become the main issue of disaster prevention policy; however, this effort is frustrated by the lack of related academic research. This study aims to analyse key factors in risk communication mechanisms and how they influence the decision-making of adaptive behaviours. Firstly, this study builds a conceptual framework of the risk communication process to determine how adaptive behaviours are triggered and guided by risk communication. Questionnaires based on this framework were sent to households in the Kaoping River watershed area to verify its utility using a structural equation model (SEM). Based on the framework, an empirical analysis was performed to analyse the key factors influencing decision-making of adaptive behaviours using multinomial logistic regression. The results show that adaptive behaviours are affected by internal awareness of disaster and by risk communication mechanisms and the external environment. The crucial communication channels through family, friends, neighbours and local governments are highly effective. The key factors influencing decision-making of adaptive behaviours are awareness of disaster and adaptive behaviours. People with higher awareness of disaster and adaptive behaviours are more likely to have positive adaptive behaviours. Furthermore, due to the interaction of environments, risk communication patterns and socioeconomic attributes, people from different communities have different adaptive behaviours. Based on the empirical results, some risk communication measures are proposed to improve disaster-prevention strategies.