Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social relationships, leisure activity, and health in older adults.

OBJECTIVE Although the link between enhanced social relationships and better health has generally been well established, few studies have examined the role of leisure activity in this link. This study examined how leisure influences the link between social relationships and health in older age. METHOD Using data from the 2006 and 2010 waves of the nationally representative U.S. Health and Retirement Study and structural equation modeling analyses, we examined data on 2,965 older participants to determine if leisure activities mediated the link between social relationships and health in 2010, controlling for race, education level, and health in 2006. RESULTS The results demonstrated that leisure activities mediate the link between social relationships and health in these age groups. Perceptions of positive social relationships were associated with greater involvement in leisure activities, and greater involvement in leisure activities was associated with better health in older age. CONCLUSION The contribution of leisure to health in these age groups is receiving increasing attention, and the results of this study add to the literature on this topic, by identifying the mediating effect of leisure activity on the link between social relationships and health. Future studies aimed at increasing leisure activity may contribute to improved health outcomes in older adults.
Unique pattern of dietary adaptation in the dentition of Carnivora: its advantage and developmental origin

Carnivora is a successful taxon in terms of dietary diversity. We investigated the dietary adaptations of carnivoran dentition and the developmental background of their dental diversity, which may have contributed to the success of the lineage. A developmental model was tested and extended to explain the unique variability and exceptional phenotypes observed in carnivoran dentition. Carnivorous mammalian orders exhibited two distinct patterns of dietary adaptation in molars and only Carnivora evolved novel variability, exhibiting a high correlation between relative molar size and the shape of the first molar. Studies of Bmp7-hetero-deficient mice, which may exhibit lower Bmp7 expression, suggested that Bmp7 has pleiotropic effects on these two dental traits. Its effects are consistent with the pattern of dietary adaptation observed in Carnivora, but not that observed in other carnivorous mammals. A molecular evolutionary analysis revealed that Bmp7 sequence evolved by natural selection during ursid evolution, suggesting that it plays an evolutionary role in the variation of carnivoran dentition. Using mouse experiments and a molecular evolutionary analysis, we extrapolated the causal mechanism of the hitherto enigmatic ursid dentition (larger M2 than M1 and M3). Our results demonstrate how carnivorans acquired novel dental variability that benefits their dietary divergence.
The effects of hibernation and forced disuse (neurectomy) on bone properties in arctic ground squirrels

Bone loss is a well‐known medical consequence of disuse such as in long‐term space flight. Immobilization in many animals mimics the effects of space flight on bone mineral density. Decreases in metabolism are also thought to contribute to a loss of skeletal mass. Hibernating mammals provide a natural model of disuse and metabolic suppression. Hibernating ground squirrels have been shown to maintain bone strength despite long periods of disuse and decreased metabolism during torpor. This study examined if the lack of bone loss during torpor was a result of the decrease in metabolic rate during torpor or an evolutionary change in these animals affording protection against disuse. We delineated changes in bone density during natural disuse (torpor) and forced disuse (sciatic neurectomy) in the hind limbs of the arctic ground squirrel (AGS) over an entire year. We hypothesized that the animals would be resistant to bone loss due to immobilization and disuse during the winter hibernation season when metabolism is depressed but not the summer active season. This hypothesis was not supported. The animals maintained bone density (dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry) and most bone structural and mechanical properties in both seasons. This was observed in both natural and forced disuse, regardless of the known metabolic rate increase during the summer. However, trabecular bone volume fraction (microcomputed tomography) in the distal femur was lower in neurectomized AGS at the study endpoint. These results demonstrate a need to better understand the relationship between skeletal load (use) and bone density that may lead to therapeutics or strategies to maintain bone density in disuse conditions.
BMI-based framework for teaching and evaluating robot skills

Brain Machine Interface systems provide ways of communication and control of a variety of devices that range from domestic appliances to humanoid robots. Most BMI systems are designed exclusively to control devices using low-level commands, or high-level commands when devices with pre-programmed functionalities are available. In this paper, we build on our previous work on BMI-based Learning System in which we presented a different approach for designing BMI systems that incorporate learning capabilities that relieve the user from tedious low-level control. In this work, we extend the capabilities of our framework to allow a user to be able to teach and evaluate a robotic system by using a BMI. We provide general system architecture and demonstrate its applicability in new domains such as teaching a humanoid robot object manipulation skills and evaluating its performance. Our approach consists of 1) tele-operating robot's actions while robot's camera collects object's visual properties, 2) learning manipulation skills (i.e. push-left, lift-up, etc.) by approximating a posterior probability of commonly performed actions when observing similar properties, and 3) evaluating robot's performance by considering brain-based error perception of the human while he/she passively observes the robot performing the learned skill. This technique consists of monitoring EEG signals to detect a brain potential called error related negativity (ERN) that spontaneously occurs when the user perceives an error made by the robot. By using human error perception, we demonstrate that it is possible to evaluate robot actions and provide feedback to improve its learning performance. We present results from five human subjects who successfully used our framework to teach a humanoid robot how to manipulate diverse objects, and evaluate robot skills by visual observation.
Lysophosphatidylcholine Activates Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases 1/2 Through Reactive Oxygen Species in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) acts on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to produce a mitogenic response through the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2). In the present study, we examined the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lysoPC-stimulated ERK1/2 activation in cultured rat VSMCs. Treatment with lysoPC for 3 minutes caused a 2-fold increase in intracellular ROS that was blocked by the NADH/NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenylene iodonium (DPI). Antioxidants, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, glutathione monoester, or &agr; -tocopherol, inhibited ERK1/2 activation by lysoPC. Almost identical results were obtained in the VSMC line A10. Pretreatment of VSMCs with DPI but not allopurinol or potassium cyanide (KCN) abrogated the activation of ERK1/2. The Flag-tagged p47phox expressed in A10 cells was translocated from the cytosol to the membrane after 2 minutes of stimulation with lysoPC. The overexpression of dominant-negative p47phox in A10 cells suppressed lysoPC-induced ERK activation. The ROS-dependent ERK activation by lysoPC seems to involve protein kinase C- and Ras-dependent raf-1 activation. Induction of c-fos expression and enhanced AP-1 binding activity by lysoPC were also inhibited by DPI and NAC. Taken together, these data suggest that ROS generated by NADH/NADPH oxidase contribute to lysoPC-induced activation of ERK1/2 and subsequent growth promotion in VSMCs.
Towards a model of work engagement

Purpose - This paper aims to provide an overview of the recently introduced concept of work engagement. Design/methodology/approach - Qualitative and quantitative studies on work engagement are reviewed to uncover the manifestation of engagement, and reveal its antecedents and consequences. Findings - Work engagement can be defined as a state including vigor, dedication, and absorption. Job and personal resources are the main predictors of engagement; these resources gain their salience in the context of high job demands. Engaged workers are more creative, more productive, and more willing to go the extra mile. Originality/value - The findings of previous studies are integrated in an overall model that can be used to develop work engagement and advance career development in today's workplace.
A 2-MHz 60-W Zero-Voltage-Switching Synchronous Noninverting Buck–Boost Converter With Reduced Component Values

This brief presents a high-frequency high-efficiency zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) synchronous noninverting buck-boost converter for tens-of-Watt applications. By using two pairs of small auxiliary inductors and capacitors, the proposed converter can achieve ZVS under different load currents without increasing voltage stress across power field-effect transistors. The switching power loss is thus minimized to enable high-frequency operation of the converter. The proposed converter can be also configured into the boost mode or the buck mode with ZVS operation when the input voltage changes in order to maintain high power efficiency under different input voltages. The proposed noninverting buck-boost converter has been implemented to operate at 2 MHz and deliver 60-W output. The measured peak power efficiency achieves 94.3%, and the output capacitance and its volume can be reduced by at least 14 times and 4.8 times compared with other state-of-the-art counterparts.
Stress situations in dental practice.

Several studies indicate that stress is inherently present in dental practice. The present study was conducted to help identify the factors underlying this stress and the relative contribution of each factor. A questionnaire presented participating dentists with 52 potentially-stressful situations related to dental practice. Respondents were asked to rate each situation on a five-point scale, using a range of responses that varied from "not stressful" to "exceedingly stressful," and "I don't know" to "not applicable. " The present data are based on the ratings given by the 1,332 dentists practicing in Québec who answered the questionnaire (52 per cent). Ten situations received a mean score of greater than 3.0, and were therefore considered as above average stress-producing situations. The majority of these situations could be classified as being related either to dental procedures and office organization or to interpersonal relationships involving patients and/or office personnel. It was found that the older age groups showed significantly less stress for six of the 10 most stressful situations. This study has indicated the specific situations that most frequently lead to stress in dentists. The precise identification of these situations could lead to reduced stress through the elimination of its vague and insidious character. Furthermore, an understanding of the most common stress-causing situations allows the practitioner to take preventive measures to eliminate its damaging effects in the dental practice.
Strain‐specific genetics, anatomy and function of enteric neural serotonergic pathways in inbred mice

Serotonin (5‐HT) powerfully affects small intestinal motility and 5‐HT‐immunoreactive (IR) neurones are highly conserved between species. 5‐HT synthesis in central neurones and gastrointestinal mucosa depends on tissue‐specific isoforms of the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). RT‐PCR identified strain‐specific expression of a polymorphism (1473C/G) of the tph2 gene in longitudinal muscle–myenteric plexus preparations of C57Bl/6 and Balb/c mice. The former expressed the high‐activity C allele, the latter the low‐activity G allele. Confocal microscopy was used to examine close contacts between 5‐HT‐IR varicosities and myenteric neurones immunoreactive for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) or calretinin in these two strains. Significantly more close contacts were identified to NOS‐ (P < 0.05) and calretinin‐IR (P < 0.01) neurones in C57Bl/6 jejunum (NOS 1.6 ± 0.3, n= 52; calretinin 5.2 ± 0.4, n= 54), than Balb/c jejunum (NOS 0.9 ± 0.2, n= 78; calretinin 3.5 ± 0.3, n= 98). Propagating contractile complexes (PCCs) were identified in the isolated jejunum by constructing spatiotemporal maps from video recordings of cannulated segments in vitro. These clusters of contractions usually arose towards the anal end and propagated orally. Regular PCCs were initiated at intraluminal pressures of 6 cmH2O, and abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 μm). Jejunal PCCs from C57Bl/6 mice were suppressed by a combination of granisetron (1 μm, 5‐HT3 antagonist) and SB207266 (10 nm, 5‐HT4 antagonist), but PCCs from Balb/c mice were unaffected. There were, however, no strain‐specific differences in sensitivity of longitudinal muscle contractions to exogenous 5‐HT or blockade of 5‐HT3 and 5‐HT4 receptors. These data associate a genetic difference with significant structural and functional consequences for enteric neural serotonergic pathways in the jejunum.
Feature-based detection of facial landmarks from neutral and expressive facial images

Feature-based method for detecting landmarks from facial images was designed. The method was based on extracting oriented edges and constructing edge maps at two resolution levels. Edge regions with characteristic edge pattern formed landmark candidates. The method ensured invariance to expressions while detecting eyes. Nose and mouth detection was deteriorated by happiness and disgust.
Portfolio Assessment in Teacher Education: Impact on Preservice Teachers' Knowledge and Attitudes

Cet article presente un travail de recherche sur l'efficacite des carnets d'appreciation pour l'evaluation des progres des eleves, de leurs competences et de leurs performances en classe. Les chercheurs se sont interesses principalement a l'usage que font les enseignants en formation de ces carnets
Decision making in the LDA space: generalised gradient direction metric

We consider the problem of face authentication in the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) space and investigate the effect of different scoring functions on the performance of the authentication system. First the theory of optimal metric for measuring the similarity between a pair of face images presented in J. Kittler et al. (2000) is extended to cope with general class specific covariance structures. The resulting gradient metric is experimentally compared with the commonly used normalised correlation and the original gradient metric. The merit of global and client specific thresholding is also investigated. The study is performed on the BANCA database [E. Bailly-Bailliere et al., 2003] using internationally agreed experimental protocols. The results suggest that the novel metric is superior in scenarios where the quality of input face data is comparable to the quality of data used for determining the LDA space. In other cases, the weaker model deploying the isotropic covariance matrix in working out the gradient direction is preferable.
African Self-Consciousness and the Mental Health of African-Americans

Today we hear that conventional forms of mental illness (e.g., neurotic and psychotic reactions, drug addiction and abuse, suicidal behavior, deviant sexual behavior, and emotional stress generally) among African-Americans are approaching alarmingly high rates. Current estimates suggest that 1 out of every 20 to 25 urban Blacks is likely to encounter one of the traditional Western treatment-correctional institutions each year. Beyond these alarming statistics, consider the sociopolitical plight of Black people throughout the world today, amd especially in Africa and America, much of which has psychological implications itself. For example, Blacks are being oppressed by Europeans (and have been for some time) throughout the world. We are almost totally economically dependent on Europeans and our life-support resources
Nuclear localization of the dehydrin OpsDHN1 is determined by histidine-rich motif

The cactus OpsDHN1 dehydrin belongs to a large family of disordered and highly hydrophilic proteins known as Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins, which accumulate during the late stages of embryogenesis and in response to abiotic stresses. Herein, we present the in vivo OpsDHN1 subcellular localization by N-terminal GFP translational fusion; our results revealed a cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of the GFP::OpsDHN1 protein in Nicotiana benthamiana epidermal cells. In addition, dimer assembly of OpsDHN1 in planta using a Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) approach was demonstrated. In order to understand the in vivo role of the histidine-rich motif, the OpsDHN1-ΔHis version was produced and assayed for its subcellular localization and dimer capability by GFP fusion and BiFC assays, respectively. We found that deletion of the OpsDHN1 histidine-rich motif restricted its localization to cytoplasm, but did not affect dimer formation. In addition, the deletion of the S-segment in the OpsDHN1 protein affected its nuclear localization. Our data suggest that the deletion of histidine-rich motif and S-segment show similar effects, preventing OpsDHN1 from getting into the nucleus. Based on these results, the histidine-rich motif is proposed as a targeting element for OpsDHN1 nuclear localization.
Loss aversion, diminishing sensitivity, and the effect of experience on repeated decisions†

Three experiments are presented that explore the assertion that loss aversion and diminishing sensitivity drive the effect of experience on choice behavior. The experiments are focused on repeated choice tasks where decision makers choose repeatedly between alternatives and get feedback after each choice. Experiments 1a and 1b show that behavioral tendencies that were previously interpreted as indications of loss aversion in decisions from experience are better described as products of diminishing sensitivity to absolute payoffs. Experiment 2 highlights a nominal magnitude effect: A decrease in the magnitude of the nominal payoffs eliminates the evidence for diminishing sensitivity. These and related previous results can be captured with a model that assumes reliance on small samples of subjective experiences, and an increase in diminishing sensitivity with payoff variability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On Problems Equivalent to (min,+)-Convolution

In recent years, significant progress has been made in explaining the apparent hardness of improving upon the naive solutions for many fundamental polynomially solvable problems. This progress has come in the form of conditional lower bounds—reductions from a problem assumed to be hard. The hard problems include 3SUM, All-Pairs Shortest Path, SAT, Orthogonal Vectors, and others. In the (min ,+)-convolution problem, the goal is to compute a sequence (c[i])n-1i=0, where c[k] = mini=0,…; ,k { a[i] + b[k-i]}, given sequences (a[i])n-1i=0 and (b[i])n-1i=0. This can easily be done in O(n2) time, but no O(n2-ε) algorithm is known for ε > 0. In this article, we undertake a systematic study of the (min ,+)-convolution problem as a hardness assumption. First, we establish the equivalence of this problem to a group of other problems, including variants of the classic knapsack problem and problems related to subadditive sequences. The (min ,+)-convolution problem has been used as a building block in algorithms for many problems, notably problems in stringology. It has also appeared as an ad hoc hardness assumption. Second, we investigate some of these connections and provide new reductions and other results. We also explain why replacing this assumption with the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis might not be possible for some problems.
Extreme Sensitivity and the Practical Implications of Risk Assessment Thresholds

Traditional risk-assessment theory assumes the existence of a threshold for non-cancer health effects. However, a recent trend in environmental regulation rejects this assumption in favor of non-threshold linearity for these endpoints. This trend is driven largely by two related concepts: (1) a theoretical assumption of wide-ranging human sensitivity, and (2) inability to detect thresholds in epidemiologic models. Wide-ranging sensitivity assumes a subpopulation with extreme background vulnerability, so that even trivial environmental exposures are hazardous to someone somewhere. We use examples from the real world of clinical medicine to show that this theoretical assumption is inconsistent with the biology of mammalian systems and the realities of patient care. Using examples from particulate-matter air-pollution research, we further show that failure to reject linearity is usually driven by statistical rather than biological considerations, and that nonlinear/threshold models often have a similar or better fit than their linear counterparts. This evidence suggests the existence of practical, real-world thresholds for most chemical exposures.
Positively Valenced Stimuli Facilitate Creative Novel Metaphoric Processes by Enhancing Medial Prefrontal Cortical Activation

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a subject is symbolic of another unrelated object. In the present study, we examined neural patterns associated with both novel unfamiliar and conventional familiar metaphoric processing, and how these patterns are modulated by affective valence. Prior to fMRI scanning, participants received a list of word pairs (novel unfamiliar metaphors as well as conventional familiar metaphors) and were asked to denote the valence (positive, negative, or neutral) of each word pair. During scanning, participants had to decide whether the word pairs formed meaningful or meaningless expressions. Results indicate that participants were faster and more accurate at deciding that positively valenced metaphors were meaningful compared to neutral metaphors. These behavioral findings were accompanied by increased activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and the right inferior parietal lobe (RIPL). Specifically, positively valenced novel unfamiliar metaphors elicited activation in these brain regions in addition to the left superior temporal gyrus when compared to neutral novel metaphors. We also found that the mPFC and PCC mediated the processing of positively valenced metaphors when compared to negatively valenced metaphors. Positively valenced conventional metaphors, however, elicited different neural signatures when contrasted with either neutral or negatively valenced conventional metaphors. Together, our results indicate that positively valenced stimuli facilitate creative metaphoric processes (specifically novel metaphoric processes) by mediating attention and cognitive control processes required for the access, integration, and selection of semantic associations via modulation of the mPFC. The present study is important for the development of neural accounts of emotion-cognition interactions required for creativity, language, and successful social functioning in general.