Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatio-Temporal Change of Lake Water Extent in Wuhan Urban Agglomeration Based on Landsat Images from 1987 to 2015

Urban lakes play an important role in urban development and environmental protection for the Wuhan urban agglomeration. Under the impacts of urbanization and climate change, understanding urban lake-water extent dynamics is significant. However, few studies on the lake-water extent changes for the Wuhan urban agglomeration exist. This research employed 1375 seasonally continuous Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI data scenes to evaluate the lake-water extent changes from 1987 to 2015. The random forest model was used to extract water bodies based on eleven feature variables, including six remote-sensing spectral bands and five spectral indices. An accuracy assessment yielded a mean classification accuracy of 93.11%, with a standard deviation of 2.26%. The calculated results revealed the following: (1) The average maximum lake-water area of the Wuhan urban agglomeration was 2262.17 km2 from 1987 to 2002, and it decreased to 2020.78 km2 from 2005 to 2015, with a loss of 241.39 km2 (10.67%). (2) The lake-water areas of loss of Wuhan, Huanggang, Xianning, and Xiaogan cities, were 114.83 km2, 44.40 km2, 45.39 km2, and 31.18 km2, respectively, with percentages of loss of 14.30%, 11.83%, 13.16%, and 23.05%, respectively. (3) The lake-water areas in the Wuhan urban agglomeration were 226.29 km2, 322.71 km2, 460.35 km2, 400.79 km2, 535.51 km2, and 635.42 km2 under water inundation frequencies of 5%–10%, 10%–20%, 20%–40%, 40%–60%, 60%–80%, and 80%–100%, respectively. The Wuhan urban agglomeration was approved as the pilot area for national comprehensive reform, for promoting resource-saving and environmentally friendly developments. This study could be used as guidance for lake protection and water resource management.
Validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers Second Edition

Objective: To revise the Chinese version of Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers,Second Edition( DECA-P2),and assess its validity and reliability. Methods: Totally 608 children aged 3- 5years were rated by their teachers with the Chinese version of DECA-P2 and two criterion scales,which included the Chinese version of Preschool Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale,and Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation Scale-30. Data of 570 were valid. After identifying valid items using item analysis,exploratory factor analysis was performed for half of all samples. Confirmatory factor analysis was also conducted with another half samples. Moreover,the present study tested criterion-related validity,internal consistency reliability and split-half reliability of the Chinese version of DECA-P2. Results: Through the exploratory factor analysis,the obtained structure of protective factors was the same as the original scale,accounting for 59. 82% of the variance. The results of confirmatory factor analysis achieved the standard of psychometrics( χ2/ df = 2. 50,RMESA = 0. 07,CFI = 0. 91,IFI =0. 91). Generally,each subscale had significant correlation with the two criterion scales( r =- 0. 21 ~ 0. 80). Besides,the Cronbach α coefficients of all subscales were between 0. 80 and 0. 93,and the split-half reliabilities of them were between 0. 79 and 0. 89. Conclusion: The Chinese version of DECA-P2 has acceptable psychometric quality and can be applied to evaluate resilience for children aged from 3 to 5 years in China.
The Cortisol Awakening Response and Depressive Symptomatology: The Moderating Role of Sleep and Gender

The association between depression and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) has been widely examined, yet the results are mixed and factors responsible for such inconsistencies are poorly understood. The current study investigated whether the link between depressive symptomatology and CAR varied as a function of two such factors: sleep and gender. The sample included 58 young adults (30 females; Mage = 18.7; SDage = 0.91). Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory as well as the Consensus Sleep Diary to assess depressive symptomatology and daily sleep patterns, respectively. Participants also provided four salivary cortisol samples (0, 30, 45 and 60 min after awakening) during two consecutive weekdays. Results demonstrated that greater depressive symptoms were associated with a greater CAR but only when depressive symptoms were linked to a shorter sleep time. In addition, gender significantly moderated the association between depressive symptoms and CAR. While greater depressive symptoms were associated with an elevated CAR among females, they were associated with a blunted CAR among males. These findings provide some insight into potential mechanisms linking depressive symptomatology and CAR, and suggest that future studies examining CAR as a biomarker of depression should account for differences in sleep and gender. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
YcbX and yiiM, two novel determinants for resistance of Escherichia coli to N‐hydroxylated base analogues

We have shown previously that lack of molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) in Escherichia coli leads to hypersensitivity to the mutagenic and toxic effects of N‐hydroxylated base analogues, such as 6‐N‐hydroxylaminopurine (HAP). However, the nature of the MoCo‐dependent mechanism is unknown, as inactivation of all known and putative E. coli molybdoenzymes does not produce any sensitivity. Presently, we report on the isolation and characterization of two novel HAP‐hypersensitive mutants carrying defects in the ycbX or yiiM open reading frames. Genetic analysis suggests that the two genes operate within the MoCo‐dependent pathway. In the absence of the ycbX‐ and yiiM‐dependent pathways, biotin sulfoxide reductase plays also a role in the detoxification pathway. YcbX and YiiM are hypothetical members of the MOSC protein superfamily, which contain the C‐terminal domain (MOSC) of the eukaryotic MoCo sulphurases. However, deletion of ycbX or yiiM did not affect the activity of human xanthine dehydrogenase expressed in E. coli, suggesting that the role of YcbX and YiiM proteins is not related to MoCo sulphuration. Instead, YcbX and YiiM may represent novel MoCo‐dependent enzymatic activities. We also demonstrate that the MoCo/YcbX/YiiM‐dependent detoxification of HAP proceeds by reduction to adenine.
Separation and Purification of Phenolic Acids and Myricetin from Black Currant by High-Speed Countercurrent Chromatography

Abstract Black currant is an important material in the food industry, but little research has been reported on the isolation of phenolic acids because of their low content. In the present study, high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) has been successfully used for the preparative isolation of the minor phenolic compounds from the ethyl acetate extracts of black currant fruit. The HSCCC separation was performed with a two phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/EtOAc/MeOH/H2O (5:15:4:7 v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. From a 500 mg crude sample 0.8 mg of protocatechuic acid, 1.0 mg of caffeic acid, 0.5 mg of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 2.5 mg of myricetin were purified by a one step HSCCC operation,. Their chemical structures were confirmed by MS and NMR.
An investigation of the link between cortical inhibition, neural oscillations and psychophysics in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a highly complex psychiatric disorder with a lifetime risk of approximately 0.4-0.7%. Alterations in the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA have been identified in the brains of those with schizophrenia. Studies examining the nature of these differences have given variable results depending on the type of patient group, medication and the brain region where in vivo MRS GABA was measured. Chapter 5 of this thesis utilises the noninvasive imaging tool magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate differences in GABA levels in two distinct areas of the brain of those with schizophrenia, whilst adjusting for important potential confounds such as antipsychotic medication dosage. GABA is also of interest due to its link with synchronised oscillatory activity, primarily gamma activity that is implicated in connectivity between different brain regions as well as cognitive functioning, thus demonstrating its potential relevance to schizophrenia research. Chapter 6 investigates differences in gamma activity between those with schizophrenia and controls induced by a static stimulus and a moving radial stimulus, both known to induce strong visual gamma responses, using magnetoencephalography (MEG) imaging methods. Because GABA and gamma measures are robust for visual cortex measures, we used visual psychophysics tasks thought to be dependent on inhibitory processes - orientation discrimination and the tilt illusion, to see if there is a behavioural deficit in schizophrenia and if this also relates to changes in GABA and gamma measures. Chapters 3 and 4 set out to validate the psychophysics and to establish whether they were appropriate paradigms for the patient group for which they were intended. Chapter 7 brings together the imaging and psychophysics to see if a relationship exists between them in both the patient and control groups.
Benevolent leadership and psychological well-being

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between benevolent leadership (BL) and psychological well-being (PWB) as well as to test the moderating roles of psychological safety (PS) and psychological contract breach (PCB) on that relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Data encompasses 1,009 employees from 23 five-star hotels in Turkey. The moderating roles of PS and PCB on the BL and PWB relationship were tested using the moderated hierarchical regression analysis. Findings – The moderated hierarchical regression analysis results reveal that there was a significant positive relationship between BL and employee PWB. In addition, the positive relationship between BL and well-being was stronger when PS was higher than when it was lower. On the contrary, high-PCB weakened the positive relationship between BL and PWB. Practical implications – This study showed that both PS and BL enhance well-being. Managers could promote PS by breaking down the barriers preventing effective commun.
A novel local anesthetic system: transcriptional transactivator peptide-decorated nanocarriers for skin delivery of ropivacaine

Purpose Barrier properties of the skin and physicochemical properties of drugs are the main factors for the delivery of local anesthetic molecules. The present work evaluates the anesthetic efficacy of drug-loaded nanocarrier (NC) systems for the delivery of local anesthetic drug, ropivacaine (RVC). Methods In this study, transcriptional transactivator peptide (TAT)-decorated RVC-loaded NCs (TAT-RVC/NCs) were successfully fabricated. Physicochemical properties of NCs were determined in terms of particle size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation efficiency, drug-loading capacity, stability, and in vitro drug release. The skin permeation of NCs was examined using a Franz diffusion cell mounted with depilated mouse skin in vitro, and in vivo anesthetic effect was evaluated in mice. Results The results showed that TAT-RVC/NCs have a mean diameter of 133.2 nm and high drug-loading capacity of 81.7%. From the in vitro skin permeation results, it was observed that transdermal flux of TAT-RVC/NCs was higher than that of RVC-loaded NCs (RVC/NCs) and RVC injection. The evaluation of in vivo anesthetic effect illustrated that TAT-RVC/NCs can enhance the transdermal delivery of RVC by reducing the pain threshold in mice. Conclusion These results indicate that TAT-decorated NCs systems are useful for overcoming the barrier function of the skin, decreasing the dosage of RVC and enhancing the anesthetic effect. Therefore, TAT-decorated NCs can be used as an effective transdermal delivery system for local anesthesia.
Asb2&agr;–Filamin A Axis Is Essential for Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling During Heart Development

Rationale: Heart development involves differentiation of cardiac progenitors and assembly of the contractile sarcomere apparatus of cardiomyocytes. However, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate actin cytoskeleton remodeling during cardiac cell differentiation. Objective: The Asb2&agr; (Ankyrin repeat-containing protein with a suppressor of cytokine signaling box 2) CRL5 (cullin 5 RING E3 ubiquitin ligase) triggers polyubiquitylation and subsequent degradation by the proteasome of FLNs (filamins). Here, we investigate the role of Asb2&agr; in heart development and its mechanisms of action. Methods and Results: Using Asb2 knockout embryos, we show that Asb2 is an essential gene, critical to heart morphogenesis and function, although its loss does not interfere with the overall patterning of the embryonic heart tube. We show that the Asb2&agr; E3 ubiquitin ligase controls Flna stability in immature cardiomyocytes. Importantly, Asb2&agr;-mediated degradation of the actin-binding protein Flna marks a previously unrecognized intermediate step in cardiac cell differentiation characterized by cell shape changes and actin cytoskeleton remodeling. We further establish that in the absence of Asb2&agr;, myofibrils are disorganized and that heartbeats are inefficient, leading to embryonic lethality in mice. Conclusions: These findings identify Asb2&agr; as an unsuspected key regulator of cardiac cell differentiation and shed light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms determining the onset of myocardial cell architecture and its link with early cardiac function. Although Flna is known to play roles in cytoskeleton organization and to be required for heart function, this study now reveals that its degradation mediated by Asb2&agr; ensures essential functions in differentiating cardiac progenitors.
Risk of hemorrhage in abnormally invasive placenta according to its management

Abstract Severe hemorrhage is a major concern during operative procedures for abnormally invasive placenta (AIP). We reviewed published literature with the objective to provide evidence of blood loss with the most common treatment options for AIP. We selected 54 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Cesarean hysterectomy, with or without occlusion balloons in the internal iliac arteries, was the treatment associated with the greatest blood loss. Major blood loss was also associated with the placenta left in situ (reported in 3 of 10 articles), and with uterine artery embolization (reported in 3 of 15 articles). The best outcomes were seen for cesarean hysterectomy with balloon occlusion of the common iliac arteries (CIA; 9 patients, including 1 with major blood loss), balloon occlusion of the abdominal aorta (27 patients, no major blood loss) and conservative surgery (99 patients, including one with major blood loss). In conclusion, cesarean hysterectomy with balloon occlusion of the CIA or abdominal aorta, and conservative treatments seem to have the best outcomes. However, our results are based on a small number of articles. Hence, it is necessary to have available more reports on the outcomes of these treatments, to arrive at a more definitive conclusion.
Glucocorticoid regulation of inflammation and its functional correlates: from HPA axis to glucocorticoid receptor dysfunction

Enhanced susceptibility to inflammatory and autoimmune disease can be related to impairments in HPA axis activity and associated hypocortisolism, or to glucocorticoid resistance resulting from impairments in local factors affecting glucocorticoid availability and function, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The enhanced inflammation and hypercortisolism that typically characterize stress‐related illnesses, such as depression, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, or osteoporosis, may also be related to increased glucocorticoid resistance. This review focuses on impaired GR function as a molecular mechanism of glucocorticoid resistance. Both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to impaired GR function. The evidence that glucocorticoid resistance can be environmentally induced has important implications for management of stress‐related inflammatory illnesses and underscores the importance of prevention and management of chronic stress. The simultaneous assessment of neural, endocrine, and immune biomarkers through various noninvasive methods will also be discussed.
Effects of various culture conditions on pluripotent stem cell derivation from chick embryos

Pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines derived from embryonated avian eggs are a convenient platform for production of various recombinant proteins and vaccines. In chicks, both embryonic stem cells (ESC) and embryonic germ cells (EGC) are considered to be pluripotent cells obtained from early blastodermal cells (stage X) and gonadal tissues (stage HH28), respectively. However, the establishment and long‐term maintenance of avian PSC lines faces several challenges and differs in efficiency between chick strains. This study aims to determine the effects of PSC culture media, including serum‐based and serum‐free media as well as various feeder layers, growth factors, and small molecules on derivation and maintenance of avian embryonic derived‐PSCs. Our results have shown that among the different culture conditions, N2B27 serum‐free medium supplemented with PD0325901 and SB431542, MEK and TGFβ chemical inhibitors, named as R2i and cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) improved PSC derivation from stages X‐ and HH28 embryos. The application of N2B27/R2i + LIF medium validates the effect of defined pluripotency supporting medium on efficient derivation of chick PSCs and facilitates the use of these cells in biotechnology and biobanking of valuable species.
Apoptosis-Related Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and the Risk of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Women.

BACKGROUND Germline apoptosis-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to contribute to the risk of developing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, very few studies have looked specifically at apoptosis-related SNPs in a racially-stratified analysis of white and African-American women. METHODS We examined the risk of developing NSCLC associated with 98 germline SNPs in 32 apoptosis-related genes among women in a population-based case-control study from the Detroit metropolitan area. We examined 453 cases of NSCLC and 478 control subjects. We used an unconditional logistic regression with a dominant model, stratified by race, and adjusted for age, pack-years smoked, ever/never smoking status, family history of lung cancer, history of COPD, BMI and education. RESULTS Our logistic regression identified 3 significant apoptosis-related SNPs in whites (APAF-1, rs1007573; CD40 rs3765459, and CD40 rs1535045), and 7 significant SNPs (ATM, rs1801516; BAK1, rs513349; TNF, rs1800629; TP63, rs6790167; TP63, rs7613791, TP63, rs35592567 and TP63, rs3856775) in African-Americans. In a downstream analysis, these SNPs were further prioritized utilizing the False Positive Report Percentage (FPRP) methodology and backwards elimination. In whites, APAF-1 (rs1007573), CD40 (rs3765459) and CD40 (rs1535045) were all found to be significant by FPRP. In African-Americans, TP63 SNPs rs6790167 and rs7613791 were found to have a significant FPRP. In parallel, a backward elimination procedure was used on the 3 significant SNPs in whites and 7 significant SNPs in African-Americans. This procedure identified APAF-1 rs1007573 (OR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.17-2.95) and CD40 rs1535045 (OR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.40-0.84) as significant independent predictors of risk among whites, and ATM rs1801516 (OR=24.15, 95% CI: 3.50-166.55), TNF rs1800629 (OR= 0.42, 95% CI: 0.18-0.99) and TP63 rs6790167 (OR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.33-6.09) as significant, independent predictors in African-Americans. CONCLUSION In whites, only SNPs APAF-1 rs1007573 and CD40 rs1535045 were significant by both FPRP and backwards elimination, while in African-Americans, only TP63 rs6790167 was significant by both methodologies. Thus, we have identified three promising variants associated with increased risk of NSCLC that warrant additional investigation in future studies.
Parents, participation, partnership: Problematising New Zealand early childhood education

This article interrogates notions of teacher ‘partnership with parents’ within early childhood care and education settings in the context of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, clearly positions children’s learning and development as being fostered when their families’ cultures and practices are recognised. Yet findings from both national evaluative reports and recent studies indicate that, in many instances, families that are not members of the dominant cultural group do not experience this synergy. The authors draw on some recent national evaluative reports to paint a broad picture of the implementation of ‘partnership’, and then employ illustrative data from several research projects regarding the inclusion of Māori and Chinese families respectively. The authors apply hybridity theory, along with the related idea of funds of knowledge, to reinforce the need for teachers to proactively move beyond the hegemonic safe zones of traditional teacher-dominated practices towards opening up spaces of dialogic, fluid engagement with families whose backgrounds differ from their own. This aspect of teachers’ professional responsibility is particularly important in the current era of increasing superdiversity.
Predictive Accuracy of the Veterans Aging Cohort Study Index for Mortality With HIV Infection: A North American Cross Cohort Analysis

Background:By supplementing an index composed of HIV biomarkers and age (restricted index) with measures of organ injury, the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) index more completely reflects risk of mortality. We compare the accuracy of the VACS and restricted indices (1) among subjects outside the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, (2) more than 1–5 years of prior exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and (3) within important patient subgroups. Methods:We used data from 13 cohorts in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration (n = 10, 835) limiting analyses to HIV-infected subjects with at least 12 months exposure to ART. Variables included demographic, laboratory (CD4 count, HIV-1 RNA, hemoglobin, platelets, aspartate and alanine transaminase, creatinine, and hepatitis C status), and survival. We used C-statistics and net reclassification improvement (NRI) to test discrimination varying prior ART exposure from 1 to 5 years. We then combined Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (n = 5066) and North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration data, fit a parametric survival model, and compared predicted to observed mortality by cohort, gender, age, race, and HIV-1 RNA level. Results:Mean follow-up was 3.3 years (655 deaths). Compared with the restricted index, the VACS index showed greater discrimination (C-statistics: 0.77 vs. 0.74; NRI: 12%; P < 0.0001). NRI was highest among those with HIV-1 RNA <500 copies per milliliter (25%) and age ≥50 years (20%). Predictions were similar to observed mortality among all subgroups. Conclusions:VACS index scores discriminate risk and translate into accurate mortality estimates over 1–5 years of exposure to ART and for diverse patient subgroups from North American.
Medical Financial Burden Declined For Consumers In The Nongroup Market.

The share of consumers in the nongroup health insurance market who spent more than 10 percent of family income on medical expenses declined by 6.7 percentage points after Affordable Care Act implementation (2013-15), and after adjustments for other factors. Average family medical expenses declined by $811 for nongroup consumers.