Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robot-Assisted Reaching Performance of Chronic Stroke and Healthy Individuals in a Virtual Versus a Physical Environment: A Pilot Study

The aim of the current study was to examine the role of environment, whether virtual or physical, on robot-assisted reaching movements in chronic stroke and healthy individuals, within a single session. Twenty-three subjects participated in the current study divided into three groups: nine chronic stroke individuals able to perform a reaching task with no need for the robot assistance, nine chronic stroke individuals who needed robot assistance to complete the reaching task, and five healthy individuals. The task was to reach six target buttons in two identical physical and virtual environments. The outcomes consisted of specific kinematic measures (amount of movement completion without robot assistance, mean speed, peak speed, straightness, and shakiness) and a custom questionnaire to assess how the stroke subjects perceived and experienced the reaching task in both environments. The results showed no differences between the two environments in terms of the outcome measures in any of the groups. Our findings suggest that the choice of environment, whether physical or virtual, is not a key factor in designing a simple robot-assisted reaching task for stroke survivors. Further studies are required for more complex environments and tasks as well as robot-assisted training protocols.
Improvement of compiled instruction set simulator by increasing flexibility and reducing compile time

Although static compiled instruction set simulators (ISSs) are much faster than the interpretive ISSs, they are barely used owing to the restrictions on flexibility and compile time overhead. In this paper, we present new techniques that reduce the compile time overhead and increase the flexibility of the static compiled ISS while keeping the advantages of the static compiled simulation. We remarkably reduce the compile and recompilation time using object format instead of binary format as simulator input "dynamic branch handler" solves the indirect branch problem without loss of simulation speed, and "dynamic code handler" enables to handle the dynamic code whose contents are determined at run-time. We implement those solutions in OBSIM, which is cycle-accurate static compiled ISS. OBSIM is able to perform the simulation at a speed of up to 50 millions of simulated instructions per second on Xeon 2GHz processor. We also achieve about nine times faster recompilation speed than the corresponding static compiled ISS for the embedded software whose code consists of 18 files and 199K lines of total C code.
Dietary Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load and Risk of Breast Cancer by Molecular Subtype in Mexican Women

Abstract The objective was to estimate the risk of breast cancer (BC) molecular subtypes in relation to the average glycemic index (GI) and the dietary glycemic load (GL) in Mexican women. From 2007 to 2011, a study of incident cases and population controls was conducted in five states of northern Mexico. A subsample of 509 cases matched 1:1 by age with 509 controls was selected. With a food frequency questionnaire, information about diet was obtained, and GI and GL were calculated. The expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in tumors was obtained from medical records. Patients were classified as luminal A (RE+ and/or PR+/HER2–), HER2+ (RE+ and/or PR+/HER2+ and RE–/PR–/HER2+), or triple negative (TN) (RE–/PR–/HER2–). GI and GL associations with BC molecular subtypes were evaluated using conditional logistic regression models. GI was positively associated with luminal A (OR= 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.22), HER2+ (OR= 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.30), and TN (OR= 1.20; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.39) BC. GL was not associated with BC molecular subtypes. These results suggest that the type of carbohydrate consumed is associated with increased BC regardless of the luminal A, HER2+, and TN subtypes.
Increased Lucid Dream Frequency in Long-Term Meditators but not Following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training

Strong conceptual and theoretical connections have been made between meditation practice, mindfulness, and lucid dreaming. However, only a handful of empirical studies have evaluated the relationship between lucid dreaming and meditation, and conclusions remain tempered by methodological limitations. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between meditation, mindfulness, and lucid dream frequency using several complementary methods. First, using a cross-sectional design, we evaluated differences in lucid dream frequency between long-term meditators and meditation-naïve individuals. Second, we evaluated the relationship between lucid dream frequency and specific facets of trait mindfulness in both meditators and nonmeditators. Third, using a blinded, randomized controlled design, we evaluated the effect of an 8-week mindfulness course on lucid dreaming frequency. Our results show that lucid dreaming is more frequent in long-term meditators than in meditation-naïve individuals. In addition, lucid dream frequency in meditation-naïve individuals was associated with a tendency to verbalize experience, whereas lucid dream frequency in long-term meditators was associated with observational and decentering facets of trait mindfulness. However, an 8-week mindfulness course did not increase the frequency of lucid dreams. Together, these results support a continuity between increased awareness of waking and sleeping states, provide a novel form of evidence linking meditation training to meta-awareness, and support an association between meditation practice and lucid dreaming, but leave open the specific nature of this connection.
NMDA receptor activity bidirectionally controls active decay of long‐term spatial memory in the dorsal hippocampus

The time‐dependent forgetting of long‐term spatial memories involves activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in the hippocampus. Here, we tested whether NMDARs regulate memory persistence bidirectionally, decreasing or increasing the rate of forgetting. We found that blocking NMDAR activation with AP5 or the GluN2B‐selective antagonist Ro25‐6981 in the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) prevented the natural forgetting of long‐term memory for the locations of objects in an open field arena. In contrast, while enhancing NMDAR function with the partial agonist D‐Cycloserine did not affect the speed of forgetting for these types of memories, infusing the NMDAR co‐agonist D‐Serine significantly shortened their persistence. These results suggest that NMDAR activity can modulate the speed of constitutive long‐term memory decay in the dHPC and that regulating NMDAR expression and D‐Serine availability could provide a mechanism to control the duration of long‐term memory.
Long non-coding RNA NORAD promotes cell proliferation and glycolysis in non-small cell lung cancer by acting as a sponge for miR-136-5p

NORAD (non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that is upregulated and promotes cell progression in various human types of cancer; however, its function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. The present study investigated the regulatory function and underlying mechanisms of NORAD in NSCLC. NORAD and miR-136-5p expression were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and proliferation and glycolysis-associated markers were also assessed. Direct miR-136-5p regulation by NORAD was detected using luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. NORAD was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. NORAD overexpression increased NSCLC proliferation and glycolysis. Further investigation revealed that NORAD serves as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-136-5p. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments confirmed that miR-136-5p reversed the promoting effects of NORAD in NSCLC. Results of the present study indicate that NORAD serves as a growth-promoting lncRNA in NSCLC by suppressing the function of miR-136-5p. NORAD and miR-136-5p interaction may provide a potential target for NSCLC treatment.
Comparison of internal fixation with total hip replacement for displaced femoral neck fractures. Randomized, controlled trial performed at four years.

BACKGROUND Recent randomized, controlled trials performed at two years postoperatively have shown that a primary total hip replacement is superior to internal fixation for the treatment of a displaced femoral neck fracture in a relatively healthy, mentally competent, elderly patient. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcomes at four years. METHODS One hundred and two patients (mean age, eighty years) who had an acute displaced femoral neck fracture were randomly allocated to be treated with total hip replacement or internal fixation. The inclusion criteria were an age of at least seventy years, absence of severe cognitive dysfunction, an independent living status, and the ability to walk independently. The main outcome measurements were hip complications, reoperations, hip function, and health-related quality of life. RESULTS The mortality rate was 25% in both groups. At the forty-eight-month follow-up evaluation, the rate of hip complications was 4% in the patients treated with total hip replacement and 42% in those treated with internal fixation (p < 0.001) and the reoperation rates were 4% and 47%, respectively (p < 0.001). The arthroplasty group had no additional hip complications or reoperations between the twenty-four and forty-eight-month follow-up visits. In the fixation group, the percentage of hip complications increased from 36% to 42% and the percentage of reoperations increased from 42% to 47% during the same period. The hip function was significantly better and the decline in health-related quality of life was less pronounced in the arthroplasty group than it was in the fixation group at the four, twelve, and twenty-four-month follow-up evaluations. Ninety-seven percent of the patients in the arthroplasty group and 57% of the patients in the fixation group who were available for follow-up at forty-eight months had no hip complications (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Compared with internal fixation, primary total hip replacement provides a better outcome for mentally competent elderly patients with a displaced femoral neck fracture. The complication and reoperation rates were significantly lower and hip function and health-related quality of life were at least as good at four years after the surgery.
Genetic counseling job market in the United States and Canada: An analysis of job advertisements 2014–2016

Genetic counseling careers continue to evolve, yet there remains a lack of information about hiring trends in the genetic counseling profession. In this study, job advertisements in the United States and Canada were analyzed, using the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Job Connections and the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) eBlasts from 2014 to 2016 to appraise job roles, qualifications, settings, specialties, and type. NSGC had 1875 advertised openings from 2014 to 2016, while ABGC had 373 advertised openings. Jobs containing a “counseling” role increased as a percentage from 2014 to 2016 when advertised by NSGC (χ2 = 25.52, p < 0.000001) but decreased each year from 2014 to 2016 as a percentage when advertised through ABGC (χ2 = 14.29, p = 0.0008). In the ABGC job postings, it was noted that 36% of job postings were advertised for other specialties (not solely cancer, pediatric, or prenatal) in 2014, and increased to 67% in 2016 (χ2 = 10.09, p = 0.02). Examining the job specialties posted by ABGC and NSGC, several new or unique roles were found in the job advertisements such as ophthalmology counselor, variant curator, rare diseases information specialist, and clinical policy analyst. Roles for temporary, contract or fellowship positions are possibly becoming more common, along with small upturns in positions that are off‐site or remote. In analyzing the changing workforce, there was a statistically significant decrease identified in jobs advertised by NSGC in the laboratory setting from 28% in 2014 to 17% in 2016 (χ2 = 24.12, p = 0.000024). This information on the evolving career of genetic counseling is valuable for the current workforce and training programs as they adapt with the changing landscape of the profession.
Teaching programming for high school students: A distance education experience

Recently, in spite of the growing demand worldwide for professionals in computing, statistic data have revealed a decreasing number of students taking up this area. Given the importance of this field to economic growth and technological development, it is essential to support actions which will encourage students to consider computing as a career. In this article, we describe an experience with a distance programming course given to Brazilian high school students. The results showed that 94% of the students that completed the course were successful in the exams. The dropout rate in this course was high, mainly because students were young, and had difficulties in self-management of their activities. This work brings important contributions: it develops programming and problem solving skills in high school students, it presents the design of a distance programming course for high school students and it contributes to research and actions in distance education.
Crosstalk between RNA Pol II C-Terminal Domain Acetylation and Phosphorylation via RPRD Proteins

Multiple posttranslational modifications of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD) coordinate passage through the transcription cycle. The crosstalk between different modifications is poorly understood. Here, we show how acetylation of lysine residues at position 7 of characteristic heptad repeats (K7ac), a modification only found in higher eukaryotes, regulates phosphorylation of serines at position 5 (S5p), a conserved mark of polymerases initiating transcription. Using mass spectrometry, we identified Regulator of Pre-mRNA Domain-containing (RPRD) proteins as reader proteins of K7ac. K7ac enhanced in vitro binding of CTD peptides to the CTD-interacting domain (CID) of RPRD1A and RPRD1B proteins and inversely regulated S5p levels genome-wide. Treatment with deacetylase inhibitors globally enhanced levels of K7ac‐ and decreased levels of S5-phosphorylated polymerases ≥500 base pairs downstream of transcription start sites of expressed genes, consistent with acetylation-dependent S5 dephosphorylation via a previously identified RPRD-associated S5 phosphatase. Consistent with this model, RPRD1B knockdown increased S5p, but also enhanced K7ac levels, indicating that RPRD proteins recruit a K7 deacetylase. Collectively, our data identify RPRD CIDs as K7ac reader domains and reveal auto-regulatory crosstalk between K7ac and S5p via RPRD proteins at the transition from transcription initiation to elongation in higher eukaryotes.
Aminosalicylic acid reduces ER stress and Schwann cell death induced by MPZ mutations

Mutations in myelin protein zero (MPZ) cause inherited peripheral neuropathies, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and Dejerine-Sottas neuropathy. Mutant MPZ proteins have previously been reported to cause CMT via enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and Schwann cell (SC) death, although the pathological mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we generated an in vitro model of rat SCs expressing mutant MPZ (MPZ V169fs or R98C) proteins and validated the increase in cell death and ER stress induced by the overexpression of the MPZ mutants. Using this model, we examined the efficacy of 3 different aminosalicylic acids (ASAs; 4-ASA, sodium 4-ASA and 5-ASA) in alleviating pathological phenotypes. FACS analysis indicated that the number of apoptotic rat SCs, RT4 cells, induced by mutant MPZ overexpression was significantly reduced following treatment with each ASA. In particular, treatment with 4-ASA reduced the levels of ER stress markers in RT4 cells induced by V169fs MPZ mutant overexpression and relieved the retention of V169fs mutant proteins in the ER. Additionally, the level of an apoptotic signal mediator (p-JNK) was only decreased in the RT4 cells expressing R98C MPZ mutant protein following treatment with 4-ASA. Although 4-ASA is known as a free radical scavenger, treatment with 4-ASA in the in vitro model did not moderate the level of reactive oxygen species, which was elevated by the expression of mutant MPZ proteins. On the whole, the findings of this study indicate that treatment with 4-ASA reduced the ER stress and SC death caused by 2 different MPZ mutants and suggest that ASA may be a potential therapeutic agent for CMT.
Sex Comparisons of In Vivo Anterior Cruciate Ligament Morphometry.

CONTEXT Females have consistently higher anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates than males. The reasons for this disparity are not fully understood. Whereas ACL morphometric characteristics are associated with injury risk and females have a smaller absolute ACL size, comprehensive sex comparisons that adequately account for sex differences in body mass index (BMI) have been limited. OBJECTIVE To investigate sex differences among in vivo ACL morphometric measures before and after controlling for femoral notch width and BMI. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Twenty recreationally active men (age = 23.2 ± 2.9 years, height = 180.4 ± 6.7 cm, mass = 84.0 ± 10.9 kg) and 20 recreationally active women (age = 21.3 ± 2.3 years, height = 166.9 ± 7.7 cm, mass = 61.9 ± 7.2 kg) participated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Structural magnetic resonance imaging sequences were performed on the left knee. Anterior cruciate ligament volume, width, and cross-sectional area measures were obtained from T2-weighted images and normalized to femoral notch width and BMI. Femoral notch width was measured from T1-weighted images. We used independent-samples t tests to examine sex differences in absolute and normalized measures. RESULTS Men had greater absolute ACL volume (1712.2 ± 356.3 versus 1200.1 ± 337.8 mm3; t38 = -4.67, P < .001) and ACL width (8.5 ± 2.3 versus 7.0 ± 1.2 mm; t38 = -2.53, P = .02) than women. The ACL volume remained greater in men than in women after controlling for femoral notch width (89.31 ± 15.63 versus 72.42 ± 16.82 mm3/mm; t38 = -3.29, P = .002) and BMI (67.13 ± 15.40 versus 54.69 ± 16.39 mm3/kg/m2; t38 = -2.47, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS Whereas men had greater ACL volume and width than women, only ACL volume remained different when we accounted for femoral notch width and BMI. This suggests that ACL volume may be an appropriate measure of ACL anatomy in investigations of ACL morphometry and ACL injury risk that include sex comparisons.
Review of Monetary Policy in South Africa Since 1994

This paper reviews the design and performance of monetary policy in South Africa since 1994. Quantitative indexes of transparency reveal a strong rise in the transparency and accountability of monetary policy between 1994 and 2004. Inflation and interest rate expectations data and forward interest rate data are used to demonstrate the increased credibility and reasonable predictability of monetary policy since adopting inflation targeting in 2000. The South African Reserve Bank's view on monetary policy transmission channels is discussed, and its recent forecasting performance is evaluated. We find that monetary policy decisions taken in response to external and domestic shocks under inflation targeting have significantly improved relative to the preceding framework, though data quality has been a constraint. Further, inflation targeting has not disadvantaged potential investment in terms of the level of tax-adjusted real interest rates, while inflation has been in the target range since 2003. Finally, the important role for complementary policies to support monetary policy is motivated. Copyright 2007 The author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Centre for the Study of African Economies. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.
Emotional insecurity as a mediator of the moderating role of dopamine genes in the association between interparental conflict and youth externalizing problems

Abstract This study tested whether the association between interparental conflict and adolescent externalizing symptoms was moderated by a polygenic composite indexing low dopamine activity (i.e., 7-repeat allele of DRD4; Val alleles of COMT; 10-repeat variants of DAT1) in a sample of seventh-grade adolescents (Mean age = 13.0 years) and their parents. Using a longitudinal, autoregressive design, observational assessments of interparental conflict at Wave 1 predicted increases in a multi-informant measurement of youth externalizing symptoms 2 years later at Wave 3 only for children who were high on the hypodopaminergic composite. Moderation was expressed in a “for better” or “for worse” form hypothesized by differential susceptibility theory. Thus, children high on the dopaminergic composite experienced more externalizing problems than their peers when faced with more destructive conflicts but also fewer externalizing problems when exposed to more constructive interparental conflicts. Mediated moderation findings indicated that adolescent reports of their emotional insecurity in the interparental relationship partially explained the greater genetic susceptibility experienced by these children. More specifically, the dopamine composite moderated the association between Wave 1 interparental conflict and emotional insecurity 1 year later at Wave 2 in the same “for better” or “for worse” pattern as externalizing symptoms. Adolescent insecurity at Wave 2, in turn, predicted their greater externalizing symptoms 1 year later at Wave 3. Post hoc analyses further revealed that the 7-repeat allele of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene was the primary source of plasticity in the polygenic composite. Results are discussed as to how they advance process-oriented Gene x Environment models of emotion regulation.
[Application of copy number variation sequencing for prenatal diagnosis in women at an advanced maternal age].

OBJECTIVE To assess the value of copy number variation analysis based on next generation sequencing (CNV-seq) in prenatal diagnosis for women at advanced maternal age. METHODS A prospective analysis was carried out for women who underwent amniocentesis at 18~36 weeks of gestation for fetal CNV-seq for advanced maternal age. RESULTS For 1461 unrelated Chinese women with a singleton pregnancy, CNV-seq was performed for all samples successfully. The proportion of chromosomal abnormalities was 2.3% (34/1461), of which 44.12% were submicroscopic copy number variations (<5 Mb). CONCLUSION Pregnant women at an advanced maternal age should be informed for not only common trisomies but all pathogenic chromosomal aberrations. NGS was a sensitive and accurate approach for detecting CNVs.