Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of G-174C Polymorphism of the Interleukin-6 Gene Promoter with Obesity in Iranian Population

Metabolism, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Mehdi Hedayati to provide phone:+98(21) 22432500 fax: +98(21) 22416264e-mail Hedayati@endocrine.ac. ir). Haj Hosseini R, is with Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran . Abstract—Expression and secretion of inflammation markers are disturbed in obesity. Interleukin-6 reduces body fat mass. The common G-174C polymorphism in the promoter of IL-6 gene has been reported that effects on transcriptional regulation. The objective was to investigate association of the common polymorphism G-174C with obesity in Iranian population. The present study is cross sectional association study that included 242 individuals (110 men and 132 women). Serum IL-6 levels, C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose and blood lipids profile were measured . BMI and WHR were calculated. Genotyping is carried out by PCR and RFLP. The frequencies of G and C allele were 64.5% and 35.5%, respectively. The G-174C polymorphism was not associated with BMI and WHR. However in obese individual, fasting blood glucose was significantly higher in carrier of C allele compared with the noncarrier. The IL-6 G-174C polymorphism is not a risk factor for obesity in Iranian population.
Determination of Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity in Mammals

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is one of the most popular population genetic markers. Its relevance as an indicator of population size and history has recently been questioned by several large-scale studies in animals reporting evidence for recurrent adaptive evolution, at least in invertebrates. Here we focus on mammals, a more restricted taxonomic group for which the issue of mtDNA near neutrality is crucial. By analyzing the distribution of mtDNA diversity across species and relating it to allozyme diversity, life-history traits, and taxonomy, we show that (i) mtDNA in mammals does not reject the nearly neutral model; (ii) mtDNA diversity, however, is unrelated to any of the 14 life-history and ecological variables that we analyzed, including body mass, geographic range, and The World Conservation Union (IUCN) categorization; (iii) mtDNA diversity is highly variable between mammalian orders and families; (iv) this taxonomic effect is most likely explained by variations of mutation rate between lineages. These results are indicative of a strong stochasticity of effective population size in mammalian species. They suggest that, even in the absence of selection, mtDNA genetic diversity is essentially unpredictable, knowing species biology, and probably uncorrelated to species abundance.
Interactive Digital Learning Materials for Kindergarten Students in Bangladesh

The pedagogy of teaching and learning has changed with the proliferation of communication technology and it is necessary to develop interactive learning materials for children that may improve their learning, catching, and memorizing capabilities. Perhaps, one of the most important innovations in the age of technology is multimedia and its application. It is imperative to create high quality and realistic learning environment for children. Interactive learning materials can be easier to understand and deal with their first learning. We developed some interactive learning materials in the form of a video for Playgroup using multimedia application tools. This study investigated the impact of students' abilities to acquire new knowledge or skills through interactive learning materials. We visited one kindergartens (Nursery schools), interviewed class teachers about their teaching methods and level of students' ability of recognizing English alphabets, pictures, etc. The course teachers were provided interactive learning materials to show their playgroups for a number of sessions. The video included English alphabets with related words and pictures, and motivational fun. We noticed that almost all children were very interested to interact with their leaning video. The students were assessed individually and asked to recognize the alphabets, and pictures. The students adapted with their first alphabets very quickly. However, there were individual differences in their cognitive development. This interactive multimedia can be an alternative to traditional pedagogy for teaching playgroups.
Non-native interlanguage intonation systems : A study based on a computerized corpus of Spanish learners of English

From an interest in language as it is really spoken, and using corpus linguistics as methodology, a longitudinal research project has been launched compiling speech data from primary school to university (UAM corpus2). The present article reports on part of this research in progress, focusing on a cross-linguistic intonation study using computer language learner and English native corpora. The study surveys the role of the intonation systems used by both language groups in the information structure of their conversations (Halliday 1970, 1994; Tench 1990, 1996; Lambrecht 1994). The spoken language of a group of 20 Spanish young adult speakers when reading aloud 40 short conversations has been digitally recorded over three years. The non-native corpus has been contrasted with a similar English native corpus. The Corpus data (224,000 words) were analysed quantitatively using software tools, automatic and manual annotations and statistical calculation. The research results aim to give a more accurate description of this specific group of learners’ use of spoken English. A qualitative interpretation of the analysis shows relevant features such as avoidance, overuse and underuse of certain intonation patterns by non-native subjects, with important implications for the messages transmitted. These results may contribute to SLA theory by providing answers to some unresolved issues concerning the exact role of transfer. Finally, this research may also help to develop new pedagogical tools and classroom practices to deal with the specific needs and difficulties of these learners.
Biomonitoring of Perfluorinated Compounds in Children and Adults Exposed to Perfluorooctanoate-Contaminated Drinking Water

Objective 40,000 residents in Arnsberg, Germany, had been exposed to drinking water contaminated with perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). Internal exposure of the residents of Arnsberg to six PFCs was assessed in comparison with reference areas. Design and participants One hundred seventy children (5–6 years of age), 317 mothers (23–49 years), and 204 men (18–69 years) took part in the cross-sectional study. Measurements Individual consumption of drinking water and personal characteristics were assessed by questionnaire and interview. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanoate, perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoropentanoate, and perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) in blood plasma and PFOA/PFOS in drinking water samples were measured by solid-phase extraction, high-performance liquid chromatrography, and tandem mass spectrometry detection. Results Of the various PFCs, PFOA was the main compound found in drinking water (500–640 ng/L). PFOA levels in blood plasma of residents living in Arnsberg were 4.5–8.3 times higher than those for the reference population (arithmetic means Arnsberg/controls: children 24.6/5.2 μg/L, mothers 26.7/3.2 μg/L, men 28.5/6.4 μg/L). Consumption of tap water at home was a significant predictor of PFOA blood concentrations in Arnsberg. PFHxS concentrations were significantly increased in Arnsberg compared with controls (p < 0.05). PFBS was detected in 33% of the children, 4% of the women, and 13% of the men in Arnsberg compared with 5%, 0.7%, and 3%, respectively, in the reference areas (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that age and male sex were significant predictors of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS; associations of other regressors (diet, body mass index) varied among PFCs. Conclusions PFC concentrations in blood plasma of children and adults exposed to PFC-contaminated drinking water were increased 4- to 8-fold compared with controls.
Pervasive stress recognition for sustainable living

In this paper we provide the evidence that daily stress can be reliably recognized based on human behavior metrics derived from the mobile phone activity (call log, sms log, bluetooth interactions). We introduce an original approach for feature extraction, selection, recognition model training and discuss the experimental results based on Random Forest and Gradient Boosted Machine algorithms. Random Forest based model showed low variance comparing to the GBM-based one, thus winning the bias-variance tradeoff and preventing over-fitting, given the noisy source data. Potential impact of the technology is reducing stress and enhancing subjective well-being for sustainable living.
Reward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems 2 Associated with Rejection in Love 3 4

Romantic rejection causes a profound sense of loss and negative affect. It 25 can induce clinical depression and in extreme cases lead to suicide and/or homicide. To 26 begin to identify the neural systems associated with this natural loss state, we used 27 functional magnetic resonance imaging to study 10 women and 5 men who had recently 28 been rejected by a partner but reported they were still intensely "in love. " Participants 29 alternately viewed a photograph of their rejecting beloved and a photograph of a familiar, 30 individual, interspersed with a distraction-attention task. Their responses while looking at 31 their rejecter included love, despair, good and bad memories, and wondering why this 32 happened. Activation specific to the image of the beloved occurred in areas associated 33 with gains and losses, craving and emotion regulation, and included the ventral tegmental 34 area (VTA) bilaterally, ventral striatum, medial and lateral orbitofrontal/prefrontal cortex, 35 and cingulate gyrus. Compared with data from happily-in-love individuals (Aron et al., 36 2005), the regional VTA activation suggests that mesolimbic reward/survival systems are 37 involved in romantic passion regardless of whether one is happily or unhappily in love. 38 Forebrain activations associated with motivational relevance, gain/loss, cocaine craving, 39 addiction, and emotion regulation suggest that higher-order systems subject to experience 40 and learning also may mediate the rejection reaction. The results show activation of 41 reward systems, previously identified by monetary stimuli, in a natural, endogenous, 42 negative emotion state. Activation of areas involved in cocaine addiction may help 43 explain the obsessive behaviors associated with rejection in love. 44
Operation of a medium-voltage drive under faulty conditions

This paper presents a method for operating cascaded multilevel inverters when one or more power cells are damaged. The method is based on the use of additional switches in the power circuit to bypass the faulty cell. To control the cells, the angle of phase shifting in the carrier signals is modified according to the number of operating cells, to minimize the load voltage distortion, when the inverter operates in failure mode. The reference signals of the pulsewidth-modulation modulators are also modified to increase the output voltage. Simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness of this method, which significantly increases the reliability of the drive.
Skeletal muscle fatigue – regulation of excitation–contraction coupling to avoid metabolic catastrophe

ATP provides the energy in our muscles to generate force, through its use by myosin ATPases, and helps to terminate contraction by pumping Ca2+ back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, achieved by Ca2+ ATPase. The capacity to use ATP through these mechanisms is sufficiently high enough so that muscles could quickly deplete ATP. However, this potentially catastrophic depletion is avoided. It has been proposed that ATP is preserved not only by the control of metabolic pathways providing ATP but also by the regulation of the processes that use ATP. Considering that contraction (i.e. myosin ATPase activity) is triggered by release of Ca2+, the use of ATP can be attenuated by decreasing Ca2+ release within each cell. A lower level of Ca2+ release can be accomplished by control of membrane potential and by direct regulation of the ryanodine receptor (RyR, the Ca2+ release channel in the terminal cisternae). These highly redundant control mechanisms provide an effective means by which ATP can be preserved at the cellular level, avoiding metabolic catastrophe. This Commentary will review some of the known mechanisms by which this regulation of Ca2+ release and contractile response is achieved, demonstrating that skeletal muscle fatigue is a consequence of attenuation of contractile activation; a process that allows avoidance of metabolic catastrophe.
Remodeling of the Inner Hair Cell Microtubule Meshwork in a Mouse Model of Auditory Neuropathy AUNA1

Abstract Auditory neuropathy 1 (AUNA1) is a form of human deafness resulting from a point mutation in the 5′ untranslated region of the Diaphanous homolog 3 (DIAPH3) gene. Notably, the DIAPH3 mutation leads to the overexpression of the DIAPH3 protein, a formin family member involved in cytoskeleton dynamics. Through study of diap3-overexpressing transgenic (Tg) mice, we examine in further detail the anatomical, functional, and molecular mechanisms underlying AUNA1. We identify diap3 as a component of the hair cells apical pole in wild-type mice. In the diap3-overexpressing Tg mice, which show a progressive threshold shift associated with a defect in inner hair cells (IHCs), the neurotransmitter release and potassium conductances are not affected. Strikingly, the overexpression of diap3 results in a selective and early-onset alteration of the IHC cuticular plate. Molecular dissection of the apical components revealed that the microtubule meshwork first undergoes aberrant targeting into the cuticular plate of Tg IHCs, followed by collapse of the stereociliary bundle, with eventual loss of the IHC capacity to transmit incoming auditory stimuli.
Spatial Design of Physical Network Robust Against Earthquakes

This paper analyzes the survivability of a physical network against earthquakes and proposes spatial network design rules to make a network robust against earthquakes. The disaster area model used is fairly generic and bounded. The proposed design rules for physical networks include: 1) a shorter zigzag route can reduce the probability that a network intersects a disaster area, 2) an additive performance metric, such as repair cost is independent of the network shape if the route length is fixed, and 3) additional routes within a ring network do not decrease the probability that all the routes between a given pair of nodes will intersect the disaster area, but a wider detour route does decrease it. Formulas for evaluating the probability of disconnecting two given nodes are also derived. An optimal server placement is shown as an application of the theoretical results. These analysis results are validated through empirical earthquake data.
Real-Time Estimation of Power System Frequency Using a Three-Level Discrete Fourier Transform Method

This paper proposes a three-level discrete Fourier transform (DFT) method to provide an accurate estimate of power system frequency in real time. The first level decomposes a power system signal into two orthogonal cosine- and sine-filtered signals. The second and third levels are used to determine the amplitude ratio of the cosine- and sine-filtered signals without encountering the zero-crossing problem and with an increase in ability to suppress harmonics and inter-harmonics. The performance of the three-level DFT method is evaluated using computer-simulated signals with harmonics and inter-harmonics. The three-level DFT method is also implemented on a digital signal processor (DSP)-based hardware prototype, and its performance in the hardware implementation is evaluated using a real-time digital simulator (RTDS). The evaluation results show that the three-level DFT method can achieve real-time estimation of power system frequency with satisfactory performance.
Resilience, Academic Self-Concept, and College Adjustment Among First-Year Students

In this study, we examined the association between resilience, academic self-concept, and first-year student adjustment to college using data collected from 514 first-year undergraduate students enrolled at a medium-size, Hispanic-serving university in the southern United States. Utilizing a simultaneous multiple regression analysis, we found resilience and academic self-concept to be significant positive predictors of college adjustment for first-year students. Based on our findings, we provide suggestions for college counselors and student affairs professionals working to support students’ positive adjustment experiences.
Rethinking femininity in organisations: Experimental insights into team composition

Abstract Role incongruity, sex role stereotypes and candidate selection procedures which oversatisfy masculine role expectations evoke an underrepresentation of femininity in organisations. The author seeks to remedy this bad state of affairs. This study is designed based on an experiment with 288 young executives simulating self-organised work groups and manipulated the degree of gender-related (not sex-related) heterogeneity. Results generally show a curvilinear relationship with an upright U-shaped format between heterogeneity and performance, team identity and intrateam communication. The major contribution in specific is that highly homogeneous teams outperform other team types in the short run, whereas highly heterogeneous teams succeed in the long run. Consequently, this work recommends ‘femininity enrichment’ in firms and discusses manageable practical advice to do so. As for the laboratory character, findings and implications for practicing managers have to be treated with caution. Finally, the most promising avenues for further research are illuminated.
Concerted Actions of a Thermo-labile Regulator and a Unique Intergenic RNA Thermosensor Control Yersinia Virulence

Expression of all Yersinia pathogenicity factors encoded on the virulence plasmid, including the yop effector and the ysc type III secretion genes, is controlled by the transcriptional activator LcrF in response to temperature. Here, we show that a protein- and RNA-dependent hierarchy of thermosensors induce LcrF synthesis at body temperature. Thermally regulated transcription of lcrF is modest and mediated by the thermo-sensitive modulator YmoA, which represses transcription from a single promoter located far upstream of the yscW-lcrF operon at moderate temperatures. The transcriptional response is complemented by a second layer of temperature-control induced by a unique cis-acting RNA element located within the intergenic region of the yscW-lcrF transcript. Structure probing demonstrated that this region forms a secondary structure composed of two stemloops at 25°C. The second hairpin sequesters the lcrF ribosomal binding site by a stretch of four uracils. Opening of this structure was favored at 37°C and permitted ribosome binding at host body temperature. Our study further provides experimental evidence for the biological relevance of an RNA thermometer in an animal model. Following oral infections in mice, we found that two different Y. pseudotuberculosis patient isolates expressing a stabilized thermometer variant were strongly reduced in their ability to disseminate into the Peyer's patches, liver and spleen and have fully lost their lethality. Intriguingly, Yersinia strains with a destabilized version of the thermosensor were attenuated or exhibited a similar, but not a higher mortality. This illustrates that the RNA thermometer is the decisive control element providing just the appropriate amounts of LcrF protein for optimal infection efficiency.
New propagation model for wireless monitoring systems in the container terminal environment

The problem of the propagation loss calculation of the mobile radio links working in container terminal areas has been analyzed. The analysis is based on the measurement investigations of the radio signal loss made for different propagation conditions of the container terminal environment. Two main types of the propagation environment have been take into account - i.e. LOS and NLOS conditions, as typical for the environment classification. New empirical formulas for the propagation loss calculations appropriate to these types of the propagation environment have been proposed. To obtain these formulas the measurement investigations have been made and the multidimensional regression analysis has been applied. The new propagation model has been verified by use of the measurement investigations. Finally, practical usefulness of the model for design procedures of the radio links in the container terminal areas has been concluded.
Children ' s Willingness to Help Peers in Need : Is Development of Sociability Approach Orchestrated Dis-harmonically ?

Children's helping schemata, made of two-components, others' needs and self needs, were extracted, in terms of Functional Measurement, from a mosaic of ratings of willingness to help in two sorts of occasions – 'as if' (imaginary) and 'in vivo' (concrete). A total of 317 children from four age groups – kindergarteners, 1, 3, and 6 graders participated in Experiments 1 and 2 which examined the influence of 10-minute facilitation of prosocial approach via purposeful conversation. The design, a unique combination between Functional Measurement and Solomon design, enabled an exposure of two inversed developmental functions – a decrease in 'as if' helpful approach to others' requests for help and increase in two other social functions – concrete help and social suggestibility. A possible conceptual account in terms of imagination and differentiation learning and a possible age limitation were examined in Experiments 3 and 4, respectively. This work is conceived as a preliminary basis for the study of a rather nonconventional, non-unison and modular approach to issues of helping in specific and development of sociability in general.
Bacterial and Fungal Community Structures in Loess Plateau Grasslands with Different Grazing Intensities

The Loess Plateau of China is one of the most fragile ecosystems worldwide; thus, human production activities need to be conducted very cautiously. In this study, MiSeq high-throughput sequencing was applied to assess the relationship between bacterial and fungal community structures and changes in vegetation and soil physical and chemical properties induced by grazing, in four grasslands with different levels of grazing intensity (0, 2.67, 5.33, and 8.67 sheep/ha) in the semiarid region of the Loess Plateau. The relative abundances of the bacterial community in the grasslands with 2.67 and 5.33 sheep/ha were significantly higher than those in grasslands with 0 and 8.67 sheep/ha, and the fungal diversity was significantly lower for grasslands with 2.67 sheep/ha than for the other grasslands. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that plant biomass, nitrate, and total nitrogen have significant effects on bacterial community structure, whereas nitrate and total nitrogen also significantly affect fungal community structure. Variation partitioning showed that soil and plant characteristics influence the bacterial and fungal community structures; these characteristics explained 51.9 and 52.9% of the variation, respectively. Thus, bacterial and fungal community structures are very sensitive to grazing activity and change to different extents with different grazing intensities. Based on our findings, a grazing intensity of about 2.67 sheep/ha is considered the most appropriate in semiarid grassland of the Loess Plateau.