Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE WOOD CELL WALL AT THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL SCALE - FORMATION AND TOPOCHEMICAL ORGANIZATION

The macromolecular organization of the secondary wall of the cells from tree xylem is in large part responsible for the mechanical and physiological properties of wood. Modeling secondary walls of wood is difficult because information about their macromolecular architecture at the ultrastructural scale is missing. Numerous microscopic studies have provided views of the lignocellulosic composite material, but nanoscale distribution of the polymers and their interaction in muro is still not clearly understood. The intimate macromolecular organization of cell walls is defined during their differentiation. It is at the stage of wall thickening corresponding to secondary wall development that the topochemical organization and the interactions between cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin are established. Using the conjunction of the high resolution of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the specificity of immunological probes directed against the main cell wall polymers, we investigated the deposition of hemicelluloses and lignins from the early stage of cambium differentiation to the mature fiber and vessel walls in growing model plants of Arabidopsis thaliana and poplar. TEM examination of differentiating cells as well as various wood and wood –derived materials and genetic plant mutants brought multiple evidence of the lamellar sub-organization of the secondary walls. Immuno-gold labeling showed that two structurally different xylan types were deposited at different stages in the wall thickening. Similarly two different types of lignin molecules were shown to be differentially polymerized at different steps of the building of the wall, lignin molecules of the condensed type being first deposited at the earliest stage of secondary thickening before the non-condensed types. This process may be modified in response to environmental factors, as in tension wood. The spatio-temporal relationships occurring between hemicelluloses, lignin and cellulose microfibrils (CMFs) during the secondary wall development suggest that xylans with less substituted chains would be more directly interacting with CMFs than those with higher substitution patterns. It also suggests that lignin molecules of the non-condensed type have a function in bringing cohesion between the lamellae of CMFs. A model of wall assembly during secondary thickening is proposed.
Pre-service teacher beliefs about language learning: The second language acquisition course as an agent for change

This large mixed methods study investigated the effects of the introductory second language acquisition (SLA) course on the beliefs of pre-service teachers (n = 381) enrolled over a three-year period at a state university in California. Pre- to post-course paired sample t-tests that were run on 23 beliefs statements from a widely used survey revealed significant changes in beliefs in several areas including the length of time for acquisition, difficulty of language acquisition, the role of culture, the role of error correction, the importance of grammar, and the efficacy of audiolingual learning strategies. In extensive written post-course explanations, the pre-service teachers attributed their pre-course beliefs to language learning experience in high school and post-course changes in their beliefs to the SLA course content and experiential activities, most notably tutoring an ESL student (the first contact for some teachers). Depth of knowledge was revealed in the teacher comments; this included information that could not have been gleaned from the beliefs surveys alone. The findings, which demonstrated how pre-service teacher beliefs evolve within the context of a professional education course, have practical implications for course design and evaluation in teacher education programs.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases : Journal of the COPD Foundation Relationship Between FEV 1 and Patient-Reported Outcomes Changes : Results of a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials in Stable COPD

Background: This meta-analysis assessed the relationship between change from baseline (CFB) in spirometric measurements (trough forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] and FEV1 area under the curve [AUC]) and patient-reported outcomes (St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire total score [SGRQ] CFB, Transition Dyspnea Index [TDI] and exacerbation rates) after 6-12 months’ follow-up, using study treatment-group level data. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed for randomized controlled trials of ≥24 weeks duration in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Studies reporting ≥1 spirometric measurement and ≥1 patient-reported outcome (PRO) at baseline and at study endpoint were selected. The relationships between PROs and spirometric endpoints were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient and meta-regression. Results: Fifty-two studies (62,385 patients) were included. Primary weighted analysis conducted at the last assessment showed a large significant negative correlation (r, −0.68 [95% confidence interval (CI); −0.77, −0.57]) between trough FEV1 and SGRQ. Improvement of 100mL in trough FEV1 corresponded to a 5.9 point reduction in SGRQ. Similarly, a reduction of 4 points on SGRQ corresponded to 40mL improvement in trough FEV1 (p<0.001). The weighted correlation coefficients of trough FEV1 with TDI, exacerbation rate (all) and exacerbation rate (moderate/severe) at last assessment point were 0.57, -0.69 and -0.57, respectively (all p<0.05). For the analyses excluding placebo groups, the correlations of FEV1 with SGRQ and TDI were lower but significant. Conclusions: A strong association exists between changes in spirometric measurements and changes in PROs. Abstract
EFFECT OF PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION ON SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS OF FINISHER BROILER CHICKENS

1 Department of Animal Health and Production Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Department of Animal Science, University of Uyo, Nigeria. nnamuokey@yahoo.com Tel: 07038932128 An experiment was carried out to determine the dietary effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) and Lactobacillus sporogenes (LS) as probiotics on hematological and serum biochemical parameters of finisher broiler chickens. One hundred and twenty unsexed day old Anak strain of broilers were used. They were maintained adlibitum for 4 weeks on a starter diet containing no probiotics. At the end of which, the birds were distributed into four treatment groups (T1T4) of thirty birds each. Each treatment was replicated three times each having 10 birds. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). T1 was the control and fed diet containing no probiotics. T2-T4 was fed diets which contained 0.8g kg, 0.5g kg and 0.5g kg SC, LA and LS respectively. They were fed diet and water ad libitum for 5 weeks. At the beginning of the experiment which was at the 5 week and at the end of the experiment at the 8 week, blood samples were collected and analyzed. Changes in hematological parameters were not significant (P>0.05) except the red blood cells counts and packed cell volume where feeding of SC resulted in greater number of red blood cells compared to the control (P<0.05). Total protein, albumin and globulin levels were not affected by any of the probiotics. Cholesterol level was significantly lowered by the probiotics. Therefore any of the probiotics could be used in finisher broiler diets without detrimental effect to the health especially SC which increased the red blood cells.
Multi-modal Summarization for Asynchronous Collection of Text, Image, Audio and Video

The rapid increase of the multimedia data over the Internet necessitates multi-modal summarization from collections of text, image, audio and video. In this work, we propose an extractive Multi-modal Summarization (MMS) method which can automatically generate a textual summary given a set of documents, images, audios and videos related to a specific topic. The key idea is to bridge the semantic gaps between multi-modal contents. For audio information, we design an approach to selectively use its transcription. For vision information, we learn joint representations of texts and images using a neural network. Finally, all the multi-modal aspects are considered to generate the textural summary by maximizing the salience, non-redundancy, readability and coverage through budgeted optimization of submodular functions. We further introduce an MMS corpus in English and Chinese. The experimental results on this dataset demonstrate that our method outperforms other competitive baseline methods.
A Combined Matheuristic for the Piecewise Linear Multicommodity Network Flow Problem

Multicommodity network problems appear in numerous applications, such as telecommunications, logistics, transportation, distribution and production planning networks. The piecewise linear multicommodity network flow problem is a multicommodity network flow problem with piecewise linear costs corresponding to multiple resources, such as communication lines, vehicles and production lines. In the present paper, for the piecewise linear multicommodity network continuous flow problem, we present a path-based formulation and an arc-based formulation, and develop a combined matheuristic approach, which combines capacity scaling, a column and row generation technique, restricted branch-and-bound and a local branch method.
Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help: Factor Structure and Socio-Demographic Predictors

Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) are complex. Help seeking preferences are influenced by various attitudinal and socio-demographic factors and can often result in unmet needs, treatment gaps, and delays in help-seeking. The aims of the current study were to explore the factor structure of the ATSPPH short form (-SF) scale and determine whether any significant socio-demographic differences exist in terms of help-seeking attitudes. Data were extracted from a population-based survey conducted among Singapore residents aged 18–65 years. Respondents provided socio-demographic information and were administered the ATSPPH-SF. Weighted mean and standard error of the mean were calculated for continuous variables, and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis were performed to establish the validity of the factor structure of the ATSPPH-SF scale. Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to examine predictors of each of the ATSPPH-SF factors. The factor analysis revealed that the ATSPPH-SF formed three distinct dimensions: “Openness to seeking professional help,” “Value in seeking professional help,” and “Preference to cope on one's own. ” Multiple linear regression analyses showed that age, ethnicity, marital status, education, and income were significantly associated with the ATSPPH-SF factors. Population subgroups that were less open to or saw less value in seeking psychological help should be targeted via culturally appropriate education campaigns and tailored and supportive interventions.
The relationship between the piano teacher in private practice and music in the National Curriculum

This article, based on research for an MA (December 2000), investigates the connections between the private teacher and music in the National Curriculum. In the process present perceptions and practice are explored to gain a clearer understanding of the situation as it is today. Various ways of improving communications between schools and private teachers are looked at, with a view to helping the pupil feel that school and private lessons are working in harmony. From the research it has been found that an awareness exists of the need to develop teaching philosophies that relate the private lesson to music in the National Curriculum.
Energy transducing redox steps of the Na+-pumping NADH:quinone oxidoreductase from Vibrio cholerae

Na+-NQR is a unique respiratory enzyme that couples the free energy of electron transfer reactions to electrogenic pumping of sodium across the cell membrane. This enzyme is found in many marine and pathogenic bacteria where it plays an analogous role to the H+-pumping complex I. It has generally been assumed that the sodium pump of Na+-NQR operates on the basis of thermodynamic coupling between reduction of a single redox cofactor and the binding of sodium at a nearby site. In this study, we have defined the coupling to sodium translocation of individual steps in the redox reaction of Na+-NQR. Sodium uptake takes place in the reaction step in which an electron moves from the 2Fe-2S center to FMNC, while the translocation of sodium across the membrane dielectric (and probably its release into the external medium) occurs when an electron moves from FMNB to riboflavin. This argues against a single-site coupling model because the redox steps that drive these two parts of the sodium pumping process do not have any redox cofactor in common. The significance of these results for the mechanism of coupling is discussed, and we proposed that Na+-NQR operates through a novel mechanism based on kinetic coupling, mediated by conformational changes.
Aging alters the multichemical networking profile of the human brain: an in vivo1H‐MRS study of young versus middle‐aged subjects

In our most recent study of normal aging, we found decreased concentration of multiple chemicals in the brain of middle‐aged subjects, as compared with younger subjects using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H‐MRS). We hypothesized that these age‐dependent differences in brain chemistry changes might be a reflection of the multichemical‐networking‐profile (MCNP) changes during aging. Using 1H‐MRS and correlation analysis, we examined the patterns of regional chemical levels and MCNP within and across multiple brain regions for all nine chemicals of 1H‐MR spectra. The brain chemistry changes and MCNP patterns were compared between 21 young (19–31‐year‐old) and 31 middle‐aged (40–52‐year‐old) normal volunteers. Middle‐aged subjects demonstrated a significant decrease of chemical levels in the prefrontal cortex and sensorimotor cortex (SMC), as compared with the young age group. Of these, neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were altered the most. We also found a significant increase of overall chemical correlation strength in MCNP within and across all studied brain regions with increased age. These changes were caused by alterations in the pattern of negative chemical connectivity across brain regions, which become weaker (less negative) in middle‐aged subjects. The interregional chemical connectivity for the cingulate cortex, SMC and the thalamus was changed the most with increased age. Increased levels of chemical correlation strength across brain regions in aging were found for most chemicals studied (including neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate), and not for N‐acetyl aspartate. These age‐related differences in the connectivity of neurotransmitters were not region dependent. The results suggest that aging is associated with changes of the regional brain chemistry and the brain MCNP. The latter process may reflect an adaptive or compensatory response (possibly related to the elongation of dendrites with aging) to reduced levels of regional brain chemicals. The 1H‐MRS approach proposed here can be used as a valuable tool in the study of the brain chemistry, MCNP and their relationships in normal and abnormal aging.
Divergent Projections from the Anterior Inferotemporal Area TE to the Perirhinal and Entorhinal Cortices in the Macaque Monkey

Area TE is located at the latter part of the ventral visual cortical pathway, which is essential for visual recognition of objects. TE projects heavily to the perirhinal region, which is important for visual recognition memory of objects. To study the organization of projections from TE to the perirhinal (areas 35 and 36) and entorhinal (area 28) cortices, we made focal injections of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) and large injections of biocytin or wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into anterior levels of TE in macaque monkeys. Injections of PHA-L into the ventral part of anterior TE (TEav) resulted in labeling of terminals distributed widely in area 36 (approximately one-half of its total extent), although the injection sites were limited to 0.7 mm in width. The labeled terminals tended to be denser in the medial part of area 36. There was less dense but definite labeling in area 35 and the lateral part of area 28. After a single injection of PHA-L or WGA-HRP into the dorsal part of anterior TE (TEad), labeled terminals were confined to a small region at the lateral part of area 36 (less than one-tenth of its total extent). The projections to areas 35 and 28 from TEad were much sparser than those from TEav. The different patterns of projections to the perirhinal and entorhinal cortices, together with previously reported differences in their afferent and other efferent connections, suggest the functional differentiation between TEav and TEad. The divergent projection from TEav to the perirhinal cortex may facilitate the association of different visual features in the perirhinal cortex.
Effects of a Tier 3 Phonological Awareness Intervention on Preschoolers’ Emergent Literacy

This multiple baseline design study examined the effects of a Tier 3 early literacy intervention on low-income preschool children’s phonological awareness (PA). Seven preschool children who did not make progress on identifying first sounds in words during a previous Tier 2 intervention participated in a more intensive Tier 3 intervention. Children listened to stories and participated in early literacy activities led by an interventionist for approximately 15 min, 3 to 4 days per week for up to 8 weeks. Weekly progress monitoring data showed that five of seven children made progress on first sound identification as a result of the Tier 3 intervention. Children who made progress on first sound identification generally demonstrated gains on more distal measures of PA. Results demonstrate the potential benefit of providing children with multiple tiers of instruction to facilitate academic success.
The Continuous Glucose Monitoring System during pregnancy of women with type 1 diabetes mellitus: accuracy assessment.

BACKGROUND The Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS, Medtronic MiniMed, Northridge, CA) allows close monitoring of glucose patterns and might be helpful in explaining the persistence of high complication rates in pregnancies of women with type 1 diabetes. It was the aim of this study to determine whether the CGMS accurately reflects glucose levels in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus. METHODS Fifteen pregnant women with type 1 diabetes used the CGMS and were asked to determine at least seven fingerstick blood glucose levels each day, of which four were used for calibration. The patients were asked to keep a diary of the non-calibration blood glucose values. The accuracy of the CGMS was studied by comparing the non-calibration blood glucose values with simultaneously measured sensor glucose values using the Pearson correlation coefficient, the mean of absolute differences, and the Clarke error grid analysis. RESULTS A total of 239 non-calibration blood glucose values were analyzed. The correlation coefficient between non-calibration blood glucose and sensor glucose value was 0.94 (P < 0.001). The mean of the absolute difference was 0.74 mmol/L. Of the non-calibration data 93.8% fell in the clinically acceptable zone of the Clarke error grid analysis. CONCLUSIONS The CGMS is an accurate tool for additional glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Interaction of Calcium Supplementation and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and the Risk of Colorectal Adenomas

Background: Calcium and aspirin have both been found to be chemopreventive against colorectal neoplasia. However, the joint effect of the two agents has not been well investigated. Methods: To explore the separate and joint effects of calcium and aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), we used data from two large randomized clinical trials among patients with a recent history of colorectal adenomas. In the Calcium Polyp Prevention Study, 930 eligible subjects were randomized to receive placebo or 1,200 mg of elemental calcium daily for 4 years. In the Aspirin/Folate Polyp Prevention Study, 1,121 eligible subjects were assigned to take placebo, 81 mg of aspirin, or 325 mg of aspirin daily for 3 years. In each study, subjects completed a validated food frequency questionnaire at enrollment and were asked periodically about medications and supplements used. Recurrent adenomas and advanced adenomas were the end points considered. We used generalized linear models to assess the separate and combined effects of aspirin (or NSAIDs) and calcium supplementation (or dietary calcium) and the interactions between these exposures. Results: In the Calcium Trial, subjects randomized to calcium who also were frequent users of NSAIDs had a reduction of risk for advanced adenomas of 65% [adjusted risk ratio (RR), 0.35; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.13-0.96], and there was a highly significant statistical interaction between calcium treatment and frequent NSAID use (Pinteraction = 0.01). Similarly, in the Aspirin Trial, 81 mg aspirin and calcium supplement use together conferred a risk reduction of 80% for advanced adenomas (adjusted RR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05-0.81); there was a borderline significant statistical interaction between the two treatments (Pinteraction = 0.09). In this trial, we found similar trends when we considered baseline dietary calcium intake instead of calcium supplements. For all adenomas considered together, the interactive patterns were not consistent. Conclusion: Data from two different randomized clinical trials suggest that calcium and NSAIDs may act synergistically to lower the risk of advanced colorectal neoplastic polyps.
The Legionella pneumophila LetA/LetS Two-Component System Exhibits Rheostat-Like Behavior

ABSTRACT When confronted with metabolic stress, replicative Legionella pneumophila bacteria convert to resilient, infectious cells equipped for transmission. Differentiation is promoted by the LetA/LetS two-component system, which belongs to a family of signal-transducing proteins that employ a four-step phosphorelay to regulate gene expression. Histidine 307 of LetS was essential to switch on the transmission profile, but a threonine substitution at position 311 (T311M) suggested a rheostat-like function. The letS(T311M) bacteria resembled the wild type (WT) for some traits and letS null mutants for others, whereas they displayed intermediate levels of infectivity, cytotoxicity, and lysosome evasion. Although only 30 to 50% of letS(T311M) mutants became motile, flow cytometry determined that every cell eventually activated the flagellin promoter to WT levels, but expression was delayed. Likewise, letS(T311M) mutants exhibited delayed induction of RsmY and RsmZ, regulatory RNAs that relieve CsrA repression of transmission traits. Transcriptional profile analysis revealed that letS(T311M) mutants expressed the flagellar regulon and multiple other transmissive-phase loci at a higher cell density than the WT. Accordingly, we postulate that the letS(T311M) mutant may relay phosphate less efficiently than the WT LetS sensor protein, leading to sluggish gene expression and a variety of phenotypic profiles. Thus, as first described for BvgA/BvgS, rather than acting as on/off switches, this family of two-component systems exhibit rheostat activity that likely confers versatility as microbes adapt to fluctuating environments.