Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Children of Parents Who Had Same-Sex Relationships Disadvantaged? A Scientific Evaluation of the No-Differences Hypothesis

In a widely publicized and controversial article, Regnerus (2012a) seeks to evaluate what he calls the “‘no-differences’ paradigm” with respect to outcomes for children of same-sex parents. We consider the scientific claims in Regnerus in light of extant evidence and flaws in the article's evidence and analytical strategy. We find that the evidence presented does not support rejecting the no-differences claim, and therefore the study does not constitute evidence for disadvantages suffered by children of same-sex couples. The state of scientific knowledge on same-sex parenting remains as it was prior to the publication of Regnerus.
Chromosome numbers in some cacti Of western North America—II

Documented chromosome numbers and meiotic behavior are recorded for an additional 30 taxa representing 25 species of Cactaceae of southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Diploid and polyploid taxa including two triploids were observed, all of which indicate the same base number,x = 11. Trisomism and inversions are reported for the first time in cacti.
Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide‐induced suppression of basal forebrain NMDA‐NR1 subunits selectively impairs visual attentional performance in rats

It is generally agreed that basal forebrain neuronal circuits contribute to the mediation of the ability to detect, select and discriminate signals, to suppress the processing of irrelevant information, and to allocate processing resources to competing tasks. Rats were trained in a task designed to assess sustained attention, or in a cued discrimination task that did not tax attentional processes. Animals were equipped with guide cannula to infuse bilaterally antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) against the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) NR1 subunits, or missense ODNs, into the substantia innominata of the basal forebrain. Infusions of antisense or missense ODNs did not affect cued visual discrimination performance. Infusions of antisense ODNs dose‐dependently impaired sustained attention performance by selectively decreasing the animals' ability to detect signals while their ability to reject nonsignal trials remained unchanged. The detrimental attentional effects of antisense infusions were maximal 24 h after the third and final infusion, and performance returned to baseline 24 h later. Missense infusions did not affect attentional performance. Separate experiments demonstrated extensive suppression of NR1 subunit immunoreactivity in the substantia innominata. Furthermore, infusions of antisense did not produce neurotoxic effects in that region as demonstrated by the Fluoro‐Jade method. The present data support the hypothesis that NMDA receptor (NMDAR) stimulation in the basal forebrain, largely via glutamatergic inputs originating in the prefrontal cortex, represents a necessary mechanism to activate the basal forebrain corticopetal system for mediation of attentional performance.
Enhancing treatment access: evaluation of an Australian Web-based alcohol and drug counselling initiative.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS The provision of counselling and other health interventions over the Internet is an emerging treatment modality. In 2007, an evaluation of the first Australian pilot Web-based alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselling initiative, known as CounsellingOnline, was completed. This paper explores whether CounsellingOnline enhanced AOD service accessibility for clients. DESIGN AND METHODS Service utilisation data (n = 2004) and client survey data (n = 277) were collected and analysed to evaluate service responses, service impact, client characteristics and client satisfaction. Comparative client data were obtained from a state-wide conventional counselling dataset (Alcohol and Drug Information System; n = 19,283) and a statewide telephone counselling database (DirectLine; n = 59,863). Results. Service responses, such as fast counsellor connection speed, low client attrition and anonymous login, contributed to good service accessibility. CounsellingOnline clients differed from conventional and telephone counselling clients, representing much higher proportions of young, employed and female clients. Notably, the majority of CounsellingOnline sessions occurred outside standard business hours. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS CounsellingOnline has showed enhanced AOD service accessibility through its service responsiveness, high level of after-hours service utilisation, and appeal to a client group that differs from those seen in conventional and telephone AOD counselling services. The capacity of Web-based services such as CounsellingOnline to enhance service accessibility is significant, particularly for clients whose access to conventional treatment services is limited.
A New Anterior-Posterior Surgical Approach for the Treatment of Cervical Facet Dislocations

Study Design: The preliminary results from a new anterior-posterior surgical approach are reported. Objective: To report a novel surgical approach, which was successfully applied to treat 8 cervical facet dislocation patients. Summary of Background Data: The combined anterior-posterior surgical procedure is used as a common approach in the treatment of cervical facet dislocations. However, some problems may arise during the application of this approach, and as a result, surgeons must change the initial surgical plan to anterior-posterior-anterior approach. Methods: Between December 2011 and June 2012, 8 patients had facet dislocations were surgically treated by the new anterior-posterior approach. After anterior discectomy, a peek frame cage containing autologous iliac bone particles or tricalcium phosphate bone substitute was inserted in the interspace and fixed with a peek composite buttress plate screwed into the inferior vertebral body. Then, the anterior wound was closed and the patient was turned prone. Through a posterior midline approach, the posterior elements were exposed and the reduction was gradually achieved by posteriorly translating the superior segment and progressively positioning the patient’s neck into extension. Then lateral mass or pedicle screws and titanium rods were placed in a favorable and satisfactory position, which was demonstrated by the intraoperative plain radiographs. A posterolateral fusion was performed and the posterior wound was closed. Results: With the use of this new approach, all the patients had obtained successful reduction and satisfactory anatomic sagittal alignment. No instances of neurological deterioration and instrument failure occurred, no complications were owing to the use of this technique, and 4 patients existed neurological functional recovery at the most recent follow-up visit. Conclusions: This reported surgical approach is an efficient and safe way for the treatment of traumatic cervical facet dislocations.
[Clinical benefits after soluble dietary fiber supplementation: a randomized clinical trial in adults with slow-transit constipation].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of pectin, a kind of soluble dietary fiber, on colonic transit time (CTT), clinical symptoms and gut microbiota in adults with slow-transit constipation. METHODS A total of 80 patients with slow-transit constipation were selected between June 2011 and December 2013. For this randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the efficacy of pectin on intestinal transit time and other indices of constipation in adults with slow-transit constipation. They were randomized to receive either pectin or placebo. Treatment consisted of 4-week supplementation with 24 g/d pectin (fiber group) or maltodextrin (placebo group). Before and after 4-week treatment, CTT, constipation symptoms and fecal bacterial population were compared between groups. RESULTS CTT of the fiber group after treatment was lower than those of fiber group before treatment and those in the placebo group ((60.2 ± 11.2) h vs (80.3 ± 9.5), (79.4 ± 11.7) h, P < 0.01). Constipation score of the fiber group after treatment also decreased than those of fiber group before treatment and those in the placebo group (both P < 0.05). Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus sp. evidently increased (lg copies/g:8.26 ± 0.83 vs 6.42 ± 1.07 and 6.48 ± 0.82, 6.83 ± 0.77 vs 5.85 ± 0.64 and 5.91 ± 0.73; all P < 0.05) and total Clostridium sp. significantly decreased (9.07 ± 0.63 vs 9.74 ± 0.81 and 9.66 ± 0.43, P < 0.05) in the fiber group after treatment versus the placebo group. No significant adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS Four-week soluble dietary fiber use accelerates colon transit time and alleviates clinical symptoms in patients with slow-transit constipation. Additionally, supplementary fiber offers protective effects on gut microbiota by increasing the population of healthy microflora.
Vascular smooth muscle responses to endothelial autacoids in rats with chronic coarctation hypertension

Objective: To examine whether elevated intravascular pressure in chronic hypertension alters responses of vascular smooth muscle to agents of endothelial origin. Methods: Coarctation hypertensive, sham normotensive control, and one-kidney, one clip hypertensive (1K1C) rats were used. Tail systolic, carotid and femoral arterial pressures were measured. Responses to histamine, endothelin-1 and the prostacyclin analog iloprost were evaluated in isolated helically cut strips of thoracic and abdominal aortas, with and without endothelium, from all groups. Responses to nitroglycerin were also evaluated in strips of abdominal aortas. Results: Thoracic aortas from 1K1C and coarctation hypertensive rats, as well as abdominal aortas from 1K1C rats, but not abdominal aortas from coarctation hypertensive rats were exposed chronically to elevated arterial pressure. Endotheliumdependent maximal relaxation by histamine was significantly depressed in thoracic aortas from both groups of rats, as well as in abdominal aortas from 1K1C rats. Maximal relaxation and sensitivity to histamine were normal in abdominal aortas from coarctation hypertensive rats. Sensitivity to nitroglycerin was impaired in abdominal aortas from 1K1C rats but not in those from coarctation hypertensive rats; maximal relaxation to nitroglycerin was similar in all groups. Relaxation to iloprost was independent of the endothelium, observed only in thoracic aortas and impaired in hypertensive rats. Responses to endothelin-1 were similar in the groups Conclusion: Vasorelaxation by histamine, iloprost and nitroglycerin are impaired in hypertension. The impaired relaxation by histamine results from exposure of the vascular endothelium to chronically elevated pressure. This impairment may be related to effects of high pressure in reducing the ability of the endothelium to produce endothelium-derived relaxing factor and inhibit cyclic CMP-dilator mechanisms.
Human TAFII55 Interacts with the Vitamin D3 and Thyroid Hormone Receptors and with Derivatives of the Retinoid X Receptor That Have Altered Transactivation Properties

ABSTRACT We have identified novel interactions between the human (h)TATA-binding protein-associated factor TAFII55 and the ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of the nuclear receptors for vitamin D3 (VDR) and thyroid hormone (TRα). Following expression in Cos cells, hTAFII55 interacts with the VDR and TRα LBDs in a ligand-independent manner whereas no interactions with the retinoid X receptors (RXRs) or with other receptors were observed. Deletion mapping indicates that hTAFII55 interacts with a 40-amino-acid region spanning α-helices H3 to H5 of the VDR and TRα LBDs but not with the equivalent highly related region of RXRγ. TAFII55 also interacts with chimeric receptors in which the H3-to-H5 region of RXRγ has been replaced with that of the VDR or TRα. Furthermore, replacement of two single amino acids of the RXRγ LBD with their VDR counterparts allows the RXRγ LBD to interact with hTAFII55 while the corresponding double substitution allows a much stronger interaction. In transfection experiments, the single mutated RXRγ LBDs activate transcription to fivefold higher levels than wild-type RXRγ while the double mutation activates transcription to a level comparable to that observed with the VDR. There is therefore a correlation between the ability of the modified RXRs to interact with hTAFII55 and transactivation. These results strongly suggest that the TAFII55 interactions with the modified RXR LBDs modulate transcriptional activation.
Flexibility, fit and innovative capacity: an empirical examination

Flexibility is an organisation's ability to adapt to substantial and uncertain changes in the environment that requires quick reactions and which has a significant impact on performance. For many firms, creating new products, ideas or processes is a central path by which they adapt and sometimes even transform themselves in changing environments. This document takes an in-depth trans-national look into the framework of the European Union, on the effects flexibility has on firms' innovative capacity. Three different levels are analysed: strategic, structural, and operational flexibility. The objectives were tackled using data from 417 European firms. The results show that a good fit between real flexibility and that required by the environment has a positive impact on the level of innovativeness and on a company's innovative capacity.
Wafer-level TSV connectivity test using ring oscillator scheme

This paper presents the wafer-lvel TSV connectivity test method using ring oscillator scheme by showing its good immunity to TSV and chip process variations, efficient use of a chip area, simplicity of the test circuitry design, and low cost from its application before expensive wafer thinning and stacking processes. The proposed method can detect a delamination failure between TSVs and back end lines on a single TSV processed wafer.
sEMG-based prediction of human lower extremity movements by using a dynamic recurrent neural network

In this paper, a novel robust nonlinear model is proposed to predict human lower extremity motion based on the multi-channel surface electromyography (sEMG) signals. The prediction model is established by a data-driven dynamic recurrent neural network. The sEMG signals acquired from human lower extremity muscles are used as the inputs of the prediction model. The outputs of the model are joint angles of hip, knee and ankle. Different from the traditional feedforward network structure, this model has several feedback loops, thus it can take advantage of the output feedback information. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, five able-bodied people participated in the cycling exercises and relevant data were recorded in real time. The performance of the proposed prediction model is compared to those of the feedforward neural network with augmented inputs (FFNNAI) for the motion prediction accuracy and robustness. The results show that the proposed method provides acceptable performance which is clearly better than the FFNNAI-based approach under different experimental schemes.
Belief dynamics in web search

People frequently answer consequential questions, such as those with a medical focus, using Internet search engines. Their primary goal is to revise or establish beliefs in one or more outcomes. Search engines are not designed to furnish answers, and instead provide results that may contain answers. Information retrieval research has targeted aspects of information access such as query formulation, relevance, and search success. However, there are important unanswered questions on how beliefs‐and potential biases in those beliefs‐affect search behaviors and how beliefs are shaped by searching. To understand belief dynamics, we focus on yes‐no medical questions (e.g., “Is congestive heart failure a heart attack? ”), with consensus answers from physicians. We show that (a) presearch beliefs are affected only slightly by searching and changes are likely to skew positive (yes); (b) presearch beliefs affect search behavior; (c) search engines can shift some beliefs by manipulating result rank and availability, but strongly‐held beliefs are difficult to move using uncongenial information and can be counterproductive, and (d) search engines exhibit near‐random answer accuracy. Our findings suggest that search engines should provide correct answers to searchers’ questions and develop methods to persuade searchers to shift strongly held but factually incorrect beliefs.
“Far as I Get Is the Clothesline”: The Impact of Leisure on Women's Health and Unpaid Caregiving Experiences in Nova Scotia, Canada

This qualitative study explored the unique ways in which caregiving and leisure are conceptualized and mediated among diverse groups of female caregivers (n = 98) in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Data were obtained through 17 focus group discussions between March and June of 2002. Findings reveal that the contexts within which caregivers experience the health effects of caregiving create meanings, opportunities, and challenges for leisure. This study of diverse caregiving experiences fills a significant gap in the existing literature by integrating considerations of subjectivity and the ways in which caregiving influences women's perceptions and engagement in leisure pursuits. Constructivism guides the interpretive framework upon which the data were analyzed; results inform recommendations relative to policy and program audiences associated with unpaid caregiving.
An evaluation of the purposes of research in social work

Different authors have varying opinions on what the purposes of research should be called. The terminology used in scientific writing should be understood to have a similar meaning by the various members of a particular profession or subject group. The main aim of this article is to provide clarity on various viewpoints and to delineate what can be considered the various purposes of research in social work. This article thus aims to study the arious opinions and endea ours to describe and formulate the author’s own viewpoint on this issue
Glucose Transport in Human Skeletal Muscle: The In Vivo Response to Insulin

Transmembrane glucose transport plays a key role in determining insulin sensitivity. We have measured in vivo WBGU, FGU, and KIn and Kout of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose in forearm skeletal muscle by combining the euglycemic clamp technique, the forearm-balance technique, and a novel dual-tracer (1-[3H]-L-glucose and 3-O-[4C]-methyl-D-glucose) technique for measuring in vivo transmembrane transport. Twenty-seven healthy, lean subjects were studied. During saline infusion, insulin concentration, FGU (n = 6), KIn, and Kout (n = 4) were similar to baseline. During SRIF-induced hypoinsulinemia (insulin <15 pM, n = 4) WBGU was close to 0, and FGU, KIn, and Kout were unchanged from basal (insulin = 48 pM) values. During insulin clamps at plasma insulin levels of ∼180 (n = 4), ∼420 (n = 5), ∼3000 (n = 4), and ∼9500 pM (n = 4), WBGU was 14.2 ± 1.3, 34.2 ± 4.1 (P < 0.05 vs. previous step), 55.8 ± 1.8 (P < 0.05 vs. previous step), and 56.1 ± 6.3 ixmol · min−1 · kg−1 of body weight (NS vs. previous step), respectively. Graded hyperinsulinemia concomitantly increased FGU from a basal value of 4.7 ± 0.5 μmol · min−1 · kg−1 up to 10.9 ± 2.3 (P < 0.05 vs. basal value), 26.6 ± 4.5 (P < 0.05 vs. previous step), 54.8 ± 4.3 (P < 0.05 vs. previous step), and 61.1 ± 10.8 μmol · min−1 · kg−1 of forearm tissues (NS vs. previous step), respectively. KIn of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose in forearm skeletal muscle was increased by hyperinsulinemia from a basal value of 6.6 · 10−2 ± 0.38 · 10−2 to 10.0 · 10−2 ± 1.4 · 10(p < 0.05 vs. baseline), 17.2 · 10−2 ± 2.2 · 10−2 (P < 0.05 vs. previous step), 26.3 · 10−2 ± 1.8 · 10−2 (P < 0.05 vs. previous step), and 29.8 · 10−2 ± 5.3 · 10−2 · min−1 (NS vs. previous step), respectively. FGU and Kln were positively correlated (r = 0.88, P < 0.01). Kout of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose did not change from the basal value at the lowest insulin dose (3.9 · 10−2 ± 1.1 · 10−2 vs. 3.8 ·10−2 ± 0.33 · 10−2 · 10−2 · min−1, NS), but rose significantly at the following insulin steps to 6.1 · 10−2 ± 0.8 · 10−2, 6.9 ·10−2 ± 0.5 · 10−2, and 11.9 · 10−2 ± 0.3 · 10−2 · min−1 (P < 0.05 for all three vs. baseline). Thus, in human skeletal muscle, in vivo, insulin stimulates K, n and uptake of glucose in a parallel fashion, whereas SRIF-induced acute hypoinsulinemia does not seem to affect transmembrane transport or uptake of glucose.
A spectral mixture process conditioned by Gibbs-based partitioning

An enhanced method of spectral mixture analysis is investigated for hyperspectral imagery of moderate-to-high scene complexity, where either a large set of fundamental materials may exist throughout, or where some of the fundamental members have spectra that are similar to each other. For a complex scene, the use of one large set of fundamental materials as the set of "endmembers" for performing spectral unmixing can cause unreliable estimates of material compositions at sites within the scene. In such cases, partitioning this large set of endmembers into a number of smaller sets is appropriate, where the smaller sets are associated with certain regions in a scene. Herein, a Gibbs-based algorithm is developed to partition hyperspectral imagery into regions of similarity. This partitioning algorithm provides an estimator of an underlying and unobserved process called a "partition process" that coexists with other underlying (and unobserved) processes, one of which is called a "spectral mixing process. " The algorithm exploits the properties of a Markov random field (MRF) and the associated Gibbs equivalence theorem, using a suitably defined graph structure and a Gibbs distribution to model the partition process. Consequently, spatial consistency is imposed on the spectral content of sites in each partition. The enhanced spectral mixing process is then computed as a linear mixture model that is conditioned on the partition process. Experiments are performed using scenes of HYDICE imagery to validate the algorithm, where spectral mixture analysis is performed with and without conditioning on the partitioning process.
[Clinical symptoms in 35 children and adolescents with craniopharyngeoma at the time of diagnosis].

AIM Hormonal deficiencies, visual disturbances, or cerebral symptoms are often the symptoms through which craniopharyngiomas (CP) first become clinically manifest. As these symptoms can exist for a long period of time various specialists are often consulted before the final diagnosis is made. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between the years 1970 and 1998, 37 children and adolescents with CP were treated in Erlangen. The documents of 35 patients (22 male, 13 female) were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS The median age of the children at diagnosis was 9,3 years (1,3 - 15,6 years). The most frequently documented symptoms were: headache 57 % (median duration 7 months; varying from 1 week to 6 years), visual disturbances 45 % (median duration 2 months, range 2 weeks to 10 years), and reduced growth 40 % (median duration 1 year, range 3 months to 5 years). On average the reported symptoms were present for 15 months (median 5 months, time span 1 week to 10 years). CONCLUSION The clinical symptoms of CP are non-specific and highly varied. Endocrine disturbances are the primary objective finding. Correct interpretation of the symptoms are required for the early diagnosis of CP.