Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Contextual Interference on Acquisition and Retention of Three Volleyball Skills

Manipulating the organization of practice conditions, through contextual interference, was identified as a method to promote motor skill acquisition by Brady in 1998. The generalizability of this learning effect is questionable and the amount of repetition versus the amount of change in task presentation requires investigation. The purpose of this study was to explore explanations for the performance of learners practicing the AAHPERD volleyball skills test when the change in task presentation varied. High school students were randomly assigned to blocked, random, and random-blocked practice groups. While all groups significantly improved all skills during acquisition, there was no support for the contextual interference effect. Potential explanations might be dependent upon the learners' skill and the complexity of the task to be learned. Further research is warranted examining contextual interference effect on practice organization at levels of difficulty appropriate to facilitate cognitive processing of task-related information.
Increase in apoptosis and decrease in ornithine decarboxylase activity of the gastric mucosa in patients with atrophic gastritis and gastric ulcer after successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori

OBJECTIVE:Recent reports have shown that patients infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) have a higher risk of gastric cancer. However, the mechanism of this increased risk is still unclear. In the gastric mucosa, the size of a continuously renewed population of cells is determined by the rates of cell production and of cell loss. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is elevated in various gastrointestinal cancers and serves as a marker of mucosal proliferative activity. Apoptosis occurs throughout the gut and is associated with cell loss. Both cell proliferation and cell loss have important roles in H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of H. pylori eradication on ODC activity and apoptosis in the gastric mucosa of patients with atrophic gastritis and gastric ulcers.METHODS:Biopsy specimens of the gastric antrum were obtained at endoscopy from 17 H. pylori-positive gastric ulcers patients and 15 H. pylori-positive gastritis patients before and 4 wk after eradication therapy with amoxicillin, omeprazole, and a new anti-ulcer agent, ecabet sodium, and from 10 gastric ulcer patients in whom ulcer healed but H. pylori was left untreated. ODC activity and induction of apoptosis were determined immunohistochemically.RESULTS:H. pylori was successfully eradicated with the triple therapy in 12 (80%) of 15 gastritis patients and 13 (76%) of 17 gastric ulcer patients. ODC activity was present in the gastric mucosa in 21 (84%) patients before eradication but in only four (16%) patients after successful eradication (p= 0.0005). The apoptotic index increased significantly (p= 0.0006) from 4.2%± 0.4% before treatment to 7.4%± 0.5% after successful eradication.CONCLUSIONS:Successful eradication of H. pylori decreases mucosal ODC activity and increases apoptosis in the gastric mucosa. These findings indicate that by decreasing mucosal cell proliferation and increasing epithelial cell loss, H. pylori eradication may help decrease the subsequent risk of gastric cancer.
Identification of a group of cryptic marine limpet species, Cellana karachiensis (Mollusca: Patellogastropoda) off Veraval coast, India, using mtDNA COI sequencing

Abstract Present communication reports the phylogenetic relationship between three groups of a marine limpet having different color banding patterns using COI sequencing. Samples were sequenced for mtDNA COI gene using universal primer. Comparative BLAST revealed that all three types were around 99.59% identical with Cellana karachiensis, first record of this species from Indian coasts. Apart from the morphological variations, the mtDNA COI gene analysis revealed around 1% nucleotide variations between these three types. The observed dissimilarity in COI sequences was possibly too little to consider these types as three different species. The derivation of amino acid positions indicated that these types could possibly be a complex of three cryptic species of C. karachiensis. The study proposes that the Oman and Indian populations of C. karachiensis might have derived by allopatric speciation due to geographical isolation. The group of these three cryptic species, sharing same habitat between themselves, possibly showed sympatric speciation.
Crohn's disease‐associated adherent‐invasive E. coli are selectively favoured by impaired autophagy to replicate intracellularly

Ileal lesions in Crohn's disease (CD) patients are colonized by pathogenic adherent‐invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) able to invade and to replicate within intestinal epithelial cells. Recent genome‐wide association studies have highlighted the autophagy pathway as being associated with CD risk. In the present study we investigated whether defects in autophagy enhance replication of commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli and CD‐associated AIEC. We show that functional autophagy limits intracellular AIEC replication and that a subpopulation of the intracellular bacteria is located within LC3‐positive autophagosomes. In IRGM and ATG16L1 deficient cells intracellular AIEC LF82 bacteria have enhanced replication. Surprisingly autophagy deficiency did not interfere with the ability of intracellular bacteria to survive and/or replicate for any other E. coli strains tested, including non‐pathogenic, environmental, commensal, or pathogenic strains involved in gastro enteritis. Together these findings demonstrate a central role for autophagy restraining Adherent‐Invasive E. coli strains associated with ileal CD. AIEC infection in patients with polymorphisms in autophagy genes may have a significant impact on the outcome of intestinal inflammation.
Economic Evaluation of Epilepsy in Kiremba (Burundi): A Case–Control Study

Summary: Purpose: Epilepsy is a common disease whose prevalence across Africa is extremely variable (from 5 to 74‰). Its social and economic consequences in this continent are not well established. The objective of this study was to compare the cost of care of patients with epilepsy with that of controls in the commune of Kiremba in Burundi.
Estimating Age in Maori, Pacific Island, and European Children from New Zealand

Abstract: The islands of New Zealand are populated by persons of European, Maori, and Pacific Island extraction. The purpose of this research is to quantify the levels of dental maturation of each of these three populations, in order to obtain data that will be useful in forensic identification and age estimation. The sample consisted of 1383 orthopantomographs (660 males, 723 females) of 477 Maori, 762 European, and 144 Pacific Island children between the ages of 3 and 14 years. Each radiograph was digitized and the stages of mineralization of the seven left mandibular permanent teeth were assessed using the eight stages described by Demirjian. Values for 1, 3, 5, 50, 95, 97, and 99% confidence intervals are listed for each maturity score. Intra‐observer reliability was evaluated using Bland–Altman’s method on data from re‐scoring one out of every 20 radiographs and standard dental maturation curves were constructed for the three populations by means of a quantile regression method. Despite the fact that quantile regression analysis showed that across the age group investigated there were differences between boys and girls, knowledge of the sex does not increase the accuracy of the age estimate, simply because the magnitude of the error of age estimation is greater than the difference between the sexes. Our analysis also shows that population divergence is most marked after the age of 9 years, with a peak difference seen at age 10.
N-doped GeTe as performance booster for embedded Phase-Change Memories

The commercialization of Phase-Change Memories (PCM), based on the well-known GST compound, have been recently started, tailored for consumer applications. Despite other excellent performances (i.e. low-power, scalability,…), data retention is assured up to 85°C, still limited for the automotive market segment. Alternative active material able to comply with the stringent requirements of automotive applications should possibly exhibit higher crystallization temperature (TC) as well as higher Activation Energy (EA) with respect to GST. Recent literature shows that GeTe provides better retention [1–3], while several works put in evidence how data retention is enhanced by inclusions in pure host alloys [4–6].
Comparison of Minitrampoline- and Full-Sized Trampoline-Related Injuries in the United States, 1990–2002

Objective. To compare mini- and full-sized trampoline–related injuries in the United States. Methods. A retrospective analysis of data was conducted for all ages from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1990 to 2002. We compared 137 minitrampoline-related injuries with 143 full-sized trampoline–related injuries, randomly selected from all full-sized trampoline–related injuries reported to the NEISS during the study period. Results. Patients ranged in age from 1 to 80 years (mean [SD]: 13.9 [17.7]) and 2 to 52 years (mean [SD]: 11.0 [8.0]) for mini- and full-sized trampoline–related injuries, respectively. Most patients were younger than 18 years (82% mini, 91% full-sized). Thirty-two percent of minitrampoline- and 19% of full-sized trampoline–related injuries were to children who were younger than 6 years; girls predominated (63% mini, 51% full-sized). Children who were younger than 6 years were more likely to be injured on a minitrampoline than on a full-sized trampoline, when compared with 6- to 17-year-olds (odds ratio [OR]: 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–4.47). The majority of injuries occurred at home (87% mini, 89% full-sized). All patients who were injured on a minitrampoline were treated and released, whereas 5% of patients who were injured on a full-sized trampoline were admitted to the hospital. On minitrampolines, children who were younger than 6 years were at risk for head lacerations (OR: 4.98; 95% CI: 1.71–16.03), and children who were 6 to 17 years were at risk for lower extremity strains or sprains (OR: 6.26; 95% CI: 1.35–59.14). Children who were 6 to 17 years and injured on a full-sized trampoline were at risk for lower extremity strains or sprains (OR: 4.85; 95% CI: 1.09–44.93). Lower extremity strains or sprains were the most common injury sustained by adults (18 years and older; 33% mini, 15% full-sized). Conclusions. Injury patterns were similar for mini- and full-sized trampolines, although minitrampoline–related injuries were less likely to require admission to the hospital and more commonly resulted in head lacerations among children who were younger than 6 years. Risk for injury could not be determined because of the lack of data regarding duration of exposure to risk. We therefore conclude that the use of full-sized trampolines by children should follow the policy recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Trampolines, including minitrampolines, should be regarded as training devices and not as toys. Until more data are available regarding exposure to risk, we caution against the use of the minitrampoline as a play device by children in the home, which is where most minitrampoline-related injuries occur.
The effects of hemodialysis on total intrauterine volume

Our objective was to assess the effects of maternal fluid shifts during hemodialysis on the amniotic fluid volume. Ultrasound estimation of the total intrauterine volume before and after dialysis was performed between 23 and 26 weeks in a 30‐year‐old woman with progressive IgA glomerulonephropathy.
Investigating the Knowledge, Attitude and Its Relationship with the Mean of Using Emergency Contraception

The aim of this study was to investigate women’s knowledge about and attitude toward emergency contraception (EC) in women who referred to health centers of Tehran University of Medical Science. The subjects in this study consisted of 250 married women of fertility age who had been selected randomly and interviewed by the researcher. The majority of the subjects had not used EC. Just 5.2% (13 women) had used this method and 8.31% had knowledge and information about EC. There was a significant correlation between knowledge about and use of this method (p = 0.0001). Although the users of this method were more knowledgeable about EC than nonusers, a majority of subjects (76.57%) had a positive attitude toward EC; however, there was not a significant correlation between positive attitude and use of EC (p = 0.184).
A Dielectric-Modulated Tunnel-FET-Based Biosensor for Label-Free Detection: Analytical Modeling Study and Sensitivity Analysis

In this paper, an analytical model for a p-n-p-n tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) working as a biosensor for label-free biomolecule detection purposes is developed and verified with device simulation results. The model provides a generalized solution for the device electrostatics and electrical characteristics of the p-n-p-n-TFET-based sensor and also incorporates the two important properties possessed by a biomolecule, i.e., its dielectric constant and charge. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the TFET-based biosensor has been compared with that of a conventional FET-based counterpart in terms of threshold voltage (Vth) shift, variation in the on-current (Ion) level, and Ion/Ioff ratio. It has been shown that the TFET-based sensor shows a large deviation in the current level, and thus, change in Ion can also be considered as a suitable sensing parameter. Moreover, the impacts of device parameters (channel thickness and cavity length), process variability, and process-induced damage on the sensitivity of the biosensor have also been discussed.
Eco-evolutionary dynamics and collective dispersal: implications for salmon metapopulation robustness

The spatial dispersal of individuals is known to play an important role in the dynamics of populations, and is central to metapopulation theory. At the same time, local adaptation to environmental conditions creates a geographic mosaic of evolutionary forces, where the combined drivers of selection and gene flow interact. Although the dispersal of individuals from donor to recipient populations provides connections within the metapopulation, promoting demographic and evolutionary rescue, it may also introduce maladapted individuals into habitats host to different environmental conditions, potentially lowering the fitness of the recipient population. Thus, dispersal plays a dual role in both promoting and inhibiting local adaptation. Here we explore a model of the eco-evolutionary dynamics between two populations connected by dispersal, where the productivity of each is defined by a trait complex that is subject to local selection. Although general in nature, our model is inspired by salmon metapopulations, where dispersal between populations is defined in terms of the straying rate, which has been shown to be density-dependent, and recently proposed to be shaped by social interactions consistent with collective movement. The results of our model reveal that increased straying between evolving populations leads to alternative stable states, which has large and nonlinear effects on two measures of metapopulation robustness: the portfolio effect and the time to recovery following an induced disturbance. We show that intermediate levels of straying result in large gains in robustness, and that increased habitat heterogeneity promotes robustness when straying rates are low, and erodes robustness when straying rates are high. Finally, we show that density-dependent straying promotes robustness, particularly when the aggregate biomass is low and straying is correspondingly high, which has important ramifications for the conservation of salmon metapopulations facing both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Media Summary Many migratory species, such as salmon, are remarkable in finding their way home. This homing has allowed fine-scale adaptations to the environments in which they evolve. But some individuals do not find their way home and instead stray to other locations, especially when there are fewer individuals to help with collective decision-making. With an eco-evolutionary model, we discovered that an intermediate and density-dependent straying rate allows linked populations to be robust to disturbance but maintain local adaptations.
The role of glucose 6‐phosphate in mediating the effects of glucokinase overexpression on hepatic glucose metabolism

Pharmacological activation or overexpression of glucokinase in hepatocytes stimulates glucose phosphorylation, glycolysis and glycogen synthesis. We used an inhibitor of glucose 6‐phosphate (Glc6P) hydrolysis, namely the chlorogenic derivative, 1‐[2‐(4‐chloro‐phenyl)‐cyclopropylmethoxy]‐3, 4‐dihydroxy‐5‐(3‐imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridin‐1‐yl‐3‐phenyl‐acryloyloxy)‐cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (also known as S4048), to determine the contribution of Glc6P concentration, as distinct from glucokinase protein or activity, to the control of glycolysis and glycogen synthesis by glucokinase overexpression. The validity of S4048 for testing the role of Glc6P was supported by its lack of effect on glucokinase binding and its nuclear/cytoplasmic distribution. The stimulation of glycolysis by glucokinase overexpression correlated strongly with glucose phosphorylation, whereas glycogen synthesis correlated strongly with Glc6P concentration. Metabolic control analysis was used to determine the sensitivity of glycogenic flux to glucokinase or Glc6P at varying glucose concentrations (5–20 mm). The concentration control coefficient of glucokinase on Glc6P (1.4–1.7) was relatively independent of glucose concentration, whereas the flux control coefficients of Glc6P (2.4–1.0) and glucokinase (3.7–1.8) on glycogen synthesis decreased with glucose concentration. The high sensitivity of glycogenic flux to Glc6P at low glucose concentration is consistent with covalent modification by Glc6P of both phosphorylase and glycogen synthase. The high control strength of glucokinase on glycogenic flux is explained by its concentration control coefficient on Glc6P and the high control strength of Glc6P on glycogen synthesis. It is suggested that the regulatory strength of pharmacological glucokinase activators on glycogen metabolism can be predicted from their effect on the Glc6P content.
Performance Analysis of Transmit and Receive Antenna Selection over Flat Fading Channels

The paper considers two different antenna selection schemes for space-time coded systems over flat fading channels. First we explore antenna selection at the transmitter side based on the received signal to noise ratios. We then study the joint selection of receive and transmit antennas. Both schemes assume a slowly fading channel (i.e., quasi-static fading) and require some limited feedback from the receiver to the transmitter. By computing upper bounds on the pairwise error probabilities and conducting extensive simulations, we show that the space-time coded systems achieve full diversity even with antenna selection provided that the code is full rank. These results are extensions of earlier work on antenna selection for MIMO systems (Bahceci et al., 2003) which only considers receive antenna selection.
Care-Receiver and Caregiver Assessments of Functioning: Are There Gender Differences?*

ABSTRACT In situations where care-receivers cannot respond to questions about their functional status, caregiver proxies are often substituted. Yet studies addressing caregiver-care-receiver agreement remain limited in scope, focusing primarily on cognitive functioning and caregiver relationship. This study broadens the range of research in this area by examining caregiver and care-receiver reports of individual IADL and AADL items by gender of care-receiver. As well, the degree to which the care-receiver's age and mental and physical health status influence agreement are investigated. Data for this study come from a sample of 388 Manitoba older adults aged 65 and over. Results (using Cohen's kappa) suggest less agreement on the presence of disability for men than for women, particularly among those aged 75–84. Differences by health status were also revealed. The implications of the findings for assessments of functioning are considered. RÉSUMÉ Lorsque les prestataires de soins ne sont pas en mesure de répondre aux questions relatives à leurs capacités fonctionnelles, les fournisseurs de soins sont souvent amenés à se substituer à eux. Cependant, les études portant sur les ententes entre les fournisseurs et les prestataires de soins demeurent d'une portée relativement restreinte, mettant surtout l'accent sur les fonctions cognitives ainsi que la relation avec le fournisseur de soins. Cette étude vise à élargir la portée des recherches dans ce domaine par l'étude des comptes rendus effectués par les fournisseurs et les prestataires de soins à l'égard des diverses activités de la vie quotidienne (AVQ) et des activités instrumentales de la vie quotidienne (AIVQ), en fonction du sexe du prestataire de soins. En outre, la recherche étudie l'étendue de l'influence de l'âge du prestataire et de son état de santé mentale et physique sur les ententes. Les donnés pour cette étude proviennent d'un échantillon de 388 Manitobains âgés de 65 ans et plus. Les résultats (fondés sur le facteur kappa de Cohen) révélent que les ententes sont moins fréquentes, en ce qui a trait à l'existence d'une incapacité, chez les hommes que chez les femmes, en particulier chez les personnes ãgées de 75 à 84 ans. Les différences selon l'état de santé sont également indiquées. L'incidence des résultats sur l'évaluation du fonctionnement est abordée.
On-line Production of Ultrapure Substitution Fluid Reduces TNF-alpha- and IL-6 Release in Patients on Hemodiafiltration Therapy

On-line hemodiafiltration (HDF) has been introduced into clinical practice in the last few years. The most important technical and regulatory challenges were the safety and microbiological quality of ultrafiltrated substitution/replacement fluid. The application of ultrafilters in a different technical arrangement in the fluid path based on polysulfone or polyamide membranes should prevent patient contact with endotoxins and other pyrogenic or bacteria-derived substances. After resolving these problems and providing clinically safe and technically robust product solutions, increasing numbers of patients have been treated, especially those with severe clinical conditions, e.g., diabetes, hypo- or hypertension. The benefit for patients was brought about by the increase of substitution rate in hemodiafiltration and enhancing convective mass transfer. The impact of highly convective therapy modes on the state of immunomodulation towards the syndrome of microinflammation has not been investigated in a systematic prospective manner. In this study, 8 patients undergoing bag-HDF treatment with lactate buffered solution were investigated before online HDF treatment with commercially available whole blood stimulation assays testing for TNF-alpha and IL-6 release. Both assays are based on phytohemagglutinine (for TNF) and lipo-polysaccharide stimulation (for IL-6). Thereafter the patients were switched to on-line production of substitution fluid. After a wash-out period of 2 sessions the whole blood stimulation assays were applied to the same patients. The Wilcoxon test (for paired analysis) was done, revealing a statistically significant lower release of proinflammtory cytokines from patients' blood upon stimulation with PHA or LPS. The reduction of IL-6 and TNF concentration and release capacity in whole blood may be attributed to the use of high quality ultrapure substitution fluid and dialysate in on-line treatment instead of lactate buffer bag solution. These results indicate that not only an increase of convective mass tranfer by higher volume exchange, but also a decrease in unspecific activation of immunocompetent cells may have advantages for HDF-treated patients.