Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Presence of an Exercise Instructor or Group Members Affects Physical Self-Concept and Physical Self-Esteem: An Experimental Study in the Elderly

Background: Physical self-concept and physical self-esteem are important sources of general self-esteem and overall health. Evidence indicates that exercise leads to an enhancement in physical self-concept and physical self-esteem. Until now however, it remained unclear whether the beneficial effects of exercise were impacted by different types of exercise environments. Thus, the purpose of this study was to experimentally investigate, whether the presence or absence of an instructor or other group members influenced elder adults’ physical self-concept and esteem. Method: Participants were 46 women and 20 men (Mean age 65.4, SD = 4.36) who were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups differing across two factors—group versus no-group and instructor versus no-instructor. Participants took part in an 8-week-walking program with a comparable number of training sessions across the four experimental groups. Physical self-concept and physical self-esteem were assessed both pre and post exercise intervention. Results: Descriptively, the highest improvement in physical self-concept and esteem were observed in the instructor/no-group and the no-instructor/group condition. Between these two conditions, no significant difference of change was observed. Moreover, no improvement was observed when both instructor and group were present. Conclusion: Effects of either instructor presence or group presence may be explained by mechanisms of social integration and social support. An unexpected absence of effects on self-concept and esteem under the instructor/group condition are explained with reference to an individual’s cognitive dissonance caused by the need to adapt to different exercise oriented goals or attitudes of the instructor and the group members which might hinder the positive development of the self.
Child-Parent Separations among Senegalese Migrants to Europe

The authors use the Migration between Africa and Europe (MAFE) project data to examine the incidence and duration of child-parent separations and the determinants of child-parent reunification among Senegalese migrants. Their findings indicate that approximately one-sixth of the Senegalese children in the sample were separated from their parents due to parental migration to Europe. These separations are relatively long, especially if the absent parent is the father. Reunification of Senegalese migrant parents with their children is infrequent, both in Senegal and in Europe. However, the location where reunification occurs is important, as it is associated with markedly different family types. Parents who end separations by returning to Senegal belong to families that clearly depart from the Western nuclear model, whereas Senegalese families in which parents decided to bring their children to Europe are closer to Western family arrangements.
A new low power test pattern generator based on two-bit twisted ring counter

A new single input change (SIC) test pattern generator (TPG), called multi two-bit twisted ring counters (MTB-TRC), is presented in this paper. Experimental results based on ISCAS'85 benchmark circuits show that the proposed MTB-TRC has the improved performance (power, fault coverage and test length), compared with the corresponding already known TPGs. Another advantage of the proposed MTB-TRC is that the same TPG can be used for testing more than one module in a SOC.
Associations of polymorphisms in HPC2/ELAC2 and SRD5A2 genes with benign prostate hyperplasia in Turkish men.

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common benign tumor in elderly men for which the HPC2/ELAC2 and SRD5A2 genes are known genetic factors. The HPC2/ELAC2 gene features Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms and the SRD5A2 gene Ala49Thr and Val89Leu polymorphisms. The aim of this study was to examine relationships between these polymorphisms and BPH in Turkish men using amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Polymorphisms were determined by using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with suitable restriction: TaqI? , Fnu4HI, Mwo I and Rsa I. We found statistically significant relationship between the SRD5A2 gene Ala49Thr (OR=2.3; CI 95%, 1.04-5.1; p=0.01<0.05) , but not the other polymorphisms, and BPH. For the first time, our data demonstrate that the correlation between SRD5A2 gene Ala49Thr and polymorphisms is statistically significant in Turkish men with BPH.
Circulating Angiogenic Factors and Placental Abruption

OBJECTIVE: Abnormalities in circulating angiogenic factors have been reported in diseases of abnormal placentation, such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Our objective was to determine whether circulating angiogenic factors are altered in another placental vascular disease, abruptio placentae. METHODS: In a nested case-control study of nulliparous pregnancies, we examined levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) in serum collected prospectively from 31 women who later developed placental abruption and from 31 normal control subjects. All serum specimens were collected before the onset of hypertension or abruption and before labor or delivery. Serum angiogenic factors were compared within 3 gestational age windows: early (20 weeks or less), middle (21–32 weeks), and late (33 weeks or more) pregnancy. RESULTS: During early pregnancy women who developed placental abruption had lower PlGF and higher sFlt-1 concentrations and higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratios than women with normal pregnancies. In mid-pregnancy these differences became greater, reaching statistical significance for PlGF concentration (431 versus 654 pg/mL, P<.01) and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (25.3 versus 2.5, P<.01). When the women with placental abruption were subdivided into those who did (n=10) and those who did not (n=21) develop preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, significant alterations in angiogenic factors were noted only in women who later developed hypertension in pregnancy. Among these women, PlGF concentrations were decreased in mid-pregnancy (160 versus 723 pg/mL, P<.001), and the mid-pregnancy sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was increased (70.1 versus 2.3, P=.001). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of the proangiogenic factor PlGF were decreased, and those of the antiangiogenic ratio sFlt-1/PlGF were increased in nulliparous women who subsequently developed hypertension and placental abruption. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2
Progressive renal lesions induced by administration of monoclonal antibody 1‐22‐3 to unilaterally nephrectomized rats

A new animal model of progressive glomerulosclerosis was developed by administering a single i.v. , injection of MoAb 1–22–3 to unilaterally nephrectomized rats. Renal morphological analysis revealed that glomerular lesions characterized by mesangial cell proliferation and mesangial matrix expansion were induced in about 95% of the glomeruli. Approximately 20% of the glomeruli of the unilaterally nephrectomized rats showed sclerosis or segmental sclerosis by week 6 after MoAb injection and crescent formation was observed in some glomeruli (ca 4%). Cellular infiltration was also noted in some parts of the interstitium. Increased expression of transforming growth factor–beta (TGF‐β) was observed in the unilaterally nephrectomized rats treated with MoAb 1‐22‐3, but we could not demonstrate pathological involvement of platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF). even though early‐stage mesangial cell proliferation was observed. The mechanism of mesangial cell proliferation in this model remains to be elucidated. The relatively short period of time needed to induce the sclerotic changes is considered to be a great advantage of this model for clarifying the mechanisms involved in the chronic progression of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.
Body composition and cardiometabolic disease risk factors in captive baboons (Papio hamadryas sp.): sexual dimorphism.

Baboons (Papio hamadryas sp.) exhibit significant sexual dimorphism in body size. Sexual dimorphism is also exhibited in a number of circulating factors associated with risk of cardiometabolic disease. We investigated whether sexual dimorphism in body size and composition underlie these differences. We examined data from 28 male and 24 female outdoor group-housed young adult baboons enrolled in a longitudinal observational study of cardiometabolic disease risk factors. Animals were sedated with ketamine HCl (10 mg/kg) before undergoing venous blood draws, basic body measurements, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition scans. Percentage glycated hemoglobin A1c (%HbA1c ) was measured in whole blood. Serum samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, C-peptide, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride concentrations. Males were heavier and had greater body length and lean tissue mass than females. Females had a greater body fat percentage relative to males (10.8 ± 6.4 vs. 6.9 ± 4.0, P = 0.01). Although C-peptide, fasting glucose, and %HbA1c did not differ between the sexes, females had greater fasting insulin and triglyceride compared to their male counterparts. Insulin and percentage body fat were significantly correlated in males (r = 0.61, P = 0.001) and to a lesser extent in females (r = 0.43, P = 0.04). Overall, relations between adiposity and fasting insulin and fasting triglyceride were stronger in males. After accounting for differences in percentage body fat, fasting insulin and triglyceride were no longer statistically different between males and females. Despite stronger correlations between relative adiposity and insulin and triglyceride in males, the higher fasting insulin and triglyceride of female baboons may be underlain by their greater relative body fat masses.
Association between ACE gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease in Han population in Hebei Peninsula.

PURPOSE This study aimed to detect the association between angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms (rs4343 and rs1800764) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Han population in Hebei Peninsular. METHODS We recruited 113 AD patients and 142 healthy individuals in this case-control study. Differences of genotypes, alleles and haplotypes in two groups were analyzed by chi-square test. Besides, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to represent the relative risk of AD. At last, the analyses of linkage disequilibrium and haplotypes were done with HaploView software. RESULTS In the analyses of genotypes and alleles of ACE polymorphisms (rs4343 and rs1800764) in AD, no obvious association was found between genotypes and alleles of rs4343 with the susceptibility of AD. In rs1800764 polymorphism, only C allele had significant association with AD susceptibility (P=0.035, OR=1.473, 95% CI=1.027-2.111), which suggested that rs1800764 C allele is the susceptible allele of AD. Linkage disequilibrium analysis between rs4343 and rs1800764 polymorphisms indicated there existed 3 haplotypes (A-T, A-C and G-C). A-C haplotype might associate with the susceptibility of AD (P=0.023, OR=2.591, 95% CI=1.111-6.043). CONCLUSION Rs4343 polymorphism of ACE gene had no relationship with AD risk. C allele of rs1800764 could increase the susceptibility of AD. A-C haplotype of rs4343 and rs1800764 polymorphisms might increase the risk of AD, and the ORs was 2.591.
Performance Evaluation of Five Detection Tests for Avian Influenza Antigen with Various Avian Samples

Abstract In this paper, we report on the evaluation of five influenza antigen detection tests by avian influenza H5N1 virus–positive swab samples to estimate their diagnostic sensitivity. The tests included two chromatographic immunoassays, an H5 avian influenza–specific antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), an influenza A antigen detection ELISA, and an H5 rapid immunoblot assay. The results showed that the overall sensitivities of these tests ranged from 36.3% to 51.4% (95% confidence interval ranging from 31.0% to 57.0%), which were comparable to Directigen™ Flu A antigen detection tests but substantially lower than genome detection methods. Diagnostic sensitivity performance is a function of the concentration of antigens in samples and the analytical sensitivity of the individual test. The test sensitivities were significantly higher for sick and dead birds by cloacal, tracheal, or tissue swabs than for fecal swabs from apparently healthy birds, and these tests would not be suitable for surveillance testing of clinically healthy birds. Furthermore, the sensitivity for testing tracheal and cloacal swabs from waterfowl and wild birds was not as good as for chickens. This was most likely to be associated with variation in virus titers between specimens from different bird species. However, the tests showed good sensitivities for testing brain swabs from clinically affected waterfowl species. The results indicate that these antigen detection tests could be used for preliminary investigations of H5N1 outbreaks as a low-cost, simple flock test in sick and dead birds for the rapid detection of H5N1 infection. However, the relatively low sensitivity of the tests as individual bird tests means that they should be used on optimal clinical specimens from diseased birds, testing birds on a flock basis, or testing samples as close to the onset of disease as possible before viral titers diminish. They should be followed up by confirmatory tests, such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or viral culture, wherever possible but could assist in facilitating rapid investigations and control interventions.
Sex Modulates the Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Prepubertal Rabbit Hearts with Long QT 2

Females have a greater susceptibility to Torsade de Pointes in congenital and drug‐induced long QT syndrome (LQTS) that has been attributed to the modulation of ion channel expression by sex hormones. However, little is known regarding sex differences in pre‐puberty, that is, before the surge of sexual hormones. In patients with congenital LQTS types 1 and 2, male children tend to have a greater occurrence of adverse events, especially in 10–15 year olds, than their female counterpart. To evaluate whether the rabbit model of drug‐acquired LQTS exhibits similar age dependences, hearts of prepubertal rabbits were perfused, mapped optically to record action potentials (APs) and treated with an IKr blocker, E4031 to elicit LQTS2. As expected, AP durations (APD) were significantly longer in female (n = 18) than male hearts (n = 10), at long cycle length. Surprisingly, E4031 (50–250 nM) induced a greater prolongation of APDs in male than in female hearts, and in both genders reversed the direction of repolarization (apex → base to base → apex), enhancing dispersions of repolarization. Furthermore, in male hearts, E4031 (0.5 μM) elicited early afterdepolarizations (EADs) that progressed to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) (n = 7/10) and were interrupted by isoproterenol (40 nM) and prevented by propranolol (0.5–2.5 μM). In female hearts, E4031 (0.5 μM) produced marked prolongations of APDs yet few EADs with no progression to PVT (n = 16/18). Thus, sex differences are opposite in prepubertal versus adult rabbits with respect to E4031‐induced APD prolongation, EADs and PVT, underscoring the fact that APD prolongation alone is insufficient to predict arrhythmia susceptibility.
Vegetation clutter spectral properties in VHF/UHF bistatic doppler radar

A simple model of vegetation clutter creation mechanism is discussed for the bistatic and forward scattering Doppler radar configuration. The foliage is considered as a set of separate pendulums oscillating with different resonance frequencies. On the basis of this model, predictions of clutter spectral properties are made and compared with clutter data measured on different frequencies in the VHF and UHF bands.
Diet and Hypertension in Tanzania

A survey was conducted on an urban population in the city of Dar es Salaam and on a rural community in both Handeni and the pastoral Masai in Monduli to investigate the relationship between diet and hypertension in Tanzania. Blood pressure (BP) was measured using an automatic BP-measuring machine. Biological markers of dietary intake were measured in 24-h urine and in blood. Hypertension was noted to be a bigger problem in the capital city, where the rate of obesity and salt intake were higher whereas potassium, protein, and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake were lower. Therefore, attention to dietary habits may reduce the growing problem of hypertension in Tanzania.
Nitric oxide controls an inflammatory‐like Ly6ChiPDCA1+ DC subset that regulates Th1 immune responses

Using NOS2 KO mice, we investigated the hypothesis that NO modulation of BM‐DC contributes to the NO‐mediated control of Th1 immune responses. BM‐DCs from NOS2 KO mice, compared with WT BM‐DCs, have enhanced survival and responsiveness to TLR agonists, develop more Ly6ChiPDCA1+ DCs that resemble inflammatory DCs and produce high levels of inflammatory cytokines. Also, compared with WT‐infected mice, NOS2 KO mice infected with WNV showed enhanced expansion of a similar inflammatory Ly6ChiPDCA1+ DC subset. Furthermore, in contrast to WT DCs, OVA‐loaded NOS2 KO BM‐DCs promoted increased IFN‐γ production by OTII CD4+ T cells in vitro and when adoptively transferred in vivo. The addition of a NO donor to NOS2 KO BM‐DCs prior to OTII T cells priming in vivo was sufficient to revert Th1 immune responses to levels induced by WT BM‐DCs. Thus, autocrine NO effects on maturation of inflammatory DCs and on DC programming of T cells may contribute to the protective role of NO in autoimmune diseases and infections. Regulating NO levels may be a useful tool to shape beneficial immune responses for DC‐based immunotherapy.
EFFECTS OF PLANT DENSITY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF COWPEA IN NIGERIAN SAVANNAS By ALPHA

Grain yields of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ] in the Nigerian savannas are low even with the cultivation of improved varieties. The recommended spacing for cowpea is 75 × 20 cm with two seeds planted per stand. This corresponds to plant population of 133 333 plants ha−1, which may not be sufficient for optimal cowpea yield. Field experiments were conducted to determine plant density effects on cowpea performance in the Northern Guinea and the Sudan savannas of Nigeria and also to determine if genotypes varied in their response to plant density. Four cowpea varieties with contrasting maturity duration were planted in single, double and triple rows on ridges spaced 75 cm apart to achieve corresponding densities of 133 333, 266 666 and 400 000 plants ha−1, respectively. Plant densities of 266 666 and 400 000 plants ha−1 gave higher crop performance in terms of light interception, biomass production, yield and yield components for all cowpea varieties. Yield increases were related largely to increased pod and seed production but the effect of seed size on yield was relatively minor. Our results provide evidence that the current density of 133 333 plants ha−1 used by farmers is not optimum for cowpea production. Smallholder farmers can increase cowpea grain and fodder yields if they use a density of 266 666 plants ha−1 in cowpea cultivation. Further yield increases when cowpea is planted at 400 000 plants ha−1 may not be sufficient to offset the cost of seed.
Effects of solution environment on mammalian cell fermentation broth properties: Enhanced impurity removal and clarification performance

The processing of recombinant proteins from high cell density, high product titer cell cultures containing mammalian cells is commonly performed using tangential flow microfiltration (MF). However, the increased cellular debris present in these complex feed streams can prematurely foul the membrane, adversely impacting MF capacity and throughput. In addition, high cell density cell culture streams introduce elevated levels of process‐related impurities, which increase the burden on subsequent purification operations to remove these complex media components and impurities. To address this challenge, an evaluation of mammalian cell culture broth buffer properties was examined to determine if enhanced impurity removal and clarification performance could be achieved. A framework is presented here for establishing optimized mammalian cell culture buffer conditions, involving trade‐offs between product recovery and purification and improved clarification at manufacturing‐scale production. A reduction in cell culture broth pH to 4.7–5.0 induced flocculation and impurity precipitation which increased the average feed particle‐size. These conditions led to enhanced impurity removal and improved MF throughput and filter capacity for several mammalian systems. Feed conditions were further optimized by controlling ionic composition along with pH to improve product recovery from high cell density/high product titer cell cultures. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:50–58. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Epithelial Cell-Derived Neutrophil-Activating Peptide-78 Is Present in Fetal Membranes and Amniotic Fluid at Increased Concentrations with Intra-amniotic Infection and Preterm Delivery1

Abstract Intra-amniotic secretion and abundance of epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide (ENA)-78, a potent chemoattractant and activator of neutrophils, was studied in the context of term and preterm parturition. Staining of ENA-78 immunoperoxidase was localized predominantly to chorionic trophoblasts and amniotic epithelium in term and preterm gestational membranes, with weaker and less consistent staining in decidual cells. The abundance of ENA-78 in membrane tissue homogenates was significantly increased (∼4-fold) with term labor in amnion (n = 15), and with preterm labor (∼30-fold) in amnion and choriodecidua (n = 31). In amnion tissue homogenate extracts, ENA-78 levels were positively correlated with the degree of leukocyte infiltration (r2 = 0.481). In amniotic fluids, median ENA-78 levels from pregnancies with preterm labor without intra-amniotic infection were significantly lower (P < 0.01 by ANOVA) than those from pregnancies with preterm deliveries with infection; levels in samples derived from term pregnancies were similar before and after labor. Production of ENA-78 by amnion monolayers was stimulated in a concentration-dependent fashion by both interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α. Production of ENA-78 by choriodecidual explants was increased modestly after 2–4 h of exposure to lipopolysaccharide (5 μg/ml). An immunoreactive doublet (∼8 kDa) was detected in choriodecidual explant-conditioned media by immunoblotting. We conclude that ENA-78, derived from the gestational membranes, is present in increased abundance in the amniotic cavity in response to intrauterine infection and, hence, may play a role in the mechanism of infection-driven preterm birth and rupture of membranes secondary to leukocyte recruitment and activation.
Stages of Learning Motivation: Development and Validation of a Measure1

Prochaska and colleagues’ (e.g., Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992) stages-ofchange theory was employed in the current study to reconceptualize the assessment of motivation to learn. We used the stages-of-change framework to develop and test a multidimensional measure of learning motivation using 3 independent samples. The pattern of relationships among the learning stages and learning criteria provided strong support for the appropriateness of using a stage-based perspective to frame learning motivation. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis showed that the Stages of Learning Motivation Inventory (SOLMI) explained variance in the criteria (e.g., exam average, class satisfaction) beyond controls and a commonly used measure of learning motivation. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.