Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initial and Concurrent Planning in Solutions to Well-Structured Problems

Two experiments are reported, which consider planning behaviour in the context of a well-structured problem. One question in the problem-solving literature is to what extent planning a solution to a problem takes place before attempting that problem and whether this takes precedence over planning while solving a problem, hereafter referred to as “concurrent planning”. An additional question is whether the adoption of one mode of planning confers a performance advantage and under what circumstances one strategy is adopted in preference to others. The studies reported here set out to investigate the effects on performance of adopting different modes of planning and whether there is any relationship between the adoption of different strategic approaches and problem-solving performance. The results of these studies suggest that initial planning can enhance problem-solving performance, but only when problems remain relatively simple. As problem complexity increases the effects of initial planning appear to have little or no effect upon performance. In conclusion it is suggested that strategy use depends upon the interactions between individual preference for a given strategy, problem complexity, and the stage that one has reached in the development of a solution to a problem.
Phenotypic variation of Vicia pannonica Crantz (var. pannonica and var purpurascens ) in central Turkey

Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz.) is an important forage crop in both central Turkey (CT) and central European countries. It can be grown in CT as winter crop, but frequent spring droughts cause yield losses. Our objectives were (I) to investigate agro-biological variation among populations, (II) to identify useful plant characters and (III) to develop selection strategies. Forty-five accessions of both var. pannonica and var. purpurascens were evaluated for the 11 plant characters in 2002/03 cropping season. Var. pannonica was late flowering, had more stems and seeds per pod, and longer stems and pods. Var. purpurascens had earlier flowering, more days to physiological maturity, more pods, greater plant biomass and heavier seeds. As var. purpurascens was early flowering, its longer seed-filling period is likely to contribute to greater seed size and weight. However, in var. pannonica, late flowering and ensuing delayed maturity caused strong negative associations between days-toharvest and other characters. If the earliness, higher biomass and seed size from var. purpurascens, and the many long stems and long pods from var. pannonica could be incorporated into one or more genotypes through Mendelian crossings, seed and hay yields would be substantially increased.
Changes in heart weight and blood pressure following aortic constriction in rats.

Blood pressure measurements in the carotid and femoral arteries of rats after subdiaphragmatic aortic constriction, taken at times varying from immediately afterwards to five days after, indicate that increased carotid pressure precedes cardiac enlargement in these animals. The large drop in femoral blood pressure within the first few hours after aortic constriction seems to be due—at least partly—to stimulation of the pressoreceptors by the increased aortic–carotid pressure. Hypertrophy of the left ventricle can be demonstrated on the second day after constriction. The maximum height of carotid pressure obtainable after epinephrine injection rises with the time after constriction, while the rise over the preinjection value does not increase.
Robust myocardial T2 and T2* mapping at 3T using image‐based shimming

Intramyocardial hemorrhage and area at risk are both prognostic markers in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Myocardial T2 and T2* mapping have been used to detect such tissue changes at 1.5T but these techniques are challenging at 3.0T due to additional susceptibility variation. We studied T2 and T2* myocardial mapping techniques at 3.0T on a system employing B1 shimming and compared two different methods of B0 shimming.
Synaptic abnormalities and cytoplasmic glutamate receptor aggregates in contactin associated protein-like 2/Caspr2 knockout neurons

Significance In this paper, we characterize, for the first time to our knowledge, synaptic phenotypes in contactin associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) knockout neurons and reveal a novel role for CNTNAP2 in the correct trafficking of AMPA-type glutamate receptors. In addition, we report that cellular phenotypes emerge late in postnatal development, suggesting a mechanism for the apparent late emergence of some CNTNAP2-associated disorders. Taken together, our findings may provide insight into the mechanism underlying pathogenesis of CNTNAP2-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. Central glutamatergic synapses and the molecular pathways that control them are emerging as common substrates in the pathogenesis of mental disorders. Genetic variation in the contactin associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene, including copy number variations, exon deletions, truncations, single nucleotide variants, and polymorphisms have been associated with intellectual disability, epilepsy, schizophrenia, language disorders, and autism. CNTNAP2, encoded by Cntnap2, is required for dendritic spine development and its absence causes disease-related phenotypes in mice. However, the mechanisms whereby CNTNAP2 regulates glutamatergic synapses are not known, and cellular phenotypes have not been investigated in Cntnap2 knockout neurons. Here we show that CNTNAP2 is present in dendritic spines, as well as axons and soma. Structured illumination superresolution microscopy reveals closer proximity to excitatory, rather than inhibitory synaptic markers. CNTNAP2 does not promote the formation of synapses and cultured neurons from Cntnap2 knockout mice do not show early defects in axon and dendrite outgrowth, suggesting that CNTNAP2 is not required at this stage. However, mature neurons from knockout mice show reduced spine density and levels of GluA1 subunits of AMPA receptors in spines. Unexpectedly, knockout neurons show large cytoplasmic aggregates of GluA1. Here we characterize, for the first time to our knowledge, synaptic phenotypes in Cntnap2 knockout neurons and reveal a novel role for CNTNAP2 in GluA1 trafficking. Taken together, our findings provide insight into the biological roles of CNTNAP2 and into the pathogenesis of CNTNAP2-associated neuropsychiatric disorders.
Isolation of respiratory bovine coronavirus, other cytocidal viruses, and Pasteurella spp from cattle involved in two natural outbreaks of shipping fever.

OBJECTIVE To identify cytocidal viruses and Pasteurella spp that could be isolated from cattle involved in 2 natural outbreaks of shipping fever. ANIMALS 105 and 120 castrated male 4- to 8-month-old feedlot cattle involved in 1997 and 1998 outbreaks, respectively. PROCEDURES Nasal swab specimens and blood samples were collected, and cattle were vaccinated on arrival at an order-buyer barn from 4 local auction houses. Four days later, they were transported to a feedlot, and additional nasal swab specimens and blood samples were collected. Nasal swab specimens were submitted for virus isolation and bacterial culture; blood samples were submitted for measurement of respiratory bovine coronavirus (RBCV) hemagglutinin inhibition titers. RESULTS 93 of 105 cattle and 106 of 120 cattle developed signs of respiratory tract disease during 1997 and 1998, respectively, and RBCV was isolated from 81 and 89 sick cattle, respectively, while at the order-buyer's barn or the day after arrival at the feedlot. During the 1997 outbreak, bovine herpesvirus 1 was isolated from 2 cattle at the order-buyer's barn and from 5 cattle 7 and 14 days after arrival at the feedlot, and parainfluenza virus 3 was isolated from 4 cattle 14 days after arrival at the feedlot. During the 1998 outbreak, bovine herpesvirus 1 was isolated from 2 cattle at the order-buyer's barn and on arrival at the feedlot and from 5 cattle 7 and 14 days after arrival at the feedlot, and parainfluenza virus 3 was isolated from 1 animal the day of, and from 18 cattle 7 and 14 days after, arrival at the feedlot. Pasteurella spp was cultured from 4 and 6 cattle at the order-buyer's barn and from 92 and 72 cattle on arrival at the feedlot during the 1997 and 1998 outbreaks, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that RBCV may play a causative role in outbreaks of shipping fever in cattle. More than 80% of the sick cattle shed RBCV at the beginning of 2 outbreaks when the Pasteurella spp infection rate was low.
L'islam et les musulmans en Belgique : Enjeux locaux et cadres de réflexion globaux

Cette note a pour objectif d’offrir une synthese des enjeux principaux lies a l’Islam et aux musulmans en Belgique. Il s’agit d'une analyse qui se veut une orientation tres concrete et deliberement ancree dans les enjeux tels qu’ils ont emerge dans l’espace public au cours des dernieres annees.
Survey research methods

If you were to ask a person in the street what they knew about surveys, they would almost certainly mention opinion polls, possibly the census, and they might also mention market research surveys. If you pressed them a little further, they might comment about the fact that opinion polls were fun to follow if there wasn't any other news in the papers or on TV, but that they seemed to get the wrong answers much of the time. Mention of the census might be accompanied by comments about its infrequency these days, while market research surveys might prompt re ̄ections about interviewers stopping you in the street, or phoning you at home. If you think about your own experiences with surveys, you may be able to identify a wider range of approaches and purposes for surveys. You will certainly have read the headlines in the newspapers about controversial or unexpected ®ndings that have emerged from some survey or other. There may well have been in-depth articles or TV programmes discussing the ®ndings, or following up the implications of the ®ndings from some survey. However, it is usually only in professional journals that detailed articles give the sort of technical details which allow you to make some judgement about the quality of the survey and hence the reliability of its ®ndings. So what conclusions can you draw from all this? From the experience you already have of surveys, you can conclude that they vary in their purposes, in the methods they use for collecting data, in the timeframes in which they operate (from the 24 hours for a political `eve of poll' survey, to the 10 years or so that it can take to publish some of the more complex census data. They also vary in quality. What they all have in common are key methodological and practical issues that have to be resolved prior to ®eldwork, and data collection, transformation and analysis concerns to resolve prior to the presentation and dissemination of the ®ndings. THE NEED FOR SURVEYS IN MEDICINE
Analysis of Airborne Betula Pollen in Finland; a 31-Year Perspective

In this 31-year retrospective study, we examined the influence of meteorology on airborne Betula spp. (birch) pollen concentrations in Turku, Finland. The seasonal incidence of airborne birch pollen in Turku occurred over a brief period each year during spring (April 30 – May 31). Mean peak concentrations were restricted to May (May 5 to 13). Statistically significant increases in the annual accumulated birch pollen sum and daily maximum values were observed over the study period. Birch pollen counts collected in April were retrospectively shown to increase over the duration of the study. Increases in April temperature values were also significantly associated with the earlier onset of the birch pollen season. Furthermore, the number of days where daily birch pollen concentrations exceeded 10 and 1,000 grains/m3 also increased throughout the study period. These data demonstrate that increases in temperature, especially during months preceding the onset of the birch pollen season, favor preseason phenological development and pollen dispersal. Birch pollen derived from other geographical locations may also contribute to the aerospora of Turku, Finland. To date, the public health burden associated with personal exposure to elevated birch pollen loads remains unclear and is the focus of future epidemiological research.
Estimating Returns to Birthweight by Placenta Previa

Worse future outcomes of infants with lower birthweight are widely documented, but the underlying causal relationship remains controversial. Recent causal studies rely mostly on within-twin variations, and tend to find significant effects of birthweight on long-term outcomes, but substantially smaller effects on infant health than by standard regression estimates. To improve our understanding of the causal effects of birthweight, we analyze population data for 1.7 million singleton newborns in Denmark since 1981 using a new instrument – the diagnosis of placenta previa, which is an obstetric complication that generates exogenous variation in birthweight. Studying an extensive range of outcomes, we find that: (1) birthweight does have significant positive causal effects on child health and, in sharp contrast to earlier twin studies, their magnitudes are similar to or larger than standard regression estimates; (2) the effect of birthweight on general health diminishes as the child grows older (catch-up effect), although long-term effects on health exist; (3) the birthweight effect on infant health in Denmark has diminished significantly over the last three decades; and (4) a large part of the highly significant correlations between birthweight and non-health outcomes appear to be noncausal. Our results provide a foundation for policies that target birthweight: returns to birthweight can be substantial, but they depend on the standard of medical care
Up-regulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme in response to acute ischemic stroke via ERK/NF-κB pathway in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cerebral ischemic stroke is usually caused by a temporary or permanent decrease in blood supply to the brain. Despite general progress in diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis of stroke is still unsatisfactory, and more detailed potential mechanisms are needed to investigate underlying the pathological process. Here, we showed that serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) concentration was positively correlated with infarct volume after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Moreover, using a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion rat model, we indicated for the first time that increased ACE expression in response to AIS was regulated by the ERK/NF-κB pathway in peri-infarct regions. More importantly, we disclosed that angiotensin II type 1 receptors were implicated in up-regulation of ACE expression in peri-infarct regions. These findings offer insight into ACE expression and activity in response to stroke, and further our understanding of ACE mechanisms.
Effectiveness and Adoption of a Drawing-to-Learn Study Tool for Recall and Problem Solving: Minute Sketches with Folded Lists

When using a sketching method for studying (minute sketches with folded lists) in comparison with a preferred study method (visual review), college biology students retained 50–80% more content and improved problem solving. Following an intervention experiment, most participants adopted the study method, significantly increasing sketching as a study aid.
Immunocytochemical study on the distribution of NOS‐immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex of aged rats

NITRIC oxide (NO) involvement has been demonstrated in mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, particularly in hippocampal long-term potentiation, a mechanism that underlies certain forms of learning and memory. Several findings suggest that NO production may be decreased in the aged rats. Changes in the nNOS-containing neurons with ageing were demonstrated by immunocytochemistry. NOS-immunoreactive (IR) cells in aged rats were present in all cortical areas and the hippocampus, and the pattern of distribution was similar to that of the control group. The number of NOS-IR cells in the cerebral cortex was significantly decreased in the aged rats, but the extent of changes was variable in each area, and ranged from mild decrease (< 30 %) to severe decrease (> 50%). Severely decreased areas were the cingulate cortex, parietal cortex area 1, temporal cortex area 1, 2, 3, medial part of occipital cortex area 2, monocular and binocular part of occipital cortex area 1, entorhinal cortex, hippocampus proper, dentate gyrus and subiculum. Morphologically, the number of dendritic branches seemed to be decreased in aged group and the length of dendrites of NOS-IR neurons showed a tendency to shorten. These results indicate the involvement of neuronal system containing NOS in the ageing brain, and provide the first morphological evidence for the loss of NOS neurons in the cerebral cortex of the aged rats by immunocytochemistry.
HIV-1 Resistance to Maraviroc Conferred by a CD4 Binding Site Mutation in the Envelope Glycoprotein gp120

ABSTRACT Maraviroc (MVC) is a CCR5 antagonist that inhibits HIV-1 entry by binding to the coreceptor and inducing structural alterations in the extracellular loops. In this study, we isolated MVC-resistant variants from an HIV-1 primary isolate that arose after 21 weeks of tissue culture passage in the presence of inhibitor. gp120 sequences from passage control and MVC-resistant cultures were cloned into NL4-3 via yeast-based recombination followed by sequencing and drug susceptibility testing. Using 140 clones, three mutations were linked to MVC resistance, but none appeared in the V3 loop as was the case with previous HIV-1 strains resistant to CCR5 antagonists. Rather, resistance was dependent upon a single mutation in the C4 region of gp120. Chimeric clones bearing this N425K mutation replicated at high MVC concentrations and displayed significant shifts in 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s), characteristic of resistance to all other antiretroviral drugs but not typical of MVC resistance. Previous reports on MVC resistance describe an ability to use a drug-bound form of the receptor, leading to reduction in maximal drug inhibition. In contrast, our structural models on K425 gp120 suggest that this resistant mutation impacts CD4 interactions and highlights a novel pathway for MVC resistance.
Ephedrine requirements during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery in Jordanian parturients: association with β2-adrenoceptor gene variants

BACKGROUND Maternal hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery is common. Many studies performed on the β2-adrenoceptor (β2AR) gene variants and their association with vasopressor requirements during and after neuroaxial block have contradictory conclusions. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the β2AR in codons 16 and 27 on the incidence of maternal hypotension and ephedrine consumption after spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery in an Arab ethnic group. DESIGN A prospective gene association study. SETTING Jordan University Hospital from 1 July 2013 to 31 January 2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS We enrolled parturients who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia was performed with 10 mg plain bupivacaine along with 25 μg fentanyl. Hypotension was treated with ephedrine and the amount consumed in the first 30 minutes after spinal anesthesia was calculated. The β2AR genotype at codons 16 and 27 was determined. We studied the correlation between the β2AR genotype and the amount of ephedrine consumption after spinal anesthesia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Amount of ephederine used. RESULTS Of 250 patients enrolled in the study, genotype and clinical data were available for 234 cases. Ephedrine was used in 94% of patients. There was a significant effect of β2AR genotype on ephedrine dose in the first 30 minutes after spinal anesthesia in codon 16 and 27. Arg16 homozygotes received less ephedrine (14.0 [11.2] mg) than Gly16 homozygotes (38.6 [25.7] mg) and Arg16Gly heterozygotes (33.42 [22.70] mg) (P<.0001). Gln27 homozygotes received less ephedrine (18.2 [12.8] mg) than Glu 27 homozygotes (47.5 [27.0] mg) and Gln27Glu heterozygotes (48.2 [23.7] mg). (P<.0001). CONCLUSION In an Arab ethnic group, the β2AR gene has a role in maternal hypotension after spinal anesthesia. The Gly16 and Glu27 alleles have a higher incidence of arterial hypotension and required a greater amount of vasopressor to treat hypotension compared with homozygous Arg16 and Gln27 carriers. LIMITATIONS Fasting time and hydration protocol, the use of a fixed dose of ephedrine, and relatively small sample size.
Maternal alcohol disorders and school achievement: a population cohort record linkage study in Western Australia

Objective Maternal alcohol use disorder is a risk factor for a range of developmental outcomes in children. This study examines school achievement in children of Indigenous and non-Indigenous mothers with an alcohol-related diagnosis. Design, setting and participants This is a Western Australian population cohort study of mothers with a record of an alcohol-related diagnosis classified by the International Classification of Diseases Revisions 9/10 codes as recorded on administrative databases, and of their offspring born between 1989 and 2007 (n=18 486 exposed children), with a frequency matched comparison cohort of mothers with no record of alcohol diagnosis and their offspring (n=48 262 comparison children). Outcomes Records were linked with school achievement data for numeracy and literacy from Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 (age range: ~8–14 years) based on statewide and national testing. Mixed multivariate models with a random intercept per child were used to assess the relationship between exposure and the timing of exposure with failure to meet minimum standardised benchmarks. Results Academic achievement was lower in all testing domains (reading, writing, spelling and numeracy) among children of mothers with an alcohol diagnosis and persisted across all year groups examined. The highest ORs at Year 9 for non-Indigenous children were in reading (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 1.8) and in writing for Indigenous children (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.8 to 2.3). Conclusion Children of mothers with alcohol use disorders are at risk of not meeting minimum educational benchmarks in numeracy and literacy, with the risk highest among Indigenous children.
Feynman Checkerboard as a Model of Discrete Space-Time

In 1965, Feynman wrote of using a lattice containing one dimension of space and one dimension of time to derive aspects of quantum mechanics. Instead of summing the behavior of all possible paths as he did, this paper will consider the motion of single particles within this discrete Space-Time lattice, sometimes called Feynman's Checkerboard. This empirical approach yielded several predicted emergent properties for a discrete Space-Time lattice, one of which is novel and testable.
Efficacy and safety of the dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor, sitagliptin, compared with the sulfonylurea, glipizide, in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin alone: a randomized, double‐blind, non‐inferiority trial

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin vs. glipizide in patients with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycaemic control [haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5 and ≤10%] on metformin monotherapy.