Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DIFFERENCES IN CLINICAL AND ENDOCRINE FEATURES BETWEEN OBESE AND NON‐OBESE SUBJECTS WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: AN ANALYSIS OF 263 CONSECUTIVE CASES

Two hundred and sixty‐three women with ultrasound‐diagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome were studied of whom 91 (35%) were obese (BMI > 25 kg/m2‐). Obese women with PCOS had a greater prevalence of hirsutism (73% compared with 56%) and menstrual disorders than non‐obese subjects. Total testosterone and androstenedione concentrations in serum were similar in the two subgroups but SHBG concentrations were significantly lower, and free testosterone levels higher, in obese compared with lean subjects. In addition, concentrations of androsterone glucuronide, a marker of peripheral 5α‐reductase activity, were higher in obese than in non‐obese women with PCOS. There were no significant correlations of either SHBG or free testosterone with androsterone glucuronide suggesting that obesity has independent effects on transport and on metabolism of androgen. There were no significant differences between the subgroups in either baseline gonadotrophin concentrations or the pulsatile pattern of LH and FSH secretion studied over an 8‐h period. There was, however, an inverse correlation of FSH with BMI, but only in the obese subgroup. In conclusion, the increased frequency of hirsutism in obese compared with lean women with PCOS is associated with increased bio‐availability of androgens to peripheral tissues and enhanced activity of 5α‐reductase in obese subjects. The mechanism underlying the higher prevalence of anovulation in obese women remains unexplained.
Immunocytochemical localization of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the cat superior colliculus

This paper reports the pattern of labeling in the cat superior colliculus produced by an antiserum raised against BSA‐conjugated gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and visualized by light and electron microscope immunocytochemistry. Neuropil labeling was densest within the zonal and superficial gray layers but was also found in the deep layers. Neurons labeled by the GABA antibody were also most dense within the zonal and superficial gray layers, although many labeled neurons were also found in the deeper layers. The ratio of labeled to unlabeled cells varied from an average of 45% in the superficial subdivision and the intermediate gray layer to less than 30% in the deeper laminae. Almost all intensely labeled cells were small (mean area = 127 μm2) and had varied morphologies.
Review of Available Products of Leaf Area Index and Their Suitability over the Formerly Soviet Central Asia

Leaf area index (LAI) is a key biophysical variable for environmental process modelling. Remotely sensed data have become the primary source for estimation of LAI at the scales from local to global. A summary of existing LAI data sets and a discussion of their appropriateness for the formerly Soviet Central Asia, especially Kazakhstan, which is known for its huge grassland area (about 2 million km2), are valuable for environmental modelling in this region. The paper gives a brief review of existing global LAI products, such as AVHRR LAI, MODIS LAI, and SPOT-VEGETATION LAI, and shows that validation of these products in Kazakhstan as well as in other countries of the formerly Soviet Central Asia has not been carried out yet. Apart from the global LAI products, there are just a few data sets retrieved by remote sensing methods at subregional and regional scales in Kazakhstan. More research activities are needed to focus on the validation of the available global LAI products over the formerly Soviet Central Asia and developing new LAI data sets suitable for application in environmental modelling at different scales in this region.
Validation of Metabolic Alterations in Microscale Cell Culture Lysates Using Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (HILIC)-Tandem Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics

By standard convention, in order to increase the efficacy of metabolite detection from cell culture lysates, metabolite extracts from a large quantity of cells are utilized for multiple reaction monitoring-based metabolomic studies. Metabolomics from a small number of cell extracts offers a potential economical alternative to increased cell numbers, in turn increasing the utility of cell culture-based metabolomics. However, the effect of reduced cell numbers on targeted metabolomic profiling is relatively unstudied. Considering the limited knowledge available of the feasibility and accuracy of microscale cell culture metabolomics, the present study analyzes differences in metabolomic profiles of different cell numbers of three pancreatic cancer cell lines. Specifically, it examines the effects of reduced cell numbers on metabolite profiles by obtaining extracts either directly from microscale culture plates or through serial dilution of increased numbers of cellular metabolite extracts. Our results indicate reduced cell numbers only modestly affect the number of metabolites detected (93% of metabolites detected in cell numbers as low as 104 cells and 97% for 105 cells), independent of the method used to obtain the cells. However, metabolite peak intensities were differentially affected by the reduced cell numbers, with some peak intensities inversely proportional to the cell numbers. To help eliminate such potential inverse relationships, peak intensities for increased cell numbers were excluded from the comparative analysis. Overall, metabolite profiles from microscale culture plates were observed to differ from the serial dilution samples, which may be attributable to the medium-to-cell-number ratios. Finally, findings identify perturbations in metabolomic profiling for cellular extracts from reduced cell numbers, which offer future applications in microscale metabolomic evaluations.
Spinal Fbxo3-Dependent Fbxl2 Ubiquitination of Active Zone Protein RIM1α Mediates Neuropathic Allodynia through CaV2.2 Activation

Spinal plasticity, a key process mediating neuropathic pain development, requires ubiquitination-dependent protein turnover. Presynaptic active zone proteins have a crucial role in regulating vesicle exocytosis, which is essential for synaptic plasticity. Nevertheless, the mechanism for ubiquitination-regulated turnover of presynaptic active zone proteins in the progression of spinal plasticity-associated neuropathic pain remains unclear. Here, after research involving Sprague Dawley rats, we reported that spinal nerve ligation (SNL), in addition to causing allodynia, enhances the Rab3-interactive molecule-1α (RIM1α), a major active zone protein presumed to regulate neural plasticity, specifically in the synaptic plasma membranes (SPMs) of the ipsilateral dorsal horn. Spinal RIM1α-associated allodynia was mediated by Fbxo3, which abates Fbxl2-dependent RIM1α ubiquitination. Subsequently, following deubiquitination, enhanced RIM1α directly binds to CaV2.2, resulting in increased CaV2.2 expression in the SPMs of the dorsal horn. While exhibiting no effect on Fbxo3/Fbxl2 signaling, the focal knockdown of spinal RIM1α expression reversed the SNL-induced allodynia and increased spontaneous EPSC (sEPSC) frequency by suppressing RIM1α-facilitated CaV2.2 expression in the dorsal horn. Intrathecal applications of BC-1215 (a Fbxo3 activity inhibitor), Fbxl2 mRNA-targeting small-interfering RNA, and ω-conotoxin GVIA (a CaV2.2 blocker) attenuated RIM1α upregulation, enhanced RIM1α expression, and exhibited no effect on RIM1α expression, respectively. These results confirm the prediction that spinal presynaptic Fbxo3-dependent Fbxl2 ubiquitination promotes the subsequent RIM1α/CaV2.2 cascade in SNL-induced neuropathic pain. Our findings identify a role of the presynaptic active zone protein in pain-associated plasticity. That is, RIM1α-facilitated CaV2.2 expression plays a role in the downstream signaling of Fbxo3-dependent Fbxl2 ubiquitination/degradation to promote spinal plasticity underlying the progression of nociceptive hypersensitivity following neuropathic injury. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Ubiquitination is a well known process required for protein degradation. Studies investigating pain pathology have demonstrated that ubiquitination contributes to chronic pain by regulating the turnover of synaptic proteins. Here, we found that the spinal presynaptic active zone protein Rab3-interactive molecule-1α (RIM1α) participates in neuropathic pain development by binding to and upregulating the expression of CaV2.2. In addition, Fbxo3 modifies this pathway by inhibiting Fbxl2-mediated RIM1α ubiquitination, suggesting that presynaptic protein ubiquitination makes a crucial contribution to the development of neuropathic pain. Research in this area, now in its infancy, could potentially provide a novel therapeutic strategy for pain relief.
Comparative education research: approaches and methods

undermine the good sense of standardized education systems. While we have raised a few critical points about the book, this should not discourage readers from learning the useful insights that Park’s secondary analyses of PISA and TIMSS data offer. Re-evaluating education in Japan and Korea is timely given that the recent top rankings of East Asian nations in OECD’s PISA have ignited the “learning from the East” boom in Anglo-American nations as well as the negative responses to this boom that are based on the kind of stereotypes that the author so successfully demystifies (see Takayama, 2013; Waldow, Takayama, & Sung, in press). The book certainly has provided a solid empirical ground for much-needed myth-busting work from a macro, systemic point of view. Those who are inspired by Park’s work now have to carefully differentiate what counts as good and bad elements of standardized education systems in East Asia so as to make the current lesson learning from the East Asian PISA success much more empirically grounded and productive to equity-conscious policy development elsewhere.
Review of the Criterion-Related Validity of the WISC–III: The First Five Years

A review of studies comparing the WISC–III to other measures of intelligence and achievement indicates the revision is continuing to meet the standards established by its predecessor, the WISC–R. Correlations are substantial, both for measures of ability and achievement; however, compared to the WISC–R, the WISC–III Full Scale IQ tends to be about six points lower, probably reflecting the “Flynn effect” (1984). As a consequence, eligibility for programs in special education may be negatively affected.
[Pseudomyxoma peritonei treated with complete resection and immediate intraperitoneal chemotherapy].

AIM Pseudomyxoma peritonei remains a fatal disease. This clinical pathological entity based on the presence of mucin includes different prognostic groups. Complete resection of macroscopic lesions, combined with immediate intraperitoneal chemotherapy to treat remnant infra-millimetric disease, might improve survival. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate this treatment strategy. METHODS Thirty-six patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei underwent resection of supra-millimetric lesions then were given either early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (5 days) (before January 1996) or intraoperative chemohyperthermia treatment (after January 1996). During this same period, only partial resection of the macroscopic lesion was possible in 15 patients; these patients were not given peritoneal chemotherapy. RESULTS Postoperative mortality was 13.8% (n=5), including 2 deaths not specifically due to the procedure. Morbidity, including severe and non-severe complications was 44%. After a mean follow-up of 48 months, the overall 5-years survival rate was 66%, and disease-free survival rate was 55% (including the postoperative deaths). The main prognostic factor in this series was the pathological grading: 5-years survival was 74% for grade 1 tumors versus 54% for grades 2-3 (P=0.05). CONCLUSION The main prognostic factor of the pseudomyxoma peritonei, after the completeness of the resection, is the pathological grading. The addition of an intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia improves long-term survival of grades 2-3 tumors and perhaps that of grade 1 (agreement of experts). This treatment is more easily performed, more well-tolerated, and more efficient when performed early.
Medical morbidity and mortality in schizophrenia: guidelines for psychiatrists.

BACKGROUND Medical morbidity and mortality rates remain elevated in schizophrenia patients compared with the general population, in part due to potentially reversible medical risk factors. Psychiatrists should address this problem by adopting established strategies for prevention and intervention. METHOD The literature on modifiable medical risk factors relevant to individuals with schizophrenia and corresponding guidelines for prevention and treatment established by expert consensus panels were reviewed. RESULTS Schizophrenia patients are at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease due to high rates of cigarette smoking and, increasingly, due to obesity, diabetes, and hypertriglyceridemia. Rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection and infectious hepatitis are also higher in schizophrenia patients. Interventions that have reduced medical morbidity in the general population can be adopted to reduce premature mortality in individuals with schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS Patients with schizophrenia have high rates of potentially reversible medical morbidity. Implementation of practice guidelines for identifying and modifying risk factors could substantially improve the health of patients with schizophrenia.
Shear Thickening Oscillation in a Dilatant Fluid

By introducing a state variable, we construct a phenomenological fluid dynamical model of a dilatant fluid, i.e., a dense mixture of fluid and granules that shows severe shear thickening. We demonstrate that the fluid shows shear thickening oscillation, namely, the fluid flow oscillates owning to the coupling between the fluid dynamics and the internal dynamics of state. We also demonstrate that the jamming leads to a peculiar response to an external impact on the fluid.
Users’ Emotional Valence, Arousal, and Engagement Based on Perceived Usability and Aesthetics for Web Sites

In addressing user experience issues, users’ perceptions and emotions need to be considered important. This study examines the relationships between perceived usability/aesthetics and emotional valence/arousal/engagement through an experiment using 15 existing websites from various domains and questionnaire items developed to measure users’ responses. According to the experimental results, both perceived usability and perceived aesthetics were positively correlated with emotional valence and negatively correlated with emotional engagement. No specific relationship was found between perceived usability/aesthetics and emotional arousal. Perceived aesthetics potentially had a greater impact on valence than perceived usability. Unlike valence, engagement could be more influenced by perceived usability than by perceived aesthetics. These findings can be utilized as bases for applying users’ emotional responses in each dimension to the product-use situations in the chain of perceptions, emotions, and behaviors.
Eye tracking and fear recognition deficits in Turner syndrome

Abstract Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder of X-monosomy in females. A minority have impaired social responsiveness, poor discrimination of facial emotions (especially fear), and abnormal amygdala–cortical connectivity. We tested the hypothesis that abnormal gaze fixation, especially with the eye region of faces, would be associated with these features, in a similar pattern to that seen in subjects with autism. Furthermore, since these features tend to be more striking in TS women whose X chromosome is maternal in origin, we also predicted that there may be a difference within the Turner's group according to parental origin of the single X. Adults with 45,X karyotype and age and IQ matched 46,XX women were recruited and tested. Facial fear recognition was significantly worse in 45,X females than controls, but there were no group differences according to parental origin of their single X chromosome. Subsequently, we tested 45,X and 46,XX women using a remote eye-tracking device, as they viewed photographs of emotional human faces. Striking differences in scanpaths were found between the TS and controls, and within the TS group, but not according to parental origin of the X chromosome. These findings provide novel evidence for abnormal face processing in some women with TS, and indicate a potential neural mechanism underlying the difficulties in some key aspects of social cognition.
The E ↵ ects of Educational Apps on Student Achievement and Engagement

The iPad and other tablets have democratized the development of educational content. Identifying high quality digital content from the thousands of new resources is a significant challenge to educators. In some cases, when highly curated apps are aligned to student needs, students can make substantial learning gains. This paper uses a unique database of over 140,000 observations of 663 educational apps to determine how app-based curricula impact student achievement and engagement. Students who supplement traditional classroom education with an app-based curriculum achieve 165% of their expected learning gains. These estimates are measured conservatively, suggesting that the 165% achievement gain may be a lower bound of the true e↵ect. Students enjoy the majority of the app-based content, even though it usually targets their academic weakness. There is a moderate positive relationship between achievement gains and student engagement, suggesting that these learning gains are sustainable. The cost of apps has no observable impact on either achievement or engagement. ⇤Maya Lopuch is a Data Scientist at eSpark Learning. Prior to joining eSpark, Maya was a researcher at the Spencer Foundation and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her research has investigated how public schools impact long-term student outcomes. Maya holds a Bachelor in Economics from Stanford University and a Master in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Appearance of putative amino acid neurotransmitters during differentiation of neurons in embryonic turtle cerebral cortex

Pyramidal and nonpyramidal neurons can be recognized early in the development of the cerebral cortex in both reptiles and mammals, and the neurotransmitters likely utilized by these cells, glutamate and gamma‐aminobutyric acid, or GABA, have been suggested to play critical developmental roles. Information concerning the timing and topography of neurotransmitter synthesis by specific classes of cortical neurons is important for understanding developmental roles of neurotransmitters and for identifying potential zones of neurotransmitter action in the developing brain. We therefore analyzed the appearance of GABA and glutamate in the cerebral cortex of embryonic turtles using polyclonal antisera raised against GABA and glutamat.
Stochastic Geometry Analysis of LTE-A Cellular Networks. (Analyse de réseaux cellulaires LTE-A : une approche fondée sur la géométrie stochastique)

The main focus of this thesis is on performance analysis and system optimization of Long Term Evolution - Advanced (LTE-A) cellular networks by using stochastic geometry. Mathematical analysis of cellular networks is a long-lasting difficult problem. Modeling the network elements as points in a Poisson Point Process (PPP) has been proven to be a tractable yet accurate approach to the performance analysis in cellular networks, by leveraging the powerful mathematical tools such as stochastic geometry. In particular, relying on the PPP-based abstraction model, this thesis develops the mathematical frameworks to the computations of important performance measures such as error probability, coverage probability and average rate in several application scenarios in both uplink and downlink of LTE-A cellular networks, for example, multi-antenna transmissions, heterogeneous deployments, uplink power control schemes, etc. The mathematical frameworks developed in this thesis are general enough and the accuracy has been validated against extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Insights on performance trends and system optimization can be done by directly evaluating the formulas to avoid the time-consuming numerical simulations.
The Key Drivers of Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa and What Can Be Done About it to Achieve the Poverty Sustainable Development Goal

The first Sustainable Development Goal targets ending poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030. And one of the most remarkable achievements during the MDG era was the significant decline in the share of the extremely poor in the global population, leading to the global attainment of cutting the extreme poverty rate to half its 1990 level by 2015. However, Sub-Saharan Africa remained the only developing region where the MDG 1 target was not achieved. Based on the updated poverty line of $1.90 a day, poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa significantly lags other developing regions. Understanding the key drivers and ways of tackling poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa becomes one of the pressing development challenges of our time. Our empirical estimates for the period, 1980 to 2013, show that the key factors significantly feeding poverty incidence and poverty depth in the region include high income inequality, oil-dependence, institutionalized democracy, high prevalence of HIV among the female youth, and increased civil war episodes. On the other hand, the key drivers significantly reducing poverty in the region are higher levels of economic development (income per capita), higher general government final consumption expenditure, higher official development assistance and aid received, urbanization, and access to improved water source. The policy implications are discussed.
Spotlights on Pharmacogenetics of Schizophrenia and Depressed Mood

Pharmacogenetics is the study of the genetic basis for variation in drug response, which examines the single gene interactions with drugs. This important branch of pharmacology has two main aspects: Identifying specific genes and gene products associated with various Identifying genes and allelic variants of genes that leads to variability in drug response There is an important issue in pharmacogentics which is “polymorphism”: it is a variation in the DNA sequence that is present at an allele frequency of 1% or greater in a population. It is most commonly in the form of Single base pair substitutions named Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), the location or the number of repeats, deletions, or critical splice sites. The interfaces between genetics and drug metabolism have recently been the subjects of intense research activity. Pharmacogenomics uses molecular biological techniques to study genes in relation to drug therapy for specific diseases in order to identify new treatments. Pharmacogenetics investigates the genetic basis for differences in individual responses to drugs with regard to their metabolism and transport in the body. It involves the role of many drugs, acting on different body systems, in the development of genetic polymorphism especially that responsible for metabolising enzyme as cytochrome p450 isozymes that affect their abilities in either induction or inhibition of drug metabolism and elimination.