Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitric Oxide Boosts Bemisia tabaci Performance Through the Suppression of Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway in Tobacco Plants

The intimate relationships between plants and insects start with herbivory, which can be traced back to approximately 420 million year ago. Like many other relationships, a plant–insect interaction can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or antagonistic. Within antagonistic relationships, plants deploy inducible defense to insect phytophagy. Insects, however, can evade/suppress effectual plant defenses by manipulating plant defense signaling. Previously, we showed that the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, a global invasive insect pest, can suppress jasmonic acid (JA)-dependent defenses, thereby enhancing their performance on host plants. Given that nitric oxide (NO), a multifunctional signaling molecule, interacts closely with JA signaling pathway, we hypothesized that NO is involved in the suppression of JA defensive responses. Equipped with an integrated approach, we comprehensively examined this overarching hypothesis. We showed that: (1) tobacco plants responded to B. tabaci infestation by accumulating high levels of NO, (2) the exogenous application of sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, in tobacco plants attracted B. tabaci adults and accelerated nymphal development, whereas plants treated with 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO), a NO scavenger, repelled B. tabaci adults and prolonged nymphal development, and, more importantly, (3) silencing of NO-associated protein 1, a gene associated with NO accumulation, and cPTIO application disrupted the B. tabaci-mediated suppression of JA in plants. Collectively, these results suggest that: (1) NO signaling is activated by B. tabaci infestation, (2) NO is involved in the suppression of JA-dependent plant defense, and, consequently, (3) NO improves B. tabaci performance on host plants. Our study reflects the remarkable arm race that co-evolved for millions of years between plants and insects and offers a potential novel target (nitric oxide) for the long-term sustainable management of this global invasive pest.
A Hierarchical Multiresolution Adaptive Mesh Refinement for the Solution of Evolution PDEs

In this paper, we propose a novel multiresolution adaptive mesh refinement algorithm for solving initial-boundary value problems (IBVP) for evolution PDEs. The proposed algorithm dynamically adapts the grid to any existing or emerging irregularities in the solution, by refining the grid only at those places where the solution exhibits sharp features. The main advantage of the proposed grid adaptation method is that it results in a grid with a fewer number of nodes when compared to adaptive grids generated by existing multiresolution-based mesh refinement techniques. Several examples show the robustness and stability of the proposed algorithm.
SOSYAL BİLGİLER ÖĞRETMEN ADAYLARININ ÖZ-YETERLİLİK İNANÇ DÜZEYLERİ VE PROBLEM ÇÖZME BECERİLERİ ÜZERİNE BİR ARAŞTIRMA (AMASYA ÖRNEĞİ)

Bu arastirmanin amaci, sosyal bilgiler ogretmenligi ogretmen adaylarinin problem cozme ve sosyal bilgiler ogretimine yonelik oz-yeterlilik inanc duzeylerinin belirlenmesidir. Ogretmen adaylarinin problem cozme ve sosyal bilgiler ogretimine yonelik oz-yeterlilik inanc duzeyleri; sinif duzeyi, ortaogretim mezuniyet turu ve cinsiyet degiskenlerine gore arastirilmistir. Bu arastirma, betimsel nitelikte olup, tarama modeli esas alinarak gerceklestirilmistir. Arastirmanin evrenini 2006-2007 egitim yili guz doneminde Amasya Universitesi Egitim Fakultesi Sosyal Bilgiler Ogretmenligi Ana Bilim Dalinda ogrenim goren ogrenciler olusturmustur. Orneklem ise, evrenden rastgele yontemle secilen 170 kisiden olusmustur. Arastirmanin verileri Kaptan ve Korkmaz (2001) tarafindan Turkceye uyarlanan ve Yaman (2003) tarafindan bazi maddeleri degistirilen Sosyal Bilgiler Ogretimi Oz-Yeterlilik Inanc Anketi ve Yaman (2003) tarafindan gelistirilen Problem Cozme Becerisi Olcegi ile toplanmistir. Elde edilen veriler tek faktorlu ANOVA, bagimsiz gruplar icin t-testi ve korelâsyon katsayisi kullanilarak analiz edilmistir. Arastirma sonucunda sosyal bilgiler ogretmenligi ana bilim dalinda ogrenim goren ogretmen adaylarinin sinif duzeyi, ortaogretim mezuniyet turu ve cinsiyet degiskenlerine gore problem cozme ve sosyal bilgiler ogretimi oz-yeterlilik inanc duzeylerinin anlamli bir farklilik gostermedigi belirlenmistir
Disruption of FGF Signaling Ameliorates Inflammatory Response in Hepatic Stellate Cells

It is a well-documented event that fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulate liver development and homeostasis in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine manners via binding and activating FGF receptors (FGFRs) tyrosine kinase in hepatocytes. Recent research reveals that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a fundamental role in liver immunology. However, how FGF signaling in HSCs regulates liver inflammation remains unclear. Here, we report that FGF promoted NF-κB signaling, an inflammatory pathway, in human HSCs, which was associated with FGFR1 expression. Both FGF and NF-κB signaling in HSCs were compromised by FGFR1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor. After stimulating HSCs with proinflammatory cytokines, expression of multiple FGF ligands was significantly increased. However, disruption of FGF signaling with FGFR inhibitors prominently reduced the apoptosis, inflammatory response, NF-κB nuclear translocation, and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) induced by TNFα in HSCs. Interestingly, FGF21 significantly alleviated the inflammation responses in the concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acutely injured liver. Unlike canonic FGFs that elicit signals through activating the FGFR–heparan sulfate complex, FGF21 activates the FGFR–KLB complex and elicits a different set of signals. Therefore, the finding here indicates the urgency of developing pathway-specific inhibitors that only suppress canonical FGF, but not non-canonical FGF21, signaling for alleviating inflammation in the liver, which is presented in all stages of diseased liver.
Effectiveness of applying flipped learning to clinical nursing practicums for nursing students in Korea: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to develop flipped learning models for clinical practicums and compare their effectiveness regarding learner motivation toward learning, satisfaction, and confidence in performing core nursing skills among undergraduate nursing students in Korea. METHODS This study was a randomized clinical trial designed to compare the effectiveness of 2 flipped learning models. Data were collected for 3 days from October 21 to 23, 2015 before the clinical practicum was implemented and for 2 weeks from October 26 to December 18, 2015 during the practicum period. RESULTS The confidence of the students in performing core nursing skills was likely to increase after they engaged in the clinical practicum in both study groups. However, while learner confidence and motivation were not affected by the type of flipped learning, learner satisfaction did differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that applying flipped learning allows students to conduct individualized learning with a diversity of clinical cases at their own level of understanding and at their own pace before they participate in real-world practicums.
Accumulation of Specific Epigenetic Abnormalities During Development and Progression of T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

The genetic abnormalities found in various types of leukemia and lymphoma do not provide a complete picture of the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for hematopoietic malignancies. Aberrant changes in epigenetics, including systems controlling DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling and miRNAs, are additional mechanisms that contribute to the malignant phenotype. DNA methylation is one of the basic mechanisms that controls the development and differentiation, and maintains the normal physiological status, in mammalian cells. DNA methylation is also involved in the regulation of imprinted gene expression and X-chromosome inactivation, and in the finetuning of tissue specific differentiation and development from stem cells. However, aberrant promoter hypermethylation of CpG islands leads to epigenetic silencing of multiple genes, including tumor suppressor genes, and has been recognized as an important mechanism involved in carcinogenesis. Furthermore, multiple genes have been shown to be methylated simultaneously (a condition termed the CpG island methylator phenotype: CIMP) in various types of human malignancies. This mechanism is a fundamental process involved in the development of many tumors. A comprehensive knowledge of the methylation profile of a given tumor may provide important information for risk assessment, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatments. Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignant disease of CD4positive T lymphocytes caused by infection with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1). HTLV-1 causes ATLL in 3-5% of infected individuals after a long latent period of 40-60 years. Such a long latent period suggests that a multi-step leukemogenic/lymphomagenic mechanism is involved in the development of ATLL, although the critical event(s) involved in the progression have not been characterized in details. The pathogenesis of HTLV-1 has been investigated intensively in terms of the viral regulatory proteins HTLV-1 Tax and Rex, which are supposed to play key roles in the HTLV-1 leukemogenesis/lymphomagenesis, as well as the HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ). The mechanism(s) underlying the progression of ATLL have been reported from various genetic aspects, including specific chromosome abnormalities and changes in
Neonatal Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination and type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a genetic disorder that is associated with the early development of autoimmunity against islet β-cells (1). The a priori genetically determined risk for type 1 diabetes is modified by mostly unknown environmental factors that are thought to contribute to the increasing incidences of childhood diabetes in the last decade. Changes in exposure to environment are also discussed as a potential means to reduce the incidence of type 1 diabetes. Adjuvant therapy that includes vaccinations with agents such as Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), for example, have been proposed as beneficial modifiers of the immune system that can reduce the incidence of autoimmune diabetes in animal models (2). In humans, there have also been sporadic reports of preserving β-cell function when BCG vaccination is administered soon after diabetes onset (3), and it has been suggested that BCG vaccination early in childhood could reduce the incidence of type 1 diabetes. Hence, there is substantial interest in whether immunostimulation with BCG could be used as a primary, secondary, or tertiary vaccination strategy for type 1 diabetes. Vaccination with BCG in the first weeks after birth was practiced in Germany until 1998. Approximately 25% of children received vaccination, which was given as a single injection. Between 1989 and 2000, we recruited newborn children of parents with type 1 diabetes living in Germany into a prospective study (4) that examined the development of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. …
Focally enhanced f-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in incidentally detected pulmonary embolism on PET/CT scanning.

Abnormal F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation patterns in the lung in patients with cancer having whole-body F-18 FDG-PET/CT scanning for restaging purposes are usually associated with primary lung tumors or lung metastases. Other diagnoses include postobstructive pneumonia and/or atelectasis, granulomatous lung disease, or occult lung infarction. In the latter, enhanced F-18 FDG accumulation topographically matches otherwise proven areas of pulmonary embolism. We document focally enhanced F-18 FDG uptake in the thrombus in the right pulmonary artery in a patient with silent pulmonary embolism. We hypothesize that enhanced F-18 FDG accumulation is attributed to the inflammatory reaction and scavenger cell activity associated with the pathophysiological cascade in pulmonary embolism.
Is serious mental illness associated with earlier death among persons with HIV? Ten year follow up in Maryland Medicaid Recipients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE In the general population serious mental illness (SMI) is associated with earlier mortality. The objective of this study was to determine if SMI was associated with an increased risk of death among Maryland Medicaid beneficiaries with HIV. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of adult Maryland Medicaid recipients with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) after January 1, 1997. SMI was defined as a specialty mental health visit and an ICD-9 diagnosis of 1) schizophrenia or related psychoses, 2) bipolar disorder or 3) major depressive disorder. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios for total mortality. Analyses were adjusted for demographic characteristics, % days on ART, outpatient visits and comorbid medical conditions. RESULTS Overall, 623 individuals received ART after treatment inception. The total number of deaths was 278, out of which 60 deaths were in the SMI group (38.5%) and 211 in the non-SMI group (45%) (p=0.05). In multivariable analysis, SMI was not associated with mortality. Increasing age, AIDS defining illness, renal failure, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, chronic liver disease and substance abuse were independently associated with mortality, while increased percent days of HIV medication use and number of outpatient medical visits were associated with improved survival. CONCLUSIONS In this sample, SMI is not associated with earlier death in patients with HIV infection. ART use and primary care engagement among HIV infected individuals are associated with improved survival irrespective of an SMI diagnosis.
A Turbo FDE Technique for OFDM System without Cyclic Prefix

For orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system, the length of cyclic prefix (CP) is selected on the basis of the expected maximum delay spread. When the CP length is shorter than the maximum delay spread, inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-carrier interference (ICI) will occur. By means of conventional one-tap frequency domain equalization (FDE), the desired symbols can not be recovered. In this paper, a soft-decision-directed one-tap turbo FDE technique is proposed for OFDM system without CP. After tail cancellation, the proposed algorithm performs soft cyclic reconstruction and one- tap minimum mean-square error (MMSE) FDE iteratively to minimize the performance degradation. Simulation results show that, compared with existing methods, our proposed algorithm can achieve better performance.
Familial loading in specific language impairment: patterns of differences across proband characteristics, gender and relative type

There is now little doubt that both environmental factors and genes are likely to make important contributions to the aetiology of specific language impairment (SLI). The most commonly proposed model for understanding these influences is the multifactorial model. In the present study we examine two expectations based on this model: that there will be a systematic relationship between the severity of proband language scores and the rate and severity of SLI in relatives and that relatives will be more strongly affected if they are relatives of a proband of the more rarely affected gender (female) because the latter require a higher genetic liability to become equally impaired. Ninety‐three probands and their 300 first‐degree relatives participated in this study. Results showed a relationship between proband severity at age 14 and an increased rate of SLI in relatives. This relationship was strong for child siblings and was significant with respect to both rate of SLI and severity over a range of language and literacy measures. In contrast, higher levels of SLI among relatives of female rather than male probands was entirely disproved.
The effect of cup orientation and coverage on contact mechanics and range of motion of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty

Implant malpositioning has been identified as a factor associated with clinical failures of metal-on-metal hip resurfacings (MoMHRs). This study investigated the effect of cup orientation and cup coverage on the contact mechanics (incidence of edge-loading) and range of motion (ROM) of MoMHR. Three generic MoMHRs with differing amounts of cup coverage were considered at various orientations. Contact area and contact pressure at the bearing surface were predicted for each design using finite element (FE) method. The ROM was determined based on the geometry overlap. Edge contact was found at lower angles of inclination (65°) for lower coverage cup designs; however, they also provided the greatest ROM. Conversely, cups with greater coverage did not exhibit edge contact until the cup was more steeply positioned (75°), however ROM was reduced. This study enables both sets of variable to be considered in the design of metal-on-metal bearings in hip.
Predictive Value of Neurodevelopmental Outcome and Serum Tau Protein Level in Neonates with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND Tau protein is s specific protein expressed by neurons in the central nervous system. Elevated serum Tau protein is associated with many diseases of the central nervous system. The serum Tau protein level in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is still poorly understood. METHODS Forty-one human neonates with HIE and thirty-five healthy neonates (control group) within 24 hours after birth were studied. Tau protein in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neurological outcome was assessed at 9 months of age according to the Gesell developmental scale. RESULTS Tau protein in serum was significantly higher in the HIE group than in the control group (p < 0.01), in neonates with severe HIE than neonates with moderate HIE (p < 0.01), and in infants with neurodevelopmental retardation compared with those with normal neurodevelopment (p < 0.01). The result of this study showed an obvious negative correlation between the serum Tau protein level and development quotients of neonates with HIE (rs = -0.6172, p < 0.01). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed that Tau protein (cutoff value 933.04 pg/mL) was a predictor of neurodevelopmental retardation outcome (AUC value = 0.860 (95% CI: 0.736 - 0.983, p < 0.01), sensitivity 100%, specificity 70.8%). CONCLUSIONS Serum Tau protein level within 24 hours after birth can be used as a marker for the early diagnosis of neonatal HIE and predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Is the circular economy ambitious enough? A look at incorporating PSS (product-service systems) into China's leapfrog development strategy Author:

At present, many nations-in-transition are following the example of the West’s industrialization; developing material-intensive production-consumption systems that lead to economic growth, while incurring massive environmental and social costs. However, it is not necessary for emerging economies to follow these footsteps. Starting with the idea of leapfrog development, as a systemic solution to allow for a more ecoefficient means of development, this paper explores the notion of dematerializing the economy as a way of de-linking economic growth from environmental pressure. The functional-service economic model is proposed as a means of dematerialization. The concept of product-service systems (PSS) is then elaborated as a pragmatic way of achieving the functional-service economy. In order to analyze the possibility of applying these concepts to an economy in transition, the case of China is probed. As a result of rapid industrial development, China is experiencing extreme environmental and social problems. In response, the government has stated its goal of leapfrog development. One of its main strategies is the Circular Economy (CE). The CE has the aim of de-linking economic growth from environmental destruction by changing the domestic production-consumption system. However, there are many gaps in the concept and its implementation. Using a set of criteria for the functional-service economy, this paper analyzes the CE concept, to find the gaps. It, then, shows where PSS applies and how it can fill in these gaps. A critical analysis of PSS is also performed. The analysis explores the drivers and barriers of the product-service systems concept, as per Western case studies. It, subsequently explores the opportunities and obstacles to the potential acceptance of the PSS concept by three main stakeholder groups (consumers, producers and the government) in the Chinese context. The conclusion is that China is currently at a tipping point with regards to the cultural, political and economic factors that are key to stakeholder acceptance and the institutionalization of product-service systems. It is possible that the functional-service economy could work in China, but it depends on which direction Chinese society and leaders decide to go from this tipping point.
Impact of metformin on the prognosis of cirrhosis induced by viral hepatitis C in diabetic patients.

CONTEXT Insulin resistance plays a role in hepatocarcinogenesis and is decreased by metformin treatment. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess the influence of metformin treatment on the prognosis of compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN AND SETTING We studied an observational prospective cohort (1988-2007) at a university hospital referral center. PATIENTS A total of 100 consecutive diabetic patients (53 men, age 61 ± 11 yr) with ongoing HCV cirrhosis and no contraindication for metformin were included in a screening program for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MAIN OUTCOMES The patients were prospectively followed up for HCC incidence, liver-related death, or hepatic transplantation. RESULTS The level of platelet count was significantly lower in patients treated with metformin (n = 26) compared with those not treated with metformin (n = 74) [117 (interquartile range, 83-166) vs. 149 (105-192) Giga/liter, P = 0.045]. During a median follow-up of 5.7 (3.8-9.5) yr, one patient was lost to follow-up, 39 developed a HCC, and 33 died from liver causes or were transplanted. The 5-yr incidence of HCC was 9.5 and 31.2% (P = 0.001) and of liver-related death/transplantation, 5.9 and 17.4% (P = 0.013), in patients who received metformin treatment and in those who did not, respectively. In multivariate analysis, metformin treatment was independently associated with a decrease in HCC occurrence [hazard ratio, 0.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.79); P = 0.023] and liver-related death or transplantation [hazard ratio, 0.22 (95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.99); P = 0.049]. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and HCV cirrhosis, use of metformin is independently associated with reduced incidence of HCC and liver-related death/transplantation.