Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life Style Intervention Improves Retinopathy Status—The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study

The aim of the study was to find out whether participation in earlier intervention had an effect on the occurrence of retinopathy in study participants. We also examined risk factors (age, sex, weight, fasting and 2 h glucose, fasting insulin, blood pressure, serum lipids) for early retinal changes. The study included 522 individuals (mean 55 years old, range 40–64 years) with impaired glucose tolerance who were randomized into intervention (weight loss, healthy diet, and physical activity, N = 265) and control groups (N = 257). Intervention lasted for median of four years in 1993–2000, after which annual follow-up visits at study clinics were conducted. In the years 2002–2006 (at least five years after stopping intervention), fundus photography was offered for all study participants in four of five study clinics. Photographs were assessed by two experienced ophthalmologists (A.A. and K.K.), masked for the group assignment. After exclusion of poor quality photographs, the data of 211 individuals (N = 113 for intervention and N = 98 for control group) were included in the present study. The occurrence of microaneurysms was significantly higher in the control (37/98, 38%) than in the intervention group (27/113, 24%; p = 0.029). In the model, including age, sex, diabetes diagnosis before the retinal assessment, body mass index (BMI), and treatment group, the odds ratio for microaneurysms was markedly lower in intervention group (OR 0.52; 0.28–0.97, p = 0.039). The only risk factor that predicted the occurrence of microaneurysms was serum triglycerides at baseline (mean ± SD 1.9 ± 0.9 vs. 1.6 ± 0.7, mmol/L, with and without microaneurysms, respectively, p = 0.003). Triglycerides associated with decreased microaneurysms in regression analysis for age, sex, fasting glucose, and intervention group (OR 1.92, p = 0.018). Lifestyle intervention in overweight and obese individuals with impaired glucose tolerance showed decreased occurrence of retinal microaneurysms. Elevated serum triglycerides were associated to the development of early diabetic microangiopathy.
An Internet router level topology automatically discovering system

In this paper, we present the architecture, some issues encountered, and some key techniques in constructing an Internet router level topology automatically discovering system, and have developed a prototype system targeted at discovering the router level topology of CERNET. Experiment results show that the methods and discovery principles we take are feasible and operational on large scale IP network. Therefore, this prototype system can be developed into a system for discovering the whole Internet router level topology in China.
OsMTOPVIB is required for meiotic bipolar spindle assembly

Significance The organization of microtubules into a bipolar spindle is essential for chromosome segregation. Both centrosome and chromatin-dependent spindle assembly mechanisms are well studied in animals; however, the mechanism of bipolar spindle assembly in plant meiosis remains unclear. We found the key step of plant bipolar spindle assembly is the correction of multipolar spindles into bipolar spindles at metaphase I. The multipolar spindles failed to transition into bipolar spindles in OsmtopVIB. However, the absence of cohesion subunit OsREC8 resulted in bipolar spindles in the background of OsmtopVIB. Thus, OsMTOPVIB plays a crucial role in meiotic spindle assembly. Biorientation of sister kinetochores in a univalent is essential for bipolar spindle formation when homologous recombination is absent. The organization of microtubules into a bipolar spindle is essential for chromosome segregation. Both centrosome and chromatin-dependent spindle assembly mechanisms are well studied in mouse, Drosophila melanogaster, and Xenopus oocytes; however, the mechanism of bipolar spindle assembly in plant meiosis remains elusive. According to our observations of microtubule assembly in Oryza sativa, Zea mays, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Solanum lycopersicum, we propose that a key step of plant bipolar spindle assembly is the correction of the multipolar spindle into a bipolar spindle at metaphase I. The multipolar spindles failed to transition into bipolar ones in OsmtopVIB with the defect in double-strand break (DSB) formation. However, bipolar spindles were normally assembled in several other mutants lacking DSB formation, such as Osspo11-1, pair2, and crc1, indicating that bipolar spindle assembly is independent of DSB formation. We further revealed that the mono-orientation of sister kinetochores was prevalent in OsmtopVIB, whereas biorientation of sister kinetochores was frequently observed in Osspo11-1, pair2, and crc1. In addition, mutations of the cohesion subunit OsREC8 resulted in biorientation of sister kinetochores as well as bipolar spindles even in the background of OsmtopVIB. Therefore, we propose that biorientation of the kinetochore is required for bipolar spindle assembly in the absence of homologous recombination.
polyamine uptake transporter 2 (put2) and decaying seeds enhance phyA-mediated germination by overcoming PIF1 repression of germination

Red light promotes germination after activating phytochrome phyB, which destabilizes the germination repressor PIF1. Early upon seed imbibition, canopy light, unfavorable for photosynthesis, represses germination by stabilizing PIF1 after inactivating phyB. Paradoxically, later upon imbibition, canopy light stimulates germination after activating phytochrome phyA. phyA-mediated germination is poorly understood and, intriguingly, is inefficient, compared to phyB-mediated germination, raising the question of its physiological significance. A genetic screen identified polyamine uptake transporter 2 (put2) mutants that overaccumulate polyamines, a class of antioxidant polycations implicated in numerous cellular functions, which we found promote phyA-mediated germination. In WT seeds, our data suggest that canopy light represses polyamines accumulation through PIF1 while red light promotes polyamines accumulation. We show that canopy light also downregulates PIF1 levels, through phyA; however, PIF1 reaccumulates rapidly, which limits phyA-mediated germination. High polyamines levels in decaying seeds bypass PIF1 repression of germination and stimulate phyA-mediated germination, suggesting an adaptive mechanism promoting survival when viability is compromised.
[Exploring Sleep Quality, Spiritual Health, and Related Factors in Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit].

BACKGROUND Nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) care for critically ill and dying patients. The stressful nature of the work performed by these nurses may affect their spiritual health and sleep quality. PURPOSE The purpose of this correlational study was to explore the sleep quality, spiritual health, and related factors in a sample of ICU nurses. METHODS A cross-sectional correlational design with stratified random sampling was applied. A total of 170 clinical nurses were recruited from the ICUs of a medical center in northern Taiwan. A demographic characteristics questionnaire, the spiritual health scale-short form, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for data collection. RESULTS The average PSQI score was 7.07, with 62.9% of the participants reporting poor sleep quality. A significantly negative correlation was identified between the spiritual-health-scale item "connections to others" and the PSQI. "Connections to others", "chronic diseases", and "menstrual cycle discomfort" were the important predictive factors of sleep quality in the ICU nurses in this study. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The findings of this study support nurses engaging in regular exercise that is both low-intensity and not subject to time or space restrictions in order to help prevent chronic diseases and relieve dysmenorrhea. Furthermore, education and training related to spiritual health should be incorporated into the whole-person education curriculum in order to enhance spiritual status and improve sleep quality.
Linking Persistent Pain and Frailty in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE In older adults, the impact of persistent pain goes beyond simple discomfort, often contributing to worsening functional outcomes and ultimately frailty. Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that, like persistent pain, increases in prevalence with age and is characterized by a decreased ability to adapt to common stressors such as acute illness, thereby increasing risk for multiple adverse health outcomes. Evidence supports a relationship between persistent pain and both the incidence and progression of frailty, independent of health, social, and lifestyle confounders. DESIGN AND SETTING In this article, we synthesize recent evidence linking persistent pain and frailty in an effort to clarify the nature of the relationship between these two commonly occurring geriatric syndromes. SETTING We propose an integration of the frailty phenotype model by considering the impact of persistent pain on vulnerability toward external stressors, which can ultimately contribute to frailty in older adults. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Incorporating persistent pain into the frailty construct can help us better understand frailty and ultimately improve care for patients with, as well as those at increased risk for, pain and frailty.
Cerebellar artery arising from the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and persistent trigeminal artery: a spectrum of incomplete longitudinal fusion

Background The embryological relationship between cerebellar arteries originating directly from the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and persistent trigeminal artery is not well understood. Purpose To evaluate the incidence and pattern of cerebellar arteries originating from the internal carotid artery and persistent trigeminal artery, and to discuss their probable embryological relationship. Material and Methods We reviewed 5113 angiographic studies from 5093 patients at our institution over the last eight years, searching for patients with persistent trigeminal artery and cerebellar arteries originating from a cavernous segment of internal carotid artery (persistent trigeminal artery variant). Results Of the 5093 patients, 27 patients had persistent trigeminal artery or persistent trigeminal artery variant (0.53%). Twenty patients (6 men, 14 women; median age = 54 years) had persistent trigeminal artery (0.39%). Seven patients (2 men, 5 women, age range = 37–72 years; median age = 57 years) had a persistent trigeminal artery variant with persistent trigeminal artery terminating in a cerebellar artery without direct connection to the basilar artery (persistent trigeminal artery variant; 0.14%). The terminal branch of the persistent trigeminal artery variant was an anterior inferior carotid artery in five patients and a superior cerebellar artery in two patients. Of the seven patients having persistent trigeminal artery variant, four patients had another artery from the basilar artery to the anterior inferior carotid artery territory. In 6/20 patients with persistent trigeminal artery, there was an anterior inferior carotid artery arising from the persistent trigeminal artery. One of these patients showed another arterial branch from the basilar artery to the anterior inferior carotid artery territory. Conclusion Persistent trigeminal artery variant and cerebellar arteries originating from the persistent trigeminal artery are both believed to be a spectrum of incomplete fusion of the longitudinal neural arteries. Understanding the precise anatomy is important in diagnostic and therapeutic settings for related vascular disease.
Examining the Effects of Interaction Fidelity on Task Performance and Learning in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality training applications are becoming more widespread as hardware costs for head-mounted displays (HMDs) and tracking technology decrease, enabling a wide variety of interaction techniques beyond the mouse and keyboard. Advancements in VR hardware yield higher levels of interaction fidelity or the objective degree of exactness with which real-world interactions can be reproduced in an interactive system. Despite the growing use of virtual reality simulations for training, few prior investigations have examined the constituent components of fidelity and how they affect performance and learning in the context of a real-world skills training applications. With tracking and HMD technology reaching a wider audience, it is important to empirically evaluate the benefits and downsides associated with utilizing such technology. Using our scaffolded virtual metrology training simulation as a testbed for exploring issues related to interaction fidelity, we have created a bimanual interaction metaphor that allows users to select and manipulate objects with 6 degrees-of-freedom using both hands simultaneously. The simulation guides the user step-by-step on the process of taking precise measurements using calipers and micrometers. Our initial work examined the effects of simplifying interaction by constraining the number of degrees-of-freedom on measures including user performance, cognitive and psychomotor learning outcomes, presence, and perceived workload. Results indicate that the training application was beneficial in teaching basic metrology concepts and simplifying the interaction metaphor resulted in similar user performance in most metrics. Our following experiment examined the effects of presentation method including a HMD with co-located end-effectors compared to a large-screen, immersive display with dislocated endeffectors on user performance and learning outcomes. In addition, physics fidelity was examined by either enabling or disabling gravity to determine usability improvements. Results indicate that the HMD condition was preferable to the immersive display in nearly all metrics while the no-gravity
Responses of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide in regulating oxidative defence system in wheat plants grown under cadmium stress.

We conducted a study to evaluate the interactive effect of NO and H2 S on the cadmium (Cd) tolerance of wheat. Cadmium stress considerably reduced total dry weight, chlorophyll a and b content and ratio of Fv/fm by 36.7, 48.6, 26.7 and 19.5%, respectively, but significantly enhanced the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) and malondialdehyde (MDA), endogenous H2 S and NO, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Exogenously applied sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), donors of NO and H2 S, respectively, enhanced total plant dry matter by 47.8 and 39.1%, chlorophyll a by 92.3 and 61.5%, chlorophyll b content by 29.1 and 27.2%, Fv/fm ratio by 19.7 and 15.2%, respectively, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, but lowered oxidative stress and proline content in Cd-stressed wheat plants. NaHS and SNP also considerably limited both the uptake and translocation of Cd, thereby improving the levels of some key mineral nutrients in the plants. Enhanced levels of NO and H2 S induced by NaHS were reversed by hypotuarine application, but they were substantially reduced almost to 50% by cPTIO (a NO scavenger) application. Hypotuarine was not effective, but cPTIO was highly effective in reducing the levels of NO and H2 S produced by SNP in the roots of Cd-stressed plants. The results showed that interactive effect of NO and H2 S can considerably improve plant resistance against Cd toxicity by reducing oxidative stress and uptake of Cd in plants as well as by enhancing antioxidative defence system and uptake of some essential mineral nutrients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Association of Upper-Body Kinematics and Earned Run Average of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Softball Pitchers

Abstract Friesen, KB, Barfield, JW, Murrah, WM, Dugas, JR, Andrews, JR, and Oliver, GD. The association of upper-body kinematics and earned run average of national collegiate athletic association Division I softball pitchers. J Strength Cond Res 35(11): 3145–3150, 2021—Although recent literature has increased examination of the association of injury and biomechanics, there remains a lack of evidence supporting optimal windmill pitch mechanics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate trunk and pitching arm kinematics and their association with performance outcome: earned run average (ERA), in collegiate softball pitchers. Twenty-three NCAA Division I collegiate softball pitchers (20.14 ± 1.07 years; 173.93 ± 6.68 cm; and 85.79 ± 11.06 kg) performed 3 maximal effort rise ball pitches to a catcher located at a distance of 43 ft. (13.11 m). Kinematic data of the trunk and pitching arm were collected using an electromagnetic tracking system. A multiple regression analysis was performed at each pitch event: top of backswing, foot contact, ball release, and follow-through. The multiple regression at foot contact showed an overall statistically significant regression equation (F6, 16 = 3.7, p = 0.017) and explained approximately 42% of the variance in ERA (R = 0.579, Adj. R2 = 0.421). Results revealed that those pitchers who had greater trunk (SE = 0.018, t = −2.5, p = 0.023) and elbow flexion (SE = 0.006, t = −4.2, p = 0.001) at the event of foot contact had lower ERAs. This study supported previous research on the importance of trunk and elbow angle at front foot contact on rise ball pitch performance. These key technique points and the importance of elbow flexors should be explored in future research and potentially visually attended to by coaches and strength professionals.
Imbalance of antioxidant enzymes activities and trace elements levels in Ghanaian HIV-infected patients

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been associated with high oxidative stress in HIV patients. The disparity in antioxidant-oxidant levels in HIV patients favours viral replication and disease progression. This study aimed at determining the effect of ART on antioxidant enzymes activities and trace elements levels in Ghanaian HIV patients. A total of 242 participants; comprising of 105 HIV-infected patients on ART, 77 HIV-infected ART-naïve, and 60 HIV seronegative controls were recruited for the study. Whole blood was collected and used for haematological profiling, and the determination of CD4+ counts, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and trace element levels. Serum was used for liver function tests and the determination of glutathione reductase (GR) activity, and plasma was used to estimate reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Low levels of haemoglobin (HB), hematocrit, mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), and trace elements were found in ART-naïve patients compared to those on ART and the seronegative controls. In the ART-naïve patients, glutathione reductase (GR) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) level were significantly low compared to patients on ART and seronegative controls. Activity of SOD was significantly reduced in ART-naïve patients compared to those on ART and the control group, and manganese is the only trace element that showed a strong negative correlation with SOD activity and a positive and significant correlation with CD4+ count, and therefore needs to be investigated further. The study suggests that assessing antioxidant levels or enzymes activities of patients infected with HIV should be considered during therapy.
Loss of Wwox Causes Defective Development of Cerebral Cortex with Hypomyelination in a Rat Model of Lethal Dwarfism with Epilepsy

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (Wwox) is a putative tumor suppressor. Several germline mutations of Wwox have been associated with infant neurological disorders characterized by epilepsy, growth retardation, and early death. Less is known, however, about the pathological link between Wwox mutations and these disorders or the physiological role of Wwox in brain development. In this study, we examined age-related expression and histological localization of Wwox in forebrains as well as the effects of loss of function mutations in the Wwox gene in the immature cortex of a rat model of lethal dwarfism with epilepsy (lde/lde). Immunostaining revealed that Wwox is expressed in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. lde/lde cortices were characterized by a reduction in neurite growth without a reduced number of neurons, severe reduction in myelination with a reduced number of mature oligodendrocytes, and a reduction in cell populations of astrocytes and microglia. These results indicate that Wwox is essential for normal development of neurons and glial cells in the cerebral cortex.
MLPG_R Method for Numerical Simulation of 2D Breaking Waves

Following our previous work, the Meshless Local Petrov-Galerin method based on Rankine source solution (MLPG_R) will be extended in this paper to deal with breaking waves. For this purpose, the governing equation for pressure is improved and a new technique called Mixed Particle Number Density and Auxiliary Function Method (MPAM) is suggested for identifying the free surface particles. Due to complexity of the problem, two dimensional (2D) breaking waves are only concerned here. Various cases are investigated and some numerical results are compared with experimental data available in literature to show the newly developed method is robust.
Is alkalosis the dominant factor in hypoxia‐induced cognitive dysfunction?

Exposure to high altitude poses risks for human function and survival. Humans acclimatize to hypoxia by way of highly orchestrated integrative responses acting to defend whole-body homeostasis. An immediate increase in ventilatory drive improves pulmonary gas exchange, serving to limit hypoxaemia. However, hypoxia-induced hyperventilation causes hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis owing to excessive elimination of carbon dioxide. During acute exposure to hypoxia, cerebral vessels dilate, increasing cerebral blood flow and combating the reduction in arterial oxygen content in hypoxia, thereby maintaining cerebral oxygen delivery. In contrast, hypocapnia mediates constriction of the cerebrovasculature, acting to decrease brain blood flow. The counteractive effect of these opposing stimuli during exposure to hypoxia is an important net determinant of oxygen delivery to the brain, critical for neuronal performance and behaviour. Although it is widely recognized that cognitive function is impaired during exposure to hypoxia, the relative influence of hypoxia and hypocapnia per se is not fully established. In this issue of Experimental Physiology, Friend, Balanos, and Lucas (2019) explore the independent effects of acute normobaric hypoxia and hypocapnia on cerebrovascular haemodynamics and cognitive function. Healthy, young, male participants were exposed to 60 min of poikilocapnic hypoxia (allowing carbon dioxide to decline freely during hypoxic hyperventilation) and, on a separate day, to 60 min of isocapnic hypoxia (with dynamic end-tidal forcing used to clamp carbon dioxide to baseline levels). A subset of participants also performed a 60 min voluntary hyperventilation task during an additional experimental session toestablish euoxic hypocapnia.Middle cerebral artery velocity was measured as an index of ‘global’ cerebral blood flowusing transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Cognitive testswere performed before and after gas manipulations. Indices of prefrontal