Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Yoga Therapy for Abdominal Pain-Related Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare effects of 10 weeks of yoga therapy (YT) and standard medical care (SMC) on abdominal pain and quality of life (QoL) in children with abdominal pain–related functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs). Methods: Sixty-nine patients, ages 8 to 18 years, with AP-FGIDs, were randomized to SMC complemented with YT or SMC alone. YT is a mixture of yoga poses, meditation, and relaxation exercises and was given once a week in group sessions. SMC consisted of education, reassurance, dietary advice, and fibers/mebeverine, if necessary. Pain intensity (pain intensity score [PIS] 0–5) and frequency (pain frequency score [PFS] 0–4) were scored in a pain diary, and QoL was measured with KIDSCREEN-27. Follow-up was 12 months. Treatment response was defined as ≥50% reduction of weekly pain scores. Results: At 1-year follow-up, treatment response was accomplished in 58% of the YT group and in 29% of the control group (P = 0.01); no significant differences for other time points were found. YT, and not SMC, resulted in a significant reduction of PIS (P < 0.01) and PFS (P < 0.01) after 12 months. During the study, however, YT was not significantly superior compared with SMC. Subanalyses for time points demonstrated a significant greater reduction of PIS at 12 months in favor of YT. No differences were found for QoL. YT was more effective in the reduction of reported monthly school absence (P = 0.03). Conclusion: At 1-year follow-up, YT in addition to standard care was superior compared with SMC according to treatment success, PIS, and reduction of school absence. YT, however, was not significantly more effective in improving PFS or QoL, compared with SMC.
Contrasting Laser Power Requirements of Wavelength-Routed Optical NoC Topologies Subject to the Floorplanning, Placement, and Routing Constraints of a 3-D-Stacked System

A realistic assessment of optical networks-on-chip (ONoCs) can be performed only in the context of a comprehensive floorplanning strategy for the system as a whole, especially when the 3-D stacking of electronic and optical layers is implemented. This paper fosters layout-aware ONoC design by developing a physical mapping methodology for wavelength-routed ONoC topologies subject to the floorplanning, placement, and routing constraints that arise in a 3-D-stacked environment. As a result, this paper is able to compare the power efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio of ring-based versus filter-based wavelength-routed topologies as determined by their physical design flexibility.
Analysis and simulation of gene expression profiles in pure and mixed cell populations

For analysis and interpretation of data obtained from experimental readouts of gene expression, such as microarrays and RNA-sequencing, log transformation is routinely applied. This is because expression data, like many biological parameters, are strongly skewed. We show here that gene expression levels in multicellular organisms often deviate from simple (log) normal distributions and instead exhibit shouldered or bimodal distributions. Based on a mathematical model and numerical simulations, we demonstrate that many observed distributions can be explained as mixtures of bimodal two-component lognormal models. This is due to the fact that after log-transformation, the resulting distributions display reductions in the first peak rather than increasing overlaps over a wide range of parameter values. By comparing the theoretical results with biological datasets, our findings suggest that the distributions are generally bimodal for single cell types and get obscured by the different cell types that are present in tissue samples. Our analysis thus provides an initial explanation for the various types of expression level distributions that are found for different datasets. This will be important for the interpretation of next-generation sequencing data such as transcriptomics by mRNA-sequencing and ChIP-sequencing of epigenetic marks.
Association between Early Onset of Cigarette, Alcohol and Cannabis Use and Later Drug Use Patterns: An Analysis of a Survey in European Metropolises

Objectives: The study presents data about age of onset of alcohol, cigarette and cannabis use and investigates the association between age of onset and later drug use patterns. Methods: Using a sample from a cross-sectional multi-site study, personal interviews were conducted with 3,503 individuals aged 12–49 years. Last-month prevalence, age of onset and associations with subsequent use patterns were investigated. Results: Having started with cannabis before the age of 16 years was associated with an odds ratio of 1.6 for heavy cannabis use. For males, the odds ratio of heavy cannabis use was 1.7, when cannabis was already initiated by the age of 16. Heavy use of ecstasy, amphetamines, hallucinogens and cocaine is associated with use of cigarettes before 13 (OR = 1.9). For males, the odds ratio was 2.2 and for women 1.9. Conclusions: Early use of alcohol, according to this data, does not seem to be related to subsequent heavy drug use. Early onset cannabis users show increasing probabilities of heavy use patterns. Preventive intervention programs have to start earlier than school-based programs normally do and specific developmental pathways need to be addressed.
K-anycasting strategies in networks: To grow or to prune?

Disseminating content to a given subset of nodes in a network in a cost-effective manner is a fundamental problem in networks, and is referred to as multicast. If reaching all the nodes in the set is not necessary and reaching a quorum of size k within the set is sufficient, then the problem is referred to as k-anycast or any-k-cast. This has applications in a wide range of networks, e.g., function computation in spatial wireless networks such as sensor networks and influence flow in social networks. Since the k-anycast optimization problem is NP-complete, we propose two heuristic algorithms to address the problem: the first is based on greedy growth from the root node and the second is based on pruning from a larger multicast tree. We perform a comparative numerical study of their performance tradeoffs for a social collaboration network and a spatial network by evaluating the effect of terminal node distributions on the cost and exploration overhead of the k-anycast tree for different regimes of k for each network.
MALE-BY-FEMALE INTERACTIONS INFLUENCE FERTILIZATION SUCCESS AND MEDIATE THE BENEFITS OF POLYANDRY IN THE SEA URCHIN HELIOCIDARIS ERYTHROGRAMMA

Abstract Numerous studies have reported that females benefit from mating with multiple males (polyandry) by minimizing the probability of fertilization by genetically incompatible sperm. Few, however, have directly attributed variation in female reproductive success to the fertilizing capacity of sperm. In this study we report on two experiments that investigated the benefits of polyandry and the interacting effects of males and females at fertilization in the free-spawning Australian sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. In the first experiment we used a paired (split clutch) experimental design and compared fertilization rates within female egg clutches under polyandry (eggs exposed to the sperm from two males simultaneously) and monandry (eggs from the same female exposed to sperm from each of the same two males separately). Our analysis revealed a significant fertilization benefit of polyandry and strong interacting effects of males and females at fertilization. Further analysis of these data strongly suggested that the higher rates of fertilization in the polyandry treatment were due to an overrepresentation of fertilizations due to the most compatible male. To further explore the interacting effects of males and females at fertilization we performed a second factorial experiment in which four males were crossed with two females (in all eight combinations). In addition to confirming that fertilization success is influenced by male × female interactions, this latter experiment revealed that both sexes contributed significant variance to the observed patterns of fertilization. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of male × female interactions at fertilization and suggest that polyandry will enable females to reduce the cost of fertilization by incompatible gametes.
Transcription factor dynamics in pineal gland and liver of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) adapts to prevailing photoperiod

Abstract: The anticipation of day length and duration of darkness is necessary and advantageous for animals to survive and requires a photoperiodic memory. In the Syrian hamster this adaptation to photoperiod is mirrored by seasonal changes in the animal's reproductive state and its liver metabolism. Both events are linked to season‐dependent alterations of the nocturnally elevated synthesis of the pineal hormone melatonin. To decipher molecules that are involved in this temporal gating, hamsters were exposed to long photoperiod (16 hr light:8 hr darkness; LP), or short photoperiod (8 hr light:16 hr darkness; SP). Dynamics in gene expression was investigated in the pineal gland [inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER)], and in the liver (ICER; C/EBPδ; clock genes) using immunochemistry and reverse transcriptase PCR. While in the pineal, ICER rhythms tightly follow the prior duration of light and dark with decreasing levels at the beginning of the dark period in both LP and SP, ICER is not rhythmic in liver. In the liver, clock genes and their protein products reflect differences in photoperiodic history, with enhanced rhythm amplitudes of PER, CRY, CLOCK, and BMAL1 under SP conditions. Thus, in the Syrian hamster transcription factor expression patterns lock onto the prevailing photoperiod in two peripheral oscillators, the pineal gland and the liver, to function as mediators of suprachiasmatic nucleus‐derived information on environmental light and dark. This tissue‐specific gating in gene transcription represents a strategy to ameliorate consequences of altering environmental lighting conditions on endocrine and metabolic parameters that endow a strong circadian bias.
Adaptive monopluse with STAP

Monopulse is a well known technique for high accuracy estimation of target parameters such as azimuth and elevation as well as the radial velocity. In conjunction with an adaptive processor for cancellation of interference one obtains so called adaptive monopulse. Interference may be either jamming or clutter or both. In this contribution some properties of adaptive monopulse applied in a clutter environment is discussed. We focus on an airborne radar scenario so that the adaptive monopulse includes a space-time adaptive processor (STAP). Several different STAP architectures are compared with respect to their aptitude for target parameter estimation
THE IMPACT OF FREE TRADE BETWEEN ASEAN AND CHINA ON THE INDONESIAN HOUSEHOLDS

Free trade agreement between ASEAN and China was executed in early 2010. Various types of trade tariffs have been removed or lowered to support the agreement which may lead to changes in the welfare of Indonesian households. This research tries to find out the impact of ASEAN-China free trade agreement on the welfare of households in Indonesia. The model used for this analysis is AGEFIS model, a Computable General Equilibrium model of Indonesian economy. The findings of this research show that the free trade between ASEAN and China increases the level of economic activity. Various macroeconomic indicators such as output and exports increase relative to the output prior to the free trade agreement. Income of urban households rise but rural households are adversely affected. Skilled-workers benefits more than unskilled ones. Keywords : ASEAN-CHINA Free Trade Area, AGEFIS, Shock, SAM
Postural Sway and Active Balance Performance in Highly Active Lower-Limb Amputees

Buckley JG, O’Driscoll D, Bennett SJ: Postural sway and active balance performance in highly active lower-limb amputees. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2002;81:13–20. ObjectiveTo determine the balance performance of active lower-limb amputees during quiet standing and under dynamic conditions. DesignCenter-of-pressure excursions during quiet standing and the standing balance performance on a single axis stabilimeter was assessed in six unilateral lower-limb amputees and six able-bodied controls. Stabilimeter trials were repeated with subjects standing so that pivoting occurred either in the anteroposterior or mediolateral direction or in the mediolateral direction but with vision occluded. ResultsCenter-of-pressure excursions were significantly greater (P < 0.05) for amputees in both the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions. During all stabilimeter tests, amputees spent significantly less time in balance than able-bodied controls (P < 0.05), and this was attributed to a nonsignificant increase in the average time the stabilimeter spent in contact with the ground. Group differences in the average time of contact in the anteroposterior test condition were meaningful (effect size, 1.19). ConclusionsAmputees had poorer static and dynamic balance than able-bodied controls. Amputees had a greater problem controlling dynamic balance in the anteroposterior direction than the mediolateral direction. Findings highlight the importance of the ankle in maintaining balance in situations that involve body movements in the sagittal plane.
Assessing linear time‐invariance in human primary somatosensory cortex with BOLD fMRI using vibrotactile stimuli

The assumption of linear time‐invariance (LTI) in the human primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is assessed for fMRI signals generated by variable‐duration vibrotactile stimuli. Predictions based on time‐shifted summation (TSS) of responses to 2 s stimuli overestimate observed BOLD signal amplitudes in response to longer‐duration stimuli, in agreement with previous findings in other primary sensory cortices. To interpret these results, we undertook an alternative approach for LTI assessment by characterizing BOLD signals using two biophysical models. The first model assumes that the input stimulus envelope is proportional to neural activity. The second assumes that neural activity exhibits both transient and steady‐state components, consistent with extensive electrophysiological data, and fits the experimental data better. Although nonlinearity remains evident for short stimulus durations, the latter model shows that the TSS procedure to assess LTI overestimates the BOLD signal because the temporal characteristics of neural activity have not been considered adequately. Further research to investigate the BOLD response to time‐varying neural activity is required. Magn Reson Med 53:304–311, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Day-ahead Electricity Price Forecasting Using PSO -Based LLWNN Model

Price forecasting has become an important activity for market participants in electric power industry for developing their bidding strategies. The work presented in this paper makes use of particle swarm optimization based local linear wavelet neural networks (LLWNN) to find the Market Clearing Price (MCP) for a given period, with a certain confidence level. The results of the new method show significant improvement in the price forecasting process.
A binary coding method of RNA secondary structure and its application

According to the three classifications of nucleotides, we introduce a sort of binary coding method of RNA secondary structures. On the basis of this representation, we can reduce a RNA secondary structure into three binary digit sequences. We also propose coding rules based on the exclusive‐OR operation. Associating with the proposed coding rules, we can judge the mutation between bases or between base and base pair, and make sequence alignment easily. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
Generation of human single-chain variable fragment antibodies specific to dengue virus non-structural protein 1 that interfere with the virus infectious cycle

Severe forms of dengue virus (DENV) infection frequently cause high case fatality rate. Currently, there is no effective vaccine against the infection. Clinical cases are given only palliative treatment as specific anti-DENV immunotherapy is not available and it is urgently required. In this study, human single-chain variable fragment (HuScFv) antibodies that bound specifically to the conserved non-structural protein-1 (NS1) of DENV and interfered with the virus replication cycle were produced by using phage display technology. Recombinant NS1 (rNS1) of DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) was used as antigen in phage bio-panning to select phage clones that displayed HuScFv from antibody phage display library. HuScFv from two phagemid transformed E. coli clones, i.e., clones 11 and 13, bound to the rNS1 as well as native NS1 in both secreted and intracellular forms. Culture fluids of the HuScFv11/HuScFv13 exposed DENV2 infected cells had significant reduction of the infectious viral particles, implying that the antibody fragments affected the virus morphogenesis or release. HuScFv epitope mapping by phage mimotope searching revealed that HuScFv11 bound to amino acids 1–14 of NS1, while the HuScFv13 bound to conformational epitope at the C-terminal portion of the NS1. Although the functions of the epitopes and the molecular mechanism of the HuScFv11 and HuScFv13 require further investigations, these small antibodies have high potential for development as anti-DENV biomolecules.
Performance of the Higher Education Students Loans Board in Human Capital Investment from 2005-2015

Many studies conducted on the Higher Education Students Loans Board (HESLB) have mostly concentrated on its success, sustainability and effectiveness on loans issuance and repayment. None had focused on its performance towards human capital investment. This study sought to explain and analyze HESLB’s performance in human capital investment, which in this study has been operationalized as financing of higher education. The study retraced the development of Higher education financing from early days of independence in Tanzania to the inception and operationalization of the HESLB. Data were collected, analyzed and interpreted with view to answering research questions on the performance of the HESLB. It was concluded that despite the increasing budgeting trend in favour of the loans board, its ability to sustain itself through education loan repayment was still minimal, which can be interpreted as HESLB’s little contribution to human capital investment. It was suggested the financing strategy of higher education in Tanzania for sustainable human capital investment be re-analyzed to ensure economic growth and development of the country.
Stimulation‐induced [14C]2‐deoxyglucose labeling of synaptic activity in the central auditory system

The relative contribution of active synapses and discharging neurons to [14C]2‐DG labeling in film autoradiographss of the auditory system was studied in a series of three experiments, two in cat, one in chick. In the first, the lateral superior olive in cats was specially prepared so that its inhibitory afferents could be stimulated without concurrent stimulation of its excitatory afferents. The film autoradiographs showed clear 2‐DG labeling in the vicinity of the activated inhibitory synapses.
World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines for Biological Treatment of Unipolar Depressive Disorders in Primary Care

These practical guidelines for the biological treatment of unipolar depressive disorders in primary care settings were developed by an international Task Force of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP). They embody the results of a systematic review of all available clinical and scientific evidence pertaining to the treatment of unipolar depressive disorders and offer practical recommendations for general practitioners encountering patients with these conditions. The guidelines cover disease definition, classification, epidemiology and course of unipolar depressive disorders, and the principles of management in the acute, continuation and maintenance phase. They deal primarily with biological treatment (including antidepressants, other psychopharmacological and hormonal medications, electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy).
2010-3-23 4 E 10-Resistant HIV-1 Isolated from Four Subjects with Rare Membrane-Proximal External Region Polymorphisms

Human antibody 4E10 targets the highly conserved membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV-1 transmembrane glycoprotein, gp41, and has extraordinarily broad neutralizing activity. It is considered by many to be a prototype for vaccine development. In this study, we describe four subjects infected with viruses carrying rare MPER polymorphisms associated with resistance to 4E10 neutralization. In one case resistant virus carrying a W680G substitution was transmitted from mother to infant. We used site-directed mutagenesis to demonstrate that the W680G substitution is necessary for conferring the 4E10-resistant phenotype, but that it is not sufficient to transfer the phenotype to a 4E10sensitive Env. Our third subject carried Envs with a W680R substitution causing variable resistance to 4E10, indicating that residues outside the MPER are required to confer the phenotype. A fourth subject possessed a F673L substitution previously associated with 4E10 resistance. For all three subjects with W680 polymorphisms, we observed additional residues in the MPER that co-varied with position 680 and preserved charged distributions across this region. Our data provide important caveats for vaccine development targeting the MPER. Naturally occurring Env variants described in our study also represent unique tools for probing the structure-function of HIV-1 envelope. Citation: Nakamura KJ, Gach JS, Jones L, Semrau K, Walter J, et al. (2010) 4E10-Resistant HIV-1 Isolated from Four Subjects with Rare Membrane-Proximal External Region Polymorphisms. PLoS ONE 5(3): e9786. doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0009786 Editor: Douglas F. Nixon, University of California San Francisco, United States of America Received January 29, 2010; Accepted February 10, 2010; Published March 23, 2010 Copyright: 2010 Nakamura et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Cellular, Biochemical, and Molecular Sciences Training Program Grant (T 32 067587), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 57161, HD 39611, and HD 40777), National Institute of Allergy and Immunology (AI69993), International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Trials Group U01 AI068632 and Austrian Science Fund Grant J2845-B13. GMA is an Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Scientist. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: galdrovandi@chla.usc. edu ¤ Current address: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
Work-Integrated Learning: A Didactic Tool to Develop Praxis in Nurse Education

Praxis is a concept that is both vague and overused in nursing science. Hence, a more stringent use of the concept praxis could help clarify the connections between theory and practice. The purpose of this theoretical article was to highlight the advantages of developing praxis in nursing education. By using praxis as a dialectic concept, nurse educators can make significant contributions to clinical practice by clarifying that theory and practice are perceived as 2 sides of same coin, leading to a move from “being in praxis” to “being of praxis,” a way to develop the profession's autonomy.