Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The maternal‐zygotic transition and zygotic activation of the Mnemiopsis leidyi genome occurs within the first three cleavage cycles

The maternal‐zygotic transition (MZT) describes the developmental reprogramming of gene expression marked by the degradation of maternally supplied gene products and activation of the zygotic genome. While the timing and duration of the MZT vary among taxa, little is known about early‐stage transcriptional dynamics in the non‐bilaterian phylum Ctenophora. We sought to better understand the extent of maternal mRNA loading and subsequent differential transcript abundance during the earliest stages of development by performing comprehensive RNA‐sequencing‐based analyses of mRNA abundance in single‐ and eight‐cell stage embryos in the lobate ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. We found 1,908 contigs with significant differential abundance between single‐ and eight‐cell stages, of which 1,208 contigs were more abundant at the single‐cell stage and 700 contigs were more abundant at the eight‐cell stage. Of the differentially abundant contigs, 267 were exclusively present in the eight‐cell samples, providing strong evidence that both the MZT and zygotic genome activation (ZGA) have commenced by the eight‐cell stage. Many highly abundant transcripts encode genes involved in molecular mechanisms critical to the MZT, such as maternal transcript degradation, serine/threonine kinase activity, and chromatin remodeling. Our results suggest that chromosomal restructuring, which is critical to ZGA and the initiation of transcriptional regulation necessary for normal development, begins by the third cleavage within 1.5 hr post‐fertilization in M. leidyi.
Course of objective memory impairment in non‐demented subjects attending a memory clinic and predictors of outcome

The aim of the study was to investigate the course of objective memory impairment in non‐demented subjects who attended a memory clinic and to test predictors of outcome. Non‐demented subjects (N=74) were included when they were older than 40 years and had a baseline score on the delayed recall of a word learning test below the tenth percentile. Subjects with memory impairment due to known somatic or neurological causes were excluded. The subjects were reassessed after 2 and 5 years. At the 5‐year follow‐up, 42% of the subjects had no memory impairment, 19% of the subjects had memory impairment without dementia, and 39% of the subjects had Alzheimer type dementia (AD). Predictors at baseline of reversible memory impairment in a multivariate analysis were age, scores on the MMSE and delayed recall, and the degree of functional impairment. Predictors at baseline of AD in a multivariate analysis were age and the score on the MMSE. The apolipoprotein E genotype and the presence of depression at baseline were not predictors of outcome. The positive predictive value was 72% for reversible memory impairment and 81% for AD. Memory impairment is often reversible and therefore its presence alone is not sufficient to consider subjects as preclinically demented. Predictive accuracy can be increased by including simple measures such as age, the scores on the MMSE and delayed recall, and the degree of functional impairment. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Storied experiences of nurse practitioners managing prehypertension in primary care

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the nurse practitioner (NP) experience with caring for prehypertensive patients. Lifestyle modifications are the primary recommendation for management of prehypertension. Given the historical foundation of health promotion and disease prevention as a fundamental component of NP professional identity, gaining insight into the experience of caring for prehypertensive patients in the current healthcare environment is valuable to the profession, patients, and communities. Therefore, the NP role in health promotion and disease prevention related to prehypertension was explored as well. Data sources: Narrative inquiry was the chosen methodology to gather narrative accounts of eight NPs caring for prehypertensive patients in primary care. The three‐dimensional narrative inquiry space was used to guide the researcher during data analysis. Conclusions: Three themes emerged from the NPs’ narratives: realities of practice, ambiguous role identity, and bridging models. Time constraints, financial considerations, and bridging the nursing and medical models while adapting to practice environments were barriers identified as components of the NP experience caring for patients with prehypertension. Implications for practice: This study revealed that caring for prehypertensive patients is a complex and multilayered experience.
Classification of hand movements in amputated subjects by sEMG and accelerometers

Numerous recent studies have aimed to improve myoelectric control of prostheses. However, the majority of these studies is characterized by two problems that could be easily fulfilled with recent resources supplied by the scientific literature. First, the majority of these studies use only intact subjects, with the unproved assumption that the results apply equally to amputees. Second, usually only electromyography data are used, despite other sensors (e.g., accelerometers) being easy to include into a real life prosthesis control system. In this paper we analyze the mentioned problems by the classification of 40 hand movements in 5 amputated and 40 intact subjects, using both sEMG and accelerometry data and applying several different state of the art methods. The datasets come from the NinaPro database, which supplies publicly available sEMG data to develop and test machine learning algorithms for prosthetics. The number of subjects can seem small at first sight, but it is not considering the literature of the field (which has to face the difficulty of recruiting trans-radial hand amputated subjects). Our results indicate that the maximum average classification accuracy for amputated subjects is 61.14%, which is just 15.86% less than intact subjects, and they show that intact subjects results can be used as proxy measure for amputated subjects. Finally, our comparison shows that accelerometry as a modality is less affected by amputation than electromyography, suggesting that real life prosthetics performance may easily be improved by inclusion of accelerometers.
Lived Experiences: An Exploration of Teachers' Thoughts and Feelings While Implementing an Antibullying Initiative

This qualitative case study explored elementary school teachers' lived experiences and perceptions surrounding the implementation of an antibullying program within the public school system. The purpose of this study was to share the individual stories of teachers who have implemented an antibullying initiative and how their journey into the bullying phenomenon changed their personal beliefs, their students, and their school climate. Five elementary school teachers (3 female, 2 male) from 5 different public schools in a southwestern region of Ontario completed 8 closed-ended questions and participated in l-on-l semistructured interviews. All 5 teachers had implemented the "Imagine . A School Without Bullying" initiative or were involved with its predecessor the "Good Kid Sid" pilot project. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. The data were coded, and broad themes were reduced to a smaller number of topics where a more in-depth analysis occurred. Findings showed that repo~ts of bullying existed at each of the schools. All 5 teachers felt their initiative was -Hlaking a positive difference in their school; however this did not come without some resistance from staff. A common finding beard from all of their stories was the need for more time. Implications for antibullying initiatives are discussed, and advice to anyone beginning an antibullying initiative is offered by each of the 5 teachers involved in this study.
Morphometric MRI Analysis of the Parahippocampal Region in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Abstract: Despite neuropathological and electrophysiological evidence for the involvement of parahippocampal structures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), little attention has been paid to morphometric changes in these structures, and the relation of these changes to TLE. We performed high‐resolution MRI volumetric analysis to examine in vivo the morphology of the parahippocampal region in 20 healthy subjects and 6 TLE patients with MRI evidence of unilateral hippocampal atrophy. In normal controls the standardized volume of the left entorhinal cortex (EC) was 1305 ± 138 mm3 and that of the right EC was 1376 ± 170 mm3; the left perirhinal cortex (PC) was 2900 ± 554 mm3 and the right PC was 2771 ± 486 mm3; the left posterior parahippocampal cortex (PPC) was 2499 ± 583 mm3 and the right PPC was 2234 ± 404 mm3. Using a 2 standard deviation cutoff from the mean of normal controls, we found ipsilateral to the seizure focus: (i) a reduction in the volume of the EC in all patients; (ii) a reduction of the PC in 2/6 (33%) patients; (iii) no reduction in the volume of the PPC in any patient. In 3/6 (50%) of patients, the EC was also abnormally small contralateral to the seizure focus. In patients with unilateral TLE, the EC is the most affected structure within the parahippocampal region. Whether this is due to a primary role of the EC in the genesis of TLE or is the consequence of its pivotal position in the reciprocal flow of information between the hippocampus and the neo‐ and limbic cortices remains to be explored.
Statistical adjustment of Walfisch-Ikegami model based in urban propagation measurements

Some theoretical and experimental models have been considered for the prediction of the path loss in systems of mobile communications. The Bertoni-Walfisch model for the effect of building with almost uniform height and are aligned. In this paper, a statistical model that consists of an adjustment of Walfisch-Ikegami model accomplished trough linear regression is presented, considering the height and the distance of the buildings as random variables. The verification of the validity of the considered model was made from the comparison between simulated measures and gotten through a measurement campaign that was carried in an urban environment.
The Limits of Our Solar System

The heliosphere is the bubble the Sun carves out of the interstellar medium. The solar wind moves outward at supersonic speeds and carries with it the Sun’s magnetic field. The interstellar medium is also moving at supersonic speeds and carries with it the interstellar magnetic field. The boundary between the solar wind and the interstellar medium is called the heliopause. Before these plasmas interact at the heliopause, they both go through shocks that cause the flows to become subsonic and change direction. Voyager 1, which recently crossed the termination shock of the solar wind, is the first spacecraft to observe the region of shocked solar wind called the heliosheath. The interstellar neutrals are not affected by the magnetic fields and penetrate deep into the heliosphere, where they can be observed both directly and indirectly. This chapter discusses these outer boundaries of the solar system and the interactions between the solar wind and the interstellar medium, and describes the current state of knowledge and future missions that may answer the many questions that remain.
The determinants of exchange rate in Croatia

The dilemma for every country with an independent monetary policy is which kind of exchange rate arrangement should be applied. Through the exchange rate policy, countries can influence their economies, i.e. price stability and export competiveness. Croatia is a new EU member state, it has its own monetary policy and currency but it is on the way to euro introduction. Regarding the experiences from the beginning of the 1990s when Croatia was faced with serious monetary instabilities and hyperinflation, the goal of Croatian National Bank (CNB) is to ensure price stability and one way to do so is through exchange rate policy. Croatia, as a small and open economy, has applied a managed floating exchange rate regime. The exchange rate is determined primarily by the foreign exchange supply and demand on the foreign exchange market, with occasional market interventions by the CNB. Therefore, in order to maintain exchange rate stability, policymakers must be able to recognize how changes in these factors affect changes in the exchange rate. This research aims to find a relationship among the main sources of foreign currency inflow and outflow and the level of exchange rate in Croatia. The analysis is carried out by using the bounds testing (ARDL) approach for co-integration. The results indicate the existence of a stable co-integration relationship between the observed variables, whereby an increase in the majority of variables leads to an exchange rate appreciation.
Scintigraphic Assessment of the Anorectal Angle in Health and After Ileal Pouch‐Anal Anastomosis

To determine whether the anorectal angle was preserved after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, a simple, safe, low-radiation, real-time method of imaging the anorectum was developed. A cylindrical balloon was placed in the neorectum and anal canal and filled with a solution of 99mTc in water. A gamma camera then imaged the angulation of the balloon while the subject was at rest, during sphincteric squeeze, and during a Valsalva maneuver. Thirteen healthy volunteers and six patients were studied after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. An angle was identified in all controls and patients. In the lateral decubitus position at rest, the mean anorectal angle in controls (102 ± 18° SD) and anopouch angle in patients (108 ± 19°) were similar (p = 0.3). Sitting straightened the angle in both groups (p < 0.03), whereas sphincteric squeeze and a Valsalva maneuver sharpened the angle in both the sitting and standing positions (p < 0.03). In the lateral decubitus position, however, the pouch group was less able to sharpen the angle than were the controls (p = 0.04). In controls, the anorectal junction descended during sitting and elevated during squeeze (p < 0.03), but this did not occur in the pouch group. In conclusion, maneuvers favoring or stressing continence (squeeze, Valsalva) sharpened the anorectal angle and elevated the pelvic floor, whereas a maneuver favoring defecation (sitting) straightened the angle and caused the pelvic floor to descend. After ileal-anal anastomosis, the angle and its movements (except those while lying) were similar to controls. Elevation of the pelvic floor during squeeze, however, was decreased, indicating a decreased mobility of the pelvic floor after operation.
Desumoylation Activity of Axam, a Novel Axin-Binding Protein, Is Involved in Downregulation of β-Catenin

ABSTRACT Axam has been identified as a novel Axin-binding protein that inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway. We studied the molecular mechanism by which Axam stimulates the downregulation of β-catenin. The C-terminal region of Axam has an amino acid sequence similar to that of the catalytic region of SENP1, a SUMO-specific protease (desumoylation enzyme). Indeed, Axam exhibited activity to remove SUMO from sumoylated proteins in vitro and in intact cells. The Axin-binding domain is located in the central region of Axam, which is different from the catalytic domain. Neither the Axin-binding domain nor the catalytic domain alone was sufficient for the downregulation of β-catenin. An Axam fragment which contains both domains was able to decrease the level of β-catenin. On substitution of Ser for Cys547 in the catalytic domain, Axam lost its desumoylation activity. Further, this Axam mutant decreased the activity to downregulate β-catenin. Although Axam strongly inhibited axis formation and expression of siamois, a Wnt-response gene, in Xenopus embryos, AxamC547S showed weak activities. These results demonstrate that Axam functions as a desumoylation enzyme to downregulate β-catenin and suggest that sumoylation is involved in the regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway.
When social assistance reproduces social inequality: intimate partner violence survivors’ adverse experiences with subsidized housing

Abstract This study examined women’s experiences using priority-subsidized housing programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors. Interviews with 10 women highlighted that subsidized housing programs, although very important, can impede women’s efforts to safely escape abuse. Our analysis explored three negative accounts: subsidized housing programs as stigmatizing, difficult to access and qualify for, and controlling. Results have important implications for improving practices and policies of subsidized housing programs and suggest that: (a) subsidized and nonsubsidized housing should be integrated; (b) eligibility should not be based on extent and timeframe of abuse; and (c) women should be permitted to choose their own housing.
Massive Diversification in Aging Colonies of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The evolutionary success of bacteria depends greatly on their capacity to continually generate phenotypic diversity. Structured environments are particularly favorable for diversification because of attenuated clonal interference, which renders selective sweeps nearly impossible and enhances opportunities for adaptive radiation. We examined at the microscale level the emergence and the spatial and temporal dynamics of phenotypic diversity and their underlying causes in Escherichia coli colonies. An important dynamic heterogeneity in the growth, metabolic activity, morphology, gene expression patterns, stress response induction, and death patterns among cells within colonies was observed. Genetic analysis indicated that the phenotypic variation resulted mostly from mutations and that indole production, oxidative stress, and the RpoS-regulated general stress response played an important role in the generation of diversity. We observed the emergence and persistence of phenotypic variants within single colonies that exhibited variable fitness compared to the parental strain. Some variants showed improved capacity to produce biofilms, whereas others were able to use different nutrients or to tolerate antibiotics or oxidative stress. Taken together, our data show that bacterial colonies provide an ecological opportunity for the generation and maintenance of vast phenotypic diversity, which may increase the probability of population survival in unpredictable environments.
Online object modeling method for occlusion-robust tracking

Object tracking is often disturbed by visual occlusion. To handle this problem, we have previously proposed the tracking method by the particle filter, which switches tracking targets autonomously. This method enables the tracker to track the occluded target indirectly by switching its target to the occluder effectively. However, the color-based target model used in this method often causes inaccurate tracking because the model with only one color distribution is not necessarily sufficient. In this paper, we propose a method for online object modeling using a set of color distributions and a set of SIFT features. Since the proposed model has more color information and local texture information, it enables the tracker to recognize the target more robustly. Furthermore, this model can be created dynamically and updated in an online fashion using the graph cuts technique during tracking. Consequently it can be applied to the previously proposed tracking method with autonomous switching of targets. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Heart Rate Variability and Non-Linear Dynamics in Risk Stratification

The time-domain measures and power–spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) are classic conventional methods to assess the complex regulatory system between autonomic nervous system and heart rate and are most widely used. There are abundant scientific data about the prognostic significance of the conventional measurements of HRV in patients with various conditions, particularly with myocardial infarction. Some studies have suggested that some newer measures describing non-linear dynamics of heart rate, such as fractal measures, may reveal prognostic information beyond that obtained by the conventional measures of HRV. An ideal risk indicator could specifically predict sudden arrhythmic death as the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy can prevent such events. There are numerically more sudden deaths among post-infarction patients with better preserved left ventricular function than in those with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Recent data support the concept that HRV measurements, when analyzed several weeks after acute myocardial infarction, predict life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with moderately depressed left ventricular function. However, well-designed prospective randomized studies are needed to evaluate whether the ICD therapy based on the assessment of HRV alone or with other risk indicators improves the patients’ prognosis. Several issues, such as the optimal target population, optimal timing of HRV measurements, optimal methods of HRV analysis, and optimal cutpoints for different HRV parameters, need clarification before the HRV analysis can be a widespread clinical tool in risk stratification.
Generating Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP Traffic Flows with TEACUP Testbed

HTTP-based video streaming has become popular in recent years, with Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) emerging as an ISO/IEC standard for live and on-demand video streaming services. Netflix and YouTube employ DASH-like streaming strategies and account for more than 50% of North American traffic in 2015, representing a significant source of Internet traffic. Consumer video streams are most likely to be bottlenecked by last-mile ISP links and impacted by emerging Active Queue Management (AQM) schemes for counteracting bufferbloat. However, the interactions between different TCP algorithms, DASH traffic (within a mix of other typical traffic) and the underlying AQMs are not well understood. Experiments in a controlled testbed allow shedding more light on this issue. We extended “TCP Experiment Automation Controlled Using Python” (TEACUP) to use dash.js and VLC clients for running repeatable DASH experiment trials with different TCP algorithms over a range of emulated network conditions, bottleneck rate limits and AQMs.
CHALLENGING GOVERNANCE BETWEEN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ACTORS: A RESOURCE DEPENDENCE APPROACH FOR STUDYING BOARD DYNAMICS AND INTERACTIONS

This research represents a continuation of a previous systematic research conducted few years ago by some of the authors (Hinna et al. 2010, 2014). In order to focus on the need to deepen the study on board dynamics in public organizations, this study presents an overview of international literature regarding boards in public organizations, in order to evidence if, and in which terms “board dynamics and interactions” has been a topic of research in public governance in recent years. Then, using a resource dependence approach the paper tries to understand how external factors and pressures can influence board composition and board interaction. The results will contribute and provide suggestions to further research on board dynamics in public organizations.