Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sibship Size, Sibling Cognitive Sensitivity, and Children’s Receptive Vocabulary

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between sibship size and children’s vocabulary as a function of quality of sibling interactions. It was hypothesized that coming from a larger sibship (ie, 3+ children) would be related to lower receptive vocabulary in children. However, we expected this association to be moderated by the level of cognitive sensitivity shown by children’s next-in-age older siblings. METHODS: Data on 385 children (mean age = 3.15 years) and their next-in-age older siblings (mean age = 5.57 years) were collected and included demographic questionnaires, direct testing of children’s receptive vocabulary, and videos of mother-child and sibling interactions. Sibling dyads were taped engaging in a cooperative building task and tapes were coded for the amount of cognitive sensitivity the older sibling exhibited toward the younger sibling. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted and showed an interaction between sibship size and sibling cognitive sensitivity in the prediction of children’s receptive vocabulary; children exposed to large sibships whose next-in-age older sibling exhibited higher levels of cognitive sensitivity were less likely to show low vocabulary skills when compared with those children exposed to large sibships whose siblings showed lower levels of cognitive sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Children who show sensitivity to the cognitive needs of their younger siblings provide a rich environment for language development. The negative impact of large sibships on language development is moderated by the presence of an older sibling who shows high cognitive sensitivity.
Knowledge-based control of grasping in robot hands using heuristics from human motor skills

The development of a grasp planner for multifingered robot hands is described. The planner is knowledge-based, selecting grasp postures by reasoning from symbolic information on target object geometry and the nature of the task. The ability of the planner to utilize task information is based on an attempt to mimic human grasping behavior. Several task attributes and a set of heuristics derived from observation of human motor skills are included in the system. The paper gives several examples of the reasoning of the system in selecting the appropriate grasp mode for spherical and cylindrical objects for different tasks. >
The Integrin α9β1 Binds to a Novel Recognition Sequence (SVVYGLR) in the Thrombin-cleaved Amino-terminal Fragment of Osteopontin*

The integrin α9β1 mediates cell adhesion to tenascin-C and VCAM-1 by binding to sequences distinct from the common integrin-recognition sequence, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD). A thrombin-cleaved NH2-terminal fragment of osteopontin containing the RGD sequence has recently been shown to also be a ligand for α9β1. In this report, we used site-directed mutagenesis and synthetic peptides to identify the α9β1 recognition sequence in osteopontin. α9-transfected SW480, Chinese hamster ovary, and L-cells adhered to a recombinant NH2-terminal osteopontin fragment in which the RGD site was mutated to RAA (nOPN-RAA). Adhesion was completely inhibited by anti-α9 monoclonal antibody Y9A2, indicating the presence of a non-RGD α9β1recognition sequence within this fragment. Alanine substitution mutagenesis of 13 additional conserved negatively charged amino acid residues in this fragment had no effect on α9β1-mediated adhesion, but adhesion was dramatically inhibited by either alanine substitution or deletion of tyrosine 165. A synthetic peptide, SVVYGLR, corresponding to the sequence surrounding Tyr165, blocked α9β1-mediated adhesion to nOPN-RAA and exposed a ligand-binding-dependent epitope on the integrin β1 subunit on α9-transfected, but not on mock-transfected cells. These results demonstrate that the linear sequence SVVYGLR directly binds to α9β1 and is responsible for α9β1-mediated cell adhesion to the NH2-terminal fragment of osteopontin.
Regulation of striatal preproenkephalin mRNA levels in MPTP‐lesioned mice treated with estradiol

We reported previously the protective effect of 17β‐estradiol (17β‐E2) on 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐induced dopamine (DA) depletion. This protection was stereospecific, because 17β‐E2 showed activity but 17α‐estradiol (17α‐E2) did not. The mechanisms by which estradiol exerts its beneficial effects, however, remain unknown. We investigated a possible implication of enkephalins (ENK) in neuroprotective activity of 17β‐E2. Protection against MPTP‐induced DA depletion was obtained with 17β‐E2 but not 17α‐E2. MPTP lesion increased striatal preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA levels and they remained elevated in 17α‐E2‐treated MPTP mice whereas 17β‐E2 treatment decreased these levels to control values. This is the first report of estradiol modulation of striatal PPE mRNA in mice. Negative and significant correlations between DA levels, vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) density, and PPE mRNA were observed in the striatum of lesioned animals. This effect of 17β‐E2 on PPE mRNA after a lesion could be one of many mechanisms by which this steroid exerts its neuroprotective activity. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nanosized Metal-Oxide Semiconducting $\hbox{SrTi}_{1 \pm x}\hbox{O}_{3 - \delta}$ Oxygen Gas Sensors for Low-Temperature Application

The X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope results show that nanosized-SrTi1plusmnxO3-delta material series (27 nm) with perovskite structure can be synthesized using the high-energy ball milling technique. The thick-film screen-printed nanosized-SrTi1plusmnxO3-delta-based sensor series with annealing temperature of 400 degC are found to have good oxygen-sensing property at near human-body temperature for the first time for such a low temperature. The effect of the deviating stoichiometry of the nanosized-SrTi1plusmnxO3-delta -based sensors on their sensing properties was also investigated. The optimal relative resistance (Rnitrogen/R20%oxygen ) value of 6.35 was obtained by a nanosized-SrTiO3-delta -based sensor at 40 degC operating temperature. Their near human-body operating temperature is much lower than that of the conventional low-temperature semiconducting oxygen gas sensors (300degC-500degC) and SrTiO3 oxygen sensors (>700degC). This can extend the application of the semiconducting oxygen gas sensors from the conventional high and medium temperature to the lower operating temperature areas such as the medical, environmental, and domestic fields, etc
ATTRITION OF POTENTIAL BONE MARROW DONORS AT TWO KEY DECISION POINTS LEADING TO DONATION1

Background. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has had remarkable success at recruiting potential bone marrow donors and recently has become increasingly focused on the retention of registered volunteers. This study extends the authors' work examining factors associated with attrition from the registry. Its goal was to determine which characteristics from six psychosocial domains were associated with attrition at two key stages leading to donation. Methods. Questionnaires were mailed to potential donors after they were contacted as a potential match and had decided whether or not to continue toward donation. Our final sample included 1,727 volunteers who decided to continue with typing at the DR stage and 195 volunteers who decided to continue at the confirmatory typing (CT) stage as well as 179 and 169 individuals, respectively, who declined further participation in the registry at DR and CT stages. Results. Bivariate analyses indicated that multiple factors in all six domains (demographics, volunteer-related, general psychosocial, recruitment-related, donation-related, and contact with center staff) were associated with discontinued registry participation. Logistic regression indicated that unique associations were concentrated in volunteer-related, donation-related, and contact with center domains. Conclusions. Findings suggested that intrinsic commitment to donation, more realistic expectations, fewer medical concerns, and greater contact with the donor center were all associated with lower attrition. Possible interventions to reduce attrition are discussed.
Six New Lanostane Triterpenoids from the Fruiting Body of Tyromyces Sambuceus and Antiproliferative Activity

During the search for secondary metabolites with antiproliferative activity, six new lanostane triterpenoids, tyrosamic acids A-F (1–6) together with ten known compounds (7–16), were isolated from the fruiting body of Tyromyces sambuceus. Their structures were elucidated using MS analyses, extensive 2D-heteronuclear NMR data interpretation and the structure of 3 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray data analyses. All lanostane triterpenoids (1–16) possesses a carboxy group at C-20 position and their strength of antiproliferative activity was affected by the presence or absence of a hydroxy group at C-15 position and at the side chain. Four of the compounds (1, 6, 10, 14) showed antiproliferative activities against human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 16.8–48.3 μM (HL-60).
Characterization of Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Use in an Enzymatic Sensor

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have proven to be materials with great potential for the construction of biosensors. Development of fast, simple, and low cost biosensors to follow reactions in bioprocesses, or to detect food contaminants such as toxins, chemical compounds, and microorganisms, is presently an important research topic. This report includes microscopy and spectroscopy to characterize raw and chemically modified multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesized by chemical vapor deposition with the intention of using them as the active transducer in bioprocessing sensors. MWCNT were simultaneously purified and functionalized by an acid mixture involving HNO3–H2SO4 and amyloglucosidase attached onto the chemically modified MWCNT surface. A 49.0% decrease in its enzymatic activity was observed. Raw, purified, and enzyme-modified MWCNTs were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These studies confirmed purification and functionalization of the CNTs. Finally, cyclic voltammetry electrochemistry was used for electrical characterization of CNTs, which showed promising results that can be useful for construction of electrochemical biosensors applied to biological areas.
Phylogenetic analysis of probable Non‐human genes of group A rotaviruses isolated from children with acute gastroenteritis in Belém, Brazil

Rotaviruses (RVs) are the main cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in both humans and young animals of various species such as calves, horses, pigs, dogs, cats, and birds. The genetic diversity of RVs is related to a variety of evolutionary mechanisms, including point mutation, and genome reassortment. The objective of this study was to characterize molecularly genes that encode structural and nonstructural proteins in unusual RV strains. The clinical specimens selected for this study were obtained from children and newborn with RV gastroenteritis, who participated in research projects on viral gastroenteritis conducted at the Evandro Chagas Institute. Structural (VP1‐VP4, VP6, and VP7) and nonstructural (NSP1‐NSP6) genes were amplified from stool samples by the polymerase chain reaction and subsequently sequenced. Eight unusual RV strains isolated from children and newborn with gastroenteritis were studied. Reassortment between genes of animal origin were observed in 5/8 (62.5%) strains analyzed. These results demonstrate that, although rare, interspecies (animal–human) transmission of RVs occurs in nature, as observed in the present study in strains NB150, HSP034, HSP180, HST327, and RV10109. This study is the first to be conducted in the Amazon region and supports previous data showing a close relationship between genes of human and animal origin, representing a challenge to the large‐scale introduction of RV vaccines in national immunization programs. J. Med. Virol. 84:1993–2002, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Limited genomic consequences of mixed mating in the recently derived sister species pair, Collinsia concolor and Collinsia parryi

Highly selfing species often show reduced effective population sizes and reduced selection efficacy. Whether mixed mating species, which produce both self and outcross progeny, show similar patterns of diversity and selection remains less clear. Examination of patterns of molecular evolution and levels of diversity in species with mixed mating systems can be particularly useful for investigating the relative importance of linked selection and demographic effects on diversity and the efficacy of selection, as the effects of linked selection should be minimal in mixed mating populations, although severe bottlenecks tied to founder events could still be frequent. To begin to address this gap, we assembled and analysed the transcriptomes of individuals from a recently diverged mixed mating sister species pair in the self‐compatible genus, Collinsia. The de novo assembly of 52 and 37 Mbp C. concolor and C. parryi transcriptomes resulted in ~40 000 and ~55 000 contigs, respectively, both with an average contig size ~945. We observed a high ratio of shared polymorphisms to fixed differences in the species pair and minimal differences between species in the ratio of synonymous to replacement substitutions or codon usage bias implying comparable effective population sizes throughout species divergence. Our results suggest that differences in effective population size and selection efficacy in mixed mating taxa shortly after their divergence may be minimal and are likely influenced by fluctuating mating systems and population sizes.
Platelets Participate in Synovitis via Cox-1–Dependent Synthesis of Prostacyclin Independently of Microparticle Generation

In addition to the well-described role of platelets in thrombosis, a growing body of evidence implicates platelets in diverse inflammatory responses. We recently showed platelets can contribute to the pathophysiology of inflammatory arthritis via IL-1– containing microparticles. In this study, we demonstrate that platelets, and not platelet microparticles, actively contribute to synovitis via production of proinflammatory prostacyclin in an autoimmune arthritis model. Using both genetic and pharmacologic approaches, we establish that paracrine production of prostacyclin proceeds in the absence of cyclooxygenase-2. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that prostacyclin generation can arise via transcellular collaboration between platelets and fibroblast-like synoviocytes. In addition to shedding light on an unappreciated pathway of lipid synthesis in arthritis, we further delineate a novel effector activity by which platelets can contribute to inflammatory disease.
Purkinje cell loss affects differentially the execution, acquisition and prepulse inhibition of skeletal and facial motor responses in Lurcher mice

Adult heterozygous Lurcher mice show a degeneration of almost all Purkinje cells and 90% of the granular cells of the cerebellum, resulting in ataxia or general deficits in motor coordination. These mice are therefore an excellent model for studying the role of the cerebellar cortex in motor performance, including the acquisition of new motor abilities. The performance of 3‐month‐old Lurcher mice was studied in various behavioural (fall, horizontal bar, rotating cylinder, and ladder), spatial orientation (water maze) and associative learning (eyelid classical conditioning) tasks and compared with that of wild‐type mice. Behavioural tasks indicated a deficit for motor abilities in Lurcher mice but with some adaptation to the tests and improvement in performance. Wild‐type and Lurcher mice performed swimming equally, but the latter learned the task significantly more slowly than the former. The late component of reflex blinks was smaller in amplitude and had a longer latency in Lurcher mice than in controls. Learning curves for Lurcher mice during classical conditioning of eyelid responses were similar to controls, but the amplitude of the learned response in Lurcher mice was significantly lower. The startle response to a severe tone was similar in both control and Lurcher mice but the latter were unable to produce prepulse inhibition. These results suggest that the cerebellar cortex is not indispensable for the performance of this complete set of skeletal and facial tasks, or for the acquisition of new motor abilities, but it is for the appropriate execution and adjustment of any of these motor activities.
Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program Into Practice in the General Community

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of translating the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention into practice in the general community. Methods In 2008, the Montana Diabetes Control Program, working collaboratively with 4 health care facilities, implemented an adapted group-based DPP lifestyle intervention. Adults at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease were recruited and enrolled (n = 355). Eighty-three percent (n = 295) of participants completed the 16-session program. Participants set targets to reduce fat intake and increase physical activity (≥150 minutes per week) to achieve a weight loss goal of 7%. Results Seventy percent of participants achieved the physical activity goal of ≥150 minutes per week. There was a significant decrease among participants' weight from baseline (mean ± SD, 99.3 ± 19.7 kg) to week 16 (92.6 ± 18.8 kg; mean difference, 6.7 ± 4.0 kg, P < .001). Forty-five percent of the participants achieved the 7% weight loss goal, and 67% achieved at least 5% weight loss. Participants who were 60 years of age and older, had a diagnosis of hypertension, met their physical activity goal of ≥150 minutes per week, and those more frequently monitoring their fat intake were more likely to meet the 7% weight loss goal compared with participants without these characteristics. Conclusion The findings suggest that it is feasible to recruit and retain high-risk participants and achieve weight loss and physical goals in a group setting that are comparable with those achieved in the DPP.
Identification of Proteins from a Cell Wall Fraction of the Diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana

Diatoms are unicellular eucaryotic algae with cell walls containing silica, intricately and ornately structured on the nanometer scale. Overall silica structure is formed by expansion and molding of the membrane-bound silica deposition vesicle. Although molecular details of silica polymerization are being clarified, we have limited insight into molecular components of the silica deposition vesicle, particularly of membrane-associated proteins that may be involved in structure formation. To identify such proteins, we refined existing procedures to isolate an enriched cell wall fraction from the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, the first diatom with a sequenced genome. We applied tandem mass spectrometric analysis to this fraction, identifying 31 proteins for further evaluation. mRNA levels for genes encoding these proteins were monitored during synchronized progression through the cell cycle and compared with two previously identified silaffin genes (involved in silica polymerization) having distinct mRNA patterns that served as markers for cell wall formation. Of the 31 proteins identified, 10 had mRNA patterns that correlated with the silaffins, 13 had patterns that did not, and seven had patterns that correlated but also showed additional features. The possible involvements of these proteins in cell wall synthesis are discussed. In particular, glutamate acetyltransferase was identified, prompting an analysis of mRNA patterns for other genes in the polyamine biosynthesis pathway and identification of those induced during cell wall synthesis. Application of a specific enzymatic inhibitor for ornithine decarboxylase resulted in dramatic alteration of silica structure, confirming the involvement of polyamines and demonstrating that manipulation of proteins involved in cell wall synthesis can alter structure. To our knowledge, this is the first proteomic analysis of a diatom, and furthermore we identified new candidate genes involved in structure formation and directly demonstrated the involvement of one enzyme (and its gene) in the structure formation process.
Virtual Resource Management in Green Cellular Networks With Shared Full-Duplex Relaying and Wireless Virtualization: A Game-Based Approach

Recent advances in loop interference cancellation techniques enable full-duplex relaying (FDR) systems, which transmit and receive simultaneously in the same band with high spectrum efficiency. Meanwhile, wireless virtualization has attracted a lot of attention from both academia and industry because it can provide more flexibility, diversity, and other benefits in the process of wireless network design, construction, operation, and management. In this paper, we introduce the idea of wireless virtualization into FDR cellular networks. Then, the problem of energy-aware virtual resource management is formulated as a three-stage Stackelberg game. The subgame perfect equilibrium for each stage is analyzed. In addition, the interplays of the three-stage game are discussed, and an iterative algorithm is proposed to obtain the Stackelberg equilibrium solution. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Attention and visual tracking degradation during acute sleep deprivation in a military sample.

BACKGROUND Fatigue due to sleep restriction places individuals at elevated risk for accidents, degraded health, and impaired physical and mental performance. Early detection of fatigue-related performance decrements is an important component of injury prevention and can help to ensure optimal performance and mission readiness. This study used a predictive visual tracking task and a computer-based measure of attention to characterize fatigue-related attention decrements in healthy Army personnel during acute sleep deprivation. METHODS Serving as subjects in this laboratory-based study were 87 male and female service members between the ages of 18 and 50 with no history of brain injury with loss of consciousness, substance abuse, or significant psychiatric or neurologic diagnoses. Subjects underwent 26 h of sleep deprivation, during which eye movement measures from a continuous circular visual tracking task and attention measures (reaction time, accuracy) from the Attention Network Test (ANT) were collected at baseline, 20 h awake, and between 24 to 26 h awake. RESULTS Increases in the variability of gaze positional errors (46-47%), as well as reaction time-based ANT measures (9-65%), were observed across 26 h of sleep deprivation. Accuracy of ANT responses declined across this same period (11%). DISCUSSION Performance measures of predictive visual tracking accurately reflect impaired attention due to acute sleep deprivation and provide a promising approach for assessing readiness in personnel serving in diverse occupational areas, including flight and ground support crews.