Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subterranean phylogeography of freshwater crayfishes shows extensive gene flow and surprisingly large population sizes

Subterranean animals are currently viewed as highly imperiled, precariously avoiding extinction in an extreme environment of darkness. This assumption is based on a hypothesis that the reduction in visual systems and morphology common in cave faunas reflects a genetic inability to adapt and persist coupled with the perception of a habitat that is limited, disconnected, and fragile. Accordingly, 95% of cave fauna in the United States are presumed endangered due to surface environmental degradation and limited geographic distributions. Our study explores the subterranean phylogeography of stygobitic crayfishes in the southeastern United States, a global hotspot of groundwater biodiversity, using extensive geographic sampling and molecular data. Despite their endangered status, our results show that subterranean crayfish species have attained moderate to high levels of genetic diversity over their evolutionary histories with large population sizes and extensive gene flow among karst systems. We then compare the subterranean population histories to those of common surface stream‐dwelling crayfishes. Our results show recent drastic declines in genetic variability in the surface crayfish and suggest that these species also warrant conservation attention.
Polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice reduces IgE binding to cashew nut allergens.

BACKGROUND Food allergy negatively impacts quality of life and can be life-threatening. Cashew nuts can cause severe reactions in very small amounts, and they are included in a group of foods most commonly responsible for causing food allergy. Polyphenols and polyphenol-rich juices have been demonstrated to complex with peanut allergens. Here, the interaction between cashew nut allergens and polyphenol-rich juices is evaluated biochemically and immunologically. RESULTS Various juices, including pomegranate (POM), blueberry (BB), and concord grape (CG) juices, were evaluated for polyphenol content and formation of polyphenol-cashew allergen complexes. Among the various juices studied, POM juice showed a greater capacity to form complexes with cashew proteins. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) demonstrated a sharp increase in cashew protein extract particle size to around 3580 nm, and fewer cashew proteins were resolved by electrophoresis after treatment with POM juice. Immunoassays demonstrated reduced IgG and IgE binding to cashew allergens due to allergen precipitation by POM juice. These observations support the formation of complexes between polyphenol and cashew proteins that can prevent antibody recognition of cashew allergens through allergen precipitation. CONCLUSION POM juice treatment of cashew extract effectively reduces antibody binding through allergen precipitation, and these findings could be applied to the development of less allergenic cashew nut products and oral immunotherapy. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Apolipoprotein E and alzheimer's disease: Ethnic variation in genotypic risks

The presence of the apolipoprotein ε4 (apo ε4) allele significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Whether this is due to biological effects of the apo ε4 protein or reflects linkage disequilibrium with an as yet unidentified Alzheimer's disease susceptibility gene is of critical importance. In a community study in northern Manhattan we found a fivefold increase in the risk of Alzheimer's disease among African‐Americans, Hispanics, and whites homozygous for apo ε4. Overall, the risk between Alzheimer's disease and apo ε4 heterozygosity was also increased by twofold, but the association was somewhat weaker for African‐Americans than for Hispanics and whites. In contrast, the apo ε2/ε3 genotype was associated with an eightfold increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in African‐Americans but it was associated with reduced risk in whites. Variability in the strength and type of association between Alzheimer's disease and the apo E polymorphisms in the three ethnic groups could not be fully explained by age differences. The allelic frequency of apoε*4 was significantly higher in patients than control subjects in all ethnic groups at age 70 or younger, reflecting the higher proportion of apo ε4 homozygotes, but this difference diminished with increasing age. The allelic frequency of apoε*2 for African‐Americans and Hispanics, but not whites, was significantly higher in patients than control subjects, but only after age 70. Though these findings need confirmation, they suggest that modifier genes or environmental factors may interact selectively with apo ε4 in African‐Americans to weaken the association with Alzheimer's disease or that the apo E allelic system is in linkage disequilibrium with a nearby, as yet unidentified Alzheimer's disease susceptibility locus.
Novel Cassette-Based Shuttle Vector System for Gram-Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACT Our understanding of staphylococcal pathogenesis depends on reliable genetic tools for gene expression analysis and tracing of bacteria. Here, we have developed and evaluated a series of novel versatile Escherichia coli-staphylococcal shuttle vectors based on PCR-generated interchangeable cassettes. Advantages of our module system include the use of (i) staphylococcal low-copy-number, high-copy-number, thermosensitive and theta replicons and selectable markers (choice of erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, or spectinomycin); (ii) an E. coli replicon and selectable marker (ampicillin); and (iii) a staphylococcal phage fragment that allows high-frequency transduction and an SaPI fragment that allows site-specific integration into the Staphylococcus aureus chromosome. The staphylococcal cadmium-inducible Pcad-cadC and constitutive PblaZ promoters were designed and analyzed in transcriptional fusions to the staphylococcal β-lactamase blaZ, the Vibrio fischeri luxAB, and the Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein reporter genes. The modular design of the vector system provides great flexibility and variety. Questions about gene dosage, complementation, and cis-trans effects can now be conveniently addressed, so that this system constitutes an effective tool for studying gene regulation of staphylococci in various ecosystems.
Optically-driven deposition of carbon nanotubes on erbium-doped fibers for short-cavity passively mode-locked fiber lasers

We demonstrate optically-driven deposition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on erbium-doped fiber (EDF) facets for passively mode-locked fiber laser applications. A 21-dB difference in the reflectometry is observed showing successful deposition of CNTs. A passively mode-locked fiber laser incorporating the EDF with facet deposited with CNTs is constructed.
Adaptive subcarrier and power allocation for OFDMA systems

We consider the sum rate maximization problem in downlink OFDMA systems subject to total transmit power and minimum user rate constraints. A low complexity suboptimal resource allocation algorithm is proposed for joint optimization of multiuser subcarrier assignment and power allocation. The algorithm is based on Lagrangian relaxation where the non-convex optimization problem is decomposed into a master problem and a subproblem. Subproblem has a similar form as standard weighted sum rate maximization subject to total transmit power. Standard subgradient method is used in the master problem and a suboptimal algorithm inspired from primal decomposition techniques is also proposed to approximately solve the subproblem. Simulations are provided to compare the performance of the proposed algorithm to fixed spectrum assignment based algorithms with adaptive power control.
Heart rate at the estimated lactate threshold in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: effects on the target intensity for dynamic exercise training.

BACKGROUND Physical training at the range of exercise intensities associated with sustained blood lactate accumulation seems to rapidly improve aerobic performance in both healthy subjects and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is still unclear whether patients' heart rate (HR) at the estimated lactate threshold (HR [symbol: see text]L)--as expressed in percent attained peak HR (AHR), predicted peak HR (PHR) and HR reserve (HRR)--are comparable with the ranges of intensity that are commonly used for target exercise training in control subjects. METHODS The authors evaluated 26 patients with stable COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second = 1.17 +/- 0.28 L) who were submitted for spirometric evaluation, and, after familiarization, to a symptom-limited ramp-incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycle ergometer. RESULTS The authors were able to identify [symbol: see text]L in only 18 patients (69%). The HR [symbol: see text]L corresponded to wide range of exercise intensities according to the three methods (ranging from 70-95% AHR, 50-90% PHR, and 35-60% HRR). However, most of the subjects would be trained within +/- 5% HR [symbol: see text]L if they had been exercised at 80 to 85% AHR and 40 to 45% HRR; these values correspond to higher (AHR) and lower (HRR) intensities than usually recommended for healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS Considering that [symbol: see text]L was not identified in approximately one third of the patients and there was ample variability on HR [symbol: see text]L as %AHR, %PHR, and %HRR, the use of HR and [symbol: see text]L targets for routine exercise prescription does not seem to be clinically justifiable in patients with COPD submitted to pulmonary rehabilitation.
Sense of hyper-positive self, goal-attainment beliefs and coping strategies in bipolar I disorder

Background There is some evidence that cognitive therapy (CT) is beneficial in reducing relapses in bipolar disorder. However, not all bipolar patients benefit from it. A previous study found that a group of non-responders to CT shared common characteristics: they value some of the high goal-attainment beliefs and characteristics associated with being in a state of mild hypomania – a high ‘sense of hyper-positive self’ (SHPS). To promote of our understanding of this group of patients, the present study investigated the relationship between SHPS, preferred internal state, dysfunctional attitudes and coping with hypothetical manic prodromal scenarios. Method Fifty-four bipolar I patients filled in self-report questionnaires that assess preferred mood state, coping with scenarios, dysfunctional attitudes and SHPS. Results The Sense of Hyper-positive Self Scale Ideal score (SHPSS-Ideal) predicted patients' preferred internal state of mania. Coping with hypothetical scenarios was predicted by Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) goal-attainment scores: the higher the goal-attainment score, the higher the participant's tendency to identify with self-descriptors linked to hypomania and to engage in stimulating behaviours that may escalate the prodromal stage to mania. Conclusions Clinicians should check and modify goal-attainment beliefs, particularly of those who exhibit features of SHPS. These patients' tendency to identify with hypomanic traits as self-descriptors should be dealt with by psychological techniques such as cognitive restructuring.
Ty3 Nuclear Entry Is Initiated by Viruslike Particle Docking on GLFG Nucleoporins

ABSTRACT Yeast retrotransposons form intracellular particles within which replication occurs. Because fungal nuclear membranes do not break down during mitosis, similar to retroviruses infecting nondividing cells, the cDNA produced must be translocated through nuclear pore complexes. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae long terminal repeat retrotransposon Ty3 assembles its Gag3 and Gag3-Pol3 precursor polyproteins into viruslike particles in association with perinuclear P-body foci. These perinuclear clusters of Ty3 viruslike particles localized to sites of clustered nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in a nup120Δ mutant, indicating that Ty3 particles and NPCs interact physically. The NPC channels are lined with nucleoporins (Nups) with extended FG (Phe-Gly) motif repeat domains, further classified as FG, FxFG, or GLFG repeat types. These domains mediate partitioning of proteins between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Here we have systematically examined the requirements for FG repeat domains in Ty3 nuclear transport. The GLFG domains interacted in vitro with virus-like particle Gag3, and this interaction was disrupted by mutations in the amino-terminal domain of Gag3, which is predicted to lie on the external surface of the particles. Accordingly, Ty3 transposition was decreased in strains with the GLFG repeats deleted. The spacer-nucleocapsid domain of Gag3, which is predicted to be internal to the particle, interacted with GLFG repeats and nucleocapsid localized to the nucleus. We conclude that Ty3 particle docking on nuclear pores is facilitated by interactions between Gag3 and GLFG Nups and that nuclear entry of the preintegration complex is further promoted by nuclear localization signals within the nucleocapsid and integrase.
Evaluation of FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System on Glycemic Control, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Fear of Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Background/objectives: In the current era of modern technology and the development of smart devices such as the flash glucose monitoring (FGM) systems, patients can easily monitor their glucose levels more frequently without any inconvenience. In this study, we evaluate the effect of FreeStyle Libre FGM system on glycemic control, hypoglycemia, health-related quality of life (QoL), and the fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) among children and young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Design and methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Diabetes Treatment Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 2017 and May 2017 on 47 (aged 13-19 years) registered patients with T1D who used conventional finger-pricking method for self-testing the glucose. At baseline visit, the FGM sensors were placed on each participant by a trained diabetes educator. The data collected from the sensors were computed to generate the respective ambulatory glucose profiles so as to determine the total number of scans conducted during the study period. At the baseline and at 3 months of the experiment, a trained interviewer administered the questionnaire Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-Child Version (HFS-C) and PedsQL 3.0 (QoL questionnaire) to each patient. The age, sex, weight, height, adjusted body mass index, duration of diabetes, treatment modality, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of each patient were recorded. Results: As compared with the baseline, a significant improvement was noted in the behavior of FOH (P = .0001), worry (P = .0001), QoL (P = .002), HbA1c level (P = .008), and hypoglycemia (P = .023) at 3 months. Significant improvement was noted in the behavior (P = .0001), worry (P = .0001), QoL (P = .003), HbA1c level (P = .014), and hypoglycemia (P = .001) among the multiple-dose insulin injection–treated patients as compared with baseline. Significant improvement was noted in the behavior (P = .0001), worry (P = .0001), and hypoglycemia (P = .001) among the insulin pump–treated patients as compared with baseline. A positive correlation was recorded in the behavior (r = .47; P < .001), QoL (r = .70; P < .001), and the mean number of FGM scans. A negative correlation was recorded in the worry (r = −.43; P = .002), HbA1c level (r = −.58; P < .001), hypoglycemia (r = −.65; P < .001), and the mean number of FGM scans. Conclusions: The frequent use of FGM scanning reduced the frequency of hypoglycemia, HbA1c level, and worry and increased the behavior and QoL. As compared with self-testing by the conventional finger-pricking method, the use of FGM increased the frequency of self-testing and thus diabetes control.
Altered Spontaneous Brain Activity in Patients With Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia

Objectives: To identify the changes of local coherence and intrinsic brain activity in resting-state idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) patients by using regional homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional aptitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) analysis. Methods: ReHo and fALFF were analyzed in 23 ITN patients and 23 age-matched and sex-matched pain-free controls to detect the functional abnormality in the brains of ITN patients. Correlations between ReHo and fALFF were analyses. ITN pain intensity were also assessed in the ITN group. Results: Compared with pain-free controls, ITN patients exhibited significantly abnormal ReHo and fALFF in several brain regions, including the cerebellum, cingulate cortex, temporal lobe, putamen, occipital lobe, limbic lobe, precuneus, insula, medial, and superior frontal gyrus compared with healthy controls. Correlation analysis showed that ReHo values of several altered brain areas positively correlated with visual analog scale values. But no correlation was found between fALFF and visual analog scale. Discussion: Our results showed that ITN patients exhibited significantly abnormal spontaneous brain activity in several brain regions that are involved in pain modulation and perception. The present study reflects the maladaptive process of daily pain attacks and may enhance the understanding of how chronic pain affects local intrinsic brain activity.
Effects of Economic Globalization, Foreign Capital Influx on Export in ECOWAS

Abstract The relationships between globalization, foreign direct investment (FDI), and exports (trade) have been the subject of in-depth studies leading to mixed and inconclusive results. This study investigates how globalization and FDI influence and affect export, as well as the responsiveness of exports to globalization shocks in the West African ECOWAS region over the period 1980–2014. To investigate these phenomena, the study uses Panel VAR, cointegration methods and long-run estimation methods to estimate the short-run, cointegration and long-run relationships, as well as the responsiveness of export shocks due to economic globalization and FDI. The Panel VAR and Granger causality test results showed that there is a positive and significant effect as well as a causal relationship between economic globalization, non-export GDP, and short-term exports. Further, the study also shows that there is no significant effect and no causal relationship between FDI and exports in the short-run, but, FDI has a positive and significant relationship with export in the long-run in the ECOWAS region. The cointegration and long-run analysis showed the existence of cointegration and a long-run relationship between exports and the regressors included in this study.
“Politics as usual?” Explaining the use of online communication by political interest groups in Switzerland

This paper tries to explain the use of different online communication tools by political interest groups in Switzerland. Theoretically, the different online instruments employed are conceptualized as a group’s (online) communication repertoire. This theoretical framework helps to highlight the fact that the instruments a political interest group is using are dependent on characteristic factors either inside or outside of a given organization. The adoption of different online communication tools is hypothesized to be influenced by the media and political environment an interest group is active in, as well as its organizational capacities and incentives. Survey data from 887 politically active interest groups in Switzerland is used to test these hypotheses. Subsequent logit regression models show that the results can best be summarized as “politics as usual” – there is only little support for the assumption that online communication is rather used by smaller, financially weak, fringe organizations.
Subcellular Localization and Binding of 125I-Triiodothyronine in Calf Thyroid

The subcellular distribution of 125I-T3 was studied in calf thyroid slices, under the same experimental conditions where T3 inhibits protein and RNA synthesis, labelled hormone was found mainly in the 20,000 X g supernatant. The specificity of each subcellular localization was determined by incubating the slices with 10(-5)M T3. Only in the purified nuclei a significant decrease was found, indicating a specific localization of the labelled hormone. When slices were incubated with 125I both labelled T3 and T4 were found in purified nuclei, indicating that endogenously synthesized hormones can reach thyroid nuclei. Purified thyroid nuclei were incubated with labelled T3 and increasing amounts of cold hormone. Specific binding reached a plateau after 90 min of incubation at 20 degrees C. When the displacement curves were analysed by a Scatchard plot a binding site with a Ka of 5.2 X 10(7) M-1 and a capacity of 3.0 X 10(-15) moles/microgram DNA was observed. Digestion of nuclei with trypsin and protease abolished completely the binding of 125I-T3 thus indicating the protein nature of the receptor. The hormone-receptor complex could be extracted with 0.4M KCI and eluted in the void volume after Sephadex G-25 column chromatography, similar to peripheral tissues nuclear T3 receptors. The present studies provide the first evidence for the existence of nuclear receptors for T3 in the thyroid, an event probably related to the autoregulatory mechanism.
Characterizing Lifting and Lowering Activities with Insole FSR sensors in Industrial Exoskeletons

This paper presents an insole FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) to dynamically detect weight variations in an exoskeleton system. The proposed methodology is intended for tasks of lifting and lowering heavy weights with an industrial exoskeleton to substantially reduce spinal loads during these manual handling activities. Instead of extensively placing high-dense force sensors by covering the whole plantar area, as most of commercial applications do, we integrate only a few force sensors in specific plantar area, so that the sensory system is not restricted to an individual foot size and shape, and on the other hand has relatively lower material cost. Industrial exoskeletons are intended to assist workers when handling heavy goods. With this in mind, wearers are not able to use their hands to control the exoskeleton since they use them to handle the goods. Therefore, the exoskeleton controller is required to indirectly infer how much and when the wearer requires assistance for lifting or lowering a heavy weight. Our approach of dynamically detect and characterize the increment/decrement of weight, as well as the rising/falling edge, enables the exoskeleton's controller to trigger the request of assistive force to the actuators.
Calendar Anomalies:Before and After the Global Financial Crisis in Emerging BRIC Stock Markets

The legal and operational changes in the capital market operation of BRIC nations and availability of information at low cost and some time with no cost influenced the efficiency of capital market in the recent past. In order to identify the calendar anomalies, the present study examine the day of the week effect in the developing stock market of BRIC. The study period has been classified into three sub-periods as pre-financial crisis period (i.e., 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2007), during the financial crisis (1st January 2008 to 31st December 2009) and post financial crisis period (1st January 2010 to 31st December 2016). The dummy variable regression result evidenced that after the financial crisis period BRIC capital markets reached the efficient stage where day of the week trading rules lose the ground to earn the abnormal return. This can be attributed to recent changes in the capital market regulations and strict vigilance of the stock market watch dogs in these countries.