Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of a strength training program on affect, mood, anxiety, and strength performance in older individuals

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a strength training program on anxiety, affect, and mood in a group of older adults (≥ 65 years). Twenty men and women participated in a 12-week strength training program. Participants were randomized to an intervention and a waiting list control group. Results showed a significant improvement in the intervention group’s strength scores. Trait anxiety showed a decline in both groups. When mood profiles of participants were analyzed across the initial 12-week of the study, a dimension of mood called VigorActivity significantly decreased in the control group while the intervention group’s scores did not change. The affect data showed that negative affect decreased significantly in the intervention group following the training protocol. This study indicates that 12 weeks of strength training results in significant muscle strength increases and moderate improvements of the overall psychological profile.
Gonadotropin Dynamics in Women Receiving Immediate Or Delayed Transdermal Estradiol After Oophorectomy

A prospective study was performed in 24 premenopausal women to evaluate the gonadotropin dynamics of pharmacologic doses of transdermal estradiol-17/3 (E2) administered after bilateral oophorectomy. Patients were given 0.2-mg transdermal E2 patches for 2 weeks, followed by 0.1-mg patches for 4 weeks either immediately postoperatively (immediate estrogen replacement therapy [ERT]) or beginning 12-14 days after surgery (delayed ERT). Serum gonadotropins and E2 levels were measured serially, and postmenopausal symptoms were prospectively recorded. Administration of 0.2 mg transdermal E2 immediately after surgery suppressed the post-castration rise in gonadotropins for at least 4 days, but LH and FSH levels did increase to the menopausal range after 2 weeks despite continued therapy. Sustained circulating levels of E2 with transdermal E2 therapy were comparable to follicular phase values. Vasomotor symptoms were well controlled by 0.2 mg of transdermal E2 in the majority of patients during the clinical trial. There was no significant estrogen-related morbidity despite the large doses used. Two patients had skin irritation at the patch site causing discontinuation of therapy. These data suggest that large doses of transdermal E2 can suppress gonadotropin levels only for a brief interval. We were unable to demonstrate any long-term alteration in the hypothalamic- pituitary set point for sensitivity to exogenous E2
Screening for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental delay in Taiwanese aboriginal preschool children

Objectives This study aimed to estimate the percentages of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Taiwanese aboriginal preschool children. Child development level was compared between the two groups. Methods Teachers completed screening questionnaires for ADHD, ASD, and development level for 36- to 72-month-old children in kindergartens in Taiwan. The questionnaire results were compared between the aboriginal and nonaboriginal children. One child psychiatrist then interviewed the aboriginal preschool children to determine if they had ADHD and/or ASD. Results We collected 93 questionnaires from the aboriginal group and 60 from the nonaboriginal group. In the aboriginal group, 5.37% of the children were identified to have ADHD, while 1.08% were identified to have ASD. Significantly fewer aboriginal children had developmental delays for situation comprehension and personal–social development (P=0.012 and 0.002, respectively) than nonaboriginal children. Conclusion Aboriginal children in Taiwan had typical percentages of ADHD and ASD compared to those published in the literature. Aboriginal children showed relative strengths in situation comprehension and personal–social skills. Further studies are required to understand the learning styles of the aboriginal children and to develop effective screening and intervention strategies for ADHD and ASD.
Murine Multiple Sleep Latency Test: phenotyping sleep propensity in mice.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Objectives were to (1) establish a measure of sleep propensity for a more comprehensive characterization of sleepiness in murine genetics and interventional studies and (2) to characterize sample sizes necessary for statistical differences in effect. DESIGN Average multiple sleep latency values were compared in mice, varying strain, circadian time, and forced-wakefulness conditions. SUBJECTS Adult male mice of inbred strains were studied. INTERVENTIONS Mice were implanted with electroencephalographic and electromyographic recording electrodes. Twenty-four-hour periods of stable baseline sleep activity (> 600 minutes) were confirmed prior to baseline sleep-latency testing. Average sleep latencies were obtained across 10- and 20-minute nap opportunities within 4 consecutive 30-minute periods. Forced wakefulness protocols were performed prior to additional sleep-latency tests. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Sleep-latency testing with 20-minute nap opportunities every 30 minutes revealed a shorter sleep latency in the lights-on period (12.4 minutes +/- 0.9 vs 16.5 +/- 1, P < .001), a substantial reduction in sleep latencies in mice subjected to 6-hour forced wakefulness (eg, C57BL/6J baseline: 12.4 +/- 0.9 minutes, and forced wakefulness, 8.5 +/- 0.9 minutes, P < .01), and strain differences in latencies following short-term forced wakefulness (P < .01). Sample sizes for 85% power to detect a 25% reduction in the 20-minute daytime Murine Multiple Sleep Latency Test require fewer than 20 mice per group for commonly used transgenic background strains. CONCLUSIONS The Murine Multiple Sleep Latency Test is a robust measure of sleep propensity, and the latency varies with homeostatic and circadian influences. The test requires minimal added time to standard murine sleep recordings, yet yields important additive information.
تعیین توالی ژنوم کامل و فیلوژنی جدایه های نژاد شدید ویروس پیچیدگی زرد برگ گوجه فرنگی جدا شده از تاتوره Datura stramomum L. در منطقه بجنورد، ایران

ویروس پیچیدگی زرد برگ گوجه فرنگی , TYLCV) Tomato yellow leaf curl virus ) به همراه ده گونه ویروسی و نژادهایشان که به ویروس های شبه TYLCV معروفند عامل خسارت به گوجه فرنگی ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) در مناطق گرمسیر، نیمه گرمسیر و معتدل دنیا می باشند. در این بررسی تعداد سه جدایه TYLCV-IL از گیاهان تاتوره در منطقه بجنورد همسانه سازی و ژنوم کامل آنها تعیین توالی گردید. توالی اسید نوکلئیک ژنوم کامل آنها به همراه تعداد نه جدایه TYLCV-IL گزارش شده ازایران و هشت توالی سایر ویروس های Begomovirus گوجه فرنگی از ایران و سایر مناطق دنیا مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفتند. نتایج فیلوژنی جدایه ها نشان داد که تکامل جمعیت نژاد TYLCV-IL در ایران وابسته به جغرافیا بوده و صرفنظر از گونه میزبان واریانت های شمال شرق و جنوب ایران به طور مجزا در دو زیرگروه جداگانه قرار گرفتند. جدایه TYLCV-IL[IR:Sh40:07], GUO76444 از منطقه شیراز با هیچکدام از جمعیت های شمال شرق و جنوب ایران گروه بندی نشد. این جدایه با نژاد تیپ TYLCV-IL گزارش شده از فلسطین اشغالی قرابت نزدیکی داشته و با یکدیگر در یک زیر گروه مجزا قرار گرفتند. نتایج تجزیه فیلوژنی نشان داد که این جدایه از نظر تکاملی به عنوان پل ژنتیکی بین جدایه های TYLCV-IL حوزه مدیترانه ای و ایران محسوب می شود. این اولین گزارش از گیاه تاتوره به عنوان میزبان نژاد TYLCV-IL در ایران و همچنین حضور این نژاد ویروسی در منطقه بجنورد و استان خراسان شمالی می باشد.
Image Topic Discovery with Saliency Detection

This work proposes a biologically inspired approach to integrate latent topic model with saliency detection. Firstly, a saliency detection algorithm is presented to discriminate salient objects from background parts in the image. A hierarchical latent topic model is proposed to discover image topics by combining subtopics of both salient objects and background parts. We test the algorithm on public image datasets for saliency detection and image categorization. The experimental results show that the proposed approach robustly detects salient objects and categorizes image data, and it outperforms state-of-the-art methods for both saliency detection and unsupervised topic modelling.
Impact of an acute bout of vibration on muscle contractile properties, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase response

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a bout of whole body vibration (WBV) on muscle response and to determine whether this stimulus leads to muscle damage. Thirty healthy and physically active participants (mean±SD; age: 21.8±2.0 years; height: 176.7±5.8 cm; body mass: 76±6.8 kg and BMI: 23.1±3.7 kg·m−2) participated in this study. Participants were randomly allocated in one of two groups, one of them performed a bout of 360 s WBV (frequency: 30 Hz; peak-to-peak displacement: 4 mm) (VIB) and the other one adopted a sham position (CON). Muscle contractile properties were analysed in the rectus femoris (RF) by using tensiomyography (TMG) 2 min before the warm-up and 2 min after intervention. Muscle damage was assessed by determining plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at three time points; 5 min before warm-up and 1 h and 48 h after the intervention. TMG results showed a significant decrease in maximal displacement (p<0.05) and delay time (p<0.05) in VIB and in delay time (p<0.05) and relaxation time (p<0.05) in CON. Muscle damage markers showed significant group differences (p<0.05) for CK 1 h after the intervention. In addition, differences for CK 1 h after the intervention from baseline (p<0.05) were also observed in VIB. In conclusion, a 6-min bout of WBV results in an increase of muscle stiffness in RF and increased CK levels 1 h after intervention (returning to baseline within 48 h).
A dementia-associated risk variant near TMEM106B alters chromatin architecture and gene expression

Neurodegenerative diseases pose an extraordinary threat to the world’s aging population, yet no disease-modifying therapies are available. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of novel risk loci for neurodegeneration, the mechanisms by which these loci influence disease risk are largely unknown. Indeed, of the many thousands of SNP-trait associations identified by GWAS over the past ~10 years, very few are understood mechanistically. Here, we investigate the association of common genetic variants at the 7p21 locus with risk for the neurodegenerative disease frontotemporal lobar degeneration. We show that variants associated with disease risk correlate with increased brain expression of the 7p21 gene TMEM106B, and no other genes. Furthermore, incremental increases in TMEM106B levels result in incremental increases in lysosomal phenotypes and cell toxicity. We then combine fine-mapping, bioinformatics, and bench-based approaches to functionally characterize all candidate causal variants at this locus. This approach identified a noncoding variant, rs1990620, which differentially recruits CTCF, influencing CTCF-mediated long-range chromatin looping interactions between multiple cis-regulatory elements, including the TMEM106B promoter. Our findings thus provide an in-depth analysis of the 7p21 locus linked by GWAS to frontotemporal lobar degeneration, nominating a causal variant and a causal mechanism for allele-specific expression and disease association at this locus. Finally, we show that genetic variants associated with risk for neurodegenerative diseases beyond frontotemporal lobar degeneration are enriched in brain CTCF-binding sites genome-wide, implicating CTCF-mediated gene regulation in risk for neurodegeneration more generally.
Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 may be an intervention target for improving sensory and locomotor functions after spinal cord contusion

Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is localized on the synapse and participates in exocytosis and neurotransmitter release. Decreased expression of SNAP-25 is associated with Alzheimer's disease and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, the expression of SNAP-25 in spinal cord contusion injury is still unclear. We hypothesized that SNAP-25 is associated with sensory and locomotor functions after spinal cord injury. We established rat models of spinal cord contusion injury to detect gene changes with a gene array. A decreased level of SNAP-25 was detected by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days post injury. SNAP-25 was localized in the cytoplasm of neurons of the anterior and posterior horns, which are involved in locomotor and sensory functions. Our data suggest that reduced levels of SNAP-25 are associated with sensory and locomotor functions in rats with spinal cord contusion injury.
Optimal alignments in linear space

Space, not time, is often the limiting factor when computing optimal sequence alignments, and a number of recent papers in the biology literature have proposed space-saving strategies. However, a 1975 computer science paper by Hirschberg presented a method that is superior to the new proposals, both in theory and in practice. The goal of this paper is to give Hirschberg's idea the visibility it deserves by developing a linear-space version of Gotoh's algorithm, which accommodates affine gap penalties. A portable C-software package implementing this algorithm is available on the BIONET free of charge.
Effect of PEEP and inhaled nitric oxide on pulmonary gas exchange during gaseous and partial liquid ventilation with small volumes of perfluorocarbon

Background: Partial liquid ventilation, positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) and inhaled nitric oxide (NO) can improve ventilation/perfusion mismatch in acute lung injury (ALI). The aim of the present study was to compare gas exchange and hemodynamics in experimental ALI during gaseous and partial liquid ventilation at two different levels of PEEP, with and without the inhalation of nitric oxide.
Do millimeter waves alter biomembranes non-thermally?

The rapid development of wireless communication systems with the operating frequency around 60GHz states the question about the environmental safety and health risk of artificially induced exposures. To investigate the basic mechanisms of the potential bioelectromagnetic interactions we studied biophysical properties of artificial biological membranes exposed to low-power millimeter-wave (MMW) radiations at 60 GHz. Different radiation parameters of the exposure were investigated. Electromagnetic field and power-density distributions were calculated analytically and confirmed by measurements. Experimental results showed variations in the superficial pressure dynamics of the membranes even for very low power density values. Topographic analysis of the membranes surface by the atomic force microscopy (AFM) did not reveal any effect of the MMW radiations on the phoshpolipid domain organization in the mixed phospholipid membranes.
Maternal and infant factors and lymphocyte, CD4 and CD8 cell counts in uninfected children of HIV-1-infected mothers

Objective:To evaluate the effects of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for mother-to-child transmission of HIV and infant/maternal characteristics on total lymphocytes (TLC) and lymphocyte subsets in uninfected children of HIV-1-infected mothers. Design:The European Collaborative Study followed 1663 uninfected children from birth until at least 8 years of age using a standard protocol. Methods:Smoothers (running medians) illustrated patterns of immune markers over age by ART exposure and race. Associations between lymphocyte parameters and maternal/infant characteristics were quantified in linear regression analyses using z-scores obtained after modelling log10-transformed TLC, CD4 and CD8 cell counts using the LMS method. Cox proportional hazard models assessed time to TLC, CD4 and CD8 cell counts below the defined cut-off. Covariates included prematurity, gender, race, drug withdrawal and ART exposure. Results:Overall, black children had lower TLC, CD4 and CD8 cell counts than white children, and an increased risk of TLC, CD4 and CD8 cell counts below the cut-off. ART exposure was associated with TLC levels (but not with TLC below the cut-off for lymphopenia), with reduced CD4 cell counts in the first year of life, and with reduced CD8 cell counts until at least 8 years of age. Duration and intensity of ART exposure was associated with TLC levels. Conclusion:The effect of ART exposure in fetal and early life on TLC and CD8 cell counts was prolonged until at least 8 years. These results add to the growing list of adverse effects associated with ART used as prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Typical Hus: Evidence of Acute Phase Complement Activation from a Daycare Outbreak

The clinical manifestations of typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) encompass a wide spectrum. Despite the potentially severe sequelae from this syndrome, treatment approaches remain supportive. We present the clinical course of a child who contracted Shiga toxin-positive E. coli (STEC) from a daycare center during an outbreak. Utilizing the modified Ham test which is a rapid, serum-based functional assay used to detect activation of the alternative pathway of complement as observed in atypical HUS, patient sera revealed evidence of increased complement activation in the acute phase of the syndrome but not after resolution. Further, this complement activation was attenuated by eculizumab in vitro, an effect that was replicated in vitro utilizing Shiga toxin as a stimulus of complement activation in normal serum. Our report suggests that complement blockade may be effective in the treatment of STEC-HUS when initiated early in the disease. Given the epidemic nature of the disease that limits the feasibility of randomized clinical trials, further studies are needed to determine the value of early eculizumab treatment in STEC-HUS.
Functional characterization of human xanthine oxidase allelic variants

Objective Xanthine oxidase (XO) catalyzes the oxidation of endogenous and exogenous purines and pyrimidines. In this study, we speculated that individual variations in XO activity are caused by genetic variations in the XO gene. Methods To investigate the genetic variations in XO in 96 Japanese participants, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography was used. To assess the effects of these variations on enzymatic activity, wild-type XO and 21 types of variant XO – including those in the database and those just discovered – were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. Results Three nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms, including 514G>A (Gly172Arg), 3326A>C (Asp1109Thr), and 3662A>G (His1221Arg) were identified in Japanese participants. Functional characterization of 21 XO variants showed a deficiency in enzyme activity in two variants (Arg149Cys and Thr910Lys); low activity (intrinsic clearance, CLint: 22–69% compared with the wild-type) in six variants (Pro555Ser, Arg607Gln, Thr623Ile, Asn909Lys, Pro1150Arg, and Cys1318Tyr); and high activity (CLint: approximately two-fold higher than that in the wild-type) in two variants (Ile703Val and His1221Arg). Conclusion These results suggest that several single nucleotide polymorphisms in the XO gene are involved in individual variations in XO activity. In addition, such findings will be useful to identify xanthinuria patients.
Health inequalities in European cities: perceptions and beliefs among local policymakers

Objective To describe the knowledge and beliefs of public policymakers on social inequalities in health and policies to reduce them in cities from different parts of Europe during 2010 and 2011. Design Phenomenological qualitative study. Setting 13 European cities. Participants 19 elected politicians and officers with a directive status from 13 European cities. Main outcome Policymaker's knowledge and beliefs. Results Three emerging discourses were identified among the interviewees, depending on the city of the interviewee. Health inequalities were perceived by most policymakers as differences in life-expectancy between population with economic, social and geographical differences. Reducing health inequalities was a priority for the majority of cities which use surveys as sources of information to analyse these. Bureaucracy, funding and population beliefs were the main barriers. Conclusions The majority of the interviewed policymakers gave an account of interventions focusing on the immediate determinants and aimed at modifying lifestyles and behaviours in the more disadvantaged classes. More funding should be put towards academic research on effective universal policies, evaluation of their impact and training policymakers and officers on health inequalities in city governments.
Cyanobacterial biomass as N-supplement to oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibre for improvement of cellulase production by Aspergillus terreus in submerged fermentation

The possibility of using dry biomass of a cyanobacterium, Anacystis nidulans, asnitrogen source supplement for improvement of cellulase production by Aspergillus terreus was studied in submerged fermentation using oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibre as a carbon source. For comparison, four other nitrogen sources (ammonium sulphate, urea, peptone, and yeast extract) were also tested. Growth and cellulase production were greatly enhanced in fermentation using biomass of cyanobacterium as the nitrogen source. The use of cyanobacterial biomass as a nitrogen source also reduced the inhibitory effect of high concentrations of CaCl2 to growth of A. terreus and cellulase production. The addition of 0.3 g L-1 CaCl2 to the medium containing OPEFB fibre and cyanobacterial biomass further enhanced the cellulase production, though growth remained unchanged. The final FPase, CMCase, and β-glucosidase obtained in fermentation using 10 g L-1 OPEFB fibre and 6 g/L cynaobacterial biomass with the addition of 3 mM CaCl2 was 0.97 U mL-1, 14.1 U mL-1, and 10.4 U mL-1, respectively.
Critique and power : recasting the Foucault/Habermas debate

Which paradigm of critique -- Foucault's or Habermas's -- is philosophically and practically superior, especially with regard to the nature and role of power in contemporary society? In shaping this collection, Michael Kelly has sought to address this question in relation to the ethical, political, and social theory of the past two decades.Michel Foucault and Jurgen Habermas had only just begun to come to terms with one another's work when Foucault died in 1984; they had even discussed the possibility of a formal debate on "Enlightenment" in the neutral arena of the United States. In the decade since, Habermas and his supporters have continued to respond to Foucault in various ways, but Foucault's followers have not shown as strong an inclination to keep up his side of the dialogue. For this reason an invaluable exchange on the nature and limits of philosophy in the present age has never achieved its full potential.In this anthology Michael Kelly recasts the debate in a way that will open it up for further development. The book starts by juxtaposing key texts from the two philosophers; it then adds a set of reactions and commentaries by theorists who have taken up the two alternative approaches to power and critique. (Two of these essays were written especially for this volume.) The result is a guide for those seeking to understand and build on this important but unfinished debate.Essays by: Michel Foucault. Jurgen Habermas. Axel Honneth. Nancy Fraser. Richard Bernstein. Thomas McCarthy. James Schmidt and Thomas E. Wartenberg. Gilles Deleuze. Jana Sawicki. Michael Kelly.