Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of sleep quality between pregnant and nonpregnant Taiwanese women.

PURPOSE This study explored (a) differences in sleep quality, depression, and stress among second- and third-trimester pregnant and nonpregnant women, and (b) relationships among depression, stress, and sleep quality of pregnant women in Taiwan. DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS A convenience sample of 150 second-trimester and 150 third-trimester pregnant women was recruited from two medical centers in Taiwan. A comparison group of 300 nonpregnant women was recruited by the acquaintance technique. Data were collected from October 2006 to September 2007 using a demographic form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. FINDINGS The prevalence of poor sleepers (PSQI score>5) was 60.0% for second- and third-trimester pregnant women and 48.0% for nonpregnant women. After controlling for significant covariates, pregnant women reported worse global sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, and sleep disturbances than nonpregnant women, and poorer sleep quality and sleep latency were most prevalent during their third trimester. A high prevalence of antenatal depression (27.3% to 36.0%) was found in pregnant women, depressed women had worse sleep quality than nondepressed women in all groups, and stress affected sleep quality in pregnant women but not in nonpregnant women. CONCLUSIONS This cross-sectional study provides preliminary evidence that pregnant women suffer significantly more poor sleep quality than nonpregnant women, and that sleep quality of pregnant women was related to stress and depression. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Evaluation for sleep quality and depression should be part of routine prenatal check-ups. Information on women's sleep quality, stress, and depressive status can be used to individualize interventions for pregnancy-associated sleep disorder.
Influence of work during pregnancy on fetal weight.

To discover the influence of maternal work upon fetal birth weight, we compared 1,140 women who worked during pregnancy to a random, equal sample of women not working during pregnancy. Work during pregnancy appears to reduce the mean fetal weight in both primigravidas and multigravidas . Rest during the last six weeks of pregnancy improves fetal weight significantly. This finding underscores the importance of rest in cases of insufficient fetal growth.
Nucleotide‐independent cytoskeletal scaffolds in bacteria

Bacteria possess a diverse set of cytoskeletal proteins that mediate key cellular processes such as morphogenesis, cell division, DNA segregation, and motility. Similar to eukaryotic actin or tubulin, many of them require nucleotide binding and hydrolysis for proper polymerization and function. However, there is also a growing number of bacterial cytoskeletal elements that assemble in a nucleotide‐independent manner, including intermediate filament‐like structures as well several classes of bacteria‐specific polymers. The members of this group form stable scaffolds that have architectural roles or act as localization factors recruiting other proteins to distinct positions within the cell. Here, we highlight the elements that constitute the nucleotide‐independent cytoskeleton of bacteria and discuss their biological functions in different species. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ischaemic preconditioning is not mediated by oxygen derived free radicals in rats.

OBJECTIVE Although several studies have shown that ischaemic preconditioning greatly limits myocardial infarct size in the rat, the mechanisms of the beneficial effect of preconditioning in this species are not known. Experiments in dogs and rabbits have suggested that this effect could be related in part to the production of oxygen derived free radicals, as free radical scavengers partially prevent the limitation of infarct size induced by preconditioning. This study was designed to assess the contribution of oxygen derived free radicals in the infarct size limiting effects of preconditioning in rats, using the cell diffusible free radical scavenger N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG). METHODS Open chest rats underwent 20 minutes of coronary occlusion followed by one hour of reperfusion. Preconditioning was elicited by three cycles of five minutes ischaemia and five minutes reperfusion. MPG (20 mg.kg-1) was infused for 60 minutes starting 30 minutes before preconditioning. Control hearts (with or without MPG) were treated identically but without ischaemic preconditioning. Area at risk and infarct size were determined by India ink injection and triphenyltetrazolium chloride stain, with computerised analysis of enlarged sections after colour video acquisition. RESULTS During preconditioning, reperfusion after the first episode of ischaemia was associated with a high occurrence of severe ventricular arrhythmias, and this was reduced by MPG. Preconditioning, however, reduced arrhythmias and mortality during subsequent episodes of ischaemia and reperfusion. In the absence of MPG, preconditioning greatly limited infarct size (from (mean (SEM)) 59.8(3.9)% to 1.2(0.6)% of the area at risk; p < 0.01). MPG alone did not affect infarct size (60.5(6.1)%), and did not modify the infarct size limiting effect of preconditioning (infarct size: preconditioning 1.2(0.6)%; preconditioning + MPG 2.9(1.2)%. CONCLUSIONS Preconditioning greatly reduced infarct size, and this was not affected by MPG. These experiments suggest that production of oxygen derived free radicals does not contribute to preconditioning in the rat heart.
Enhanced dissolution and oral bioavailability of coenzyme Q 10 in dogs obtained by inclusion complexation with γ-cyclodextrin

Purpose: The solubility of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in water is extremely low, resulting in a low oral bioavailability. In this study, we attempted to improve the low dissolution and bioavailability of CoQ10, by means of the complexation with natural α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins (CyDs) and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CyD (HP-β-CyD). Methods: The complexation of CoQ10 with CyDs was studied by the solubility method. Solid CoQ10/CyD complexes with different molar ratios were prepared by the kneading method using ethanol/water (1: 1) mixed solvent. Results: Among these CyDs, γ-CyD signifi cantly increased the solubility of CoQ10 at lower CyD concentrations. The powder X-ray diffraction peaks of CoQ10 disappeared following solid complexation with γ-CyD, although the endothermic peak due to the melting of the drug did not disappear completely. The dissolution rate of CoQ10 was signifi cantly increased by complexation with γ-CyD, probably due to soluble complex formation and/or nanometer-sized particle formation, which was refl ected in the enhanced oral absorption in dogs. Conclusion: The results indicated that γ-CyD is useful for improving the oral bioavailability of CoQ10.
Diversity of Oligopeptide Transport Specificity in Lactococcus lactis Species

The specific oligopeptide transport system Opp is essential for growth of Lactococcus lactis in milk. We examined the biodiversity of oligopeptide transport specificity in theL. lactis species. Six strains were tested for (i) consumption of peptides during growth in a chemically defined medium and (ii) their ability to transport these peptides. Each strain demonstrated some specific preferences for peptide utilization, which matched the specificity of peptide transport. Sequencing of the binding protein OppA in some strains revealed minor differences at the amino acid level. The differences in specificity were used as a tool to unravel the role of the binding protein in transport specificity. The genes encoding OppA in four strains were cloned and expressed inL. lactis MG1363 deleted for its oppA gene. The substrate specificity of these engineered strains was found to be similar to that of the L. lactis MG1363 parental strain, whichever oppA gene was expressed. In situbinding experiments demonstrated the ability of OppA to interact with non-transported peptides. Taken together, these results provide evidence for a new concept. Despite that fact that OppA is essential for peptide transport, it is not the (main) determinant of peptide transport specificity in L. lactis.
Perception of Presence in a Mixed-Reality Training Environment

Ground troop training within the Army typically involves three kinds of training: live mission rehearsal, virtual or simulated training exercises (e.g., within a Humvee simulator), and constructive training, in which warfighters battle artificially intelligent enemies in a video game format. Some leading edge training missions merge these formats to offer full LVC training (live, virtual, constructive) in a mixed-reality environment in which trainees rehearse in a physically immersive setting that is augmented with simulated constructive entities and integrated with virtual entities controlled by trainees at other locations. In this pilot study, a number of human factors that contribute to a sense of immersed presence were evaluated by 12 ROTC cadets engaged in a scenario within a mixed-reality training environment. Participants were evaluated via survey, interview, and After Action Review (AAR). Participants reported reasonably high levels of involvement on several measures, and the AAR offered meaningful objective measurements. The combined results provide a rich dataset that establishes a baseline for the participants’ sense of presence and provides useful insights into the environment’s human-system interactions, thus guiding future development.
Effects of gender and hand dominance on size of the lower trapezius muscle

Introduction: The influence of gender and hand dominance on the size of the lower trapezius muscle has not been studied. We aimed to identify the effects of gender and hand dominance on thickness of this muscle. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (15 men and 15 women) were recruited for the study. The thickness of the lower trapezius muscles was measured bilaterally at the level of T8 at rest and with contraction at 130° of shoulder abduction using ultrasound imaging. Results: Men had significantly greater thickness of the lower trapezius muscle than women, both at rest and with contraction (P < 0.01). Greater lower trapezius muscle thickness was found on the dominant side compared with the non‐dominant side (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Gender and side dominance differences should be controlled for when investigating lower trapezius muscle thickness. Muscle Nerve 52: 576–579, 2015
heromonotropic and melanotropic PK / PBAN receptors : Differential igand – receptor interactions

The aim of the present study was to further characterize the PK/PBAN receptors and their interaction with various PK/PBAN peptides in order to get a better understanding of their ubiquitous and multifunctional nature. Two cloned receptors stably expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells were used in this study: a Heliothis peltigera pheromone gland receptor (Hep-PK/PBAN-R) (which stimulates sex pheromone biosynthesis) and Spodoptera littoralis larval receptor (Spl-PK/PBAN-R) (which mediates cuticular melanization in moth larvae) and their ability to respond to several native PK/PBAN peptides: -subesophageal neuropeptide ( -SGNP), myotropin (MT) and Leucophaea maderae pyrokinin (LPK), as well as linear and cyclic analogs was tested by monitoring their ability to stimulate Ca2+ release. The receptors exhibited a differential response to -SGNP, which activated the Hep-PK/PBAN-R but not the Spl-PK/PBAN-R – a response opposite to that previously demonstrated with diapause hormone (DH). MT was somewhat more active on Spl-PK/PBAN-R than on Hep-PK/PBAN-R. LPK elicited similar positive responses in both receptors (like that with PBAN). A differential response toward both receptors was also noticed with the PBAN-derived backbone cyclic (BBC) conformationally constrained peptide BBC-5. The peptides BBC-7 and BBC-8 activated both receptors. The results correlate between two PK/PBAN mediated function (cuticular melanization and sex pheromone biosynthesis) and the peptides that activate them and thus advance our understanding of the mode of action of the PK/PBAN family, and might help in exploring novel high-affinity receptor-specific antagonists that could serve as a basis for development of new families of insect-control agents. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Tractability index of hybrid equations for circuit simulation

Modern modeling approaches for circuit simulation such as the modified nodal analysis (MNA) lead to differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). The index of a DAE is a measure of the degree of numerical difficulty. In general, the higher the index is, the more difficult it is to solve the DAE. In this paper, we consider a broader class of analysis methods called the hybrid analysis. For nonlinear time-varying circuits with general dependent sources, we give a structural characterization of the tractability index of DAEs arising from the hybrid analysis. This enables us to determine the tractability index efficiently, which helps to avoid solving higher index DAEs in circuit simulation.
The Atypical Rho GTPase Wrch1 Collaborates with the Nonreceptor Tyrosine Kinases Pyk2 and Src in Regulating Cytoskeletal Dynamics

ABSTRACT The Cdc42-like GTPase Wnt responsive Cdc42 homolog 1 (Wrch1) has several atypical features; it has an N-terminal proline-rich extension that confers binding to SH3 domains, and it harbors an extremely high intrinsic nucleotide exchange activity, which overrides the normal GTPase activity. As a result, Wrch1 resides mainly in the active, GTP-loaded conformation under normal cellular conditions. We have previously shown that ectopic expression of Wrch1 in fibroblasts resulted in an altered cell morphology visible as a formation of filopodia, a loss of stress fibers, and a reduction in focal adhesions. Here, we show that Wrch1 binds to the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Pyk2. The interaction required Wrch1 to be in a GTP conformation and also required an intact N-terminal proline-rich extension as well as an intact effector loop. Wrch1 requires Pyk2 in imposing the cytoskeletal effects, seen as the formation of filopodia, since treatment of cells with a Pyk2-specific small interfering RNA abrogated this response. Interestingly, we found that the presence and activity of Src were needed for the formation of a Wrch1-Pyk2 complex as well as for the Wrch1-induced formation of filopodia. We propose a model in which Pyk2 and Src function to coordinate the Wrch1-dependent effects on cytoskeletal dynamics.
The Co-Evolution and Emergence of Integrated International Financial Networks and Social Networks: Theory, Analysis, and Computations

Globalization and technological advances have made major impacts on financial services in recent years and have allowed for the emergence of electronic finance. Indeed, the financial landscape has been transformed through increased financial integration, increased cross border mergers, and lower barriers between markets. In addition, boundaries between different financial intermediaries have become less clear (cf. Claessens, Glaessner, and Klingebiel (2000, 2001), Claessens (2003), Claessens et al. (2003), G-10 (2001)).
Immunoglobulin Production: Method for Quantitatively Detecting Variant Myeloma Cells

Mouse myeloma cells in continuous culture were cloned in soft agar. The clones were assayed for their ability to synthesize heavy and light chains of gamma globulin by immunoprecipitation directly in the agar. A minor population secreting only light chains was identified. The two cell types were recloned and a low incidence of conversion of 7S to light-chain production was demonstrated. This technique can be used to isolate rare variants of cells secreting specific macromolecules.
Silk scaffolds for musculoskeletal tissue engineering

The musculoskeletal system, which includes bone, cartilage, tendon/ligament, and skeletal muscle, is becoming the targets for tissue engineering because of the high need for their repair and regeneration. Numerous factors would affect the use of musculoskeletal tissue engineering for tissue regeneration ranging from cells used for scaffold seeding to the manufacture and structures of materials. The essential function of the scaffolds is to convey growth factors as well as cells to the target site to aid the regeneration of the injury. Among the variety of biomaterials used in scaffold engineering, silk fibroin is recognized as an ideal material for its impressive cytocompatibility, slow biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties. The current review describes the advances made in the fabrication of silk fibroin scaffolds with different forms such as films, particles, electrospun fibers, hydrogels, three-dimensional porous scaffolds, and their applications in the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues.
Respiratory syncytial virus: reverse genetics and vaccine strategies.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly infectious, ubiquitous virus that is the leading cause of serious respiratory tract disease in children under one year of age worldwide (for reviews, see Brandenburg et al., 2001; Collins et al., 1999, 2001; Crowe et al., 1997; Dudas and Karron, 1998). RSV accounts for nearly onequarter of hospitalizations due to pediatric respiratory tract disease, and in the United States accounts for 85,000 to 144,000 hospitalizations annually in infants of less than one year of age (Shay et al., 1999). RSV reinfection is gaining recognition as an important cause of disease in adults, especially the elderly, and in immunocompromised individuals. An RSV vaccine is not yet available. The primary need is for the pediatric population, with the second major target population being the elderly, for which RSV has an impact approaching that of nonpandemic influenza virus. Most of the candidate vaccines described below involve expression from cDNA, which is called reverse genetics (Berg, 1993). RSV is an enveloped virus of the Paramyxovirus family (order Mononegavirales). Its genome is a single negative-sense RNA of 15.2 kilobases that is transcribed into 10 mRNAs encoding 11 proteins (the M2 mRNA encodes two proteins, M2-1 and M2-2 from overlapping open reading frames (ORFs)) (Fig. 1). N, P, L, and M2-1 are the nucleocapsid/polymerase proteins; M2-2 appears to play a regulatory role in RNA synthesis; M is a matrix protein; NS1 and NS2 are nonstructural proteins recently identified as antagonists of the interferon/ -mediated antiviral state (Schlender et al., 2000); and SH, G, and F are transmembrane glycoproteins. G and F are the only antigens that induce neutralizing antibodies and are the major protective antigens. Infectious recombinant RSV can be produced from transfected plasmids expressing a
Delay-Constrained Transmission over Flat Fading Channels in the low SNR Range

When the channel state information is known to both the transmitter and the receiver, opportunistic transmission over fading AWGN channels can lead to increased rates in the low SNR region. Constraints on the transmission delay limit this gain and result in non-zero outage probability. In this article, in addition to a delay constraint, it is assumed that, while the transmitter and the receiver can estimate the channel perfectly, the transmitter can not know a priori the future channel states. Two transmission schemes are examined. The first scheme performs waterfilling with virtual future channel gains, whereas the second one only allocates power when the channel gain exceeds a threshold. The performance of the two schemes is evaluated in terms of the trade-off between the attainable average rate and the probability of outage for flat i.i. d. Rayleigh fading.
Exogenous DNA internalisation by sperm cells is improved by combining Lipofection and Restriction Enzyme Mediated Integration

1. Three types of exogenous DNA inserts, i.e. complete linearised pVIVO2-GFP/LacZ vector (9620 bp), the LacZ gene (5317 bp) and the GFP gene (2152 bp) were used to transfect chicken spermatozoa through simple incubation of sperm cells with insert. 2. PCR assay, Dot Blot hybridisation and Southern hybridisation showed the successful internalisation of exogenous DNA by chicken sperm cells. 3. Lipofection and Restriction Enzyme Mediated Integration (REMI) were used to improve the rate of internalisation of exogenous DNA by sperm cells. 4. Results from dot blot as well as Southern hybridisation were semi-quantified and improved exogenous DNA uptake by sperm cells through lipofection and REMI. Stronger signals were observed from hybridisation of LacZ as well as GFP specific probe with the DNA from lipofected exogenous DNA transfected sperm DNA in comparison with those transfected with nude exogenous DNA.
Textile and tile pattern design automatic cataloguing using detection of the plane symmetry group

We present an integrated management system of pattern design for the textile and tile industries providing automatic cataloguing capabilities based on the application of the scientific theory of symmetry groups. To do this, a process of analysis is performed which starts from an initial image of the decorative element, which in turn is subjected to a number of segmentation and labelling operators that allow to detect the objects present in the image. These objects are vectorized, compared, and their isometries obtained; subsequently they are grouped and the isometries of the groups of objects detected. Finally, a composition analysis is carried out that, on the basis of the repetitions and symmetry axes existing in the design, provides the fundamental parallelogram of a plane symmetry group. We summarise the results obtained from processing 75 design elements using the analysis tool developed by the authors.
INTEGRAL TYPE MODIFICATION FOR q−LAGUERRE POLYNOMIALS (COMMUNICATED BY PROFESSOR F. MARCELLAN)

Özarslan gave the approximation properties of linear positive operators including the q-Laguerre polynomials in [13]. In this paper, we will give Kantorovich type generalization for this operator with the help of Riemann type q-integral. We also get approximation properties for the generalized operator with modulus.
Link prediction based on local random walk

The problem of missing link prediction in complex networks has attracted much attention recently. Two difficulties in link prediction are the sparsity and huge size of the target networks. Therefore, to design an efficient and effective method is of both theoretical interest and practical significance. In this letter, we proposed a method based on local random walk, which can give competitively good or even better prediction than other random-walk–based methods while having a much lower computational complexity.