Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Type IX Collagen Neo-Deposition in Degenerative Discs of Surgical Patients Whether Genotyped Plus or Minus for COL9 Risk Alleles

Study Design. Immunohistochemical analysis of type IX collagen in disc tissue from spinal fusion patients. Objective. To determine if collagen IX can be detected in adult disc tissue removed at spinal fusion surgery from patients either with or without degeneration-associated tryptophan single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and whether the distribution is associated either with severity of degeneration or incidence of a collagen IX SNP genotype. Summary of Background Data. Genetic factors are strongly associated with risk of development and/or progression of disc degeneration. Two SNPs that introduce tryptophan polymorphisms in COL9A2 and COL9A3 are independently linked to an increased risk of lumbar disc disease. Although tryptophan variants are associated with accelerated degeneration, it is not known if collagen IX can be detected in adult disc tissue. Methods. We selected age-matched disc samples from five clinical groups: fracture with Trp(−) (six cases), herniation (six cases), degeneration (five cases), spondylolisthesis with Trp(−) (eight cases), and spondylolisthesis/herniation/fracture with Trp(+) (six cases of Trp3 allele and one case of Trp2 allele). Using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining (collagens IX and IIA), 78 sections from 32 patients were analyzed. Selected disc tissues were assayed biochemically for collagen IX. Results. Focal deposition of collagen IX was observed in regions of adult human disc tissue from spines showing degenerative changes in patients whether or not they were positive for a tryptophan SNP. However, in nondegenerative control disc tissue from fracture cases, little or no collagen IX was detected. The latter finding was confirmed by direct biochemical analyses for collagen IX in pooled samples of normal adult human annulus fibrosus or nucleus pulposus. Conclusion. During growth and maturation of the disc, collagen IX is presumably removed completely during matrix remodeling so that the protein is absent from normal adult annulus and nucleus but can reappear at sites of degeneration presumably as part of a repair response to mechanical injury.
Body dissatisfaction in women’s artistic gymnastics: A longitudinal study of psychosocial indicators

ABSTRACT Body dissatisfaction is prevalent in women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG). Cross-sectional research points to social and individual risk factors, however it does not account for potential changes in body dissatisfaction during an athletic season. This study aimed to determine how gymnasts’ body dissatisfaction, risk factors for eating disorders, media internalisation, perfectionism and mood state change during pre-competition, competition and post-competition seasons and to identify how these psychosocial indicators impact on body dissatisfaction during the athletic year. The sample consisted of 20 Brazilian elite women’s artistic gymnasts aged 10–16 years. Data were obtained from a 9-month study using: Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ); Eating Attitude Test-26; Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3); Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS); Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Body dissatisfaction was higher during the competition season and disordered eating, perfectionism and vigour values were higher in the pre-competition season. Disordered eating has been found as the strongest predictor of body dissatisfaction during all seasons, and mood state partly contributed to body dissatisfaction in the competitive season. Stakeholders should understand that body dissatisfaction and the prevalence of disordered eating may change over time.
Cognitive control exertion leads to reductions in peak power output and as well as increased perceived exertion on a graded exercise test to exhaustion

ABSTRACT We investigated effects of a brief (10.5 min) cognitively demanding task on graded exercise test performance. Untrained, university students (N = 15) completed two graded exercise tests in counterbalanced, randomised order. One test was preceded by restful viewing of a documentary video (control); the other by a stop-signal task. Cardiorespiratory functions and perceived exertion were monitored during exercise. Peak power output (W) was lower following the stop-signal task (M = 240.03, SD = 53.37) compared to control (M = 246.03, SD = 52.60), P = 0.002, ηP2 = 0.493, as was (P = 0.042, Cohen’s d = 0.55). Perceived exertion was significantly higher at 50% (d = 0.77) and 75% (d = 0.83) of iso-time following the cognitive task (Ps ≤ 0.01). Results are consistent with research showing negative carryover effects of cognitively demanding tasks on whole-body endurance performance. Results also support the psychobiological model of exercise as performance of the cognitive task did not affect perceived exertion when exercise task demands were lower, but lead to greater perceived exertion and earlier withdrawal of effort at higher levels of exercise task demand. Findings have implications for understanding psychological determinants of exercise performance and conditions that may lead to underestimation of .
Semantic reliability of multi-agent intelligent systems

Generally the concept of reliability has been interpreted as applied to hardware and software and has been based upon the assumption that a system can be decomposed into subsystems or components to which success or failure probabilities can be assigned assuming perfect semantic transactions between them, i.e., with no consideration to variation in the interpretation of the meanings of messages between various components. In multi-agent intelligent systems, where the agents interact with each other in capacities other than merely sending and receiving messages, cooperative decisions are made based upon beliefs, desires, intentions, and the autonomy of individual agents. In such cases, even if the components as well as the interconnections are error-free in the classical sense, there can be serious failures due to semantic variability and consequently the concept of reliability needs to be extended to semantics as well. This paper attempts to establish this new concept of semantic reliability and explore its relationship to the system reliability and information extraction processes. Here we examine the communication between agents and semantic error modes in multi-agent systems using Rao and Georgeff's belief-desire-intention (BDI) model of intelligent agents to decompose the semantic variation into its contributing parts from various subsystems comprising the agents. From this, the impact and the risk management strategies including fault tolerance are evolved. World representation, domain ontologies, and knowledge representation are brought out as important determinants of error control. A fault tolerance design based on goal hierarchy is suggested.
Closure of Skin Wounds with Adhesive Tape

In the out-patient series it was found practicable to manage most minor wounds and lacerations by sutureless closure without the use of local anaesthesia. Gentle cleaning of the wound and excision of small areas of devitalized tissue were usually possible without causing discomfort to the patient. Because of the ease of application of the strips and lack of necessity for local anaesthesia, this method has many advantages for small wounds of the kind usually treated in general practice or in an out-patient department. Indeed, the very simplicity of the technique engenders a risk that wounds in which full exploration is required may be closed ab initio. Careful assessment of traumatic lesions is therefore necessary before proceeding to sutureless closure without anaesthesia. The combined results of this clinical trial have demonstrated that steri-strip tape is a reliable and practical means of skin closure for the majority of wounds and incisions. We would particularly advocate the use of tape closure in the following circumstances: (1) where incisions transgress skin devitalized by ischaemic or venous disease, or whenever there is a special risk of infection; (2) incisions and wounds in children; (3) suitable traumatic wounds; and (4) fixation of small skin grafts. Summary
Associations between prolonged sedentary time and breaks in sedentary time with cardiometabolic risk in 10–14-year-old children: The HAPPY study

ABSTRACT This study examines the association between prolonged sedentary time and breaks in sedentary time with cardiometabolic risk in 10–14-year-old children. This cross-sectional design study analysed accelerometry-determined sedentary behaviour and physical activity collected over 7 days from 111 (66 girls) UK schoolchildren. Objective outcome measures included waist circumference, fasting lipids, fasting glucose, blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Logistic regression was used for the main data analysis. After adjustment for confounders, the odds of having hypertriglyceridaemia (P = 0.03) and an increased clustered cardiometabolic risk score (P = 0.05) were significantly higher in children who engaged in more prolonged sedentary bouts per day. The number of breaks in sedentary time per day was not associated with any cardiometabolic risk factor, but longer mean duration of daily breaks in sedentary time were associated with a lower odds of having abdominal adiposity (P = 0.04) and elevated diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.01). These associations may be mediated by engagement in light activity. This study provides evidence that avoiding periods of prolonged uninterrupted sedentary time may be important for reducing cardiometabolic disease risk in children.
Females exposed to 24 h of sleep deprivation do not experience greater physiological strain, but do perceive heat illness symptoms more severely, during exercise-heat stress

ABSTRACT There is limited and inconclusive evidence surrounding the physiological and perceptual responses to heat stress while sleep deprived, especially for females. This study aimed to quantify the effect of 24 h sleep deprivation on physiological strain and perceptual markers of heat-related illness in females. Nine females completed two 30-min heat stress tests (HST) separated by 48 h in 39°C, 41% relative humidity at a metabolic heat production of 10 W · kg−1. The non-sleep deprived HST was followed by the sleep deprivation (SDHST) trial for all participants during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Physiological and perceptual measures were recorded at 5 min intervals during the HSTs. On the cessation of the HSTs, heat illness symptom index (HISI) was completed. HISI scores increased after sleep deprivation by 28 ± 16 versus 20 ± 16 (P = 0.01). Peak (39.40 ± 0.35°C vs. 39.35 ± 0.33°C) and change in rectal temperature (1.91 ± 0.21 vs. 1.93 ± 0.34°C), and whole body sweat rate (1.08 ± 0.31 vs. 1.15 ± 0.36 L · h−1) did not differ (P > 0.05) between tests. No difference was observed in peak, nor rise in: heart rate, mean skin temperature, perceived exertion or thermal sensation during the HSTs. Twenty-four hours sleep deprivation increased perceptual symptoms associated with heat-related illness; however, no thermoregulatory alterations were observed.
Skill level changes the coordination and variability of standing posture and movement in a pistol-aiming task

ABSTRACT The study investigated the coordination and variability of posture and pistol motion for skilled pistol shooters and novices in a pistol-aiming task. The participants stood on a force platform and held a pistol with the preferred arm to aim for accuracy to a target on 30 s trials. The results revealed that the amount of the centre of pressure (COP) and pistol motion was lower for the expert than novice group. The time–varying structure of COP as indexed by multiscale entropy (MSE) and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) was also lower for the expert than the novice group. The relative phase between the COP in the anterior–posterior (AP) and pistol in the AP and between the COP in the medial–lateral (ML) and pistol in AP was close to inphase for the both groups. However, for the novice group the coordination patterns of posture and pistol motion were more variable with the pistol motion leading the posture motion while it was lagging in the skilled group. The findings show different qualitative and quantitative dynamics in pistol-aiming as a function of skill level with postural control foundational to supporting the reduced dispersion and complexity of the skilled arm-pistol motion.
Epidemiology diagnosis and control of undifferentiated calf diarrhoea

SALMONELLOSIS and diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are examples of diarrhoeal conditions of calves caused by specific infections and with characteristic clinical signs. When these agents are present on a farm the disease is likely to occur, but most breeding farms in the UK are free from infection. On most farms where calves are reared, however, occasional cases of undifferentiated diarrhoea or 'white scours' occur. These are associated with infections which are inevitably present on all cattle farms, and diarrhoea is seen in only a minority of infections when conditions on the farm overwhelm the calf's natural defences.
Tonic and phasic components of eye movements during REM sleep in the rat

Phasic oculomotor activity is one of the features identifying rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Recently, it has been shown in cats that, despite bursts of complex two‐component rapid eye movements, the eyes tend to maintain a nasal and downward rotation during REM sleep. Although the function of eye movements during sleep remains elusive, it is important to know whether the characteristics of eye movements during sleep are species‐specific in mammals. In this work, quantitative characteristics of eye movements, recorded by the scleral search coil technique, were studied during wakefulness and sleep in rats. During wakefulness, rats performed conjugated saccades at a very low rate and some eye movements associated to blinking and gnawing. Throughout non‐REM sleep, eye movements were slow, mostly unconjugated and the eyes maintained a divergence in the horizontal plane. The beginning of REM sleep was characterized by a convergence and downward rotation of the eyes, which tended to persist until the end of REM sleep. Rapid eye movements, isolated and monocular at the beginning, became complex and organized in high‐frequency bursts. These results demonstrate that, despite the difference in extraocular anatomy and visuomotor strategies between frontal‐ and lateral‐eyed species, eye movements during REM sleep in rats are very similar to those described in cats. This suggests that the mechanisms generating eye movements during REM sleep are largely conserved in mammals.
The influence of human resource management in savings bank performance

The aim of this article was to analyse the value of human resources (HR) for competitive advantage and their influence on the firm's performance in the service industry. To achieve our goal, we have first proposed a resource-based framework to discuss the circumstances under which human resources can be a source of competitive advantage. Then, an empirical research was developed in the Spanish savings bank sector to analyse the relationship between HR management and the firm's performance. Our results, suggest that those savings banks which better combine their HR practices to create and to develop a strategic human capital pool have shown better levels of profitability and productivity.
The Next-Generation Signaling System for switching and control in integrated optical networks

The Next-Generation Signaling System (NGSS) is a new concept for integrated connection control of electronics and optical networks. As an extension of the Lucent Softswitch, the NGSS combines signaling and call control features of the existing Lucent Softswitch with those of optical network elements, such as Lucent's optical cross connect (OXC) and optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM). It operates in conjunction with Lucent's Optical Service Manager (OSM) and Optical Network Navigator System (ONNS). Under NGSS control, electrical and optical bearer traffic from customer premises and switching systems are mapped onto high-speed optical channels and routed to the endpoints. A two-level call setup, one at the optical path and the other at the call connection level, is considered. In this paper, the overall architecture and functional composition of the NGSS, examples of electrical and optical equipment control at the optical transport, and issues that need to be addressed in order to move this concept to the product stage are discussed.
Actin immobilization on chitin for purifying myosin II

This article presents our experience on teaching biochemical sciences through an innovative approach that integrates concepts of molecular cell biology and protein chemistry. This original laboratory exercise is based on the preparation of an affinity chromatography column containing F‐actin molecules immobilized on chitin particles for purifying skeletal myosin II. It favors the active learning of protein extraction and purification, the learning of concepts such as muscle contraction, cytoskeleton structure, and its importance for the living cell. This laboratory exercise also promotes learning biotechnological applications of chitin and the applications of protein immobilization in different industrial fields. Furthermore, the activities target the development of laboratorial abilities, problem‐solving skills, and the ability to write a scientific report, following the model of a scientific article. The trials are mainly proposed for either an undergraduate project for advanced students in the life sciences or a postgraduate practical training course. In both the cases, the students must have had biochemistry as part of their regular curriculum. Alternatively, the affinity chromatography method can fit in any regular biochemistry course if active chitin, F‐actin, and a myosin II extract are provided. It is very important to mention that this laboratory exercise can be used even in places where a facility such as ultracentrifugation is lacking. For that, the steps of actin purification are skipped, and actin is commercially obtained. Therefore, it is an adequate approach for the active learning of biochemical and molecular cell biology principles and techniques even in poor countries.
Evidence for scripts in semantic dementia: Implications for theories of semantic memory

This paper presents evidence that the breakdown of semantic memory in semantic dementia reveals the influence of two properties of script theory (Schank, 1982; Schank & Abelson, 1977). First, the physical and personal context of specific scripts supports meaning for words, objects, and locations that are involved in the script. Second, meaning is updated or transformed by a dynamic memory system that learns continuously from personal experience. In severe cases, semantic dementia exposes the basic level of this learning system from which all knowledge normally develops. It will be argued that the evidence supports a theory of semantic memory that represents meaning in a continuum of levels of meaning from the most specific and context-bound to the most generalisable and context-free. This contrasts with current theories of semantic memory that represent meaning as a collection of abstracted properties entirely removed from the context of events and activities.
Teaching molecular biology to undergraduate biology students: An illustration of protein expression and purification *

Practical classes on protein expression and purification were given to undergraduate biology students enrolled in the elective course “Introduction to Genetic Engineering. ” The heterologous expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)* of Aequorea victoria is an interesting system for didactic purposes because it can be viewed easily during experiments. The students were provided with basic information about the molecular features and applications of the GFP in molecular biology, the available heterologous expression systems, and the theoretical and experimental details of GFP expression in Escherichia coli and its purification. E. coli BL21‐competent cells were transformed with the pET28a expression vector containing the GFP gene fused to a histidine (His) tag. During the induction of a transformed clone by isopropylthiogalactoside, a time course for GFP expression was analyzed by SDS‐PAGE, and the expression was also visualized by the increasing green fluorescence of the bacterial culture. After cellular disruption, protein purification was illustrated by affinity chromatography of the His‐tagged protein in a nickel column. Eluted fractions containing imidazole in increasing concentrations were analyzed visually and also by SDS‐PAGE, demonstrating the role of imidazole in protein recovery by competition with nonspecific proteins and the His‐tagged protein. The results obtained and the experimental factors involved in protein expression, solubilization, and folding were discussed following the laboratory experiments. These practical classes allowed several current approaches to molecular biology to be demonstrated rapidly and helped underscore some of the topics taught during the course.
Prototypicality, distinctiveness, and intercorrelation: Analyses of the semantic attributes of living and nonliving concepts

Many cognitive psychological, computational, and neuropsychological approaches to the organisation of semantic memory have incorporated the idea that concepts are, at least partly, represented in terms of their fine-grained features. We asked 20 normal volunteers to provide properties of 64 concrete items, drawn from living and nonliving categories, by completing simple sentence stems (e.g., an owl is __, has __, can__). At a later date, the same participants rated the same concepts for prototypicality and familiarity. The features generated were classified as to type of knowledge (sensory, functional, or encyclopaedic), and also quantified with regard to both dominance (the number of participants specifying that property for that concept) and distinctiveness (the proportion of exemplars within a conceptual category of which that feature was considered characteristic). The results demonstrate that rated prototypicality is related to both the familiarity of the concept and its distance from the average of the exemplars within the same category (the category centroid). The feature database was also used to replicate, resolve, and extend a variety of previous observations on the structure of semantic representations. Specifically, the results of our analyses (1) resolve two conflicting claims regarding the relative ratio of sensory to other kinds of attributes in living vs. nonliving concepts; (2) offer new information regarding the types of features−across different domains−that distinguish concepts from their category coordinates; and (3) corroborate some previous claims of higher intercorrelations between features of living things than those of artefacts.