Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Internet Accessibility and Usage among Urban Adolescents in Southern California: Implications for Web-Based Health Research

The World Wide Web (WWW) poses a distinct capability to offer interventions tailored to the individual's characteristics. To fine tune the tailoring process, studies are needed to explore how Internet accessibility and usage are related to demographic, psychosocial, behavioral, and other health related characteristics. This study was based on a cross-sectional survey conducted on 2373 7th grade students of various ethnic groups in Southern California. Measures of Internet use included Internet use at school or at home, Email use, chat-room use, and Internet favoring. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the associations between Internet uses with selected demographic, psychosocial, behavioral variables and self-reported health statuses. The proportion of students who could access the Internet at school or home was 90% and 40%, separately. Nearly all (99%) of the respondents could access the Internet either at school or at home. Higher SES and Asian ethnicity were associated with higher internet use. Among those who could access the Internet and after adjusting for the selected demographic and psychosocial variables, depression was positively related with chat-room use and using the Internet longer than 1 hour per day at home, and hostility was positively related with Internet favoring (All ORs = 1.2 for +1 STD, p < 0.05). Less parental monitoring and more unsupervised time were positively related to email use, chat-room use, and at home Internet use (ORs for +1 STD ranged from 1.2 to 2.0, all p < 0.05), but not related to at school Internet use. Substance use was positively related to email use, chat-room use, and at home Internet use (OR for "used" vs. "not used" ranged from 1.2 to 4.0, p < 0.05). Self-reported health problems were associated with higher levels of Internet use at home but lower levels of Internet use at school. More physical activity was related to more email use (OR = 1.3 for +1 STD), chat room use (OR = 1.2 for +1 STD), and at school ever Internet use (OR = 1.2 for +1 STD, all p < 0.05). Body mass index was not related to any of the Internet use-related measures. In this ethnically diverse sample of Southern California 7(th) grade students, 99% could access the Internet at school and/or at home. This suggests that the Internet is already a potential venue for large scale health communication studies. Adolescents with more psychosocial risk factors or detrimental health behaviors were more likely to use the Internet. Therefore, if used properly, Internet interventions could effectively address the high risk populations. Additional research is needed to gain a more complete understanding of the positive and negative consequences of Internet use among adolescents.
LIVER FAILURE AND LIVER DISEASE Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: From Steatosis to Cirrhosis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the lynchpin between steatosis and cirrhosis in the spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disorders (NAFLD), was barely recognized in 1981. NAFLD is now present in 17% to 33% of Americans, has a worldwide distribution, and parallels the frequency of central adiposity, obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. NASH could be present in one third of NAFLD cases. Age, activity of steatohepatitis, and established fibrosis predispose to cirrhosis, which has a 7to 10-year liver-related mortality of 12% to 25%. Many cases of cryptogenic cirrhosis are likely endstage NASH. While endstage NAFLD currently accounts for 4% to 10% of liver transplants, this may soon rise. Pathogenic concepts for NAFLD/NASH must account for the strong links with overnutrition and underactivity, insulin resistance, and genetic factors. Lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, cytokines, and other proinflammatory mediators may each play a role in transition of steatosis to NASH. The present “gold standard” management of NASH is modest weight reduction, particularly correction of central obesity achieved by combining dietary measures with increased physical activity. Whether achieved by “lifestyle adjustment” or anti-obesity surgery, this improves insulin resistance and reverses steatosis, hepatocellular injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. The same potential for “unwinding” fibrotic NASH is indicated by studies of the peroxisome proliferation activator receptor (PPAR)agonist “glitazones,” but these agents may improve liver disease at the expense of worsening obesity. Future challenges are to approach NAFLD as a preventive public health initiative and to motivate affected persons to adopt a healthier lifestyle. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:S99-S112.)
Traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

In a recent systematic review of case control studies investigating head injury as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Fleminger et al 1 replicated the results of the meta-analysis by Mortimer et al 2 in males (OR 2.29; 95% CI from 1.47 to 2.00) but not in females (OR 0.91; 95% CI from 0.56 to1.47). Their findings support in males only an association between a history of previous head injury and the risk of developing AD, but the study could not review the relation between head injury and ApoE gene status as risk factors for …
Streptophyte algae and the origin of embryophytes.

BACKGROUND Land plants (embryophytes) evolved from streptophyte green algae, a small group of freshwater algae ranging from scaly, unicellular flagellates (Mesostigma) to complex, filamentous thalli with branching, cell differentiation and apical growth (Charales). Streptophyte algae and embryophytes form the division Streptophyta, whereas the remaining green algae are classified as Chlorophyta. The Charales (stoneworts) are often considered to be sister to land plants, suggesting progressive evolution towards cellular complexity within streptophyte green algae. Many cellular (e.g. phragmoplast, plasmodesmata, hexameric cellulose synthase, structure of flagellated cells, oogamous sexual reproduction with zygote retention) and physiological characters (e.g. type of photorespiration, phytochrome system) originated within streptophyte algae. RECENT PROGRESS Phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Mesostigma (flagellate) and Chlorokybus (sarcinoid) form the earliest divergence within streptophytes, as sister to all other Streptophyta including embryophytes. The question whether Charales, Coleochaetales or Zygnematales are the sister to embryophytes is still (or, again) hotly debated. Projects to study genome evolution within streptophytes including protein families and polyadenylation signals have been initiated. In agreement with morphological and physiological features, many molecular traits believed to be specific for embryophytes have been shown to predate the Chlorophyta/Streptophyta split, or to have originated within streptophyte algae. Molecular phylogenies and the fossil record allow a detailed reconstruction of the early evolutionary events that led to the origin of true land plants, and shaped the current diversity and ecology of streptophyte green algae and their embryophyte descendants. CONCLUSIONS The Streptophyta/Chlorophyta divergence correlates with a remarkably conservative preference for freshwater/marine habitats, and the early freshwater adaptation of streptophyte algae was a major advantage for the earliest land plants, even before the origin of the embryo and the sporophyte generation. The complete genomes of a few key streptophyte algae taxa will be required for a better understanding of the colonization of terrestrial habitats by streptophytes.
Role of Sodium Bicarbonate Cotransporters in Intracellular pH Regulation and Their Regulatory Mechanisms in Human Submandibular Glands

Sodium bicarbonate cotransporters (NBCs) are involved in the pH regulation of salivary glands. However, the roles and regulatory mechanisms among different NBC isotypes have not been rigorously evaluated. We investigated the roles of two different types of NBCs, electroneutral (NBCn1) and electrogenic NBC (NBCe1), with respect to pH regulation and regulatory mechanisms using human submandibular glands (hSMGs) and HSG cells. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured and the pHi recovery rate from cell acidification induced by an NH4Cl pulse was recorded. Subcellular localization and protein phosphorylation were determined using immunohistochemistry and co-immunoprecipitation techniques. We determined that NBCn1 is expressed on the basolateral side of acinar cells and the apical side of duct cells, while NBCe1 is exclusively expressed on the apical membrane of duct cells. The pHi recovery rate in hSMG acinar cells, which only express NBCn1, was not affected by pre-incubation with 5 μM PP2, an Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, in HSG cells, which express both NBCe1 and NBCn1, the pHi recovery rate was inhibited by PP2. The apparent difference in regulatory mechanisms for NBCn1 and NBCe1 was evaluated by artificial overexpression of NBCn1 or NBCe1 in HSG cells, which revealed that the pHi recovery rate was only inhibited by PP2 in cells overexpressing NBCe1. Furthermore, only NBCe1 was significantly phosphorylated and translocated by NH4Cl, which was inhibited by PP2. Our results suggest that both NBCn1 and NBCe1 play a role in pHi regulation in hSMG acinar cells, and also that Src kinase does not regulate the activity of NBCn1.
QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI MAPPING OF FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN ADVANCED BACK CROSS POPULATION (BC1F6) DERIVED FROM TUN 34 × LEBSOCK TETRAPLOID WHEAT

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum has resulted in signifi cant reduction in grain yield, quality and farm income in durum wheat growing areas of North America. There are a few known sources of resistance for FHB mostly derived from the Chinese hexaploid sources like Sumai3 and Wangshuibai. Distinct sources of resistance were identifi ed by NDSU in Tunisian pedigrees. It has been shown that Tunisian lines have no relation to Chinese genotypes and therefore can be used to enhance the resistance in durum wheat by pyramiding resistant genes from different genetic backgrounds. To expedite identifi cation of durum lines carrying these resistant alleles in earlier generations, use of molecular markers associated with FHB is essential. Genomic regions associated with FHB were examined in 168 progenies of tetraploid Tun34 × Lebsock advanced back cross (BC1F6) population. To construct the genetic map, a total of 2300 DArT markers were tested for polymorphism between parents. The polymorphic markers were assembled into linkage groups at likelihood ratio statistic (LOD) greater or equal to three and followed by assembly of a consensus map using Kosambi mapping function. Of the total DArT markers screened for polymorphism between parent lines Tun34 and Lebsock, 379 clones (15.1%) were polymorphic. Segregation ratios were compared to expected ratios for all markers using chi-square goodness of fi t test. Results indicate segregation distortion of 5.2% (P<0.01) for this population. Of 379 markers, 359 were assigned (LOD≥3.0) into 44 linkage groups with the minimum number of three markers. Following the grouping, genetic maps were constructed. Almost all of the linkage groups except two could be assigned to durum wheat chromosomes by alignment to previous published maps. Genomic scan using Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test identifi ed signifi cant (P≤0.001) putative QTL associated with FHB on chromosomes 5B, 2A, 6B, 7A and 7B. A region on chromosome arm 5BL (4cM interval) showed the highest K score and an increase in resistance to FHB due to alleles of Lebsock parent. Composite interval mapping confi rmed the presence of this signifi cant (LOD=6.1) QTL explaining 14.7% of phenotypic variation for FHB. Since this population was phenotyped at two different seasons in replicated experiments, information from these QTL can be used in marker assisted selection (MAS) to control FHB.
Run‐time evaluation of opportunities for object inlining in Java

Object‐oriented languages, such as Java, encourage the use of many small objects linked together by field references, instead of a few monolithic structures. While this practice is beneficial from a program design perspective, it can slow down program execution by incurring many pointer indirections. One solution to this problem is object inlining: when the compiler can safely do so, it fuses small objects together, thus removing the reads/writes to the removed field, saving the memory needed to store the field and object header, and reducing the number of object allocations. The objective of this paper is to measure the potential for object inlining by studying the run‐time behaviour of a comprehensive set of Java programs. We study the traces of program executions in order to determine which fields behave like inlinable fields. Since we are using dynamic information instead of a static analysis, our results give an upper bound on what could be achieved via a static compiler‐based approach. Our experimental results measure the potential improvements attainable with object inlining, including reductions in the numbers of field reads and writes, and reduced memory usage. Our study shows that some Java programs can benefit significantly from object inlining, with close to a 10% speedup. Somewhat to our surprise, our study found one case, the db benchmark, where the most important inlinable field was the result of unusual program design, and fixing this small flaw led to both better performance and clearer program design. However, the opportunities for object inlining are highly dependent on the individual program being considered, and are in many cases very limited. Furthermore, fields that are inlinable also have properties that make them potential candidates for other optimizations such as removing redundant memory accesses. The memory savings possible through object inlining are moderate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Secretion of Virulence Proteins from Campylobacter jejuni Is Dependent on a Functional Flagellar Export Apparatus

ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni, a gram-negative motile bacterium, secretes a set of proteins termed the Campylobacter invasion antigens (Cia proteins). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the flagellar apparatus serves as the export apparatus for the Cia proteins. Mutations were generated in five genes encoding three structural components of the flagella, the flagellar basal body (flgB and flgC), hook (flgE2), and filament (flaA and flaB) genes, as well as in genes whose products are essential for flagellar protein export (flhB and fliI). While mutations that affected filament assembly were found to be nonmotile (Mot−) and did not secrete Cia proteins (S−), a flaA (flaB+ ) filament mutant was found to be nonmotile but Cia protein secretion competent (Mot−, S+). Complementation of a flaA flaB double mutant with a shuttle plasmid harboring either the flaA or flaB gene restored Cia protein secretion, suggesting that Cia export requires at least one of the two filament proteins. Infection of INT 407 human intestinal cells with the C. jejuni mutants revealed that maximal invasion of the epithelial cells required motile bacteria that are secretion competent. Collectively, these data suggest that the C. jejuni Cia proteins are secreted from the flagellar export apparatus.
Acetate Regulation of Spore Formation Is under the Control of the Ras/Cyclic AMP/Protein Kinase A Pathway and Carbon Dioxide in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Ras/cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway is a nutrient-sensitive signaling cascade that regulates vegetative growth, carbohydrate metabolism, and entry into meiosis. How this pathway controls later steps of meiotic development is largely unknown. Here, we have analyzed the role of the Ras/cAMP/PKA pathway in spore formation by the meiosis-specific manipulation of Ras and PKA or by the disturbance of cAMP production. We found that the regulation of spore formation by acetate takes place after commitment to meiosis and depends on PKA and appropriate A kinase activation by Ras/Cyr1 adenylyl cyclase but not by activation through the Gpa2/Gpr1 branch. We further discovered that spore formation is regulated by carbon dioxide/bicarbonate, and an analysis of mutants defective in acetate transport (ady2Δ) or carbonic anhydrase (nce103Δ) provided evidence that these metabolites are involved in connecting the nutritional state of the meiotic cell to spore number control. Finally, we observed that the potential PKA target Ady1 is required for the proper localization of the meiotic plaque proteins Mpc70 and Spo74 at spindle pole bodies and for the ability of these proteins to initiate spore formation. Overall, our investigation suggests that the Ras/cAMP/PKA pathway plays a crucial role in the regulation of spore formation by acetate and indicates that the control of meiotic development by this signaling cascade takes places at several steps and is more complex than previously anticipated.
Augmenting Gaze Control with a Brain-Computer Interface

We present a hybrid brain-computer interface (HBCI) composed of a motor imagery-based brain switch and a headtracking device. Normal gaze-only (either head or eye gaze) interfaces suffer from a Midas Touch problem where unwanted selection of commands is triggered by subjects gazing at objects for too long. We use a BCI to provide a nontouch communication channel. Subjects were able to select and move objects in a fully immersive virtual environment. Object pick up and drop off was carried out by looking at the target object whilst using the BCI-based brain switch; object movement was controlled by the head-tracker. The HBCI was compared with a control condition where gaze dwell time (DT) was used to pick up and drop off objects. Overall, the HBCI was just as fast and accurate as the DT condition, which highlights the potential for a HBCI to be used as an interaction device in a variety of user interface situations.
The reconstruction of the Great Buddha of Bamiyan, Afghanistan

The statues of Bamiyan were demolished on March 2001 by the Taleban, using mortars, dynamite, anti-aircraft weapons and rockets (Figure 4). The Buddhists, the world community, ONU and UNESCO failed to convince the Taleban to leave such works of cultural heritage. The fundamentalist Islamic militia, which has governed most of Afghanistan from 1996 to December 2001, followed an edict of its supreme leader who ordered a campaign of destruction to rid the land of all non-Islamic graven images. The Taleban refused also an offer to build a big wall in front of the statues to cover them and they blasted into dust the two giants. For the Afghanistan militia «. the Buddhas violate the Islamic prohibition against sacred images. They are false idols that must be destroyed. The statues should be destroyed so that they are not worshipped now or in the future . ».
A Client/Server Architecture for Word Sense Disambiguation

This paper presents a robust client/server implementation of a word sense disambiguator for English. This system associates a word with its meaning in a given context using dictionaries as tagged corpora in order to extract semantic disambiguation rules. Semantic rules are used as input of a semantic application program which encodes a linguistic strategy in order to select the best disambiguation rule for the word to be disambiguated. The semantic disambiguation rule application program is part of the client/server architecture enabling the processing of large corpora.
Cloud data modelling employing a uni ® ed , non-redundant triangular mesh

This paper describes an application of error-based triangulation to very large sets of three-dimensional (3D) data. The algorithm is suitable for processing data collected by machine vision systems, co-ordinate measuring machines or laser-based range sensors. The algorithm models the large data sets, termed cloud data, using a uni®ed, non-redundant triangular mesh. This is accomplished from the 3D data points in two steps. Firstly, an initial data thinning is performed, to reduce the copious data set size, employing 3D spatial ®ltering. Secondly, the triangulation commences utilising a set of heuristic rules, from a user de®ned seed point. The triangulation algorithm interrogates the local geometric and topological information inherent in the cloud data points. The spatial ®ltering parameters are extracted from the cloud data set, by a series of local surface patches, and the required spatial error between the ®nal triangulation and the cloud data. Two procedures are subsequently employed to enhance the mesh: (i) the edges of mesh triangles are adjusted to produce a mesh containing approximately equilateral triangles; and (ii) mesh edges are aligned with the boundaries present on the object to minimise smoothing of naturally occurring features. Case studies are presented that illustrate the ef®cacy of the technique for rapidly constructing a geometric model from 3D digitised data. q 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Amyloid fibril formation by human stefin B: influence of pH and TFE on fibril growth and morphology

As shown before, human stefin B (cystatin B) populates two partly unfolded species, a native-like state at pH 4.8 and a structured molten globule state at pH 3.3 (high ionic strength), from each of which amyloid fibrils grow. Here, we show that the fibrils obtained at pH 3.3 differ from those at pH 4.8 and that those obtained at pH 3.3 (protofibrils) do not transform readily to mature fibrils. In addition we show that amorphous aggregates are also a source of fibrils. The kinetics of amyloid fibril formation at different trifluoroethanol (TFE) concentrations were measured. TFE accelerates fibril growth at predenaturational concentrations of the alcohol. At concentrations higher than 10%, the fibrillar yield decreases proportionately as the population of an all α-helical, denatured form of the protein increases. At an optimum TFE concentration, the lag and the growth phases are observed, similarly to some other amyloidogenic proteins. Morphology of the protein species at the beginning and the end of the reactions was observed using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Final fibril morphologies differ depending on solvent conditions.
Comparative Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal the Actions of Melatonin in the Delay of Postharvest Physiological Deterioration of Cassava

Melatonin plays important roles in various aspects of biological processes. However, it is less known on the effects and mechanism of melatonin on the postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) process of cassava, which largely restricts the potential of cassava as a food and industrial crop. In this study, we found that exogenous application of melatonin significantly delayed PPD of cassava tuberous roots by reducing H2O2 content and improving activities of catalase and peroxidase. Moreover, 3425 differentially expressed genes by melatonin during the PPD process were identified by transcriptomic analysis. Several pathways were markedly affected by melatonin treatments, including metabolic-, ion homeostasis-, and enzyme activity-related processes. Further detailed analysis revealed that melatonin acted through activation of ROS-scavenging and ROS signal transduction pathways, including antioxidant enzymes, calcium signaling, MAPK cascades, and transcription factors at early stages. Notably, the starch degradation pathway was also activated at early stages, whereas it was repressed by melatonin at middle and late stages, thereby indicating its regulatory role in starch metabolism during PPD. Taken together, this study yields new insights into the effect and underlying mechanism of melatonin on the delay of PPD and provides a good strategy for extending shelf life and improvement of cassava tuberous roots.