Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect van yoga op angstklachten: een systematische review

Introduction: In this systematic review is examined if yoga could have a positive influence on the treatment and prevention of anxiety. Previous reviews suggest the possibility of this positive influence. However these surveys are not necessarily of high quality and the number of studies is limited. This is why the exact role of yoga on anxiety remains under investigation. Method: A systematic search has been executed on the Scopus and Cochrane Library. Articles published before September 2012 on the subject of yoga in relation to anxiety are studied. The selection criteria for the articles are the following: (1) it is a primary study, (2) the medical intervention consists mainly of yoga, (3) there is a measurable psychological outcome, (4) the measuring method records the psychological factors, (5) it is a randomized controlled trial and (6) there is a full article available. Results: 27 of the 672 articles met the mentioned criteria. The results showed that 70,4% of the cases of the intervention group experienced significantly reduced anxiety in comparison to the control group. This suggests that yoga can have a positive effect on the reduction of anxiety. Discussion: Although this survey shows positive effects, we have to be cautious with the interpretation of our results. This caution is needed because the effect sizes of the studies are not calculated. Moreover there are many variations in the used psychological measuring methods and yoga applications. Both these factors make it difficult to interpret and compare the results of these kinds of studies and make the conclusions less reliable. This is why a meta-analysis as follow-up research is recommended
Prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome in neutropenic cancer patients

To date, no study has been specifically designed to identify determinants of death in neutropenic cancer patients presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of this study was to identify early predictive factors of 28-day mortality in these patients. Factors associated with 28-day mortality during intensive care unit (ICU) stay were also described. 70 consecutive cancer patients with ARDS and neutropenia were prospectively analysed over a 6-yr period. Mortality at 28 days was 63%. Factors independently associated with good prognosis were: lobar ARDS (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.02–0.48), use of initial antibiotic treatment active on difficult to treat bacteria (ticarcillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia or extended-spectrum &bgr;-lactamase-producing strains) (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.02–0.33) and first-line chemotherapy (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.02–0.37). During the ICU stay, mortality was associated with the markers of organ dysfunctions, the absence of neutropenia recovery and the use of vasopressors. During the first 3 weeks, the conditional probability of discharge alive from ICU did not decrease. At ICU admission, first-line chemotherapy, lobar ARDS and antibiotic treatment active on difficult-to-treat bacteria were associated with survival. During ICU stay, mortality was associated with organ dysfunctions and use of vasopressors. Most survivors have an ICU stay of >3 weeks.
Specification of a Foxj1-Dependent Lineage in the Forebrain Is Required for Embryonic-to-Postnatal Transition of Neurogenesis in the Olfactory Bulb

Establishment of a neural stem cell niche in the postnatal subependymal zone (SEZ) and the rostral migratory stream (RMS) is required for postnatal and adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulbs (OB). We report the discovery of a cellular lineage in the SEZ-RMS-OB continuum, the specification of which is dependent on the expression of the forkhead transcription factor Foxj1 in mice. Spatially and temporally restricted Foxj1+ neuronal progenitors emerge during embryonic periods, surge during perinatal development, and are active only for the first few postnatal weeks. We show that the development of the unique Foxj1-derived lineage is dependent on Foxj1 expression and is required for overall postnatal neurogenesis in the OB. Strikingly, the production of neurons from Foxj1+ progenitors significantly declines after the early postnatal weeks, but Foxj1-derived neurons in the OB persist during adult periods. For the first time, our study identifies the time- and region-specific activity of a perinatal progenitor domain that is required for transition and progression of OB neurogenesis from the embryonic-to-postnatal periods.
Targeted mutation of plakoglobin in mice reveals essential functions of desmosomes in the embryonic heart

Plakoglobin (gamma-catenin), a member of the armadillo family of proteins, is a constituent of the cytoplasmic plaque of desmosomes as well as of other adhering cell junctions, and is involved in anchorage of cytoskeletal filaments to specific cadherins. We have generated a null mutation of the plakoglobin gene in mice. Homozygous -/- mutant animals die between days 12-16 of embryogenesis due to defects in heart function. Often, heart ventricles burst and blood floods the pericard. This tissue instability correlates with the absence of desmosomes in heart, but not in epithelia organs. Instead, extended adherens junctions are formed in the heart, which contain desmosomal proteins, i.e., desmoplakin. Thus, plakoglobin is an essential component of myocardiac desmosomes and seems to play a crucial role in the sorting out of desmosomal and adherens junction components, and consequently in the architecture of intercalated discs and the stabilization of heart tissue.
Master Players: Learning from Children at Play

The Concept of the "Master Player" Play Watching Tommy - Seeking Power In Play Dennis - Territoriality Sharon - Manageable Small Worlds Luanda - Affiliation and Friendship Analysing Master Play Becoming a Play Watcher Becoming a Master Teacher Analysing the Integrative Behaviour of Master Teachers. Appendix: Teaching the Art of Observation.
Scoring Methods for Building Genotypic Scores: An Application to Didanosine Resistance in a Large Derivation Set

Background Several attempts have been made to determine HIV-1 resistance from genotype resistance testing. We compare scoring methods for building weighted genotyping scores and commonly used systems to determine whether the virus of a HIV-infected patient is resistant. Methods and Principal Findings Three statistical methods (linear discriminant analysis, support vector machine and logistic regression) are used to determine the weight of mutations involved in HIV resistance. We compared these weighted scores with known interpretation systems (ANRS, REGA and Stanford HIV-db) to classify patients as resistant or not. Our methodology is illustrated on the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research didanosine database (N = 1453). The database was divided into four samples according to the country of enrolment (France, USA/Canada, Italy and Spain/UK/Switzerland). The total sample and the four country-based samples allow external validation (one sample is used to estimate a score and the other samples are used to validate it). We used the observed precision to compare the performance of newly derived scores with other interpretation systems. Our results show that newly derived scores performed better than or similar to existing interpretation systems, even with external validation sets. No difference was found between the three methods investigated. Our analysis identified four new mutations associated with didanosine resistance: D123S, Q207K, H208Y and K223Q. Conclusions We explored the potential of three statistical methods to construct weighted scores for didanosine resistance. Our proposed scores performed at least as well as already existing interpretation systems and previously unrecognized didanosine-resistance associated mutations were identified. This approach could be used for building scores of genotypic resistance to other antiretroviral drugs.
Increasing participation in cervical cancer screening: Offering a HPV self‐test to long‐term non‐attendees as part of RACOMIP, a Swedish randomized controlled trial

RACOMIP is a population‐based, randomized trial of the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of different interventions aimed at increasing participation in a well‐run cervical cancer screening program in western Sweden. In this article, we report results from one intervention, offering non‐attendees a high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) self‐test. Comparison was made with standard screening invitation routine or standard routine plus a telephone call. Women (8,800), aged 30–62, were randomly selected among women without a registered Pap smear in the two latest screening rounds. These women were randomized 1:5:5 to one of three arms: 800 were offered a high‐risk HPV self‐test, 4,000 were randomized to a telephone call (reported previously) and 4,000 constituted a control group (standard screening invitation routine). Results were based on intention to treat analysis and cost‐effectiveness was calculated as marginal cost per cancer case prevented. The endpoint was the frequency of testing. The total response rate in the self‐testing arm was 24.5%, significantly higher than in the telephone arm (18%, RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.19–1.57) and the control group (10.6%, RR 2.33, 95% CI 2.00–2.71). All nine women who tested positive for high‐risk HPV attended for a cervical smear and colposcopy. From the health‐care sector perspective, the intervention will most likely lead to no additional cost. Offering a self‐test for HPV as an alternative to Pap smears increases participation among long‐term non‐attendees. Offering various screening options can be a successful method for increasing participation in this group.
A model for the structure of chromatin in mammalian sperm

DNA in mammalian, and most vertebrate sperm, is packaged by protamines into a highly condensed, biochemically inert form of chromatin. A model is proposed for the structure of this DNA-protamine complex which describes the site and mode of protamine binding to DNA and postulates, for the first time, specific inter- and intraprotamine interactions essential for the organization of this highly specialized chromatin. In this model, the central polyarginine segment of protamine binds in the minor groove of DNA, crosslinking and neutralizing the phosphodiester backbone of DNA while the COOH- and NH2-terminal ends of protamine participate in the formation of inter- and intraprotamine hydrogen, hydrophobic, and disulfide bonds. Each protamine segment is of sufficient length to fill one turn of DNA, and adjacent protamines are locked in place around DNA by multiple disulfide bridges. Such an arrangement generates a neutral, insoluble chromatin complex, uses all protamine sulfhydryl groups for cross linking, conserves volume, and effectively renders the chromatin invulnerable to most external influences.
Involvement of Sensory Regions in Affective Experience: A Meta-Analysis

A growing body of work suggests that sensory processes may also contribute to affective experience. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of affective experiences driven through visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory stimulus modalities including study contrasts that compared affective stimuli to matched neutral control stimuli. We found, first, that limbic and paralimbic regions, including the amygdala, anterior insula, pre-supplementary motor area, and portions of orbitofrontal cortex were consistently engaged across two or more modalities. Second, early sensory input regions in occipital, temporal, piriform, mid-insular, and primary sensory cortex were frequently engaged during affective experiences driven by visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory inputs. A classification analysis demonstrated that the pattern of neural activity across a contrast map diagnosed the stimulus modality driving the affective experience. These findings suggest that affective experiences are constructed from activity that is distributed across limbic and paralimbic brain regions and also activity in sensory cortical regions.
Morphological, neurochemical and electrophysiological features of parvalbumin‐expressing cells: a likely source of axo‐axonic inputs in the mouse spinal dorsal horn

• Perception of normal bodily sensations relies on the precise regulation of sensory information entering the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. • Inhibitory, axoaxonic, synapses provide a mechanism for this regulation, but the source of these important inhibitory connections remains to be elucidated. • This study shows that a subpopulation of spinal interneurons that expresses parvalbumin and have specific morphological, connectivity and functional characteristics are a likely source of the inhibitory inputs that selectivity regulate non‐noxious tactile input in the spinal cord. • Our findings suggest that a loss of normal function in parvalbumin positive dorsal horn neurons may result in the development of tactile allodynia, where non‐painful stimuli gain the capacity to evoke the sensation of pain.
Uterine Relaxing Action of Parathyroid Hormone: Effect of Oxidation and Methionine Substitution

Abstract The effects of bPTH-(1-34), oxidized bPTH-(1-34),[Nle8, Nle8, Tyr34]bPTH-(1-34) amide, and oxidized [Nle8, Nle18, Tyr34]bPTH-(1-34)amide were tested in an in vitro rat uterine assay. When bPTH-(1-34) was treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the ability of this peptide to reduce oxytocin-stimulated uterine contraction in vitro was no longer evident. An analogue of bPTH-(1-34), in which the methionines at positions 8 and 18 were replaced with norleucine ([Nle8, Nle18, Tyr34]bPTH-(1-34)amide), was capable of reducing oxytocin-stimulated uterine contraction. However, when the [Nle8, Nle8, Tyr34]bPTH-(1-34)amide was oxidized, it retained the ability to reduce uterine contraction. Since we have previously shown that H2O2 oxidation affected only the methionines, these results suggest that the methionines are not necessary for the uterine activity of bPTH-(1-34). We have previously shown that oxidation of bPTH-(1-34) also destroys its blood vessel relaxing activity but has no effect in the rat or the Japanese quail hypercalcemic assays. These data combined with the results of the present studies suggest that the uterine and vascular smooth muscle relaxing properties of bPTH-(1-34) may require the same structural conformation and that this conformation is different from that required for the hypercalcemic action of the peptide.
Approximating Shortest Paths in Large-Scale Networks with an Application to Intelligent Transportation Systems

We propose a hierarchical algorithm for approximating shortest paths between all pairs of nodes in a large-scale network. The algorithm begins by extracting a high-level subnetwork of relatively long links (and their associated nodes) where routing decisions are most crucial. This high-level network partitions the shorter links and their nodes into a set of lower-level subnetworks. By fixing gateways within the high-level network for entering and exiting these subnetworks, a computational savings is achieved at the expense of optimality. We explore the magnitude of these tradeoffs between computational savings and associated errors both analytically and empirically with a case study of the Southeast Michigan traffic network. An order-of-magnitude drop in computation times was achieved with an on-line route guidance simulation, at the expense of less than 6% increase in expected trip times.
Unsupervised Spatio-Temporal Embeddings for User and Location Modelling

Many social network applications depend on robust representations of spatio-temporal data. In this work, we present an embedding model based on feed-forward neural networks which transforms social media check-ins into dense feature vectors encoding geographic, temporal, and functional aspects for modelling places, neighborhoods, and users. On the basis of this model, we further propose a Spatio-Temporal Embedding Similarity algorithm (STES) for location recommendation. In a range of experiments on real life data collected from Foursquare, Twitter, and Gowalla, we demonstrate our model's effectiveness at characterizing places and people, resulting in a significantly increased recommendation and classification performance as compared to the state of the art. Finally, we select eight major cities around the globe and verify the robustness and generality of our model by porting pre-trained models from one city to another, and thereby alleviating the need for costly local training.
Functional characterization of the KNOLLE-interacting t-SNARE AtSNAP33 and its role in plant cytokinesis

Cytokinesis requires membrane fusion during cleavage-furrow ingression in animals and cell plate formation in plants. In Arabidopsis, the Sec1 homologue KEULE (KEU) and the cytokinesis-specific syntaxin KNOLLE (KN) cooperate to promote vesicle fusion in the cell division plane. Here, we characterize AtSNAP33, an Arabidopsis homologue of the t-SNARE SNAP25, that was identified as a KN interactor in a yeast two-hybrid screen. AtSNAP33 is a ubiquitously expressed membrane-associated protein that accumulated at the plasma membrane and during cell division colocalized with KN at the forming cell plate. A T-DNA insertion in the AtSNAP33 gene caused loss of AtSNAP33 function, resulting in a lethal dwarf phenotype. atsnap33 plantlets gradually developed large necrotic lesions on cotyledons and rosette leaves, resembling pathogen-induced cellular responses, and eventually died before flowering. In addition, mutant seedlings displayed cytokinetic defects, and atsnap33 in combination with the cytokinesis mutant keu was embryo lethal. Analysis of the Arabidopsis genome revealed two further SNAP25-like proteins that also interacted with KN in the yeast two-hybrid assay. Our results suggest that AtSNAP33, the first SNAP25 homologue characterized in plants, is involved in diverse membrane fusion processes, including cell plate formation, and that AtSNAP33 function in cytokinesis may be replaced partially by other SNAP25 homologues.
Measuring Effortful Control Using the Children's Behavior Questionnaire–Very Short Form: Modeling Matters

abstract Effortful control (EC) is an important concept in the research on self-regulation in children. We tested 2 alternative factor models of EC as measured by the Children's Behavior Questionnaire–Very Short Form (CBQ–VSF; Putnam & Rothbart, 2006) in a large sample of preschoolers (N = 1,007): 1 lower order and 1 hierarchical second-order structure. Additionally, convergent and predictive validity of EC as measured by the CBQ–VSF were investigated. The results supported a hierarchical model. Moderate convergent validity of the second-order latent EC factor was found in that it correlated with compliance and observed EC tasks. Both CBQ–VSF EC measures were also negatively correlated with child physical aggression. The results have implications for the measurement, modeling, and interpretation of EC applying the CBQ.
Detection of Helicobacter pylori DNA in Fecal Samples from Infected Individuals

ABSTRACT Stool, gastric biopsy, and serum samples were collected from 22 subjects. DNA from stool was extracted, amplified, and hybridized with primers specific for the 16S rRNA gene of Helicobacter pylori. DNA from gastric biopsy specimens was analyzed similarly for comparison. Universal primers were used to confirm successful extraction of DNA from samples. Histologic, serologic, and DNA analyses were scored in a blinded fashion. Universal primer amplification verified successful DNA extraction from all stool and gastric tissue specimens. The gastric tissue DNA assay was positive for H. pylori in 11 of the 22 subjects, correlating completely with histologic and serologic results. Stool DNA was positive for H. pylori by our molecular assay in 8 of these 11 H. pylori-positive subjects. All subjects who were negative by histologic, serologic, and gastric tissue DNA analyses were also negative by stool DNA analysis. Compared to histology, serology, and gastric tissue DNA analyses, the sensitivity of our stool DNA assay was 73%, with a specificity of 100%.
Effects of urban particulate matter with high glucose on human monocytes U937

Epidemiological studies and animal experiments have shown that individuals with preexisting diseases, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), are more susceptible to particulate matter (PM)‐related cardiovascular diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. We hypothesized that PM and high glucose combined would cause enhanced effects on activation of monocytes and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) by inducing oxidative stress, which would further activate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Human monocytes U937 were used to test the effects of urban particulate matter (U‐PM) and high glucose. The results showed that exposure of monocytes to non‐toxic doses of U‐PM alone caused generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased phosphorylation of p38, and activation of monocytes which was reflected by up‐regulation of MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and IL‐8 expression and increased activity of pro‐MMP‐2 and pro‐MMP‐9. These effects were enhanced significantly when cells were exposed to U‐PM in a high‐glucose environment. Our results also showed that pre‐treatment of cells with ROS scavengers or inhibitors abolished U‐PM and high glucose‐induced increased phosphorylation of p38. Up‐regulation of pro‐MMP‐2 and pro‐MMP‐9 activity by U‐PM in the setting of high glucose level was dramatically attenuated by treatment of cells with the p38‐specific inhibitor, SB203580. These results suggest that activation of MMPs by U‐PM with high glucose is partly through p38 phosphorylation that is induced by oxidative stress. Our findings may have important implications in understanding the potential health effects of PM on susceptible populations such as those with DM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exercise Training for Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis

Background We conducted meta‐analyses examining the effects of endurance, dynamic resistance, combined endurance and resistance training, and isometric resistance training on resting blood pressure (BP) in adults. The aims were to quantify and compare BP changes for each training modality and identify patient subgroups exhibiting the largest BP changes. Methods and Results Randomized controlled trials lasting ≥4 weeks investigating the effects of exercise on BP in healthy adults (age ≥18 years) and published in a peer‐reviewed journal up to February 2012 were included. Random effects models were used for analyses, with data reported as weighted means and 95% confidence interval. We included 93 trials, involving 105 endurance, 29 dynamic resistance, 14 combined, and 5 isometric resistance groups, totaling 5223 participants (3401 exercise and 1822 control). Systolic BP (SBP) was reduced after endurance (−3.5 mm Hg [confidence limits −4.6 to −2.3]), dynamic resistance (−1.8 mm Hg [−3.7 to −0.011]), and isometric resistance (−10.9 mm Hg [−14.5 to −7.4]) but not after combined training. Reductions in diastolic BP (DBP) were observed after endurance (−2.5 mm Hg [−3.2 to −1.7]), dynamic resistance (−3.2 mm Hg [−4.5 to −2.0]), isometric resistance (−6.2 mm Hg [−10.3 to −2.0]), and combined (−2.2 mm Hg [−3.9 to −0.48]) training. BP reductions after endurance training were greater (P<0.0001) in 26 study groups of hypertensive subjects (−8.3 [−10.7 to −6.0]/−5.2 [−6.8 to −3.4] mm Hg) than in 50 groups of prehypertensive subjects (−2.1 [−3.3 to −0.83]/−1.7 [−2.7 to −0.68]) and 29 groups of subjects with normal BP levels (−0.75 [−2.2 to +0.69]/−1.1 [−2.2 to −0.068]). BP reductions after dynamic resistance training were largest for prehypertensive participants (−4.0 [−7.4 to −0.5]/−3.8 [−5.7 to −1.9] mm Hg) compared with patients with hypertension or normal BP. Conclusion Endurance, dynamic resistance, and isometric resistance training lower SBP and DBP, whereas combined training lowers only DBP. Data from a small number of isometric resistance training studies suggest this form of training has the potential for the largest reductions in SBP.