Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amphibians Do Not Follow Bergmann's Rule

Abstract The tendency for organisms to be larger in cooler climates (Bergmann's rule) is widely observed in endotherms, and has been reputed to apply to some ectotherms including amphibians. However, recent reports provide conflicting support for the pattern, questioning whether Bergmann's clines are generally present in amphibians. In this study, we measured 96,996 adult Plethodon from 3974 populations to test for the presence of Bergmann's clines in these salamanders. Only three Plethodon species exhibited a significant negative correlation between body size and temperature consistent with Bergmann's rule, whereas 37 of 40 species did not display a pattern consistent with this prediction. Further, a phylogenetic comparative analysis found no relationship between body size and temperature among species. A meta-analysis combining our data with the available data for other amphibian species revealed no support for Bergmann's rule at the genus (Plethodon), order (Caudata), or class (Amphibia) levels. Our findings strongly suggest that negative thermal body size clines are not common in amphibians, and we conclude that Bergmann's rule is not generally applicable to these taxa. Thus, evolutionary explanations of Bergmann's clines in other tetrapods need not account for unique life-history attributes of amphibians.
Therapeutics , Targets , and Chemical Biology Coxsackievirus B 3 Is an Oncolytic Virus with Immunostimulatory Properties That Is Active against Lung Adenocarcinoma

Although oncolytic virotherapy is a promising anticancer therapy, antitumor efficacy is hampered by low tumor selectivity. To identify a potent and selective oncolytic virotherapy, we carried out large-scale two-step screening of 28 enteroviral strains and found that coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) possessed specific oncolytic activity against nine human non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. CVB3-mediated cytotoxicity was positively correlated with the expression of the viral receptors, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor, and decayaccelerating factor, on NSCLC cells. In vitro assays revealed that the CVB3 induced apoptosis and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated (ERK) kinase (MEK) survival signaling pathways, leading to cytotoxicity and regulation of CVB3 replication. Intratumoral injections of CVB3 elicited remarkable regression of preestablished NSCLC tumors in vivo. Furthermore, administrations of CVB3 into xenografts on the right flank resulted in significantly durable regression of uninjected xenografts on the left flank, where replication-competent CVB3 was detected. All treatments with CVB3 were well tolerated without treatment-related deaths. In addition, after CVB3 infection, NSCLC cells expressed abundant cell surface calreticulin and secreted ATP as well as translocated extranuclear high-mobility group box 1, which are required for immunogenic cell death. Moreover, intratumoral CVB3 administration markedly recruited natural killer cells and granulocytes, both of which contributed to the antitumor effects as shown by depletion assays, macrophages, and mature dendritic cells into tumor tissues. Together, our findings suggest that CVB3 is a potent and well-tolerated oncolytic agent with immunostimulatory properties active against both localized and metastatic NSCLC. Cancer Res; 72(10); 2609–21. 2012 AACR.
Exploring Modality Switching Effects in Negated Sentences: Further Evidence for Grounded Representations

Theories of embodied cognition (e.g., Perceptual Symbol Systems Theory; Barsalou, 1999, 2009) suggest that modality specific simulations underlie the representation of concepts. Supporting evidence comes from modality switch costs: participants are slower to verify a property in one modality (e.g., auditory, BLENDER-loud) after verifying a property in a different modality (e.g., gustatory, CRANBERRIES-tart) compared to the same modality (e.g., LEAVES-rustling, Pecher et al., 2003). Similarly, modality switching costs lead to a modulation of the N400 effect in event-related potentials (ERPs; Collins et al., 2011; Hald et al., 2011). This effect of modality switching has also been shown to interact with the veracity of the sentence (Hald et al., 2011). The current ERP study further explores the role of modality match/mismatch on the processing of veracity as well as negation (sentences containing “not”). Our results indicate a modulation in the ERP based on modality and veracity, plus an interaction. The evidence supports the idea that modality specific simulations occur during language processing, and furthermore suggest that these simulations alter the processing of negation.
Efficient implementation of SVM for large class problems

Multiclass classification is an important problem in pattern recognition. Hierarchical SVM classifiers such as DAG-SVM and BHC-SVM are popular in solving multiclass problems. However, a bottleneck with these approaches is the number of component classifiers, and the associated time and space requirements. In this paper, we describe a simple, yet effective method for efficiently storing support vectors that exploits the redundancies in them across the classifiers to obtain significant reduction in storage and computational requirements. We also present our extension to an algebraic exact simplification method for simplifying hierarchical classifier solutions.
Micro-RNAs Let7e and 126 in Plasma as Markers of Metabolic Dysfunction in 10 to 12 Years Old Children

Background Growing evidence shows that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is already starting in childhood however there is no consensus regarding how to diagnose this condition in pediatric population. Studies in adults show that altered levels of specific micro-RNAs are related with components of the MetS. Objective We determined the plasma levels of four MetS-associated micro-RNAs (miR-126, miR-132, mir-145 and Let-7e) in 10 to 12 years old children with or without MetS traits. Design Pediatric subjects were selected from a cohort of 3325 school-age children, and clustered by the absence (control, n = 30), or the presence of 1 (n = 50), 2 (n = 41) or 3 (n = 35) MetS traits according to Cook´s criteria. Micro-RNAs were isolated from plasma, and levels of miR-126, miR-132, miR-145 and Let-7e were determined by Taqman qPCR. Results Regression analysis of the different MetS traits regarding the different miRNAs analyzed showed that Let-7e presented a negative association with HDL-C levels, but a positive correlation with the number of MetS traits. Levels of miR-126 presented a positive correlation with waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, BMI, and plasma triglycerides and VLDL-C. Levels of miR-132 showed a positive correlation with waist to hip ratio. Plasma levels of Let-7e were increased (~3.4 fold) in subjects with 3 MetS traits, and showed significant AUC (0.681; 95%CI = [0.58, 0.78]; p < 0.001) in the ROC analysis which were improved when miR-126 was included in the analysis (AUC 0.729; p < 0.001). In silico analysis of the interaction of proteins derived from mRNAs targeted by Let7 and miR-126 showed an important effect of both Let-7e and miR-126 regulating the insulin signaling pathway. Conclusions These results suggest that changes in the plasma levels of Let-7e and miR-126 could represent early markers of metabolic dysfunction in children with MetS traits.
Lung cancer among Chinese women

A case‐control stud/involving interviews with 672 female lung cancer patients and 735 population‐based controls was conducted to investigate the high rates of lung cancer, notably adenocarcinoma, among women in Shanghai. Cigarette smok‐ ing was a strong risk factor, but accounted for only about one‐ fourth of all newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer. Most patients, particularly with adenocarcinoma, were life‐long non‐smokers. The risks of lung cancer were higher among women reporting tuberculosis and other pre‐existing lung diseases. Hormonal factors were suggested by an increased risk associated with late menopause and by a gradient in the risk of adenocarcinoma with decreasing menstrual cycle length, with a 3‐fold excess among women who had shorter cycles. Perhaps most intriguing were associations found between lung cancer and measures of exposure to cooking oil vapors. Risks increased with the numbers of meals cooked by either stir frying, deep frying or boiling; with the frequency of smokiness during cooking; and with the frequency of eye irritation during cooking. Use of rapeseed oil, whose volatiles following high‐temperature cooking may be mutagenic, was also re‐ ported more often by the cancer patients. The findings thus confirm that factors other than smoking are responsible for the high risk of lung cancer among Chinese women and provide clues for further research, including the assessment of cooking practices.
Mechanical Thromboembolectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Comparison of the Catch Thromboectomy Device and the Merci Retriever In Vivo

Background and Purpose— The purpose of the study was to compare efficacy and potential complications of 2 commercially available devices for mechanical thromboembolectomy. Methods— Devices were tested in an established animal model allowing the use of routine angiography catheters and thrombectomy devices. Radio-opaque thrombi were used for visualization of thrombus–device interaction during angiography. The Merci Retrieval System and the Catch Thromboembolectomy System were assessed each in 10 vessel occlusions. For every occluded vessel up to 5 retrieval attempts were performed. Results— Sufficient recanalization was achieved with the Merci Retriever in 90% of occlusions, and with the Catch device recanalization was achieved in 70% of occlusions. Recanalization at the first attempt occurred significantly more often with the Merci Retriever compared to the Catch device (OR, 21; 95% CI, 1.78–248.11). Consequently, significantly more attempts (P=0.02) had to be performed with the Catch device; therefore, time to recanalization was longer. Thrombus fragmentations during retrieval were caused more often by the Catch device compared to the Merci Retriever (OR, 15.6; 95% CI, 1.73–140.84), resulting in a higher distal embolization rate. During retrieval both devices lost thrombotic material at the tip of the guide catheter, which was then aspirated in most cases. Conclusions— Both distal devices are effective for thromboembolectomy. To avoid loss of thrombotic material and distal embolization, the use of large luminal balloon guide catheters and aspiration during retrieval seems to be mandatory. The design of the Merci Retriever appears to be more efficient during thrombus mobilization and retrieval with less fragmentation compared to the Catch Thromboembolectomy System.
Osteoporosis in men with prostate carcinoma receiving androgen‐deprivation therapy

Androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT) is prescribed with increasing frequency for men with prostate carcinoma. There is growing concern about the effects of such therapy on the skeleton. In the current review, the authors addressed the current research, diagnostic methods, and treatment recommendations for bone loss and osteoporosis in men with prostate carcinoma who received ADT.
Hyperbolic groups with boundary an n-dimensional Sierpinski space

For [Formula: see text], we show that if [Formula: see text] is a torsion-free hyperbolic group whose visual boundary [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-dimensional Sierpinski space, then [Formula: see text] for some aspherical [Formula: see text]-manifold [Formula: see text] with non-empty boundary. Concerning the converse, we construct, for each [Formula: see text], examples of aspherical manifolds with boundary, whose fundamental group [Formula: see text] is hyperbolic, but with visual boundary [Formula: see text] not homeomorphic to [Formula: see text]. Our examples even support (metric) negative curvature, and have totally geodesic boundary.
Pharmacological Characterization of MK-0974 [N-[(3R,6S)-6-(2,3-Difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-3-yl]-4-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-yl)piperidine-1-carboxamide], a Potent and Orally Active Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonist for the Treatment of 

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a potent neuropeptide that plays a key role in the pathophysiology of migraine headache. CGRP levels in the cranial circulation are increased during a migraine attack, and CGRP itself has been shown to trigger migraine-like headache. The correlation between CGRP release and migraine headache points to the potential utility of CGRP receptor antagonists as novel therapeutics in the treatment of migraine. Indeed, clinical proof-of-concept in the acute treatment of migraine was demonstrated with an intravenous formulation of the CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN4096BS (olcegepant). Here we report on the pharmacological characterization of the first orally bioavailable CGRP receptor antagonist in clinical development, MK-0974 [N-[(3R,6S)-6-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)azepan-3-yl]-4-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-yl)piperidine-1-carboxamide]. In vitro, MK-0974 is a potent antagonist of the human (Ki = 0.77 nM) and rhesus (Ki = 1.2 nM) CGRP receptors but displays >1500-fold lower affinity for the canine and rat receptors as determined via 125I-human CGRP competition binding assays. A rhesus pharmacodynamic assay measuring capsaicin-induced changes in forearm dermal blood flow via laser Doppler imaging was utilized to determine the in vivo activity of CGRP receptor antagonism. MK-0974 produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of dermal vasodilation, generated by capsaicin-induced release of endogenous CGRP, with plasma concentrations of 127 and 994 nM required to block 50 and 90% of the blood flow increase, respectively. In conclusion, MK-0974 is a highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable CGRP receptor antagonist, which may be valuable in the acute treatment of migraine.
Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium kansasii Strains Isolated from Rhesus Macaques

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium kansasii is a nontuberculous mycobacterium. It causes opportunistic infections with pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations. We report here the complete genome sequences of two M. kansasii strains isolated from rhesus macaques. We performed genome comparisons with human and environmental isolates of M. kansasii to assess the genomic diversity of this species.
Towards the cross-cultural validation of the eating disorders inventory : a pilot study.

Eating disorders were predominantly perceived to be a white, Western higher socioeconomic phenomenon. However, as Western cultural values have been embraced, eating disorders appear to have become prevalent across racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups. In the last decade there has been an increased interest in assessing eating disorders from a cross-cultural perspective. Many studies have been conducted in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Relatively few empirical studies have been conducted in South Africa. The Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) is an instrument that has been used in eating disorder research and is known to be reliable and valid. Although the EDI has been used in South Africa, its cross-cultural validity has not yet been determined. The purpose of this research is a pilot cross-cultural validation of the EDI to determine if this design would be appropriate for a large-scale validation project.
Ultrafast Phase Comparator for Phase-Locked Loop-Based Optoelectronic Clock Recovery Systems

The authors report on a novel application of a chi(2) nonlinear optical device as an ultrafast phase comparator, an essential element that allows an optoelectronic phase-locked loop to perform clock recovery of ultrahigh-speed optical time-division multiplexed (OTDM) signals. Particular interest is devoted to a quasi-phase-matching adhered-ridge-waveguide periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) device, which shows a sufficient high temporal resolution to resolve a 640 Gbits OTDM signal.
Optimal power scheduling of fuel-cell-car-based microgrids

A parking lot for fuel cell cars is considered inside a microgrid where the fuel cell cars are exploited to generate power inside the microgrid. A central control unit is considered in the microgrid in order to guarantee the power balance of the microgrid by means of scheduling the power generation of fuel cell cars. To compensate the uncertainty in the prediction of the load, three robust model predictive control methods are designed. Simulation of a case study compares the developed control methods and the performance of each method is evaluated.
A Comparative Study of 25 (OH) Vitamin D Serum Levels in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Control Group in Isfahan, Iran

Objectives: There is no study about correlation between vitamin D serum level and multiple sclerosis (MS) in Iran. So in this survey, we investigated the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in MS patients and compared it with controls in central region of Iran, an area with medium to high risk for MS disease, in spite of high sun exposure. Methods: A case-control study was conducted from July 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009. We enrolled 50 definitive MS patients, according to McDonald’s criteria as case group and 50 matched controls. Our age limits were 15 to 55 years and those patients with estimated expanded disability status scale less than 5 were introduced to the study. We measured serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and compared them between the two groups. Results: We gathered 42 females and 8 males as case group and the same numbers as control group without significant age difference. The mean serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in case and control groups were 48 and 62 nmol/L, respectively, and the difference was significant (P=0.036). Also, our study showed significant discrepancy between the two groups according to the rate of deficiency, insufficiency and normal range of vitamin D categories (P=0.021). Conclusions: We found the same results as those studies carried out in Europe and North America; i.e., lower serum vitamin D level in MS patients than that in normal population, in spite of sufficient sun exposure in Isfahan region.
Committed Romantic Relationships in Couples with ADHD: Subtypes, Conflict Resolution and Satisfaction

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been associated with less satisfaction and success in romantic relationships (Canu, Schatz, & Haslag, 2007). This study compares relational patterns in young adult, romantic couples and individuals with ADHD-Combined Type (C-couples/C-probands), ADHD-Inattentive Type (IA-couples/IA-probands), and non-diagnosed couples. Self-reports of current and childhood ADHD symptoms facilitated group assignment; relationship satisfaction, dyadic interaction behaviors, and conflict resolution styles were the primary dependent variables. Statistical analyses revealed greater negativity and dissatisfaction in C-couples relative to IA-, and non-diagnosed couples. IA-couples showed relational adjustment similar to non-diagnosed couples. C-probands generally used aggressive conflict tactics, whereas IA-probands sparsely endorsed any particular conflict style. The results support the overall relational impairment of C-couples and are discussed in regards to interpersonal success.
3D Modeling for the Architectural Engineering and Construction Industry

Residential design and construction relies heavily on construction documentation to convey not only form and function, but also to aid in the estimation and marketing of the structure. If done with traditional methods, residential design and construction requires many people and hours to gather the data in useful forms. The traditional documents that are necessary for the construction processes are the estimate, bill of material and construction documents or working drawings. Furthermore, technology is providing marketing alternatives such as three-dimensional models for visualization, simulation and spatial analysis. In today’s extremely competitive construction market, it is logical to identify ways to combine tasks in order to save time and money. The advent of Computer Aided Design in the construction process has saved an abundance of time and energy, but these tools are not being utilized to their full potential. Some designers and architects are simply trading in their board and T-square for a mouse and a monitor, but the idea of a computer is to advance current practices, not just be an alternative method. The computer, if utilized correctly, can create not only the traditional two-dimensional data, but also three-dimensional information that can provide construction documentation and marketing requirements. The availability of multiple AEC products can make it very hard for the user to select the correct application for their company. This leads us to research in the comparison of the products available. In this paper, we have chosen to compare and contrast “geometric modelers” versus “parametric modelers” to show the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Heritable Gene Regulation in the CD4:CD8 T Cell Lineage Choice

The adaptive immune system is dependent on functionally distinct lineages of T cell antigen receptor αβ-expressing T cells that differentiate from a common progenitor in the thymus. CD4+CD8+ progenitor thymocytes undergo selection following interaction with MHC class I and class II molecules bearing peptide self-antigens, giving rise to CD8+ cytotoxic and CD4+ helper or regulatory T cell lineages, respectively. The strict correspondence of CD4 and CD8 expression with distinct cellular phenotypes has made their genes useful surrogates for investigating molecular mechanisms of lineage commitment. Studies of Cd4 and Cd8 transcriptional regulation have uncovered cis-regulatory elements that are critical for mediating epigenetic modifications at distinct stages of development to establish heritable transcriptional programs. In this review, we examine the epigenetic mechanisms involved in Cd4 and Cd8 gene regulation during T cell lineage specification and highlight the features that make this an attractive system for uncovering molecular mechanisms of heritability.
Study of Intellectualized Fluorescence Spectrometer with Optical Fiber

This intellectualized optical fiber fluorescence spectrometer system adopts module design principle. Every optical unit is coupled by optical fiber, and the circuit of every part also adopts module design, making the whole system can be easily assembled, debugged and maintained. The system adopts new type of three-grating construction. It makes use of intellectualized control system to control the rotate table and the change of the three pieces of gratings, ensuring each grating work at the most efficient area of its first-class diffracting spectrum. The work range of the synthetic spectrum can overlay the complete spectrum area, and the measurement scope is 200-1000nm. The testing result shows that the performance of the system is steady and reliable, and the technique index fulfills the requirement of scientific research and other application study.