Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Body dissatisfaction and the wish for different silhouette is associated with higher adiposity and fat intake in female ballet dancers than male.

BACKGROUND It is known that behavioral disorders and altered food intake are linked to ballet dancers. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the body composition, dietetic profile, self-perceived body image and social desirability in professional ballet dancers. METHODS This study was conducted from April to October 2010 in athletes screened for nutritional evaluation. Anthropometric, dietary, social desirability and self-perceived body image evaluation were performed to attend the aim of study. RESULTS We found that ballet dancers are highly trained and eutrophic, although female dancers had higher adiposity and fat intake than male dancers. In addition, it was observed low consumption of calcium, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamin A. Moreover, 30% of male ballet dancers have a strong desire for social acceptance. When the body image was evaluated by Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), was reported that 40% of the ballet female dancers have of moderate to severe alteration in body image and 20% of male dancers had slight alteration. Furthermore, the Drawings and Silhouettes Scale showed that 80% of male dancers wish to have a smaller or larger silhouette than the current self-perceived and 60% of the female dancers would like to have a silhouette lower than the self-perceive as current. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results shown that most of the dancers were eutrophic, but female athletes have higher adiposity and present strong desire for a different shape of current. Furthermore, was found increased fat intake in female group; however, deficiencies in consumption of dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamin A were found in both gender.
Significance of lymphoblasts in cerebrospinal fluid in newly diagnosed pediatric acute lymphoblastic malignancies with bone marrow involvement: possible benefit of dexamethasone.

We analyzed retrospectively the data on 135 children treated since 1983 for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with bone marrow involvement with respect to the presence of lymphoblasts in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the number of cells in CSF, both at initial diagnosis and during follow-up. Of these children 96, 11, and 28 suffered from B-progenitor, mature B cell, and T-cell malignancies respectively. In two patients initial central nervous system involvement was documented by the presence of lymphoblasts with high CSF cell counts (B+C+ patients); 19 patients had CSF lymphoblasts with normal CSF cell counts (B+C- patients); the others had no CSF blasts and normal CSF cell counts (B-C- patients). In B+C- and B-C- patients 5-year-leukaemia-free survival was 66 and 70%, respectively (i.e., not significantly different). None of the B+C- patients experienced a first relapse in the central nervous system. Differences in outcome by comparing with reports of others may be related to the use of dexamethasone instead of prednisone in almost all of our patients.
Molecular determinants of NMDA receptor function in GABAergic neurones of rat forebrain.

1. The functional and molecular properties of NMDA receptors (NMDA‐Rs) were studied in single, visually identified GABAergic medial septal neurones of the rat forebrain using patch clamp, fluorometric Ca2+ measurements and the single‐cell reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) technique. 2. Large neurones close to the mid‐line of the medial septal region were shown by the expression of mRNA for a form of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65) to be almost exclusively GABAergic. A variety of NR2 subunit combinations were detected in the same population of neurones. When tested for NR2A‐C, all but one neurone were shown to express mRNA for NR2B. The NR2B subunit mRNA was usually detected together with NR2A or NR2C. mRNA for NR2D was detected in most neurones from a separate batch of cells tested only for this subunit. 3. Single channel measurements in outside‐out patches combined with RT‐PCR on the same cell showed that NMDA‐R channels from these neurones had main single channel conductance levels of 42 pS in 2 mM Ca2+ and 49 pS in 1 mM Ca2+. In addition, a number of other conductance levels were observed, with values in 2 mM Ca2+ of 51, 31, 19 and 13 pS. No clear difference was observed in the pattern of conductance levels displayed by neurones in which different subunit combinations were detected. 4. Whole‐cell agonist‐induced currents were strongly reduced by the NMDA‐R antagonist ifenprodil, at a concentration that mainly affects receptors containing NR2B in recombinant systems. Currents activated by NMDA had a high sensitivity to extracellular Mg2+. 5. The fraction of the total cation current through NMDA‐R that was carried by Ca2+, measured using a combination of patch clamp and fluorometry in neurones loaded with a high concentration of the Ca2+ indicator fura‐2, was found to be approximately 12%. 6. NMDA‐R‐mediated excitatory synaptic currents (EPSCs) had similar time courses to those in neurones in other brain regions. The decay kinetics were biexponential, with respective mean values for the fast (tau f) and slow (tau 8) time constants of 79 and 300 ms at ‐60 mV, and 66 and 284 ms at +40 mV. EPSCs were greatly reduced by ifenprodil (3 microM). 7. In conclusion, NMDA receptors in GABAergic medial septal neurones display a characteristic functional profile. The NR2 subunit mRNA detected and the single channel conductance levels observed suggest that, in addition to NR2B, which is present in nearly all cells, NR2A, NR2C and NR2D are also expressed. However, most of the functional properties of NMDA‐Rs in these neurones, including the strong inhibition by ifenprodil and Mg2+, the high fractional Ca2+ current, and the time course of the synaptic currents, are more consistent with those known for NR2B than for the other NR2 subunits. These results suggest that the NR2B subunit dominates over other NR2 subunits in determining the functional properties of NMDA‐Rs in these neurones.
Agitation-increased electromyogram activity in the corrugator muscle region: a possible explanation of the "Omega sign"?

The corrugator muscle region of the forehead has special significance in producing facial expressions associated with depression. Darwin observed in 1872 that contractions in the corrugator region produce peculiarly formed wrinkles on the forehead, referred to as "Omega Melancholium. " In the present study, results from 61 right-handed, drug-free women with major depressive disorder showed a significant positive correlation between facial corrugator EMG values and psychomotor agitation. Results were not due to differences in severity of depression. These data offer preliminary evidence that agitation is reflected in corrugator muscle activity and may explain the "Omega sign" of melancholia.
MODELING LEARNING ON DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF SYNAPSES

Learning is a process involved in multiple timescales. As per biology, changes which last from milliseconds to seconds and hours to days are the main mediators for the formation of short-term and long-term memory. It is obvious that, memory formation is neither static nor it is restricted into a one phase of life. Every step we keep in our life, even it succeed or fail or no matter what happen, we learn from them and acquire invaluable knowledge on that, which makes us easy manipulation on similar events in future. Thus continuous learning in a dynamic environment is a necessary qualification for the researches which are interested in studying phenomena, such as addiction, stress, noise, etc on such a dynamic learning environments. This research proposes a new approach of modelling our nervous system with the intention of implementing learning on dynamic environment.
Comparative Analysis of Partitioned Stator Flux Reversal PM Machine and Magnetically Geared Machine Operating in Stator-PM and Rotor-PM Modes

In this paper, the partitioned stator flux reversal permanent magnet (PM) (PS-FRPM) machine and the conventional magnetically geared (MG) machine operating in both stator-PM (SPM) and rotor-PM (RPM) modes are comparatively analyzed in terms of electromagnetic performance to provide design guides for an MG machine regarding an SPM- or RPM-type machine and a higher or lower gear ratio machine. It is found that an SPM-type machine is recommended since both PS-FRPM and MG machines operating in SPM modes have a higher phase back-EMF and hence torque than their RPM counterparts, respectively, as a result of a similar phase flux linkage but a higher electric frequency since the iron piece number is larger than the PM pole-pair number. Moreover, a smaller gear ratio machine is preferred from the perspective of a higher power factor and hence a lower inverter power rating, as the conventional MG machines with higher gear ratios suffer from larger flux-leakage, higher synchronous reactance and hence lower power factors, as well as higher iron losses, than the PS-FRPM machines. However, higher gear ratio machines feature lower cogging torques and torque ripples due to the smaller difference between the PM pole-pair number and iron piece number. Both prototypes of PS-FRPM machine operating in SPM mode and MG machine operating in RPM mode are built and tested to verify the finite element predicted results.
N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptors: Subunit Assembly and Trafficking to the Synapse*

NMDA 1 receptors (NMDARs) are members of the glutamate receptor family of ion channels, which also includes the AMPA, kainate, and delta subtypes of receptors. NMDARs are present at excitatory synapses in the mammalian central nervous system and have specialized characteristics, including voltage-de-pendent block by magnesium, calcium permeability, and slow deactivation kinetics (1). Biophysical studies of NMDARs outline a complex pharmacology with multiple modulatory sites (1). Calcium entry through the NMDAR regulates numerous downstream signaling pathways leading to both short term and long term neuronal changes (recently reviewed in Ref. 2). This calcium flux is also necessary for inducing long term potentiation, a molecular model of memory (3), suggesting that NMDARs are key players in memory formation and synaptic plasticity. In addition, NMDAR dysfunction is implicated in numerous neurologic and psychiatric disorders, and therapeu-tic agents that target NMDARs have been studied. The present review will focus on the subunit assembly and trafficking of NMDA receptors, areas of significant progress in recent years.
Effects of harvest and climate on population dynamics of northern bobwhites in south Florida

Context Hunting-related (hereafter harvest) mortality is assumed to be compensatory in many exploited species. However, when harvest mortality is additive, hunting can lead to population declines, especially on public land where hunting pressure can be intense. Recent studies indicate that excessive hunting may have contributed to the decline of a northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population in south Florida. Aims This study aimed to estimate population growth rates to determine potential and actual contribution of vital rates to annual changes in population growth rates, and to evaluate the role of harvest and climatic variables on bobwhite population decline. Methods We used demographic parameters estimated from a six-year study to parameterise population matrix models and conduct prospective and retrospective perturbation analyses. Key results The stochastic population growth rate (λS = 0.144) was proportionally more sensitive to adult winter survival and survival of fledglings, nests and broods from first nesting attempts; the same variables were primarily responsible for annual changes in population growth rate. Demographic parameters associated with second nesting attempts made virtually no contribution to population growth rate. All harvest scenarios consistently revealed a substantial impact of harvest on bobwhite population dynamics. If the lowest harvest level recorded in the study period (i.e. 0.08 birds harvested per day per km2 in 2008) was applied, λS would increase by 32.1%. Winter temperatures and precipitation negatively affected winter survival, and precipitation acted synergistically with harvest in affecting winter survival. Conclusions Our results suggest that reduction in winter survival due to overharvest has been an important cause of the decline in our study population, but that climatic factors might have also played a role. Thus, for management actions to be effective, assessing the contribution of primary (e.g. harvesting) but also secondary factors (e.g. climate) to population decline may be necessary. Implications Reducing hunting pressure would be necessary for the recovery of the bobwhite population at our study site. In addition, an adaptive harvest management strategy that considers weather conditions in setting harvest quota would help reverse the population decline further.
FPGA implementation of a signal synthesizer for driving a high-power electrostatic motor

This paper describes a motor driver circuit for a high-power electrostatic motor using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Electrostatic actuators are popular in the field of micron or nano technologies but some high-power electrostatic motors have been developed for normal-sized applications. Dual Excitation Multiphase Electrostatic Drive (DEMED) is one of the strongest actuators among them. There are various driving methods for the motor (DEMED), however, regardless of driving methods, developing driving circuits is one of the difficulties for practical applications. To operate the motor, one or two three-phase signals are required and amplitudes of them must be a few kV. Hence multi-channel signal synthesizers and high-power amplifiers are needed for driver circuits. In addition, portability is required for some applications as well. In this research, therefore, quad Direct Digital Synthesizers (DDS) are built inside the one FPGA. In the performance evaluation, this driver circuit generates motor driving signals based on the position command that is given by a higher-level controller. It is confirmed that the electrostatic motor operates following reference position data, by using this FPGA-based motor driver.
The mode of antimicrobial action of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil)

S.D. COX, C.M. MANN, J.L. MARKHAM, H.C. BELL, J.E. GUSTAFSON, J.R. WARMINGTON and S.G. WYLLIE.2000. The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) exhibits broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity. Its mode of action against the Gram‐negative bacterium Escherichia coli AG100, the Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8325, and the yeast Candida albicans has been investigated using a range of methods. We report that exposing these organisms to minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations of tea tree oil inhibited respiration and increased the permeability of bacterial cytoplasmic and yeast plasma membranes as indicated by uptake of propidium iodide. In the case of E. coli and Staph. aureus, tea tree oil also caused potassium ion leakage. Differences in the susceptibility of the test organisms to tea tree oil were also observed and these are interpreted in terms of variations in the rate of monoterpene penetration through cell wall and cell membrane structures. The ability of tea tree oil to disrupt the permeability barrier of cell membrane structures and the accompanying loss of chemiosmotic control is the most likely source of its lethal action at minimum inhibitory levels.
Effect of dietary antibacterial peptide and zinc-methionine on performance and serum biochemical parameters in piglets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of antibac - terial peptide and zinc methionine on performance and some serum biochemical parameters of weaned piglets. Rongchang male piglets (28 days of age, initial weight 8.4 ± 0.65 kg) were used. All piglets were randomly allotted to four diets including the control group, the antibacterial peptide (AP) group containing 10 mg antibacterial peptide/kg diet, the zinc methionine (Zn-Met) group with 1 200 zinc methionine/kg diet (equal to 200 mg Zn 2+ /kg diet), the zinc methionine/antibacterial peptide (Zn/AP) group containing 10 mg antibacterial peptide and 1 200 mg zinc methionine/kg diet, respectively, in a 4-week feeding experiment. Each of these groups consisted of six replications with 8 pigs per replication. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) both improved in the antibacterial peptide group ( P < 0.05, P < 0.05), zinc methionine group ( P < 0.05, P < 0.05) and zinc methionine/antibacterial peptide group ( P < 0.01, P < 0.05), as compared with the control. Dietary zinc methionine also significantly reduced the diarrhoea ratio of piglets (P < 0.05). The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased ( P < 0.05) and total cholesterol (TC) decreased ( P < 0.05) in the antibacterial peptide group and zinc-methionine group, the high density lipoprotein (HDL) increased ( P < 0.05) in the zinc methionine group, as compared with the control. The results indicated that antibacterial peptide and zinc methionine were effective in improving growth performance, enhancing immune function, blood vessel function and antioxidant enzyme activity of piglets.
Collagen Cross-Linking in the Management of Microbial Keratitis

ABSTRACT Increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents has contributed to an elevated risk of complications of infectious keratitis. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) has been widely adopted for the management of keratoconus and post-refractive surgery corneal ectasia. It has recently been introduced as an option for treating keratitis due to multidrug resistant organisms. The purpose of this review is to discuss the rationale, safety, and evidence for CXL in infectious keratitis and its possible effect on ocular surface inflammation. Published data show that CXL is effective and safe as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment in selected cases of bacterial keratitis. The benefit of CXL probably varies according to the etiology of the infection.
Volumetry‐based selection of right posterior sector grafts for adult living donor liver transplantation

To determine the feasibility of volumetric criteria without anatomic exclusion for the selection of right posterior sector (RPS) grafts for adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), we reviewed and compared our transplant data for RPS grafts and right lobe (RL) grafts. Between January 2008 and September 2010, adult‐to‐adult LDLT was performed 65 times at our institute; 13 of the procedures (20%) were performed with RPS grafts [the posterior sector (PS) group], and 39 (60%) were performed with RL grafts (the RL group). The volumetry of the 13 RPS donor livers showed that the RPS volume was 39.8% ± 7.6% of the total liver volume. Ten of the 13 donors had to donate RPS grafts because the left liver volume was inadequate. All donor procedures were performed successfully, and all donors recovered from hepatectomy. However, longer operative times were required for the procurement of RPS grafts versus RL grafts (418 ± 40 versus 345 ± 48 minutes, P < 0.001). The postoperative recovery of liver function was smoother for the donors of the PS group versus the donors of the RL group. The RPS grafts had significantly smaller hepatic artery and bile duct openings than the RL grafts. All recipients with RPS grafts survived LDLT. No recipients experienced vascular graft complications or small‐for‐size graft dysfunction. There were no significant differences in the incidence of posttransplant complications between the donors and recipients of the PS and RL groups. The 3‐year graft survival rates were favorable in both groups (100% in the PS group versus 91% in the RL group). In conclusion, the selection of RPS grafts by volume criteria is a feasible strategy for an adult‐to‐adult LDLT program. Liver Transpl 17:1046–1058, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
A performance study of a cylindrical polarimetric array radar

In this paper, the polarimetric performance of a Phased Array Radar antenna with a cylindrical (CPPAR) configuration is analyzed and compared with a planar one with the same beam width and secondary low level (SLL). The size of each array is obtained according to the requirements of the maximum allowed beam width in all scanned directions, the maximum SLL and the maximum integrated cross-polar isolation ratio (ICPR). Finally, the co- and cross-polar patterns for PPPAR and CPPAR are compared.
Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte precursor frequency (CTLp‐f) as a tool for distinguishing permissible from non‐permissible class I mismatches in T‐cell‐depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Matching for HLA has been the gold standard in bone marrow donor selection. But, with the ever increasing number of identified HLA alleles, it is becoming more difficult to find a fully HLA‐identical donor other than a sibling. Retrospective analysis revealed that HLA mismatches do not necessarily give rise to acute graft‐versus‐host‐disease (GVHD). However, we have no means of defining these ‘permissible’ mismatches before bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Thus, we set out to establish whether functional matching by means of helper and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte precursor frequency analysis (HTLp‐f and CTLp‐f respectively) can be applied to this end. Fifty‐five recipient–donor pairs other than HLA‐identical siblings, the recipient of which received a T‐cell‐depleted graft, were analysed by high‐resolution HLA typing and/or HTLp‐f/CTLp‐f analysis. The predictive value of the CTLp‐f assay for development of acute GVHD was confirmed. More importantly, our data indicate that the CTLp‐f assay was able to discriminate permissible from non‐permissible HLA‐A, ‐B or ‐Cw mismatches, but not for DRB/DQB mismatches. The absolute number of alloreactive CTLs present in the graft correlated with the risk of acute GVHD. Although HTLp‐f and CTLp‐f together had a high negative predictive value, HTLp‐f outcome by itself was not correlated with acute GVHD. As we have no evidence yet that HTLp‐f or CTLp‐f can identify permissible DRB/DQB mismatches, high‐resolution matching for these antigens remains the best option. The combination of high‐resolution DRB/DQB typing and the CTLp‐f assay would enable the accurate prediction of the risk of acute GVHD while extending the pool of potential donors. Furthermore, it would enable adjustment of the number of T‐ cells in the graft accordingly to improve clinical outcome.
The University of Jordan E-Learning Platform: State, Students’ Acceptance and Challenges

The rapid changes and increased complexity in today’s world present new challenges and put new demands on the education system. There has been generally a growing awareness of the necessity to change and improve the existing system towards online learning. Jordan is one of the distinguished countries in the Middle East with rapid progress in education and with advanced teaching and learning technologies. The University of Jordan is trying to exploit Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education and moving forward by introducing the latest E-learning management systems (LMSs) to keep pace of technological revolution in the higher education. It is important to find out the impact of E-learning management system in the University of Jordan, examine the students’ acceptance for this new system and address the challenges facing the students while using the E-learning management system and these are what this paper is trying to do.