Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BosFinder: a novel pre-microRNA gene prediction algorithm in Bos taurus.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression transcriptionally (transcriptional activation or inactivation) and/or post-transcriptionally (translation inhibition or degradation of their target mRNAs). This phenomenon has significant roles in growth and developmental processes in plants and animals. Bos taurus is one of the most important livestock animals, having great importance in food and economical sciences and industries. However, limited information is available on Bos taurus constituent miRNAs because its whole genome assembly has been only recently published. Therefore, computational methods have been essential tools in miRNA gene prediction and discovery. Among these, machine-learning-based approaches are used to characterize genome scale pre-miRNAs from expressed sequence tags (ESTs). In this study, a support vector machine model was used to classify 33 structural and thermodynamic features of pre-miRNA genes. Public bovine EST data were obtained from different tissues in various developmental stages. A new algorithm, called BosFinder, was developed to identify and annotate the whole genome's derived pre-miRNAs. We found 18 776 highly potential pre-miRNA sequences. This is the first genome survey report of Bos taurus based on a machine-learning method for pre-miRNA gene finding. The bosfinder program is freely available at http://lbb.ut. ac.ir/Download/LBBsoft/BosFinder/.
3-D Statistical Simulation Comparison of Oxide Reliability of Planar MOSFETs and FinFET

New transistor architectures such as fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSoI) MOSFETs and FinFETs have been introduced in advanced CMOS technology generations to boost performance and to reduce statistical variability (SV). In this paper, the robustness of these architectures to random telegraph noise and bias temperature instability issues is investigated using comprehensive 3-D numerical simulations, and results are compared with those obtained from conventional bulk MOSFETs. Not only the impact of static trapped charges is investigated, but also the charge trapping dynamics are studied to allow device lifetime and failure rate predictions. Our results show that device-to-device variability is barely increased by progressive oxide charge trapping in bulk devices. On the contrary, oxide degradation determines the SV of SoI and FinFET devices. However, the SoI and multigate transistor architectures are shown to be significantly more robust in terms of immunity to time-dependent SV when compared with the conventional bulk device. The comparative study here presented could be of significant importance for reliability resistant CMOS circuits and systems design.
Relationships between components of emotional intelligence and physical pain in alcohol-dependent patients

Purpose Chronic pain is a significant comorbidity in individuals with alcohol dependence (AD). Emotional processing deficits are a substantial component of both AD and chronic pain. The aim of this study was to analyze the interrelations between components of emotional intelligence and self-reported pain severity in AD patients. Patients and methods A sample of 103 participants was recruited from an alcohol treatment center in Warsaw, Poland. Information concerning pain level in the last 4 weeks, demographics, severity of current anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as neuroticism was obtained. The study sample was divided into “mild or no pain” and “moderate or greater pain” groups. Results In the logistic regression model, across a set of sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical factors, higher emotion regulation and higher education predicted lower severity, whereas increased levels of anxiety predicted higher severity of self-reported pain during the previous 4 weeks. When the mediation models looking at the association between current severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms and pain severity with the mediating role of emotion regulation were tested, emotion regulation appeared to fully mediate the relationship between depression severity and pain, and partially the relationship between anxiety severity and pain. Conclusion The current findings extend previous results indicating that emotion regulation deficits are related to self-reported pain in AD subjects. Comprehensive strategies focusing on the improvement of mood regulation skills might be effective in the treatment of AD patients with comorbid pain symptoms.
Early cohort mortality predicts the rate of aging in the cohort: a historical analysis

Early environmental influences on later-life health and mortality are well recognized in the doubling of life expectancy since 1800. To further define these relationships, we analyzed the associations between early-life mortality and both the estimated mortality level at age 40 and the exponential acceleration in mortality rates with age characterized by the Gompertz model. Using mortality data from 630 cohorts born throughout the 19th and early 20th century in nine European countries, we developed a multilevel model that accounts for cohort and period effects in later-life mortality. We show that early-life mortality, which is linked to exposure to infection and poor nutrition, predicts both the estimated cohort mortality level at age 40 and the subsequent Gompertz rate of mortality acceleration during aging. After controlling for effects of country and period, the model accounts for the majority of variance in the Gompertz parameters (about 90% of variation in the estimated level of mortality at age 40 and about 78% of variation in the Gompertz slope). The gains in cohort survival to older ages are entirely due to large declines in adult mortality level, because the rates of mortality acceleration at older ages became faster. These findings apply to cohorts born in both the 19th century and the early 20th century. This analysis defines new links in the developmental origins of adult health and disease in which effects of early-life circumstances, such as exposure to infections or poor nutrition, persist into mid-adulthood and remain evident in the cohort mortality rates from ages 40 to 90.
Prevalence and correlates of cannabis use in developed and developing countries

Purpose of review The aim of this article is to review recent research on the prevalence, antecedents and correlates of cannabis use in young adults in developed and developing countries. Recent findings Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug globally and its use appears to be increasing in developed and developing countries. In developed countries rebelliousness, antisocial behaviour, poor school performance, and affiliation with drug-using peers are risk factors for early and regular cannabis use. Similar antecedents are now being reported in developing countries. Dependence is an underappreciated risk of cannabis that affects one in six to seven adolescents who use cannabis in developed countries. Adolescent cannabis dependence is correlated with an increased risk of using other illicit drugs, symptoms of depression, and symptoms of psychosis. The plausibility of cannabis playing a contributory causal role has increased for symptoms of psychosis in longitudinal studies but remains contentious. In the case of other illicit drug use and mood disorders common causal explanations remain difficult to exclude. Summary Early and regular cannabis use in adolescence predicts an increased risk of cannabis dependence which in turn predicts an increased risk of using other illicit drugs, and reporting symptoms of mood and psychotic disorders.
An in vivo model of in situ implantation using pulmonary valved conduit in large animals under off‐pump condition

Background The application of pulmonary valved conduit to reconstruct the continuity between right ventricles and pulmonary artery is one of the major surgeries. This study aimed to establish an in vivo model of in situ implantation using pulmonary valved conduit in large animals under off‐pump condition to validate the long‐term effects of artificial pulmonary valved conduit. Methods Domesticate juvenile male sheep and tissue‐engineered porcine pulmonary valved conduit were used for the experiment: 30 sheep, weighing (15±3) kg (range 13 to 17 kg) were randomly divided into two groups which were all operated under general anesthesia by off‐pump surgery (group 1) and left thoracotomy (group 2). Two different off‐pump surgical methods were used to perform cannulation in sheep pulmonary artery to replace part of sheep pulmonary artery with pulmonary valved conduit which will work together with sheep pulmonary artery and valves. During the experiments, animal survival, complication rates, operating time and blood loss were recorded to compare the results between groups and to establish a surgical method with minimal invasion, simplicity, safety, and high success rates. Results In group 1, a total of 15 cases of surgeries were performed, in which two sheep died; the operative mortality was 13.3% (2/15). In group 2, a total of 15 cases of surgeries were performed, and the surgical mortality rate was 0 (0/15). The operation time and blood loss in group 2 was significantly better than that in group 1. The postoperative echocardiograms showed that, after the surgeries by these two methods, the blood flows were normal, and the valves can open and close freely. Autopsy after 6 months showed that the inner wall and the valves of pulmonary valved conduit were smooth with no thrombus formation. Conclusion These two off‐pump methods are feasible and safe with fewer traumas; but the second method is better and particularly suitable for the establishment of a juvenile animal model.
Prebiotic selection for motifs in a model of template-free elongation of polymers within compartments

The transition from prelife where self-replication does not occur, to life which exhibits self-replication and evolution, has been a subject of interest for many decades. Membranes, forming compartments, seem to be a critical component of this transition as they provide several concurrent benefits. They maintain localized interactions, generate electro-chemical gradients, and help in selecting cooperative functions as they arise. These functions pave the way for the emergence and maintenance of simple metabolic cycles and polymers. In the context of origin of life, evolution of information-carrying molecules and RNA based enzymes within compartments has been subject to intensive theoretical and experimental research. Hence, many experimental efforts aim to produce compartments that contain elongating polynucleotides (also referred to as protocells), which store information and perform catalysis. Despite impressive experimental progress, we are still relatively ignorant about the dynamics by which elongating polynucleotides can produce more sophisticated behaviors. Here we perform computer simulations to couple information production through template-free elongation of polymers with dividing compartments. We find that polymers with a simple ability—biasing the concentration of monomers within their own compartment—can acquire a selective advantage in prelife. We further investigate whether such a mechanism allows for cooperative dynamics to dominate over purely competitive ones. We show that under this system of biased monomer addition, even without template-directed self-replication, genetic motifs can emerge, compete, cooperate, and ultimately survive within the population.
Psychological Determinants of Reactions to Food Risk Messages

In recent years, European countries have witnessed a number of food crises such as dioxin‐contaminated chicken, foot‐and‐mouth disease, and BSE. In such cases, food might be contaminated by microorganisms or chemicals that could pose a risk to the consumer. These cases attract media attention and might instigate the consumer to reduce the consumption of the allegedly contaminated products. Although a decline in consumption of (potentially) contaminated products has been observed, it is not yet clear what determines the individual's reaction to food risk messages. To study the psychological determinants of the reaction to food risk messages, a survey was conducted in the Netherlands (n= 280). Subjects had to imagine two situations involving chicken contamination and report how they would react behaviorally if this situation occurred. Risk perception, affective response, perceived susceptibility to foodborne disease, self‐efficacy, outcome expectation, trust, experience with foodborne disease, and need for information were also assessed. It was found that 60% of the subjects would allegedly avoid the risks by not consuming chicken for a while and approximately 60% would seek additional information. Risk avoidance was significantly related to information seeking and the psychological determinants, especially risk perception, affective response, need for information, perceived susceptibility to foodborne disease, and trust. Seeking information was also significantly related to risk perception, affective response, need for information, susceptibility to foodborne disease, and trust, but to a lesser degree. A model describing the relationships between the variables was tested using AMOS. Results are presented and implications are discussed.
THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT CHEMICAL MODIFICATIONS OF SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE IN PREVENTING A PROLONGED MUSCULAR ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION INJURY

It is well know that a long period of ischemia followed by reperfusion can create an irreversible tissue damage, also due to the excessive generation of oxygen-derived free radicals. A possibility for avoiding this syndrome is represented by the use of free radical scavengers, such as the superoxide dismutase (SOD). The current authors compared the results achieved through different modifications of this enzyme in an experimental rat hind limb model of ischemia/reperfusion. 60 rats that had a 4 hour and 30 minute ischemia of the left hind limb were divided into four groups of 15 each and treated using a physiological solution (control group), native SOD, monomethoxypolyethylene-glycol-SOD (mPEG–SOD) or poly(acryloilmorpholine)-SOD (PAcM–SOD). The outcomes obtained in terms of limb survival (p<0.05), as well as histomorphologic studies (p<0.0005), revealed a superior capacity of mPEG–SOD when compared with the other three substances.
Targeting the metabolic syndrome with exercise: evidence from the HERITAGE Family Study.

PURPOSE To determine the efficacy of exercise training in treating the metabolic syndrome. METHODS The sample included 621 black and white participants from the HERITAGE Family Study, identified as sedentary and apparently healthy (no chronic disease or injury). The metabolic syndrome was defined as having three or more risk factors according to the guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program, including elevated waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, blood glucose, and low HDL cholesterol. The presence of the metabolic syndrome and component risk factors were determined before and after 20 wk of supervised aerobic exercise training. RESULTS The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 16.9% in this sample (105/621) of apparently healthy participants. Of the 105 participants with the metabolic syndrome at baseline, 30.5% (32 participants) were no longer classified as having the metabolic syndrome after the exercise training. Among the 32 participants who improved their metabolic profile, 43% decreased triglycerides, 16% improved HDL cholesterol, 38% decreased blood pressure, 9% improved fasting plasma glucose, and 28% decreased their waist circumference. There were no sex or race differences in the efficacy of exercise in treating the metabolic syndrome: 32.7% of men, 28.0% of women, 29.7% of black, and 30.9% of white participants with the metabolic syndrome were no longer classified as having the syndrome after training. CONCLUSION Aerobic exercise training in patients with the metabolic syndrome can be useful as a treatment strategy and provides support for a role for physical activity in the prevention of chronic disease.
Effect of experimental variables onto Co2+ and Sr2+ sorption behavior in red mud-water suspensions

ABSTRACT The prospects of rinsed red mud (alumina production residue) utilization for liquid radioactive waste treatment have been investigated, with Co2+ and Sr2+ as model cations of radioactive elements. To evaluate the sorption effectiveness and corresponding binding mechanisms, the process was analyzed in batch conditions, by varying experimental conditions (pH, Co2+ and Sr2+ concentrations in single solutions and binary mixtures, contact time, and the concentration of competing cations and ligands common in liquid radioactive waste). Comparison of the Co2+ and Sr2+ sorption pH edges with the red mud isoelectric point has revealed that Co2+ removal took place at both positive and negative red mud surface, while Sr2+ sorption abruptly increased when the surface became negatively charged. The increase of initial cation content and pH resulted in increased equilibrium times and sorption capacity and decreased rate constants. From single metal solutions and various binary mixtures, Co2+ was sorbed more efficiently and selectively than Sr2+. While Sr2+ sorption was reduced by coexisting cations in the order Al3+ ≥ Ca2+ >Na+ ≥Cs+, removal of Co2+ was affected by Al3+ species and complexing agents (EDTA and citrate). Desorption of Co2+ was negligible in Ca2+ and Sr2+ containing media and in solutions with initial pH 4–7. Sr2+ desorption was generally more pronounced, especially at low pH and in the presence of Co2+. Collected macroscopic data signify that Co2+ sorption by red mud minerals occurred via strong chemical bonds, while Sr2+ was retained mainly by weaker ion-exchange or electrostatic interactions. Results indicate that the rinsed red mud represent an efficient, low-cost sorbent for Co2+ and Sr2+ immobilization.
Kinematic representation of imposed forearm movements by pericruciate neurons (areas 4 and 3a) in the awake cat.

In eight awake cats, elbow flexion movements were imposed by a computer-controlled torque motor using three different classes of angular displacement inputs: force step-load displacements; sinusoidal displacements; and constant-velocity ramp displacements. Microelectrode recordings were obtained from 309 pericruciate neurons in areas 4 and 3a. Average response histograms for single-unit activity coupled with computer simulation of the imposed movements have shown in a neuronal population (n = 81), selected for receptive fields that were directly related to elbow movements, that both the magnitude and temporal features of the responses can be characterized by the coefficients of a third-order differential equation describing the movement's angular kinematics (i.e., position, velocity, acceleration, and jerk). To compare the responses of different neurons the coefficients were normalized to the angular velocity coefficient, which was assigned a weighted value of 1.0. The neurons' average responses were "predictable" by the normalized coefficients regardless of the imposed movements' temporal characteristics. Two distinct and spatially separate pericruciate areas containing neurons that responded to the imposed forearm movements were located: 1) one within area 4 at the lateral extent of the cruciate sulcus, which contained neurons that responded with predominant jerk and acceleration coefficients, exhibited either cutaneous or deep receptive fields, and demonstrated low microstimulation current thresholds to activate forelimb muscles; 2) a second, more laterally located area near the 3a/4 border in the postsygmoid gyrus, which contained neurons that responded with predominant velocity coefficients, and comparatively small jerk acceleration, and position coefficients, exhibited either cutaneous or deep receptive fields, and demonstrated high microstimulation thresholds (greater than 20 microA). Due to the sensitivity of the higher derivatives to changes in motion, the relative magnitude and time course of the average firing probability of area 4 neurons with prominent acceleration and jerk coefficients were dominated by these kinematic features during the more rapidly imposed movements. The findings are in accord with a hypothesis proposing that motor cortical neurons in area 4 form a sufficient substrate for a "predictive" feedback organization, and may constitute an essential component of a system capable of regulating errors in angular joint movements despite the relatively long conduction delays and the slow time course of muscle tension production inherent to mammalian neuromuscular systems.
Training Memory Self-efficacy in the Chronic Stage After Stroke

Background. Stroke patients with a low memory self-efficacy (MSE) report more memory complaints than patients with a high MSE. Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a memory-training program on MSE in the chronic phase after stroke and to identify which patients benefit most from the MSE training program. Methods. In a randomized controlled trial, the effectiveness of the MSE training program (experimental group) was compared with a peer support program (control group) in chronic stroke patients. The primary outcome was MSE, measured using the Metamemory-In-Adulthood Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included depression, quality of life, and objective verbal memory capacity. Changes in outcomes over the intervention period were compared between both groups. Demographic and clinical variables were studied as potential predictors of MSE outcome in the experimental group. Results. In total, 153 patients were included: mean age = 58 years (standard deviation [SD] = 9.7), 54.9% male, and mean of 54 months (SD = 37) after stroke. Of these, 77 were assigned to the training and 76 to the control group. Improvement of MSE (B = 0.40; P = .019) was significantly greater in the training than in the control group. No significant differences were found for the secondary outcomes. An increase in MSE after training was predicted by a younger age (B = −0.033; P = .006) and a better memory capacity (B = 0.043; P = .009), adjusted for baseline MSE. Conclusions. MSE can be improved by the MSE training program for stroke patients. Younger patients and patients with a better memory capacity benefit most from the MSE training program (Dutch Trial Register: NTR-TC 1656).
Central corneal thickness in European (white) individuals, especially children and the elderly, and assessment of its possible importance in clinical measures of intra‐ocular pressure

Purpose: To ascertain the impact of central corneal thickness (CCT, as assessed by pachometry) and central corneal curvature (as assessed by keratometry) on clinical measures of intra‐ocular pressure (IOP, as assessed by tonometry), especially in the young and elderly.
Methodology for the efficient use of operands in the design of compound instructions in ASIP

ASIP is widely used for the embedded processor design when stringent requirements are necessary such as fast time-to-market, good performance for the killer application and flexibility from software programming. Compound instruction, one type of various ASIs, gives the developers a chance of satisfying those requirements by encapsulating several operations into one instruction. However, encapsulating several operations into one compound instruction makes it hard to encoding instructions due to the lack of the room for encoding operands. Using implicit-operand requires no bits for encoding operands but increases the register pressure, resulting in many spills. Using the additional instruction words for encoding operands (multi-word instruction) allows the full exploitation of registers available in the processor as operand, but increases the code size. In this paper, we empirically investigate several ways of encoding operands for the compound instruction between the above two extremes, and give an advice for the design of compound instructions having many operands.