Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of an interleukin 1B gene polymorphism (−511) with Parkinson's disease in Finnish patients

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the two most common neurodegenerative conditions characterised by the presence of abnormal accumulation of proteins and loss of neurones in specific regions of the brain. The aetiology and pathogenesis of AD and PD still remain largely unknown. Evidence has emerged that immune mediated mechanisms may be important in the development of these disorders,1,2 and cytokine interleukin 1 (IL1) is one of the mediators suggested to be involved. The IL1 family comprises three proteins, the proinflammatory IL1α and IL1β and their inhibitor IL1 receptor antagonist (IL1Ra), which are encoded by the IL1A , IL1B , and IL1RN genes respectively.3 Since IL1 may have a role in AD4–8 and in PD,9,10 variation in the IL1A , IL1B , and IL1RN genes may be of importance in the development of these disorders. There is already some evidence in support of this, including the postulated association of the IL1A (−889) \*2/\*2 genotype with AD11 and the influence of the IL1B (−511) \*1/\*1 genotype on age at onset of PD.12 However, validation in different population groups is needed to determine whether polymorphisms located in the IL1A , IL1B , and IL1RN genes represent actual susceptibility factors for AD and PD. In the present study, our purpose was to investigate whether polymorphisms of the IL1 cluster genes are associated with the risk of AD or PD in Finnish patients. Ethical approval for the investigation was obtained from the local Hospital Ethical Committees. All patients and controls enrolled in the study were from western Finland. The AD group consisted of 92 sporadic late onset (>65 years) patients (63 women, 29 men). Thirty-eight patients (mean age at onset 73.7 years (SD 4.9)) met the clinical diagnostic criteria of the NINCDS-ADRDA Work …
Mapping the range and relative abundance of the two principal African malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto and An. arabiensis, using climate data

Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are major malaria vectors in Africa. We tested the hypothesis that the range and relative abundance of the two major vectors in the complex, An. gambiae sensu stricto and An. arabiensis, could be defined by climate. Climate was characterized at mosquito survey sites by extracting data for each location from climate surfaces using a Geographical Information System. Annual precipitation, together with annual and wet season temperature, defined the ranges of both vectors and were used to map suitable climate zones. Using data from West Africa, we found that where the species were sympatric, An. gambiae s.s. predominated in saturated environments, and An. arabiensis was more common in sites subject to desiccation (r2 =0.875, p <0.001). We used the nonlinear equation that best described this relationship to map habitat suitability across Africa. This simple model predicted accurately the relative abundance of both vectors in Tanzania (rs =0.745, p =0.002), where species composition is highly variable. The combined maps of species' range and relative abundance showed very good agreement with published maps. This technique represents a new approach to mapping the distribution of malaria vectors over large areas and may facilitate species–specific vector control activities.
Disability, self, and society

Disability, Self, and Society speaks with authenticity about disability as a process of identity formation within a culture that has done a great deal to de-emphasize the complexity of disability experience. Unlike many who hold the conventional sociological view of disability as a 'lack' or stigmatized identity, Tanya Titchkosky approaches disability as an agentive (not passive) embodiment of liminality and as a demonstration of socially valuable in-between-ness. She argues that disability can and should be a 'teacher' to, and about, non-disabled or 'temporarily abled' society. Titchkosky's poignant reflections on disability rely on the thought of Hannah Arendt as well as her personal experience as an individual with dyslexia living with a blind partner; she uniquely draws on her own and others' situations in order to demonstrate the sociopolitical character of disability. A thoughtful and cohesive integration of narrative and theory, Disability, Self, and Society presents a critical Canadian contribution to the growing subject of disability studies.
Immunosuppression and Heart Transplantation: How Do We Define Success?

In this issue, Teuteberg and colleagues describe their results with the routine use of alemtuzumab (AL) in cardiac transplant recipients, reportedly facilitating a steroid-free regimen. Although the use of induction therapy has been commonplace yet controversial for more than 20 years, the use of AL in an off-label fashion to treat heart transplant patients is novel, and previously published experience with this regimen is quite limited.
Collective Behavior of a Small-World Recurrent Neural System With Scale-Free Distribution

This paper proposes a scale-free highly clustered echo state network (SHESN). We designed the SHESN to include a naturally evolving state reservoir according to incremental growth rules that account for the following features: (1) short characteristic path length, (2) high clustering coefficient, (3) scale-free distribution, and (4) hierarchical and distributed architecture. This new state reservoir contains a large number of internal neurons that are sparsely interconnected in the form of domains. Each domain comprises one backbone neuron and a number of local neurons around this backbone. Such a natural and efficient recurrent neural system essentially interpolates between the completely regular Elman network and the completely random echo state network (ESN) proposed by Jaeger We investigated the collective characteristics of the proposed complex network model. We also successfully applied it to challenging problems such as the Mackey-Glass (MG) dynamic system and the laser time-series prediction. Compared to the ESN, our experimental results show that the SHESN model has a significantly enhanced echo state property and better performance in approximating highly complex nonlinear dynamics. In a word, this large scale dynamic complex network reflects some natural characteristics of biological neural systems in many aspects such as power law, small-world property, and hierarchical architecture. It should have strong computing power, fast signal propagation speed, and coherent synchronization.
Natural Grape Extracts Regulate Colon Cancer Cells Malignancy

Natural dietary components are evolutionary-selected molecules able to control inflammation and cancerous transformation and progression. Because many studies assessed the beneficial properties of key molecules extracted from grapes, we aimed at investigating the properties of Liofenol™, a natural red wine lyophilized extract, devoid of alcohol and composed by a miscellaneous of components (polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins). We proved that the colon cancer cell line HCT116 responded to Liofenol™ treatment by reducing their proliferation, in association with an increase of p53 and p21 cell cycle gate keepers. Liofenol™ increased dihydroceramides, sphingolipid mediators involved in cell cycle arrest and reduced proliferation rate. We observed a strong induction of antioxidant response, with the activation of the transcriptional factor Nrf2, involved in redox homeostasis and differentiation, without altering tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy. Liofenol™ induced an important morphology change in HCT116 cells, migration inhibition, undifferentiated stem/stem-like cells markers downregulation, and E-cadherin downregulation, interested in epithelia to mesenchymal malignant transition. We conclude that lyophilized grape extract, at dose comparable to putative dietary doses, can activate molecular pathways, involving Nrf2 signaling and the modulation of structural and signaling sphingolipid mediators that cooperate in promoting differentiation and reducing proliferation of digestive tract cancer cells.
Is Happiness Having What You Want, Wanting What You Have, or Both?

Rabbi Hyman Schachtel (1954) proposed that “happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have” (p. 37). In two studies, we tested Schachtel's maxim by asking participants whether or not they had and the extent to which they wanted each of 52 material items. To quantify how much people wanted what they had, we identified what they had and the extent to which they wanted those things. To quantify how much people had what they wanted, we identified how much they wanted and whether or not they had each item. Both variables accounted for unique variance in happiness. Moreover, the extent to which people wanted what they had partially mediated effects of gratitude and maximization on happiness, and the extent to which they had what they wanted partially mediated the effect of maximization. Results indicate that happiness is both wanting what you have and having what you want.
A 2D+3D face authentication system robust under pose and illumination variations

A complete face authentication system integrating 2D color and 3D depth images is described in this paper. Depth information, acquired by a novel low-cost 3D and color sensor based on the structured light approach, is used for robust face detection, localization and 3D pose estimation. To cope with illumination and pose variations, 3D information is used for the normalization of the input images. Illumination compensation exploits depth data to recover the illumination of the scene and relight the image under frontal lighting. The performance of the proposed system is tested on a face database of more than 3,000 images, in conditions similar to those encountered in real-world applications. Experimental results show that when normalized images, depicting upright orientation and frontal lighting, are used for authentication, significantly lower error rates are achieved. Moreover, the combination of color and depth data results in increased authentication accuracy, compared to the use of each modality alone.
Sensor fusion for precise autonomous vehicle navigation in outdoor semi-structured environments

This paper presents a guidance system for autonomous vehicles navigation in semi-structured outdoor environments. It integrates redundant encoders data and absolute positioning data provided by landmarks and artificial beacons. Natural features are localized using a laser range sensor, and magnetic sensing rulers were developed to detect magnetic markers buried in the ground. In the first fusion stage, data from four wheel encoders and one steering encoder are fused by means of an EKF, providing robust odometric information, namely in face of undesirable effects of wheels slippage. Next, a second fusion stage is processed for integrating odometric and absolute positioning data. Simulation and real experiments using a four-wheels actuated electrical vehicle are presented.
The Botrytis cinerea PAK kinase BcCla4 mediates morphogenesis, growth and cell cycle regulating processes downstream of BcRac

Rac proteins are involved in a variety of cellular processes. Effector proteins that interact with active Rac convey the GTPase‐generated signal to downstream developmental cascades and processes. Here we report on the analysis of the main effector and signal cascade downstream of BcRac, the Rac homolog of the grey mold fungus Botrytis cinerea. Several lines of evidence highlighted the p21‐activated kinase Cla4 as an important effector of Rac in fungi. Analysis of Δbccla4 strains revealed that the BcCla4 protein was sufficient to mediate all of the examined BcRac‐driven processes, including hyphal growth and morphogenesis, conidia production and pathogenicity. In addition, the Δbccla4 strains had altered nuclei content, a phenomenon that was previously observed in Δbcrac isolates, thus connecting the BcRac/BcCla4 module with cell cycle control. Further analyses revealed that BcRac/BcCla4 control mitotic entry through changes in phosphorylation status of the cyclin dependent kinase BcCdk1. The complete cascade includes the kinase BcWee1, which is downstream of BcCla4 and upstream of BcCdk1. These results provide a mechanistic insight on the connection of cell cycle, morphogenesis and pathogenicity in fungi, and position BcCla4 as the most essential effector and central regulator of all of these processes downstream of BcRac.
Sex Differences in Syntax and Usage in Oral and Written Language.

Popular belief generally holds that boys are less facile with language than are girls, although there is little conclusive research data supporting that opinion. Nevertheless, the opinion is a long-held one, even by many scholars. Jespersen (1925) observed that girls learn to talk earlier than boys and surpass them in learning to talk "correctly. " McCarthy (1953), Garai & Scheinfeld (1968), and Hutt (1972) all concluded, after surveying current literature, that research indicates that females surpass males on various measures of language proficiency. A number of studies of different aspects of language ability, however, have indicated no significant difference between the sexes on the majority of measures used (O'Donnell, Griffin, & Norris, 1967; Moore, 1967; Ciani, 1976). And in thorough reviews of the findings of such studies as those mentioned above which did claim differences, Fairwether (1976) and Macaulay (1978) concluded that findings of female superiority have been overstated. Macaulay pointed out that most of the sex differences claimed in the studies he reviewed were slight and, in fact, were not statistically significant based on usual criteria. Furthermore, he asserted that such sex differences as have shown up were small, especially in comparison to differences due to social class, ethnic group, etc. He also emphasized the existence of a great deal of contradictory evidence. The vast majority of past research has focused on differences in language development among children. More recent studies have focused on stylistic differences (matters of choice about how to use the language) in the language of adults. Hiatt (1978) found that certain stylistic differences between the sexes did exist in the written language of professional adult writers. Westmoreland, Starr, Shelton, and Pasadeos (1977) reported some significant differences in the lexical habits of the sexes when they examined the writing of college sophomore journalism students. Kramer (1976) found evidence that the speech of males and females had different subject matter and manner of delivery. Since it is generally accepted that language use is culturally determined, such findings as these seem to suggest that cultural influences and expectations concerning language use may be different for males and females. This implication seems logically to correlate with the existence of a persistent stereotype of female superiority in language. A review of the literature indicates a lack of studies comparing oral and written language of male and female students in the middle school years, a time when language abilities and habits likely would have been influenced by
Velocity Dispersions of CNOC Clusters and the Evolution of the Cluster Abundance

We present the results of the analysis of the internal velocity dispersions, σv, for the sample of 16 distant galaxy clusters (0.17 ≲ z ≲ 0.55) provided by the Canadian Network for Observational Cosmology (CNOC). Different σv estimates are provided, all based on an interloper-removal algorithm that is different from that originally applied by Carlberg et al. We find that all such methods provide σv estimates that are consistent within less than 10% among themselves and with the original estimates provided by the CNOC collaboration. This result points in favor of a substantial robustness of currently applied methods for optical studies of the internal cluster dynamics. The resulting distribution of velocity dispersions is used to trace the redshift evolution of the cluster abundance with the aim of constraining the matter density parameter, Ωm. We find that constrains on Ωm are very sensitive to the adopted value of 8 = σ8Ω (α ≃ 0.4-0.5), as constrained by the local cluster abundance. We find that, as 8 varies from 0.5 to 0.6, the best fitting density parameter varies in the range 0.3 ≲ Ωm ≲ 1.0. A further source of uncertainty in constraining Ωm is the uncertainties in the correction for the σv-incompleteness of the CNOC sample. This calls attention to the need to better understand the constraints of local cluster abundance and to increase the statistics of distant clusters in order to suppress the systematics related to the sample completeness criteria.
A Multipurpose Portable Instrument for Determining Ripeness in Wine Grapes Using NIR Spectroscopy

This paper describes the development of a noninvasive instrument that is designed to measure three parameters of ripeness in wine grapes, i.e., sugar (Brix), pH, and anthocyanin concentration. The instrument is based on near-infrared spectroscopy, and it comes in contact with the berry in the cluster without altering its ripening process. A thorough description of the calibration process for the instrument is done for the different grape varieties, e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Samples from vineyards located in the Maipo Valley (Chile) taken during the 2003 season were processed to develop calibration models using partial least squares techniques. The models were validated in terms of root mean square error of validation and R2 indices. The results show the great potential of this technique regarding Brix and pH measurements. For the anthocyanin concentration measurements, the results are promising but require an accurate procedure to obtain reference values for model calibration. The instrument can be useful for sampling strategies that look for optimum harvest schedules according to grape maturity in terms of not only sugar content but also pH and anthocyanin concentration.
Nemesis reconsidered: Nemesis reconsidered

The hypothesis of a companion object (Nemesis) orbiting the Sun was motivated by the claim of a terrestrial extinction periodicity, thought to be mediated by comet showers. The orbit of a distant companion to the Sun is expected to be perturbed by the Galactic tidal field and encounters with passing stars, which will induce variation in the period. We examine the evidence for the previously proposed periodicity, using two modern, greatly improved paleontological datasets of fossil biodiversity. We find that there is a narrow peak at 27 My in the cross-spectrum of extinction intensity time series between these independent datasets. This periodicity extends over a time period nearly twice that for which it was originally noted. An excess of extinction events are associated with this periodicity at 99% confidence. In this sense we confirm the originally noted feature in the time series for extinction. However, we find that it displays extremely regular timing for about 0.5 Gy. The regularity of the timing compared with earlier calculations of orbital perturbation would seem to exclude the Nemesis hypothesis as a causal factor.
A detailed exploration of changes in everyday task performance in people with dementia

For most people, everyday tasks, such as tea making, are familiar, routine tasks that are normally performed without effort. A diagnostic feature of dementia, however, is an insidious decline in the ability to perform everyday tasks. Through a series of six studies, I examined how everyday task performance changes in people with dementia and I piloted two behavioural strategies that might enhance memory for everyday tasks in people with dementia. Study 1 developed a detailed error and error-monitoring taxonomy to explore the minutia of everyday task performance in healthy ageing. The study demonstrated that older adults without dementia rarely make errors in everyday tasks, even when conditions are manipulated to reduce cognitive resources. Study 2 documented errors and error-monitoring of everyday task performance in individuals with a developing dementia, using archive data to chart performance change over 5 years. While errors increased with dementia progression, there was no reactive increase in error-monitoring, suggesting a lack of awareness characterises the breakdown of task performance. Study 3a explored the impact of verbally instructing another person how to perform an everyday task on recall of an everyday task. People with dementia were able to do this surprisingly well, appearing to use both visual and motor cues to support recall. Study 3b piloted the impact of verbal self-explanation on everyday task performance, in four people with dementia. Self-explanation did not benefit recall and implementation of a familiar task. Study 4a compared observation with verbal instruction on acquisition of a novel routine. Results showed that people with mild-moderate dementia learned a new routine better under observation compared to verbal instruction. Study 4b tested observational learning of an everyday task over five weeks in three people with dementia. The initial benefit over verbal instruction was sustained, but did not increase over time. These studies constitute a detailed and meticulous exploration of everyday task performance in people with dementia and provide pilot evidence of a potential strategy that could support memory of everyday tasks in people with dementia.
Pilot biomonitoring of adults and children following use of chlorpyrifos shampoo and flea collars on dogs

Pesticide handlers and pet owners who use products such as shampoos and dips and insecticide-impregnated collars to treat and control fleas on companion animals are exposed to a variety of active ingredients. Chlorpyrifos exposures of adults and children were measured using urine biomonitoring following use of over-the-counter products on dogs. Age and gender-specific measurements of urinary 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy) revealed modest elevations of biomarker excretion following shampoo/dips. Smaller TCPy increments were measured following application of impregnated dog collars. The extent of indoor activity and potential pet contact were important determinants of urine biomarker level. Children without direct pet contact excreted more TCPy following collar application. Pet collars may be a source of indoor surface contamination and human exposure. Children excreted up to 4 times more TCPy than adults when urine volumes were adjusted using age-specific creatinine excretion levels. Although chlorpyrifos is no longer used in the United States in pet care products, results of this research provide perspective on the extent of human exposure from similar pet care products. These pilot studies demonstrated that pet care products such as insecticidal shampoos and dips and impregnated collars may expose family members to low levels of insecticide relative to toxic levels of concern.