Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Translation of Oswestry Disability Index into Tamil with Cross Cultural Adaptation and Evaluation of Reliability and Validity§

Study Design: Prospective longitudinal validation study Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to the Tamil language (ODI-T), and to evaluate its reliability and construct validity. Summary of Background Data: ODI is widely used as a disease specific questionnaire in back pain patients to evaluate pain and disability. A thorough literature search revealed that the Tamil version of the ODI has not been previously published. Methods: The ODI was translated and cross-culturally adapted to the Tamil language according to established guidelines. 30 subjects (16 women and 14 men) with a mean age of 42.7 years (S.D. 13.6; Range 22 - 69) with low back pain were recruited to assess the psychometric properties of the ODI-T Questionnaire. Patients completed the ODI-T, Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), VAS-pain and VAS-disability at baseline and 24-72 hours from the baseline visit. Results: The ODI-T displayed a high degree of internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92. The test-retest reliability was high (n=30) with an ICC of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.96) and a mean re-test difference of 2.6 points lower on re-test. The ODI-T scores exhibited a strong correlation with the RMDQ scores (r = 0.82) p<0.01, VAS-P (r = 0.78) p<0.01 and VAS-D (r = 0.81) p<0.01. Moderate to low correlations were observed between the ODI-T and lumbar ROM (r = -0.27 to -0.53). All the hypotheses that were constructed apriori were supported. Conclusion: The Tamil version of the ODI Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to measure subjective outcomes of pain and disability in Tamil speaking patients with low back pain.
D-branes and doubled geometry

We define the open string version of the nonlinear sigma model on doubled geometry introduced by Hull and Reid-Edwards, and derive its boundary conditions. These conditions include the restriction of D-branes to maximally isotropic submanifolds as well as a compatibility condition with the Lie algebra structure on the doubled space. We demonstrate a systematic method to derive and classify D-branes from the boundary conditions, in terms of embeddings both in the doubled geometry and in the physical target space. We apply it to the doubled three-torus with constant H-flux and find D0-, D1-, and D2-branes, which we verify transform consistently under T-dualities mapping the system to f-, Q- and R-flux backgrounds.
Assessing Interactions of Two Loci (rs4242382 and rs10486567) in Familial Prostate Cancer: Statistical Evaluation of Epistasis

Understanding the impact of multiple genetic variants and their interactions on the disease penetrance of familial multiple prostate cancer is very relevant to the overall understanding of carcinogenesis. We assessed the joint effect of two loci on rs4242382 at 8q24 and rs10486567 at 7p15.2 to this end. We analyzed the data from a Finnish family-based genetic study, which was composed of 947 men including 228 cases in 75 families, to evaluate the respective effects of the two loci on the disease penetrance; in particular, the occurrence and number of prostate cancer cases within a family were utilized to evaluate the interactions between the two loci under the additive and multiplicative Poisson regression models. The risk alleles A at rs4242382 (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.08–1.19, P<0.0001) and a risk allele A at rs10486567 (OR = 1.06, 96%CI 1.01–1.11, P = 0.0208) were found to be associated with an increased risk of familial PrCa, especially with four or more cases within a family. A multiplicative model fitted the joint effect better than an additive model (likelihood ratio test X2 = 13.89, P<0.0001). The influence of the risk allele A at rs10486567 was higher in the presence of the risk allele A at rs4242382 (OR = 1.09 (1.01–1.18) vs. 1.01 (0.95–1.07)). Similar findings were observed in non-aggressive PrCa, but not in aggressive PrCa. We demonstrated that two loci (rs4242382 and rs10486567) are highly associated with familial multiple PrCa, and the gene-gene interaction or statistical epistasis was consistent with the Fisher's multiplicative model. These loci's association and epistasis were observed for non-aggressive but not for aggressive tumors. The proposed statistical model can be further developed to accommodate multi-loci interactions to provide further insights into epistasis.
Comparing Software Prediction Techniques Using Simulation

The need for accurate software prediction systems increases as software becomes much larger and more complex. We believe that the underlying characteristics: size, number of features, type of distribution, etc., of the data set influence the choice of the prediction system to be used. For this reason, we would like to control the characteristics of such data sets in order to systematically explore the relationship between accuracy, choice of prediction system, and data set characteristic. It would also be useful to have a large validation data set. Our solution is to simulate data allowing both control and the possibility of large (1000) validation cases. The authors compare four prediction techniques: regression, rule induction, nearest neighbor (a form of case-based reasoning), and neural nets. The results suggest that there are significant differences depending upon the characteristics of the data set. Consequently, researchers should consider prediction context when evaluating competing prediction systems. We observed that the more "messy" the data and the more complex the relationship with the dependent variable, the more variability in the results. In the more complex cases, we observed significantly different results depending upon the particular training set that has been sampled from the underlying data set. However, our most important result is that it is more fruitful to ask which is the best prediction system in a particular context rather than which is the "best" prediction system.
Benefit of Multiple Representations for Motor Sequence Control in The Basal Ganglia Loops

Visual and motor coordinate systems have different computa tion l advantages for motor sequence. This paper proposes that the mu ltiple loops that link the basal ganglia (BG) and frontal cortical areas t ake their different advantages and specialize in acquisition and execution of visuomotor sequence. The central idea of the model is that a visuomotor s equence is easier tolearn by visual coordinates but is easier to c ntrol by motor (joint-angle) coordinates [7]. Based on a hypothesis that t e BG perform reinforcement learning using dopaminergic reinforce ment signal, we constructed a network model that replicates both behavio r l and physiological findings in recent experimental studies using ”2x 5 task” [3].
Metabolomics Profiling to Investigate the Pharmacologic Mechanisms of Berberine for the Treatment of High-Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Objective. Berberine has been used to treat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which has been addressed in many studies. In this study, we investigated the molecular pharmacology mechanisms of berberine using metabolomic techniques. Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (10 rats in each group): (i) normal control group; (ii) high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced NASH model group; and (iii) HFD berberine-treated group (i.d. 200 mg/kg). The handling procedure lasted eight weeks. Then, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS techniques coupled with histopathology and biochemical analyses were adopted to explore the mechanisms of berberine on the protective effects against NASH. Key Findings. (i) According to conventional test results, berberine treatment plays a fighting role in HFD-induced NASH due to its beneficial effects against insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. (ii) Based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS techniques, metabolic profiles that involved sphingomyelin (SM), phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), 13-hydroperoxy-9, 11-octadecadienoic acid (13-HpODE), eicosatrienoic acid, docosatrienoic acid, and eicosenoic acid could provide potential metabolic biomarkers to address the pharmacological mechanisms of berberine. Conclusions. The parts of molecular pharmacological mechanisms of berberine for NASH treatment are related to the regulation of metabolic disruption involving phospholipid and unsaturated fatty acids in rats with NASH.
A Path Analysis of Disability Type, Academic Major, and Postsecondary Degree Completion

The present study utilized data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study – 2, which is a longitudinal study of a nationally represented sample of students with disabilities between the years 2000 and 2010. Using this dataset, the relationships among disability type area of study, and degree completion were explored. The final sample included approximately 310 students classified as having learning disabilities (LD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It was hypothesized that individuals with ASD would prefer fields of study where there was limited social interaction to a greater degree than those with LD or ADHD. Additionally, it was hypothesized that students with ASD would be more likely than their LD and ADHD counterparts to choose fields of study in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Results from two path analysis models, however, revealed no significant findings. Consequently, it appears as though other factors or a combination of factors better account for the postsecondary outcomes of students with disabilities. The primary implication of these findings is that professionals and caregivers should refrain from making assumptions about area of postsecondary study or degree completion based simply on students’ disability types. Furthermore, it does not appear warranted to direct students with disabilities to select specific types of academic majors simply because it is assumed that pursuing those majors will result in better postsecondary outcomes. DISABILITY, MAJOR, AND DEGREE COMPLETION 1
Accuracy of a force sensitive digital tablet in determining the position of force application

In this paper, the accuracy in determining the position of force application with a novel force sensitive digital tablet is evaluated and improved. A loading system consisting of a strip-shaped board with a stylus and a plate with grid is used to apply a point load on the tablet. In static experiments, the stylus is placed on 49 equidistant locations respectively, and calibrated masses are used to exert vertical force from 0.25 N to 5 N. Dynamic experiments are also performed by means of drawing on the loading board. Experimental results show that the systematic error is nonlinearly dependent on the actual position of force application, and almost independent of the magnitude of exerted force vector. Dynamic experimental results also suggest that this tablet can determine the position as accurately in dynamic conditions as in static conditions. According to the observed error distribution, the measured positions are corrected using artificial neural network (ANN). The encouraging results of the correction indicate that the proposed correction procedure can provide significant improvement in the performance of the tablet in determining the position of force application.
Scaling Limits for Workload Process

We study different scaling behavior of a very general telecommunications workload process. The activities of a telecommunication system are described by a marked point process ((Tn, Zn))n∈Z, where Tn is the arrival time of a packet brought to the system or the starting time of the activity of an individual source and the mark Zn is the amount of work brought to the system at time Tn. This model includes the popular ON/OFF process and the infinite source Poisson model. In addition to the latter models, one can flexibly model dependence of the interarrival times Tn − Tn−1, clustering behavior due to the arrival of an impulse generating a flow of activities but also dependence between the arrival process (Tn) and the marks (Zn). Similarly to the ON/OFF and infinite source Poisson model we can derive a multitude of scaling limits for the workload process of one source or for the superposition of an increasing number of such sources. The memory in the workload depends on a variety of factors such as the tails of the inter-arrival times or the tails of the distribution of activities initiated at an arrival Tn or the number of activities starting at Tn. It turns out that, as in standard results on the scaling behavior of workload processes in telecommunications, fractional Brownian motion or infinite variance Levy stable motion can occur in the scaling limit. However, the fractional Brownian motion is a much more robust limit than the stable motion, and many other limits may occur as well.
PAPER-64 CONSTRAINTS ON REIONIZATION. II. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE z = 8.4 INTERGALACTIC MEDIUM

We present constraints on both the kinetic temperature of the intergalactic medium (IGM) at z = 8.4, and on models for heating the IGM at high-redshift with X-ray emission from the first collapsed objects. These constraints are derived using a semi-analytic method to explore the new measurements of the 21 cm power spectrum from the Donald C. Backer Precision Array for Probing the Epoch of Reionization (PAPER), which were presented in a companion paper, Ali et al. Twenty-one cm power spectra with amplitudes of hundreds of mK2 can be generically produced if the kinetic temperature of the IGM is significantly below the temperature of the cosmic microwave background (CMB); as such, the new results from PAPER place lower limits on the IGM temperature at z = 8.4. Allowing for the unknown ionization state of the IGM, our measurements find the IGM temperature to be above ≈5 K for neutral fractions between 10% and 85%, above ≈7 K for neutral fractions between 15% and 80%, or above ≈10 K for neutral fractions between 30% and 70%. We also calculate the heating of the IGM that would be provided by the observed high redshift galaxy population, and find that for most models, these galaxies are sufficient to bring the IGM temperature above our lower limits. However, there are significant ranges of parameter space that could produce a signal ruled out by the PAPER measurements; models with a steep drop-off in the star formation rate density at high redshifts or with relatively low values for the X-ray to star formation rate efficiency of high redshift galaxies are generally disfavored. The PAPER measurements are consistent with (but do not constrain) a hydrogen spin temperature above the CMB temperature, a situation which we find to be generally predicted if galaxies fainter than the current detection limits of optical/NIR surveys are included in calculations of X-ray heating.
Primordial Nucleosynthesis After WMAP

Abstract During its early evolution, the hot, dense Universe provided a laboratory for probing fundamental physics at high energies. By studying the relics from those early epochs, such as the light elements synthesized during primordial nucleosynthesis when the Universe was only a few minutes old, and the relic, cosmic microwave photons, last scattered when the protons, alphas, and electrons (re)combined some 400 thousand years later, the evolution of the Universe may be used to test the standard models of cosmology and particle physics and to set constraints on proposals of physics beyond these standard models.
Human Lung Mast Cells Adhere to Human Airway Smooth Muscle, in Part, via Tumor Suppressor in Lung Cancer-11

Mast cells infiltrate the airway smooth muscle (ASM) of patients with asthma, an event which is likely to be a key factor in the development of this disease. Adhesion is a fundamental mechanism facilitating cellular cross-talk. We have examined whether human lung mast cells (HLMC) and ASM adhere, and have also examined the mechanism involved. Primary cultures of HLMC and confluent human ASM were cocultured for 30 min, then nonadherent HLMC were removed by centrifugation. HLMC adhered avidly to ASM monolayers (mean ± SEM adhesion 43.2 ± 1.2%, n = 41). Adhesion was increased to 58.8 ± 2.7% by 1 mM Mn2+ (p = 0.015), and was reduced by EDTA and EGTA to 20.5 ± 1.5% and 21.0 ± 1.3%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Adhesion-blocking Abs for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, CD18, and the α4 and β1 integrins had no effect on HLMC adhesion. HLMC expressed tumor suppressor in lung cancer-1 (TSLC-1) and blocking this reduced adhesion from 38.5 ± 4.8% to 28.3 ± 3.7% (p = 0.004, n = 7). ASM did not express TSLC-1, indicating that TSLC-1 acts as a heterophilic adhesion molecule. In summary, HLMC adhere avidly to ASM in part via TSLC-1 and in part via an as-yet-undefined Ca2+-dependent pathway. This supports the hypothesis that adhesion is important in the recruitment and retention of HLMC by the ASM in asthma, and for the functional interaction of these cells.
The Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA Survey. III. H I Source Catalog of the Northern Virgo Cluster Region

We present the first installment of H I sources extracted from the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) extragalactic survey, initiated in 2005. Sources have been extracted from three-dimensional spectral data cubes exploiting a matched filtering technique and then examined interactively to yield global H I parameters. A total of 730 H I detections are cataloged within the solid angle 11h44m < R.A. (J2000.0) < 14h00m and +12° < decl. (J2000.0) < +16° and redshift range -1600 km s-1 < cz < 18,000 km s-1. In comparison, the H I Parkes All-Sky Survey detected 40 H I signals in the same region. Optical counterparts are assigned via examination of digital optical imaging databases. ALFALFA H I detections are reported for three distinct classes of signals: (1) detections, typically with S/N >6.5, (2) high-velocity clouds in the Milky Way or its periphery, and (3) signals of lower S/N (to ∼4.5) which coincide spatially with an optical object of known similar redshift. Although this region of the sky has been heavily surveyed by previous targeted observations based on optical flux- or size-limited samples, 69% of the extracted sources are newly reported H I detections. The resulting positional accuracy of H I sources is dependent on S/N: it averages 24″ (20″ median) for all sources with S/N > 6.5 and is of order ∼17″ (14″ median) for signals with S/N > 12. The median redshift of the sample is ∼7000 km s-1, and its distribution reflects the known local large-scale structure including the Virgo Cluster and the void behind it, the A1367-Coma supercluster at cz ∼ 7000 km s-1, and a third, more distant overdensity at cz ∼ 13,000 km s-1. Distance uncertainties in and around the Virgo Cluster perturb the derived H I mass distribution. Specifically, an apparent deficiency of the lowest H I mass objects can be attributed, at least in part, to the incorrect assignment of some foreground objects to the cluster distance. Several extended H I features are found in the vicinity of the Virgo Cluster. A small percentage (6%) of H I detections have no identifiable optical counterpart, more than half of which are high-velocity clouds in the Milky Way vicinity; the remaining 17 objects do not appear connected to or associated with any known galaxy. Based on these initial results, ALFALFA is expected to fulfill, and even exceed, its predicted performance objectives in terms of the number and quality of H I detections.
A TET2 rs3733609 C/T genotype is associated with predisposition to the myeloproliferative neoplasms harboring JAK2V617F and confers a proliferative potential on erythroid lineages

Common germline single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at JAK2 locus have been associated with Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). And, the germline sequence variant rs2736100 C in TERT is related to risk of MPN, suggesting a complex association between SNPs and the pathogenesis of MPN. Our previous study (unpublished data) showed that there was a high frequency distribution in rs3733609 C/T genotype at Ten-Eleven Translocation 2 (TET2) locus in one Chinese familial primary myelofibrosis. In the present study, we evaluate the role and clinical significance of rs3733609 C/T genotype in JAK2V617F-positive sporadic MPN (n = 181). TET2 rs3733609 C/T genotype had a higher incidence (13.81%; 25/181) in JAK2V617F-positive sporadic MPN patients than that in normal controls (n = 236) (6.35%; 15/236), which was predisposing to MPN (odds ratio(OR) = 2.361; P = 0.01). MPN patients with rs3733609 C/T genotype had increased leukocyte and platelets counts, elevated hemoglobin concentration in comparison with T/T genotype. Thrombotic events were more common in MPN patients with rs3733609 C/T than those with T/T genotype (P < 0.01). We confirmed that rs3733609 C/T genotype downregulated TET2 mRNA transcription, and the mechanism may be involved in a disruption of the interaction between CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPA) and TET2 rs3733609 C/T locus.TET2 rs3733609 C/T genotype stimulated the erythroid hematopoiesis in MPN patients. Altogether, we found a novel hereditary susceptible factor-TET2 rs3733609 C/T variant for the development of MPN, suggesting the variant may be partially responsible for the pathogenesis and accumulation of MPN.
Correlation of environmental attributes with histopathology of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout naturally infected with Myxobolus cerebralis.

Infection by the invasive parasite Myxobolus cerebralis (causing whirling disease in salmonids) is strongly influenced by a stream's physico-chemical characteristics, which might affect host pathology. We examined whether environmental variables of a M. cerebralis-positive tributary to Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A. , correlated with the histopathology of naturally infected native cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri. Host inflammatory response and cranial cartilage lesions were the main correlates with whirling behavior. Canonical correlation analyses showed that the prevalence of trout with severe lesions in the cranial and jaw cartilages was highest in stream sites with a combination of high temperature and low specific conductivity. Our results reveal that environmental components can affect when and where a pathogen resides within the host, and manifestation of disease. Recognition of the synergism among environmental and histopathology factors most conducive to whirling disease will increase our prediction and detection abilities for M. cerebralis in salmonid hosts.
The Challenge of Making Whiteness Visible: Reactions to Four Whiteness Articles

In a series of four articles, the authors described the experiences of White researchers, teachers, and practitioners in addressing multicultural issues, which sometimes included racism. Yet, the authors focused very little attention on the benefits of their internalized Whiteness as impediments to fulfilling their scholarly and professional goals. Moreover, the authors did not use any theoretical formulation to guide their examination of White multicultural experts who seek to intervene in contentious topic areas. In this reaction, I suggest that the authors use White racial identity theory to examine some of the racial dynamics that they encounter and to deconstruct Whiteness as it occurs in the types of situations that they described. Examples illustrate the implicitness of White identity theory in virtually all of the articles. In addition, while acknowledging that White people are the ultimate authorities on Whiteness, the author proposes some initial ideas for how White allies might begin to deconstruct Whiteness.