Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Runs of Homozygosity Implicate Autozygosity as a Schizophrenia Risk Factor

Autozygosity occurs when two chromosomal segments that are identical from a common ancestor are inherited from each parent. This occurs at high rates in the offspring of mates who are closely related (inbreeding), but also occurs at lower levels among the offspring of distantly related mates. Here, we use runs of homozygosity in genome-wide SNP data to estimate the proportion of the autosome that exists in autozygous tracts in 9,388 cases with schizophrenia and 12,456 controls. We estimate that the odds of schizophrenia increase by ∼17% for every 1% increase in genome-wide autozygosity. This association is not due to one or a few regions, but results from many autozygous segments spread throughout the genome, and is consistent with a role for multiple recessive or partially recessive alleles in the etiology of schizophrenia. Such a bias towards recessivity suggests that alleles that increase the risk of schizophrenia have been selected against over evolutionary time.
Molecular Epidemiology of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Wild-Living Gorillas

ABSTRACT Chimpanzees and gorillas are the only nonhuman primates known to harbor viruses closely related to HIV-1. Phylogenetic analyses showed that gorillas acquired the simian immunodeficiency virus SIVgor from chimpanzees, and viruses from the SIVcpz/SIVgor lineage have been transmitted to humans on at least four occasions, leading to HIV-1 groups M, N, O, and P. To determine the geographic distribution, prevalence, and species association of SIVgor, we conducted a comprehensive molecular epidemiological survey of wild gorillas in Central Africa. Gorilla fecal samples were collected in the range of western lowland gorillas (n = 2,367) and eastern Grauer gorillas (n = 183) and tested for SIVgor antibodies and nucleic acids. SIVgor antibody-positive samples were identified at 2 sites in Cameroon, with no evidence of infection at 19 other sites, including 3 in the range of the Eastern gorillas. In Cameroon, based on DNA and microsatellite analyses of a subset of samples, we estimated the prevalence of SIVgor to be 1.6% (range, 0% to 4.6%), which is significantly lower than the prevalence of SIVcpzPtt in chimpanzees (5.9%; range, 0% to 32%). All newly identified SIVgor strains formed a monophyletic lineage within the SIVcpz radiation, closely related to HIV-1 groups O and P, and clustered according to their field site of origin. At one site, there was evidence for intergroup transmission and a high intragroup prevalence. These isolated hot spots of SIVgor-infected gorilla communities could serve as a source for human infection. The overall low prevalence and sporadic distribution of SIVgor could suggest a decline of SIVgor in wild populations, but it cannot be excluded that SIVgor is still more prevalent in other parts of the geographical range of gorillas.
The Therapeutic Effects of the Chinese Herbal Medicine, Lang Chuang Fang Granule, on Lupus-Prone MRL/lpr Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that leads to severe multiorgan damage. Lang Chuang Fang (LCF) is a Chinese herbal medicine that is clinically prescribed for treating SLE. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of LCF granule on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. Female mice were randomly separated into six groups, and LCF treatment groups received LCF granule at the dosage of 0.97 g/kg/d, 1.95 g/kg/d, and 3.90 g/kg/d, respectively. Here, we found that, compared to the MRL/lpr mice, both the spleen coefficient and thymus coefficient were reduced in the LCF granule-treated mice. There was a marked downregulation in CRP and anti-dsDNA autoantibody and an evident upregulation of CH50 in LCF granule-treated mice. LCF granule treatment also obviously reduced the proteinuria, BUN, and SCr levels in MRL/lpr mice at the dosage of 0.97 g/kg/d, 1.95 g/kg/d, and 3.90 g/kg/d, indicating that LCF granule alleviated the renal injury of MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, LCF granule decreased p65 NF-κB levels and increased Sirt1 and Nrf2 levels in the kidney tissues of MRL/lpr mice, which might elucidate the beneficial effects of LCF on lupus nephritis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that LCF granule has therapeutic effects on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice.
Mining triadic closure patterns in social networks

A closed triad is a group of three people who are connected with each other. It is the most basic unit for studying group phenomena in social networks. In this paper, we study how closed triads are formed in dynamic networks. More specifically, given three persons, what are the fundamental factors that trigger the formation of triadic closure? There are various factors that may influence the formation of a relationship between persons. Can we design a unified model to predict the formation of triadic closure? Employing a large microblogging network as the source in our study, we formally define the problem and conduct a systematic investigation. The study uncovers how user demographics and network topology influence the process of triadic closure. We also present a probabilistic graphical model to predict whether three persons will form a closed triad in dynamic networks. The experimental results on the microblogging data demonstrate the efficiency of our proposed model for the prediction of triadic closure formation.
Cokeromyces recurvatus as a human pathogenic fungus: case report and critical review of the published literature.

During the past few years several rarely encountered taxa of zygomycete fungi (Mucorales and Entomophthorales) have been implicated in the etiology of human disease. Prominent among these is Cokeromyces recurvatus Poitras, which is usually isolated from soil and from feces of the lizard and certain rodents. 2 This fungus has been implicated as a potential etiologic agent in seven human cases in which the fungus was isolated from clinical specimens including vaginal secretions, alimentary tract, bladder, urine, pleura and peritoneal fluids. Recently C. recurvatus was isolated from stool samples in two cases of severe diarrhea in which the fungal elements were also noted in the tissue sections, thus providing the first evidence of its pathogenic potential in humans. 9 Because tissue invasion was noted in only two instances, it is still not unequivocally established whether the fungus is a colonizer of the affected tissue or a chance contaminant. We describe a case in which C. recurvatus was isolated on two occasions from an abscess and drainage fluid from a 9-year-old patient with a perforated Meckel’s diverticulum. The patient responded to surgical intervention and antifungal therapy leading to full recovery.
Is MDMA (‘Ecstasy’) Neurotoxic in Humans? An Overview of Evidence and of Methodological Problems in Research

Evidence from research with a range of animal species, from rodents to non-human primates, has shown that MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is neurotoxic. This article explores the evidence that MDMA may be neurotoxic in humans by briefly overviewing three types of research: (1) neurobiological, (2) psychological/somatic and (3) psychiatric. The first type of evidence derives from neuropharmacological and neuroendocrine studies, the second type focuses on psychological function and somatic symptoms in MDMA users, and the third involves studies of psychiatric cases in people who have taken MDMA. Evidence from these types of studies is indirect and differs in the degree to which any causative links are implied between observed effects, MDMA use and human neurotoxicity. These issues are critically discussed within the context of the wide-ranging methodological problems in human research with MDMA.
IL‐21 promotes T lymphocyte survival by activating the phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase signaling cascade

IL21 is a Type I cytokine, which uses the common γ chain (γc) in its receptor. As members of the γc cytokine/cytokine receptors family play crucial role in the differentiation, activation, and survival of lymphocytes, we have investigated if IL‐21 could promote T cell survival and thus, contribute to T cell homeostasis and expansion. Unlike most γc cytokine receptors, we report that IL‐21R is constitutively expressed by all mature T lymphocytes and that stromal cells of lymphoid organs are a constitutive source of IL‐21. These observations are reminiscent of what is observed for IL‐7/IL‐7R, which control T cell survival and homeostasis and suggest a role for IL‐21 in T cell homeostasis. Indeed, our results show that IL‐21 is a survival factor for resting and activated T cells. Moreover, the ability of IL‐21 to costimulate T cell proliferation is mediated by enhancing T cell viability. Further investigation of how IL‐21R signaling induces T cell survival shows for the first time that IL‐21 binding to its receptor activates the PI‐3K signaling pathway and induces Bcl‐2 expression. Moreover, the activation of the PI‐3K signaling pathway is essential for IL‐21‐mediated T cell survival. Our data provide a new role for IL‐21 in the immune system, which might be used to improve T cell homeostasis in immunocompromised patients.
The Effect of Calcium on the Rolling Behaviour and Hot Tensile Properties of AA5182

The impact of sodium on the edge cracking behaviour of high magnesium alloys such as 5182 has been the subject of many studies. Relatively less information is available on the role of calcium and much of this is contradictory, some authors reporting that relatively modest levels of Ca reduce hot ductility (and by inference promote edge cracking) whereas other reports recommend the intentional addition of calcium to these alloys in order to control oxidative casting defects such as vertical folds. This paper will describe and discuss a series of experiments in which AA5182 ingots containing sodium and calcium alone, and also in combination, were cast, hot-rolled and subsequently hot tensile tested. As expected, sodium alone led to a large drop in the hot tensile elongation and promoted edge cracking. However, no such effects were observed in materials containing only calcium. Calcium had a slight mitigating influence on the impact of sodium when both elements were present.
Pretreatment or Resuscitation with a Lipid Infusion Shifts the Dose‐Response to Bupivacaine‐induced Asystole in Rats

Background The authors sought to confirm a chance observation that intravenous lipid treatment increases the dose of bupivacaine required to produce asystole in rats. The authors also measured the partitioning of bupivacaine between the lipid and aqueous phases of a plasma‐lipid emulsion mixture. Methods Anesthetized Sprague‐Dawley rats were used in pretreatment (protocol 1) and resuscitation (protocol 2) experiments. In protocol 1, animals were pretreated with saline or 10%, 20%, or 30% Intralipid (n = 6 for all groups), then received 0.75% bupivacaine hydrochloride at a rate of 10 ml [center dot] kg [center dot] min sup ‐1 to asystole. In protocol 2, mortality was compared over a range of bolus doses of bupivacaine after resuscitation with either saline or 30% Intralipid (n = 6 for all groups). The lipid:aqueous partitioning of bupivacaine in a mixture of plasma and Intralipid was measured using radiolabeled bupivacaine. Results Median doses of bupivacaine (in milligrams per kilogram) producing asystole in protocol I were for 17.7 for saline, 27.6 for 10% Intralipid, 49.7 for 20% Intralipid, and 82.0 for 30% Intralipid (P <0.001 for differences between all groups). Differences in mean +/‐ SE concentrations of bupivacaine in plasma (in micrograms per milliliter) were significant (P < 0.05) for the difference between saline (93.3 +/‐ 7.6) and 30% Intralipid (212 +/‐ 45). In protocol 2, lipid infusion increased the dose of bupivacaine required to cause death in 50% of animals by 48%, from 12.5 to 18.5 mg/kg. The mean lipid:aqueous ratio of concentrations of bupivacaine in a plasma‐Intralipid mixture was 11.9 +/‐ 1.77 (n = 3). Conclusions Lipid infusion shifts the dose‐response to bupivacaine‐induced asystole in rats. Partitioning of bupivacaine into the newly created lipid phase may partially explain this effect. These results suggest a potential application for lipid infusion in treating cardiotoxicity resulting from bupivacaine.
A Comparison between Subjective Refraction and Aberrometry-Derived Refraction in Keratoconus Patients and Control Subjects

Purpose: This study compares the differences in the magnitude of the subjective refraction and three aberrometry-derived refractions along with visual acuity achieved with these refractions in a group of keratoconic patients and age-matched normal subjects. Materials and Methods: Subjective refraction and Hartmann-Shack aberrometry was performed on six keratoconus patients and 12 normal subjects. In addition, the logMAR visual acuity achieved using the subjective and aberrometry auto-refraction data were measured in the six keratoconic subjects. Results: The subjective and aberrometry-derived spherical equivalent refraction data were significantly different in the keratoconus group (p = 0.015) but not in the normal group (p = 0.10). In the keratoconic patients, subjective refraction data gave better logMAR acuity than the aberrometry-derived auto-refraction data. The magnitudes of vertical coma and higher-order RMS (root mean square) error showed significant correlations with the subjective refraction logMAR visual acuities. Significant correlations were found between the magnitudes of manifest vertical coma and higher-order RMS error and the difference in the M (the mean equivalent sphere) power vector terms between the subjective and aberrometry-derived auto-refraction data in the keratoconic group. Conclusions: The subjective and aberrometry-derived spherical equivalent refraction data were significantly different in the keratoconus group. The larger the magnitude of the higher-order aberrations in keratoconic eyes, the poorer the subjective refraction logMAR acuity and the larger the difference between the subjective and aberrometry-derived M power vector terms. Further investigation into deriving objective refraction data from aberrometry measurements is warranted in keratoconus.
Do Natural Silks Make Good Engineering Materials

Fast relaxation of stresses lower than the yield stress is demonstrated in Bombyx mori (silkworm) cocoon silk and Nephila clavipes (spider) major ampullate silk (MAS; dragline). Stress relaxation and creep make natural silk unsuitable as a long-term load-bearing material. Instead, silk-like materials are better suited to applications in which energy dissipation is important, and in which high loads need to be withstood on a once-off basis for only very short periods of time. Examples might include use as a ballistic material that arrests the penetration of fragments from the explosion of a pressure vessel, an aircraft luggage container, or a tyre. Treatment in a domestic microwave oven is shown to significantly reduce the rate of stress relaxation in both silkworm cocoon and spider MAS. Except for ductility, the tensile properties of cocoon silk measured in constant strain rate experiments are enhanced by this treatment. Initial experiments on MAS suggest that the tensile properties of this material also are enhanced by exposure to microwaves, in this case with the exception of initial modulus.
Highly Predictive Reprogramming of tRNA Modifications Is Linked to Selective Expression of Codon-Biased Genes

Cells respond to stress by controlling gene expression at several levels, with little known about the role of translation. Here, we demonstrate a coordinated translational stress response system involving stress-specific reprogramming of tRNA wobble modifications that leads to selective translation of codon-biased mRNAs representing different classes of critical response proteins. In budding yeast exposed to four oxidants and five alkylating agents, tRNA modification patterns accurately distinguished among chemically similar stressors, with 14 modified ribonucleosides forming the basis for a data-driven model that predicts toxicant chemistry with >80% sensitivity and specificity. tRNA modification subpatterns also distinguish SN1 from SN2 alkylating agents, with SN2-induced increases in m3C in tRNA mechanistically linked to selective translation of threonine-rich membrane proteins from genes enriched with ACC and ACT degenerate codons for threonine. These results establish tRNA modifications as predictive biomarkers of exposure and illustrate a novel regulatory mechanism for translational control of cell stress response.
Dexamethasone and Enhancing Solitary Cerebral Mass Lesions: Alterations in Perfusion and Blood-tumor Barrier Kinetics Shown by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE:Glucocorticoid analogues are often administered to patients with intracranial space-occupying lesions. Clinical response can be dramatic, but the neurophysiological response is not well documented. This study sought to investigate the blood-lesion barrier, blood-brain barrier, and cerebral perfusion characteristics of patients who have undergone such therapy using magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS:Seventeen patients with intracranial mass-enhancing lesions underwent magnetic resonance imaging before and after 3 days of high-dose dexamethasone therapy. Assessments of blood-lesion barrier and blood-brain barrier integrity were based on a dynamic T1-weighted exogenous contrast technique that yielded the normalized maximal change in contrast uptake (T1-uptake). Perfusion was assessed using a dynamic T2*-weighted exogenous contrast technique to yield relative regional cerebral blood volume and first-moment mean transit time. Comparisons were made in T1-uptake, regional cerebral blood volume, and first-moment mean transit time of both enhancing lesion and contralateral normal-appearing white matter (CNAWM) obtained before and after dexamethasone. RESULTS:Significant reduction in T1-uptake was observed (19% decrease, P < 0.005) within enhancing pathological tissue, whereas no significant alteration was detected in CNAWM. Regional cerebral blood volume was significantly reduced in both enhancing tissue (28% decrease, P < 0.005) and in CNAWM (20% decrease, P < 0.001). Bolus first-moment mean transit time significantly increased (2.0 s prolongation, P < 0.05) in CNAWM, whereas there was no significant change (1.4 s prolongation, P > 0.05) within enhancing tissue. CONCLUSION:Glucocorticoid-analogue therapy not only affects the permeability of the blood-lesion barrier and lesion blood volume but also affects blood flow within normal-appearing contralateral parenchyma. There is a need for controls in steroid therapy in magnetic resonance imaging studies, which involve assessments of cerebrovascular function.
Robinson-Schensted-Knuth Algorithm, Jeu de Taquin, and Kerov-Vershik Measures on Infinite Tableaux

We investigate the Robinson--Schensted--Knuth algorithm (RSK) and Schutzenberger's jeu de taquin in the infinite setup. We show that the recording tableau in RSK defines an isomorphism of the following two dynamical systems: (i) a sequence of independent and identically distributed random letters equipped with Bernoulli shift, and (ii) a random infinite Young tableau (with the distribution given by Vershik--Kerov measure, corresponding to some Thoma character of the infinite symmetric group) equipped with jeu de taquin transformation. As a special case we recover the results on noncolliding random walks and multidimensional Pitman transform.
Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics Former CEO Directors: Lingering CEOs or Valuable Resources?

We investigate corporate governance experts' claim that it is detrimental to a firm to reappoint former CEOs as directors after they step down as CEOs. We find that more successful and more powerful former CEOs are more likely to be reappointed to the board multiple times after they step down as CEOs. Firms benefit on average from the presence of former CEOs on their boards. Firms with former CEO directors have better accounting performance, have higher relative turnover-performance sensitivity of the successor CEO, and can rehire their former CEO directors as CEOs after extremely poor firm performance under the successor CEOs. 3 Should a firm reappoint its former CEO to the board of directors after he steps down as CEO? Institutional investors and their proxy advisors, as well as other board members, often oppose such an action, suggesting possible negative effects from the board membership of these individuals. For example, proxy voting advisor Institutional Shareholder Services, a division of RiskMetrics Group, publishes an aggregate measure of governance quality. One of the criteria that negatively impacts a firm's score is the board membership of a former CEO. A survey of 1,000 directors conducted by the magazine Corporate Board Member in conjunction with Price Waterhouse Coopers in 2003 found that only 25.3% of survey respondents said that it was a good idea to have the former CEO on the board. One potential pitfall of reappointing a former, potentially entrenched, CEO as a board member is that a clean transfer of power may not take place. For example, the former CEO may be more reluctant to accept changes in corporate policies and strategies proposed by his successor or he may undermine the authority of a new CEO. Rumors of such power struggles between new and former CEOs in the board room have been reported in the popular press for such companies as Citigroup, Dow Chemical, and Newell Rubbermaid. On the other hand, as a director on his firm's board, a former CEO is arguably the director with the most firm-specific knowledge. Unlike most other inside directors, who also have firm-specific knowledge, the former CEO does not depend on the current CEO. Such knowledge and relative independence can make him a valuable advisor to the new CEO and to other board members. We empirically investigate this tradeoff – entrenchment and power struggles versus valuable advice and monitoring– at the board reappointment decision. We provide …
Vascular risk factors, incidence of MCI, and rates of progression to dementia

Objective: To estimate prevalence, incidence, and rate of progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia and correlated vascular risk factors with incident MCI and its progression to dementia. Methods: The authors evaluated 2,963 individuals from the population-based sample of 5,632 subjects 65 to 84 years old, at the first (1992 to 1993) and second survey (1995 to 1996) of the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA), with a 3.5-year follow-up. Dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), other types of dementia, and MCI were classified using current clinical criteria. Results: Among the 2,963 participants, 139 MCI patients were diagnosed at the first ILSA survey. During the 3.5-year follow-up, 113 new events of MCI were diagnosed with an estimated incidence rate of 21.5 per 1,000 person-years. We found a progression rate to dementia (all causes) of 3.8/100 person-years. Specific progression rates for AD, VaD, and other types of dementia were 2.3, 1.3, and 0.3/100 person-years. Furthermore, age was a risk factor for incident MCI (RR: 5.93, 95% CI: 3.17 to 11.10), while education was protective (RR: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.10), and serum total cholesterol evidenced a borderline nonsignificant trend for a protective effect. There was a nonsignificant trend for stroke as a risk factor of progression of MCI to dementia. Conclusions: In this population, among those who progressed to dementia, 60% progressed to AD and 33% to VaD. Vascular risk factors influence incident mild cognitive impairment and the rate of progression to dementia.