Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Causal Pathway From Telomere Length to Coronary Heart Disease: A Network Mendelian Randomization Study

Rationale: Observational studies have found shorter leukocyte telomere length (TL) to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), and recently the association was suggested to be causal. However, the relationship between TL and common metabolic risk factors for CHD is not well understood. Whether these risk factors could explain pathways from TL to CHD warrants further attention. Objective: To examine whether metabolic risk factors for CHD mediate the causal pathway from short TL to increased risk of CHD using a network Mendelian randomization design. Methods and Results: Summary statistics from several genome-wide association studies were used in a 2-sample Mendelian randomization study design. Network Mendelian randomization analysis—an approach using genetic variants as the instrumental variables for both the exposure and mediator to infer causality—was performed to examine the causal association between telomeres and CHD and metabolic risk factors. Summary statistics from the ENGAGE Telomere Consortium were used (n=37 684) as a TL genetic instrument, CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium data were used (case=22 233 and control=64 762) for CHD, and other consortia data were used for metabolic traits (fasting insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, diabetes mellitus, glycohemoglobin, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist:hip ratio). One-unit increase of genetically determined TL was associated with −0.07 (95% confidence interval, −0.01 to −0.12; P=0.01) lower log-transformed fasting insulin (pmol/L) and 21% lower odds (95% confidence interval, 3–35; P=0.02) of CHD. Higher genetically determined log-transformed fasting insulin level was associated with higher CHD risk (odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–3.41; P=0.04). Conclusions: Overall, our findings support a role of insulin as a mediator on the causal pathway from shorter telomeres to CHD pathogenesis.
Metaphors Undergraduates of Jimma University Communicate by: Conceptualizations of Gender and Promiscuity 1

Tesfaye Gebeyehu & Hailom Banteyerga (2014). Metaphors undergraduates of Jimma University communicate by: Conceptualizations of gender and promiscuity. Ethiop.j.soc.lang. stud. 1(1), 1-24. eISSN: 2408-9532 The study attempted to assess how the language undergraduates of Jimma University (JU) use in sex discourse shapes their perception of gender and promiscuity. Qualitative data were gathered from 4 focus group discussions, 35 key informants (20 males, 15 females), selected through snow-ball sampling. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed that respondents mainly use metaphors not only to construct men as dominating and women as dominated class in sexual relationships, but also to perpetuate promiscuity. The study concluded that language use is a critical factor to aggravate undergraduates‟ risky sexual behavior. The study recommended programs that foster safer sex in college context to emphasize gender focused communication activities that could help young students question their assumptions of gender, promiscuity, and language use. Future research on sex discourse and intervention among undergraduates should seek more on how language use in sexual communication positively shapes their perception of gender and promiscuity.
Epstein‐Barr virus load in whole blood is associated with immunosuppression, but not with post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease in stable adult heart transplant patients

Development of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐associated post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a serious complication following heart transplantation (HTX). This study investigates EBV DNA load in adult heart transplant recipients, its association with immunosuppression, and its potential as a marker for development of PTLD. EBV DNA load was measured prospectively by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 172 stable HTX patients. Sixty‐seven patients (39.0% of total) had a positive EBV PCR at initial examination [median 4.9 (range 1.1–16.9) years post‐HTX]. In follow‐up testing of 67 positive patients 6 months later, 36 patients continued to have a positive EBV PCR. Overall incidence of EBV DNA was significantly associated with calcineurin inihibitors, azathioprine medication, and with the absence of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment. In patients with positive EBV DNA levels at initial examination and negative levels at retesting, cyclosporine A levels were found to be significantly higher at initial examination (148.4 ± 70.2 vs. 119.6 ± 53.5 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Three patients (1.7%, 3/172) were diagnosed with PTLD during the course of the study (mean follow up 4.0 years). EBV DNA viral load determination does not appear to be useful for risk prediction or early diagnosis of PTLD in adults after HTX, but an association of EBV DNA load with qualitative and quantitative immunosuppression is demonstrated.
THE ROOTS OF EVIL

Of all the great dualities of human experience, “good and evil” have been the most instrumental in shaping the beliefs, rituals, and laws of Homo sapiens. The polarization of our nature into “good and bad” and anthropomorphic externalizations of these impulsions have been with us for millennia, providing inspiration for magical rites, representational forms, and the cornucopia of dramas, narratives, and artworks to which they give expression. Furthermore, whereas all religions advocate for good, the particular narratives of evil underlying the traditions of Western culture come to us from the Bible. However, good and especially evil are theological and moral, not psychological, constructs. With Freud’s death instinct, and later Fromm’s necrophilous character, the darker shadow of human nature became definitively secularized. After an introduction and historical/developmental overview of select theorists, this paper adopts a strictly psychoanalytic frame of reference in the exploration of what renders some human beings capable of doing inhuman things. Looking at behaviors manifesting through the psychodynamics of character structure and severe personality disorders, the breakdown of empathy and defacement of the “other” in the creation of an enemy is discussed. In conclusion two clinical portraits are offered, illustrating how primitive emotions and defenses, superego pathology, and latent schizoid, narcissistic, and projective mechanisms provide fuel and rationalization for malignant aggressive, duplicitous, and sadistic behaviors. Here we are dealing with the ultimate things which psychological research can learn about: the behavior of the two primal instincts, their distribution, mingling and defusion—things which we cannot think of as being confined to a single province of the mental apparatus, the id, the ego or the superego. —Sigmund Freud, “Analysis, Terminable and Interminable”
Implications of early menopause in women exposed to perfluorocarbons.

CONTEXT Perfluorocarbons (PFC) are man-made chemicals used in numerous household products. They have a long half-life in humans and complex animal toxicity, and accumulating evidence points toward associations with multiple human health endpoints. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to investigate whether PFC are associated with endocrine disruption in women. DESIGN Cross-sectional analyses were made between quintiles of serum PFC, serum estradiol, and menopause onset. SETTING The C8 Health Project, with cohort of 69,030 adults and children, was conducted due to PFC contamination of drinking water from six water districts in two states. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 25,957 women aged 18-65 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serum estradiol levels and onset of menopause were assessed. The survey was the result of a class action suit, and survey designers (an independent corporation) had no a priori hypotheses. All hypotheses have been formulated by other investigators after data collection. RESULTS After excluding women who reported hysterectomy and adjusting for age within the group, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and exercise, the odds of having experienced menopause were significantly higher in the highest quintile relative to the lowest quintile of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the perimenopausal [PFOS odds = 1.4, confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-1.8; PFOA odds =1.4, CI = 1.1-1.8] and menopausal age groups (PFOS odds = 2.1, CI=1.6-2.8; PFOA odds = 1.7, CI = 1.3-2.3). After appropriate exclusions and adjustment for covariates, there was a significant inverse association between PFOS and estradiol in perimenopausal (β = -3.65; P < 0.0001) and menopausal age groups (β = -0.83; P = 0.007) but not between PFOA and estradiol. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that PFC are associated with endocrine disruption in women and that further research on mechanisms is warranted.
Clustering words for statistical language models based on contextual word similarity

This paper describes a new word clustering approach for statistical language modeling. The classification criteria used by our approach is the contextual word similarity used in a simplified clustering algorithm. This clustering technique was tested on the INRS speech recognizer using the spontaneous English corpora, ATIS. Automatic word classification increases the word accuracy rate by 8.6% with a perplexity reduction about of 6.9%.
Role Efficacy, Role Clarity, and Role Performance Effectiveness

The main purpose of the study was to examine role clarity as a moderator of the role efficacy-role performance relationship. A secondary issue was to investigate the influence of role clarity on role efficacy and role performance. On the basis of Bandura’s theorizing, it was hypothesized that role efficacy should be a good predictor of role performance effectiveness only under conditions of high role clarity. Individuals reporting higher role clarity were expected to be more efficacious and perform better than those with lower role clarity. Consistent with hypotheses, role clarity moderated the prospective relationship between role efficacy and role performance effectiveness in the predicted direction for offensive role functions. Individuals who reported higher role clarity also reported higher role efficacy and performed better than those with lower role clarity. Results are discussed in the context of self-efficacy theory. Further prospective examinations, as well as experimental designs, are recommended.
Moral Emotions during Military Deployments of Dutch Forces

Which emotions are generated by the behavior of “the other” in intercultural interactions that Dutch soldiers perceive as conflicting with their own values? How are these emotions related to types of behavioral reactions of Dutch military personnel? This preliminary study explores the emotional and behavioral reactions of Dutch military personnel deployed in unfamiliar cultural settings. Using a grounded theory approach, a total of 121 situations were studied. The narratives were derived from interview sessions with servicemen reflecting on their recent deployment. The results of this explorative study indicate that violations of standards with regard to an individual’s position in society evoke most emotions. The more a situation is experienced as reprehensible and “strange,” the stronger the negative emotions. Although most soldiers did not react in accordance with their strong and negative emotions (they started a dialogue or reported the incident), the consequences of such emotions and subsequent reactions can have quite an impact on the individual level as well as on the organizational and international political level. We therefore underline the importance of combining ethical dilemma and cultural awareness training during predeployment.
Image segmentation by convex quadratic programming

A quadratic programming formulation for multiclass image segmentation is investigated. It is proved that, in the convex case, the non-negativity constraint on the recent reported quadratic Markov measure field model can be neglected and the solution preserves the probability measure property. This allows one to design efficient optimization algorithms. Additionally, it is proposed a (free parameter) inter-pixel affinity measure which is more related with classes memberships than with color or gray gradient based standard methods. Moreover, it is introduced a formulation for computing the pixel likelihoods by taking into account local context and texture properties.
Membrane Association of the PTEN Tumor Suppressor: Molecular Details of the Protein-Membrane Complex from SPR Binding Studies and Neutron Reflection

The structure and function of the PTEN phosphatase is investigated by studying its membrane affinity and localization on in-plane fluid, thermally disordered synthetic membrane models. The membrane association of the protein depends strongly on membrane composition, where phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylinositol diphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) act pronouncedly synergistic in pulling the enzyme to the membrane surface. The equilibrium dissociation constants for the binding of wild type (wt) PTEN to PS and PI(4,5)P2 were determined to be Kd∼12 µM and 0.4 µM, respectively, and Kd∼50 nM if both lipids are present. Membrane affinities depend critically on membrane fluidity, which suggests multiple binding sites on the protein for PI(4,5)P2. The PTEN mutations C124S and H93R show binding affinities that deviate strongly from those measured for the wt protein. Both mutants bind PS more strongly than wt PTEN. While C124S PTEN has at least the same affinity to PI(4,5)P2 and an increased apparent affinity to PI(3,4,5)P3, due to its lack of catalytic activity, H93R PTEN shows a decreased affinity to PI(4,5)P2 and no synergy in its binding with PS and PI(4,5)P2. Neutron reflection measurements show that the PTEN phosphatase “scoots" along the membrane surface (penetration <5 Å) but binds the membrane tightly with its two major domains, the C2 and phosphatase domains, as suggested by the crystal structure. The regulatory C-terminal tail is most likely displaced from the membrane and organized on the far side of the protein, ∼60 Å away from the bilayer surface, in a rather compact structure. The combination of binding studies and neutron reflection allows us to distinguish between PTEN mutant proteins and ultimately may identify the structural features required for membrane binding and activation of PTEN.
Partially Redundant Logic Detection Using Symbolic Equivalence Checking in Reversible and Irreversible Logic Circuits

This paper investigates partially redundant logic detection and gate modification coverage in both reversible and irreversible (classical) logic circuits. Our methodology is to repeatedly compare a benchmark circuit with a modified copy of itself using an equivalence checker. We have found many instances in the irreversible logic ISCAS85 benchmarks where single gate replacements were not detected, indicating no change in functionality after gate replacement. In contrast, we demonstrate that the Maslov reversible and quantum logic benchmarks exhibit very high gate modification fault coverage, in line with the expectation that reversible circuits, which implement bijective functions, have maximal information content.
Natural history of cervicovaginal papillomavirus infection in young women.

BACKGROUND Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is highly prevalent in sexually active young women. However, precise risk factors for HPV infection and its incidence and duration are not well known. METHODS We followed 608 college women at six-month intervals for three years. At each visit, we collected information about lifestyle and sexual behavior and obtained cervicovaginal-lavage samples for the detection of HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization. Pap smears were obtained annually. RESULTS The cumulative 36-month incidence of HPV infection was 43 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 36 to 49 percent). An increased risk of HPV infection was significantly associated with younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, black race, an increased number of vaginal-sex partners, high frequencies of vaginal sex and alcohol consumption, anal sex, and certain characteristics of partners (regular partners having an increased number of lifetime partners and not being in school). The median duration of new infections was 8 months (95 percent confidence interval, 7 to 10 months). The persistence of HPV for > or =6 months was related to older age, types of HPV associated with cervical cancer, and infection with multiple types of HPV but not with smoking. The risk of an abnormal Pap smear increased with persistent HPV infection, particularly with high-risk types (relative risk, 37.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 14.6 to 94.8). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of HPV infection in sexually active young college women is high. The short duration of most HPV infections in these women suggests that the associated cervical dysplasia should be managed conservatively.
Feminist Theology in Latin America: A Theology without Recognition

This paper outlines the ongoing challenges faced by feminist theology in Latin America as it enters the twenty-first century, given the continuing ecclesial antipathy towards its goals, its proponents and its practitioners. This marginalized position with respect to the Catholic Church allows feminist theologians a certain distance from ecclesiastical control, but at the same time means that as a movement feminist theology lacks influence because of its distance from the centre of power. Meanwhile, socio-economic factors continue to oppress the poorest, many of whom— especially women—find solace in the institutional Church and the religious models that feminist theology wishes to critique. As a result of these forces, the future of feminist theology remains uncertain.
Structure and Function of Methanogens along a Short-Term Restoration Chronosequence in the Florida Everglades

ABSTRACT The removal of plants and soil to bedrock to eradicate exotic invasive plants within the Hole-in-the-Donut (HID) region, part of the Everglades National Park (Florida), presented a unique opportunity to study the redevelopment of soil and the associated microbial communities in the context of short-term primary succession and ecosystem restoration. The goal of this study was to identify relationships between soil redevelopment and activity and composition of methanogenic assemblages in HID soils. Methane production potentials indicated a general decline in methanogenic activity with restoration age. Microcosm incubations strongly suggested hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis as the most favorable pathway for methane formation in HID soils from all sites. Culture-independent techniques targeting methyl coenzyme M reductase genes (mcrA) were used to assess the dynamics of methanogenic assemblages. Clone libraries were dominated by sequences related to hydrogenotrophic methanogens of the orders Methanobacteriales and Methanococcales and suggested a general decline in the relative abundance of Methanobacteriales mcrA with time since restoration. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis indicated methanogenic assemblages remain relatively stable between wet and dry seasons. Interestingly, analysis of soils across the restoration chronosequence indicated a shift in Methanobacteriales populations with restoration age, suggesting genotypic shifts due to site-specific factors.
Distinctions not Dichotomies: Exploring Social, Sustainable, and Environmental Entrepreneurship

In this chapter, we review and examine the differences and similarities between social, sustainable, and environmental entrepreneurship. We explore the concepts, key questions, empirical methodologies, and disciplinary roots that differentiate and relate these emergent interest areas. The result of this comparative analysis inevitably raises the question of whether these new literature streams are inclusive or separate from the traditional domain of entrepreneurship research. We find that these three areas share many similarities, yet are distinguishable from one another and from more traditional, commercial forms of entrepreneurship. However, we determine that although these three areas of entrepreneurial scholarship raise unique questions and highlight different types of phenomena, they are not their own fields of study, but rather promising contexts for studying key questions of the entrepreneurship field.
PROTONATION AND CHLOROPLAST MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

Light changes the structure of chloroplasts. This effect was investigated by high resolution electron microscopy, photometric methods, and chemical modification. (a) A reversible contraction of chloroplast membrane occurs upon illumination, dark titration with H+, or increasing osmolarity. These gross structural changes arise from a flattening of the thylakoids, with a corresponding decrease in the spacing between membranes. Microdensitometry showed that illumination or dark addition of H+ resulted in a 13–23% decrease in membrane thickness. Osmotically contracted chloroplasts do not show this effect. (b) Rapid glutaraldehyde fixation during actual experiments revealed that transmission changes are closely correlated with the spacing changes and therefore reflect an osmotic mechanism, whereas the light scattering changes have kinetics most similar to changes in membrane thickness or conformation. (c) Kinetic analysis of light scattering and transmission changes with the changes in fluorescence of anilinonaphthalene sulfonic acid bound to membranes revealed that fluorescence preceded light scattering or transmission changes. (d) It is concluded that the temporal sequence of events following illumination probably are protonation, changes in the environment within the membrane, change in membrane thickness, change in internal osmolarity accompanying ion movements with consequent collapse and flattening of thylakoid, change in the gross morphology of the inner chloroplast membrane system, and change in the gross morphology of whole chloroplasts.
Derivatized 2-Furoyl-LIGRLO-amide, a Versatile and Selective Probe for Proteinase-Activated Receptor 2: Binding and Visualization

The proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2)-activating peptide with an N-terminal furoyl group modification, 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-NH2 (2fLI), was derivatized via its free ornithine amino group to yield [3H]propionyl-2fLI and Alexa Fluor 594-2fLI that were used as receptor probes for ligand binding assays and receptor visualization both for cultured cells in vitro and for colonic epithelial cells in vivo. The binding of the radiolabeled and fluorescent PAR2 probes was shown to be present in PAR2-transfected Kirsten normal rat kidney cells, but not in vector-alone-transfected cells, and was abolished by pretreatment of cells with saturating concentrations of receptor-selective PAR2 peptide agonists such as SLIGRL-NH2 and the parent agonist 2fLI but not by reverse-sequence peptides such as 2-furoyl-OLRGIL-NH2 that cannot activate PAR2. The relative orders of potencies for a series of PAR2 peptide agonists to compete for the binding of [3H]propionyl-2fLI (2fLI >> SLIGRL-NH2 ≅ trans-cinnamoyl-LIGRLO-NH2 > SLIGKV-NH2 > SLIGKT-NH2) mirrored qualitatively their relative potencies for PAR2-mediated calcium signaling in the same cells or for vasorelaxation in a rat aorta vascular assay. In the vascular assay, the potency of Alexa Fluor 594-2fLI was the same as 2fLI. We conclude that ornithine-derivatized 2fLI peptides are conveniently synthesized PAR2 probes that will be of value for future studies of receptor binding and visualization.