Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrafamilial Associations of Lipid Profiles and the Role of Nutrition: The Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Background: The role of gene and environment in the genesis of abnormal lipid profile is still a controversial issue. Objective: To clarify the importance of certain parental risk factors associated with lipid profiles of children and adolescents. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional population-based study in district 13 in the east of metropolitan Tehran.One hundred and thirteen eligible families comprising 455 subjects (including 229 offspring, aged 5–25 years) were enrolled into the study. Anthropometric data were measured using a standard protocol. To measure lipid profiles, venous blood was obtained in the morning after the subjects had fasted for 12–14 h overnight. Dietary intakes were assessed by means of a 2-day dietary recall questionnaire. Results: The chances of having elevated serum total cholesterol were higher in sons of fathers with high cholesterol intake (OR = 3.1; CI = 1.1–9.2) and mothers with high saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake (3.4; 1.1–10.8). Positive correlations were seen between the energy intake of fathers and serum total cholesterol of their daughters (r = 0.34, p < 0.01); between the SFA intake of fathers and serum triglycerides (TGs) of their sons (0.29, p < 0.01) and between mothers’ body mass index and daughters’ serum TGs (0.23, p < 0.03). The chances of having low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower in sons of mothers with high carbohydrate intake (11.0; 2.8–42.8) and mothers with high serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (6.8; 1.7–27.0). There were higher chances of having elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in sons with fathers having high SFA intake (4.5; 1.4–14.3), with mothers having high serum TGs (6.1; 1.3–29.0) and with mothers having high cholesterol intake (4.3; 1.2–15.2). Conclusion: The results indicate independent associations between diet contents and the lipid profiles of parents and their offspring as well as between lipid profiles and diet contents among spouses.
Results of Myringoplasty in Children With Cleft Palate: A Patient-Matched Study

Objectives To assess the anatomic and functional outcome of underlay cartilage myringoplasty in children with cleft palate, at different postoperative periods compared with a patients-matched control group Study Design Case control study, tertiary referral center. Methods An otologic database was used to select children with cleft palate and perforated tympanic membrane who underwent myringoplasty between 1995 and 2012. These subjects were matched with control patients, without cleft palate, using the following criteria: age, size of perforation, status of contralateral ear, and status of middle ear mucosa. Charts were reviewed for the following: patients characteristics, preoperative findings, surgical data, postoperative anatomic and functional outcomes, and reinterventions. The postoperative findings were divided into 5 different periods. Results A group of 32 cleft palate patients as well as 32 control patients were included in this study, with a mean follow up of 63.6 ± 41 months. There were no differences between the groups in anatomic success as it was achieved in 84% in both groups. No differences were seen in functional outcome when compared with each different postoperative period. Using the last available audiogram, the postoperative mean air conduction and the air-bone gap were significantly worse in the cleft group compared with the control group, respectively, 26.1 ± 13.7 dB versus 18.4 ± 10.1 dB, p = 0.042; and 16.5 ± 9.4 dB and 11.3 ± 6.4 dB, p = 0.046. Additionally, the functional success was significantly worse in the cleft group; 58% versus 87% in the control group (OR, 5.5 [95% CI, 1.22–24.81], p = 0.027). Conclusion Children with cleft palate can benefit from cartilage underlay myringoplasty in terms of closure of tympanic membrane, although there is a worse functional outcome.
Is pK OK?

Since Hasselbalch1 introduced his logarithmic form of Henderson's2 equation (pH = pK′ + log HC03-/αPC02) it has been used to define the acid–base status of patients by providing the means for the calculation of one of the three variables — pH, carbon dioxide tension (PC02), or bicarbonate concentration (HCO3- ) — from knowledge of the other two. In most clinical laboratories today, pH and PC02 are measured, and HC03- is calculated from the equation. However, there are pitfalls inherent in this use of the equation. It is often forgotten that the .
Research on influence of different cover to the characteristic of FBG reflectance spectrum in vacuum thermal environment

To satisfy the application of fiber grating sensor technology in high vacuum thermal environment, two different kinds of sleeve compactly single model fiber covered by acrylate and polyimide are researched. Influence of the cover to the characteristic of FBG reflectance spectrum in high vacuum thermal environment is analyzed and verified. First, transmission characteristic of single model fiber in high vacuum thermal environment is analyzed by solve the equation of heat conduction. Then, experimental program of influence on FBG reflection spectrum characteristics is designed and a hardware-in-the-loop detection platform is set up. Finally, the influence of temperature and vacuum on the reflection peak power of FBG in different coating single-mode transmission fiber under high vacuum thermal environment is studied and verified. Experimental results indicate that: when vacuum varied from normal pressure to 10-4Pa level and then return to normal pressure, temperature of two different coating single-mode transmission fiber dropped to -196 ° from room temperature and then returned to room temperature, after 224 hours, the peak power of the FBG reflectance spectrum did not change. It provided the theoretical and experimental basis for the application of optical fiber sensing technology in high vacuum (pressure about 10-4Pa level) and thermal environment (-196 ° ∼ 25 ° temperature cycle) .
EBV Promotes Human CD8+ NKT Cell Development

The reports on the origin of human CD8+ Vα24+ T-cell receptor (TCR) natural killer T (NKT) cells are controversial. The underlying mechanism that controls human CD4 versus CD8 NKT cell development is not well-characterized. In the present study, we have studied total 177 eligible patients and subjects including 128 healthy latent Epstein-Barr-virus(EBV)-infected subjects, 17 newly-onset acute infectious mononucleosis patients, 16 newly-diagnosed EBV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma patients, and 16 EBV-negative normal control subjects. We have established human-thymus/liver-SCID chimera, reaggregated thymic organ culture, and fetal thymic organ culture. We here show that the average frequency of total and CD8+ NKT cells in PBMCs from 128 healthy latent EBV-infected subjects is significantly higher than in 17 acute EBV infectious mononucleosis patients, 16 EBV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma patients, and 16 EBV-negative normal control subjects. However, the frequency of total and CD8+ NKT cells is remarkably increased in the acute EBV infectious mononucleosis patients at year 1 post-onset. EBV-challenge promotes CD8+ NKT cell development in the thymus of human-thymus/liver-SCID chimeras. The frequency of total (3% of thymic cells) and CD8+ NKT cells (∼25% of NKT cells) is significantly increased in EBV-challenged chimeras, compared to those in the unchallenged chimeras (<0.01% of thymic cells, CD8+ NKT cells undetectable, respectively). The EBV-induced increase in thymic NKT cells is also reflected in the periphery, where there is an increase in total and CD8+ NKT cells in liver and peripheral blood in EBV-challenged chimeras. EBV-induced thymic CD8+ NKT cells display an activated memory phenotype (CD69+CD45ROhiCD161+CD62Llo). After EBV-challenge, a proportion of NKT precursors diverges from DP thymocytes, develops and differentiates into mature CD8+ NKT cells in thymus in EBV-challenged human-thymus/liver-SCID chimeras or reaggregated thymic organ cultures. Thymic antigen-presenting EBV-infected dendritic cells are required for this process. IL-7, produced mainly by thymic dendritic cells, is a major and essential factor for CD8+ NKT cell differentiation in EBV-challenged human-thymus/liver-SCID chimeras and fetal thymic organ cultures. Additionally, these EBV-induced CD8+ NKT cells produce remarkably more perforin than that in counterpart CD4+ NKT cells, and predominately express CD8αα homodimer in their co-receptor. Thus, upon interaction with certain viruses, CD8 lineage-specific NKT cells are developed, differentiated and matured intrathymically, a finding with potential therapeutic importance against viral infections and tumors.
Serum prolidase activity and oxidative–antioxidative status in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip and its relationship with radiographic severity

Background: We aimed to investigate serum prolidase activity and to investigate its association with oxidative–antioxidative status in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Methods: Oxidative status parameters, including lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), total oxidant status (TOS), and the oxidative stress index (OSI), and antioxidative status parameters, free sulfhydryl groups (Total –SH), and total antioxidative capacity (TAC), as well as serum prolidase activity were assessed in patients with DDH (n = 93), and in healthy controls (n = 82). The severity of dysplasia was evaluated according to the Tonnis grading system. Results: Serum prolidase activity and the oxidant parameters (LOOH, TOS, and OSI) were significantly higher and the antioxidant parameters (Total –SH and TAC) were significantly lower in patients with DDH compared to the controls (P < 0.005 for all). Serum prolidase activity was positively correlated with the Tonnis grade of DDH and LOOH, TOS, and OSI levels (P < 0.001 for all), but inversely correlated with total –SH and TAC levels (P < 0.001 for all). Conclusion: Increased levels of serum prolidase activity, LOOH, TOS, and OSI, and decreased levels of total –SH and TAC, may be associated with DDH, and these parameters may be useful adjunctive tools to assess the severity of DDH.
ON COMPOSITE LIKELIHOODS IN STATISTICAL GENETICS

Due to the dimension and the dependency structure of genetic data, com- posite likelihood methods have found their natural place in the statistical methodo- logy involving such data. After a brief description of the type of data one encounters in population genetic studies, we introduce the questions of interest concerning the main genetic parameters in population genetics, and present an up-to-date review on how composite likelihoods have been used to estimate these parameters.
Thermal Ceramic Panels and Passive Systems in Mediterranean Housing: Energy Savings and Environmental Impacts

This research examines the benefits of designing a living space in a basement, as a method of passive temperature control in summer, combined with thermal ceramic panels (TCP) on some walls. These panels incorporate a capillary system of polypropylene tubes which work with cold water. We studied a detached house on the coast of Alicante, where the moderate temperature of the ground tempered interior conditions of comfort using the flow of air from the basement, significantly reducing energy demand and environmental impacts. This reduction was quantified through simulations using the Design Builder tool, having previously monitored the state of the building, on scenarios of a house without a basement, a house with a basement and an all-air system, and a house with a basement and radiant surfaces, using TCP panels on walls. This latter passive system led to a 10.25% reduction in annual energy demand. When we combined it with the two possible air conditioning systems, comfort achieved using the TCP panel system improved by 45.8% compared to the all air system in the living room on the ground floor and by 17% in the basement living room. In addition, annual energy demand and environmental impacts deriving from the use of the installation decreased by 31.8% with the TCP system.
Damping properties of non-conductive composite materials for applications in power transmission pylons

This study aims to characterize the fibre direction dependent damping properties of non-conductive composite materials to be used in newly designed electrical power transmission pylons, on which the conducting cables will be directly connected. Thus, the composite structure can be designed both to insulate and to act as a damper to avoid for example conductor line galloping. In order to predict the damping of the composite materials, a comprehensive analysis on a representative unidirectional laminate was carried out. The fibre direction dependent damping analysis of glass and aramid reinforced epoxy and vinylester, partly reinforced with nanoclay or fibre-hybridized, was investigated using a Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis and a Vibrating Beam Testing procedure for five different fibre orientations (0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°). The focus was on damping behaviour evaluation at low temperatures (−20°C and 0°C) and low vibration frequencies (0.5 Hz, 1 Hz and 2 Hz), in order to represent the environmental conditions of vibrating conductor lines during. The prediction of the damping behaviour for coupon-level-specimens with three balanced laminates was successfully carried out with a maximal deviation of maximal 12.1%.
Clinical Features and Rapid Viral Diagnosis of Human Disease Associated with Avian Influenza a H5n1 Virus and Members of the H5n1 Study Group*

Articles ARTICLES Introduction Influenza A viruses infect a variety of animals including human beings, pigs, horses, marine mammals, and birds. All currently known influenza A subtypes (haemagglutinins H1 to H15 and neuraminidases N1 to N9) are found in birds, 1 raising the possibility that subtypes other than those found in human beings (H1 to H3) may cross the species barrier and infect people. 2 Although infections caused by most strains of influenza A virus usually produce no symptoms in aquatic birds, the H5 and H7 haemagglutinin subtypes have occasionally caused outbreaks of severe disease in terrestrial birds, particularly poultry. 3 Influenza A H5N1 virus has caused serious disease in turkeys. 4 Whether avian viruses can infect human beings directly or need to reassort in an intermediate host (eg, pigs) is a matter of debate. The receptor for the influenza virus in human cells contains an ␣2-6Gal linkage that is different to that required for avian influenza viruses (␣2-3Gal linkage), 5 but whether this difference is sufficient to preclude direct spread of avian viruses to people is not certain. The H1N1 virus responsible for the human pandemic of 1918 may have been a direct introduction of an avian virus into human beings. 6 There is serological evidence for human exposure to avian influenza viruses (including H5 viruses) in southern China. 7 However, until recently, a purely avian virus had not been isolated from people with respiratory disease, although conjunctivitis caused by an avian H7 virus has been reported. 8 Influenza A H5N1 subtype was first isolated from a child who subsequently died with Reye's syndrome in Hong Kong in May, 1997. 9 Here we report the clinical presentations and virological findings of 12 culture-confirmed cases of human disease associated with influenza A H5N1. The risk factors associated with severe disease and poor outcome are analysed and discussed. Methods All 12 patients with influenza A H5N1 virus infection, documented by viral culture, between May 15 and December 22, 1997, from all acute regional hospitals in Hong Kong (total bed capacity 12 000 serving a population of about 6 million) were included in the study. The medical records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively by their attending clinicians and clinical microbiologists. Respiratory specimens (nasopharyngeal aspirates, throat swabs, endotracheal aspirates, and sputum) were collected and stored in viral transport medium. Only nasopharyngeal or endotracheal aspirates were examined by rapid virus detection methods. Virus culture …
The Search for Satisfaction

In recent years, there has been an explosion of research in AI into propositional satis ability (or Sat). There are many factors behind the increased interest in this area. One factor is the improvement in search procedures for Sat. New local search procedures like Gsat are able to solve Sat problems with thousands of variables. At the same time, implementations of complete search algorithms like Davis-Putnam have been able to solve open mathematical problems. Another factor is the identi cation of hard Sat problems at a phase transition in solubility. A third factor is the demonstration that we can often solve real world problems by encoding them into Sat. There has also seen an improved theoretical understanding of Sat, particularly in the analysis of such phase transition behaviour. This paper reviews the state of the art for research into satis ability, and discuss applications in which algorithms for satis ability have proved successful. http://dream.dai. ed.ac. uk/group/tw/sat/ Other survey articles and many online papers can be found at the above address.
The interrelation between aPKC and glucose uptake in the skeletal muscle during contraction and insulin stimulation

Contraction and insulin increase glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. While the insulin pathway, better characterized, requires activation of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) and atypical protein kinase (aPKC), muscle contraction seems to share insulin‐activated components to increase glucose uptake. This study aimed to investigate the interrelation between the pathway involved in glucose uptake evoked by insulin and muscle contraction. Isolated muscle of rats was treated with solvent (control), insulin, wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor) and the combination of insulin plus wortmannin. After treatment, muscles were electrically stimulated (contracted) or remained at rest. Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) localization, glucose uptake and phospho‐aPKC (aPKC activated form) were assessed. Muscle contraction and insulin increased glucose uptake in all conditions when compared with controls not stimulating an effect that was accompanied by an increase in GLUT4 and of phospho‐aPKC at the muscle membrane. Contracted muscles treated with insulin did not show additive effects on glucose uptake or aPKC activity compared with the response when these stimuli were applied alone. Inhibition of PI3K blocked insulin effect on glucose uptake and aPKC but not in the contractile response. Thus, muscle contraction seems to stimulate aPKC and glucose uptake independently of PI3K. Therefore, aPKC may be a convergence point and a rate limit step in the pathway by which, insulin and contraction, increase glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fracture risk and bone mineral density in metabolic syndrome: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The risk of bone fractures in subjects with the metabolic syndrome is unknown. We did a meta-analysis to assess the association between metabolic syndrome, risk of fractures, and bone mineral density (BMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS We did searches on electronic databases (Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Knowledge) until December 2012 and searched reports to identify studies in humans on bone fractures and BMD at different sites. Two independent reviewers collected the relevant reports. We did random-effects meta-analyses to determine the risk of fractures and BMD values associated with metabolic syndrome. RESULTS A total of 17 studies, with 35 datasets, were included. In 10 articles (14 datasets) including 1350 incident and 1628 prevalent fractures, metabolic syndrome was associated with a reduced fracture risk (risk ratio = 0.85, 95% confidence interval, 0.71-1.00; high heterogeneity: I(2) = 55%, P = . 006). Omission of 2 outlier studies resulted in a significant negative association (risk ratio = 0.85, P = .012; I(2) = 34%, P = . 130). Most of the reduced fracture risk was seen in cohort studies (18% reduced risk), suggesting a direction of causality; sex, site of fracture, and definition of the syndrome did not affect the estimates. In 16 articles, including 29 341 subjects, there was no difference in spine, femoral neck, or calcaneus BMD values between subjects with or without metabolic syndrome; mean differences ranged from 0.001 to 0.012 g/cm(2) (P > .10). CONCLUSIONS This article shows a reduced risk of bone fractures associated with metabolic syndrome, without modification of BMD. The clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain and should be addressed in future prospective studies.
Modeling Social Influences on Human Health

Social interactions have long-term physiological, psychological, and behavioral consequences. Social isolation is a well-recognized but little understood risk factor and prognostic marker of disease; it can have profoundly detrimental effects on both mental and physical well-being, particularly during states of compromised health. In contrast, the health benefits associated with social support (both reduced risk and improved recovery) are evident in a variety of illnesses and injury states; however, the mechanisms by which social interactions influence disease pathogenesis remain largely unidentified. The substantial health impact of the psychosocial environment can occur independently of traditional disease risk factors and is not accounted for solely by peer-encouraged development of health behaviors. Instead, social interactions are capable of altering shared pathophysiological mechanisms of multiple disease states in distinct measurable ways. Converging evidence from animal models of injury and disease recapitulates the physiological benefits of affiliative social interactions and establishes several endogenous mechanisms (inflammatory signals, glucocorticoids, and oxytocin) by which social interactions influence health outcomes. Taken together, both clinical and animal research are undoubtedly necessary to develop a complete mechanistic understanding of social influences on health. CRP = C-reactive protein; CVD = cardiovascular disease; HPA = hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; IL = interleukin; OT = oxytocin; OTA = oxytocin receptor antagonist.
Gene dosage-dependent rescue of HSP neurite defects in SPG4 patients’ neurons

The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a heterogeneous group of motorneuron diseases characterized by progressive spasticity and paresis of the lower limbs. Mutations in Spastic Gait 4 (SPG4), encoding spastin, are the most frequent cause of HSP. To understand how mutations in SPG4 affect human neurons, we generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from fibroblasts of two patients carrying a c.1684C>T nonsense mutation and from two controls. These SPG4 and control hiPSCs were able to differentiate into neurons and glia at comparable efficiency. All known spastin isoforms were reduced in SPG4 neuronal cells. The complexity of SPG4 neurites was decreased, which was paralleled by an imbalance of axonal transport with less retrograde movement. Prominent neurite swellings with disrupted microtubules were present in SPG4 neurons at an ultrastructural level. While some of these swellings contain acetylated and detyrosinated tubulin, these tubulin modifications were unchanged in total cell lysates of SPG4 neurons. Upregulation of another microtubule-severing protein, p60 katanin, may partially compensate for microtubuli dynamics in SPG4 neurons. Overexpression of the M1 or M87 spastin isoforms restored neurite length, branching, numbers of primary neurites and reduced swellings in SPG4 neuronal cells. We conclude that neurite complexity and maintenance in HSP patient-derived neurons are critically sensitive to spastin gene dosage. Our data show that elevation of single spastin isoform levels is sufficient to restore neurite complexity and reduce neurite swellings in patient cells. Furthermore, our human model offers an ideal platform for pharmacological screenings with the goal to restore physiological spastin levels in SPG4 patients.