Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complex Verb Constructions in Child Korean: Overt Markers of Covert Functional Structure

In this paper we will apply to Korean the standard techniques which have been used to show that young children represent functional projections mainly for European languages. And what we find is the following: First, we suggest that the over-use of the default mood-inflection '-e' in the earliest speech of one Korean two-year old parallels root infinitive forms observed in other languages. Second, the absence of inflectional morphemes and the absence of correlations between specific verb forms and null-subjects, or tense markers, seem to be consistent with the view that children initially have only lexical categories. Despite this apparently strong evidence for a prefunctional analysis of child Korean syntax, we argue that the systematic presence of the linking morpheme '-ko-' in truncated auxiliary verb constructions implies that at least some level of functional structure is represented, even when it is never produced.
Patients' Perception of Comfort Facilitators During Hemodialysis Procedure: A Qualitative Study

Background: The patients receiving hemodialysis spend a lot of their lifetime in the hemodialysis departments, which is an unpleasant experience. Therefore, some interventions are necessary to relieve this experience. Objectives: The current study aimed to explore the hemodialysis patients' perceptions of comfort facilitators during the hemodialysis procedure. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted by a qualitative content analysis approach. Twenty four patients receiving hemodialysis participated in this study by purposive sampling. The sampling was over when the data saturation occurred. The semi-structured interviews were applied as the main data gathering tool. The data analysis was conducted by conventional qualitative content analysis in eight phases. Results: Three themes emerged: The presence of competent nurses, the delightful presence of the others, and coping with comfort obstacles. Each theme consisted of some categories. Conclusions: It seems that to achieve the patients' comfort during the hemodialysis procedure, the health care teams, hospitals in charge and the patients themselves have to do their best to provide the patients' comfort.
Comparison of different wastewater treatments for removal of selected endocrine-disruptors from paper mill wastewaters

There is increasing concern about chemical pollutants that have the ability to mimic hormones, the so-called endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). One of the main reasons for concern is the possible effect of EDCs on human health. EDCs may be released into the environment in different ways, and one of the most significant sources is industrial wastewater. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the treatment performance of different wastewater treatment procedures (biological treatment, filtration, advanced oxidation processes) for the reduction of chemical oxygen demand and seven selected EDCs (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, bisphenol A and nonylphenol) from wastewaters from a mill producing 100 % recycled paper. Two pilot plants were running in parallel and the following treatments were compared: (i) anaerobic biological treatment followed by aerobic biological treatment, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis (RO), and (ii) anaerobic biological treatment followed by membrane bioreactor and RO. Moreover, at lab-scale, four different advanced oxidation processes (Fenton reaction, photo-Fenton reaction, photocatalysis with TiO2, and ozonation) were applied. The results indicated that the concentrations of selected EDCs from paper mill wastewaters were effectively reduced (100 %) by both combinations of pilot plants and photo-Fenton oxidation (98 %), while Fenton process, photocatalysis with TiO2 and ozonation were less effective (70 % to 90 %, respectively).
C-loops: an introduction

C-loops are loops satisfying x(y(yz)) = ((xy)y)z. They often behave analogously to Moufang loops and they are closely related to Steiner triple systems and combinatorics. We initiate the study of C-loops by proving: (i) Steiner loops are C-loops, (ii) C-loops are alternative, inverse property loops with squares in the nucleus, (iii) the nucleus of a C-loop is a normal subgroup, (iv) C-loops modulo their nucleus are Steiner loops, (v) C-loops are power associative, power alternative but not necessarily diassociative, (vi) torsion commutative C-loops are products of torsion abelian groups and torsion commutative 2-C-loops; and several other results. We also give examples of the smallest nonassociative C-loops, and explore the analogy between commutative C-loops and commutative Moufang loops.
Performance of blood tests in diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease in a specialist clinic.

AIMS To determine the reliability of a panel of blood tests in screening for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. METHODS The subjects were 153 children referred to a paediatric gastroenterology department with possible inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Of these, 103 were found to have IBD (Crohn's disease 60, ulcerative colitis 37, indeterminate colitis 6). The 50 without IBD formed the controls. Blood tests evaluated included haemoglobin, platelet count, ESR, CRP, and albumin. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used where possible to determine optimal threshold values. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the five screening tests in combination, and a stepwise method was used to find the best test combination. RESULTS The optimal screening strategy used a combination of haemoglobin and platelet count and "1 of 2 abnormal" as the criterion for positivity. This was associated with a sensitivity of 90.8% (95% CI 83.3 to 95.7%), a specificity of 80.0% (95% CI 65.7 to 89.8%), and positive and negative predictive values of 94.4% and 75.9% respectively. CONCLUSIONS Haemoglobin and platelet count provide a useful screening test combination for patients with suspected IBD. These tests are not completely reliable however. If clinical suspicion is high further investigations are required.
Are there differences between young African-American and European-American women in the relative influences of genetics versus environment on age at first drink and problem alcohol use?

BACKGROUND Differences in age at initiation of alcohol use and rates of problem drinking between African Americans and European Americans are well documented, but the association between early and problem use-and distinctions by ethnic group in this association-have yet to be examined in a genetically informative framework. METHODS Data were derived from a longitudinal study of female twins in Missouri. The sample was composed of 3,532 twins (13.6% African-American [AA], 86.4% European-American [EA]), who participated in the fourth wave of data collection and reported consumption of at least 1 alcoholic drink over the lifetime. Mean age at Wave 4 was 21.7 (range = 18 to 29) years. Twin modeling was conducted to estimate the relative contributions of additive genetic (A), shared environmental (C), and unique environmental (E) factors to variation in age at first drink and problem alcohol use and the cross-phenotype overlap in these influences. RESULTS Early initiation of alcohol use predicted problem use in EA but not AA women. Separate AA and EA twin models produced substantially different estimates (but not statistically different models) of the relative contributions of A and C to problem alcohol use but similar genetic correlations between the phenotypes. Whereas 33% of the variance in the EA model of problem use was attributed to C, no evidence for C was found in the AA model. Heritability estimates for problem alcohol use were 41% in the AA model, 21% in the EA model. Evidence for A and C were found in both AA and EA models of age at first drink, but the A estimate was higher in the EA than AA model (44% vs. 26%). CONCLUSIONS Findings are suggestive of distinctions between AA versus EA women in the relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences on the development of problem drinking.
Genetic Susceptibility to Lipid Levels and Lipid Change Over Time and Risk of Incident Hyperlipidemia in Chinese Populations

Background—Multiple genetic loci associated with lipid levels have been identified predominantly in Europeans, and the issue of to what extent these genetic loci can predict blood lipid levels increases over time and the incidence of future hyperlipidemia remains largely unknown. Methods and Results—We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of lipid levels in 8344 subjects followed by replication studies including 14 739 additional individuals. We replicated 17 previously reported loci. We also newly identified 3 Chinese-specific variants in previous regions (HLA-C, LIPG, and LDLR) with genome-wide significance. Almost all the variants contributed to lipid levels change and incident hyperlipidemia >8.1-year follow-up among 6428 individuals of a prospective cohort study. The strongest associations for lipid levels change were detected at LPL, TRIB1, APOA1-C3-A4-A5, LIPC, CETP, and LDLR (P range from 4.84×10−4 to 4.62×10−18), whereas LPL, TRIB1, ABCA1, APOA1-C3-A4-A5, CETP, and APOE displayed significant strongest associations for incident hyperlipidemia (P range from 1.20×10−3 to 4.67×10−16). The 4 lipids genetic risk scores were independently associated with linear increases in their corresponding lipid levels and risk of incident hyperlipidemia. A C-statistics analysis showed significant improvement in the prediction of incident hyperlipidemia on top of traditional risk factors including the baseline lipid levels. Conclusions—These findings identified some evidence for allelic heterogeneity in Chinese when compared with Europeans in relation to lipid associations. The individual variants and those cumulative effects were independent risk factors for lipids increase and incident hyperlipidemia.
Role of miR‐155 in the regulation of MMP‐16 expression in intervertebral disc degeneration

The molecular mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remain elusive. We found that miR‐155 is down‐regulated in degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP), and more severe degeneration is correlated with higher matrix metallopeptidase 16 (MMP‐16) expression. MMP‐16 also degraded matrix aggrecan. Here, we addressed the in vivo miR‐155‐mediated pathological impact on IDD using a classic puncture mouse model. Lentiviral upregulated‐miR‐155 or downregulated‐miR‐155 was transduced into the discs of C57 mice, which was validated by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (real‐time PCR) and in situ hybridization. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting revealed that up‐regulation of miR‐155 resulted in down‐regulation of MMP‐16 and an increase in aggrecan and collagen type II in mouse NP; whereas, down‐regulation of miR‐155 resulted in up‐regulation of MMP‐16 and a decrease in aggrecan in mouse NP. Radiographic and histological analysis showed that the up‐regulation of miR‐155 attenuated IDD, while down‐regulation of miR‐155 resulted in the deterioration of IDD. These findings indicate that decreased miR‐155 contributed to the up‐regulation of MMP‐16 in vivo, and MMP‐16 further degraded aggrecan and collagen type II, leading to the dehydration and degeneration of discs. Our findings revealed a therapeutic role for miR‐155 in IDD. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 35:1323–1334, 2017.
Circulatory contributors to the phenotype in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is mechanistically and therapeutically challenging, not only because of the molecular and cellular perturbations that generate vascular abnormalities, but also the modifications to circulatory physiology that result, and are likely to exacerbate vascular injury. First, most HHT patients have visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Significant visceral AVMs reduce the systemic vascular resistance: supra-normal cardiac outputs are required to maintain arterial blood pressure, and may result in significant pulmonary venous hypertension. Secondly, bleeding from nasal and gastrointestinal telangiectasia leads to iron losses of such magnitude that in most cases, diet is insufficient to meet the ‘hemorrhage adjusted iron requirement. ’ Resultant iron deficiency restricts erythropoiesis, leading to anemia and further increases in cardiac output. Low iron levels are also associated with venous and arterial thromboses, elevated Factor VIII, and increased platelet aggregation to circulating 5HT (serotonin). Third, recent data highlight that reduced oxygenation of blood due to pulmonary AVMs results in a graded erythrocytotic response to maintain arterial oxygen content, and higher stroke volumes and/or heart rates to maintain oxygen delivery. Finally, HHT-independent factors such as diet, pregnancy, sepsis, and other intercurrent illnesses also influence vascular structures, hemorrhage, and iron handling in HHT patients. These considerations emphasize the complexity of mechanisms that impact on vascular structures in HHT, and also offer opportunities for targeted therapeutic approaches.
A unique spacer domain of synaptotagmin IV is essential for Golgi localization

Synaptotagmin (Syt) family members consist of six separate domains: a short amino terminus, a single transmembrane domain, a spacer domain, a C2A domain, a C2B domain and a short carboxyl (C) terminus. Despite sharing the same domain structures, several synaptotagmin isoforms show distinct subcellular localization. Syt IV is mainly localized at the Golgi, while Syt I, a possible Ca2+‐sensor for secretory vesicles, is localized at dense‐core vesicles and synaptic‐like microvesicles in PC12 cells. In this study, we sought to identify the region responsible for the Golgi localization of Syt IV by immunocytochemical and biochemical analyses as a means of defining the distinct subcellular localization of the synaptotagmin family. We found that the unique C‐terminus of the spacer domain (amino acid residues 73–144) between the transmembrane domain and the C2A domain is essential for the Golgi localization of Syt IV. In addition, the short C‐terminus is probably involved in proper folding of the protein, especially the C2B domain. Without the C‐terminus, Syt IVΔC proteins are not targeted to the Golgi and seem to colocalize with an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) marker (i.e. induce crystalloid ER‐like structures). On the basis of these results, we propose that the divergent spacer domain among synaptotagmin isoforms may contain certain signals that determine the final destination of each isoform.
Development of a Microplate-Based Scintillation Proximity Assay for MraY Using a Modified Substrate

MraY is an established target for the discovery of antibacterial agents. The conventional assay for MraY uses radioactive substrate and analysis of products after paper chromatography or butanol extraction. Synthesis of radiolabeled substrate has been done in vitro using purified enzymes or by growing cells on radiolabeled precursors. The authors report a simple and rapid method to chemically radiolabel MraY substrate, UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide. Specific activity obtained by this method was more than 100 times higher than the conventionally labeled substrate, and yields are high enough to support the requirements of high-throughput screening (HTS). The authors have developed a microplate-based homogeneous assay for MraY in which the product is captured on wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) scintillation proximity assay (SPA) beads. The assay was validated by showing inhibition by specific inhibitors of MraY but not by inhibitors of other enzymes of peptidoglycan synthesis. The assay uses wild-type membranes of Escherichia coli, giving it an advantage over recently described assays that need the protein to be overexpressed. In addition, it has an advantage over the high-throughput MraY-MurG coupled assay reported in the literature because it is MraY specific, and therefore hits obtained in this assay do not need further deconvolution. It has potential for use in HTS approaches to find novel inhibitors of MraY.
Does the addition of recombinant LH in WHO group II anovulatory women over-responding to FSH treatment reduce the number of developing follicles? A dose-finding study.

BACKGROUND In anovulatory women undergoing ovulation induction, addition of recombinant human LH (rLH) to FSH treatment may promote the dominance of a leading follicle when administered in the late follicular phase. The objective of this study was to find the optimal dose of rLH that can maintain the growth of a dominant follicle, whilst causing atresia of secondary follicles. METHODS Women with infertility due to anovulation and over-responding to FSH treatment were randomized to receive, in addition to 37.5 IU recombinant human FSH (rFSH), either placebo or different doses of rLH (6.8, 13.6, 30 or 60 microg) daily for a maximum of 7 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who had exactly one follicle > or = 16 mm on hCG day. RESULTS Among 153 enrolled patients, the five treatment groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics. The proportion of patients with exactly one follicle > or = 16 mm ranged from 13.3% in the placebo group to 32.1% in the 30 microg rLH group (P = 0.048). The pregnancy rate ranged from 10.3% in the 60 microg group to 28.6% in the 30 microg rLH group. Adverse events were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS In patients over-responding to FSH during ovulation induction, doses of up to 30 microg rLH/day appear to increase the proportion of patients developing a single dominant follicle (> or = 16 mm). Our data support the 'LH ceiling' concept whereby addition of rLH is able to control development of the follicular cohort.
Lattice Sparsification and the Approximate Closest Vector Problem

We give a deterministic algorithm for solving the (1 + e) approximate Closest Vector Problem (CVP) on any n dimensional lattice and any norm in 2O(n) (1 + 1/e)n time and 2n poly(n) space. Our algorithm builds on the lattice point enumeration techniques of Micciancio and Voulgaris (STOC 2010) and Dadush, Peikert and Vempala (FOCS 2011), and gives an elegant, deterministic alternative to the "AKS Sieve" based algorithms for (1 + e)-CVP (Ajtai, Kumar, and Sivakumar; STOC 2001 and CCC 2002). Furthermore, assuming the existence of a poly(n)-space and 2O(n) time algorithm for exact CVP in the l2 norm, the space complexity of our algorithm can be reduced to polynomial. Our main technical contribution is a method for "spar-sifying" any input lattice while approximately maintaining its metric structure. To this end, we employ the idea of random sublattice restrictions, which was first employed by Khot (FOCS 2003) for the purpose of proving hardness for Shortest Vector Problem (SVP) under lp norms.
Measuring the Cervical Length

An important step toward the goal of eradicating spontaneous preterm birth was achieved with the advent of cervical sonography, a tool that advanced our knowledge of the entity of preterm parturition, improved our ability to detect women at risk for early delivery, and allowed us to prevent some of these premature births. We will describe here the correct technique for obtaining such measurements and will review the literature regarding the use of this tool in specific pregnant populations.
Risk factors for severe post partum haemorrhage in Mulago hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors for severe postpartum haemorrhage. DESIGN A case control study. SETTING Mulago hospital labour wards, Kampala, Uganda. SUBJECTS One hundred and six mothers with severe postpartum haemorrhage were recruited between 15th November 2001 and 30th November 2002 and were compared with 500 women who had normal delivery. RESULTS The predictors for postpartum haemorrhage were co-existing hypertension (O.R 9.3, 95% CI: 1.7-51.7), chronic anaemia (OR 17.3, 95% CI: 9.5-31.7), low socio economic background (OR 5.3, 95% CI: 3.0, 9.2), past history of postpartum haemorrhage (OR 3.6, 95% CI: 1.1-11.8), previous delivery by Caesarean section (OR 7.5, 95% CI: 3.5-14.3), long birth interval of more than sixty months (OR 5.2, 95% CI: 2.1-13.0), prolonged third stage (OR 49.1, 95% CI: 8.8-342.8) and non use of oxytocics (OR 4.3%, 95% CI: 1.2-15.3). CONCLUSION Severe postpartum haemorrhage is common in our environment and is associated with a high maternal morbidity and mortality. The determinants of postpartum haemorrhage are useful in identifying mothers at risk and together with the services of a skilled birth attendant at delivery will prevent postpartum haemorrhage and reduce the maternal morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. In our study, the following risk factors were identified: pre-existing hypertension, chronic anaemia, low socio-economic background, history of postpartum haemorrhage, previous delivery by Caesarean section, longbirth interval of more than sixty months, prolonged third stage and non use of oxytocics were found to be significant.
A KYP lemma and invariance principle for systems with multiple hysteresis non-linearities

Absolute stability criteria for systems with multiple hysteresis non-linearities are given in this paper. It is shown that the stability guarantee is achieved with a simple two part test on the linear subsystem. If the linear subsystem satisfies a particular linear matrix inequality and a simple residue condition, then, as is proven, the non-linear system will be asymptotically stable. The main stability theorem is developed using a combination of passivity, Lyapunov and Popov stability theories to show that the state describing the linear system dynamics must converge to an equilibrium position of the non-linear closed loop system. The invariant sets that contain all such possible equilibrium points are described in detail for several common types of hystereses. The class of non-linearities covered by the analysis is very general and includes multiple slope-restricted memoryless non-linearities as a special case. Simple numerical examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new analysis in comparison to other recent results, and graphically illustrate state asymptotic stability.