Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of GSTM1 implies a complex role for GSTM1 in breast cancer

Although a number of studies have been conducted to address the relation between a gene deletion polymorphism of glutathione S‐transferase M1 (GSTM1) and breast cancer, no definite conclusion has been reached and no clear risk pattern has yet to emerge for GSTM1. We first conducted case‐control studies that included 1920 subjects using a genotyping method allowing the definition of GSTM1‐null (–/–), homozygous wild‐type (+/+), and heterozygous (+/—) genotypes. The results show that GSTM1–/– confers an increased risk for breast cancer development compared with that in GSTM1‐present individuals (+/+ and +/–), which was subsequently confirmed by a meta‐analysis of all of the 41 relevant studies (odds ratio: 1.10, P<0.001). Unexpectedly, we found that GSTM1–/– is also a risk genotype compared with GSTM1–/–. Furthermore, we identified a functional polymorphism in the GSTM1 promoter region associated with breast cancer. The variant allele modifies DNA binding to the AP‐2α transcription factor, resulting in reduced promoter activity and mRNA expression. However, this low‐activity allele is associated with reduced breast cancer risk. It seems that ~60–70% expression from one allele of GSTM1 could suffice for protection against breast cancer;null activity and overactivity of GSTM1 are both disadvantageous. These results indicate a U‐shaped association of GSTM1 with breast cancer, which challenges the linear gene‐dosage effect of GSTM1 that was previously proposed. We recommend that a more complicated role for GSTM1 should be considered in breast cancer risk prediction. —Yu, K.D. , Di, G. ‐H. , Fan, L. , Wu, J., Hu, Z. , Shen, Z. ‐Z. , Huang, W. , Shao, Z. ‐M. A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of GSTM1 implies a complex role for GSTM1 in breast cancer. FASEBJ. 23, 2274–2287 (2009)
The association between sedentary leisure and physical activity in middle-aged adults

Aim The aim of this study was to examine the association between time spent in sedentary leisure and physical activity level in mid-aged men and women. Methods Data were from the 2007 HABITAT study in Brisbane, Australia. A mail survey sent to 17 000 adults (40–65 years) provided 11 037 responses (68.5%), and 9121 (82.6%) were analysed. Sedentary leisure was quantified as hours/day spent sitting watching television, in home computer use, in general leisure, and overall, on a usual week and weekend day. Physical activity level (no activity, low, recommended, high, very high) included walking, moderate and vigorous activity combined into a measure of MET.min/week. Data were analysed separately for men and women using multilevel multinomial logistic regression with adjustment for sociodemographic and health variables. Results The only significant negative associations were between watching television on a week day and high activity in men (0.91; 0.83–0.98), and home computer use on a weekend day and very high activity in men (0.89; 0.81–0.98). For both men and women, there were significant positive associations between overall sedentary leisure time on a week day and very high activity (men: 1.07, 1.02–1.13; women: 1.10, 1.04–1.16), home computer use on a week day and very high activity (men: 1.11, 1.01–1.22; women: 1.15, 1.04–1.27) and general leisure on a week day and most activity levels. Conclusions Sedentary leisure is mainly independent of physical activity and does not preclude meeting physical activity recommendations.
Energy detectors for sparse signals

In this paper, compressive sampling (CS) based energy detectors are developed for sparse communication signals, namely, pulse-position modulation (PPM) and frequency shift-keying (FSK) signals so as to reduce the complexity and sampling rate at the receiver. We focus on noncoherent detection, thereby avoiding the channel estimation step. Exact bit error probability (BEP) expressions for receivers sampling at the Nyquist rate are derived to ascertain the performance of CS-based energy detectors. Simulation results provide insight into the choice of measurement matrices for a practical implementation of CS.
ALARM-NET: Wireless Sensor Networks for Assisted-Living and Residential Monitoring

We describe ALARM-NET, a wireless sensor network for assisted-living and residential monitoring. It integrates environmental and physiological sensors in a scalable, heterogeneous architecture. A query protocol allows real-time collection and processing of sensor data by user interfaces and back-end analysis programs. One such program determines circadian activity rhythms of residents, feeding activity information back into the sensor network to aid context-aware power management, dynamic privacy policies, and data association. Communication is secured end-to-end to protect sensitive medical and operational information. The ALARM-NET system has been implemented as a network of MICAz sensors, stargate gateways, iPAQ PDAs, and PCs. Customized infrared motion and dust sensors, and integrated temperature, light, pulse, and blood oxygenation sensors are present. Software components include: TinyOS query processor and security modules for motes; AlarmGate, an embedded Java application for managing power, privacy, security, queries, and client connections; Java resident monitoring and sensor data querying applications for PDAs and PCs; and a circadian activity rhythm analysis program. We show the correctness, robustness, and extensibility of the system architecture through a scenario-based evaluation of the integrated ALARM-NET system, as well as performance data for individual software components.
The early retinal progenitor-expressed gene Sox11 regulates the timing of the differentiation of retinal cells

Sry-related HMG box (Sox) proteins, Sox11 and Sox4 are members of the SoxC subtype. We found that Sox11 was strongly expressed in early retinal progenitor cells and that Sox4 expression began around birth, when expression of Sox11 subsided. To analyze the roles of Sox11 and Sox4 in retinal development, we perturbed their expression patterns in retinal explant cultures. Overexpression of Sox11 and Sox4 in retinal progenitors resulted in similar phenotypes: an increased number of cone cells and dramatically decreased numbers of rod cells and Müller glia. Birth-date analysis showed that cone cells were produced at a later developmental stage than that in which cone genesis normally occurs. Sox11-knockout retinas showed delayed onset and progress of differentiation of subsets of retinal cells during the embryonic period. After birth, retinal differentiation took place relatively normally, probably because of the redundant activity of Sox4, which starts to be expressed around birth. Overexpression and loss-of-function analysis failed to provide any evidence that Sox11 and Sox4 directly regulate the transcription of genes crucial to the differentiation of subsets of retinal cells. However, histone H3 acetylation of some early proneural genes was reduced in knockout retina. Thus, Sox11 may create an epigenetic state that helps to establish the competency to differentiate. Taking our findings together, we propose that the sequential expression of Sox11 and Sox4 during retinogenesis leads to the fine adjustment of retinal differentiation by helping to establish the competency of retinal progenitors.
Rate and state of background stress estimated from the aftershocks of the 1989 Loma Prieta, California, earthquake

Estimates of the tectonic stress state including loading rate and magnitude of background stress are derived from the spatial and temporal distribution of Loma Prieta aftershocks. This technique was previously applied to the Landers aftershock sequence [Gross and Kisslinger, 1997] and is based upon the seismicity model of Dieterich [1994]. Dieterich's theory suggests that background seismicity should be proportional to stress rate and the number of aftershocks in an area should be proportional to the stress step experienced in that area. We used two independently derived source models to compute the stress step from the mainshock and to determine how effective that stress step was in triggering aftershocks. A background stress state is then chosen which makes the stress steps at the aftershock locations most distinct from the stress steps at hypocenters of background seismicity. The best fitting background stress state has its greatest compressive stress plunging ≈ 17° to N13°E, and an intermediate stress very close in magnitude to the least principal stress. The small shear stresses at depth and low coefficient of friction suggest that high-pressure pore fluids may be present inside active faults. The estimated stress rate of ∼ 70 Pa/d (0.25 bar/yr) is comparable to the stress rate found for the southern San Andreas Fault system. We found a best fitting “effective” coefficient of friction μ′ ≈ 0.2 for the Loma Prieta area, significantly less than μ′ ≈ 0.6 estimated for Landers in previous work. Variations in aftershock decay rate within the Loma Prieta aftershock zone are correlated with static stresses caused by postseismic slip as modeled by Burgmann et al. [1997]. Some of the postseismic slip occurred on structures that did not slip during the mainshock, so the postseismic and coseismic stress step fields have different spatial distributions. The effectiveness of slowly accumulated postseismic static stresses in triggering aftershocks is especially interesting because dynamic stresses are insignificant in this case.
GaAs Enhancement-Mode NMOSFETs Enabled by Atomic Layer Epitaxial $\hbox{La}_{1.8}\hbox{Y}_{0.2}\hbox{O}_{3}$ as Dielectric

We demonstrate high-performance enhancement-mode (E-mode) GaAs NMOSFETs with an epitaxial gate dielectric layer of La<sub>1.8</sub>Y<sub>0.2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> grown by atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) on GaAs(111)A substrates. A 0.5-μm-gate-length device has a record-high maximum drain current of 336 mA/mm for surface-channel E-mode GaAs NMOSFETs, a peak intrinsic transconductance of 210 mS/mm, a subthreshold swing of 97 mV/dec, and an <i>I</i><sub>ON</sub>/<i>I</i><sub>OFF</sub> ratio larger than 10<sup>7</sup>. The thermal stability of the single-crystalline La<sub>1.8</sub>Y<sub>0.2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> -single-crystalline GaAs interface is investigated by capacitance-voltage (<i>C</i>-<i>V</i>) and conductance-voltage (<i>G</i>-<i>V</i>) analysis. High-temperature annealing is found to be effective to reduce <i>D</i><sub>it</sub>.
Changes in the mean center of balance during balance testing in young adults.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The analysis of standing balance is now possible using commercially available force platforms. In order to establish appropriate testing and treatment protocols for patient populations, we contend data should be collected relative to the typical response of nonpatient groups. More importantly, we need to better understand response characteristics of persons with intact nervous systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the typical response of young adults without known musculoskeletal or neurological impairments to balance testing with the Balance System. SUBJECTS Sixty-six subjects without known impairments (mean age = 23.6 years, SD = 4.5, range = 21-47) were evaluated in a single testing session. METHODS Center of balance (COB), a vertical force measurement, was evaluated under each of 18 conditions: 2 visual conditions (eyes open, eyes closed), 3 platform conditions (stable, vertical tilt, linear translation), and 3 foot positions (apart, together, tandem). RESULTS An effect was found for average displacement to the left along the x axis under all testing conditions. The COB locus along the y axis was dependent on the foot position, platform condition, and visual condition. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION Movement of the COB toward the center of the base of support accompanied closing of the eyes, narrowing of the base of support, and movement of the support surface. These findings are consistent with the need to move the center of gravity away from the limits of stability under more challenging stance conditions. This study contributes to the existing knowledge base related to standing balance function in young adults without musculoskeletal or neurological impairments and provides data that can be used for criterion-based comparisons of young adult patients. [Nichols DS, Glenn TM, Hutchinson KJ. Changes in the mean center of pressure during balance testing.
Phylogeography of the common vole (Microtus arvalis) with particular emphasis on the colonization of the Orkney archipelago

To investigate the human introduction of the common vole Microtus arvalis onto the Orkney islands, the complete cytochrome b gene was sequenced in 41 specimens from both Orkney (four localities) and elsewhere in their range (26 localities). Orkney voles belonged to the same phylogenetic lineage, ‘Western’, as individuals from France and Spain indicating southwestern Europe as the most likely source area for the islands. This result is of interest with respect to the movement and trading links of the Neolithic people who likely transported the voles. As well as the Western lineage, our phylogenetic trees revealed three other purely European lineages: the ‘Italian’ (single specimen from N. Italy), the ‘Central’ (Germany, Netherlands, Denmark) and the ‘Eastern’ (Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Finland, European Russia). Individuals from European Russia, W. Siberia, Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia formed a fifth distinct lineage coinciding with the distribution of the ‘obscurus’ chromosomal form of M. arvalis. These phylogeographical data suggest that M. arvalis occupied multiple refugia during the last glaciation.
Thermogravimetric investigation of macadamia nut shell, coal, and anthracite in different combustion atmospheres

The global macadamia nut industry is developing at a very rapid rate. South Africa is currently the world’s third largest producer, with a production of about 35 000 t as of 2012 (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2013), compared to 840 t produced in 1996. The greatest numbers of the macadamia nut farms in South Africa can be found in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, with Mpumalanga as the largest producing area. There are many factors influencing the increased demand for macadamia nuts, the most important factor perhaps being their nutritional value (California Dried Fruit and Nuts, 2011; MPC, 2014) and their suitability as a feedstock for manufacturing cosmetics, bakery products, nut paste, chocolates, sauces, and ice-cream. As a fuel, macadamia shell has a high heating value ‘as-fired’ of about 20.71 MJ/kg (Vhathvarothai et al., 2013), which could in turn be used in drying the nust, and the shell could also be milled and applied as a fertilizer. The shell makes up almost 60–70% by weight of the macadamia nut. Considerable amounts of shells are generated, which are considered as a waste by the macadamia farmers who have to pay a disposal fee to dump the shells in a landfill. Vhathvarothai et al. (2013) showed that the heating value of macadamia shells is higher than most of the coals used in South African power plants. As the demand for electricity increases, there is need to investigate the co-firing potential of this shell, which is abundantly available in Mpumalanga, the major coal-producing region of South Africa. The utilization of biomass as a single source of fuel for combustion is known to face many challenges, such as the low melting point of the ash, which causes fouling and slagging, varied combustion characteristics, and high moisture and volatile matter contents (Phanphanic and Mani, 2011; Bada et al., 2014a). However, the aforementioned problems could be reduced through the coblending of biomass with coal in the correct proportions. Studies have shown that the blending of biomass with coal could lead to a significant reduction in emissions of CO2 (Li et al., 2012), and an increase in the combustion reactivity of coal by decreasing the ignition temperature and reducing burnout time (Moon et al., 2013; Bada et al., 2014b). Numerous thermochemical conversion technologies such as gasification and combustion have proven to be promising ways of producing energy from both coal and biomass. The use of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to investigate the thermal characteristics of macadamia nut shell during combustion may provide an insight into the utilization of this resource for power generation in South Africa. With thousands of boilers in South Africa, the co-firing of macadamia and coal might be an added Thermogravimetric investigation of macadamia nut shell, coal, and anthracite in different combustion atmospheres
Local thermal stress intensity factors for an axial semi-elliptical crack in a hollow cylinder using the finite element method

METHODS: In this paper, based on the three-dimensional finite element method, the local thermal stress intensity factor is computed using ANSYS software. The weight function method is also used to determine closed-form stress intensity factors at the deepest point of the crack. The effects of crack relative depth, aspect ratio and heat transfer coefficient on the stress intensity factor along the crack front are studied. The results show to be in accordance with those cited in the literature in the special case of loading. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results show that the small inner surface crack in a cylinder due to thermo-mechanical loading sometimes is more critical than that for the deeper one. It is also shown that the maximum of thermal stress intensity factors are always in the case of conductive heat transfer instead of the convective one.
Lack of GDAP1 Induces Neuronal Calcium and Mitochondrial Defects in a Knockout Mouse Model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy

Mutations in GDAP1, which encodes protein located in the mitochondrial outer membrane, cause axonal recessive (AR-CMT2), axonal dominant (CMT2K) and demyelinating recessive (CMT4A) forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy. Loss of function recessive mutations in GDAP1 are associated with decreased mitochondrial fission activity, while dominant mutations result in impairment of mitochondrial fusion with increased production of reactive oxygen species and susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli. GDAP1 silencing in vitro reduces Ca2+ inflow through store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) upon mobilization of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+, likely in association with an abnormal distribution of the mitochondrial network. To investigate the functional consequences of lack of GDAP1 in vivo, we generated a Gdap1 knockout mouse. The affected animals presented abnormal motor behavior starting at the age of 3 months. Electrophysiological and biochemical studies confirmed the axonal nature of the neuropathy whereas histopathological studies over time showed progressive loss of motor neurons (MNs) in the anterior horn of the spinal cord and defects in neuromuscular junctions. Analyses of cultured embryonic MNs and adult dorsal root ganglia neurons from affected animals demonstrated large and defective mitochondria, changes in the ER cisternae, reduced acetylation of cytoskeletal α-tubulin and increased autophagy vesicles. Importantly, MNs showed reduced cytosolic calcium and SOCE response. The development and characterization of the GDAP1 neuropathy mice model thus revealed that some of the pathophysiological changes present in axonal recessive form of the GDAP1-related CMT might be the consequence of changes in the mitochondrial network biology and mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum interaction leading to abnormalities in calcium homeostasis.
Imaging Implanted Keratoprostheses With Anterior-Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and Ultrasound Biomicroscopy

Purpose: To describe the anterior ocular segment findings of eyes with implanted Boston type 1 keratoprostheses (KPro) in vivo by using anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Methods: A retrospective, comparative study was made of patients with implanted KPros who were examined with AS-OCT (AC Cornea OCT) and UBM (OTI Scan 35-50MHz Ultrasound). Results: One pseudophakic and 1 aphakic eye were included in the study. Cross-sectional AS-OCT adequately imaged the components of the KPro (front plate with stem, back plate, and titanium ring), the corneal graft, and host cornea. The angles could be seen as open, filled with debris, or closed. Coronal AS-OCT showed en face views of each KPro part. Retrokeratoprosthetic membranes were depicted to be thick opacities covering the rear optical surface of the stem. UBM, on the other hand, imaged the KPro front plate as a muffin-shaped space at the apical center, with the corneal graft appearing wispy and the host cornea grainy. The back plate, titanium ring, and angles could not be resolved. Glaucoma tubes and posterior-chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) haptics were imaged below the iris plane. Conclusions: Cross-sectional AS-OCT adequately imaged the components of the assembled KPro in vivo, as well as its interaction with surrounding anterior-segment structures. It allowed visualization of the anterior chamber, iris, and angle, essential in the postoperative care of these patients. Coronal AS-OCT showed graphic en face images of the KPro device and suspected retrokeratoprosthetic membranes. UBM, on the other hand, adequately imaged glaucoma tube shunts and PCIOL haptics beneath the iris plane.
Total Matrix Intercomparison: A Method for Determining the Geometry of Water-Mass Pathways

Abstract Ocean tracer distributions have long been used to decompose the deep ocean into constituent water masses, but previous inverse methods have generally been limited to just a few water masses that have been defined by a subjective choice of static property combinations. Through air–sea interaction and upper-ocean processes, all surface locations are potential sources of distinct tracer properties, and thus it is natural to define a distinct water type for each surface site. Here, a new box inversion method is developed to explore the contributions of all surface locations to the ocean interior, as well as the degree to which the observed tracer fields can be explained by a steady-state circulation with unchanging surface-boundary conditions. The total matrix intercomparison (TMI) method is a novel way to invert observations to solve for the pathways connecting every surface point to every interior point. In the limiting case that the circulation is steady and that five conservative tracers are perf.
Proximal Row Carpectomy Versus Four-Corner Arthrodesis as a Treatment for SLAC (Scapholunate Advanced Collapse) Wrist

Four-corner arthrodesis and proximal row carpectomy are motion-preserving salvage solutions for the scapholunate advanced collapse wrist. We compared both procedures in a non-randomised, retrospective study of 30 cases with a mean follow-up of 3½ years. Pain relief and functional gain were equal in both treatment groups. However, the complication rate was higher in the four-corner arthrodesis group, partly because of the need for internal fixation. The higher incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome following four-corner arthrodesis is intriguing. We also found significant differences in the duration of hospital stay and of postoperative sick leave in favour of proximal row carpectomy. If the cartilage on the capitate head is well preserved (Stages I–II), we prefer proximal row carpectomy because of the socio-economic benefits, the lower complication rate and the ease of the procedure. Degenerative changes following proximal row carpectomy may be a concern in young manual labourers, but have not been observed.