Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of switching between TNF inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis: data from the NOR-DMARD register

Objective To assess the effectiveness of switching to a second tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Data were extracted from an ongoing longitudinal observational multicentre study in Norway. This study included anti-TNF naïve patients with AS starting treatment with a TNFi as well as treatment with a second TNFi in these same patients. Effectiveness data and 2-year drug survival were compared between switchers and non-switchers and within switchers (first and second TNFi). Results 514 anti-TNF naïve patients with AS were included; 77 patients switched to a second TNFi while 437 patients did not switch. The percentages of non-switchers using etanercept, infliximab or adalimumab were 53%, 32% and 15%, and the percentages of first and second TNFi in the switchers were 42%, 53% and 5% and 40%, 23% and 36%, respectively. The reason for switching was insufficient response (IR) in 30, adverse events (AEs) in 44 and not reported in 3 patients. Baseline disease activity was similar between the groups. Three-month BASDAI 50 and ASAS 40 responses were achieved by 49% and 38% of non-switchers, by 25% and 30% of switchers after the first TNFi and by 28% and 31% after the second TNFi. The 3-month disease activity level was higher for switchers on the second TNFi than for non-switchers. Drug withdrawal rate was higher during the second TNFi among switchers than for non-switchers (p=0.001). No difference was found in the effectiveness of the second TNFi between switchers due to IR and AE. Conclusion This study confirms that switching to a second TNFi can be effective in AS and can be as useful as in rheumatoid arthritis, although overall effectiveness seems to be somewhat lower than in non-switchers.
Bio-ecology and integrated management of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in the region of Valencia (Spain)

The UJI-IVIA-CIB/CSIC group has received financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCINN projects TRT2006-00016-C07-01 and AGL2008-05287 -C04/AGR) and the Valencian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (CAPA, project IVIA-5611). O. Dembilio was recipient of a predoctoral grant from IVIA.
The implications of Big Five standing for the distribution of trait manifestation in behavior: fifteen experience-sampling studies and a meta-analysis.

One of the fundamental questions in personality psychology is whether and how strongly trait standing relates to the traits that people actually manifest in their behavior when faced with real pressures and real consequences of their actions. One reason this question is fundamental is the common belief that traits do not predict how individuals behave, which leads to the reasonable conclusion that traits are not important to study. However, this conclusion is surprising given that there is almost no data on the ability of traits to predict distributions of naturally occurring, representative behaviors of individuals (and that there are many studies showing that traits do indeed predict specific behaviors). The authors describe a meta-analysis of 15 experience-sampling studies, conducted over the course of 8 years, amassing over 20,000 reports of trait manifestation in behavior. Participants reported traits on typical self-report questionnaires, then described their current behavior multiple times per day for several days as the behavior was occurring. Results show that traits, contrary to expectations, were strongly predictive of individual differences in trait manifestation in behavior, predicting average levels with correlations between . 42 and . 56 (approaching .60 for stringently restricted studies). Several other ways of summarizing trait manifestation in behavior were also predicted from traits. These studies provide evidence that traits are powerful predictors of actual manifestation of traits in behavior.
PE2I: A Radiopharmaceutical for In vivo Exploration of the Dopamine Transporter

The membrane dopamine transporter (DAT) has a pivotal role in the regulation of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission involved in a number of physiological functions and brain disorders. Molecular imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), are relevant tools to explore the DAT, and we developed the cocaine derivative N‐(3‐iodopro‐2E‐enyl)‐2β‐carbomethoxy‐3β‐(4′‐methylphenyl) nortropane (PE2I) that has proved to be a very potent radiopharmaceutical to image the DAT by these techniques.
Circumstances of Death and Complicated Grief: Indirect Associations Through Meaning Made of Loss

ABSTRACT Losses by violent means and the loss of primary attachment figures may increase the likelihood of developing a chronic and severe grief response (referred to as complicated grief, or CG). Path analysis was used to examine the relationships between these risk factors and CG symptoms. College student participants filled out online questionnaires relating to their bereavement. Analyses provided support for statistical models whereby meaning made of the loss fully mediated the association between cause of death and CG symptoms and partially mediated the association between relationship to the deceased and CG symptoms. Although based on cross-sectional data, these findings provide additional support for meaning-oriented understandings of adaptation to loss.
Contribution of Penicillin-Binding Protein Homologs to Antibiotic Resistance, Cell Morphology, and Virulence of Listeria monocytogenes EGDe

ABSTRACT Seven open reading frames, annotated as potential penicillin-binding-protein-encoding genes (lmo0441, lmo0540, lmo1438, lmo1892, lmo2039, lmo2229, and lmo2754), were targeted for insertional mutagenesis in Listeria monocytogenes EGDe. These genes were found to contribute in various degrees to β-lactam resistance, cell morphology, or the virulence potential of this organism.
Efficiency Improvement of the Fixed-Complexity Sphere Decoder

In this paper, we propose two schemes to reduce the complexity of fixed-complexity sphere decoder (FSD) algorithm in the ordering and tree-search stages, respectively, while achieving quasi-ML performance. In the ordering stage, we propose a QR-decomposition-based FSD signal ordering based on the zero-forcing criterion (FSD-ZF-SQRD) that requires only a few number of additional complex flops compared to the unsorted QRD. Also, the proposed ordering algorithm is extended using the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion to achieve better performance. In the tree-search stage, we introduce a threshold-based complexity reduction approach for the FSD depending on the reliability of the signal with the largest noise amplification. Numerical results show that in 8 ? 8 MIMO system, the proposed FSD-ZF-SQRD and FSD-MMSE-SQRD only require 19.5% and 26.3% of the computational efforts required by Hassibi’s scheme, respectively. Moreover, a third threshold vector is outlined which can be used for high order modulation schemes. In 4 ? 4 MIMO system using 16-QAM and 64-QAM, simulation results show that when the proposed threshold-based approach is employed, FSD requires only 62.86% and 53.67% of its full complexity, respectively.
United in political solidarity: How multicultural endorsement and group identity inspire intergroup political solidarity among members of lower status groups

UNITED IN POLITICAL SOLIDARITY: HOW MULTICULTURAL ENDORSEMENT AND GROUP IDENTITY INSPIRE INTERGROUP POLITICAL SOLIDARITY AMONG MEMBERS OF LOWER STATUS GROUPS By JUSTINE CALCAGNO Advisor: Tracey A. Revenson, PhD This dissertation tests a new theoretical model that describes when low status group members will work with members of higher status groups for social change, known as intergroup political solidarity. Research on intergroup political solidarity has focused on either the high status group’s orientation toward solidarity or when members of separate groups work together on behalf of a common low status group. There is thus a lack of research on intergroup political solidarity from the perspective of lower status groups. It is proposed that recognition of group differences by the high status group influences orientations toward intergroup political solidarity. Specifically: 1) the endorsement of multiculturalism (which recognizes group differences) by a higher status group, compared to colorblindness (which minimizes group differences), would increase intergroup political solidarity; 2) trust in the high status group and perceptions of common values with the high status group would mediate the relation between multicultural endorsement by the high status group and solidarity, compared to colorblindness; 3) strength of group identification would be positively associated with intergroup political solidarity; and 4) group identification would moderate the direct relation between multiculturalism and intergroup political solidarity, such
Gender differences in the personal pronouns usage on the corpus of congressional speeches

Gender differences in language have been extensively investigated by sociolinguists since the 1960s. This paper aimed to study gender differences in the personal pronouns usage on the corpus of the 113th United States Congress. All uninterrupted speeches (672 by women and 3,655 by men) whose transcripts were downloaded from the official repository Thomas were analyzed with the text analysis software Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count calculating the degree to which the politicians use personal pronouns. In addition, the computational analysis results were further analyzed with the software for statistical analysis SPSS. The quantitative analysis results pointed to minor statistically significant gender differences in the personal pronouns usage. However, the qualitative analysis showed more subtle gender differences pointing to linguistic changes in stereotypization.
Parenting for resilience: family processes and psychosocial competence of Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong

Abstract Based on the responses of 275 Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong, the relationships between family processes (including perceived parenting style, parental control, family functioning, and parental sacrifice for children’s education) and psychosocial competence were examined in this study. Results showed that parenting style, parental control, family functioning, and parental sacrifice for children’s education were positively related to adolescent psychosocial competence. Regression analyses indicated that family functioning, maternal control, and paternal sacrifice for children’s education were significant predictors of psychosocial competence of adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Intensive Behavioural Intervention for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool and School Age Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ii ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS . iii DEDICATION . v ACKNOWLEGEMENTS . vi TABLE OF CONTENTS . vii LIST OF FIGURES . ix LIST OF TABLES . ix CHAPTER I: Introduction & Background . 1 1.
Noncanonical frizzled signaling regulates cell polarity of growth plate chondrocytes

Bone growth is driven by cell proliferation and the subsequent hypertrophy of chondrocytes arranged in columns of discoid cells that resemble stacks of coins. However, the molecular mechanisms that direct column formation and the importance of columnar organization to bone morphogenesis are not known. Here, we show in chick that discoid proliferative chondrocytes orient the division plane to generate daughter cells that are initially displaced laterally and then intercalate into the column. Downregulation of frizzled (Fzd) signaling alters the dimensions of long bones and produces cell-autonomous changes in proliferative chondrocyte organization characterized by arbitrary division planes and altered cell stacking. These defects are phenocopied by disruption of noncanonical effector pathways but not by inhibitors of canonical Fzd signaling. These findings demonstrate that the regulation of cell polarity and cell arrangement by noncanonical Fzd signaling plays important roles in generating the unique morphological characteristics that shape individual cartilage elements.
Delay in the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: an analysis of 233 patients

Knowledge of factors associated with the detection of cutaneous malignant melanomas and reasons for delay in diagnosis are essential for the improvement of secondary prevention of cutaneous melanoma. For this reason, the extent and consequence of patient and professional delay in diagnosis and treatment was investigated in 233 patients with histologically proven primary cutaneous melanomas seen at the Department of Dermatology and Allergology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany, between January 1999 and January 2001. Personal interviews were conducted by two physicians to obtain information on patients’ knowledge of melanoma symptoms, sun behaviour, delay in seeking medical attention, professional delay and related factors. The main component of delay was patient related. Nearly one-third (29.2%) of all patients reported a delay interval of more than 12 months from the onset of an observed change in a pigmented lesion or first detection of a pigmented lesion to the first visit to a physician. The delay interval from the first visit to a physician to surgical treatment was shorter (< 1 month) in most of our patients (74.7%). The predominant symptoms of melanoma detected by patients were a change in colour and an increase in size or elevation. Most patients had obtained knowledge about cutaneous melanomas from television and magazines. A delay in diagnosis and a history of many sunburns and outdoor leisure time activities were not associated with a greater tumour thickness. However, fairer skin types, lower education levels and lack of knowledge about cutaneous melanoma were associated with a greater tumour thickness. Further efforts are necessary to improve public and medical education about early detection and prompt surgical treatment, which is known to be the most effective treatment modality for cutaneous melanomas.
Assessing the effect of unilateral cerebral revascularisation on the vascular reactivity of the non-intervened hemisphere: a retrospective observational study

Objectives Unilateral haemodynamically significant large-vessel intracranial stenosis may be associated with reduced blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), an indicator of autoregulatory reserve. Reduced CVR has been associated with ipsilateral cortical thinning and loss in cognitive function. These effects have been shown to be reversible following revascularisation. Our aim was to study the effects of unilateral revascularisation on CVR in the non-intervened hemisphere in bilateral steno-occlusive or Moyamoya disease. Study Design A retrospective observational study. Setting A routine follow-up assessment of CVR after a revascularisation procedure at a research teaching hospital in Toronto (Journal wants us to generalise). Participants Thirteen patients with bilateral Moyamoya disease (age range 18 to 52 years; 3 males), seven patients with steno-occlusive disease (age range 18 to 78 years; six males) and 27 approximately age-matched normal control subjects (age range 19–71 years; 16 males) with no history or findings suggestive of any neurological or systemic disease. Intervention Participants underwent BOLD CVR MRI using computerised prospective targeting of CO2, before and after unilateral revascularisation (extracranial–intracranial bypass, carotid endarterectomy or encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis). Pre-revascularisation and post-revascularisation CVR was assessed in each major arterial vascular territory of both hemispheres. Results As expected, surgical revascularisation improved grey matter CVR in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory of the intervened hemisphere (0.010±0.023 to 0.143±0.010%BOLD/mm Hg, p<0.01). There was also a significant post-revascularisation improvement in grey matter CVR in the MCA territory of the non-intervened hemisphere (0.101±0.025 to 0.165±0.015%BOLD/mm Hg, p<0.01). Conclusions Not only does CVR improve in the hemisphere ipsilateral to a flow restoration procedure, but it also improves in the non-intervened hemisphere. This highlights the potential of CVR mapping for staging and evaluating surgical interventions.
Genes required for initiation and resolution steps of mating-type switching in fission yeast.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe switches mating type by transposition of a copy of DNA derived from either of the two storage cassettes, mat2 -P and mat3 -M, into the expression locus, mat1 . The recombinational event of switching is initiated by a double-stranded DNA break present in approximately 20% of the molecules at mat1 . Fifty-three mutants defective in switching of mating type have been isolated previously, and each has been assigned to 1 of 10 linkage groups. One group consists of cis-acting mutations at mat1 , which reduce the amount of the DNA double-strand cut. The remaining nine groups are mutations in genes that are unlinked to the mating-type locus and are studied here. Three ( swi1 , -3, -7) are required for formation of the double-strand cut, whereas the others are not. Mutants of three genes ( swi4 , -8, -9) undergo high-frequency rearrangement of the mating-type locus indicative of errors of resolution of recombinational intermediates. The remaining three ( swi2 , -5, -6) have normal levels of cut, do not make errors of resolution, and possibly are required either for efficient utilization of the cut or determining the directionality of switching. The data suggest that the switching process can be dissected into genetically distinguishable steps.
Dissecting the Role of Disturbed ER-Golgi Trafficking in Antivirals and Alcohol Abuse-Induced Pathogenesis of Liver Disorders

Antiviral drugs and alcohol abuse-induced organelle stresses have been linked to many disorders and the underlying molecular mechanisms are under intense investigations. This brief review communicates emerging evidence and research trends on how certain antivirals and alcohol affect ER-Golgi trafficking, which potentially impacts the function and integrity of the Golgi apparatus contributing to endoplasmic reticulum stress and cellular injury.
Galaxy occupation statistics of dark matter haloes: observational results

We study the occupation statistics of galaxies in dark matter haloes using galaxy groups identified from the Two-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey with the halo-based group finder of Yang et al. The occupation distribution is considered separately for early- and late-type galaxies, as well as in terms of central and satellite galaxies. The mean luminosity of the central galaxies scales with halo mass approximately as L-c proportional to M-2/3 for haloes with masses M < 10(13) h(-1) M-circle dot, and as L-c proportional to M-1/4 for more massive haloes. The characteristic mass of 10(13) h(-1) M-circle dot is consistent with the mass scale where galaxy formation models suggest a transition from efficient to inefficient cooling. Another characteristic halo mass scale, M similar to 10(11) h(-1) M-circle dot, which cannot be probed directly by our groups, is inferred from the conditional luminosity function (CLF) that matches the observed galaxy luminosity function and clustering. For a halo of given mass, the distribution of L-c is rather narrow. A detailed comparison with mock galaxy redshift surveys indicates that this implies a fairly deterministic relation between L-c and the halo mass. The satellite galaxies, however, are found to follow a Poissonian number distribution, in excellent agreement with the occupation statistics of dark matter subhaloes. This provides strong support for the standard lore that satellite galaxies reside in subhaloes. The central galaxies in low-mass haloes are mostly late-type galaxies, while those in massive haloes are almost all early types. We also measure the CLF of galaxies in haloes of given mass. Over the mass range that can be reliably probed with the present data, 13.3 less than or similar to log [M/( h(-1) M-circle dot)] less than or similar to 14.7, the CLF is reasonably well fitted by a Schechter function. Contrary to recent claims based on semi-analytical models of galaxy formation, the presence of central galaxies does not show up as a strong peak at the bright end of the CLF. The CLFs obtained from the observational data are in good agreement with the CLF model obtained by matching the observed luminosity function and large-scale clustering properties of galaxies in the standard Lambda cold dark matter model.
Decompression Retinopathy after ExPRESS Shunt Implantation for Steroid-Induced Ocular Hypertension: A Case Report

Purpose. To present a unique case of decompression retinopathy after the implantation of ExPRESS drainage device. Method. A 25-year-old female patient underwent implantation of ExPRESS drainage device in the left eye for the management of steroid-induced ocular hypertension. Results. On the postoperative day one, best-corrected visual acuity in the left eye was 20/50. Fundus examination revealed diffuse intraretinal hemorrhages, some white-centered, throughout the retina. There was also marked tortuosity to the retinal vasculature and no evidence of choroidal effusion. Intravenous fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green did not contribute to the aetiopathogenesis. Conclusion. Decompression retinopathy can occur following the implantation of ExPRESS drainage device. It is very important to be aware of this complication in patients with relatively high intraocular pressure who is planned for filtration surgery, including the ExPRESS implant.
Deep and Superficial Amygdala Nuclei Projections Revealed In Vivo by Probabilistic Tractography

Despite a homogenous macroscopic appearance on magnetic resonance images, subregions of the amygdala express distinct functional profiles as well as corresponding differences in connectivity. In particular, histological analysis shows stronger connections for superficial (i.e., centromedial and cortical), compared with deep (i.e., basolateral and other), amygdala nuclei to lateral orbitofrontal cortex and stronger connections of deep compared with superficial, nuclei to polymodal areas in the temporal pole. Here, we use diffusion weighted imaging with probabilistic tractography to investigate these connections in humans. We use a data-driven approach to segment the amygdala into two subregions using k-means clustering. The identified subregions are spatially contiguous and their location corresponds to deep and superficial nuclear groups. Quantification of the connection strength between these amygdala clusters and individual target regions corresponds to qualitative histological findings in non-human primates, indicating such findings can be extrapolated to humans. We propose that connectivity profiles provide a potentially powerful approach for in vivo amygdala parcellation and can serve as a guide in studies that exploit functional and anatomical neuroimaging.