Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies of association between the gene for calpain-10 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United Kingdom.

Variation in CAPN10, the gene encoding the ubiquitously expressed cysteine protease calpain-10, has been associated with type 2 diabetes in Mexican Americans and in two northern-European populations, from Finland and Germany. We have studied CAPN10 in white subjects of British/Irish ancestry, using both family-based and case-control studies. In 743 sib pairs, there was no evidence of linkage at the CAPN10 locus, which thereby excluded it as a diabetes-susceptibility gene, with an overall sib recurrence risk, lambda(S), of 1.25. We examined four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP-44, -43, -19, and -63) previously either associated with type 2 diabetes or implicated in transcriptional regulation of calpain-10 expression. We did not find any association between SNP-43, -19, and -63, either individually or as part of the previously described risk haplotypes. We did, however, observe significantly increased (P=.033) transmission of the less common C allele at SNP-44, to affected offspring in parents-offspring trios (odds ratio 1.6). An independent U.K. case-control study and a small discordant-sib study did not show significant association individually. In a combined analysis of all U.K. studies (P=.015) and in combination with a Mexican American study (P=.004), the C allele at SNP-44 is associated with type 2 diabetes. Sequencing of the coding region of CAPN10 in a group of U.K. subjects revealed four coding polymorphisms-L34V, T504A, R555C, and V666I. The T504A polymorphism was in perfect linkage disequilibrium with the diabetes-associated C allele at SNP-44, suggesting that the synthesis of a mutant protein and/or altered transcriptional regulation could contribute to diabetes risk. In conclusion, we were not able to replicate the association of the specific calpain-10 alleles identified by Horikawa et al. but suggest that other alleles at this locus may increase type 2 diabetes risk in the U.K. population.
Today’s Youth: Ambitious but Aimless?

Writing a review of The Ambitious Generation has been a bittersweet experience for me. David Lee Stevenson, co-author of the book and long time colleague and friend, died suddenly on March 1, 1999 of heart disease at the age of 47. His death occurred just a month short of the publication of his book with co-author, Barbara Schneider, sociologist at the University of Chicago, senior social scientist at the National Opinion Research Center, and codirector of the Alfred P. Sloan Center on Parents, Children, and Work. At the time of his death, David was Assistant Director for Social and Behavioral Sciences in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. Previously he had been senior policy advisor to Acting US Deputy Secretary of Education Marshall Smith. In these positions, David helped develop legislation and policy for elementary and secondary education, including the Improving America’s Schools Act, the Goals 2000 Act and the Class Size Reduction Act.
Goal Representations Dominate Superior Colliculus Activity during Extrafoveal Tracking

The primate superior colliculus (SC) has long been known to be involved in saccade generation. However, SC neurons also exhibit fixation-related and smooth-pursuit-related activity. A parsimonious explanation for these seemingly disparate findings is that the SC contains a map of behaviorally relevant goal locations, rather than just a motor map for saccades and fixation. This explanation predicts that SC activity should reflect the behavioral goal, even when the behavioral response is not fixation or saccades, and even if the goal does not correspond to a visual stimulus. We tested this prediction by using a tracking task that dissociates the stimulus and goal locations. In this task, monkeys tracked the invisible midpoint between two peripheral bars, such that the visual stimuli were peripheral but the goal was foveal/parafoveal. We recorded from SC neurons representing peripheral locations associated with the stimulus or central locations associated with the goal. Most neurons with peripheral response fields did not respond differently during tracking than during passive viewing of the stimulus under fixation; most neurons with central response fields responded more during tracking than during fixation, despite the lack of a visual stimulus. Moreover, the spatial distribution of activity during tracking was larger than that during fixation or tracking of a foveal stimulus, suggesting that the greater spatial uncertainty about the invisible goal corresponded to more widespread SC activity. These results demonstrate the flexibility with which activity across the SC represents the location, as well as the spatial precision, of behaviorally relevant goals for multiple eye movements.
The Relationship between Sex and Learning Style and Graphicacy in 14‐year‐old Children

Abstract Two aspects of learning style in 14‐year‐old children were determined and compared with map reading performance. The two styles were: (1) field‐dependence‐independence which was assessed by means of a test of embedded figures; and (2) verbal imagery learning style which, since there is evidence that it is related to the extraversion‐introversion dimension of personality, was assessed by the Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory. Map reading performance was measured on a three‐part test. The sections were: (a) map‐aerial photograph correlation, (b) symbol translation and (c) view identification. An analysis of variance indicated two significant results: (1) being field‐independent rather than field‐dependent resulted in better performance on all aspects of map reading for boys but made no difference for girls; (2) there was no difference between boys and girls on symbol translation, but on map‐photograph correlation extrovert boys did better than extrovert girls, and on view identification ambivert.
Women in Street Prostitution: The Result of Poverty and the Brunt of Inequity

ABSTRACT Street prostitution is intrinsically related to poverty. Female prostitutes, in disproportionate numbers, are known to be ethnic minorities who are impoverished, uneducated and possess few marketable skills. Viewed as depraved individuals, lawmakers have and continue to chastise these women through the law. Consistency in enforcing prostitution laws, which includes laws against patronizing prostitutes, nonetheless, has been and continues to be inequitable. The female prostitute or sex worker continues to be the target of enforcement strategies, while the illegal activities of the sex buyer are minimized or completely ignored. Sentencing practices have also followed suit. The aim of this article, then, is to (1) discuss Africana womanist theory in the context of prostitution; (2) present structurally centered arguments for why poor and minority women resort to prostitution; (3) discuss prostitution laws; (4) examine the differential practices of law officials between the female prostitute and the male customer (a.k.a., the John) with a specific focus on John Schools; and (5) propose short term and long term solutions that may start to redress the impact of structural racism, sexism and classism on the female prostitute.
Stability in Brain Glucose Metabolism Following Brown Adipose Tissue Inactivation in Chinese Adults

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The thermogenesis of BAT is believed to be controlled through some pathways initiated in the brain, though the changes in brain activity among different states of BAT-positive subjects are still unclear. We hypothesized that some significant differences of regional cerebral metabolism between various groups were related to the BAT activities regardless of temperature changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relative regional cerebral glucose metabolism was compared between 15 healthy subjects with activated BAT and 30 healthy controls without activated BAT by using a brain FDG-PET scan. A follow-up PET scan was performed to assess metabolic changes of the brain when BAT activity was eliminated by heat exposure. RESULTS: Compared with controls, BAT-positive subjects exhibited lower activity in the inferior parietal lobule, limbic system, and frontal lobe and higher activity in the precuneus before heat exposure. Compared with the BAT elimination status, subjects with activated BAT showed a decreased metabolism in the parietal lobe, frontal lobe, culmen, cingulate gyrus, and sublobar region. Compared with controls, BAT-positive subjects after BAT inactivation had significant hypometabolic areas in the temporal lobe and limbic lobe and hypermetabolic areas in the parietal lobe. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate that changes of regional cerebral metabolism are related to BAT activities regardless of temperature changes. This before-after controlled study supports the finding that the brain responses appear to be active in modulating the metabolic function of BAT activity.
Antibody blockade of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 ameliorates inflammation in the SAMP-1/Yit adoptive transfer model of Crohn's disease in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Integrins (alpha(4) and beta(2)) and their endothelial ligands vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) play key roles in leukocyte recruitment to areas of inflammation. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are expressed in inflamed intestinal tissues. This study investigates a possible causative role of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and alpha(4) integrins in mediating the inflammatory response in a murine model of Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS CD4+ mesenteric lymph node cells from SAMP-1/Yit donor mice were adoptively transferred into major histocompatibility complex-matched severe combined immunodeficiency disease mice. Six weeks later, these mice were left untreated or treated for 3 days with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to ICAM-1, VCAM-1, or both, and alpha(4), or both ICAM-1 and alpha(4), dexamethasone, or nonblocking isotype control antibodies. On day 4 after treatment, tissues were investigated for expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and for severity of inflammation using a semiquantitative inflammatory score. Dexamethasone treatment resolved all measures of intestinal inflammation. RESULTS Blocking either ICAM-1, VCAM-1, or alpha(4) integrins had no significant beneficial effect. However, blocking ICAM-1 and alpha(4), or blocking ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, showed a 70% resolution of the active inflammation, but not chronic inflammation. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that blocking ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 may have therapeutic benefit for the acute inflammatory component of Crohn's disease.
Experience with Home Oxygen in the Management of Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

We followed the clinical course of 23 infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) on home oxygen therapy during the first year of life in order to monitor patterns of growth, need for hospital readmission, and improvement in oxygenation. Oxygenation was assessed by serial, resting, awake, and room air transcutaneous PO2 (tcPO2) measurements at clinic visits. Weight gain was poor, with boys growing below the fifth percentile and girls growing at the tenth percentile. Ten of the 23 infants (43%) required rehospitalizations. There were no deaths. Fourteen of the 23 infants (61%) were taken off supplemental oxygen by 12 months corrected age, at a mean age of 7.9 months. Mean rate of improvement in tcPO2 was 3 torr/month, but wide individual variation was found. Infants off of oxygen treatment at 12 months corrected age grew at a significantly greater rate than those still requiring oxygen supplementation (p < 0.02). Infants with right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) by electrocardiogram tended to resolve their RVH while on home oxygen therapy. We conclude that infants with BPD on home oxygen therapy generally show steady improvement in oxygenation, but grow poorly and require frequent hospitalizations.
Cytoskeleton in motion: the dynamics of keratin intermediate filaments in epithelia

Epithelia are exposed to multiple forms of stress. Keratin intermediate filaments are abundant in epithelia and form cytoskeletal networks that contribute to cell type–specific functions, such as adhesion, migration, and metabolism. A perpetual keratin filament turnover cycle supports these functions. This multistep process keeps the cytoskeleton in motion, facilitating rapid and protein biosynthesis–independent network remodeling while maintaining an intact network. The current challenge is to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the keratin cycle in relation to actin and microtubule networks and in the context of epithelial tissue function.
Sex and Theories of Deviance: Toward a Functional Theory of Deviant Type-Scripts

Given available evidence on official and hidden criminality, conceptual neglect of the sex variable, not simply of women, is seen as having dire consequences for most contemporary criminal deviance paradigms and, consequently, as providing the major failure of deviance theorizing in this century. The outlines of a new paradigm are introduced, "the functional theory of deviant type-scripts," which suggest that everyday expectancies for deviance--which link types of actors to types of roles and which serve dominant social interests--at once account for our professional failure to include the sex variable in theories of criminal deviance and, more importantly, provide the single strongest theoretical account of the very striking cross-cultural difference in male and female criminality. (Abstract Adapted from Source: American Sociological Review, 1977. Copyright © 1977 by the American Sociological Association) Gender Differences Adult Crime Adult Deviance Adult Female Adult Male Adult Offender Male Offender Male Crime Female Crime Female Offender 07-02
Formal analysis of kinship terminologies and its relationship to what constitutes kinship

The goal of this paper is to relate formal analysis of kinship terminologies to a better understanding of who, culturally, are defined as our kin. Part 1 of the paper begins with a brief discussion as to why neither of the two claims – (1) kinship terminologies, which primarily have to do with social categories and (2) kinship terminologies, which are based on classification of genealogically specified relationships traced through genitor and genetrix – is adequate as a basis for a formal analysis of a kinship terminology. A substantive problem with rewrite rule formalism is identified next. In Part 2 this problem is resolved when a kinship terminology is viewed from the perspective of a structured, symbolic system in which there is both a symbol calculus and a set of rules of instantiation giving the symbols empirical content. The symbol structure is linked to individuals via culturally specified instantiation of symbols. It is suggested that one’s kin are determined through the symbol structure and its instantiation.
Noninvasive prediction of glucose by near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND Self-monitoring of blood glucose by diabetics is crucial in the reduction of complications related to diabetes. Current monitoring techniques are invasive and painful, and discourage regular use. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the use of near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance over the 1050-2450 nm wavelength range for noninvasive monitoring of blood glucose. METHODS Two approaches were used to develop calibration models for predicting the concentration of blood glucose. In the first approach, seven diabetic subjects were studied over a 35-day period with random collection of NIR spectra. Corresponding blood samples were collected for analyte analysis during the collection of each NIR spectrum. The second approach involved three nondiabetic subjects and the use of oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) over multiple days to cause fluctuations in blood glucose concentrations. Twenty NIR spectra were collected over the 3.5-h test, with 16 corresponding blood specimens taken for analyte analysis. RESULTS Statistically valid calibration models were developed on three of the seven diabetic subjects. The mean standard error of prediction through cross-validation was 1.41 mmol/L (25 mg/dL). The results from the OGTT testing of three nondiabetic subjects yielded a mean standard error of calibration of 1.1 mmol/L (20 mg/dL). Validation of the calibration model with an independent test set produced a mean standard error of prediction equivalent to 1.03 mmol/L (19 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS These data provide preliminary evidence and allow cautious optimism that NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy using the 1050-2450 nm wavelength range can be used to predict blood glucose concentrations noninvasively. Substantial research is still required to validate whether this technology is a viable tool for long-term home diagnostic use by diabetics.
Effect of Administration of Single Dose GnRH Agonist in Luteal Phase on Outcome of ICSI-ET Cycles in Women with Previous History of IVF/ICSI Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background GnRH agonist administration in the luteal phase has been suggested to beneficially affect the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfer (ET) cycles. This blind randomized controlled study evaluates the effect of GnRH (Gonadotropine Releasing Hormone) agonist administration on ICSI outcome in GnRH antagonist ovarian stimulation protocol in women with 2 or more previous IVF/ICSI-ET failures. Methods One hundred IVF failure women who underwent ICSI cycles and stimulated with GnRH antagonist ovarian stimulation protocol, were included in the study. Women were randomly assigned to intervention (received a single dose injection of GnRH agonist (0.1 mg of Decapeptil) subcutaneously 6 days after oocyte retrieval) and control (did not receive GnRH agonist) groups. Implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were the primary outcome measures. Results Although the age of women, the number of embryos transferred in the current cycle and the quality of the transferred embryos were similar in the two groups, there was a significantly higher rate of implantation (Mann Whitney test, p = 0.041) and pregnancy (32.6% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.030, OR = 3.3, 95%CI, 1.08 to 10.4) in the intervention group. Conclusion Our results suggested that, in addition to routine luteal phase support using progesterone, administration of 0.1 mg of Decapeptil 6 days after oocyte retrieval in women with previous history of 2 or more IVF/ICSI failures led to a significant improvement in implantation and pregnancy rates after ICSI following ovarian stimulation with GnRH antagonist protocol.
Molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus in Bangladesh reveals a highly recombinant population

The natural history and treatment outcome of hepatitis B viruses (HBV) infection is largely dependent on genotype, subgenotype, and the presence or absence of virulence associated mutations. We have studied the prevalence of genotype and subgenotype as well as virulence and drug resistance associated mutations and prevalence of recombinant among HBV from Bangladesh. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among treatment naïve chronic HBV patients attending at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh for HBV viral load assessment between June and August 2015. Systematical selected 50% of HBV DNA positive patients (every second patient) were enrolled. Biochemical and serological markers for HBV infection and whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on virus positive sample. Genotype, subgenotype, virulence, nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) resistance (NAr) mutations, and the prevalence of recombinant isolates were determined. Among 114 HBV DNA positive patients, 57 were enrolled in the study and 53 HBV WGS were generated for downstream analysis. Overall, 38% (22/57) and 62% (35/57) of patients had acute and chronic HBV infections, respectively. The prevalence of genotypes A, C, and D was 18.9% (10/53), 45.3% (24/53), and 35.8% (19/53), respectively. Among genotype A, C and D isolates subgenotype A1 (90%; 9/10), C1 (87.5%; 21/24) and D2 (78.9%; 15/19) predominates. The acute infection, virulence associated mutations, and viral load was higher in the genotype D isolates. Evidence of recombination was identified in 22.6% (12/53) of the HBV isolates including 20.0% (2/10), and 16.7% (4/24) and 31.6% (6/19) of genotype A, C and D isolates, respectively. The prevalence of recombination was higher in chronic HVB patients (32.2%; 10/31 versus 9.1%; 2/22); p<0.05. NAr mutations were identified in 47.2% (25/53) of the isolates including 33.9% novel mutations (18/53). HBV genotype C and D predominated in this population in Bangladesh; a comparatively high prevalence of recombinant HBV are circulating in this setting.
Differential Emotions and the Stock Market - The Case of Company-specific Trading

Practitioners and researchers alike increasingly use social media messages as an additional source of information to analyse stock price movements. In this regard, previous preliminary findings demonstrate the incremental value of considering the multi-dimensional structure of human emotions in sentiment analysis instead of the predominant assessment of the binary positive-negative valence of emotions. Therefore, based on emotion theory and an established sentiment lexicon, we develop and apply an open source dictionary for the analysis of seven different emotions (affection, happiness, satisfaction, fear, anger, depression, and contempt). To investigate the connection between the differential emotions and stock movements we analyse approximately 5.5 million Twitter messages on 33 S&P 100 companies and their respective NYSE stock prices from Yahoo! Finance over a period of three months. Subsequently, we conduct a lagged fixed-effects panel regression on the daily closing value differences. The results generally support the assumption of the necessity of considering a more differentiated sentiment. Moreover, comparing positive and negative valence, we find that only the average negative emotionality strength has a significant connection with company-specific stock price movements. The emotion specific analysis reveals that an increase in depression and happiness strength isassociated with a significant decrease in company-specific stock prices.
Evaluating Precision in the Social Psychological Assessment of Depression: Methodological Considerations, Issues, and Recommendations

Although social psychological studies of depression may have much to contribute to understanding this problem, a number of factors limit the potential of this research. Previous evaluations of research strategies used in social psychological research have tended to focus on questions concerning clinically significant states. While understanding these states are of considerable importance, subclinical or mildly depressed states also warrant attention. This article examines issues relevant to the study of these states and offers several recommendations aimed at improving the precision of this research. Specifically, issues concerning choice of cut-off points, specificity and third variable confounding, depressive heterogeneity, assumptions of continuity and distribution, stability considerations, and symptom profile research strategies are addressed along with recommendations for dealing with these issues.
Taking police culture seriously: Police discretion and the limits of law†

‘Police culture’ tends to be seen negatively, as a contrary and perverse influence upon the ‘proper’ exercise of police discretion. It is seen, quite correctly, as often subversive of the ideals and demands of legality. Yet most modern societies are essentially dependent upon rule‐based forms of police accountability. This paper suggests that the police culture needs to be approached more positively, as a potential resource in the formulation of rules governing police powers and practices. This requires that police administrators and police officers participate in negotiated rulemaking, a process similar to collective bargaining, in which police culture perspectives are drawn upon in formulating rules regulating aspects of police practice.