Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain Expression Genome-Wide Association Study (eGWAS) Identifies Human Disease-Associated Variants

Genetic variants that modify brain gene expression may also influence risk for human diseases. We measured expression levels of 24,526 transcripts in brain samples from the cerebellum and temporal cortex of autopsied subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD, cerebellar n = 197, temporal cortex n = 202) and with other brain pathologies (non–AD, cerebellar n = 177, temporal cortex n = 197). We conducted an expression genome-wide association study (eGWAS) using 213,528 cisSNPs within ±100 kb of the tested transcripts. We identified 2,980 cerebellar cisSNP/transcript level associations (2,596 unique cisSNPs) significant in both ADs and non–ADs (q<0.05, p = 7.70×10−5–1.67×10−82). Of these, 2,089 were also significant in the temporal cortex (p = 1.85×10−5–1.70×10−141). The top cerebellar cisSNPs had 2.4-fold enrichment for human disease-associated variants (p<10−6). We identified novel cisSNP/transcript associations for human disease-associated variants, including progressive supranuclear palsy SLCO1A2/rs11568563, Parkinson's disease (PD) MMRN1/rs6532197, Paget's disease OPTN/rs1561570; and we confirmed others, including PD MAPT/rs242557, systemic lupus erythematosus and ulcerative colitis IRF5/rs4728142, and type 1 diabetes mellitus RPS26/rs1701704. In our eGWAS, there was 2.9–3.3 fold enrichment (p<10−6) of significant cisSNPs with suggestive AD–risk association (p<10−3) in the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium GWAS. These results demonstrate the significant contributions of genetic factors to human brain gene expression, which are reliably detected across different brain regions and pathologies. The significant enrichment of brain cisSNPs among disease-associated variants advocates gene expression changes as a mechanism for many central nervous system (CNS) and non–CNS diseases. Combined assessment of expression and disease GWAS may provide complementary information in discovery of human disease variants with functional implications. Our findings have implications for the design and interpretation of eGWAS in general and the use of brain expression quantitative trait loci in the study of human disease genetics.
Deposition of composite coatings by electrochemical means

This thesis describes the development and characterisation of a range of single-phase and composite coatings on stainless steel substrates using electrochemical processing routes. Electrodeposition and electro co-deposition have been applied to deposit Ni, Ni-A1203 and Ni-Al films. For electrodeposition of pure Ni the substrate preparation was critical: this was optimised by applying different mechanical and chemical treatments to increase the substrate/coating adhesion through a mechanical interlocking mechanism. The optimal conditions for Ni deposition from a nickel sulphate bath were then determined. Subsequently, A1203 particles were added to the plating bath and the influence of the process variables (current density, A1203 particle concentration and size) on the amount of A1203 co-deposited with Ni was studied. The addition of A1203 modified both the microstructure and the crystallinity of the Ni matrix and increased the coating micro-hardness compared to pure Ni. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and nano-A1203 coatings were successfully deposited on to stainless steel substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) from particulate suspensions in ethanol. The same method was also applied to produce PEEK-nano-A1203 composite coatings for the first time on stainless steel with controlled composition; this composition could be tailored by varying the starting suspension concentration. Using an electric field of 15 V•cm"' and deposition times of 3 min PEEK-nano-A1203 composite coatings of — 40 gm thickness could be produced from suspensions containing 4 wt. % PEEK and 2 wt. % nano-A1203. The zeta potentials of the PEEK particles, the nano-A1203 particles and the mixed (diphasic) suspensions in ethanol were determined. TEM observation of particles in suspension was used together with zeta potential data to demonstrate the electrostatic interaction between PEEK and nano-A1203 particles in ethanol and to explain the EPD mechanism for this system. The deposition yield was found to increase with increasing deposition time and difference of potential applied during EPD. The deposition yield data were employed to produce a neural network model that was able to predict the yield from information about the initial deposition conditions. A heat treatment at 343°C for 30 minutes was needed to densify the coating and to increase the substrate/coating adhesion of pure PEEK and PEEK-nano-A1203 films. The addition of nano-A1203 particles decreased the melting temperature and the decomposition temperature compared to pure PEEK. Stainless steel substrates coated with the composite films exhibited better corrosion resistance in chloride environment than uncoated substrates. However composite coatings with high A1203 content (60-80 wt.%) presented poor mechanical properties; it was demonstrated that by decreasing the A1203 content to 30 wt. % the mechanical properties, in particular hardness, improved. The results of the project demonstrated that metal-ceramic and polymer-ceramic composite coatings can be developed on metallic substrate by a smart combination of electrochemical methods.
Limits and patterns of cytomegalovirus genomic diversity in humans

Significance Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading cause of birth defects associated with infections and a leading cause of transplantation failure. This study reveals the patterns and limits of HCMV genomic diversity by performing a large-scale analysis of HCMV sequences sampled from human hosts, identifying the hot and cold spots of variability. We find that the diversity is unevenly distributed across three host compartments and show that HCMV populations of vascular compartments are genetically constrained while enriched for polymorphisms of glycoproteins and regulatory proteins. This work significantly advances our understanding of the genomic diversity of HCMV in humans and has clear implications for the development of therapeutics against HCMV. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) exhibits surprisingly high genomic diversity during natural infection although little is known about the limits or patterns of HCMV diversity among humans. To address this deficiency, we analyzed genomic diversity among congenitally infected infants. We show that there is an upper limit to HCMV genomic diversity in these patient samples, with ∼25% of the genome being devoid of polymorphisms. These low diversity regions were distributed across 26 loci that were preferentially located in DNA-processing genes. Furthermore, by developing, to our knowledge, the first genome-wide mutation and recombination rate maps for HCMV, we show that genomic diversity is positively correlated with these two rates. In contrast, median levels of viral genomic diversity did not vary between putatively single or mixed strain infections. We also provide evidence that HCMV populations isolated from vascular compartments of hosts from different continents are genetically similar and that polymorphisms in glycoproteins and regulatory proteins are enriched in these viral populations. This analysis provides the most highly detailed map of HCMV genomic diversity in human hosts to date and informs our understanding of the distribution of HCMV genomic diversity within human hosts.
Hexactinellida of the genus Rossella , of ANT XXIV/2 (SYSTCO I) Expedition—Antarctic Eastern Weddell Sea

The genus Rossella Carter, 1872 comprises a group of very abundant and large sponges, which often dominate and even define the benthic habitats of the Antarctic shelf. While the ecological role and importance of the genus is unquestionable, the taxonomy of Rossella has been in a state of flux since its erection in 1872. Several species have been described, many of which have proven to be individual representatives of species with high variation in diagnostic characters, thus many published species are actually synonyms and a valid concept is still lacking. Here, we present the Rossella -fauna of one station sampled during the SYSTCO-I expedition in winter 2007/08 at 600 m depth on the lower Ekstrom-shelf near Kapp Norvegia, Eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. This sponge fauna showed some remarkable peculiarities in its characters, especially an unusually large growth of many microscleres, which will broaden the diagnoses of many Rossella spp. significantly. Implications for the definitions of these species are discussed.
Management of the psychological comorbidities of dermatological conditions: practitioners’ guidelines

Dermatological disease can be devastating for patients, and although dermatologists are focused on remedying the cutaneous manifestations of these conditions, it is easy to miss the psychological suffering lurking below. Studies reveal that psychiatric comorbidity in dermatology is highly prevalent. Undetected psychopathology can greatly decrease a patient’s quality of life and even contribute significantly to the clinical severity of their skin disease. For these reasons, it is vital that practitioners learn to detect psychological distress when it is present, and it is equally essential that they understand the treatment options available for effective intervention. Without training in psychiatric diagnosis and psychopharmacology, dermatologists can easily feel overwhelmed or out of their comfort zone when faced with the need to manage such conditions, but with the negative stigma associated with psychiatric disease in general, a psychiatric referral is often refused by patients, and the dermatologist is thus left with the responsibility. Uncertainty abounds in such situations, but this review seeks to alleviate the discomfort with psychodermatological disease and share practical and impactful recommendations to assist in diagnosis and treatment. In a busy dermatology clinic, the key is effective and efficient screening, combined with a repertoire of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options that can be dispersed through an algorithmic approach according to the specific findings of that screening. By implementing these recommendations into practice, dermatologists may begin to gain comfort with the management of psychocutaneous disease and, as a specialty, may expand to fill a hole in patient care that is truly significant for patients, their families, and our communities as a whole.
Molecular knots in biology and chemistry

Knots and entanglements are ubiquitous. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these fascinating topological entities can be either useful or cumbersome. In recent decades, the importance and prevalence of molecular knots have been increasingly recognised by scientists from different disciplines. In this review, we provide an overview on the various molecular knots found in naturally occurring biological systems (DNA, RNA and proteins), and those created by synthetic chemists. We discuss the current knowledge in these fields, including recent developments in experimental and, in some cases, computational studies which are beginning to shed light into the complex interplay between the structure, formation and properties of these topologically intricate molecules.
Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Study Design. A systematic review. Objectives. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of surgery compared with different types of nonsurgical interventions in adults with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Summary of Background Data. LSS is a debilitating condition associated with degeneration of the spine with aging. People with LSS experience a range of symptoms, including back pain, leg pain, numbness and tingling in the legs, and reduced physical function. Main treatment options are surgery, physical therapy, exercise, braces, and injections into the spine. Methods. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, five other databases, and two trials registries up to February 2015, reference lists, and conference proceedings related to treatment of the spine. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared surgical versus nonoperative treatments in participants with LSS. Outcomes included quality of life, disability, function, pain, complication rates, and side effects. Results. From the 12,966 citations screened, we included five RCTs (643 participants). Three studies compared spine surgery versus various types of nonsurgical treatment. It is difficult to draw conclusions from these studies because nonsurgical treatments were inadequately described. One study that compared surgery versus bracing and exercise found no differences in pain. Another study compared surgery versus spinal injections and found better physical function with injections, and better pain relief with surgery at six weeks. Still another trial compared surgery with an implanted device versus nonsurgical care. This study reported favorable outcomes of surgery for symptoms and physical function. Conclusion. We cannot conclude on the basis of this review whether surgical or nonsurgical treatment is better for individuals with LSS. Nevertheless, we can report on the high rate of effects reported in three of five surgical groups, ranging from 10% to 24%. No side effects were reported for any of the conservative treatment options. Level of Evidence: 1
Layered 2D alkyldiammonium lead iodide perovskites: synthesis, characterization, and use in solar cells

The synthetic route and properties of three 2D hybrid organic/inorganic lead iodide perovskite materials are reported. The 2D perovskites were synthesized from the reaction between PbI2 and the di-cations of 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,6-diaminohexane, and 1,8-diaminooctane. The resulting products were [NH3(CH2)4NH3]PbI4 (BdAPbI4), [NH3(CH2)6NH3]PbI4 (HdAPbI4), and [NH3(CH2)8NH3]PbI4 (OdAPbI4). Structural characterization shows that two dimensional perovskite structures were formed with inorganic structural planes separated by organic layers. Absorption spectra show band gaps of 2.37 eV (BdAPbI4), 2.44 eV (HdAPbI4), and 2.55 eV (OdAPbI4). The 2D perovskite materials were investigated as light absorbing materials in solid state solar cells. The best performing material under moist, ambient conditions was BdAPbI4 (1.08% efficiency), which was comparable to methylammonium Pb(II) iodide (MAPbI3) solar cells (2.1% efficiency) manufactured and studied under analogous conditions. When compared to MAPbI3, the 2D materials have larger band gaps and lower photoconductivity, while BdAPbI4 based solar cells shows a comparable absorbed photon-to-current efficiency as compared to MAPbI3 based ones.
CT-detected solitary thyroid calcification: an important imaging feature for papillary carcinoma

Purpose To evaluate computed tomography (CT) detection of solitary thyroid calcification for identifying thyroid papillary carcinoma and to determine whether the predictive ability changes when the size increases after enhancement. Materials and methods CT scans on all 96 patients with thyroid nodules who underwent both enhanced CT examination of neck and thyroidectomy from 2014 to 2016 in the Shandong Cancer Hospital affiliated to Shandong University were reviewed. The cases without calcification and the cases with peripheral calcification, multiple coarse calcifications, or punctate calcification were excluded. Imaging features, including location and size of the lesions, were reviewed on plain and contrast-enhanced CT. The patients were grouped by histological results. The comparisons were evaluated by using Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regression. Results The study population consisted of 96 patients (74 females, 22 males; mean age 49.8±11.3 years). Papillary thyroid carcinoma was observed in both solitary calcified thyroid nodules (85.4%) and solely coarse calcifications surrounded by low-density focus (58.2%). The difference was significant (P=0.006). Of 64 patients with an amplification of lesions after contrast enhancement, 58 (90.6%) were diagnosed with a malignant lesion. At the same time, of the 32 patients with no increase in size, 10 (31.2%) were diagnosed with carcinoma and 22 (68.8%) with nodular goiter. This difference was significant (P<0.001), and after binary logistic regression, increasing size was an independent risk factor for cancer. Conclusion Solitary calcified thyroid nodules detected on CT represent a high risk for papillary thyroid carcinoma, especially when the size of the lesions increases after contrast- enhanced CT.
Embedded Stellar Clusters in the W3/W4/W5 Molecular Cloud Complex

We analyze the embedded stellar content in the vicinity of the W3/W4/W5 H II regions using the FCRAO Outer Galaxy 12CO (1-0) Survey, the IRAS Point Source Catalog, published radio continuum surveys, and new near-infrared and molecular-line observations. Thirty-four IRAS point sources are identified that have far-infrared colors characteristic of embedded star forming regions, and we have obtained K′ mosaics and 13CO (1-0) maps for 32 of them. Ten of the IRAS sources are associated with an OB star and 19 with a stellar cluster, although three OB stars are not identified with a cluster. Half of the embedded stellar population identified in the K′ images is found in just the five richest clusters, and 61% is contained in IRAS sources associated with an embedded OB star. Thus, rich clusters around OB stars contribute substantially to the stellar population currently forming in the W3/W4/W5 region. Approximately 39% of the cluster population is embedded in small clouds with an average mass of ≈130 M⊙ that are located as far as 100 pc from the W3/W4/W5 cloud complex. We speculate that these small clouds are fragments of a cloud complex dispersed by previous episodes of massive star formation. Finally, we find that four of the five known embedded massive star forming sites in the W3 molecular cloud are found along the interface with the W4 H II region despite the fact that most of the molecular mass is contained in the interior regions of the cloud. These observations are consistent with the classical notion that the W4 H II region has triggered massive star formation along the eastern edge of the W3 molecular cloud.
GSTM1 null genotype may be associated with an increased nasopharyngeal cancer risk in South China: an updated meta-analysis and review

Although many epidemiologic studies investigated the GSTM1 gene polymorphism and its association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Chinese, definite conclusions cannot be drawn. To assess the impact of of GSTM1 polymorphism on the risk of NPC, an updated meta-analysis was performed in a Chinese population. A total of nine studies including 1,291 cases and 2,135 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of those nine studies showed that GSTM1 null genotype was associated with an increased risk of NPC in South China (odds ratio [OR] =1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–1.70). In subgroup analyses stratified by source of controls, it revealed significant results in population-based studies (OR =1.40, 95% CI: 1.19–1.64). Additionally, a significant association was found in smokers (OR =3.16, 95% CI: 1.76–5.67). This meta-analysis indicated a marked association of GSTM1 with NPC risk in South China, and there might be an interaction between the polymorphism and smoking on NPC. However, further studies with gene–gene and gene–environment interactions are required for definite conclusions.
Customer Liquidity Provision: Implications for Corporate Bond Transaction Costs

The convention when calculating corporate bond trading costs is to estimate bid–ask spreads that customers pay, implicitly assuming that dealers always provide liquidity to customers. We show that, contrary to this assumption, customers increasingly provide liquidity following the adoption of post-2008 banking regulations, and thus, conventional bid–ask spread measures underestimate the cost of dealers’ liquidity provision. Among large trades wherein dealers use inventory capacity, customers pay 40%–60% wider spreads than before the crisis. Customers’ balance-sheet capacity and their trading relationships with dealers are important determinants of customer liquidity provision. This paper was accepted by Bruno Biais, finance. Supplemental Material: The internet appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022. 4646 .
Evidence for a Population of High-Redshift Submillimeter Galaxies from Interferometric Imaging

We have used the Submillimeter Array to image a flux-limited sample of seven submillimeter galaxies, selected by the AzTEC camera on the JCMT at 1.1 mm, in the COSMOS field at 890 μ m with ~2'' resolution. All of the sources—two radio-bright and five radio-dim—are detected as single point sources at high significance (>6 σ), with positions accurate to ~0.2'' that enable counterpart identification at other wavelengths observed with similarly high angular resolution. All seven have IRAC counterparts, but only two have secure counterparts in deep HST ACS imaging. As compared to the two radio-bright sources in the sample, and those in previous studies, the five radio-dim sources in the sample (1) have systematically higher submillimeter-to-radio flux ratios, (2) have lower IRAC 3.6-8.0 μ m fluxes, and (3) are not detected at 24 μ m . These properties, combined with size constraints at 890 μ m (θ ≲ 1.2''), suggest that the radio-dim submillimeter galaxies represent a population of very dusty starbursts, with physical scales similar to local ultraluminous infrared galaxies, with an average redshift higher than radio-bright sources.
Critical Thinking and the Use of Nontraditional Instructional Methodologies.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between critical thinking and the use of concept mapping (CM) and problem-based learning (PBL) during care plan development. METHOD A quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design was conducted using a convenience sample (n = 49) of first-semester undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students. Critical thinking was measured using the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric. Data analysis consisted of a repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc mean comparison tests using the Bonferroni method. RESULTS Findings indicated that mean critical thinking at phase 4 (CM and PBL) was significantly higher, compared with phase 1 (baseline), phase 2 (PBL), and phase 3 (CM [p < 0.001]). CONCLUSION The results support the utilization of nontraditional instructional (CM and PBL) methodologies in undergraduate nursing curricula.
of Medical Practitioners

Background and Purpose: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important nosocomial infection worldwide, which leads to increased length of hospital stay, healthcare costs and mortality. Evidence on oral decontamination with antiseptic in reducing VAP is limited. Hence, a meta-analysis was performed to determine the effect of chlorhexidine oral decontamination in the reduction of VAP in mechanically ventilated patients Methods: An extensive literaturereview was conducted using the following databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Joanna Briggs Institute, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Google search engine. Retrieved articles were selected based on the methodological quality, inclusion criteria and analysed to find the pooled effect size. Results: The nine trials included in this meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in the incidence of VAP among patients who received prophylactic oral decontamination with Chlorhexidine. However no significant effect was found in reducing overall mortality rate among the mechanically ventilated patients. Conclusion: The safety profile regarding the possible selection and induction of antibiotic resistance and presumed cost benefits of Chlorhexidine make it a highly attractive intervention for the prevention of VAP. This meta-analysis indicated that chlorhexidine can serve as a cost-effective and safe antiseptic in preventing VAP in mechanically ventilated patients.